United States Patent [19]
`Ottesen et al.
`
`11~11111111111111111111111
`
`US005654747A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,654,747
`Aug. 5, 1997
`
`[54) INTELLIGENT MULTIMEDIA SET-TOP
`CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS 1N
`WIDCH Bll,LING SIGNALS ARE
`COMMUNICATED TO AN INFORMATION
`NETWORK UPON PRESENTATION OF
`DOWNLOADED MEDIA PROGRAMS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Hal Hjalmar Ottesen; Gordon J.
`Smith; George Willard VanLeeuwen,
`all of Rochester. Minn.
`
`[73] Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 366,268
`Dec. 29, 1994
`
`[22] Filed:
`Int. Cl.6
`................................ H04N 7/10; H04N 7/14
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl .................................... 348/12; 348/5; 348/10;
`455/2; 455/5.1; 455/6.2; 455/6.3
`[58] Field of Search .................................... 348/1, 3, 5, 7,
`348/10, 12, 13, 6; 455/2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1,
`6.2, 6.3, 3.1, 6.1; H04N 7/10, 7/14
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PXIENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,422,093 12/1983 Pargee, Jr .................................... 348n
`4,499,568
`2/1985 Gremillet .................................. 369/30
`4,506,387
`3/1985 Walter ..................................... 359/118
`8/1990 Cohen ....................................... 386/69
`4,949,187
`5,o75,771 12/1991 Hashimoto ................................ 348/13
`5,133,079
`7/1992 Ballantyne et al ...................... 455/4.1
`5,247,347
`9/1993 Litteral et al. .............................. 348n
`2/1994 Bradley et al .............................. 348/6
`5,285,272
`
`7/1994 Pond ................... .,. ............... 455/4.2 X
`5,329,590
`5,572,442 11/1996 Schulhof et al. .. ......................... 348n
`
`Primary Examiner-John K. Peng
`Assistant Examiner-John W. Miller
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mark A. Hollingsworth
`ABSTRACT
`
`[57]
`
`A method and apparatus for effectuating the reception and.
`local storage of source information signals representative of
`a media program transmitted from a source information
`network preferably over a cable television channel on a
`pay-per-view basis is disclosed. A local intelligent set-top
`control unit communicates with a remote information net(cid:173)
`work and a local storage device to coordinate the transmis(cid:173)
`sion of customer ordered media programs from the infor(cid:173)
`mation network for storage on the local storage device. The
`local storage device is preferably a standard video cassette
`recorder (VCR) providing full VCR control functionality
`when presenting a stored media program on a television. A
`digital or optical data storage disk drive system may alter(cid:173)
`natively be employed to store source information signals
`downloaded from the remote information network. The
`intelligent set-top control unit communicates a pay-per-view
`billing signal to the information network upon playing of a
`downloaded media program. and provides protection against
`unauthorized copying. In an alternative configuration, a
`set-top control card is installed into a host computer system
`to coordinate the reception and local storage of downloaded
`media programs, and preferably provides a platform for
`interfacing with other home communication and electronic
`systems.
`
`29 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`BE6IN
`
`110
`
`DOWNLOAD
`PROGRAM
`
`126
`
`118
`
`ISSUE
`ALERT
`
`132
`
`ISSUE
`ALERT
`
`136
`
`138
`
`TRANSFER
`PROGRAII
`THROUGH
`SET-TOP
`UNIT
`
`120
`
`TRANSMIT
`READINESS
`SIGNAL TO
`NETIIORK
`
`124
`
`OPTIMIZE
`PROGRAM
`DISTRIBUTION
`
`YES
`
`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 15
`
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`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 15
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`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 5, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`5,654,747
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`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 15
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`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 5, 1997
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`5,654,747
`
`r
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`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 15
`
`

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`140
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`
`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 7 of 15
`
`

`

`5,654,747
`
`5
`
`2
`service for providing multimedia program distribution to a
`plurality of households over a public switched telephone
`network. Movies are typically stored on one or more media
`servers 10, each of which is multiplexed to the PSTN 16. A
`telephonic ordering system 14 is generally coupled to the
`PSTN 16 and provides a means for accepting a pay-per-view
`order from a customer or user 20. Upon verifying the
`account status of a user 20, the media server 10 typically
`transmits the ordered movie or program to a decoder box 22
`10 coupled to the customer's telephone line 18. The transmitted
`program is continuously decoded by the decoder box 22
`during the presentation of the selected program on the
`customer's television 24. Limitations in the transmission
`bandwidth of the telephone lines 18, as well as limitations in
`the switching capability of the PS'IN 16, generally preclude
`the use of a PSTN 16 to support a multimedia communica-
`tion system that provides high quality, full motion video
`signal transmission with full VCR-type control functional(cid:173)
`ity.
