SE509552C2

SE509552C2 - Subscription TV programme reserving equipment

Info

Publication number: SE509552C2
Application number: SE9301866A
Authority: SE
Inventors: John Inge Gustav Olsson; Jan Torsten Bertil Danielsson
Original assignee: Xperi Ab; Jan Torsten Bertil Danielsson
Priority date: 1993-06-02
Filing date: 1993-06-02
Publication date: 1999-02-08
Also published as: SE9301866D0; SE9301866L

Abstract

One or more programmes are reserved out of a programme selection via the normal telephone network (9) at a reservation centre control (BC1 and/or BC2), decoding information being transmitted from the reservation central control via the telephone network for decoding the reserved programme(s). Debiting basic information is transmitted to a debiting unit (11), permitting debiting corresp. to the reservation made. Decoding information is transmitted from the reservation central control only if the reserver has provided an authorisation code to the reservation central control. Each reserved programme is provided with an identification code which is used both by the reserver on reservation at the reservation central control and on transmission of the programme for activating the reserver decoder (4) exactly when the right programme is transmitted.

Description

509 552 anordningen i huvudsak uppvisar de kännetecken som fram- går av efterföljande patentkrav 8 eller l4. 509 552 the device essentially has the features which appear from the appended claim 8 or 14.

Genom att avkodningsinformationen enligt det uppfinnings- enliga förfarandet och den uppfinningsenliga anordningen överföres från beställningscentralen endast om beställa- ren till beställningscentralen uppgivit en behörighetskod förhindras i hög grad manipulationer. Detta gäller även för användningen av nyckelkod enligt uppfinningen.Because the decoding information according to the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention is transmitted from the ordering center only if the customer has given an authorization code to the ordering center, tampering is largely prevented. This also applies to the use of key code according to the invention.

Uppfinningen skall nedan förklaras närmare med hänvis- ning till bifogade ritningar, pà vilka figur l schematiskt visar en anordning för genomförande av det uppfinningsenliga förfarandet, varvid program- beställarens televisionsanläggning är ansluten till en TV-antenn; figur 2 visar schematiskt samma anordning som figur l, varvid programbeställarens televisionsanläggning är an- sluten till ett kabel-TV-nät; figur 3 visar schematiskt samma anordning som figur l, varvid programbeställarens televisionsanläggning är an- sluten till en parabolantenn; figur 4 visar schematiskt en alternativ anordning för genomförande av det uppfinningsenliga förfarandet, var- vid programbeställarens televisionsanläggning är anslu- ten till ett kabel-TV-nät; och figur 5 visar schematiskt enligt förfarandet enligt upp- finningen genomförbar kommunikation mellan beställarens televisionsanläggning och en beställningscentral.The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 schematically shows a device for carrying out the method according to the invention, wherein the program client's television system is connected to a TV antenna; figure 2 schematically shows the same device as figure 1, wherein the program client's television system is connected to a cable TV network; figure 3 schematically shows the same device as figure 1, wherein the program client's television system is connected to a satellite dish; Figure 4 schematically shows an alternative device for carrying out the method according to the invention, wherein the television station's television system is connected to a cable TV network; and figure 5 shows schematically according to the method according to the invention feasible communication between the customer's television system and an order center.

Den i figur 1 illustrerade televisionsanläggningen l är ansluten till en konventionell televisionsantenn 2 medan 509 552 den i figur 2 illustrerade televisionsanläggningen 1 är ansluten till ett kabel-TV-nät 3. I bàda fallen upp- visar televisionsanläggningen l en dekoder 4 för avkod- ning av kodade program och denna dekoder 4 är i sin tur ansluten tilll en i televisionsanläggningen 1 ingående televisionsmottagare 5.The television system 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is connected to a conventional television antenna 2, while the television system 1 illustrated in Figure 2 is connected to a cable TV network 3. In both cases, the television system 1 has a decoder 4 for decoding. of coded programs and this decoder 4 is in turn connected to a television receiver 5 included in the television system 1.

