MXPA00007678A - Interactive gaming system - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive gaming and audiovisual transmissionsystem comprising a central gaming computer (4002) for processing gaming data, a decoder (2020) adapted to receive gaming data from the central gaming computer (4002) together with transmitted audiovisual data, the decoder further including a card reading device for interacting with a user's bank card in order to credit a gaming account held by the central gaming computer means in response to a transfer of credit from the user's bank account.

Description

INTERACTIVE GAMES SYSTEM The present invention relates to an interactive audiovisual and digital game transmission system, in particular a gaming and digital television transmission system. The widespread transmission of digital data is well known in the field of pay television systems, where the demodulated audio-visual information is sent, usually by means of a satellite or a satellite / cable link, to a number of subscribers, each having a decoder which can demodulate the program that was transmitted for a subsequent examination. The digital transmission systems are also known. terrestrial Recent systems have also used the transmission link to transmit other data, in addition to, or as well as, audiovisual data, such as computer programs or interactive applications to the decoder or a connected PC. The increasing sophistication of this technology, in particular in relation to receiver / desc devices systems that have been used in the systems, has led to an increase in the possible services that can be provided through it. In particular, a number of systems using interactive technology have been proposed to enable a viewer participate, for example, in a question program, or select additional information regarding a product that is currently being displayed in a shopping channel. In the case of game applications, a number of mostly theoretical systems to allow a viewer to bet a sum of money on the final result of a sporting event or a game transmission of the casino type by a television network. In most of these systems, a viewer is usually forced to open an initial account with the game control authority by telephoning or mailing a transfer of money to the game authority, before any bets are made The disadvantages of this type of procedure will be apparent They are also known alternative systems, in which the viewer buys the credits that are going to be wagered in the form of an electronic purse, is d a credit card or similar, credit being available in the purse for subsequent gaming operations. The card is inserted into the decoder and the credits are used thereafter in the subsequent gaming operations. When the purse content is exhausted , the viewer buys a new card or reloads the card at any suitable point of sale. This system again implies that place some infrastructure in place, to facilitate the user to obtain the necessary credits to bet them The present invention seeks to overcome some or all of the disadvantages of these systems of the previous techniques In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an interactive and audiovisual game transmission system comprising a central gaming computer element for processing the game data, a decoder that is adapted to receive game data from the gaming computer central, together with the audiovisual data that was transmitted, the decoder further including a card reading device for interacting with a user's bancapa card for the purpose of crediting a gaming account that maintains the central gaming computer element, in response a credit transfer from the user's bancapa account In this way, the present invention enables the user to open and credit a game account easily and quickly from the comfort of his home, avoiding the most elaborate payment methods of the known systems The type of bank card that is used in this transaction can be of the t debit or credit type The card reading device can in particular comprise a smart card reader that is adapted to interacting with a banck card in the form of a smart card The central gaming computer element can be provided by a gaming system server Conveniently, the decoder is further equipped with a second card reading device For example, in In the case where the decoder is part of a television subscription service, the subscriber can be provided with a subscription card in the form of a smart card or the like The provision of two card reading devices in the decoder, allows the decoder to perform the credit transactions in a banker card that is inserted in a reader, while the subscription card is kept in the second reader In one embodiment, the decoder can be adapted to obtain the credit information transfer in the form of an electronic certificate that was generated by the bancapa card in r response to the transaction data submitted by the decoder This transaction information may include, for example, the details of the bank account of the gaming authority to be accredited in the operation, the sum of money to be transferred, etc Typically, the user enters the data within 1 decoder, using a manual remote control. In the case where a credit transaction is to be made, it may it is necessary to enter the PIN number of the bancapa card using the remote control In one embodiment, the decoder is provided with a manual remote control, some or all of the data that is sent to the decoder by means of the manual remote control being enciphered, and being decrypted from Subsequent way by the decoder In this way, the interception by a third part of the sensitive data that was issued by the remote control can be eliminated. Preferably, the decoder is adapted to transmit the transfer of the credit information from the decoder to a bank server, by means of a network communication link, for example, using a modem integrated in the decoder. The decoder can be adapted to directly communicate the transfer of the credit information to a bank computer. However, preferably, the system also comprises an intermediary communications server, which is adapted to receive the transfer of the credit information that was communicated from the decoder and to send this information to a server of the bank The intermediary communication server can be further adapted to communicate with the central gaming computer element, for example , to inform the s central gaming computer element on a transfer of the credit instruction that is being sent from the central gaming computer element to establish an account, without having to verify the transaction that was performed on an associated bank server. The central gaming computer element can be adapted in the same way to receive and transmit the credit information to or from a bank server through a network communication link. This might be necessary, for example, in the case of a win or in order to verify the transfer of funds from a user's bancapable account to the bancapable account of the game authorities, before opening a gaming account. Preferably, the decoder is adapted to communicate game information to the central gaming computer element during game operation, by means of a network communication link. This can be the same link that was used to communicate the transfer of credit information to a bank computer, for example, using a modem device that is integrated into the decoder. Some or all of the game information that can be encrypted