`It is believed that approximately seventy-three percent
`(73%) of all homes in the United States have at least one
`VCR. Most VCRs have a purchase price in the range of $250
`to $400, representing a sizable luxury investment for most
`consumers. As discussed previously, most VCRs are con(cid:173)
`trolled by use of an IR remote control handset, allowing the
`user to control the presentation of a video program using
`various control modes such as reverse, pause, and fast
`forward, for example. Conventional pay-per-view commu(cid:173)
`nication services, in contrast to viewing programs on a home
`VCR, generally require the customer to pay relatively large
`premiums on a monthly basis and yet do not provide basic
`VCR-type functionality inherent in the customer's home
`VCR.
`There exists a need in the pay-per-view communications
`industry for a relatively simple system that capitalizes on the
`investment made by most consumer's in their home VCR,
`and one that provides VCR-type control over the presenta(cid:173)
`tion of a selected program. There exists a further need to
`provide a multimedia communication system that can effi(cid:173)
`ciently distribute programming to a plurality of customers
`without requiring complex and typically expensive network(cid:173)
`ing hardware and software at the communication distribu(cid:173)
`tion center. The present invention fulfills these and other
`needs.
`
`1
`INTELLIGENT MULTIMEDIA SET-TOP
`CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS IN
`WHICH BILLING SIGNALS ARE
`COMMUNICATED TO AN INFORMATION
`NETWORK UPON PRESENTATION OF
`DOWNLOADED MEDIA PROGRAMS
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates generally to communication
`systems, and, more particularly, to a set-top control method
`and apparatus for providing customer selected multimedia
`programming on a pay-per-view basis.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Advancements in communications technology and 15
`increased consumer sophistication have challenged the dis(cid:173)
`tributors of multimedia programming to provide the public
`with entertainment services more convenient and accessible
`than those traditionally made available over cable television
`and telephone systems. An improving communications 20
`infrastructure has resulted in the proliferation of pay-per(cid:173)
`view media services in most of the larger broadcast markets.
`Most pay-per-view systems permit the consumer to choose
`from a relatively small number of motion picture selections
`for home viewing, which are generally presented only at 25
`pre-scheduled viewing times.
`A number of on-demand video services have been devel(cid:173)
`oped that permit the consumer to order desired programs for
`home viewing through the household telephone line. For
`example, U.S. Pat No. 5,247,347, assigned to Bell Atlantic 30
`Network Services, discloses a sophisticated video-on(cid:173)
`demand telephone service that provides consumer ordered
`video programming to a plurality of households through use
`of a public switched telephone network (PSTN). An exten(cid:173)
`sive discussion regarding the inherent deficiencies of com- 35
`municating video and other multimedia signals over stan(cid:173)
`dard bandwidth limited analog telephone lines is provided in
`the '347 patent.
`The video-on-demand system disclosed in the '347 patent
`and other conventional telephony-based multimedia services 40
`fail to satisfactorily address the adverse impact to home
`communications during periods of prolonged program view(cid:173)
`ing. For example, a typical theatrical motion picture can tie
`up the household telephone line for over two hours. Further,
`such sophisticated telephony-based multimedia services 45
`generally require procurement of expensive communica(cid:173)
`tions and diagnostic equipment by the pay-per-view pro(cid:173)
`vider to ensure a reasonable level of signal quality and
`system reliability. These and other related operating
`expenses, however, are typically passed on to the consumer. 50
`Importantly, conventional telephony-based multimedia
`services fail to provide media presentation control features
`now expected by the sophisticated consumer after enjoying
`more than a decade of home entertainment through the use
`of the video cassette recorder (VCR). Functions such as fast 55
`forward, reverse, and pause, for example, are standard
`presentation control functions now provided by all or most
`home VCRs, and are typically effectuated by use of an
`infrared (IR) remote control handset. The inherent limita(cid:173)
`tions in the transmission bandwidth of conventional tele(cid:173)
`phone lines, as well as conventional cable television
`channels, generally can not accommodate full VCR-type
`control functionality when employed to support a multime(cid:173)
`dia communication system adapted to provide pay-per-view
`service to a large number of subscribing customers.
