United States Patent [19J
`Seth-Smith et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,866,770
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`COMMUNICATION OF VIDEO, AUDIO,
`TELETEXT, AND DATA TO GROUPS OF
`DECODERS IN A COMMUNICATION
`SYSTEM
`Inventors: Nigel Seth·Smith, Scarborough;
`Cameron Bates; Samson Lim, both of
`Toronto; William van Rassel,
`Willodale; Robert Yoneda, Toronto;
`Keith Lucas, Richmond Hill, all of
`Canada
`
`. [75]
`
`[73] Assignee: Scientific Atlanta, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
`[21] Appl. No.: 896,261
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 14, 1986
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 883,310, Jul. 8, 1986,
`abandoned.
`
`[51]
`Int. Cl.4 ............................................... H04L 9/00
`[52] u.s. Cl ......................................... 380/20; 380/14;
`380/21
`[58] Field of Search ....................... 358/145, 147, 349;
`380/10, 14, 20, 21
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,639,686 2/1972 Walker eta!. ........................ 380/20
`3,777,053 12/1973 Wittig et al. .......................... 380/20
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Comm. Tech. Jul. 1984, pp. 28-32 and 36, Weschsel(cid:173)
`berger (II) Encyprtion applications in Cable TV arena.
`S.M.P.T.E. Journal93 (1984) Oct., No. 10, "NTSC and
`MAC Television Signals in Noise and Interference En(cid:173)
`vironments" by Chouinard et al.-pp. 30-942.
`CCIR Study Groups, "Satellite Transmission of Multi(cid:173)
`plexed Analogue Component (MAC) Television Sig(cid:173)
`nals", Sep. 23, 1983, Documents 10-llS/33, 39,62,
`Temp./10-11S-9.
`
`SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1984, "B-MAC: An Optimum
`Format for Satellite Television Transmission" by John
`D. Lowry, pp. 1034-1043.
`Zenith Radio Corporation, "The Phonevision System
`of Subscription Television" of Jul. 25, 1966, FCC
`Docket No. 11279.
`Primary Examiner-Salvatore Cangialsoi
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Banner, Birch, McKie &
`Beckett
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A communication system enabling transmission of indi(cid:173)
`vidual subscriber teletext messages, audio and video to
`individual subscribers and permitting group communi(cid:173)
`cations of audio, video, teletext and data information
`from a single central subscriber location, such as a cor(cid:173)
`porate head office to a plurality of satellite offices, such
`as field or sales offices of the corporation, is disclosed.
`A composite signal including the information to be
`transmitted as well as system wide, individual decoder
`and group decoder control signals is transmitted. The
`system-wide control signals include data germane to
`operation of each of the decoders of this system, includ(cid:173)
`ing key information needed to decode the composite
`signal. The system-wide control data is transmitted at a
`first relatively high frequency. The group decoder in(cid:173)
`formation includes information permitting individual
`groups of decoders to receive information portion of
`the composite signal being transmitted at a given time.
`In this way, for example, an audio and video signal can
`be transmitted at a convenient time from a central loca(cid:173)
`tion to a number of satellite locations. The group de(cid:173)
`coder control signal can also include signals used by the
`decoder to cause recording of the signals, e.g., by acti(cid:173)
`vating a video cassette recorder or the like. The group
`control signals also include signals defining service
`packages to which the individual groups may be as(cid:173)
`signed. The individual decoder messages include infor(cid:173)
`mation relevant to the operation of each individual
`decoder, including further key information needed to
`decode the composite signal, and group assignment
`codes.
`
`25 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
`
`CRYPTOCYCL£0 CRYPTOCYCI£ I CRYPT'OCYCLE 2 /
`
`C~CYCI..E 0
`
`330
`
`-~--~-~-·-·-·-·-
`
`~
`c.
`{COOMAND~(DATAN)
`
`~ PAcKU ~
`/c
`c
`c-.............
`~MAND2)([JATAz)
`STAFff
`(COMMANO,)(DATA1)
`
`(ASSIG~) {SERVICE OCKAGE ~ 42) \
`
`(DEFlE AUDIO) (SERVICE PACKAGE 6)(ROUTING AUDIO t TO CHANNEL A)
`
`AIXJ?ESSED PACKET: ASSIGN DECODER TO GROUP 42
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 1
`
`

