United States Patent [19]
`Seth-Smith et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,829,569
`May 9, 1989
`
`[54] COMMUNICATION OF INDMDUAL
`MESSAGES TO SUBSCRIBERS IN A
`SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Ni~i Seth-Smith; Cameron Bates;
`Samson Lim; William van Rassel;
`Robert Yoneda, all of Toronto; Keith
`Lucas, Ontario, all of Canada
`
`[73] Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 883,301
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Jul. 8, 1986
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 653,061, Sep. 21, 1984.
`
`[51]
`Int. Cl.4 ....................... H04N 7/167; H04N 7/08;
`H04N 7/04
`[52] u.s. Cl •........................................ 380/10; 358/86;
`358/142; 358/147; 358/149; 358/260; 358/294;
`380/20
`[58] Field of Search ....................... 380/10, 20, 21, 43;
`358/147, 256, 260, 294, 84, 86, 142, 149
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Re. 30,773 10/1981 Glaser eta! ..
`3,728,480 4/1973 Baer .
`3,989,899 11/1976 Norwich .
`4,052,719 10/1977 Hutt eta! ..
`4,205,343 5/1980 Barrett .................................. 380/18
`4,225,884 9/1980 Block eta! ............................ 380/20
`4,245,245 1/1981 Matsumoto eta! .............. 380/20 X
`4,323,921 4/1982 Guillou ................................. 380/18
`4,337,483 6/1982 Guillou ............................. 380/18 X
`4,388,643 6/1983 Aminetzah ............................ 380/20
`4,393,404 7/1983 Cox eta! ............................. 358/147
`4,484,027 11/1984 Lee et al. .............................. 380/21
`4,484,217 11/1984 Block eta! ..
`4,531,020 7/1985 Wechselberger eta!. ............ 380/21
`4,536,791 8/1985 Campbell eta! ............... 358/263 X
`4,595,950 6/1986 Lotberg ............................ 380/20 x
`4,599,647 7/1986 George eta! ..................... 380/20 X
`· 4,613,90"1 9/1986 Gilhousen et a! .................... 380/20
`4,623,920 11/1986 Dufresne et a! .................. 380/10 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0149746 7/1985 European Pat. Off ..
`8601962 3/1986 PCT Int'l Appl. ................... 380/10
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Series 9700 B-MAC Digital Decoder 525-Line System,
`Technical Manual, Digital Video Systems Corp, DVS
`Part No. 707-042, 1987.
`(List continued on ne~t page.)
`
`Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Buczinski
`Assistant Examiner-Linda J. Wallace
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Banner, Birch, McKie &
`Beckett
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A subscription television system in which individual
`decoders are enabled to receive individually addressed
`messages is disclosed. The composite signal, including
`video and teletext, also comprises addressed packets,
`which are detected by decoders and which indicate that
`a message addressed to a particular subscriber is forth(cid:173)
`coming, and system control data. The decoder detects
`an addressed packet addressed to itself, whereby it is
`enabled to select the appropriate teletext message and to
`display the same. In a preferred embodiment, both ad(cid:173)
`dress packets and teletext are encrypted. The addressed
`packet is decrypted using a decoder-specific code and a
`system key transmitted as part of the system control
`data, while the teletext packet is decrypted using the
`system key, but cannot be received until the addressed
`packet has been decrypted. Therefore, redundant levels
`of security are provided to the system. Messages for
`display to the user can be selected in response to user
`initiated commands, in response to decoder initiation, or
`in response to the transmitter. In each case, the bulk of
`the data to be displayed is repetitively transmitted by
`the transmitter and is adapted to the particular user after
`receipt by supply of user-specific information generated
`or stored by the decoder. In this way, the memory
`requirements of the decoder are substantially mini(cid:173)
`mized, while extensive flexibility in the choice of mes(cid:173)
`sages to be transmitted is provided.
`
`7 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`w
`
`BIWIIG STATUS IJ'OATES
`BROADCAST MESSIGES
`
`~ MESS.IGES /<7\
`t·
`
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`