`In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a conceptualized block
`diagram of a conventional pay-per-view communication
`
`65
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is a method and apparatus for
`effectuating the reception and local storage of source infor(cid:173)
`mation signals representative of a media program transmit(cid:173)
`ted from a source information network preferably over a
`television communication channel on a pay-per-view basis.
`A local intelligent set-top control unit communicates with a
`remote information network and a local storage device to
`coordinate the transmission of customer ordered media
`programs from the information network for storage on the
`local storage device. The local storage device is preferably
`a standard video cassette recorder (VCR) providing full
`VCR control functionality when presenting a stored media
`program on a television. A digital or optical data storage disk
`60 drive system may alternatively be employed to store source
`information signals downloaded from the remote informa(cid:173)
`tion network. The intelligent set-top control unit communi(cid:173)
`cates a pay-per-view billing signal to the information net-
`work upon playing of a downloaded media program, and
`provides protection against unauthorized copying. In an
`alternative configuration, a set-top control card is installed
`into a host computer system to coordinate the reception and
`
`Ex.1035
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 15
`
`

`

`3
`local storage of downloaded media programs, and preferably
`provides a platform for interfacing with other home com(cid:173)
`munication and electronic systems.
`
`5,654,747
`
`BRIEF DESCRlPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional communica(cid:173)
`tion system for distributing selected programs to a plurality
`of users on a pay-per-view basis;
`FIG. 2 is a generalized block diagram of a multimedia
`communication system employing a novel intelligent set-top 10
`control unit for coordinating transmission and presentation
`of user-selected programs on a pay-per view basis;
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of the system components of a
`novel intelligent set-top control unit adapted for communi(cid:173)
`cating with an information network and a video cassette
`recorder to coordinate the transfer of selected multimedia
`programs from the information network to the video cassette
`recorder;
`FIG. 4 is a generalized block diagram of a multimedia
`communication system employing a novel intelligent set-top
`control card installed in a host computer system adapted for
`coordinating the transfer of user-selected programs from an
`information network to a mass storage device on a pay-per
`view basis, and for communicating with other home infor-
`mation systems;
`FIG. 5 is a depiction of various home information systems
`which can be interfaced with a novel intelligent set-top
`control unit or set-top control card installed in a host
`computer system and configured as a home communication 30
`server; and
`FIG. 6 is a generalized flow diagram of a method for
`effectuating true pay-per-view distribution of user-selected
`programs from an information network to a plurality of
`customers having in their home a novel intelligent set-top 35
`control unit or set-top control card installed in a host
`computer system.
`
`25
`
`4
`television 24 or stereo system on a pay-per-view basis. Full
`VCR functionality over the presentation of the program
`stored in either analog or digital form is provided by the
`intelligent set-top control unit 34 operating in cooperation
`5 with the VCR 44 or digital storage device 36 or 40. Control
`functionality generally provided by most compact disk (CD)
`players is also provided by the set-top control unit 34 when
`broadcasting an audio program stored on the VCR 44 or
`other storage device.
`Customer program orders are preferably made through a
`menu system presented on the customer's television 24, with
`menu selections being communicated to the information
`network 30 through the cable or standard television channel.
`The menu system may be implemented using known meth-
`15 ods similar to those employed for providing on-screen VCR
`programming. More elaborate menu systems may be imple(cid:173)
`mented in a Windows®-type environment when employing
`a novel set-top control card 72 in combination with a
`Windows®-based or Macintosh®-based host computer sys-
`20 tern 70. As such, the household telephone line is not required
`to facilitate communication between the pay-per-view mul(cid:173)
`timedia communication system and a plurality of subscrib(cid:173)
`ing customer households.