`

`4,866,770
`
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,789,131 1/1974 Harney .................................. 380/20
`4,112,464 9/1978 Guif eta!. ............................. 380/20
`4,245,245 1/1981 Matsumoto eta!. .................. 380/20
`4,292,650 9/1981 Hendrickson ......................... 380/20
`4,323,921 4/1982 Guillou ............................... 358/147
`4,323,922 4/1982 den Toonder eta!. ............... 380/20
`4,337,483 6/1982 Guillou ............................... 358/147
`4,393,404 7/1983 Cox eta!. ............................ 358/147
`4,484,217 11/1984 Block et a!. ......................... 358/349
`4,531,020 7/1985 Weschselberger eta!. .......... 380/21
`4,531,021 7/1985 Bluestein eta!. ..................... 380/21
`
`4,536,791 8/1985 Campbell eta!. ..................... 380/10
`4,600,921 7/1986 Thomas ................................. 380/20
`4,605,961 8/1986 Frederiksen .......................... 380/14
`4,613,901 9/1986 Gilhousen eta!. ................... 380/20
`4,618,888 10/1986 Nohara eta!. ........................ 380/20
`4,623,920 10/1986 Dufresne eta!. ..................... 380/10
`4,636,854 11/1987 Crowther eta!. .................... 380/20
`4,642,688 2/1987 Lowry eta!. ......................... 380/20
`4,649,419 3/1987 Arragon eta!. ...................... 380/20
`4,651,205 2/1987 Crowther .............................. 380/14
`4,682,360 7/1987 Frederiksen .......................... 380/10
`4,694,491 9/1987 Horne eta!. .......................... 380/20
`4,739,510 4/1988 Jeffers eta!. .......................... 380/20
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 2
`
`

`

`ENCRYPTION:
`VIDEO
`AUDIO
`TELETEXT
`SYSTEM DATA
`
`/8
`
`FIG.!
`
`8~
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 3
`
`

`

`CUSTOMER
`FI~LD
`LOC.I9
`USERS
`I
`'314C
`~320 t"x:
`
`STORAGE
`
`~USERS
`CUSTOMERB
`FIELD LOC.6
`~
`3148
`
`.
`
`/cosTOMERA
`USERS FIELD LOC.32
`
`~
`
`314A
`
`306
`
`FIG.1A
`
`oo
`~
`~
`i
`
`\J1 =-
`a
`~ ,.....
`
`N
`
`-....1
`
`.&;~.
`Qc
`0\
`0\
`'!..J
`-.....)
`0
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`
`SCONTAIN
`16FIELD~
`
`COMPLETE SY STEM
`TA
`DA
`TRANSMISSION
`
`VBI
`
`HBI
`
`VIDEO
`
`FIG.2
`
`VBIORVIDEO
`(PREVIOUS FIELD J
`
`30
`FIG. 3
`
`32
`
`HBI
`
`~SIGN MAGMTUDE
`51 TOTAL BITS
`1a1 0_ ~ ~
`. . . . . .
`OiJ 03
`·,A
`.fl £1 Ff D2 ~
`~3 ~3
`
`~
`
`-
`
`r
`
`1-
`
`1-
`
`30FRAM
`I£S PER
`
`SECO ND
`
`-
`
`II
`II
`:/2 FIELDS PER VIDEO
`"FRAME"
`
`VBIOR VIDEO
`
`A
`DIGITAL AND 10-13
`6BITSOF
`44 .--BITS OF EACH OF
`STEPSIZEI
`6 CHANNELS
`46-'BANDWIDTH
`INFO
`HBIDATA
`
`\
`
`A
`
`FIG.4
`
`12 sris OF ECV J: J
`
`I'
`
`A-'
`
`PARITY
`CHECK
`BIT
`ONECC
`52,..,1
`
`FOR ENCODED
`AUDIO
`50
`48--'
`UTILITY BITS
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 5
`
`