`4,829,569
`
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`CCIR Study Group Report Document 10-11S-E,
`9/23/83, "Satellite Transmission of Multiplexed Ana(cid:173)
`logue Component (MAC) Television Signals".
`Journal of the SMPTE, 10/84, Gerald Chouinard and
`John N. Barry, pp. 930-942, "NTSC and MAC Televi(cid:173)
`sion Signals in Noise and Interference Environments".
`ORACLE, SMPTE Journal, vol. 83, 1/74, by G. A.
`McKenzie, pp. 6-10, "An Information Br~adcasting
`
`Service Using Data Transmission in the Vertical Inter(cid:173)
`val".
`Wireless World, 5/73, p. 222, "TV Information Service
`Signal Format for B.B.C. System".
`Wireless World, 7/73, pp. 314-316, by A. James,
`"ORACLE-Broadcasting the Written Word".
`SMPTE Journal, 11/84, pp. 1034-1043, by John D.
`Lowry, "B-MAC: An Optimum Format for Satellite
`Television Transmission".
`
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`

`TEMPLATE
`~z~T3:'fr1f~~SAGES
`BROADCAST MEs'f:3#IES
`
`VIDEO
`MULTICHANNEL
`AUDIO
`
`18
`
`FIG. 1
`
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`

`U.S. Patent May 9, 1989
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`4,829,569
`
`SCONTAIN
`16FIEL~
`STEM
`COMPLETE SY
`
`DA TA
`TRANSMISSION
`
`~
`
`VBI
`
`HBI
`
`VIDEO
`
`FIG.2
`
`VB! OR VIDEO
`(PREVIOUS FIELD J
`
`30
`FIG. 3
`
`32
`
`HBI
`
`r-
`
`r-
`
`r-
`
`r-
`
`1-
`
`
`30FRAM 'ESPER
`
`SECO ND
`
`II
`II
`Jl2 'FIELDS PER VIDEO
`"FRAME 11
`
`4SIGN MAGNITUDE
`--~:~~~4~~~~~-.... -~~~rn 1111111111.
`
`VB! OR VIDEO~
`
`6 BITS OF
`DIGITAL AUDI0-13
`STEPSIZE I
`44.....,... BITS OF EACH OF
`6 CHANNELS
`46-'BANDWIDTH
`INFO
`
`12 BITS OF ECC~
`FOR ENCODED
`AUDIO
`50
`48_,..
`UTILITY BITS
`
`PARITY
`a-JECK
`ot'lcc
`52~
`
`F/G. 4
`
`HBI DATA
`
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`

`

`377BITS
`CLOCK RECOVERY
`SYNCHRONIZATION
`SERVICE DATA
`DATA
`ADDRESS
`1-ECC __
`f - - - - - - -1---------------
`~-t-- c----------------- ---
`
`78
`~BITS
`
`HBI
`
`60
`INE1 j
`L
`INE2
`L
`L INE 3
`
`)
`
`162
`LINES 4-8
`ADDRESSED
`PACKETS
`
`f64
`LINES 9-13
`TELETEXT
`
`~- --~---------------~---
`1--- --1----------------- ~---
`I~
`[_ELETEXT f- FLAGS _l_pAGE NUMBER . j SPARE _ ____
`.__!D__ ~~f--- :~----------
`=--+ -:Un:s1JJ'MENU~~~ I SPARE-:=-::-_-~
`---
`
`SPARE
`SPARE
`
`VIDEO
`
`VB/
`
`66
`"
`Ll
`NEI4)
`u
`'NE15
`FIG.5
`
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`Page 5
`
`

