NO164809B - PROCEDURE AND REMOTE REPORTING SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY DETERMINED FOR PAYMENT OF TV BILLS. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for providing subscriber services of the kind stated in the introduction to claim 1, as well as a system for providing subscriber services of the kind stated in the introduction to claim 8.

Services such as broadcast and cable pay TV require collection of payment for the service provided and various techniques have been proposed to debit subscribers and secure collection for the services. The techniques range from debiting a fixed price and physically disconnecting the service if the bill is not paid to a more complicated payment per program or "per view" and code rejection as shown in US Patent No. 4,163,254.

In recent times, grouping methods have been looked at for subscriber billing. With a grouping system, the subscriber pays a fixed price for each group or category of desired programmes. A subscriber's choice of viewing certain groups or categories is prearranged and the subscriber is charged a fixed price for that choice regardless of how many or few programs are viewed within the prearranged range.

The subscribers can thus be arranged in advance to

pay a fixed amount to watch a certain category of programs such as sports, a formed fixed amount to watch another category of programs, etc. A subscriber can thus agree to pay the sum of the three fixed amounts to be able to watch all the programs within three categories or "ranks"

(eg $35.00 total for the combination of a $10.00 category or line, a $20.00 category or line and a $5.00 category or line) while another subscriber selects and is able to view only one category or line.

The management of the ranks in the above-mentioned manner is typically provided by the identification of programs that fall within one or more of a larger number of categories or ranks on the basis of codes sent with the program material which permit consideration of only the correct category or categories of programs at the subscriber location such as shown in US Patent No. 4,225,884. Within each series, programs can also be further categorized on the basis of the program content as in US patent no. 4,225,884.

From British Patent Publication No. 2 065 353 there is known a contactless telephone billing system where a pre-paid credit card is entered into a public telephone to provide a call. During a call, payment pulses are periodically sent from the telephone exchange to the telephone station. These periodic payment pulses mean that the value of the credit stored in the previously issued credit card can be reduced.

European Patent Publication No. 0 053 885 shows a standard group pay TV system. There is no impulse payment per program possible as with the present invention. With the system described, the cost of the program and specific program identifiers are never transferred. The equipment for. the subscriber site does not contain any type of stored credit and does not make any records of the programs watched.

