FR2697394A1 - Broadcast and communication system. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pay-TV broadcasting or communication system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) for viewing or distributing programs. It includes a broadcast or communication station (11, 21, 31) and a billing center (41). The station broadcasts, with a scrambled broadcast program, a program number used to identify a program to be broadcast. The billing center (41) sends through a data communication device (43), in response to a request for viewing or program distribution requested via a public telephone line (42), an authorization code concerning the viewing or distribution of a pay-per-view program and also collects the royalties from that program. In addition, a receiving device (15, or 23, or 34) which accepts said permission code unscrambles the received program according to said permission code.

Description

The present invention relates to a broadcasting system in which a

  broadcast program is offered on a toll basis in a satellite TV broadcast, in a cable TV broadcast, or in a terrestrial TV broadcast service via a broadcast satellite (BS) or d '' a satellite of

communication (CS).

  In today's information-oriented society, the broadcasting of television by satellite, via a broadcasting satellite or a communication satellite, as well as by a cable television system called cable television, using a cable coaxial or a

  fiber optic cables are becoming more and more developed.

  In addition, a multiplex teletext broadcast is being developed, used to transmit character information separately by

  through a television wave.

  In some of these satellite television broadcasting systems, unlike conventional terrestrial television broadcasting to which everyone can have access, it is a scrambled television program which is transmitted so that only subscribed viewers who have signed the viewing contract can view the program and that subscribed spectators receive the program on a toll basis using an agreement device

  and decoding which can unscramble the program.

  In order to view the program on such a pay-per-view satellite television broadcast, a special tuning and decoding device must be used. The tuning and decoding device is provided with an identification code, or HIC, which is transmitted regularly, for example once a month, by satellite and only the tuning and decoding device receiving the transmitted identification code

can unscramble the program.

  For this reason, problems arise in certain cases. For example, television viewers cannot view, because of their contract, in certain cases, or they are unable to see the program, even when they are watching. are already subscribed to this program, if they have not received

  for some reason the identification code.

  Since the tuning and decoding device is of a special type, many types of tuning and decoding devices are required to view programs from multiple broadcast systems.

satellite television.

  In cable television, which can transmit several dozen channels at the same time, special channels for broadcasting films, sports programs, music programs, etc. are broadcast in addition to general channels which are not scrambled and

  which can be seen as part of a large contract.

  The programs of these special television channels are transmitted in the form of scrambled pay-TV channels. In order to see the programs of the scrambled channels, a scrambling contract must be signed. Since the contractual period is normally renewed every month, it is not not possible to see the programs by signing a contract

at any desired time.

  In order to allow access to real-time sports programs, film programs or music programs to be broadcast via scrambled broadcast, satellite TV or cable channels, there is a system special, in which a viewing time recorder is installed on each television set and the license fee must be paid by deferred payment on the basis of the programs actually seen. However, such a system requires a lot of staff work to control and

for collecting royalties.

  When a television viewer receives programs from a terrestrial or satellite television broadcast, and distributes it on a secondary basis to a number of display devices, general television viewers may have to pay for certain copyrighted programs, even if the programs are offered freely by the station

original broadcast.

  A typical example of a distribution program offered by distribution, is a distribution and a broadcast of teletext in multiplex Since interesting information, such as news, and stock market information, information concerning exchange rates of foreign currencies, information traffic, special event information, market information or subscription information, are offered through teletext broadcasting in multiplex, this system is very useful if used in locations where many people In many cases, a teletext broadcast by multiplex is transmitted by terrestrial broadcast and is not billed However, in the case of a secondary use which uses the system by receiving a program and distributing it to a certain number of display devices, the program is offered on a toll park basis that

  copyright is involved.

  As explained hitherto, if the spectators wish to see or distribute the programs coming from a terrestrial television broadcast or from a teletext broadcast in multiplex on a pay basis, there exists, as for a satellite television broadcasting or cable television, no means of signing the subscription contract for individual programs, and each viewer must sign a subscriber contract for each channel in which the viewer sees or

  distributes desired programs.

  In order to solve the above problems which are not solved by a conventional technique, it is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcasting system which can carry out what is called "payment over the counter, or on demand "to allow reception of a program

  individual on a toll basis, without extended contract.