`

`L/NE1
`
`jHORIZ. DATA--78 SYMBOCS /1/0 /1/0/1/0 /1 /o /1/ o/ -_----
`t
`CLOCK RECOVERY
`SYMBOL
`79
`
`FIG.6
`
`rPHASE REVERSAL
`LINE 2 HORIZ.DATA--78 SYMBOLS 1 1 1 1 o o o o -=:-llllllllllllllll lololol
`t
`FRAMING RECOVERYfFD=FIELD
`SYMEKJL
`IDENTIFICATION)
`79
`FIG. 7
`
`I Fof
`t
`SYMBOL
`455
`
`72
`
`UNE 3
`
`FIG. 8
`
`SYMBOL
`79
`
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`

`

`CONSORTIUM
`ID-2BITS
`28 B''TS
`CLEARTEXT
`a.EARTEXT
`~r
`USER
`f AIXHSS
`78
`
`ENCRYPTED-138 8TS
`
`CREDIT UPDATES, PRIMARY PROGRAM TIERS, BILLING DATA, KOM
`
`CRC
`
`') USER
`80
`ADDRESS
`
`USER
`ADDRESS
`
`/
`82
`
`CREDIT UPDATES, SECONDARY PROGRAM TIERS, BILLING DATA
`
`CRC
`
`PERSONAL MESSAGE PAGE NINBERS, HOUSE KEEPING DATA
`
`CRC
`
`841 Al!lfllss II MEMORY PATCH
`
`8 ( ADDRESS
`74...1 ~76
`
`\_79
`
`PRIMARY GROUP NUMBER, SECONDARY GROUP NUMBER
`
`CRC
`
`..&;.
`....
`FIG. 9 ~
`ADDRESSED
`\0
`6 PACKETS Ut
`tB
`0'\
`\0
`
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`
`

`

`r--32BITS
`
`32BITS
`
`128BITS
`
`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 NIMBER
`FLAG BIT 15
`I
`)
`94d
`96
`
`~
`
`r--32BITS
`TELETEXT
`IDENTIFIER
`
`102/
`
`• 18 BITS
`tHEADER
`FLAGS
`)
`104
`
`100
`
`320BITS
`
`40 BYTES ASCI I CHARACTERS
`
`TEXT LINE
`
`FIG. II
`
`8BITSj--159 BITS--j
`uh-
`DA E
`~AGE SPARE
`LAG
`\
`'
`96
`94e
`
`9~
`
`TELETEXT HEADER
`F/G./0
`
`17BITSr----
`
`SPARE I
`I
`108
`
`f
`/06
`
`TJ). ::r a
`0\ e, ,.....
`=
`...
`
`._.
`00
`N
`~ ._.
`Ul
`0\
`~
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1065
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`IPR2016-00755
`Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent May 9, 1989
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`4,829,569
`
`USER INITIATED
`USER REQUESTS
`~ IIFCRMATICN:
`ff
`PROGRA!tNING
`BILLING STATUS
`
`SYSTEM INITIATED
`ADDRESSED PACKET,
`SENT 8 DETECTED
`INDICATING PERSONAL
`OR BROADCAST
`MESSAGE
`
`PP INITIATED
`BILLING UPDATE
`DUE
`
`~f38
`
`(140
`
`ACCESS EEPROM
`IDENTIFY
`APPRO PRINE
`PAGE
`
`(,8
`
`vt2o
`
`GRAB
`INDICATED
`PAGE
`
`-- .__
`-, , 130
`r
`I REPEAT~,.. ...
`L ___ J
`
`~
`
`f32
`
`ACCCSS
`EEPROM TO
`COMPLETE AS
`NEEDED
`
`TEXT PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 12
`
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`