A pay TV system with printing of bills for rows or groups has the advantage of being simple compared to most systems where payment is made per program (per viewer frequency) by', that there is no need to store information with regard to1 the printing of the bill for the programs and send this information* to a central debiting point. There is, however, off.' and to a need for a row system or fixed glacier run system. to allow a subscriber to consider programs that are not ezr within the ranks or the ranks to which he has subscribed.. Special events such as e.g. matches, plays, etc. can e.g. not be included in the series program material or be within a series that is not subscribed to by a large group of subscribers. Those who supply the program material can also demand payment from the subscriber TV operator for each subscriber who watches the program. It may thus be desirable and even necessary to include the viewer frequency billing capability within a series or fixed amount system or to operate the whole thing on a viewer frequency basis. ;In the case of a subscriber TV system which is in operation, the series and/or per-program billing can be arranged using techniques described in the above-mentioned patents. While the combination in the commercial system can be brought about by advantages in both row and per program debiting requires that the subscriber periodically send the bill information to the central debiting point (e.g. by telephone) so that a bill can be issued on the basis of this information. Alternatively, the subscriber can pay in advance so that suitable decoding information can be sent to the subscriber, e.g. over the air or by post, cable or telephone, the set programs are sent. A general object of the present invention is to provide a new method and system for remote reporting, more specifically with regard to the debiting for services on an impulse basis so that a service such as pay TV can be received by a subscriber without a prior -payment or arrangement in advance to pay any charge for the service. An object of the present invention is to provide a new method and device which allows subscribers to view certain programs on a fixed payment basis or series basis and other programs on a per program basis without the need for specific program identification information when printing the bills and without the need to send any specific billing information other than the periodic payments from the subscriber to a central location. ;It is further an object of the present invention to provide a new pay TV method and system where the debiting for the services selected by a subscriber is produced primarily at the subscriber location. ;It is. another object of the present invention is to provide a new pay TV system and a method which requires that no bills be sent to the subscribers in order to ensure collection for the services used by the subscriber. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new pay TV system and a method where the subscribers can decide impulsively to buy a program in order to watch it despite not having been noted in advance by the subscriber. The TV operator. ;There are further formalities, by! present invention to provide a new method and system for notifying a subscriber of a subscription service that payment is due and so on indicating when payment has been received. ;These and other purposes are achieved by means of a method of the nature mentioned at the outset, the characteristic features of which appear in claim 1. The present invention also relates to a system for providing component services as stated in the introduction and whose characteristic features appear in claim 8. Further features of ' the method and system appear from the other non-independent requirements. ;The debit associated with each impulse purchase service selected by the subscriber during a debit period is alternatively accumulated and stored. When the subscriber's payment is received by the service operator, a credit in the amount of the payment for the impulse purchases is transferred to the subscriber location and compared to the total accumulated cost of the impulse purchases during the billing period. A favorable comparison means continued opportunity for the subscriber and for access to impulse purchase services. ;In a pay television system according to the present invention, access to subscriber programs or "pay per view" is provided by means of the placement of an impulse purchase capability which allows a subscriber to purchase a certain amount of subscriber programs outside of the subscriber's normal prearranged programming at any time during which special information regarding that program is broadcast. More specifically, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a monetary credit of a predetermined amount is entered into a store in the pay TV decoder of a subscriber who wishes to have the possibility of impulse purchases. The credit may initially represent an amount in accordance with pre-paid by the subscriber or a credit given by the pay-TV operator for future use by the subscriber. ;Any scrambled program that allows impulse buying is transmitted with data including the cost of the programs in a part of the television signal that does not carry program information (eg the vertical and horizontal interval or an unused part of the audio frequency band). A unique code may also accompany the sent cost signal for program identification purposes. If the subscriber's decoder recognizes the program as an impulse purchase program, certain information such as the cost of the program is displayed. To watch the programme, the subscriber enters a suitable answer into the decoder and the decoder automatically compares the program cost with the available credit, e.g. by temporarily storing the cost information and deducting it from existing credit. If the costs do not exceed the credit and the subscribers can otherwise choose impulse purchases, the program can be scrambled and the cost deducted from the credit otherwise used to obtain a new total credit. The unique program code, if sent with the cost information, was also stored for subscriber retrieval as an encoded "user code" so that the subscriber TV operator can be provided with a record of the impulse buy programs viewed. ;At the end of the billing period (eg monthly) an indicator such as a light on the subscriber's decoder is activated indicating that there is time for the subscriber to pay his monthly bills. The light can be activated by sending a signal to the decoder, but is preferably activated by a timer in the decoder which can be set and take out a desired period from the central station. When the light is activated by the timer or in some other way, the monthly debit and the user code are calculated and stored. The subscriber enters a suitable answer and a debit for the billing period is displayed. The displayed debit may include various debited services including any impulse purchase, e.g. in the case of a pay TV system, the group debit for the period and/or the debit necessary to bring the impulse purchase credit back to a predetermined level such as the initial credit prior to