Method, communications system and receiver device for the billing of access-controlled programmes and/or data from broadcast transmitters

• US 7,478,069 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kudelski SA
• Original Assignee: Kudelski SA
• Inventors: Ritter, Rudolf, Trinchan, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/221,138
• Time in Patent Office: 3,073 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/50, 705/52, 705/34, 380/1, 380/228, 370/313
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47805 Electronic banking banking in general G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and a communications system are for billing of access-controlled programs and/or data, which are broadcast unidirectionally and encrypted from a broadcast transmitter and which are received by at least one receiving device. The programs and/or data broadcast encrypted are decrypted in the receiving device for access if received access conditions data for the access-controlled programs and/or data coincide with authorization data for the user. Clearing data from the central unit are thereby transmitted to a clearing module. The clearing data include billing data for the access to the unencrypted access-controlled programs and/or data as well as user data. The central unit makes available to the vendor information relating to the user data, in accordance with the received clearing data, which information is generated by the central unit according to specified conditions on further use.

Claims

1. A method for selective billing at least one of a plurality of access-controlled programs and data, which are broadcast unidirectionally and encrypted by a broadcast transmitter, comprising:

receiving a selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data by at least one mobile receiving device, the selected one of plurality of programs and data being decrypted in the mobile receiving device upon received access conditions data for the at least one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data coinciding with authorization data of the user of the mobile receiving device;

transmitting access request data, for access to the at least one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, from the mobile receiving device over a mobile radio network to a central unit, at least part of the access request data being specified by the user on the basis of the received access conditions data;

transmitting, via the central unit, at least part of the authorization data over the mobile radio network to the mobile receiving device in accordance with the transmitted access request data,

transmitting clearing data based on the data of the mobile receiving device, via the central unit, to a clearing module, wherein the clearing data includes billing data for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, as well as user data, and wherein the user data includes information about the access;

at least one of crediting and debiting, via the clearing module, at least one of services and payments to the vendor of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data and to the user, in accordance with the received clearing data, the at least one of crediting and debiting being performed without prepayment or subscription by the user, and/or making available information to the vendor, wherein the information is generated by the central unit, based on the user data, according to specified conditions on further use;

generating, via the central unit, a data token for decryption of a selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data in accordance with the received access request data; and

transmitting the data token to the receiving device, wherein

the data token includes,

at least portions of a key to the at least one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, or

an access authorization for a key for decryption of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

2. The method according to the claim 1, wherein access request data include at least certain of the conditions on further use of the user data, which at least certain conditions on further use are specified by the user in the access request data via the input elements of the receiving device.

3. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the access conditions data include cost parameters, which include the cost amounts for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data per unit of calculation.

4. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the billing data includes billing parameters for debiting or crediting monetary amounts to at least one of the user and vendor according to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

5. The method according to the claim 1, wherein, during the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, at least parts of the clearing data are transmitted periodically by the receiving device to the central unit.

6. The method according to the claim 5, wherein a monetary value is stored in a data memory of the receiving device, costs for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data are determined in the receiving device based on the cost data of the received access conditions data, and clearing data are transmitted to the central unit upon the added up costs for access exceeding the stored monetary value, or at least one of a whole multiple of the stored monetary value, and a predetermined time window has expired.

7. The method according to the claim 5, wherein the clearing data transmitted from the receiving device to the central unit include data records which the user determines before the transmission.

8. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the vendor of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data changes the broadcasting of the selected one of the access-controlled programs and data based on user data.

9. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the access request data includes data specifiable by the user via input elements of the receiving device, with which the user indicates to the vendor at least one of individual wishes and orders for the broadcasting of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

10. The method according to the claim 1, wherein billing records are generated in the receiving device and are stored in a data memory of the receiving device, wherein the records include information corresponding to the cost amounts for access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, and an identification of the vendor of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

11. The method according to the claim 10, wherein at least one of the information and billing records are stored in a data memory which is integrated into a chip card that is removable from the receiving device.

12. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the programs include at least one of digital audio and video programs.

13. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the mobile receiving device is a mobile radio device.

14. The method according to the claim 1, wherein a monetary value is stored in a data memory of the receiving device, costs for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data are determined in the receiving device based on the cost data of the received access conditions data, the decryption of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data is prevented in the receiving device upon the determined costs being greater than the stored monetary value, and the costs for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data are deducted from the stored monetary value.

15. The method according to the claim 14, wherein the data memory for storing the monetary value is a removable, reloadable chip card.

16. A communications system, comprising:

at least one broadcast transmitter, which encrypts and broadcasts at least one of a plurality of programs and data unidirectionally;

at least one mobile receiving device, including a broadcast receiver for receiving a selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, the receiving device including,

an access control module, which allows access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data upon received access conditions data coinciding with authorization data of the user, and

a decryption module for decrypting the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data;

a central unit, including a clearing module for processing of clearing data and communications modules for bidirectional communication of the mobile receiving device with the central unit over a mobile radio network, wherein the at least one mobile receiving device further includes input elements, by means of which input elements access request data, for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, are at least partially specifiable by the user on the basis of received access conditions data, the access request data being transmitted from the receiving device to the central unit over the mobile radio network;

an access administration module, which transmits at least parts of the authorization data over the mobile radio network to the mobile receiving device in accordance with the transmitted access request data, wherein the clearing module includes means for, in accordance with the at least one of the received clearing data, credit and debit services or payments to the vendor as well as to the user, the services or payments being credited and debited without prepayment or subscription by the user, and/or make available to the vendor information with respect to the user data, the information being generated by the central unit according to specified conditions, the access administration module of the central unit including means for generating data tokens, wherein

the data tokens are transmittable from the central unit to the receiving device, the data token including,

at least portions of a key to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, or

an access authorization to a key for decryption of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

17. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the access request data include at least part of the conditions on further use of the user data, said at least part of the conditions on further use being specifiable by the user via the input elements of the receiving device.

18. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the access request data include cost parameters, which include the cost amounts for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data per unit of calculation.

19. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the billing data include billing parameters for debiting or crediting monetary values to at least one of the user and the vendor according to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

20. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein at least parts of the clearing data are transmittable to the central unit by the receiving device at least one of before, after, and periodically during the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

21. The communications system according to the claim 20, wherein the receiving device includes a data memory, in which data memory a monetary value is storable, the receiving device includes a costs recording module by means of which costs recording module costs for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data are able to be determined based on the cost data of the received access conditions data, and clearing data are transmittable to the central unit by means of the communications module, upon the added up costs for access exceed the stored monetary value, or at least one of a whole multiple of the stored monetary value, and a predetermined time window has expired.

22. The communications system according to the claim 20, wherein the clearing data transmitted from the receiving device to the central unit include data records which are able to be determined by the user before the transmission.

23. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the broadcast transmitter of the vendor of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data includes a transmission plan module, by means of which the broadcasting of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data are changed in accordance with user data.

24. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the receiving device includes a data memory for storing billing records, which include information corresponding to at least one of the cost amounts for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data, and an identification of the vendor of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data.

25. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the at least one of the information and billing records are storable in a data memory which is integrated in a chip card that is removable from the receiving device.

26. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the plurality of access-controlled programs include at least one of digital audio and video programs.

27. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the mobile receiving device is a mobile radio device.

28. The communications system according to the claim 16, wherein the receiving device includes a data memory in which a monetary value is stored, the receiving device includes a costs recording module which determines costs for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data based on the received access conditions data, the receiving module includes means for preventing access in the receiving device of the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data if the determined costs are greater than the stored monetary value, and the costs recording module is set up in such a way that it deducts the costs for the access to the selected one of the plurality of access-controlled programs and data from the stored monetary value.

29. The communications system according to the claim 28, wherein the data memory for storing the monetary value is a removable, reloadable chip card.