  To achieve this goal, the invention has seven aspects. According to a first aspect, the present invention realizes a toll broadcasting system comprising a broadcasting station and a billing center, characterized in that said broadcasting station broadcasts, with a scrambled broadcasting program, a program number used to identify a program to broadcast; said billing center sends by a data communication device, in response to a program viewing request requested via a public telephone line, a viewing permission code concerning the viewing of a toll program and also collects the fees for this program; and a receiving device which accepts said viewing permission code scrambles the received program according to said viewing permission code. The scrambling pattern can be fixed, or there can be a series of scrambling patterns. A request to view a program can be made by specifying the program to be broadcast, or the request to view a program can also be made by specifying the time of broadcast. The viewing permission code can be

a descrambling code.

  Said toll program may be a video program; it can also be an audio program, or

another data program.

  According to a second aspect, the invention realizes a broadcasting system comprising a broadcasting station and a billing center, characterized in that said broadcasting station broadcasts, with the broadcasting program, a program number serving to identify the program to broadcast; said billing center sends by a data communication device, in response to a request for program distribution made by a public telephone line, a distribution permission code concerning a distribution of a broadcasting program and also collects the royalties from This program; and a distributor receiving said distribution permission code distributes, according to said distribution permission code, said received broadcast program. The scrambling pattern can be fixed, or there can be a series of scrambling patterns. A request for distribution of a program can be made by specifying the program to be broadcast, or the request for distribution of a program can also be made by specifying the time of broadcast. The viewing permission code may be a descrambling code. Said toll program may be a video program; it can also be an audio program, or

another data program.

  According to a third aspect, the invention realizes a communications broadcasting system comprising a communications broadcasting station and a billing center characterized in that said communications broadcasting station transmits, together with a scrambled communications program, a program number used to identify the communication program; said billing center sends by a data communication device, in response to a request for viewing said broadcast of communications requested via a public telephone line, a viewing permission code relating to viewing a program toll and also collects the fees for this program; and a receiving device which accepts said viewing permission code unscrambles the received communications broadcast program according to said

  viewing permission code.

  The scrambling pattern can be fixed, or there can be a series of scrambling patterns. A request to view a program can be made by specifying said communications program, or the request to view a program can also be made by specifying

communication time.

  The viewing permission code can be

a descrambling code.

  Said toll program may be a video program; it can also be an audio program, or even a data program. According to a fourth aspect, the invention realizes a communications broadcasting system comprising a communications broadcasting station and a billing center characterized in that said communications broadcasting station transmits, at the same time as a communications program, a program number used to identify the communication program; said billing center sends by a data communication device, in response to a program distribution request requested via a public telephone line, a distribution permission code relating to the distribution of a broadcast program of communications and collects fees for this program; and a distribution device which accepts said distribution permission code distributes a received communications broadcast program in

  function of said distribution mission code.

  The scrambling pattern can be fixed, or there can be a series of scrambling patterns. A request for distribution of a program can be made by specifying the program for broadcasting communications, or the request for distribution of a program can also be made by specifying

  the communication broadcast time.

  The distribution permission code can be

a descrambling code.

  Said toll program may be a video program; it can also be an audio program, or

another data program.

  According to a fifth aspect, the invention realizes a receiver device comprising a tuning device for picking up a scrambled signal from a broadcast wave, and a scrambling decoder characterized in that the decoder uses, to descramble said signal interference, an interference decoding signal provided by means other than the broadcast wave. Said supplied interference decoding signal may be provided on an online basis, or it

  can be done on an offline basis.

  According to a sixth aspect, the invention realizes a broadcasting system comprising a broadcasting transmitter and a receiver, characterized in that said broadcasting transmitter transmits at the same time as the broadcasting program a program number used to identify a broadcasting program and said receiver monitors said program number and controls reception using said

program number.

  According to a seventh aspect, the invention realizes a device for receiving surveillance of a program number to be transmitted at the same time as a broadcasting program transmitted by a broadcasting transmitter, characterized in that it also controls reception at the using said

program number.

  Said receiving device can be a

television set.

  Said receiving device can also be a

video-recorder on film.

  Thus, the spectator who pays "over the counter" signs a contract with the billing center via a telecommunication line and accepts the viewing permission code. The spectator can manage and view or distribute the program using the code viewing permission

or distribution.