can be encrypted. communicated from the decoder to the central gaming computer element during the operation of the game, by means of the decoder. For example, you can adapt the decoder for transmitting in the encrypted form a codeword entering the user associated with the game account of the user holding the central game computer element. The decoder can be adapted to directly communicate the information to the central game computer element during the operation of the game However, preferably, the system further comprises an intermediary communications server, which is adapted to receive the information that was communicated from the decoder during the operation of the game and to send this information to the central gaming computer element This could be the same intermediary server that was used for the transfer of the credit information between the decoder and a bank. In the case where the game information has been entered through the decoder, the intermediary communications server can be adapted to simply pass this information "co However, in one embodiment, the intermediary communications server is adapted to decrypt the information that was received from the decoder and to re-encrypt this information for subsequent communication to the computer element of the host. central game This may be required, for example, in the case where different encryption algorithms are used by the decoder and the central gaming computer element The intermediary communications server can be further adapted to communicate the information to and from other computer devices, for example, computer databases that are retaining the television suscpptor information. In this way, the intermediary communications server can obtain directly the information regarding the user of the system (name, address, etc.), which will be used in the establishment of the game account, without the user having to enter the same information. The communication element used to transmit the data of the game from the central game computer element to the decoder, it can be defined in a number of different ways and by a number of different communication elements. For example, some or all of the game data that is sent from the game element can be transmitted. central gaming computer to the decoder, by means of an element transmitter, or transmitter, which is used to transmit the audiovisual data to the decoder In addition, or alternatively, some or all of the game data that is sent from the central gaming computer element to the decoder can be sent, by means of a network communication link, for example, the same network that was used to communicate the information from the decoder to the central game computer element during the game operation In practice, a mixture of these two communication paths could be optimal, the network path being used for the fast dialogue between the decoder and the central game computer element during 1 real-time operation and the transmission path being used for relatively fixed data, such as visual display data of the screen format or the like. The present invention also extends to a game system for processing game data, comprising an element for transmitting the game data to a user's decoder, an element for receiving the data from the user's decoder, and an element for connection to a bank server that retains the user's bancapa account with the objective of transferring the credit to, or from, the account In a preferred embodiment, the game system to process The game data comprises a transmitter for transmitting the game data to a user's decoder, and a communication server for receiving the data from the user's decoder, the communication server being connected to a server of the bank that retains the account User's bank, with the objective of transferring the credit to, or from, the account. The gaming system may include a gaming account that retains the gaming system, which may be credited in response to the credit transfer. The game system can be adapted to communicate with the decoder and the bank server through a communication server. If so, the game system can be adapted to receive encrypted information from the communication server. The present invention also provides an interactive and audiovisual game transmission system comprising a game system as mentioned above, the user's decoder, and the bank server. As mentioned above, the system can be used to allow the game in relation to different events. For example, the central gaming computer element can be adapted to generate a computer game (computer cards or the like), the computer generated images being transmitted via the audiovisual link to the decoder. However, as will be appreciated, the combination of the game and audiovisual systems makes this invention particularly adapted to allow the game in relation to televised sports, such as horse racing or Similar. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a central gaming computer element that is adapted to provide game data that relates to the real-time sports event, the decoder being adapted to receive both game data and data. audiovisuals associated with the event. The present invention also extends to a method for processing the game data, the method comprising the steps of transmitting the juice data to a decoder of the user; receive the data from the user's decoder, and connect to a server of the bank that retains the user's bancapable account, for the purpose of transferring the credit to, or from, the account. The present invention also extends to a method for controlling a interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, the method comprising the steps of - processing game data into a central gaming computer element; receive the game data that was processed, from the central gaming computer element, together with the audiovisual data that was transmitted; and interact with a user's bancapa card with the objective of crediting a gaming account that retains the central gaming computer element, in response to a credit transfer from the user's bancapable account. Characteristics of the method analogous to the characteristics of the system described above are also provided In the context of the present application, the term "audiovisual transmission system" refers to all transmission systems for transmitting or broadcasting mainly digital audio-visual or multimedia data. The present invention can be applied particularly, but not exclusively, to a broadcast system. digital television transmission In this application, the term "smart card" is used to mean any conventional chip-based card device that possesses, for example, a microprocessor and / or memory storage. Also included in this term are chip devices having physical forms. alternatives, for example, key-shaped devices such as those that are frequently used in television decoder systems In the present application, the term "decoder" is used to apply it to an integrated receiver / decoder for receiving and disabling an encoded transmission, the elements of the receiver and the decoder of this system as if they were considered separately, as well as a receiver that can receive unencrypted transmissions The term also covers decoders that include additional functions, such as network browsers, together with decoder systems that integrate with other devices, for example, integrated VHS / decoder devices, or the like Figure 1 shows the overall design of a digital