United State!§ Paten.t [l9J
`Block et at
`
`[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`SUBSCR.JIPTION TELEVISION BILLING
`AND ACCESS
`Inventors: RobertS. Block, Marina Del Ray,
`Calif.; John R. Martin, Milwaukee,
`Wis.
`
`[75]
`
`[73] Assignee:
`'release, Inc., Beverly Hills, Calif.
`[21] Appl. No.: 920,846
`[22] Filed:
`Jun.30, 1978
`
`Reiated U.S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 768,404, Feb. 14, 1977,
`Pat. No. 4,163,254.
`Int. Cl.2 ............................................... JH04N 7/16
`f51]
`[52] u.s. Cl ....................................... 358/122; 358/84;
`358/117; 358/124
`~58] Field of Search ................. 358/84, 114, 122, 123,
`358/124, 117
`
`(56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Callais et al. .......................... 358/84
`2/1974
`3, 790,700
`Hartung et al. ...................... 358/117
`3,919,462 11/1975
`Nieson .................................. 358/117
`4,024,574
`5/1977
`Loshin .................................. 358/124
`4,025,948
`5/1977
`Porter .................................... 358/84
`4,044,376
`8/1977
`Pires ..................................... 358/122
`4,068,264
`1/1978
`Nieson .................................. 358/124
`4,091,417
`5/1978
`Pires ..................................... 358/124
`4,115,807
`9/1978
`Chomet ................................ 358/122
`4,130,833 12/1978
`Primary Examiner-S. C. Buczinski
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane, Swecker &
`Mathis
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`4,2259884
`Sep. 30, 11980
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A subscription television system and method in which
`billing information regarding programs actually viewed
`by a subscriber of the system is accumulated over non(cid:173)
`dedicated telephone lines. A scrambled television pro(cid:173)
`gram signal containing a block of television program
`material, a program identification code unique to the
`block of program material, and a program category
`code, is broadcast. The codes are preferably included in
`the vertical retrace interval of the video portion of the
`program signal and the transmitted program signal is
`selectively received at a subscriber station and selec(cid:173)
`tively unscrambled to permit viewing of the block of
`program material being transmitted in response to sub(cid:173)
`scriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the
`block of program material. The received program cate(cid:173)
`gory code is compared with a locally generated cate(cid:173)
`gory code to determine whether the program is accept(cid:173)
`able for viewing. The program identification code is
`detected and stored for subsequent transmission in re(cid:173)
`sponse to the subscriber action indicating acceptance
`for viewing of the received block of program material.
`The program identification code stored at the sub(cid:173)
`scriber station is selectively accessed from a remote
`location over telephone lines on other than a real time
`basis (e.g., a periodic basis) to thereby provide billing
`information at the remote location as to programs actu(cid:173)
`ally viewed by the subscriber. The subscriber can thus
`be billed monthly or on some desired periodic basis for
`programs actually viewed during the preceding period.
`The billing period can be varied from the remote loca(cid:173)
`tion to provide a means to control the number of pro(cid:173)
`grams which a subscriber can receive.
`
`14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`:-------------------PROGRAiniGNPJ:"ScRMiiliER --:-' 14
`r
`:
`SAUD
`
`AUDIO
`
`PROG
`
`VIDEO
`
`,-------, ;42
`PROGRAM
`VIDEO
`SCRAMBLER
`
`SVID
`
`~-~------------------,---~-~--.'
