Digital broadcast program billing
US7134131B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/426
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and a system for selecting and ordering broadcast programs uses an electronic program guide that may be broadcast to subscribers or posted on an Internet web site. The system allows national broadcasters to provide one or more channels of pay-per-view or subscription programming and to establish a mechanism for billing subscribers who access the programs. Subscribers may access the Internet and send a program request to a web site. An authorization is then forwarded to a billing center and to a local broadcaster. The billing center debits the subscriber's account, or prepares a bill. The local broadcaster sends the authorization to the subscriber. The authorization includes a program code and a terminal identifier that permit the subscriber's television or set top terminal to decrypt and display the program.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.