television system, as incorporated into the game system of the present invention, Figure 2 shows the conditional access system of the television system of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the structure of the decoder of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 shows a system of game that incorporates the television system of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 5 shows a flow diagram of the logical steps included in a game transaction Digital Television System Figure 1 shows a general view of a digital television transmission and reception system 1000 that can be adapted to the present invention. The system includes a digital television system 2000 mostly conventional, which uses the system of known MPEG 2 compression, to transmit compressed digital signals In more In detail, the 2002 MPEG-2 compressor in a transmission center receives a flow of digital signals (typically a flow of video signals). The compressor 2002 is connected to a multiplexer and demodulator 2004 via the link 2006. The multiplexer 2004 receives a plurality of additional input signals, assembles one or more transport streams and transmits the compressed digital signals to a transmitter 2008 of the transmission center, by means of the 2010 link, which can, of course, take a wide variety of forms, including that of telecommunications links. The transmitter 2008 transmits electromagnetic signals by means of the upper link 2012 to a satellite transmitter-receiver 2014, where these are processed electronically and transmitted by means of a notional lower link 2016 to the ground receiver 2018, conventionally in the form of a dish owned or rented by the end user. The signals received by the receiver 2018 are transmitted to an integrated receiver / decoder 2020 that the end user owns or rents and connects to the television 2022 of the end user. The receiver / decoder 2020 decodes the compressed MPEG-2 signal into a television signal for the television set 2022. A conditional access system 3000 is connected to a multiplexer 2004 and the receiver / decoder 2020, and locates partially in the transmission center and partially in the decoder Allows the end user to get access to digital television transmissions from one or more transmission providers A smart card can be inserted, which can decrypt the messages that relate to offers commercial (that is, in different television programs sold by the transmission provider), inside the receiver / decoder 2020 With the use of the decoder 2020 and the smart card, the end user can buy events either in subscription mode or in the pay-per-event mode An interactive system 4000, which also connects to the multiplexer 2004 and the receiver / decoder 2020 and which is located again partially in the transmission, and partly in the decoder, allows the user end to interact with different applications by means of a subsequent channel 4002 placed on the modem These applications Interactive s can include the purchasing service, a question application, an interactive program guide, etc. Actually, while the interactive system 4000 has been represented as a discrete logical block, the physical elements of this system, such as the server or servers that are used to manipulate communications between the receiver / decoder and the central servers, can be elements that are shared with the conditional access system 3000 This will be clear in the description of the game system of Figure 4 Conditional Access System With reference to Figure 2, the conditional access system 3000 includes a Subscriber Authorization System (SAS) 3002 The Subscriber Authorization System 3002 is connected to one or more Suscpptor Management Systems (SMS, for its acronym in English) 3004, a Suscpptor Management System for each transmission provider, through a respective TCP IP 3006 link (although other types of links could alternatively be used). Alternatively, a system could be shared. Subscriber Management between two transmission providers or a provider could use two Suscpptor Management System, and so on The first encryption units are connected in the form of encryption units in key 3008 using "mother" 3010 smart cards to the Suscpptor Authorization System, through link 3012 The second encryption units, again in the form of encryption units in code 3014 using the 3016 motherboards, they are connected to the multiplexer 2004 through the link 3018 The receiver / decoder 2020 receives a smart card "hi a" 3020 This connects directly to the Suscpptor Authorization System 3002 via the Communications Servers 302 via the back channel 4002 set in modem. The Suscpptor Authorization System sends, among other things, subscription rights to the daughter smart card, upon request. Smart cards contain the secrets of one or more commercial operators. The smart card "mother" implements different types of messages and the smart card "daughter" decrypts the messages, if they have the rights to do so The first and second encryption units in code 3008 and 3014 comprise a grid, an electronic VME card with the software stored in an EEPROM, up to 20 electronic cards and a smart card 3010 and 3016 respectively, for each electronic card one (card 3016) to encrypt the ECMs and one (card 3010) to implement the Authorization Administration Message. Figure 2 also shows a manual remote control that the viewer uses to control and program the functions in the receiver / decoder 2020.

Multiplexer and Demodulator With reference to Figures 1 and 2, in the transmission center, the digital video signal is first compressed (or its bit rate is reduced), using the MPEG-2 compressor 2002. This compressed signal is then transmitted to the multiplexer and demodulator 2004 via link 2006, in order to be multiplexed with other data, such as other compressed data. The demodulator generates a control word CW which is used in the demodulation process and which is included in the current of the MPEG-2 in the multiplexer 2004. The control word CW is generated internally and allows the receiver / decoder 2020 of the end user, to demodulate the program. The access criteria, which indicate how the program is marketed, are also added to the current MPEG-2. The program can be marketed in any of a number of "subscription" modes and / or one of a number of Payment-by-Event modes or events (PPV). In subscription mode, the end user subscribes one or more offers. commercials of "bouquets", getting through the same rights to see all the channels inside these bouquets. In the preferred mode, up to 960 commercial offers can be selected from a bunch of channels. In Pay Per View mode, the end user is provided with the ability to buy events as desired. This can be achieved either by pre-booking the event in advance ("reservation mode"), or by purchasing the event as soon as possible. how it is transmitted ("impulse mode"). Both the control word CW and the access criteria are used to construct an Authorization Control Message (ECM); this is a message that is sent in relation to a demodulated program. The message contains a control word (which allows the program to be demodulated) and the access criteria of the transmitted program. The access criteria and the control word are transmitted to the second encryption unit 3014 via link 3018. In this unit, an Authorization Control Message is generated, which is implemented with a Cex usage key and transmitted to the multiplexer and demodulator 2004.