`
`I
`
`I
`
`L __________________ _PRSJ~~~M -~ D c_ODE ~~~J
`
`\
`
`! ___ ----------------------- ---
`
`- - -"~-~~-
`
`SAUD
`
`SIGNAL
`COMBINER
`
`'52
`1 - - - - - l
`
`MODULATORS
`a
`TRANSMITTERS
`
`54)
`
`SCRAMBLED
`PROGRAM SIGNAl
`TRANSMITTER
`-------------- ----
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 1
`
`

`

`/10
`-----------------------------------------~-----
`\7----~~r-~
`14
`~ [16
`I
`1
`SCRAMBLED
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`
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`
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`
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`PROGRAM I TPC
`ID. CODE
`UNIT
`
`r2o
`BILLING DATA
`GATHERING
`COMPUTER
`
`CENTRAL
`STATION
`EQUIPMENT
`----------------~---~------------------------
`
`FROM
`TELEPHONE
`LINES
`
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`
`, 12
`_/_ _____ I
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`ANTENNA
`TERMINALS
`
`t I
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`CONTROL
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`
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`LINES
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`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 2
`
`

`

`AUDIO
`
`:--- --------------
`I PROGRAM
`~-PROGRAfvrSTGN7fSCRAMBLER-~ , 14
`:
`~,
`AUDIO
`_ SAUD
`r--------~
`40
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`VIDEO
`SYNC
`DETECTOR
`
`46
`
`TSC
`
`SCRAMBLE
`CODE
`GENERATOR
`
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`__________ I
`
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`
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`TSC
`
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`COMBINER
`
`54
`
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`
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`
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`---~----.l----
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`TRANSM liTER
`~---------------------------------
`
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`I.D. CODE
`SELECTOR
`
`__________________ !_R2~~~~-~~-_c_op~ ~~~J
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`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 3
`
`

`

`PROGRAM-SIGNA[ UNScRAM-BLER-1
`
`PROGRAM
`AUDIO
`UNSCRAMBLER
`
`I
`:
`
`m~
`I I UVID
`VIDEO
`UNSCRAMBLER
`\
`I
`L-------+--- -----+----
`
`/28
`
`rl MODULATOR I UPROG
`
`L------:TO TELEVISION
`ANTENNA TEHIIINAlS
`
`~~
`----------------------L-----
`CONTROL a STORAGE UNIT
`:
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`
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`
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`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U o So Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 1980
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`4,225,884
`
`SVID
`
`RSC
`
`64
`
`CODE
`DETECTOR
`
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`
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`
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`32./
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`
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`
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`
`CODE
`DETECTOR
`
`RPC
`
`FIIJ ~
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 5
`
`

`

`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUBSCRIPTION
`TELEVISION BILLING AND ACCESS
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`This application is a continuation-in-part of copend(cid:173)
`ing United States patent application Ser. No. 768,404
`filed Feb. 14, 1977, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.
`4,163,254 on July 31, 1979.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to subscription televi(cid:173)
`sion and more particularly to a method and system for
`obtaining billing
`information
`regarding programs
`viewed by a subscriber of a subscription television sys- 15
`tern.
`Since the advent of subscription or pay television,
`numerous techniques have been devised to bill the sub(cid:173)
`scribers for the service provided. It has been suggested
`that the subscriber pay for subscription television ser- 20
`vices on a fixed charge basis, a uniform cost per unit use
`basis, or on a per program charge basis. More recent
`systems have adopted the per program basis for billing.
`It will be appreciated that a fixed charge or uniform
`charge per unit basis of billing presents the least prob- 25
`!ems with regard to recording and calculating billing
`charges. With a fixed charge system as is used with most
`cable television or CATV systems, the station operator
`merely bills the subscriber a fixed amount on a monthly
`basis.
`The uniform per unit use billing involves somewhat
`more complex procedures since actual viewing time
`must be recorded and somehow made available to the
`operator for billing purposes. Moreover, the viewing
`time must be registered in conjunction with the identity 35
`of each subscriber so that an individual subscriber can
`be billed for his viewing time.
`The most complex billing system and yet the most
`desirable from the standpoint of the subscriber is billing
`on the basis of actual programs viewed with different 40
`charges for different programs. In such a system, the
`billing entity must know both the identity of the sub(cid:173)
`scriber and the identity of the programs viewed during
`a billing period.
`Several billing systems have been developed in order 45
`to charge subscribers to a pay television system on the
`basis of programs actually viewed. Typical of these
`types of systems are the coinbox systems that are exem(cid:173)
`plified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,383. In such a system, the
`subscriber must deposit a certain amount of money in a 50
`coinbox attached to the receiver in order to view a
`particular program. Different programs may be as(cid:173)
`signed different charges so that, for example, a particu-
`lar movie may cost less to view than a sporting event.
`With such a system, payment for the program enables 55
`the viewing of a program and payment is thus assured.
`However, the billing entity (the system operator) must
`collect the money from the coinboxes on a periodic
`basis, requiring considerable manpower and also requir(cid:173)
`ing access to the subscriber's home.
`Another approach to billing on a per program basis
`requires the subscriber to place a telephone call to some
`central location and request the receipt of a particular
`program. The calling subscriber's equipment is then
`enabled and charges for the program can be recorded 65
`and billed to the calling subscriber. It will be appreci(cid:173)
`ated that such a system may encounter difficulties in
`large service areas with a large number of subscribers.
`
`1
`
`4,225,884
`
`2
`In addition, the subscriber's telephone must be utilized
`frequently for this purpose.