`

`78
`rBITS
`
`377BJTS
`CLOCK RECOVERY
`SYNCHRONIZATION
`SERVICE DATA
`DATA
`ADDRESS
`f - - - - - -f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`1 ....
`
`f-ECC __
`
`60
`NE1 j
`Ll
`
`INE2 L
`NE3
`Ll
`
`162
`LINES 4-8
`ADDRESSED
`}
`PACKETS
`
`c-1-- c----------------- ---
`HBI : t= z~: t r=::: :: r--=---=---=-_::::::- ::
`--
`
`~- ----------------------
`
`1--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`~
`J_ELETEXT t- FLAGS _l_pAGE NUMBER . j SPARE _ ____
`
`SPARE
`FLAGS PAGE NUMBER
`r-- - - FLAGSl ____ TEXT- - - - - - - - -
`
`SPARE
`SPARE
`
`VIDEO
`
`VB/
`
`f64
`LINES 9-13
`TELETEXT
`
`..
`66
`Ll
`NEI4)
`
`'NE15 Ll
`
`FIG. 5
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 6
`
`

`

`L/N£1
`
`loldoldold
`+
`SfMBOL
`455
`
`FIG.6
`
`UN£2 HORIZ.DATA--78SYMBOLS / I l l oooo.=]llllllllllllllllololol
`t
`SYMBOL
`79
`
`FRAMING RECOVERYfFD=FIELD
`IDENTIFICATION)
`FIG. 7
`
`!Fol
`t
`SYMBOL
`455
`
`fPHASE REVERSAL
`
`72
`
`UN£ 3
`
`FIG.9
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1939
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 6 of 17
`Sheet 6 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`4,866,770
`
`CRYPTOCYCLE
`I6FIELD
`
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`lPR2016-00754
`
`Page 8
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 7 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`
`FULL FIELD MOD£ SELECT
`
`2
`I
`
`2
`
`KEY SOURCE COO£
`ENCRYPTED PROGRAM
`
`SEGMENT ID
`
`8
`
`PROGRAM TIER NUMBER
`
`4
`
`SERVICE TIER NUMBER
`
`12
`
`PROGRAM NUMBER
`
`8
`
`COST OF CURRENT PROGRAM
`
`14
`
`DECRYPTION KEY ( fST SEGMENT)
`
`FAST SCRAMBLING SELECT
`
`DECRYPTION KEY f2NOS£GMENTJ
`
`9
`
`62
`
`FIG. TO
`f1tCKET A OF
`SYSTEM DATA
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 8 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`
`32
`
`DECRYPTION KEY (3RDSEGMENTJ
`
`FIG. It
`PACKET B
`fF SYSTEM
`DATA
`
`8
`
`BLACKOUT CODE
`
`PROGRAM COST fMSBJ
`
`5
`
`CHECK BITS
`
`FINGERPRINT TRIGGER
`IMPULSE ENABLE
`AUDIO/DATA CHANNEL USAGE
`
`PROGRAM RATING
`
`ACTIVE VIDEO USAGE
`GENERAL MESSAGE
`SOURCE SWITCH REQUEST
`SCRAMBLED PROGRAM
`TRACKED PROGRAM
`
`5
`
`3
`
`2
`
`I
`I
`62
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep.12, 1989
`
`Sheet 9 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`
`PAY-PER-LISTEN
`
`RESERVED
`
`PORT CONTROL BITS
`
`5
`
`8
`
`8
`
`COMMERCIAL CONTROL COMMAND
`
`8
`
`COMMERCIAL CONTROL DATA
`
`8
`
`CHECK BITS
`
`24
`
`RESERVED
`
`62
`
`FIG.12
`
`PACKETC OF
`SYSTEM DATA
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 11
`
`

`

`CONSORTIUM
`I D-2 BITS
`28 81TC'
`CLEARTEXT
`a.EARTW
`~
`USER
`I ADDRESS
`78
`
`CREDIT UPDATES, PRIMARY PROGRAM TIERS, BILLING DATA, KOM
`
`ENCRYPTED-138 BITS
`
`20BITS
`~
`
`CRC
`
`I) USER
`80
`ADDRESS
`
`USER
`ADDRESS
`
`/
`82
`
`CREDIT UPDATES, SECONDARY PROGRAM TIERS, BILLING DATA
`
`CRC
`
`PERSONAL MESSAGE PAGE NUMBERS, HOUSE KEEPING DATA
`
`CRC
`
`841 A~ II MEMORY PATCH
`
`8 { ADDRESS
`74 /
`
`PRIMARY GROUP NUMBER, SECONDARY GROUP NUMBER
`\. 76
`
`ADDRESSED PACKETS
`
`\ 79
`
`CRC
`
`F/G./3
`\. 86
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 12
`
`