`A dramatic decrease in the complexity and cost of oper-
`ating and maintaining a source information network 30
`adapted for distributing multimedia programming to a plu(cid:173)
`rality of customers is realized by employing the novel
`set-top control unit 34 at each customer location. It is noted
`that a customer location may be a household, a business
`location, such as a restaurant or bar, or other private or
`public forum. VCR-type control functionality, including
`rewind, fast forward, pause, and other presentation modes
`are coordinated directly by the set-top control unit 34. By
`providing local control over the media presentation, the
`source information network 30 need not be configured to
`effectuate VCR-type control functions typically desired by
`the customer during the presentation of a movie or other
`media program.
`Those skilled in the art can readily appreciate the signifi-
`cant difficulty of simultaneously servicing VCR-type control
`function requests at a central media distribution site during
`the communication of user-selected programs transmitted to
`a plurality of customers on a real-time basis. Providing the
`customer local control of a media presentation directly
`through the set-top control unit 34 provides for a significant
`decrease in the bandwidth of the communication channel 32
`and the amount of information network 30 processing over-
`head required to service a plurality of pay-per-view custom(cid:173)
`ers.
`In a preferred embodiment, the source information signals
`are representative of a video program, such as a theatrical
`movie, an audio program. such as a classical symphony
`recording, or other type of multimedia program, and may
`55 include a combination of video, audio, graphical, and textual
`information. The source information signals are preferably
`stored in a compressed digital format on one or more media
`servers 10 comprising the information network 30. The
`media servers 10 may comprise one or more digital data
`60 storage systems, optical data storage systems or digital tape
`systems. In one embodiment, the media servers 10 may be
`configured as an array of digital data storage systems
`operating in accordance with a known RAID (Redundant
`Array of Inexpensive Disks) architecture and protocol.
`The source information signals comprising the source
`multimedia programs and stored on the media servers 10 are
`preferably initially converted from an analog format into a
`
`40
`
`45
`
`DETAILED DESCRlPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODThfENTS
`Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
`FIG. 2, there is shown a multimedia communication system
`employing a novel set-top control unit 34 adapted for
`communicating with an information network 30 over a
`communication channel 32. In one embodiment, the intel(cid:173)
`ligent set-top control unit 34 preferably coordinates the
`transmission of source information signals between the
`source information system 30 and a local information stor(cid:173)
`age system. In a preferred embodiment, the local informa(cid:173)
`tion storage system comprises a standard VCR 44 which is 50
`preferably controlled by the set-top control unit 34 to receive
`and store source information signals, typically representa(cid:173)
`tive of multimedia programs, from the source information
`network 30.
`The set-top control unit 34 also coordinates the presen(cid:173)
`tation of source media programs received from the source
`information network 30 and stored on the VCR 44. Local
`pay-per-view broadcasting or presentation of a received
`source media program is preferably facilitated by a home
`television 24 for viewing video programs, or a home stereo
`system for listening to audio programs. Alternatively, the
`source information signals received from the information
`network 30 are preferably stored in digital form on an
`internal data storage disk drive 36 or an external digital
`storage unit 40, for example.
`At the customer's convenience, the source program stored
`in the VCR 44 or digital storage device is presented on the
`
`65
`
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`5,654,747
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`5
`digital format, and then compressed or coded in accordance
`with an established compression algorithm or methodology.
`The compressed digital source information signals, typically
`structured in the form of a multiplexed audio/video
`bits!I"~ generally comprise a video signal portion, an 5
`audio signal portion, and other information signal portions,
`such as a data and graphics signal portion. When a program
`is ordered by a subscriber to the novel pay-per-view com(cid:173)
`munication service, a multiplexed source bitstream repre(cid:173)
`sentative of the selected program is transmitted from the 10
`information network 30 to the customer's set-top control
`unit 34, preferably over an existing television channel, cable
`television channel, or satellite communication channel 32.
