Selective enablement of descramblers
US4792973A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1987 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/1675
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system in a subscriber television network for enabling descrambling of a received scrambled signal on a prepaid basis and/or an impulse-purchase basis. A received mask signal uniquely related to the scrambled signal is compared with a received authorization signal indicating whether the subscriber is authorized to receive the scrambled signal on a prepaid basis and a prepaid signal for enabling descrambling is provided when the compared signals match. A not-prepaid signal is provided when they do not match. A received cost signal indicating the charge for descrambling the scrambled signal and a received credit signal indicating the subscriber's endlessly accumulated credit are processed with reference to a stored record of the subscriber's prior accumulated charges to determine whether the subscriber has sufficient available credit to pay for descrambling of the scrambled signal. If a program is not prepaid and if sufficient credit is available, the subscriber is given the option of causing the signal to be descrambled on an impulse-purchase basis. To prevent a subscriber from obtaining descrambling through such deceit as changing the mask, authorization, cost and/or credit signa…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.