the purchase of any impulse purchase program. ;Also presented in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the user code identifying all impulse purchase programs is considered over the billing period or at least those impulse purchase programs for which reporting is desired. ;When the subscriber posts or otherwise sends a payment to the pay TV operator, the payment is credited first to the debited row or debited for the period and then the balance to the impulse purchases. The subscriber's decoder is addressed and the size of the impulse purchase payment array is sent to the decoder. This payment size is entered into the decoder's storage as a credit to be added to any credit balance already in the decoder. If the impulse purchase payment amount is less than the real amount due to impulse purchases during the billing period, the credit balance will of course not be shifted to the starting level. If the subscriber has also considered impulse purchase programs between the time the payment is made and the crediting time, the credit balance may be lower than the starting level. Depending on the size of the credit received, the light on the subscriber's decoder may be extinguished or caused to flash or another light labeled "account error" or similar may be activated to notify the subscriber that the payment has been received and that it was either adequate or inadequate . Other steps such as blocking access to further service may be carried out if the credit is inadequate. ;In the above-mentioned way, the subscriber can purchase programs on an impulse basis to at least a desired level of purchase without the need for contact with the system operator. The system operator can limit the potential for non-payment by preventing the subscriber from viewing any impulse purchase program if the cost of the program is greater than the existing credit balance. If the size of the credit is collected later, potential losses on renewal for non-payment of impulse purchases can be eliminated. The present invention and the above-mentioned purpose and advantages shall be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, where: Fig. 1 shows a functional block diagram for a subscriber TV system which can be operated in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2-3 are logical flow charts showing operation of the system in fig. 1. ; Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing in more detail the functional operation of an embodiment of impulse purchase devices according to the present invention. Fig. 5 shows a functional block diagram of the functional operation of an alternative embodiment of an impulse purchase device which may be included in the system of Fig. 1-5. Fig. 6 shows a functional block diagram of the functional operation of a detailed embodiment of the credit and user code feature of the present invention. Fig. 1 functionally shows an embodiment of an over-the-air pay or subscriber TV (STV) system in which an impulse purchase option (IPC) according to the present invention has been arranged. The term STV usually refers to the broadcast form of pay TV and while this form of pay TV is shown, it should be noted that the principles described hereafter can also be applied to a number of pay TV and other applications as mentioned hereafter (e.g. cable, MDS multipoint distribution systems, and DBS direct broadcast satellites). The system shown generally includes a encoder arranged at a transmitting station generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and a decoder arranged at each subscriber location generally indicated by the reference numeral 12. The encoder and decoder in fig. 1 is arranged in a subscriber TV system whereby normal programs (e.g. "scrambled", non-pay, commercial programs) and scrambled STV programs are transmitted and received over respective transmitters and receivers of the TA and RA or over a cable or other transmission medium. In the case of a multi-audio system as described in US patent no. 188,738, a third mode of operation with descrambled video and multiple, selectable audios can be arranged. ;Normal descrambled programs pass either through or around the transcoder and decoder unaffected, with the exception of a possible channel conversion in the decoder that will be described. The impulse buying feature of the present invention will not normally be used in normal television (TV) mode of operation. In recoded or "scrambled" operation mode or multi-audio mode (hereafter collectively referred to as subscriber or STV operation mode), the impulse purchase option allows a subscriber to watch the subscriber programs or select streaming channels where the payment is not predetermined in a normal way such as fixed. amount or series system which will be described in more detail. With the shown subscriber system, e.g. each subscriber pays a fixed monthly fee which gives the subscriber the right to see any and all of the STV programs or services within one or more "series" or program categories. For a fixed monthly fee, the subscriber may have chosen to watch "the track or group" and for another fee, the subscriber may have chosen to watch a "film group". The control over the subscriber selection can be provided by means of suitable series or group (category) identification signals sent with the STV signals as described in more detail later and as described in more detail in the previously mentioned US patent no. 4,225,884. ;During a month, occasionally a special STV program or service outside the subscriber's particular group or outside all groups may be included in the STV transmission as an impulse purchase program available for a fee in addition to the subscriber's normal monthly fee. The present invention as shown and described in connection with the system in fig. 1 enables the subscriber to select and view such programs on an impulse basis rather than on a prearranged basis. As appears from the present invention, which is described in connection with the impulse purchase of STV programs, it can also be used to provide the impulse purchase option for other forms of pay TV as well as for other services. Information services and the like that a subscriber does not want to pay for on a fixed price basis or group basis can e.g. be arranged for an impulse purchase basis. Inventory market reports in the form of. teletext data, special audio channel services including radio services, etc. may be accessed periodically and the subscriber may pay only on a per use basis of this service. All of the pay TV programs or other pay TV services may alternatively be arranged on an impulse purchase basis without group or flat rate billing to provide a pay-per-viewer service only. Reference should be made to fig. 1 where TV signals from suitable video and audio sources 14 and 16 are supplied to respective video and audio encoders 18 and 20. The recoding of the video and audio signals by means of respective video and audio encoders is controlled by means of video and audio transcoding control circuits 22 and 24, as described in previously mentioned US Patent Application No. 188,738 (see PCT International Publication No. W-082/011090 published