`

`MATS
`{152
`/150
`VB/
`8-MAC
`INPUT
`M/CROPROCE~R
`_.:S/.::GN:....:A:..:..L---t-....:......_ __ _,_ __ ---t AND TELETEXT CONTROL
`/601
`SUPPORT
`8 KEYS
`~156
`HBI
`CONTROL
`(AUDIO) FROM /lP
`ADDRESS
`
`,r/54
`ADDRESSED PACKETS 8
`SYSTEM DATA (VIA RAM 124 J
`
`ROM
`
`DMA
`
`122
`
`VIDEO
`
`/64
`f
`CONTROL
`FROM pP
`
`124
`
`/62
`
`· AUDIO
`
`j128
`DISPLAY
`
`DECODER HARDWARE
`
`FIG. 13
`
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`
`

`

`rro
`
`FIG. 14
`
`KEY HANDLING AND
`MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent May 9,1989
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`4,829,569
`
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`IPR2016-00755
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`
`

`

`COMMUNICATION OF INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES
`TO SUBSCRffiERS IN A SUBSCRIPTION
`TELEVISION SYSTEM
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. ap(cid:173)
`plication Ser. No. 653,061, filed Sept. 21, 1984 in the
`name of Keith Lucas and entitled: "Information Display
`Scheme for Subscribers of a Subscription Television
`System".
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1
`
`4,829,569
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This application relates to improvements in subscrip(cid:173)
`tion television systems. More particularly, the invention
`relates to apparatus and methods for communicating
`individually addressable text messages from a central
`location to individual subscribers of a subscription tele(cid:173)
`vision system.
`
`2
`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(cid:173)
`mission of individual messages to individual subscribers.
`Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are a
`number of constraints on the operation of any successful
`subscription television system. For example, there must
`be an extremely reliable and trustworthy method of
`10 computing charges to be billed to the subscriber and for
`communication of credit status updates. It is also desir(cid:173)
`able that the subscriber be permitted to prepay for cer(cid:173)
`tain classes of service, for example, to have access to a
`particular broadcaster's offerings. On the other hand, it
`15 is also desirable that an "impulse" purchase system be
`provided such that the viewer could purchase a particu(cid:173)
`lar program on a "pay-per-view" basis when desired.
`Similarly, it is desired that a running list of programs
`purchased by the subscriber be available, such that he
`20 can confirm that he is indeed being billed correctly. It is
`furthermore desired that means be provided for secur-
`The sophistication of communications systems in-
`volving subscription television is continually increasing.
`ing the system against improper use, which includes
`both prevention of viewing of inappropriate subject
`The systems being installed at this time have greatly
`improved communications flexibility as compared to
`matter and purchase of fee-bearing material by persons
`those previously in use, while the quality of the trans- 25 not authorized to do so.
`mitted signal is continually being improved, as is flexi-
`bility in the business arrangements possible between the
`The requirement that the credit status be updateable
`subscriber and the broadcaster.
`further requires that communication be possible in both
`directions between the decoder and the transmitter.
`For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,217 to Block et
`al., there is disclosed a subscription television system in 30 However, it would be inefficient to provide individual
`which all billing calculations are carried out at the de-
`uplink transmission facilities at each decoder, for exam-
`coder, that is, at the individual subscriber's location.
`ple, in a satellite TV system. Therefore, it is desirable
`When a subscriber makes a payment, e.g., by simply