`

`t---32BJTS
`
`·1· 32BITS
`
`128BJTS
`
`8BJTS!--159 BITS--l
`
`uh-DA E
`
`SPARE
`
`J:AGE
`t-LAG
`\
`96 ~e
`
`9~
`
`~ \
`
`TELETEXT HEADER
`FIG. 14
`
`TELETEXT
`IDENTIFIER
`
`FLAGS
`
`PAGE NUMBER
`
`92// ~
`I HEADER LINKED ENCRYPTED BOX
`
`FLAG
`/
`/
`921 94a
`94
`
`PAGE
`FLAG
`j
`94b
`
`PAGE
`FLAG
`I
`94c
`
`PAGE
`PAGE NUMBER
`FLAG BIT 15
`I
`)
`94d
`96
`
`j--32BITS-----j 8 BITSt-------320BJTS-------IJ7BITSt--
`TELETEXT
`!HEADER
`IDENTIFIER
`!FLAGS
`
`I
`
`SPARE
`
`40 BYTES ASCII CHARACTERS
`
`100
`
`FIG. 15
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 12 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`
`USER INITIATED
`USER REQUESTS
`liFeR MAT/ON:
`PROGRAMMING
`BILLING STATUS
`
`11
`
`e.
`
`ACCESS EEPROM
`IDENTIFY
`APPROPRIATE
`PAGE
`
`(118
`
`SYSTEM INITIATED
`ADDRESSED PACKET,
`SENT a DETECTED
`INDICATING PERSONAL
`OR BROADCAST
`MESSAGE
`
`fJP INITIATED
`
`DUE
`
`I BILLING UPDATE'
`(,4 0
`
`~138
`
`t
`
`_,r120
`
`GRAB
`INDICATED
`PAGE
`__ l_
`..
`-, , 130
`r
`I REPEAT I..'
`L ___ J
`
`ACCCSS
`EEPROM TO
`COMPLETE AS
`NEEDED
`
`132
`
`134
`
`136
`
`TEXT PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 16
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
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`IPR2016-00754
`Page 14
`
`

`

`1150
`8-MAC
`
`'/52
`VB/
`
`INPUT
`SIGNAL
`
`1601
`CONTROL
`HBI
`(AUDIO) FROM pP
`
`VIDEO
`
`/64
`f
`CONTROL
`FROM pP
`
`/58
`
`162
`
`AUDIO
`
`[128
`DISPLAY
`
`122
`
`f/54
`ADDRESSED PACKETS 8
`SYSTEM DATA (VIA RAM 124 J
`
`MATS
`MICROPROCESSOR
`AND TELETEXT CONTROL
`SUPPORT
`8 KEYS
`~156
`ADDRESS
`
`DAfA
`
`124
`
`DECODER HARDWARE
`
`FIG.I7
`
`~
`r.J'J.
`•
`~
`"""' g
`
`.........
`
`\f).
`
`~
`1-&
`~
`1-&
`\C
`~
`
`ga a
`
`1-&
`w
`~
`1-&
`-....l
`
`~
`....
`QC
`0\
`0\
`....
`......J
`......J =
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 15
`
`

`

`112
`
`174
`
`SYSTEM DATA
`OND. SERVICE
`KEYJ
`
`170
`
`FIG.18
`
`KEY HANDLING AND
`MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
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`IPR2016-00754
`Page 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 15 of 17
`
`4,866,770
`
`3·1 MAJORITY LOGIC
`(MICROPROCESSOR J
`t
`PACKET c IMII~IM31_.
`IM621
`· __ )
`PACKET a!M1jM2jM3j _. -~~
`· ___ ·. ~
`PACKETAlMtlM2IM3,M4! __
`
`REMOVAL OF
`REDUffJANCY FROM
`SYSTEM DATA
`
`FIG. 19
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
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`IPR2016-00754
`Page 17
`
`