`A compression algorithm standard suitable for use in the
`novel pay-per-view communication system is one developed 15
`by the Moving Pictures Experts Group, and is generally
`referred to as the MPEG video compression standard. The
`MPEG-1 standard (ISO/IEC IS 11172-1) defines a format
`for compressed digital video which supports data rates of
`approximately 1.2 to 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps), 20
`resolutions of about 352 pixels (picture elements) horizon(cid:173)
`tally to about 288 lines vertically, picture rates of about 24
`to 30 pictures per second, and several VCR-like viewing
`functions such as normal forward, play, slow forward, fast
`forward, fast reverse, and freeze. MPEG coding typically 25
`provides compression ratios on the order of 150:1. A new
`developing MPEG standard, referred to in the art as
`MPEG-2 (ISO/IEC IS 11172-2), is expected to support data
`rates on the order of approximately 2 to 15 Mbps over cable,
`satellite, and other broadcast channels. MPEG-2 will addi- 30
`tionally support both non-interlaced and interlaced video
`signal formats, increased inlage quality, multiple picture
`aspect ratios, and a number of other advanced features,
`including features to support High Definition Television
`(HDTV).
`It is noted that the MPEG-1 (ISO/IEC IS 11172-3) and
`developing MPEG-2 audio compression standards set forth
`audio compression specifications suitable for coding audio
`programs stored in the information system 30. It is further
`noted that the developing MPEG-2 Systems Standard (ISO/ 40
`IEC IS 11172-2) is expected to support a wide range of
`broadcast, telecommunications, computing, and storage
`applications by combining multiple video, audio, and vari(cid:173)
`ous types of data streams into a single multiplexed stream,
`thus providing for the transmission, storage, access, and 45
`retrieval of the original streams, while maintaining accurate
`synchronization.
`For example, the MPEG-2 Systems Standard will define
`two kinds of data streams, a Program Stream and a Transport
`Stream. The Program Stream will provide for the creation of 50
`an audiovisual program, for example, which could have
`multiple views and multichannel audio. The Transport
`Stream will multiplex a number of programs, typically
`comprising video, audio, and private data, for transmission
`and storage using a wide variety of media. The Transport 55
`Stream will support multi-program broadcast, storage of
`single programs on digital videotape, robust performance
`against channel transmission errors, conditional access to
`programs, and the maintenance of synchronization over
`complex communication networks. It is to be understood 60
`that compression and system standards other than those
`conforming to one or more of the above-described MPEG
`standards may be employed to facilitate communications
`between the information system 30 and a plurality of cus(cid:173)
`tomer set-top control units 34 without departing from the 65
`scope and spirit of the present invention. For example,
`source information signals transmitted over the communi-
`
`35
`
`6
`cation channel 32 may be of a format other than a com(cid:173)
`pressed format.
`With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a user of the
`intelligent set-top control unit 34 preferably communicates
`with the information network 30 over an existing commu(cid:173)
`nication channel 32, such as a cable television connection. It
`is understood that a plurality of customers can simulta(cid:173)
`neously communicate with the information network 30 by
`use of the set-top control unit 34 preferably situated proxi(cid:173)
`mate a television 24 within the customer's home. A com(cid:173)
`munications interface 56 preferably couples the set-top
`control unit 34 to a cable line 58 or other communication
`line interfacing with the communication channel 32. The
`communications interface 56 is preferably a transceiver
`capable of both receiving and transmitting information,
`control, and other electrical signals communicated over the
`communication channel 32. Alternatively, the communica(cid:173)
`tions interface 56 may include a receiver and a transmitter
`for effectuating communication over the communication
`channel 32.
`The set-top control unit 34 preferably communicates
`control signals to the information network 30 to coordinate
`the transmission, storage, and presentation of source infor(cid:173)
`mation program signals. The intelligent set-top control unit
`34 also communicates with the VCR 44 or other storage
`device 40 and 36 to provide the customer with full VCR-
`type control functionality, such as fast forward, reverse, and
`pause functions, and to ensure that the customer is billed for
`each presentation of a source program downloaded from the
`information network 30 and stored on the VCR 44.
`An important feature of the present invention concerns the
`preservation of a consumer's investment in a previously
`purchased VCR 44. As previously mentioned, it is estinlated
`that seventy-three percent (73%) of all homes having a
`television in the United States also contain at least one
`analog VCR 44. The present invention preserves a custom(cid:173)
`er's $250 to $400 investment in the VCR 44 by incorporat(cid:173)
`ing the VCR 44 as a storage device for the source informa-
`tion signals received from the information network 30. Full
`VCR control functionality is thus afforded locally to the
`customer by cooperative operation between the set-top con(cid:173)
`trol unit 34 and the VCR 44. Additionally, traditional use of
`the VCR 44 remains unaffected, allowing for playback of
`consumer recorded or rental tapes directly through the
`set-top control unit 34.