`that a two-way communications facility be provided
`mailing a check to the broadcaster, the broadcaster then
`connecting each decoder with the transmitter, but in
`sends a message which is detected by that particular 35 which the two data links are not made using the same
`decoder and used by it to update the user's credit and-
`medium. Therefore, the communication facility which
`/or account balance information. The decoder then
`carries subscription television signals from the transmit-
`controls whether the user is to have access to a particu-
`ter to the decoder is not the same as that used to carry
`lar program or not in accordance with this billing infor-
`payment status information, queries or the like from the
`mation, possibly also in accordance with other sorts of 40 decoder to the transmitter.
`As indicated above, the prior art suggests that indi-
`access controls transmitted by the broadcaster. For
`example, each program transmitted may include an
`vidual decoders can be addressed for transmission of
`billing information. It would also be desirable if individ-
`indication that it belongs to a particular "tier" or class
`of programs. The decoder then permits access to the
`ual user messages could be transmitted to individual
`program if programs of that tier had previously been 45 users such as to provide an additional communications
`authorized.
`facility not previously made available. If this is to be
`The Block et al. patent also discloses that teletext
`done, there are several criteria which must be met.
`data, that is, textual information relating to stock market
`Paramount among these is security; preservation of the
`reports and the like, could also be transmitted using this
`secrecy of the message and its availability only to the
`system. However, the teletext data discussed in the 50 particular addressee is of utmost importance. At the
`Block et al. patent appears to be system-wide data, that
`same time, it is desired to be able to address messages to
`is, data relevant to all subscribers of the system more or
`classes of subscribers, for example, to transmit civic
`less equally .. The Block et al. patent does not teach any
`data or the like.
`way in which, for example, an individual broadcaster
`Another complexity in providing a secure subscrip-
`may send a chosen subscriber a personal message other 55 tion television system is the fact that the decoder cannot
`than billing update data, as above.
`be considered to be in "friendly hands." That is, unlike
`"Specification of Standards for Broadcast Teletext
`an encrypted data channel as used by financial institu-
`tions or in military applications, in which both transmit-
`Signals," a document published by the British Broad-
`casting Corporation et al. in September, 1976, describes
`ter and receiver are in friendly hands, an additional
`the teletext broadcasting system in effect in the United 60 security exposure which must be faced in connection
`with a television system is analysis of the transmitted
`Kingdom. According to this system, teletext informa-
`tion such as closed-captioned programming is available
`signal. In a subscription television system, the transmit-
`for the hearing-impaired. According to this system, as
`ted signal must, of course, be protected, as a very im-
`understood by the applicants, the subscriber simply
`portant threat is posed by viewers who have purchased
`depresses a button on a key pad comprised by the de- 65 a decoder and attempted to modify it to bypass the
`coder, and the decoder then selects alphanumeric data
`security mechanisms the billing arrangements or the
`which is transmitted during the vertical blanking inter-
`like. A further problem is posed by those who would
`val of the standard television signal. The decoder can
`make copies of, for example, television movies using
`
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`

