GB2168227A - Interactive television distribution system - Google Patents
Interactive television distribution system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2168227A GB2168227A GB08527804A GB8527804A GB2168227A GB 2168227 A GB2168227 A GB 2168227A GB 08527804 A GB08527804 A GB 08527804A GB 8527804 A GB8527804 A GB 8527804A GB 2168227 A GB2168227 A GB 2168227A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- subscriber
- page
- head end
- teletext
- sub
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/025—Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame
- H04N7/03—Subscription systems therefor
Abstract
An interactive television distribution system comprising a head end, a plurality of subscribers connected to the head end by distribution cables, at least some of the subscribers being provided with teletext receivers, and means for transmitting data to each subscriber's teletext receiver independently of a broadcast television signal. Data is transmitted from the head end to a subscriber to set the subscriber's teletext decoder so that it receives confidential information via a page and sub-page number determined by the data transmitted from the head end. The page and sub-page number set in the teletext decoder is displayed to the subscriber on the subscriber's receiver, and the subscriber selects the teletext page and sub-page carrying the confidential information to which he requires access by entering the transmitted page and sub-page at his teletext receiver. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Interactive television distribution system
The present invention relates to an interactive television distribution system, and in particular to an
interactive system in which at least some of the subscribers to the system are provided with teletext decoders and have the capacity to conduct interactive
dialogue with organisations providing services such
as shopping, banking and betting.
Many differenttypes of cable television systems
using both conductive wires and optic fibres for signal
distribution have previously been proposed and some
ofthese prior systems have had an interactive capacity enabling subscribers to make use of services provided by service organisations also connected to the system. The great problem with all interactive facilities of this type is security in that if a subscriber is to be able to conduct transactions with for example a bank via the system he must be fully confident that no othersubscriberto the system will be able to gain access to his banking facilities eitherwith a view to extracting information about his financial transactions or with a view to conducting fraudulent transactions.
Various systems have been proposed for providing the required level of security. In one system interactive services can only be conducted via the use of a teletext receiver. Each individual subscriber is given a unique identification code, such for example as a seven digit teletexed page and sub-page number. Since a stan dardteletextdecodercan respond to overtwo and a half million such seven digit numbers there is very little probability of one subscriber intercepting information relating to the activities of another. It is always possible howeverthat a third party may learn the seven digit number assigned to a particular subscriber and make use of that number to monitor the subscriber's activity.
It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a system which overcomes the above problems.
According to the present invention there is provided an interactive television distribution system comprising a head end, a plurality subscribers connected to the head end by distribution cables, at least some of the subscribers being provided with teletext decoders, and means fortransmitting data to each subscriber's teletext decoder independently of a broadcasttelevision signal,wherein means are provided to transmit data from the head end to a subscriber at least to set the subscriber's teletext decoder so that it receives confidential informationfordisplayon the subscriber's receiver via a page and sub-page number determined by the data transmitted from the head end.
Means may be provided for verifying the subscriber's teletext decoder setting and responding to the selection of a page otherthan that assigned to the subscriber by disconnecting that subscriber from the interactive service channel.
Preferably the page and sub-page number set in the subscriber's decoderfrom the head end is changed over the data line during interactive sessions and/or between interactive sessions in a random or pseudorandom manner.
An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a flow diagram ofthe operation of a system for enabling interactive services between a subscriber and a banking organisation.
Referring to the drawing, when a subscriber wishes to conduct transactions with a banking organisation his first action is to switch his receiver to a channel dedicated to that service. This channel will generally be referred to as the "telebanking" channel and will be identified as such in a "menu" of available channels which is normally broadcast to all subscribers on a "service" channel advertising the various channels availableto subscribers.
Once the subscriber has selected thetelebanking channel that channel is routed to the subscriber's equipment and data indicating that the subscriber has selected the telebanking channel is returned to the head end. In the case of a star network in which a head end is connected by trunk cables to a series of switching points and each switching point is connected to a group of subscribers, each subscriber being connected to the switching point by his own dedicated cable, the selection ofthe telebanking channel will be detected at the switchpoint and thereafterthe switchpoint equipment will distribute the required channel to the subscriber and send data representative of the selection back to the head end.
The subscriber's screen will then ask the subscriber to switch his receiver to teletext mode. This is necessary as the interactive services are to operate only via the teletext capability of the subscriber's receiver. Alternatively, this could be done over the data line.