`Further, media programs downloaded from the informa-
`tion network 30 are preferably received and stored on the
`VCR 44 in the background, thus allowing the consumer to
`simultaneously review other information network program(cid:173)
`ming selections or to enjoy traditional television program-
`ming. Protection against unauthorized copying of down(cid:173)
`loaded programs is also provided to preserve the production
`and distribution investment of the copyright owner of the
`media presentation. Other home electronic and communi(cid:173)
`cation systems are also preferably controlled through the
`set-top control unit 34 through the use of various add-on
`cards 38 for interfacing with such other systems.
`Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown various compo-
`nents of the intelligent set-top control unit 34 which com(cid:173)
`municate with a customer's VCR television 24, and the
`information network 30 over the communication channel 32.
`A controller 54 preferably coordinates the transfer of source
`information signals from the information network 30 to the
`VCR 44, and the presentation of source programs on the
`television 24. A communications interface 56 preferably
`receives source information signals from the communication
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`5,654,747
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`7
`channel 32 representative of a pre-selected media program.
`The source information signals are preferably received in a
`compressed format which are then decoded by the coder/
`decoder (CODEC) 60. A compressed source information
`signal is generally a multiplexed source bitstream typically
`comprising both audio and video signal information. The
`CODEC 60 preferably extracts the video and audio bit(cid:173)
`streams from the multiplexed source bitstream, decodes the
`audio and video bitstreams, and synchronizes the decoded
`analog video and audio signals for storage on the VCR 44.
`The CODEC 60 also decodes and parses graphical, textual,
`and other data streams from the multiplexed source bit(cid:173)
`stream.
`In one embodiment, the controller 54 includes an NTSC
`(National Television Systems Committee) decoder for
`decoding NTSC formatted video signals. In another 15
`embodiment, the controller 54 includes a PAL (Phase Alter(cid:173)
`nating Line) decoder for decoding video signals conforming
`to the european PAL standard. Alternatively, a combined
`NTSC/PAL decoder may be employed to detect and decode
`either NTSC or PAL formatted video signals. The NTSC
`standard specifies a video frame rate of thirty video frames
`per second, while the PAL standard prescribes a video frame
`rate of twenty-five video frames per second, to maintain
`full-motion video. The NTSC/PAL decoder preferably
`decodes NTSC video signals to corresponding CIF240 reso(cid:173)
`lution image data (352x244), and PAL video signals to
`corresponding CIF resolution image data (352x288). A
`CIF240 resolution image is recognized as a standard image
`format for domestic video display devices, while a CIF (and
`QCIF) resolution image is recognized as an international or
`european standard image format.
`A modulator/demodulator 62 is preferably employed to
`modulate or scramble the decoded analog audio and video
`signals prior to being stored on the VCR 44 in accordance
`with a predetermined security format. In one embodiment,
`each set-top control unit 34 is identified by a unique serial
`number. This serial number is preferably used as an address
`when routing source information signals from the informa(cid:173)
`tion network 30 to the set-top control unit 34 of the sub(cid:173)
`scribing customer who placed the pay-per-view order.
`Additionally, the serial number unique to a specific set-top
`control unit 34 may be used to determine the method and
`manner of modulating the decoded analog presentation
`signal before being transmitted to the VCR 44. Alternatively,
`any one of a number of known signal modulation techniques
`may be employed to scramble the decoded source informa(cid:173)
`tion signal to prevent copying of the downloaded program.
`As such, any attempt to copy the downloaded program or
`play the downloaded program on another VCR 44 or oth(cid:173)
`erwise bypass the set-up control unit 34 will result in a
`significantly degraded or unintelligible program signal. The
`modulator/demodulator 62 preferably descrambles the
`modulated source information signal stored on the VCR 44
`prior to being transmitted to the television 24 for presenta(cid:173)
`tion.
`An advantageous feature of the intelligent set-top control
`unit 34 concerns a true pay-per-view billing capability
`previously unaddressed by prior art pay-per-view commu(cid:173)
`nication systems. Such prior art systems typically charge a
`subscribing customer for v