`4,829,569
`
`3
`videotape recorders or the like for subsequent viewing
`or resale.
`It is, therefore, desirable that a system be provided
`which provides a very high level of security, both as to
`the transmitted signal and as to the operation of the
`decoder, and one in which some sort of "fingerprint"
`identifying the source of an unauthorized copy can be
`provided.
`
`4
`addressed packets include certain cipher information,
`used in decrypting other portions of the information
`contained in the vertical blanking interval and the video
`signal. The addressed packet also indicates that a partic(cid:173)
`ular "page" of teletext information is being transmitted
`which is directed to a particular subscriber. The de(cid:173)
`coder, having detected existence of a message addressed
`to it responsive to the information contained in the
`addressed packet, then selects subsequently transmitted
`10 teletext "lines" included in subsequent vertical blanking
`intervals, and uses these to assemble a teletext "mes(cid:173)
`sage" which can then be displayed on the user's televi(cid:173)
`sion screen.
`In a preferred embodiment, the broadcaster continu-
`ally sends teletext information which is useful in subse(cid:173)
`quently assembling messages. The teletext information
`repetitively transmitted includes "templates." For ex(cid:173)
`ample, should the subscriber seek to ascertain his billing
`status, he will so indicate by pressing a button or buttons
`on a user key pad comprised by his decoder. A micro(cid:173)
`processor comprised in the decoder will note this re(cid:173)
`quest and determine the number of a template suitable
`for displaying this information. When that page of text
`is subsequently transmitted, as part of the regular se(cid:173)
`quence of teletext messages, the microprocessor selects
`it, and then completes the template by filling in various
`dollar amounts and the like unique to the particular
`subscriber. This completes assembly of the billing re-
`port requested. The microprocessor then can display
`the complete billing report. In this way, the teletext
`information comprised in the template, that is, the infor(cid:173)
`mation needed for the text message which is not user
`specific, such as column headings, current dates, the
`broadcaster's name and address, which is common to all
`subscribers, need not be stored at the user location. This
`greatly reduces the amount of memory which must be
`provided for each decoder. In the same way, the tem(cid:173)
`plates can be varied by the broadcaster, e.g., to update
`the listing of services made available or the like.
`The microprocessor itself can also generate various
`reports, for example, to indicate to the subscriber that
`his credit is running low. The microprocessor can select
`a template page from the sequence of template pages
`continually being sent by the broadcaster and can com(cid:173)
`plete it with user-specific billing information, all as
`generally discussed above.
`In this way, it will be observed that there are three
`different ways of providing a teletext message, that is,
`user-initiated, broadcaster-initiated,
`and decoder(cid:173)
`initiated.
`Finally, the system of the invention includes means
`for "fingerprinting" copies of program material made
`by a subscriber in derogation of the rights of the copy-
`55 right proprietor. The address packet includes a flag
`which may be set to cause the decoder to add the de(cid:173)
`coder identification number to one particular video
`frame of the film being shown. The addition of the user
`identification is generally imperceptible to the user, but
`will show up on any copies of the film that are being
`made. Should the broadcaster thereafter locate such an
`unauthorized copy, he can read the user's identification
`and thereafter cut off service to that individual or take
`other appropriate action.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
`subscriber television system in which individual text
`messages may be directed to individual subscribers.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`subscription television system in which individual text 15
`messages can be transmitted to individual subscribers, in
`which the message can only be received by the proper
`receiver and in which the text is very heavily protected
`against improper receipt, that is encrypted, such that it
`can only be received and decrypted at the correct de- 20
`coder, thus providing an additional level of security to
`the message handling system.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`subscription television system in which an individual
`message can be sent to an individual user, but in which 25
`the individual decoder is enabled to receive and decrypt
`the specified message only upon activation by the
`proper individual.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro(cid:173)
`vide a subscription television system in which all billing 30
`information is generated at the decoder. The transmitter
`can transmit indication of receipt of payment and of
`additional charges not originating at the decoder to the
`decoder, such as sign-up fees. The decoder is thus en(cid:173)
`abled to generate the bill. Ultimately, the handling of 35
`billing operations is greatly simplified and paperless
`billing is made possible.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro(cid:173)
`vide a television subscription system in which a wide
`variety of teletext messages having specified formats are 40
`available for use by the decoder, in which the formats
`can be varied at the transmitter's option, yet in which
`the memory required at the decoder location is mini(cid:173)
`mized, to realize economy of construction of the de-
`coder unit.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a sub(cid:173)
`scription television system in which the identity of a
`particular decoder used to decrypt a program can be ·
`determined from recordings made using such a decoder.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a sub- 50
`scription television system in which individual text
`messages can be received by individual subscribers in
`response to queries by the subscriber, in response to the
`desire of the broadcaster, or upon initiation by the de(cid:173)
`coder itself.
`The above needs of the art and objects of the inven(cid:173)
`tion are met by the present invention, which comprises
`a system and method for communication of individual
`text messages to individual subscribers of a subscription
`television system. According to the invention, a number 60
`of distinct "lines" of information are transmitted during
`each vertical blanking interval of the video signal. A
`number of these lines are referred to as "addressed
`packets," while another group of lines includes teletext
`information. The addressed packets include identifica- 65
`tion of individual subscribers which are transmitted in
`clear text (that is, are not encrypted) such that the indi(cid:173)
`vidual decoders recognize their own numbers. The
`
`45
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The invention will be better understood if reference is
`made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1065
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00755
`Page 14
`
`