Program Transmission The 2004 multiplexer receives the Authorization Management Messages from the Suscpptor Authorization System 3002, the Authorization Control Messages of the second encryption unit 3014 and the compressed programs of the 2002 compressor. The 2004 multiplexer demodulates the programs and communicates the demodulated programs, the encrypted Authorization Management Message (if one is present) and the Messages. of Control of Authorization applied to a transmitter 2008 of the center of transmissions by means of the link 2010 The transmitter 2008 transmits the electromagnetic signals to the 2014 satellite transceiver via the top link 2012 Transmission of the Program The 2014 satellite transponder receives and processes the electromagnetic signals transmitted by the transmitter 2008 and transmits the signals to the ground receiver 2018, conventionally in the form of a dish owned or rented by the end user, through the link downwards 2016. The signals received by the receiver 2018 are transmitted to the integrated receiver / decoder 2020 that the end user owns or rents and connects to the television set 2022 of the end user. The receiver / decoder 2020 demultiplexes the signals to obtain the programs demodulated with the encrypted Authorization Management Messages and the encrypted Authorization Control Messages. If the program is not encrypted, the receiver / decoder 2020 decompresses the data and transforms the signal into a video signal for transmission to the television set 2022. If the program is demodulated, the receiver / decoder 2020 extracts the corresponding Authorization Control Message from the MPEG-2 stream and passes the Authorization Control Message to the smart card "daughter" 3020 of the end user This is slotted into the housing in the receiver / decoder 2020 The daughter smart card 3020 controls if the end user has the right to decrypt the Authorization Control Message and gain access to the program If not, a negative state is passed to the receiver / decoder 2020 to indicate that the program can not be de-modulated. If the end user has the rights, the Authorization Control Message and the control word that was extracted is disengaged. The decoder 2020 can then demodulate the program using the control word The MPEG-2 current is decompressed and is translated into a forward transmission of video signal to the television set 2022 Suscpptor Management System (SMS) A Subscriber Management System (SMS) 3004 includes a 3024 database which manages, among others, all files of the end user, commercial offers (such as rates and promotions), Subscriptions, details of PPE, and data regarding consumption and authorization of the end user The Suscpptor Administration System may be physically remote from the Subscriber Authorization System Each Suscpptor 3004 Management System transmits the messages to the Subscriber Authorization System.

Suscpptor 3002 through the respective link 3006 to enable the modifications to be transmitted to, or the creations of, the Authorization Management Messages (EMMs) to the end users Suscpptor 3004 Management System also transmits the messages to the Authorization System of Suscpptor 3002 which does not imply any modification or creation of Authorization Management Message, but only implies a change in an end-user status (which is related to the authorization that was granted to the end user when he ordered the products or with the amount that will be charged to the end user) Authorization Management Messages and Authorization Control Messages Authorization Control Messages or Authorization Control Messages are encrypted messages embedded in the data stream of a transmitted program and which contain the control word necessary to demodulate part or all The program The authorization of a given receiver / decoder is controlled by Authorization Management Messages or Authorization Management Messages, which are transmitted on a less frequent basis and which provide an authorized receiver / decoder with the necessary usage key. for decode the Authorization Control Message. An Authorization Management Message is a message that is dedicated to an individual end user (suscpptor), or a group of end users. A group can contain a given number of end users This organization as a group helps in the optimization of bandwidth; that is, access to a group can allow reaching a large number of end users. Different Specific Types of Authorization Management Message may be used Individual Authorization Management Messages are dedicated to individual subscribers, and are typically used in the provision of Pay Per View services. The so-called "Subscription Authorization Administration Message in" Group "are dedicated to groups of, say, 256 individual users, and are typically used in the administration of some subscription services. This Authorization Management Message has a group identifier and a group bitmap of users For security reasons, the control word CW embedded in the enclosed Approval Control Message changes on average every 10 seconds or so. In contrast, the Cex leverage key used by the receiver to decode the Authorization Control Message is changed every month, more or less, by means of an Administration Message of Authorization. The Cex leverage key is implemented using a custom key that corresponds to the identity of the suscpptor or group of subscribers that were recorded on the smart card. If the suscpptor is one of those that were selected to receive an updated Cex leverage key, the card will decrypt the message using its custom key to obtain the Cex leverage key for that month. The operation of Authorization Management Messages and Authorization Control Messages will be well known to those skilled in the art and will not be further described here in more detail.

