Set-top interface transactions in an impulse pay per view television system
US5003384A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1988 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2007/1739
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An impulse pay-per-view system wherein a number of downloadable transactions may be utilized to effect increased control and diversity is disclosed. A preview time/free transaction permits a system subscriber to view portions of a pay-per-view event without purchasing the event. A security transaction sent while a pay-per-view event is active may be used to prevent a subscriber from receiving events which have not been purchased. A telephone number transaction may include a special character representing an instruction to pause between the dialing of selected digits. A viewer statistic transaction may be use dot instruct a subscriber to record the channel he is viewing. Finally, a subscriber may pre-buy pay-preview events in order to facilitate VCR recording of the events while he is asleep or away from home.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.