`

`4,829,569
`
`5
`FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a communication
`system according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 shows an overall view of the video format
`according to the invention, and explains certain nomen(cid:173)
`clature used for understanding the system of the inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 3 shows in broad outline the format of the hori(cid:173)
`zontal blanking interval;
`FIG. 4 shows additional details of the format of the
`horizontal blanking interval;
`FIG. 5 shows an overview of the material carried in
`the 16lines of the vertical blanking interval in a 525line
`embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 6 shows in some additional detail the clock
`recovery data carried in line 1 of the vertical blanking 15
`interval;
`FIG. 7 shows in additional detail the framing recov(cid:173)
`ery data carried in line 2 of the vertical blanking inter-
`val;
`FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of the system data
`carried in line 3 of the vertical blanking interval;
`FIG. 9 shows the general arrangement and contents
`of four different types of addressed packets which can
`be transmitted in lines 4-8 of the vertical blanking inter-
`val·
`FIG. 10 shows the outline of a teletext header line
`which can be transmitted in any one oflines 9-13 of the
`vertical blanking interval;
`FIG. 11 shows a text line, that is a line of teletext 30
`which may be transmitted during any one of lines 9-13
`of the vertical blanking interval;
`FIG. 12 shows schematically the text processing
`steps performed according to the system of the inven(cid:173)
`tion, when it is desired that a particular message be 35
`transmitted to an individual subscriber;
`FIG. 13 shows in schematic form the hardware of the
`decoder significant to understanding the present inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 14 shows in schematic form the handling of the 40
`keys and message processing steps performed, and fur(cid:173)
`ther details how and where these steps are performed in
`the decoder according to the invention; and
`FIG. 15 shows in schematic view the data decryption
`arrangement employed.
`
`20
`
`6
`A. System Overview
`FIG. 1 shows in highly schematic form a communica(cid:173)
`tion system suitable for achieving the objects of the
`invention listed above. At a first transmitter location,
`indicated generally by the numeral10, the teletext mes(cid:173)
`sage sequence is first assembled as indicated at 12. This
`may include standard items such as templates, that is,
`data which provides a format within which user-
`10 specific information can be added by a decoder to per(cid:173)
`sonalize a message; personal messages directed to indi(cid:173)
`vidual users; billing status updates, that is, billing infor(cid:173)
`mation generated in response to a telephone call or
`letter from the subscriber to the broadcaster; and broad(cid:173)
`cast messages, that is, messages which are out of the
`ordinary cours~ of business, but which are transmitted
`to substantially all or a predetermined subcategory of
`subscribers (e.g., that there is some general danger of
`which all should be aware).
`At 14, the teletext information from item 12 is assem(cid:173)
`bled together with video information, and in a preferred
`embodiment of the system of the invention, with multi(cid:173)
`channel audio. As will be detailed below in connection
`with FIGS. 3 and 4, six channels of digital audio are
`provided in the system of the invention. These are trans(cid:173)
`mitted during the horizontal blanking interval and may
`be provided on a pay-per-listen basis, whereby the
`broadcaster can generate additional revenue from audio
`transmission.
`At 16, the assembled teletext, video and audio signal
`is encrypted and/or scrambled. The encryption is done
`according to a relatively sophisticated procedure which
`is discussed below in connection with FIG. 15. Suffice
`it to say at this point that the signal transmitted includes
`what are referred to as addressed packets, which among
`other functions alert an individual subscriber's decoder
`that a message has been sent to it, and teletext informa(cid:173)
`tion. The subscriber identification portion of the ad(cid:173)
`dressed packet is transmitted in clear text, that is, is not
`encrypted, so that it can be detected without decryp(cid:173)
`tion. The addressed packet further contains certain
`cipher key information used in decrypting system con(cid:173)
`trol data. The system control data in turn includes ci(cid:173)
`pher information required for decryption of encrypted
`45 user messages. Thus, a double level of security is pro(cid:173)
`vided, as only the individual decoder can even receive
`the encrypted message, and only that decoder can use
`the system data which it must also receive to decode the
`individual message, which is subsequently sent. The
`composite, encrypted signal is transmitted as indicated
`at 18. It may travel via a satellite 20, by a landline or a
`combination of both to receiving antenna 22. It is there
`passed to a decoder which comprises means for detect(cid:173)
`ing the signal, decrypting the encrypted portions of it,
`completing any messages requiring any subscriber(cid:173)
`specific data, such as billing status information and the
`like, and display of the received messages. Of course,
`the decoder also permits user selection of the decrypted
`audio and video information, and includes means for
`maintaining the billing history information related to a
`specific user, for restricting access of individuals to the
`video signal, prevention of impulse purchase of pro(cid:173)
`grams by those not authorized to do so, and so on, all as
`detailed below.
`The system of the invention is completed by means
`permitting the user to communicate with the broad(cid:173)
`caster. Ordinarily, the user will only need to communi(cid:173)
`cate with the broadcaster sporadically, for example, to
`
`25
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`As mentioned above, it is an important object of the
`present invention to provide a communications system 50
`in which individual text messages can be transmitted to
`individual subscribers in a subscription television sys(cid:173)
`tem. This is to be accomplished without adding unduly
`to the complexity of the system or its cost, and without
`requiring any sort of uplink communication between 55
`the decoder and the transmitter. Moreover, the system
`is to be provided with unprecedented flexibility in
`choice of program by both the broadcaster and the
`dealer, and the subscriber billing is to be substantially
`automated and performed at the decoder. Finally, the 60
`whole system is to be menudriven, that is, the subscriber
`is to be directetl in operation of the system by messages
`displayed on his television screen.
`-
`These objects of the invention are achieved by the
`present system, which is described in the following text, 65
`of which the following is a Table of Contents, and in
`which reference is made to the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings.
`
`APPLE EXHIBIT 1065
`APPLE v. PMC
`IPR2016-00755
`Page 15
`
`