Structure of the Receiver / Decoder With reference to Figure 3, the elements of a receiver / decoder 2020 or upper setting channel for use in a digital transmission system or that are adapted for use in the present invention will now be described. As will be understood, the elements of this decoder are mostly conventional and their implementation will be within the capabilities of one skilled in the art. As shown, the decoder 2020 is equipped with different devices for receiving and transmitting data, in particular an MPEG tuner and 2040 demultiplexer to receive the broadcast MPEG transmissions, a serial interface 2041, a parallel interface 2042, and a modem 2028 for sending and receiving data via a telephone network. In this embodiment, the desmodifier also includes first and second smart card readers 2030 and 2031, the first reader 2030 to accept a smart subscription card containing the decryption keys associated with the system and the second reader 2031 to accept cards. banking and other types. As will be described, the use of a two-slot decoder, which is adapted to read banker cards, is an important aspect in the implementation of the game system of Figure 4. The decoder also includes a 2043 receiver for receiving infrared control signals from the remote control of the handset 2044 and a Peptel output to send the audio-visual signals to a television 2022 that is connected to the decoder. In certain cases, it may be desirable for the infrared signals that are transmitted from the handset 2044 to the receiver 2043 to be subjected to a simple demodulation / demodulation process to ensure that no third party monitoring the transmission can obtain any useful information. These algorithms will not be described in detail, but may comprise, for example, a known symmetric algorithmic key for both the handset 2044, and the receiver / decoder 2020. This may be varied from time to time. time, for example, by means of a random modulation number which selects the receiver / decoder 2020 and which is displayed visually by the television 2022, the user then programming the handset 2044 with this number, to ensure that the handset demodulates the data that were introduced, using an encryption algorithm key equivalent to that used by the receiver / decoder to de-code the received infrared signals The processing of the digital signals received by means of the interfaces, and the generation of digital output signals it is handled by a central control unit 2045 The software architecture of the control unit inside the decoder can correspond to that which is used in a known decoder, and will not be described here in any detail. This can be based, for example, on a virtual machine that interacts by means of a layer of method with an operating system ivo of lower level, implemented in the hardware components of the decoder In terms of hardware architecture, the decoder will be equipped with a processor, memory elements such as ROM, RAM, FLASH, etc. as in the known decoders The applications processed by the 2045 control unit may be resident applications stored in the decoder's ROM or FLASH, or broadcast applications and downloaded through the MPEG 2 interface of the decoder. Applications may include program guide applications, games, interactive services, television shopping applications, as well as initiation applications to allow the decoder to be immediately operational after startup, and applications to configure the decoder. The applications are stored in memory locations in the decoder, and are represented as resource files comprising graphic object description files, drive files, variable block files, instruction sequence files, application files, data, etc. Conventionally, the applications downloaded into the decoder by means of the broadcast link are divided into modules, each module corresponding to one or more MPEG tables. Each MPEG table can be divided into a number of sections. For the transfer of data through the serial and parallel ports, the modules are also divided into tables and sections, the size of the section depending on the channel used. In the case of broadcast transmission, the modules are transported in the form of data packets within respective types of data streams, for example, video data stream, audio data stream, text data stream In accordance with MPEG standards, each packet is preceded by a 13-bit packet identifier (PID), a PID for each packet transported in the MPEG stream. A program map table (PMT) contains a list of the different currents, and defines the content of each current, in accordance with the respective PID A PID can alert the device of the presence of applications in the data stream, the PID being identified by the PMT table Game System Architecture Referring now to Figure 4, the elements and operation of a game system will now be described, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The game system includes the elements of the digital television system that is described. and shows in Figures 1 and 2, to which the same reference numbers have been assigned. Some elements have been omitted, such as the digital compressor 2002 shown in Figure 1, in order to focus on those aspects of the system that are relevant to the present invention As shown, the game system additionally comprises a source of audiovisual information 4001 regarding the event that will form the betting object, etc., within the system. In the present case, the event has been represented as a horse race, and the present system is in fact adapted in particular for gaming activities centered around televised live action sports events. However, as will be understood, the present system can also be used to allow bets in relation to other events, such as casino-type games, as well as computer-generated games, previously recorded events, and so on. The system also comprises a central gaming computer element in the form of a game system server 4002, together with the associated operating terminal or terminals 4003, adapted to generate probability, calculate winners, etc., relative to the game event. The game server 4002 is adapted to communicate with a receiver / decoder 2020 by means of the intermediate communication server or servers 3022. The connection between the game server 4002 and the communication server 3022 can be implemented by means of an X25 Transpac link. or through a dedicated line. The network link for the server is broadly indicated at 4010. As described above, the communication server 3022 communicates with the receiver / decoder 2020 by means of a telephone link, using the built-in modem of the receiver / decoder. The game server can also be adapted to sending information to the receiver / decoder 2020, via a satellite link, broadly indicated at 4011, by injecting information into the multiplexer 2004 for subsequent integration into the transmitted MPEG stream. As will be understood, all communications from the receiver / decoder 2020 to the game server 4002, are by means of the modem of the receiver / decoder 2020 and the communication server 3022. In the case of communications from the game server 4002 to the receiver / decoder 2020, the selection of the communication channel and the communication element (MPEG satellite transmission or server / modem communication connection) may depend on the nature of the information to be transmitted. Typically, the 4011 satellite link will be used to send data or information that can be updated on a daily basis, or that can be received through any number of receivers / decoders in the park (odds for tomorrow's races, etc.) In particular, the satellite link can be used to download the application that needs to be installed in the scanner / receiver stream, to enable the receiver / decoder to operate in the game system.