  The aims, advantages and particularities of the invention will be better understood on reading the

  description of an embodiment in conjunction with

  the drawing, the single figure of which represents a broadcasting and communication system according to the present invention. The broadcasting system comprises a satellite broadcasting system 1, a cable distribution system 2, a teletext broadcasting system 3 by multiplex using a broadcasting of

  terrestrial television, and a billing system 4.

  In the satellite television broadcasting system using a broadcasting satellite or a communication satellite, the reference numeral 11 denotes a satellite television broadcasting earth station, and a television wave including a program code and a scrambled signal. Television is transmitted from a satellite communication transmission antenna 12 to a geostationary satellite 13 in a geostationary orbit approximately 30,000 km above the equator. When the television wave coming from the satellite communication transmission antenna 12 is received, the geostationary satellite 13 amplifies the received television wave, converts it to the frequency of

  around 10 G Hz and transmits it to the ground.

  The viewer receives the 10 G Hz television wave coming from the geostationary satellite 13 via a receiving antenna 14 for satellite television broadcasting, and the wave is converted at a frequency of the order of 1 G Hz and is sent to a tuning and decoding device 15 receiving the satellite television broadcast The tuning and decoding device receiving the satellite broadcasting 15 receives the video signal and the audio signal from the television wave , sends them directly as video and audio signals to a television set or converts them again to the frequency that can be received by

the television set.

  This satellite broadcasting system in itself is the same as a conventional system, whereas in this satellite television broadcasting, the program is scrambled and only the spectators having the viewing permission code allowing to manage the program can To see the

TV show.

  In a cable distribution system 2, the reference numeral 21 represents a cable broadcasting center, 22 denotes a coaxial cable or a fiber optic cable for transmitting television signals, and 23 a cable distribution adapter / decoder The adapter / decoder 23 of television distribution picks up a video signal and an audio signal coming from a television distribution signal and manages them using the decoding signal. In addition, the signals are sent in the form of video and audio signals to the television set, either directly or after conversion to the frequency which can be

  received by the television set.

  In the multiplex teletext broadcasting system 3, the reference numeral 31 designates a multiplex teletext broadcasting terrestrial station intended to transmit on a program II television waves, in the form of a terrestrial television wave originating from a transmission antenna 32 for television, television signals as well as teletext in multiplex The transmitted terrestrial television wave is received by an antenna 33 for reception of television wave, and a teletext signal in multiplex is received from of the television signal by a multiplex teletext adapter 34, and the signal is distributed to the display devices, 35, 35, 35, for example a video monitor, a light emitting diode display device, a display unit LCD, screen phone, personal computer display unit, etc. On the other hand, the billing system 4 comprises a billing center 41, a public telephone line 42 and a device 43 for

data communication.

  In this billing system 4, the toll spectator at the counter calls, by the data communication device 43 which is for example a screen telephone, the billing center 41 by

  through the public telephone line 42.

  Upon receipt of the request from the toll spectator at the counter, a viewing permission code allowing to view a toll program is sent from billing center 41 to the device.

43 data communication.

  The viewing permission code sent to the data communication device 43 is sent to a satellite broadcasting tuning and decoding device 15, to a cable distribution adapter / decoder 23 or to a multiplex teletext adapter 34 This sending can be done either online via a parallel data line, a serial data line according to RS-232 C Standard or a public telephone line using a modem, or offline by

  through a semi memory unit

  conductor, for example an integrated circuit card, a memory card, etc., or a magnetic memory unit, for example a magnetic card, a magnetic disk, etc. On reception of the viewing permission code, the satellite broadcasting tuning and decoding device 15, the cable distribution adapter / decoder 23 or the multiplex teletext adapter 34 unscramble the program to which a program code corresponding to the viewing permission code has been given A television signal is then sent to a television set 16 or 24, or a teletext signal is sent to the display devices 35, 35, 35, Thus, the image which can be viewed is displayed on the television set 16 or 24 and a character signal is displayed on the display devices 35, 35, 35, In addition, the fees of each pay program and the viewing permission code of each toll program are sent in advance to billing center 41, from the satellite broadcasting earth station 11, the cable distribution center 21 or from the terrest station re 31 wave broadcasting The billing center sends the viewing permission code to the spectators, who have requested viewing and collects the fees on behalf of the satellite broadcasting earth station Il, the cable distribution center 21 or earth station 31 of

wave diffusion.