`

`7
`request addition of a service, or to pay a bill or the like.
`Conventional communications facilities such as the
`telephone system or the mails are suited for this func(cid:173)
`tion, as indicated schematically at 8. In this way, no
`uplink facility at the user's station need be provided.
`
`l. The Communications Format Employed
`FIG. 2 shows the overall transmission format of the
`system according to the invention. As is conventional in
`television, 30 "frames" each comprising a still image are 10
`transmitted per second as indicated. Each frame in(cid:173)
`cludes two "fields," as also shown. In a preferred em(cid:173)
`bodiment of the invention, the video encoding scheme
`employed is that referred to generally as "B-MAC."
`This is an acronym for type B format, Multiplexed Ana- 15
`log Component system. "Type B" refers to ~he fact that
`data is carried integral to the video signal. See generally
`Lowry, "B-MAC: An Optimum Format for Satellite
`Television Transmission," SMPTE Journal, November
`1984, pp. 1034-1043, which discusses in detail the 20
`B-MAC format and explains why it was chosen over
`various competing systems.
`According to the present invention, the vertical
`blanking interval (VBI) of each field contains certain
`"system data" necessary for operation of a subscription 25
`television system according to the invention, as well as
`addressed packets and teletext lines used to carry data
`needed for the operation of individual decoders and for
`transmission of messages to individual subscribers. In
`the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 30
`vertical blanking intervals of 16 total fields are used for
`complete transmission of all system data required,
`which includes an encryption key which is changed
`every 16 fields, that is, on the order of three times per
`second. As also shown in FIG. 2, each line also includes 35
`a horizontal blanking interval (HBI). During the HBI
`are transmitted six channels of high quality digitally(cid:173)
`encoded audio information, with error correction, such
`that the decoder can also be used to supply a high qual-
`ity audio signal. This can be used to provide the audio 40
`comp