`Other approaches to the billing problem in pay TV
`systems include the one of cards or paper tapes that are
`used at the subscriber location to record viewing infor(cid:173)
`mation. In a particular system, a card is mailed to the
`subscriber and is required for operation of the subscrib(cid:173)
`er's receiver. The card is punched or otherwise im(cid:173)
`printed at the subscriber location to record program
`10 charges and must be mailed or otherwise transmitted to
`the system operator so that charges may be assessed.
`Typical of these types of systems are those shown in
`U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,470,309, 3,475,547 and 3,531,583.
`Another type of billing system may be characterized
`as a real time metering or interrogating system such as
`that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,396,232, 3,716,654 and
`3,733,430. These systems typically interrogate the re(cid:173)
`ceivers or otherwise monitor the status of the receivers
`on a program by program basis (e.g., through use of
`special transducers) to determine if the subscriber is
`watching a particular program. This information can be
`used for billing purposes as well as audience survey
`purposes and the like.
`It can be seen that the foregoing systems suffer from
`numerous deficiencies including system complexity,
`enormous time consumption, reliance on subscriber
`action to receive billing information, and the like. It is
`accordingly an object of the present invention to obvi-
`30 ate the foregoing and other deficiencies of the prior art
`pay television system billing procedures through the use
`of a novel method and system for billing on a per pro(cid:173)
`gram basis with a minimum of complex equipment and
`a minimum of human intervention.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a novel method and system for obtaining billing
`information regarding programs actually viewed by a
`subscriber of a pay television system wherein program
`identification data is recorded and is accessed on a peri-
`odic basis from a central location, thus, eliminating the
`need for the gathering of the information through the
`intervention of the system subscriber.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to
`provide a novel method and system for obtaining billing
`information regarding programs actually viewed by a
`pay television system subscriber which utilizes a mini-
`mum of complex equipment and makes use of existing
`equipment at the subscriber location including a tele(cid:173)
`phone at the location.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro(cid:173)
`vide a novel subscriber television system and method in
`which scramble and program codes are received in the
`program video signal and are used in conjunction with
`a telephone access unit to unscramble the received pro(cid:173)
`gram signal and record program viewing under the
`control of a central station linked to the access unit over
`non-dedicated telephone lines.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro(cid:173)
`vide a novel subscriber television system and method in
`60 which the subscriber has the capability to select a pro(cid:173)
`gram for viewing from among a number of different
`available programs and selectively prevent the viewing
`of others of the available programs.
`It is yet a further object of the present invention to
`provide a novel subscriber television system and
`method in which the length of the billing period can be
`varied to provide flexibility in the control of programs
`available to the subscriber.
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 6
`
`

`

`4,225,884
`
`3
`These and other objects and advantages of the pres(cid:173)
`ent invention will become apparent to one skilled in the
`art to which the invention pertains from the following
`detailed description when read in conjunction with the
`appended drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a
`subscription or pay television system in accordance
`with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a signal diagram illustrating an exemplary
`form of the video portion of the program signal with
`scramble and program ID codes as utilized in the sys(cid:173)
`tem of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating the 15
`central transmitting station of FIG. 1 in greater detail;
`FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
`subscriber station equipment of FIG. 1 in greater detail;
`FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an
`access unit with a settable clock for providing variable 20
`length billing periods; and
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a category
`selection device which can be included with the sub(cid:173)
`scriber station equipment.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`Referring now to FIG. 1, the system according to the
`present invention generally comprises central station
`equipment 10 which supplies program signals in a
`scrambled form to subscriber station equipment 12 at 30
`each of the subscriber stations. As will be described
`hereinafter in greater detail, the scrambled program
`signal includes scrambled audio and video signals as
`well as various synchronizing signals and codes. The
`scrambled program signal SPROG is supplied to the 35
`subscribers either by conventional broadcast or cable
`techniques.
`The audio and video signals from a conventional
`source such as television camera equipment are applied
`to a program signal scrambler 14 to produce respective 40
`scrambled audio and video signals SAUD and SVID. In
`addition, the program signal scrambler 14 provides a
`transmitted scramble code TSC for transmission with
`the scrambled program audio and video signals. The
`SAUD, SVID and TSC signals from the scrambler 14 45
`are provided to a suitable conventional transmitter 16
`for production of a scrambled program signal that in(cid:173)
`cludes the code signals and for transmission to sub(cid:173)
`scriber stations.