In contrast, the modem link 010 may be preferred for data that change on a minute-to-mmuto basis. or that are specific to a particular user (the results of the last race, the current status of the user's account, etc.) In addition to managing the gaming activities resulting from bets placed by means of the receiver / decoder 2020, for example, as programmed by using the remote control 2044, the game server 4002 can also be adapted to manage the bets that are going to place other input elements, for example, as they are placed by means of a telephone service, or as they are received through a "Minitel" type system, as it is used in France and other countries. The gaming system server 4002 is additionally connected to a bank server network 4003, which comprises one or more bank servers 4005, 4006. The bank server network may correspond to an existing network that is used to handle bank transactions. electronic payment Later, the level of security and the cpptograficación will be described in more detail in the communications between each one of the elements of the game system, in relation to the operation of the system.

Operation of the Gaming System As mentioned in the introduction of the present application, the gaming systems used in the systems of Interactive television proposed to date, have tended to use relatively laborious methods to establish accounts between the viewer and the central game authority, which require that the viewer either pay by means of a conventional method (check, telephone credit transfer, etc.). ), or that physically purchases an "electronic purse" in the form of a smart card or key that contains a number of previously paid credits that can be wagered. The present modality differs from these systems by proposing a system architecture that allows the viewer to pay by means of a credit or debit card inserted in the decoder, and by means of entering data within the system by means of the handheld remote control. it was mentioned above, the provision of a decoder provided with two different card readers 2030, 2031 allows the decoder to simultaneously contain a subscription card containing the access rights of the viewer (eg, for the game channel), as well as the interaction with a credit / debit card inserted in the decoder. In order to comply with regulations regarding the use of credit / debit cards in gaming transactions, two different types of transactions need to be distinguished: (i) the opening or re-crediting of an account managed by the system server. game and (11) bet the sums in this account Opening an Account In the present case, the 2031 card reader functions in a manner similar to a standard card reader used in bank terminals and the like to read and write data on a smart card presented to the reader As with all the card readers used in the field of banking, communication between the terminal (in this case the decoder) and the external servers during the time in which the terminal is accessing the card, that is, during the time in which the memory areas on the card are "open" In order to open and credit an account with the game system server, the following steps are performed during a first phase a) Using the handheld remote control, and as indicated by the application loaded in the receiver / decoder, the user selects the option "open an account", and enters the sum of money that he wishes to transfer to this account b) After After entering your credit card into slot 2031 of the card reader, the viewer is invited to enter their personal PIN code. The user has a maximum of two opportunities to enter the code, after which the receiver / decoder will refuse to accept any additional entries, and the transaction will be abandoned Note that in the case of sensitive information communicated to the receiver / decoder by means of the microtelephone apparatus (in particular the PIN code), the data entered by the user on the keypad of the microtelephone apparatus can be encoded before the transmission between the microphone and the decoder, in order to avoid the interception of this information by a third party See above c) Assuming that the code is correct, the smart card downloads certain information in response to a request from the receiver / decoder, including details of the last transactions, to allow the decoder to verify that the sum of the transactions during a certain period is within, for example, the transaction limit of the cardholder for that period d) The receiver / decoder then passes to the smart card information resp ecto to the transaction in progress, including the amount of the transaction, the date and time of the transaction, the details of the bank account that will be credited in the transaction, etc. (The details of the account to be credited to the you can get the decoder before the interrogation of the card from the game system server, or the system server from intermediate communications) e) In the conventional manner, the smart card then calculates a first digital certificate using this information, which is communicated to the receiver / decoder The receiver / decoder writes the present transaction to the card, and a second digital certificate is calculated and communicates to the receiver / decoder Then the memory areas of the smart card are closed The generation of a pair of numerical certificates is a specific security measure, associated with the use of a receiver / decoder as a transaction terminal. have performed the above steps, the system is then moved to a second phase that involves communication between the receiver / decoder 2020, the intermediate communication server 3022 and the bank server 4005 f) Before transferring any information, the receiver / decoder 2020 verifies the identity of the communication server 3022, by means of a s public / private key system (for example, using the RSA algorithm) In particular, the receiver / decoder generates a random number, which is transmitted to the server for coding by means of a private key, and retu to the receiver / decoder, which verifies the value computed using the equivalent public key. The decoder 2020 can also provide a communication establishment simple signal, to identify itself with the server 3022. g) Assuming that the identity of the communication server is verified, the receiver / decoder 2020 sends to the communication server 3022 the details of the transaction that is going to perform, including the first and second digital certificates generated by the smart card h) Then the communication server 3022 sends the details of the transaction to the first bank server 4005, which verifies the user's account, and authorizes (or not) the transaction, and sends an acknowledgment of the transaction to the communication server. Then the transfer of money between the user's account and that of the central game authority will be handled, within the network of bank 4004. i) Once the communication server 3022 has received the acknowledgment of the acceptance of the monetary transfer , a message will be sent to the receiver / decoder 2020 of the completion of the transfer, and the operation will proceed to the next phase. Note that the same steps a) to i) that are used in the first two phases will also be performed in the event that the user wishes to increase the credit in an existing gaming account. The next phase in the opening of a game account involves communication between the receiver / decoder 2020, the communication server 3022 (and the servers of the subscriber authorization system and the suscpptor administration system 3002, 3004), and the game server 402. The information communicated between these servers is by far non-sensitive, and can communicate in clear, with the exception of the code word selected by the user to obtain access to his game account) Using the information (name, address, etc.) about the user contained in the servers of the authorization system of the suscpptor and the subscriber administration system 300, 3004, the communication server prepares a request to open an account with the gaming system server 4002 This information has been gathered on the server the subscriber administration system during the original procedure performed when the user originally subscribed to the television service. In this way the user is spared the inconvenience of repeating all this information when subscribing to the game service.