Afterthe subscriber's receiver has been switched to the teletext mode, a message appears on his screen asking him to transmit his identity code. The head end then transmitsto the subscriber's equipment a data signal identifying the relevant page and sub-page number currently allocated to that subscriber. This data is used to condition the subscriber's teletext equipment. if a subscriber does not enter his identity code within a predetermined time (shown in the flo diagram as X minutes) the system times out and returns to the service channel.
Assuming thatthe subscriber does respond a check is then made that the correct code has been keyed in and if so the subscribercan then engage in an interactive dialogue with the bank.
The head end can be arranged to change the page number and decodersetting during the course ofthe interactive dialogue. The page number and decoder setting may be changed underthe control ofthe head end and without any intervention by the subscriber.
This means that even if by some chance another subscriber has gained access to the telebanking information of a subscriber during the dialogue it will not be possible for that intruding subscriber to retain access afterthe page selection ofthe intended recipient's decoder has been reset.
An interactive dialogue session is terminated either when the subscriber indicates he has finished or after a predetermined period of inactivity. This prevents a subscriber accidentally leaving his receiver displaying confidential information.
As an additional feature the system may also be provided with means for monitoring the decoder setting while the subscriber has access to the telebanking channel to prevent intrusion into other subscriber's information.
Claims (4)
1. An interactivetelevision distribution system comprising a head end, a plurality of subscribers connected to the head end by distribution cables, at least some ofthe subscribers being provided with teletext decoders, and means fortransmitting data to each subscriber's teletext decoder independently of a broadcast television signal, wherein means are provided to transmit data from the head end to a subscriber at leastto setthe subscriber's teletext decoder so that it receives confidential information for display on the subscriber's receiver via a page and sub-page number determined by the data transmitted from the head end.
2. Asystem according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for verifying the subscriber's teletext decoder setting and responding to the selection of a page otherthan that assignedto the subscriber by disconnecting that subscriberfrom the interactive service channel.
3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein means are provided for changing the page and
sub-page number set in the subscriber's decoderfrom the head end during interactive sessions and/or
between interactive sessions in a random or pseudo
random manner.
4. Asystem substantially as hereinbeforede- scribed with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB848429488A GB8429488D0 (en) | 1984-11-22 | 1984-11-22 | Interactive television distribution system |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8527804D0 GB8527804D0 (en) | 1985-12-18 |
GB2168227A true GB2168227A (en) | 1986-06-11 |
GB2168227B GB2168227B (en) | 1988-05-11 |
Family
ID=10570089
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB848429488A Pending GB8429488D0 (en) | 1984-11-22 | 1984-11-22 | Interactive television distribution system |
GB08527804A Expired GB2168227B (en) | 1984-11-22 | 1985-11-11 | Interactive television distribution system |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB848429488A Pending GB8429488D0 (en) | 1984-11-22 | 1984-11-22 | Interactive television distribution system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB8429488D0 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2283398A (en) * | 1993-10-28 | 1995-05-03 | Mohammed Alam | An interactive television system |
WO1995015649A1 (en) * | 1993-12-02 | 1995-06-08 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic book selection and delivery system |
US5559549A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1996-09-24 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Television program delivery system |
US5600364A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1997-02-04 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Network controller for cable television delivery systems |
WO1997011558A1 (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 1997-03-27 | Fridley Technologies Ltd. | Process for reproducing additional information contained in a television or radio programme signal |
US5659350A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1997-08-19 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system |
US8578410B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2013-11-05 | Comcast Ip Holdings, I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content coding and formatting |
US8621521B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2013-12-31 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator |
US9286294B2 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2016-03-15 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content suggestion engine |
US9813641B2 (en) | 2000-06-19 | 2017-11-07 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects |
Families Citing this family (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5798785A (en) | 1992-12-09 | 1998-08-25 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system |
US6181335B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2001-01-30 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Card for a set top terminal |
US7509270B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2009-03-24 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic Book having electronic commerce features |
US7849393B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2010-12-07 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic book connection to world watch live |
US5600573A (en) | 1992-12-09 | 1997-02-04 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Operations center with video storage for a television program packaging and delivery system |
US8073695B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2011-12-06 | Adrea, LLC | Electronic book with voice emulation features |
US7835989B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2010-11-16 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic book alternative delivery systems |