`A program ID code unit 18 synchronized with the 50
`scrambled video signal and scramble code provides a
`program code TPC for transmission with the program
`signals. This program ID code TPC is combined with
`the scrambled program video and the scrambled code
`for transmission to the subscriber as is described herein- 55
`after in greater detail. In addition, the central station
`equipment 10 may include a billing data gathering com(cid:173)
`puter 20. It should however be understood that the
`billing data gathering computer 20 may be located at
`any convenient central location and need not be located 60
`at the transmitting site.
`The scrambled program signal SPROG from the
`central station equipment 10 is received by a program
`signal receiver 22 at the subscriber station and the re(cid:173)
`ceived signal is supplied both to a program signal un- 65
`scrambler 24 and to a control and storage unit 26. The
`program signal unscrambler 24 operates in response to
`control signals from the control and storage unit 26 to
`
`10
`
`4
`unscramble the incoming program signal and provide
`unscrambled audio. and video signals UAUD and UVID
`to a conventional modulator 28. The modulator 28
`modulates a carrier signal of an appropriate carrier
`frequency with the unscrambled audio and video signals
`and supplies the unscrambled program signal in the
`form of a modulated carrier wave to the television an·
`tenna terminals for use by the subscriber's television set
`in a conventional manner.
`A subscriber control unit 30 provides subscriber con·
`trol of program viewing. The subscriber control unit'30
`may, for example, include one or more subscriber ma(cid:173)
`nipulated controls which permit the subscriber to selec(cid:173)
`tively tune a conventional tuner in the program signal
`receiver 22 in order to select a desired program as well
`as to provide appropriate signals . to the control and
`storage unit 26 indicating that the subscriber has se·
`lected a program for viewing and has thus assumed the
`obligation to pay that program.
`The control and storage unit 26 detects code signals
`in the incoming scrambled program signal for unscram·
`bling and billing purposes. In this respect, the transmit·
`ted scrambled code TSC is detected by the control and
`storage unit 26 and compared to a received scramble
`25 code RSC supplied to the control and storage unit
`through an access unit 32 and stored in the control and
`storage unit. The control and storage unit 26 also de(cid:173)
`tects the transmitted program code TPC in the incom·
`ing program signal and stores the program code of a
`particular program being viewed. The stored program
`code SPC is then supplied on command to the access
`unit 32. As illustrated, the access unit 32 is connected to
`telephone lines which are in turn connectable through
`conventional telephone switching equipment to the
`telephone lines leading to the billing data gathering
`computer 20.
`In operation, the audio and video program signals are
`supplied to the program signal scrambler 14 and are
`scrambled in any suitable conventional manner. For
`example, these signals may be scrambled in accordance
`with the techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,332
`through selective inversion of portions of the video
`signal. The scramble code TSC may be inserted into the
`video signal in order to permit unscrambling of the
`program signals at the subscriber station as is set forth in
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,332.
`In addition, each program that is transmitted in a
`scrambled form may be identified by placing a program
`code TPC in the video signal during the vertical retrace
`interval of the signal or at any other convenient loca(cid:173)
`tion. In this connection, the program code and scramble
`code may be combined with the program video at the
`appropriate locations by synchronizing the generation
`of these codes with the video synchronizing signals in
`any known manner such as that shown in the referenced
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,332.
`The program signal transmitter 16 combines the
`video and code signals and transmits this combined
`signal together with the audio signal at an appropriate
`carrier frequency. The resultant video portion of the
`program signal may thus take the form illustrated in
`FIG. 2. For example, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, the
`successive horizontal lines of the video signal are con·
`ventionally separated by horizontal synchronization
`pulses and each frame of video signals is separated by a
`vertical retrace interval or vertical synchronization
`signal. During' the vertical retrace interval, various
`equalizing and synchronization pulses are provided and
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 7
`
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`4,225,884
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`6
`5
`it is in this interval that the scrambled and program ID
`As was previously mentioned, the program ID code
`unit 18 receives the sync signal from the video sync
`codes are preferably· combined with the transmitted
`detector 44 and generates the program code signal
`program signal. These codes are preferably encoded in
`TPC. In this connection, a program ID code selector 48
`a digital form as illustrated in FIG. 2 although it should
`may be provided to control the generation of a particu-
`be understood that any well known coding technique
`lar program code by a program ID code generator 50.
`such as the tone burst technique described in U.S. Pat.
`Thus, the station operator can select a particular code
`No. 3,824,332 may be utilized.
`for a particular program in this manner.