`

`CRYPTOCYCLE 0 CRYP7DCYCLE I CRYPrOCYCLE 2 /
`
`CRYPTOCYCLE N CRYPTOCYCLE 0
`~
`
`330
`
`-~·--~-~----------
`
`'-...--'
`PACKET
`c~
`~MMAND2) (pATA2)
`
`~
`PACKET
`c
`(COMMAND~ (DATAN}
`
`'-...--'
`PACKET
`/c
`STAF{f
`
`'-...--'
`PACKET
`c
`(COMMANq}(DATA 1)
`
`(ASS/G~) (SERVICE PACKAG~ROUP 42} \
`
`(DEFINE AUDIO) (SERVICE PACKAGE 6}(ROUTING AUDIO t TO CHANNEL A)
`
`ADDRESSED PACKET: ASSIGN DECODER TO GROUP 42
`
`FIG. 20
`
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`IPR2016-00754
`Page 18
`
`

`

`212
`
`/
`KOM
`
`DATA IN
`(ENCRYPTED StSTEM
`DATA, ADDRESSED
`PACKETS, TELETEXT
`
`DECRYPTION
`ALGORITHM
`
`DECRYPTED
`DATA OUT
`
`SECRET
`SERIAL
`/NUMBER
`
`SYSTEM
`KEY\
`.
`216
`
`214
`
`DECRYPTION
`
`FIG. 21
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
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`IPR2016-00754
`Page 19
`
`

`

`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`COMMUNICATION OF VIDEO, AUDIO,
`TELETEXT, AND DATA TO GROUPS OF
`DECODERS IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. ap(cid:173)
`plication Ser. No. 883,310 filed July 8, 1986, now aban(cid:173)
`doned i favor of Ser. No. 253,320, filed Sept. 30, 1988, in
`the name of negel Seth-Smith et. al and entitled: "Com(cid:173)
`munications Format for a Subscription Television sys(cid:173)
`tem permitting transmission of individual Messages to
`subscribers".
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to communication of video,
`audio, teletext, and data from a central transmitter to
`groups of decoders. More particularly, this invention
`relates to a method and apparatus for communication of
`these types of information signals between, for example, 20
`a head office and a number of district offices of a corpo(cid:173)
`ration. The system may be used by a non-governmental
`satellite company which arranges private communica(cid:173)
`tions for corporations, for example, between their head
`and remote offices, and can provide varying types of 25
`signal communication therebetween.
`
`BACKGROUND, OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF
`THE INVENTION
`The most pertinent prior art with respect to the pres- 30
`ent invention known to the inventors relates to sub(cid:173)
`scription television systems in which communication of
`billing data to individual subscribers of the system is
`made possible. See U.S. Pat. No 4,487,217 to Block et
`a!., which discloses a subscription television system in 35
`which all billing calculations are carried out at the de(cid:173)
`coder, that is, at the individual subscriber's location.
`When a subscriber makes a payment, e.g., by simply
`mailing a check to the broadcaster, the broadcaster then
`sends a message which is detected by that particular 40
`decoder and used by it to update the user's credit and(cid:173)
`/or account balance information The decoder then
`controls whether the user is to have access to a particu-
`lar program or not in accordance with this billing infor(cid:173)
`mation, and possibly also in accordance with other sorts 45
`of access controls transmitted by the broadcaster For
`example, each program transmitted may include an
`indication that it belongs to a particular "tier" or class
`of programs. The decoder then permits access to the
`program if programs of that tier had previously been 50
`authorized.
`The Block et al patent also discloses that teletext data,
`that is, textual information relating to stock market
`reports and the like, could also be transmitted using this
`system. However, the teletext data discussed in the 55
`Block et a! patent appears to be system-wide data, that
`is, data relevant to all subscribers of the system more or
`less equally. The Block et a!. patent does not teach any
`way in which, for example, an individual broadcaster
`may send a chosen subscriber a personal message other 60
`than billing update data, as above.
`"Specification of Standards for Broadcast Teletext
`Signals," a document published by the British Broad(cid:173)
`casting Corporation eta!. in September, 1976, describes
`the teletext broadcasting system in effect in the United 65