Den i figur 3 illustrerade televisionsanläggningen 1 är istället ansluten till en parabolantenn 6 och uppvisar en satellitmottagare 7 samt därtill ansluten dekoder 4 och televisionsmottagare 5.The television system 1 illustrated in Figure 3 is instead connected to a satellite dish 6 and has a satellite receiver 7 and a decoder 4 and television receiver 5 connected thereto.

En beställningsenhet 8 är anordnad att medge att en programbeställning till televisionsanläggningen 1 kan ske genom att beställaren ringer upp en beställnings- central BC 1 via ett befintligt telefonnät 9 och bestäl- ler ett utvalt program ur beställningscentralens BC 1 programutbud. Beställningscentralen BC 1 är anordnad att överföra avkodningsinformation via telefonnätet 9 till dekodern 4 för att avkoda det eller de program som beställaren valt ut ur beställningscentralens BC 1 programutbud.An ordering unit 8 is arranged to allow a program order to the television system 1 to be made by the customer calling an order center BC 1 via an existing telephone network 9 and ordering a selected program from the order center's BC 1 program range. The order center BC 1 is arranged to transmit decoding information via the telephone network 9 to the decoder 4 in order to decode the program or programs selected by the customer from the order center's BC 1 program offer.

Dekodern 4 samverkar företrädesvis med en i beställarens televisionsanläggning 1 ingående programkontrollenhet 10 som är ansluten till telefonnätet 9 och kan kommunicera med beställningscentralen BC 1 via en telefonlinje och eventuellt annan beställningscentral BC 2 via annan tele- fonlinje. Programkontrollenheten 10 samverkar med deko- dern 4 med avsikt att kunna selektera utvalda program i beställningscentralens BC 1 (eller beställningscentra- lens BC 2) programutbud.The decoder 4 preferably cooperates with a program control unit 10 included in the customer's television system 1 which is connected to the telephone network 9 and can communicate with the order center BC 1 via a telephone line and possibly another order center BC 2 via another telephone line. The program control unit 10 cooperates with the decoder 4 with the intention of being able to select selected programs in the order center's BC 1 (or the order center's BC 2)'s range.

Programkontrollenheten 10 kan styra en befintlig dekoder 4 eller byggas ihop med en dekoder 4 till en enhet. Al- ternativt kan programkontrollenheten eller programkont- rollfunktionen tillsammans med dekodern eller dekoder- 509 552 funktionen byggas in i satellitmottagaren 7 eller i en konventionell televisionsmottagare 5.The program control unit 10 can control an existing decoder 4 or be built together with a decoder 4 into a unit. Alternatively, the program control unit or program control function together with the decoder or decoder function may be built into the satellite receiver 7 or into a conventional television receiver 5.

En debiteringsenhet 11 är anordnad att mottaga sådan in- formation från ifrågavarande beställningscentral BC 1 och/ /eller BC 2 och/eller fràn telefonnätet 9 att det erhål- les ett debiteringsunderlag för att kunna debitera bestäl- laren ett belopp som motsvarar den gjorda beställningen.A billing unit 11 is arranged to receive such information from the order center BC 1 and / or BC 2 in question and / or from the telephone network 9 that a billing document is obtained in order to be able to charge the customer an amount corresponding to the order placed.

Debiteringsenheten 11 kan tillhöra en eller flera tele- visionssändare, Televerket eller motsvarande verk.The charging unit 11 may belong to one or more television transmitters, Televerket or an equivalent plant.

I den i figurerna 1-3 illustrerade beställningsenheten 8 ingår en telefon 12 (företrädesvis med s.k. DTMF-signale- ring), som är avsedd för att genomföra en programbeställ- ning hos beställningscentralen BC 1 och/eller BC 2. Denna telefon 12 samverkar företrädesvis med programkontroll- enheten 10 och den kan kommunicera med beställningscent- ralen BC 1 och/eller BC 2 via telefonnätet 9.The ordering unit 8 illustrated in Figures 1-3 includes a telephone 12 (preferably with so-called DTMF signaling), which is intended for carrying out a program order at the order center BC 1 and / or BC 2. This telephone 12 preferably cooperates with the program control unit 10 and it can communicate with the order center BC 1 and / or BC 2 via the telephone network 9.