Note that in case that Suscpptor administration system database reveals, for example, that the suscpptor is in debt to the television service, the communication server may abort the opening of an account with the game service . This extra verification step can be performed before, for example, in step g). k) In one mode, the communication server 3022 can send the suscpptor information to the receiver / decoder 2020, where it is displayed visually on the television 2022 for verification by the user. Once verified, the information is sent to the game system server 4002, where the server 4002 creates a game account. 1) The account information (account number, etc.) is then sent from the game server 4002, via the communication server 3022, to the receiver / decoder 2020 Then the user is invited to select a code word suitable for the account that the system will demand at each opening of a game session. As for the PIN number, by means of the remote control the infrared signal containing this information can be encoded and sent between the remote control and the decoder, for avoid interception and decoding by means of the decoder m) Then a public key of a public / private key pair contained in the receiver / decoder 2020 encrypts the code word, and is sent to the communication server 3022, where it is described by means of the corresponding private key. In this case, for example, you can use the same RSA key pair that is used for the communication server verification, n) Then the communication server 3022 returns to code the code word, and it is sent to the server. gaming system 4002, where it is decopphotographed and assigned to the user's account. In this case, a symmetric key algorithm, such as DES, can conveniently be used, for example, to allow cryptographic communication in two directions, between the communication server 3022 and the game server 4002 Betting with an existing gaming account Once the user has established and credited a gaming account with gaming server 4002, all future gaming transactions will be handled between the receiver / decoder 2020 and the gaming system server 4002 Al beginning of every game session, the system server 4002 will demand the code word assigned by the user, which will be communicated between the receiver / decoder and the game server, by means of the communication server, as described above For simplicity , and in order to allow a relatively fast dialogue, all questions and answers between the user and the gaming system in order to place a bet and receive the results, are preferably passed through the telephone / modem link and communication server 3022 Certain data, such as the format of the screens displayed visually by the receiver / decoder in the j mode and / or the data that changes slowly or universally (details of the races of that day, horses taking part, etc.) can be passed through the satellite uplink, in order to take advantage of the bandwidth of this channel. However, other modalities can be displayed, in which the data is shared between the two communication channels in alternative ways, for example, where all the communication from the receiver / decoder to the game system server passes through the link of the modem, while all communications from the server to the receiver / decoder pass through the satellite link As mentioned above, the present system can be used with a number of interactive game applications, for example, with computer games such as cards, poker or the like, in which the user places a bet on the result of a game administered by the game server. However, in view of the use of television broadcasting technology, the system is particularly adapted to allow play in relation to live action sports events, such as televised races of horses, dogs, or camels. Figure 5 is a flow chart of the steps involved in placing a bet in relation to one or more horse races broadcast. In the present case, the bet will be placed with respect to the races of the day present, that is, in "real time", and the odds quoted for horses may depend on the time in which the bet is taken. In alternative modalities, bets can be placed the day or week before the race or races in question. First, in step 5000, the user enters his code word and opens a betting session. In steps 5001 and 5002, it selects the racecourse in which it is interested, and one of the races that are run in that racecourse, respectively. Depending on which race is running, the user can be offered a number of different standard bet types, from a simple bet to more complex bets, including main and collateral bets. As will be noted, the types of bets offered can be determined in accordance with the wishes of the game authority, and can be based on any of the usual types of bets offered for an event of this type. In step 5003, the user selects the type of bet he wishes to place. In the case of a simple bet for a horse, the next step will be step 5004, where the user selects the formula of the bet, that is, if the horse will win or if it will be placed in the first three or four positions. step 5005, the user selects the horse for which he wishes to bet In the case of a complex bet, then the user selects a combination of win, place or win / place in step 5007, and one of a number of bet types (individual, combined, small-field, full-field) ) in step 5007. The user may decide, for example, to select a horse to win and / or a horse to be placed in the first three or four positions. Other combinations may be presented to reflect the normally available bet selection. In step 5008 the user selects the horses for which he wishes to bet. In step 5009 the user selects his prize, that is, the sum that is to be extracted from the money deposited in the gaming account. At step 5010 the confirmation of the prize to be bet is requested. At this time, the system can also indicate the overall odds for the bet or placed bets, and the sum of the money that will be won. Assuming that the user confirms the bet, step 5011 records the bet After the results of the race, the game system server calculates the gains or losses for the user. These will be subtracted or added automatically to your gaming account. The user can request the position of his account at any time. In the event that the user eventually wants to close the account, or transfer some of his profits to his bank account, the user can send a message for this purpose from the receiver / decoder 2020 to the game system server 4002 (Figure 4) At that time, the server 4002 will communicate with the bank server 4006 to arrange a transfer of credit to the user's bank account Since the identity and bank details of the owner of the receiver / decoder are already known, the server will only transfer money from the user's gaming account to the bank account that was originally used to establish the game account It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of details may be made within the scope of the invention. Each feature described in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings, can be provided independently or in any appropriate combination In the modalities mentioned above, they have been imp However, of course it will be clear to the expert that these features can be implemented using hardware. In addition, it will be readily understood that the functions performed by the hardware, the computer software, and the like will be perform on, or using electrical signals and the like