`Kingdom. According to this system, teletext informa(cid:173)
`tion such as closed-captioned programming is available
`for the hearing impaired. According to this system, as
`
`1
`
`4,866,770
`
`2
`understood by the applicants, the subscriber simply
`depresses a button on a key pad comprised by the de(cid:173)
`coder, and the decoder then selects alphanumeric data
`which is transmitted during the vertical blanking inter(cid:173)
`val of the standard television signal. The decoder can
`then add this closed-captioned textual material directly
`to the video screen, so that it can be seen by the hearing
`impaired. Again, however, this material is transmitted
`system-wide, and there is no provision made for trans-
`10 mission of individual messages to individual subscribers.
`In two co-pending applications assigned to the as(cid:173)
`signee of the present application Serial Nos. 883,301
`filed July 8, 1986, and 883,310, filed July 8, 1986, there
`is described an improved subscription television system.
`15 According to the inventions described therein, individ(cid:173)
`ual teletext messages may be transmitted to individual
`subscribers. The manner in which this is done is de(cid:173)
`scribed below. For purpose of understanding the pres-
`ent invention, it may be stated that the signal which is
`transmitted from the broadcaster includes messages
`which are directed to individual decoders. The decod-
`ers recognize that a message has been transmitted to
`them. They then subsequently select teletext informa(cid:173)
`tion transmitted as part of the composite audio, video,
`teletext and data signal and display this to the individual
`subscriber. That system also includes transmission of
`system-wide control data, that is, data which is relevant
`to operation of all the decoders, such as identification of
`the video program being transmitted at any particular
`time.
`One limitation on the communication system de(cid:173)
`scribed in these applications is that individual decoders
`must be individually authorized by means of messages
`sent individually to them to receive certain information,
`specifically in order to receive teletext messages. While
`this is generally feasible, there is a limitation on the
`system throughput, as each decoder must be addressed
`individually.
`The present invention recognizes that in some cases it
`may be desirable for an individual transmitter, for exam(cid:173)
`ple, located at a corporate head office, to be provided
`with the capability to simultaneously transmit a single
`message, which might include video, audio, teletext or
`utility data to be transmitted, to a number of individual
`local offices. Preferably, the selection of the offices and
`of the information signal to be transmitted can be made
`individually at the transmitter location, either by corpo(cid:173)
`rate officials or by an intermediate service company. In
`this way significantly improved flexibility is provided.
`For example, suppose a corporation occasionally
`wishes to send the identical message to all of its branch
`laboratories, research stations, service offices and sales
`offices. The message may comprise video, audio, tele(cid:173)
`text or utility data. [The distinction between teletext
`and data in this context is that "teletext" refers to textual
`information solely for display on a CRT or the like,
`whereas "utility data" refers to ordinary RS-232 data,
`i.e. to inter-computer communications]. At other times
`it may be desirable to send a directive only to the re(cid:173)
`search facilities, at another time to the marketing
`groups, and so on.
`In order to do so it is an object of the invention to
`provide a so called "commercial decoder" which is
`supplied to all locations with which such communica(cid:173)
`tions is desired. At the central location, that is, at the
`corporate headquarters in this example, a control device
`is provided to assign individual decoders to groups of
`decoders, and to define which services i.e., audio, video,
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 20
`
`