Efter det att ifrågavarande beställningscentral BC 1 eller BC 2 har ringts upp med hjälp av telefonen 12 är denna beställningscentral BC 1 anordnad att guida be- ställaren genom beställningen t.ex. genom att via tele- fonen 12 ställa frågor till beställaren och/eller genom att via telefonen 12 uppmana beställaren att lämna upp- gifter till beställningscentralen BC 1. Telefonen 12 är i sin tur anordnad att samverka med beställnings- centralen BC 1 på sådant sätt att beställaren kan kommu- nicera med beställningscentralen BC 1 genom knapptryck- ningar pà en i telefonen ingående knappsats för att exempelvis besvara av beställningscentralen BC 1 ställda frågor och/eller för att lämna uppgifter till beställ- ningscentralen BC 1.After the order center BC 1 or BC 2 in question has been called by means of the telephone 12, this order center BC 1 is arranged to guide the customer through the order, e.g. by asking the customer questions via the telephone 12 and / or by asking the customer via the telephone 12 to submit information to the order center BC 1. The telephone 12 is in turn arranged to cooperate with the order center BC 1 in such a way that the customer can communicate with the order center BC 1 by pressing buttons on a keypad included in the telephone to, for example, answer questions asked by the order center BC 1 and / or to provide information to the order center BC 1.

Beställningscentralen BC 1 och/eller BC 2 är anordnad att överföra startinformation till beställarens dekoder 4 509 552 för att aktivera denna för avkodning dà det eller de beställda programmen börjar eller en viss tid dessför- innan. Beställningscentralen BC 1 och/eller BC 2 är vidare anordnad att överföra stoppinformation till be- ställarens dekoder 4 för att avsluta dess avkodning dä det eller de beställda programmen slutar eller en viss tid därefter.The ordering center BC 1 and / or BC 2 is arranged to transmit start-up information to the customer's decoder 4 509 552 in order to activate it for decoding when the ordered program or programs start or a certain time before that. The order center BC 1 and / or BC 2 is further arranged to transmit stop information to the customer's decoder 4 in order to end its decoding when the ordered program or programs end or for a certain time thereafter.

Programkontrollenheten 10 kan innehàlla ett tidur som användes för att aktivera dekoderns 4 avkodningsfunk- tion vid starttiden för beställt eller beställda pro- gram. Härvid kan hänsyn tagas till lokal tid.The program control unit 10 may contain a timer which is used to activate the decoding function of the decoder 4 at the start time of ordered or ordered programs. In this case, local time can be taken into account.

Beställning kan ske av ett program àt gängen till ett enhetspris och programbeställning hos beställningscent- ralen BC 1 eller BC 2 kan ske pà ett bestämt telefon- nummer, t.ex. ett 071-nummer, för att medge att inne- havaren av detta telefonnummer kan debitera de beställda programmen, t.ex. via teleräkningen.Ordering can be done by a program for the gangs at a unit price and program ordering at the order center BC 1 or BC 2 can be made on a specific telephone number, e.g. a 071 number, to allow the holder of this telephone number to charge the ordered programs, e.g. via the telephone bill.

