Restrictive access control system

• US 4,768,229 A
• Filed: 07/21/1986
• Issued: 08/30/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Krishnamurthy, Gopalan, Rypkema, Jouke N., Benjamin, Lester F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cangialosi, Salvatore
• Application Number:
  US06/887,311
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 455/186, 455/26.1, 358/349, 380/20, 380/43
• US Class Current: 725/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A restrictive access control system includes a 3-state switch for controlling the operating mode of the system and limiting tuning access to only designated channels. Tuning information is provided to a microprocessor via a control panel keyboard for storage in a nonvolatile memory and for subsequent recall therefrom when desired channel information is entered in the control panel by a viewer. In one embodiment, a 3-position key actuated switch has a first OFF position, a second PROGRAM position, and a third ON position. In the ON and OFF positions, the key may be removed from the switch while in the second PROGRAM position the key may not be removed from the switch. Programming of the nonvolatile memory may only be accomplished with the key in second PROGRAM position for storing either desired channels or locking out undesired channels. From the second PROGRAM position, the key may be turned to either the first OFF position for viewing all available channels or to the third ON position whereupon only authorized channels can be viewed. Turning the switch between the various positions, or modes of operation, is not possible without the key so as to provide a high level of viewing security, while affording the key bearer not only channel programming access, but also the capability of limiting tuning access to only designated channels. Other embodiments include (1) a two position key switch with key detector and limited access control selector and (2) program and limited access control selectors in combination with an optical card reader.

Claims

1. In a satellite receiver having a dish-like movable antenna and including user-responsive selector means and a tuner wherein user commands to said selector means representing a plurality of site specific receiver operating parameters and selected channel number data are provided to said receiver and tuner for tuning said satellite receiver to a selected channel, a restrictive access control system for limiting signal receiver tuning to only authorized channels, said system comprising:

memory means for storing selected ones of said plurality of site specific receiver operating parameters and selected channel number data;

viewer responsive 3-state switch means characterized by a first state wherein all channels may be viewed, a second state wherein only authorized channels may be viewed, and a third state for designating authorized channels for viewing in said second state, said 3-state switch means including authorization means for preventing transition of said switch means to either said first state or said third state from said second state except when authorized by a user; and

controller means coupled to said selector means, said 3-state switch means, said memory means and to said receiver for providing said selected ones of said plurality of site specific receiver operating parameters and data representing a selected channel number to the receiver and tuner for tuning to a selected channel when said switch means is in said first state, for providing said selected ones of said plurality of site specific receiver operating parameters and data representing an authorized channel number to said memory means for storage therein when said switch means is in said third state, and for reading from said memory means said selected ones of said plurality of site specific receiver operating parameters and authorized channel number data stored therein and for providing said selected ones of said plurality of site specific receiver operating parameters and authorized channel number data to said receiver and tuner in tuning said signal receiver to an authorized channel when said switch means is in said second state.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein said selector means includes a multi-switch keyboard.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the satellite receiver includes video display means and wherein said controller means provides an invalid comparison signal thereto for providing a visual indication that the selected channel number is not stored in said memory means and that the satellite receiver will not be tuned to the selected channel number.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said selector means includes a channel number selector and wherein said controller means alternately stores in and removes from said memory means data representing an authorized channel number with each successive engagement of said channel number selector when said 3-state switch is in said third state.

5. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a mode control switch coupled to said controller means, wherein a selected channel number can only be stored in said memory means with said mode control switch engaged.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein said system limits signal receiver tuning to only authorized channels of designated satellites.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein said selector means includes antenna position selector means for changing the pointing angle of said antenna relative to various satellites and wherein said controller means further stores data representing a selected satellite pointing angle in said memory means for subsequent recall and tuning to authorized channels of said selected satellite.

8. The control system of claim 6 wherein said selector means includes signal polarization selector means for selecting the polarization of the received signal.

9. The control system of claim 6 wherein said selector means includes user responsive signal storage means coupled to said controller means for storing satellite signal parameters characteristic of authorized channels.

10. The control system of claim 1 wherein said 3-state switch means comprises a 3-position key actuated switch having first, second and third positions corresponding respectively to said first, second and third states and wherein said authorization means comprises a key for actuating said 3-position switch.

11. The control system of claim 10 further comprising means for preventing removal of said key from said 3-position switch when said switch is in the third position.

12. The control system of claim 1 wherein said 3-state switch means comprises a 2-position key actuated switch in combination with key detection means for detecting the presence of a key in said 2-position switch and wherein said authorization means comprises a key.

13. The control system of claim 12 wherein said first, second and third states respectively correspond to the 2-position switch in a first position with said key inserted therein, the 2-position switch in said first position with said key removed therefrom, and the 2-position switch in a second position with said key inserted therein.

14. The control system of claim 1 wherein said 3-state switch means comprises in combination an optical card reader having a predetermined code stored therein and responsive to a coded card inserted therein and a viewing access selector means for rendering said system in a restricted or unrestricted viewing access mode of operation, wherein said viewing access selector means is responsive to and rendered operative by the coded card inserted in the optical card reader when the code of said card matches the code stored in said optical card reader.

15. The control system of claim 14 wherein said first, second and third states respectively correspond to said viewing access selector means in a first state and said card inserted in said optical card reader with the code of said card matching the code stored in said optical card reader, said viewing access selector means in a second state and said coded card withdrawn from said optical card reader, and said viewing access selector means in said second state and said card inserted in said optical card reader with the code of said card matching the code stored in said optical card reader.

16. The control system of claim 1 wherein said signal receiver includes a plurality of controllable functions, said control system further comprising means for enabling operation of selected ones of said controllable functions only when said switch means is in said third state.

17. The control system of claim 16 wherein said satellite receiver is in a satellite terminal and comprises a television receiver for receiving television signals transmitted by satellite.

18. In a satellite receiver having a dish-like movable antenna and including user-responsive selector means and a tuner wherein user commands to said selector means representing selected channel number data are provided to said tuner for tuning said satellite receiver to a selected channel, said signal receiver further including a plurality of site specific controllable functions, a restrictive access control system for limiting signal receiver tuning to only authorized channels and for limiting control over said signal receiver, said system comprising:

memory means for storing selected channel number and site specific receiver controllable functions data;

viewer responsive 3-state switch means characterized by a first state wherein all channels may be viewed, a second state wherein only authorized channels may be viewed, and a third state for designating authorized channels for viewing in said second state, said 3-state switch means including authorization means for preventing transition of said switch means to either said first state or said third state from said second state except when authorized by a user;

controller means coupled to said selector means, said 3-state switch means, said memory means and to said receiver for providing data representing a plurality of selected site specific receiver controllable functions and a selected channel number to the receiver and tuner for tuning to a selected channel when said switch means is in said first state, for providing data representing a plurality of authorized receiver controllable functions and an authorized channel number to said memory means for storage therein when said switch means is in said third state, and for reading from said memory means said plurality of authorized receiver controllable functions and authorized channel number data stored therein and for providing said plurality of authorized receiver controllable functions and authorized channel number data to said receiver and tuner in tuning said signal receiver to an authorized channel when said switch means is in said second state; and

means for enabling operation of selected ones of said plurality of site specific receiver controllable functions only when said switch means is in said third state.