Claims (28)

1. CLAIMS 1. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system comprising a central gaming computer element for processing game data, a decoder adapted to receive game data from the central gaming computer, together with transmitted audiovisual data, the decoder including an additional card reader device for interacting with a user's bancapa card, for the purpose of crediting a gaming account contained in the central gaming computer element, in response to a credit transfer of the user's bank account. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decoder is equipped with a card reader device in the form of a smart card reader. 3. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the decoder is further equipped with a second card reader device. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the desodifier is adapted to obtain the transfer of information from credit in the form of an electronic certificate generated by the bank card, in response to transaction data presented by the decoder 5 An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the decoder it is provided with a hand-held remote control, some or all of the data sent to the decoder being cryptographed by the hand-held remote control, and subsequently described by the decoder 6 An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the decoder is adapted to transmit the transfer of credit information from the decoder to a bank server, by means of a communication link of the network 7 An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in claim 6, characterized by It also comprises an intermediate communications server, adapted to receive the transfer of credit information communicated from the decoder, and to send this information to a bank server. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in the claim. 7, in that the intermediate communication server is adapted to communicate with the central gaming computer element. 9. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the central gaming computer element is adapted to receive and transmit credit information to, or from a bank server, via of a network communication link. 10. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the decoder is adapted to communicate game information to the central game computer element during the game operation, by means of a communication link of the network. 11. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein any or all of the game information communicated from the decoder to the game computer element, during the game operation, the cryptographic decoder. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in claim 10 or 11, the system further comprising an intermediate communications server, adapted to receive the information communicated from the decoder, during the game operation, and to send this information to the game computer element central 13 An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in claim 12, in which the intermediate communication server is adapted to decipher the ciprographed game information received from the decoder, and to re-cryptograph this information for subsequent communication to the central gaming computer element 14 An interactive and audiovisual gaming transmission system, as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the intermediate communication server is further adapted to communicate to, and from other servers An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which some or all of the game data sent from the central gaming computer element to the decoder is transmitted by means of an element. transmitter that is used to transmit the audiovisual data to the decoder 16 An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein some or all of the game data sent from the central gaming computer to the decoder are sent by means of a communication link of the network 17. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the central game computer is adapted to provide game data related to a sports event in real time, the decoder being adapted to receive both game data and audiovisual data associated with the event. 18. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a digital broadcast television system. A game system for processing game data, comprising: an element for transmitting game data to a user's decoder; an element for receiving the data of the user's decoder; and an item for connection to a bank server that contains the user's bank account, in order to transfer credit to, or from the account. 20. A gaming system, as claimed in the Claim 19, which includes a gaming account that has the gaming system, which can be credited in response to the credit transfer. 21 A game system, as claimed in the Claim 19 or 20, adapted to communicate with the decoder and the bank server, by means of a communications server 22. A gaming system, as claimed in Claim 21, adapted to receive computer-mapped information from the communication server. 23. A game system, as claimed in any of Claims 19 to 22, adapted to transmit game data related to a real-time sports event. 24 An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system comprising a game system , as claimed in any of Claims 19 to 23, said user decoder, and said bank server. 25. A method for processing game data, the method comprising the steps of transmitting game data to a user's decoder; receive data from the user's decoder, and connect to a bank server that contains the user's bank account, in order to transfer credit to, or from the account. 26 A method to control an interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, the method comprising the steps of: processing the game data in a central game computer element; receiving the processed game data from the central game computer element, together with the transmitted audiovisual data; and interacting with a user's bank card, for the purpose of crediting a gaming account contained in the central gaming computer element, in response to a credit transfer from the user's bank account. 27. An interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, or game system, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. 28. A method for processing game data, or controlling an interactive and audiovisual game transmission system, substantially as described herein.