Varje beställbart program kan förses med en identifie- ringskod som används såväl av beställaren vid beställ- ningen i beställningscentralen BC 1 eller BC 2 som vid sändning av programmet. Detta medger - att dekodern 4 kan aktiveras exakt när rätt program sändes; - att eventuella programförseningar eller tidsöverdrag spelar mindre roll; - att en differentierad prissättning av programmen kan ske; och - att en videobandspelare kan aktiveras i rätt ögon- blick. 509 552 En nyckelkod för avkodning av ett program under sändning kan kopplas till varje enskilt program. Nyckelkoden kan variera fràn programtid till programtid eller fràn pro- gram till program. Nyckelkoden erhälles från beställnings- centralen BC 1 eller BC 2 och kan t.ex. lagras i televi- sionsanläggningens l programkontrollenhet 10 tills pro- grammet sänts.Each orderable program can be provided with an identification code that is used both by the customer when ordering in the order center BC 1 or BC 2 and when sending the program. This allows - that the decoder 4 can be activated exactly when the correct program was transmitted; - that any program delays or deadlines do not matter; - that a differentiated pricing of the programs can take place; and - that a VCR can be activated at the right moment. 509 552 A key code for decoding a program during transmission can be linked to each individual program. The key code can vary from program time to program time or from program to program. The key code is obtained from the order center BC 1 or BC 2 and can e.g. stored in the program control unit 10 of the television system 1 until the program is broadcast.

Vidare kan ett nyckelkodkort 15, t.ex. i form av ett magnetkort av typ kreditkort, köpas för ett visst pro- gram eller för en viss programtid och användas för att överföra nyckelkoden till beställarens/köparens dekoder i syfte att avkoda det avsedda programmet eller den av- sedda programtiden.Furthermore, a key code card 15, e.g. in the form of a magnetic card of the credit card type, purchased for a specific program or for a specific program time and used to transmit the key code to the customer's / buyer's decoder in order to decode the intended program or the intended program time.

Som framgår av figur 4 kan beställarens beställnings- enhet 8 uppvisa en programvalsanordning 13 via vilken den inkommande sändningen passerar till beställarens televisionsmottagare 5 och vilken är ansluten till tele- fonnätet 9, företrädesvis via en modemanslutning. Pro- gramvalsanordningen 13 kan integreras med televisions- mottagaren 5, med satellitmottagaren 7 eller med en videobandspelare (ej visad).As can be seen from Figure 4, the customer's ordering unit 8 can have a program selection device 13 via which the incoming transmission passes to the customer's television receiver 5 and which is connected to the telephone network 9, preferably via a modem connection. The program selection device 13 can be integrated with the television receiver 5, with the satellite receiver 7 or with a VCR (not shown).

Vidare kan programvalsanordningen 13 fjärrstyras med en fjärrkontrollenhet 14 och den kan utnyttja televisions- mottagarens 5 menyfunktioner så att ett antal funktio- ner kan väljas pà menyn genom att ringa upp beställnings- centralen BC 1 eller BC 2 och kommunicera med denna.Furthermore, the program selection device 13 can be remotely controlled with a remote control unit 14 and it can use the menu functions of the television receiver 5 so that a number of functions can be selected on the menu by calling the order center BC 1 or BC 2 and communicating with it.

Programvalsanordningen 13 kan sålunda bringas ringa upp en beställningscentral BC l eller BC 2 för att hämta dess programöversikt. Därefter kan telefonlinjen kopplas ned. Sedan kan beställningscentralens BC l eller BC 2 programutbud presenteras pà televisionsmottagarens 5 bildskärm och beställaren kan göra sitt val av program.The program selection device 13 can thus be caused to call an order center BC 1 or BC 2 to retrieve its program overview. The telephone line can then be disconnected. Then the order center's BC 1 or BC 2 program offer can be presented on the television receiver's 5 screen and the customer can make his choice of program.

Vid beställning av programmet rings beställningscentra- 509 552 len BC 1 eller BC 2 upp på nytt och beställningen ut- föres. Ett närmare exempel på hur programvalanordningens 13 programvalssystem kan användas framgår av figur 5.When ordering the program, the order center 509 552 BC 1 or BC 2 is called again and the order is executed. A more detailed example of how the program selection system 13 of the program selection device 13 can be used is shown in Figure 5.