  This makes it difficult to decode the scrambling code, and viewers who have requested it can view the toll program, even if the

  broadcast time has been changed.

  In order to perform the counter payment system satisfactorily, a different program code is established for each program in the above embodiment and the viewing permission code is given for each program. This method is very reliable, but the application procedure is complicated in the case where a spectator wishes to watch a non-regular program, that is to say series programs which are broadcast on a specific day, week or month or at the same time

every day.

  In order to solve this problem, the program code must contain the data for the month, week, day, etc., and the viewing permission code must also contain this data for the month, week, day, etc. In addition, a series of interference configurations and the program code must be prepared.

  must contain the scrambling configuration code.

  The viewing permission code also contains scrambling configuration code information so that scrambling can only be carried out when these codes are received. Thus, it is practically impossible, for those who do not have

  no such information, to unscramble the codes.

  The security of the scrambling code is also ensured if the coding method described in the Japanese patent application No. 4-164 380, previously requested by the applicant of the present application, is used.

  as a means of preparing the scrambling code.

  In addition to the combination of program code and viewing permission code, as described in the above embodiment, there is another descrambling method in which the same code is used as the descrambling code continuously and o the scrambling code is made valid at the time corresponding to the time the program is broadcast This is a very simple process, but it is possible that the subscribed spectator may not be able to see the program if the time program broadcast has been changed In addition, since the same scrambling code is used all the time, it can be relatively easy to decode the program code.

interference.

  There is a more convenient method in which the billing center tells the spectator paying at the counter an amount using a prepaid card, so that spectators can see the program as long as the amount of this fee

  is less than the value of the card.

  There are many collection systems available for the billing center, for example a payment collection service by conventional public telephone and telegram services, a payment collection by a value-added network service, a collection service payment by banks, etc. In the above embodiment, a screen telephone is used as the data communication device 43, but it is also possible to use, for data communication, an available conventional telephone apparatus, for example a telephone with keys , a mobile phone etc, or to use devices such as a personal computer, word processor etc, a modem then serving as a

data communication.

  In particular, it is possible to install a portable telephone apparatus on an automobile in order to control a television apparatus or a teletext receiver apparatus in multiplex mounted in the automobile. In the above embodiment, a television broadcasting billing system has been described, but this system is also applicable to other means of communication in order to charge a fee for each program. We will cite as examples, a means of broadcasting and communication using a satellite such as audio broadcasting, data broadcasting, data communication etc, or various types of communication broadcasting means using terrestrial waves, for example, data broadcasting or data communication such as broadcasting audio or broadcast

  frequency modulation multiplex.

  When requesting program viewing, it is more convenient than the program code system recently used in a recording

video be used.

  In the above method, in which a program code is contained in the program to be broadcast, more reliable VCR recording or TV reception can be ensured if the program code is monitored on the receiver side and the video recording or image reception of

  television is controlled by the program code.

  As is clear from the description

  above, it is possible, on the one hand, to execute, according to the billing system of the present invention, what is called "meter payment" to receive a toll program without signing an extended contract , which cannot be achieved by conventional techniques, and, on the other hand, to collect charges reliably, without additional personnel costs compared to

conventional processes.

Claims (28)