`

`4,866,770
`
`3
`teletext and/ or utility data - each group is to receive at
`any given time. Individual signals may be sent to each of
`the decoders identifying its present group assignment.
`Thereafter, an indication of the services which the de(cid:173)
`coders of each group are to decode and present to the
`users is transmitted regularly. In effect, the decoders
`themselves determine which services are to be decoded
`from the transmitted signal and made available to the
`users. In this way, simply by reconfiguring the groups
`and/or the "service package", the central transmitter 10
`can control which offices receive the various informa(cid:173)
`tion signal portions of the transmitted "composite sig(cid:173)
`nal", all in a highly efficient, flexible, and orderly fash(cid:173)
`ion.
`There are a number of constraints on the design of the 15
`system. Briefly stated, it is an object of the invention to
`permit the following capabilities:
`Because the cost of transponder time varies over the
`24 hours of each day, it should be possible to transmit
`messages when desired, i.e. during the night, for exam- 20
`ple. This requires a means for remote actuation of a
`recording device.
`The service should be controlled by the network
`user, that is by the corporate headquarters only, not by
`the decoder. In particular the network user expects that 25
`all the receivers will act in an identical way. This is in
`contrast to the subscription television use of the com(cid:173)
`munications system of the invention, in which the indi(cid:173)
`vidual subscriber selects particular programs.
`The revenue earned by the satellite owner should be 30
`derived only from a network user, not from the individ(cid:173)
`ual decoder users, in order to simplify bookkeeping and
`the like. By comparison, in the subscription television
`system, revenue is derived from each individual user.
`It seems likely that some customers may be one time 35
`or very sporadic service users. It should be possible to
`allow new customers to be added readily, without af(cid:173)
`fecting service to existing customers.
`It should also be recognized that the decoder will
`typically remain chained to a single transponder for a 40
`relatively long periods of time, as opposed to the indi(cid:173)
`vidual subscriber system, in which the user must be
`allowed to rapidly change channels, as one does with
`conventional television set. Therefore "lockup," that is,
`reception of the signal after channel change or power 45
`up, may be permitted to consume several seconds in the
`case of the commercial decoders.
`As described above, the network user should be per(cid:173)
`mitted to reclassify those of his decoders which receive
`given services at given times, i.e., to change their 50
`groups, and this should be readily alterable for conve(cid:173)
`nience' sake.
`Allocation of the services, whether by the network
`user or by an intermediate satellite service company,
`should be possible at a single central site. Furthermore, 55
`network planning and decoder group assignment
`should be permitted on the spot and be implemented by
`software, as opposed to repairing laborious hardware
`modifications, which would take advance planning and
`be more costly.
`As indicated above, the prior art suggests that indi(cid:173)
`vidual decoders can be addressed for transmission of
`billing information. It would also be desirable if individ(cid:173)
`ual user messages, this including video, audio, teletext
`and data, could be transmitted to individual users or 65
`groups of users so as to prov_ide an additional communi(cid:173)
`cations facility not previously made available. If this is
`to be done, there are several criteria which must be met.
`
`4
`Paramount among these is security; preservation of the
`secrecy of the message and its availability only to the
`particular addressee is of utmost importance.
`It is therefore stated broadly to be an object of the
`invention to provide a communication format and sys(cid:173)
`tem in which individual groups of decoders can be
`addressed in a convenient and readily alterable fashion,
`and in which particular classes of service can be al(cid:173)
`lowed to each decoder in the group. More particularly,
`it is an object of the invention to provide a ready means
`for establishing, at a transmitter location, the identity of
`decoders in a particular group, and for transmitting at
`regular intervals an indication of the service to be made
`available to the decoders of each group, whereby ready
`reallocation of services is possible.
`In assigning individual decoders to groups so as to
`thereafter be able to readily redefine the services al(cid:173)
`lowed to each of the decoders, it is desirable that "his(cid:173)
`torical" records of the group assignments for each of
`the decoders be maintained, such that plural "normal"
`assignments are available, and so that selection between
`several common arrangements is readily possible and
`does not involve excessive operator input. In order to
`do so, it is desirable that a "data base" be maintained
`concerning each of the individual decoders, whereby
`such updated records can be readily provided and
`changes can readily be made, and to do so is an object
`of the invention.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`communication system in which communication of
`audio, video, teletext and data to groups of decoders
`can be accomplished in an extremely secure and tam(cid:173)
`per-proof fashion.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`communications format and system in which individual
`text messages can be transmitted to individual subscrib(cid:173)
`ers, yet in which a network user at a transmitter location
`can send identical messages to groups of decoders, such
`that groups of decoders can receive a single text mes(cid:173)
`sage transmitted simultaneously, while at the same time
`individual users can be addressed individually, using the
`same overall transmission format and transmitter hard-
`ware.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`system in which the network user can effectively con(cid:173)
`trol what is received by an individual decoder, and in
`which such control can be readily altered by an opera(cid:173)
`tor at the transmitter location without requiring any
`hardware modifications to any decoder or the equiva-
`lent.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide the