Programvalsanordningen 13 arbetar således efter princi- pen att utnyttja televisionsmottagarens 5 bildskärm för att visa information mellan beställaren och beställ- ningscentralen BC l eller BC 2, t.ex, för beställningar, redigering av beställningar, annulleringar, o.s.v..The program selection device 13 thus operates according to the principle of using the television receiver 5's screen to display information between the customer and the order center BC 1 or BC 2, for example, for orders, editing of orders, cancellations, etc.

Uppkoppling av telefonlinjen göres endast korta stunder vid överföring av kommunikation mellan programvalsanord- ningen 13 och beställningscentralen BC 1 eller BC 2.The telephone line is only connected for a short time when the communication between the program selection device 13 and the order center BC 1 or BC 2 is transferred.

Med hjälp av programvalsanordningen 13 kan meddelanden av olika slag överföras från beställningscentralen BC 1 eller BC 2 till bildskärmen, t.ex. kan beställningscentralen presentera reklam för olika program och/eller filmer på bildskärmen. Även uppmaningar att välja olika program eller listor på program kan överföras till bildskärmen.With the aid of the program selection device 13, messages of various kinds can be transmitted from the order center BC 1 or BC 2 to the monitor, e.g. the order center can present advertisements for various programs and / or films on the screen. Calls to select different programs or lists of programs can also be transferred to the monitor.

Det uppfinningsenliga förfarandet och den uppfinnings- enliga anordningen är inte begränsade till det ovan- nämnda utan kan variera inom ramen för efterföljande patentkrav. Sålunda kan kommunikation ske med fler än två beställningscentraler BC l och BC 2. Vidare kan nämnda förfarande och anordning användas för automa- tisk registrering av de beställda program som beställa- ren inte sett och detta kan ske genom att man registre- rar om dekoderfunktionen inte utnyttjats. I sådana fall kan ej utnyttjade beställningar kvittas mot nya beställ- ningar eller prisnedsättning erhållas vid nya beställ- ningar.The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are not limited to the above but may vary within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, communication can take place with more than two order centers BC 1 and BC 2. Furthermore, said method and device can be used for automatic registration of the ordered programs that the customer has not seen and this can be done by registering if the decoder function is not exploited. In such cases, unused orders can be set off against new orders or a price reduction can be obtained for new orders.

Nyckelkodfunktionen kan antingen tillämpas i samband med telefonbeställningar eller genom köp av nämnda nyckelkodkort.The key code function can either be applied in connection with telephone orders or by purchasing the said key code card.

Claims

509,552 Patent claims:

A method for ordering pay-TV programs in order for them to be decoded and thereby be viewed in the customer's television system (1), wherein one or more programs from a program offer are ordered via the existing telephone network (9) in an order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2) which provides said program offer, wherein decoding information is transmitted from the order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2) via said telephone network (9) to decode the program or programs ordered from said program offer, and wherein billing information is transferred to a billing unit (ll) to allow billing corresponding to the order made of one or more programs from the said program offer, characterized in that decoding information is transmitted from the order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2) only if the customer to the order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2) has entered an authorization code.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that each orderable program is provided with an identification code which is used both by the customer when ordering in the order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2) and when sending the program to activate the customer's decoder (4 ) exactly when the correct program was broadcast.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that differentiated pricing of the programs takes place in dependence on different identification codes of the same.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the customer communicates with the order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2) via a program selection device (13) which is controlled by a remote control unit (14) so that in the customer's television receiver (5) display a menu for communication between the order center (BC 1 or BC 2) and the customer, the program selection device (13) being controlled by the remote control unit (14) to display such a menu in the customer's television receiver (5) which contains such information as facilitates the ordering of the customer.

Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the program selection device (13) can be controlled by the remote control unit (14) to display in the television receiver (5) a menu containing program overview information and / or program selection information and / or program ordering information and / or listing information of ordered programs and / or program request information.