`With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the trans-
`The scrambled audio and video signals together with
`mitted program video signal is thus in the form of a
`scrambled signal (e.g., with selected frames of video iO the scrambled code and program code are supplied to
`the scrambled program signal transmitter 16 comprising
`information inverted) with codes inserted at appropri-
`a signal combiner 52 and conventional modulators and
`ate locations to identify the program being transmitted
`and to indicate to the subscriber equipment the state of
`transmitters 54. The signal combiner 52 receives the
`the subsequent video signal (i.e., inverted or non-
`scrambled video, scramble code and program code
`inverted). The program signal receiver 22 selects a 15 signals and combines these signals in a conventional
`manner to produce a signal such as that illustrated in
`particular carrier frequency through the use of a con-
`ventional tuner and demodulates the incoming program
`FIG. 2. This combined signal is then applied to the
`signal to recover the audio, video and code signals.
`modulators and transmitters 54 together with the
`The recovered scrambled program signal is supplied
`scrambled audio signal for modulation of these signals
`to the program signal unscrambler 24 and to the control 20 onto a suitable carrier wave for transmission.
`It will thus be appreciated from the diagram of FIG.
`and storage unit 26 for unscrambling and detection of
`the codes contained in the video portion of the program
`3 that the video sync detector 44 detects the appropriate
`signal. The scramble codes detected in the program
`synchronization pulse in the video signal in order to
`trigger the scramble code generator 46 and the program
`signal are used to generate the control signals that con-
`trol the unscrambling of the program signal by the un- 25 ID code generator 50 at appropriate times. For exam-
`pie, the video sync detector 44 preferably detects the
`scrambler 24. The program code in the incoming video
`signal is stored in a storage unit that may be selectively
`vertical sync pulse during the vertical retrace interval
`accessed by an access unit 32. The access unit 32 may
`of the video signal. This vertical sync pulse triggers the
`be, for example, of the type disclosed in copending U.S.
`scramble code generator 46 in order to cause the pro-
`patent applications Ser. No. 683,161 filed May 4, 1976 30 gram video signal to be inverted or passed uninverted at
`an appropriate time. In addition, the detected sync sig-
`and Ser. No. 701,033 filed June 29, 1976, both by Robert
`S. Block and Johri R. Martin.
`nal triggers the scramble code generator and the pro-
`It will be appreciated that the invention provides a
`gram ID code generator in order to synchronize the
`relatively simple manner of subscriber billing that a!-
`generation of the scramble code and program code
`lows for the identification of programs actually viewed 35 signals TSC and TPC with the occurrence of the verti-
`cal retrace interval. The audio scramble control signal
`and the rapid gathering of this information on a periodic
`basis long after a program has been viewed. Each sub-
`ACS generated by the scramble code generator 46 may
`scriber station is selectively accessed so that program
`be any suitable control signal and need not be synchro-
`viewing information in association with subscriber iden-
`nized to the video synchronization pulses.
`tification information is available at a central location 40
`The signal combiner 52 conventionally combines the
`for billing purposes. Moreover, the billing gathering
`video and code signals and the modulators and transmit-
`computer 20 has complete control over the subscriber
`ters 54 provide appropriate modulated signals for either
`station equipment 12 in the sense that it can deny new
`broadcast or cable transmission.
`Referring now to FIG. 4, the program signal receiver
`scrambled codes to the subscriber station equipment on
`a selective basis if that particular subscriber has not paid 45 32 at the subscriber station may include a conventional
`tuner 56 and a conventional demodulator 58. The
`his bill or for other relevant reasons.
`To facilitate an understanding of the present inven-
`scrambled program signal is supplied to the tuner 56 and
`tion, the central station equipment 10 and the subscriber
`to the demodulator 58 for recovery of the scrambled
`equipment 12 are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3
`audio and scrambled video signals. The scrambled
`and 4, respectively.
`50 video signal, of course, contains the program and
`Referring to FIG. 3, the central station equipment
`scramble codes in addition to video information. Con-
`receives the unscrambled program signal UPROG in-
`trol of the tuner 56 and thus selection of a particular
`eluding the audio and video portions. The audio portion
`carrier frequency may be accomplished in a conven-
`is applied to a program audio scrambler 42 and to a
`tiona! manner by a control knob on the subscriber con-
`video sync detector 44. The video sync· detector 44 55 trol unit 30. The control unit 30 may therefore be re-
`ferred to as a program select and accept control since
`detects an appropriate synchronization pulse in the
`this control also may provide for the application of an
`video signal, e.g., the vertical sync pulses, and supplies
`accept signal ACC to the control and storage unit 26 as
`the sync pulse to a scramble code generator 46 and to
`the program ID code unit 18. The scramble code gener-
`an indication that the subscriber has assumed the obliga-
`ator % supplies a video scramble control signal VCS to 60 tion to pay for a particular program to which the equip-
`ment is tuned.