`transmitter with the capability to activate a video cas(cid:173)
`sette or other recorder at the decoder location, so that
`a message sent at night (to take advantage of lower
`transmission costs) can be recorded automatically and
`be available to be viewed when convenient.
`The above needs of the art and objects of the inven(cid:173)
`tion are satisfied by the present invention, which com(cid:173)
`prises a communications format and system in which an
`60 operator at a central transmitter location assigns indi(cid:173)
`vidual decoders in a system to groups. An "addressed
`packet" addressed to the individual decoder identifying
`its particular group assignment may be transmitted.
`Thereafter, on a regular basis, control signals indicating
`which services (i.e. audio, video, teletext and/or data)
`each group is permitted to decode are transmitted. Each
`of the decoders of the particular group is enabled to
`decode those particular services and no others.
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1046
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 21
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`5
`More particularly, each decoder is provided with a
`"user address" and a "secret serial number". Each de(cid:173)
`coder is designated to be part of one or more particular
`groups by storing one or more group codes in its mem(cid:173)
`ory. There may be up to 255 unique group codes used
`by a network user. For example, a corporation may use
`the group codes in order to subdivide its operation, e.g.
`factory decoders are group 32, sales office decoders
`group 37, and so on. All decoders assigned to the same
`group will receive exactly the same service.
`A "service" is defined as a particular portion of the
`composite audio, video, teletext and utility data signal
`used according to the preferred embodiment of the
`invention. As noted, the services may be video, utility
`data, audio, and/or teletext.
`A "service package" is defined as a set of services.
`There may be up to some maximum number of service
`packages available at any one time. Typically, a service
`package is purchased by a customer of the network
`operator for use in distributing information to the 20
`groups. Two service packages may use the same ser(cid:173)
`vice. For example, a French speaking sales group
`would receive the same video but different audio than
`would an English speaking sales group. Thus these two 25
`service packages would both include the same video
`service.
`The composite signal includes a set of system-wide
`control information, or "system data", which is used by
`each decoder to control various system level opera- 30
`tions. A portion of the "system data" is the so-called
`"commercial control sequence". This comprises anum(cid:173)
`ber of commands, each defining the current assignment
`of services to groups. Membership in a group is trans(cid:173)
`mitted to the decoder by means of an individually ad- 35
`dressed message which is transmitted only sporadically.
`By comparison, a portion of the commercial control
`sequence is transmitted once per "cryptocycle", that is,
`each time a complete set of the system data is transmit-
`ted.
`All of the control data is preferably encrypted, and in
`general is transmitted a multiplicity of times for ensur(cid:173)
`ing the accuracy of its decoding and for ensuring its
`security. Typically, each element of the system data,
`including each portion of the commercial control se- 45
`quence, is transmitted in identical format five times in a
`row during each cryptocycle.
`Transmission of teletext may involve several addi(cid:173)
`tional features For example, certain teletext information
`may be repeatedly transmitted by the transmitter, in so
`order to provide certain frequently used information,
`referred to as "templates." The templates may be used
`by the decoder to complete a message in both the com(cid:173)
`mercial decoder and the individual decoder embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the invention. In either case, the decoder's 55
`microprocessor stores certain data which varies with
`respect to the individual decoder, and completes the
`message by inserting this "user-specific" data into the
`template provided by the transmitter.
`In general, the commercial decoder is controlled 60
`completely from the transmitter, that is, no input device
`is provided to the decoder other than a simple on/off
`switch. Indeed, the message transmitted by the trans(cid:173)
`mitter may also cause the decoder to output an external
`signal, e.g., to activate a video cassette recorder, to 65
`record a message sent from the head office of a corpo(cid:173)
`rate transmitter or the like. On the other hand, in some
`embodiments, user input may be desirable, e.g., to select
`
`40
`
`4,866,770
`
`6
`templates or the like, and such is accordingly also
`within the scope of the invention.
`The same composite communication signal format is
`used in the commercial decoder and in the individual
`subscriber embodiments of the invention. In each, the
`signal format includes transmission of a complete set of
`system data over a number of fields, sixteen in the pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment. Each field is transmitted as a num(cid:173)
`ber of lines, and contains a horizontal blanking interval
`portion, which includes the audio, a vertical blanking
`interval which includes system data, used to transmit
`data relevant to the operation of all the decoders in the
`system, addressed packet data used to send individual
`messages to individual decoders, and teletext if any, and
`a video portion, which in the preferred embodiment is
`encoded according to the so-called "B-MAC" format,
`which is discussed below. Both the system data and the
`addressed packets as mentioned above include key in(cid:173)
`formation which must be used by the decoder to decode
`the various encrypted portions of the signal. In this
`manner a very high degree of security is provided.
`In the preferred embodiment, the system data is ex(cid:173)
`tensively protected by means of additional error correc(cid:173)
`tion characters and by duplication, such that it is very
`reliably received. Due to this duplication, the system
`data required for operation of the system cannot be
`transmitted in a single line of a single field. Therefore,
`the system data is divided into a number of g