Method for ordering pay-TV programs so that they can be decoded and thereby be viewed in the customer's television system (1), wherein a key code from an order center (BC 1 or BC 2) is stored in a decoder (4) in the customer's television system (1), whereby programs in the program center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program range are coded, and wherein programs sent to the television system (1) are decoded if their coding matches the key code stored in the decoder (4), k It is noted that different programs in the order centre's (BC 1 or BC 2) program offerings are coded differently during transmission and that these can only be decoded if the customer's decoder (4) has stored the key code associated with the programs.

Method according to claim 6, characterized in that a purchaseable key code card (15), valid for a certain program or certain program time, was used to transmit the key code to the customer's or buyer's decoder (4) for the purpose of decoding the intended program or the intended program time. 509 552 10.

Device for carrying out a procedure for ordering pay-TV programs so that they can be decoded and thereby be viewed in the customer's television system (1), an ordering unit (8) being arranged to allow that the customer can call an order center (BC 1 or BC 2) via the existing telephone network (9) to order one or more of the programs from the order center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program offer, the ordering unit (8) being arranged to said telephone network (9) transmitting decoding information to the customer's decoder (4) to decode the program or programs ordered from said program offer, and wherein a charging unit (11) is arranged to receive billing information to allow charging corresponding to the order made of one or more programs from the said program offer, characterized V that the order center (BC 1 or BC 2) is arranged to transmit decoding information n only if the customer to the order center (BC 1 or BC 2) has entered one of this verifiable authorization code.

Device according to claim 8, wherein the customer's decoder (4) cooperates with a program control unit (10) included in the customer's television system (1) which can communicate via the telephone network (9) with the order center (BC 1 and / or BC 2). and which are arranged to cooperate with the decoder (4) with the intention of being able to select selected programs in the program center's (BC 1 and / or BC 2) program offerings, characterized in that the program control unit (10) contains a timer for activating the decoder ( 4) decoding function at the start time for ordered or ordered programs.

Device according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein a program selection device (13) included in the customer's television system (1) is arranged to communicate with the telephone network (9), preferably via a modem 509 552 ll. connection, the program selection device (13) being remotely controllable by means of a remote control unit (14) to call an order center (BC 1 or BC 2) via the telephone network (9) and communicate with it via the telephone network (9), and wherein the program selection device ( 13) is arranged to use menu functions on the customer's monitor, so that a number of functions can be selected on the menu for communication with the order center (BC 1 or BC 2), characterized in that the program selection device (13) is arranged to be connected to it by the customer selects the telephone line in the telephone network (9) only when communication between the program selection device (13) and the order center (BC 1 or BC 2) is in progress.

Device according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the customer's decoder (4) is arranged to store a key code obtained from the order center (BC 1 or BC 2), that programs in the order center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program offerings are coded , and that the decoder (4) is arranged to be able to decode a transmitted program if the coding of the transmitted program matches the key code stored in the decoder (4).

Device according to claim ll, characterized in that different programs in the order center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program range are arranged to be coded differently during transmission and can only be decoded if the customer's decoder has stored a key code associated with the program.

Device according to claim ll, characterized in that different program times are provided with different coding.

Device for carrying out a procedure for ordering pay-TV programs so that they can be decoded and thereby be seen in the customer's television system (1), wherein a decoder (4) in the customer's television system (1) is arranged to store a key code from an order center (BC 1 or BC 2), wherein programs in the order center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program offerings are coded, and wherein the decoder (4) is arranged to decode program sent to the television system (1) if its coding matches the key code stored in the decoder (4), characterized in that different programs in the order center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program offerings are differently coded during transmission and that these can only be decoded if the customer's decoder (4) has stored the key code associated with the programs.

Device according to claim 14, characterized in that different program times in the order center's (BC 1 or BC 2) program offerings are provided with different coding.

Device according to any one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that a purchasable key code card (15), valid for a certain program or certain program time, is arranged to be used for transmitting the key code to the customer's or buyer's decoder (4) in purpose of decoding the intended program or the intended program time.