US5986690A (en) | 1992-12-09 | 1999-11-16 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic book selection and delivery system |
US6463585B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2002-10-08 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Targeted advertisement using television delivery systems |
US7861166B1 (en) | 1993-12-02 | 2010-12-28 | Discovery Patent Holding, Llc | Resizing document pages to fit available hardware screens |
US7865567B1 (en) | 1993-12-02 | 2011-01-04 | Discovery Patent Holdings, Llc | Virtual on-demand electronic book |
US8095949B1 (en) | 1993-12-02 | 2012-01-10 | Adrea, LLC | Electronic book with restricted access features |
US9053640B1 (en) | 1993-12-02 | 2015-06-09 | Adrea, LLC | Interactive electronic book |
AU692600B2 (en) | 1994-09-12 | 1998-06-11 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Cable television apparatus employing two-way communication |
US9009773B1 (en) | 1998-06-30 | 2015-04-14 | Cox Communications, Inc. | Method and apparatus for providing broadcast data services |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2124856A (en) * | 1982-07-23 | 1984-02-22 | Oak Industries Inc | Multi-layer encryption system for the broadcast of encrypted information |
-
1984
- 1984-11-22 GB GB848429488A patent/GB8429488D0/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-11-11 GB GB08527804A patent/GB2168227B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2124856A (en) * | 1982-07-23 | 1984-02-22 | Oak Industries Inc | Multi-layer encryption system for the broadcast of encrypted information |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9286294B2 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2016-03-15 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content suggestion engine |
US5682195A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1997-10-28 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Digital cable headend for cable television delivery system |
US5559549A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1996-09-24 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Television program delivery system |
US5600364A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1997-02-04 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Network controller for cable television delivery systems |
US8276183B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2012-09-25 | Cox Communications, Inc. | Television terminal data storage |
US5659350A (en) * | 1992-12-09 | 1997-08-19 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system |
US8347345B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2013-01-01 | Cox Communications, Inc. | Television terminal modem |
US7716349B1 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 2010-05-11 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic book library/bookstore system |
GB2283398A (en) * | 1993-10-28 | 1995-05-03 | Mohammed Alam | An interactive television system |
WO1995015649A1 (en) * | 1993-12-02 | 1995-06-08 | Discovery Communications, Inc. | Electronic book selection and delivery system |
WO1997011558A1 (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 1997-03-27 | Fridley Technologies Ltd. | Process for reproducing additional information contained in a television or radio programme signal |
US9813641B2 (en) | 2000-06-19 | 2017-11-07 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects |
US8578410B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2013-11-05 | Comcast Ip Holdings, I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content coding and formatting |
US8621521B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2013-12-31 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator |
US10140433B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2018-11-27 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator |
US10349096B2 (en) | 2001-08-03 | 2019-07-09 | Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc | Video and digital multimedia aggregator content coding and formatting |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8527804D0 (en) | 1985-12-18 |
GB8429488D0 (en) | 1985-01-03 |
GB2168227B (en) | 1988-05-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
GB2168227A (en) | Interactive television distribution system | |
RU2120195C1 (en) | Method for confirmation of user's actions in tv programs | |
US5231665A (en) | Cable television system having dynamic market code shuffling | |
US4536791A (en) | Addressable cable television control system with video format data transmission | |
CA1312943C (en) | Program blocking method for use in direct broadcast satellite system | |
EP0342295B1 (en) | Interactive call-handling | |
US6330021B1 (en) | Interactive television reception console | |
US5444769A (en) | Data communications system for establishing links between subscriber stations and broadcast stations | |
US5589873A (en) | Multipoint television conference system with a multipoint control unit for registering information about TV conference rooms and room groups and allowing a selected room to participate in the TV conference based on registered information | |
US4829372A (en) | Presentation player | |
US5231664A (en) | Cable system having multiple barkering | |
EP0600567A1 (en) | Televoting method and system | |
JPH09504924A (en) | Group message transmission in time division multiplexed paging system | |
NL9500211A (en) | Cable television system that uses passwords. | |
NO300079B1 (en) | Device for selectively distributing messages over a communication network as well as subscriber terminal for processing selectively distributed messages over a communication network | |
EP0333466A1 (en) | Broadband telecommunications networks | |
EP0318507A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for communication of video, audio, teletext, and data to groups of decoders in a communication system. | |
US5794118A (en) | Two-way broadcasting and receiving method with time limit and/or limit data | |
US5146538A (en) | Communication system and method with voice steering | |
US5857014A (en) | System and method for establishing communications between a remote computer and a computer service provider using a telephonic switch | |
CA2015494A1 (en) | Mobile telephone system | |
WO1998007485A2 (en) | Interactive broadcasting systems | |
EP0796014A1 (en) | Bidirectional information system and device | |
CA1272284A (en) | Geographic blackout method for direct broadcast satellite system | |
DE69831772T2 (en) | User-assisted wireless fraud detection |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19921111 |