  1 broadcasting system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) with toll comprising a broadcasting station (11, 21, 31) and a billing center (41), characterized in that said broadcasting station (11, or 21, or 31) broadcasts, with a scrambled broadcast program, a program number used to identify a program to be broadcast; said billing center (41) sends by a data communication device (43), in response to a program viewing request requested via a public telephone line (42), a viewing permission code relating to viewing a toll program and also collecting the fees for this program; and a receiving device (15, or 23, or 34) which accepts said viewing permission code unscrambles the received program as a function of said programming code. viewing permission.   2 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1 characterized in that the configuration interference is fixed.   3 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a   series of interference patterns.   4 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that a request for viewing a program is made in   specifying the program to be broadcast.   System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the request for viewing a program is made in specifying the broadcast time.   6 system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the viewing permission code is a descrambling code. 7 system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that said toll program is a video program. 8 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that said program toll is an audio program.   9 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 1, characterized in that said program   toll is a data program.   Broadcast system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) comprising a broadcast station (11, or 21, or 31) and a billing center (41), characterized in that said broadcast station (11, or 21, or 31) broadcasts, with the broadcast program, a program number used to identify the program to be broadcast; said billing center (41) sends by a data communication device (43), in response to a request for program distribution made by a public telephone line (42), a distribution permission code regarding a distribution of a dissemination program and also collects the royalties for this program; and a distributor receiving (15, or 23, or 34) said distribution permission code distributes, according to said distribution permission code, said broadcast program received.   11 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10 characterized in that the   jamming configuration is fixed.   12 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that there is a   series of interference patterns.   13 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that a request for distribution of a program is made in   specifying the program to be broadcast.   14 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that the request for distribution of a program is made in specifying the broadcast time.   System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that the viewing permission code is a descrambling code. 16 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that said   toll program is a video program.   17 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that said   toll program is an audio program.   18 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 10, characterized in that said   toll program is a data program.   19 Broadcasting system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) of communications comprising a broadcasting station (11, or 21, or 31) of communications and a billing center (41) characterized in that said broadcasting station (11, or 21, or 31) communications transmits, together with a scrambled communications program, a program number for identifying the communication program; said billing center (41) sends by a data communication device (43), in response to a request for viewing said communication broadcast requested via a public telephone line (42), a permission code visualization concerning the visualization of a toll program and also collects the fees for this program; and a receiving device (15, or 23, or 34) which accepts said viewing permission code unscrambles the received communications broadcast program according to said viewing permission code. System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that the   jamming configuration is fixed.   21 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that there is a   series of interference patterns.   22 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that a request for viewing a program is made in   specifying said communications program.   23 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that the request for viewing a program is made in   specifying the communication time.   24 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that the viewing permission code is a unscrambling.   System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that said   toll program is a video program.   26 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that said   toll program is an audio program.   27 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 19, characterized in that said   toll program is a data program.   28 Broadcasting system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) of communications comprising a broadcasting station (11, or 21, or 31) of communications and a billing center (41) characterized in that said broadcasting station (11, or 21, or 31) communications transmits, together with a communications program, a program number for identifying the communications program; said billing center (41) sends by a data communication device (43), in response to a program distribution request requested via a public telephone line (42), a distribution permission code relating to distributing a communications dissemination program and collecting the royalties for this program; and a distribution device which accepts (15, or 23, or 34) said distribution permission code and distributes a received communication broadcast program according to said distribution mission code. 29 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that the   jamming configuration is fixed.   System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that there is a   series of interference patterns.   31 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that a request for distribution of a program is made by specifying said program for broadcasting communications.   32 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that the request for distribution of a program is made in   specifying the communication broadcast time.   33 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that the distribution permission code is a descrambling code. 34 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that said communication broadcasting program is a video program.   System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that said communication broadcasting program is a audio program.   36 System (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) according to claim 28, characterized in that said communication broadcasting program is a data program.   37 Receiving device (15, or 23, or 34) comprising (15) a tuning device for picking up a scrambled signal from a broadcast wave, and a scrambling decoder for scrambling said scrambling signal by means of a signal decoding of interference provided by a means other than the broadcast wave. 38 Device (15, or 23, or 34) according to claim 37, characterized in that said supplied interference decoding signal is supplied on a online base.   39 Device (15, or 23, or 34) according to claim 37, characterized in that said supplied interference decoding signal is supplied on a offline database.   40 Broadcasting system (1, or 2, or 3; and 4) comprising a broadcasting transmitter (11, or 21, or 31) and a receiver (15, or 23, or 34), characterized in that said transmitter broadcast (11, or 21, or 31) transmits at the same time as the broadcast program a program number used to identify a broadcast program and said receiver (15, or 23, or 34) monitors said program number and controls the reception using said program number. 41 Device for receiving surveillance of a program number to be transmitted at the same time as a broadcasting program transmitted by a broadcasting transmitter (11, or 21, or 31), characterized in that it also controls reception at using the said program number. 42 Device according to claim 41 characterized in that said receiving device is   a television set (16 or 24).   43 Device according to claim 41, characterized in that said receiving device is a video-recorder on film.