Method and apparatus for providing periodic subscription television services
US5311325A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 10, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04K2203/14
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing periodic subscription television services comprises a way for subscribers who cannot afford the fees for full time television services such as a regular cable television service to obtain subscription service to a plurality of allocated channels on a periodic basis. The method comprises the steps of allocating channels to a periodic service offering and storing in memory of service denial apparatus service code data which represents the allocated channels. The service denial apparatus for providing periodic service comprises a service denial device such as a switch 389 or other circuit controlled by a controller 260 of service denial apparatus for periodically closing and opening service lines to the periodic service subscriber in accordance with predetermined periodic service intervals. For example, one periodic subscription television service offering may be a weekend service whereby the periodic service subscriber is connected to receive a predetermined plurality of channels from 6 PM on a Friday evening through 12 PM on a Sunday evening.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.