`the program video scrambler 42 and an audio scramble
`control signal ACS to the program audio wrambler 40.
`The scrambled audio signal is supplied to a program
`The program signal is thus scrambled to produce a
`audio unscrambler 60 and the scrambled video signal is
`scrambled audio signal SAUD and a scrambled video
`supplied both to a program video unscrambler 62 and to
`signal SVID in a conventional manner. In addition, the 65 a code detector 64 in the control and storage unit 26.
`scramble code TSC is generated by the scramble code
`The code detector 64, when enabled by the accept sig-
`generator 46 so as to identify the manner in which the
`nal ACC, detects the received scramble code RSC and
`the received program code in the video signal. The
`program signal has been scrambled.
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1050
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00754
`Page 8
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`4,225,884
`
`7
`received scrambled code is supplied to a scramble code
`comparator 66 and the received program code is sup(cid:173)
`plied to a conventional signal storage device 68 for
`storage and later recall by the access unit 32.
`The scramble code comparator 66 receives a stored
`scramble code signal sse from the signal storage de(cid:173)
`vice 68 and generates the video and audio unscramble
`control signals VeS' and AeS', respectively. These
`two signals are supplied to the respective program
`video unscrambler 62 and the program audio unscram- 10
`bier 60 in order to reconstitute the scrambled video and
`audio signals to their original form prior to scrambling
`by the program signal scrambler 14 at the central station
`equipment. This unscrambling process may take the
`form, for example of that illustrated and described in 15
`previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,332. Thus, for
`example, when the received scramble code RSe is coni(cid:173)
`pared to the stored scramble code sse and is identified
`as an invert signal, the VeS' signal causes the program
`video unscrambler 62 to invert the subsequent frame of 20
`video signals. Similarly, when the received scramble
`code is compared with the stored scramble code and is
`identified as a non-invert signal, the video signal is
`passed by the program video unscrambler 62 in an unin- 25
`verted form.
`The access unit 32 is connected to the telephone lines
`as was previously described and provides access be(cid:173)
`tween the billing data gathering computer 20 and the
`signal storage device 68. The subscriber station equip- 30
`ment may be accessed in any one of the various ways
`disclosed in the previously referenced copending patent
`applications of Block and Martin such as through the
`timed placement of a call from the access-unit 32 to the
`computer 20 (e.g., the placement of a call on a monthly 35
`basis). Similarly, when the signal storage device 68 is
`full and can store no more program codes, the access
`unit 32 may place a call to the data gathering computer
`20 to transfer billing information thereto.
`In this connection, the computer 20 and access unit 32 40
`may be connected over the telephone lines through
`conventional telephone switching equipment as com(cid:173)
`manded either from the access unit 32 or from the com(cid:173)
`puter 20. After the connection is effected between the
`computer 20 and the access unit 32, various data may be 45
`transmitted over the telephone lines.
`The computer 20 may, for example, initially com(cid:173)
`mand the access unit 32 to transmit the stored program
`code signals SPe from the signal storage device 68 to
`the computer 20. This may be accomplished in any so
`suitable_ manner as, for example, by sending a code to
`the access unit 32 and generating an interrogate or read
`signal INT which causes the signal storage device 68 to
`supply the stored program codes SPe to the telephone
`lines and therefore to the computer 20. Similarly, the 55
`computer 20 may transmit a code to the access unit 32
`commanding it to generate a strobe or write signal STR
`in order to transmit new scramble codes RSe through
`the access unit to the signal storage device 68. During
`normal operation, then, the signal storage devise may be 60
`supplied with scramble codes for one month's programs
`and at the end of that month new scramble codes may
`be supplied for the next month's programming. At the
`same time, the program codes stored in the signal stor(cid:173)
`age device 68 may be accessed and transferred to the 65
`computer 20 so that the subscriber may be billed for
`actual programs viewed during the preceding month at
`various rates for various programs.
`
`8
`An embodiment of an access unit which provides for
`variable control of the billing period is illustrated in
`FIG. 5. The access unit 32 includes an UP-DOWN
`counter 70 which comprises a settable clock and pro(cid:173)
`vides a signal to indicate when the computer 20