April 1, 1982). A data generator 26 typically generates encoded data (eg digital codes) for transmission with the television signal although such data may be transmitted separately from the television signal. The data may include decoder addresses, program costs, user codes, credit data, group codes, program ID codes, category codes and the like, which will be described in more detail later. In one embodiment shown, data is usually combined with the video signal by a suitable combiner 28 and is sent with the video signal in a non-programmable portion thereof, e.g. the vertical interval. In this respect, a suitable synchronization signal such as the vertical synchronization signal can be used to synchronize the generation of data with the video signal to ensure correct introduction of data into the video signal. The data can of course be sent in the audio channel, as mentioned in the above-mentioned PCT application W-082/011090. With continued reference to fig. 1, the introduced video and audio signals with the desired data are supplied to conventional AM and FM exciters and transmitters 30 for transmission to the decoders at each subscriber location 12. In a broadcast system, signals broadcast via the antenna TA are received via the receiver antenna RA and supplied with a suitable conventional electronic tuning circuit 32 which selects a desired TV signal (ie a desired channel). The detuning circuit 32 "down-converts" the selected signal to a standard intermediate frequency (MF) in conventional fashion. The MF version of the TV signal selected by the tuning circuit 32 is fed to a conventional demodulator 34 which converts the MF signal to a baseband signal. The baseband signal for the demodulator 34 is fed to a conventional demodulator 3 6' for detecting the audio part of the TV signal, a data detector and a formatter 3 8 and a video decoder 40 described in more detail later. The baseband audio signal for the demodulator 36 was supplied to an audio decoder 42. The video audio signals from respective decoders 40 and 42 were supplied to a conventional remodulator 44 and may also be supplied at the output terminals 46 and 48. The remodulator output signal RF is supplied to the antenna terminals TVA of a TV set. A keyboard and display unit 50 is connected via a suitable interface 52 to a conventional microprocessor and storage unit 54 as shown. The output signals from the data detector and the formatter 38 are supplied to the microprocessor and the storage 54 and the control signals from the microprocessor were supplied through the interface 52 to the tuning circuit 32 and with the demodulator 34 and via a suitable interface 56 with the video and audio decoders 40 and 42. When operating the encoder 10 changes the audio and video program signal in normal TV mode. During the transmission of non-STV programmes, the signals from the audio and video sources 16, 14 can thus be routed around the encoder 20, 18 and supplied directly to the exciters and transmitters 30. Alternatively, the audio and video signals can pass through the encoders, but respective controllers can be set to pass signals through the encoders unaffected. The normal TV signal can be received and used by both STV subscribers and non-subscribers. ;In STV mode, the video and/or audio signals are recoded (scrambled) by the encoders 18 and 20. Suitable data signals are added to the recoded program signal and the composite signal is sent. Subscribers who have a decoder with suitable decoding (descrambling) and serial data can descramble the received TV signal and supply the descrambled signal to their TV sets for viewing and listening. Among the incoming data placed on the TV signal at appropriate times are, in addition to or as part of the necessary data for decoding, signals that provide the addressability of individual decoders, grouping and/or program content category signals, cost information signals relating to program billings for individual programs, program identification signals and credit information signals which provide payment credits to individual decoders. As will be seen later, at least the cost, credit, program identifier or user code and address data provide a unique impulse purchase opportunity. ;When operating the decoder, the subscriber tunes the tuning circuit 32 to a desired TV signal by selecting the channel number on the keyboard 50 which is operated through the interface 52 and the microprocessor 54 as described in more detail later. The selected signal is usually mixed with a local oscillator signal to provide the desired MF signal and this signal demodulated by the demodulator 35 to provide the TV program signal (video and audio) at video baseband. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the demodulator 34 uses a conventional, gated automatic volume control (AGC) circuit which is gated on the TV color sync signal. For effective AGC, the AGC circuit is supplied with information from the microprocessor then with respect to the position of the color sync signal and the magnitude of the reference level to which the color sync level is to be volume controlled. It should be noted that the position of the color sync signal in the television video will usually remain relatively fixed regardless of the type of video scrambling used by the system. The position of the color sync signal can therefore be conventionally determined in relation to the video sync signals in any suitable way. Suitable synchronization information for this purpose may be conventionally detected and supplied to the microprocessor and storage 34 from the baseband TV signal by means of data detector and formatter 38. The reference level for AGC may vary, however, depending on the type of scrambling used. If a form of video inversion was used for scrambling, e.g. The AGC reference level will differ from the inverted and non-inverted video signal if the scrambling method changes the normal level of the color sync signal. Thus, a non-inverted video signal (eg, either part of a scrambled signal or a non-subscribed, descrambled video signal) requires an AGC reference level and an inverted video signal requires a different level. Accordingly, the microprocessor 54 controls the position of the AGC gate to occur at the same location in the video signal during each AGC sample while the magnitude of the AGC reference level is adjusted by the microprocessor according to the operating mode of the system and the nature of the incoming television. -signal. The demodulator 34 can thus be adapted for different scrambling schemes only by predetermining the necessary AGC reference levels for different decoder operation modes, e.g. the provision of one AGC level for normal, non-inverted operation by another level for inverted operation. The baseband signal from the demodulator 34 includes a video part and an audio part within defined bands of the total TV bandwidth. This baseband signal is fed to the video decoder where the video part is descrambled under the control of the microprocessor if the incoming signal is scrambled, as the decoder is operated in STV mode and other criteria are met as described later. A normal video signal passes unchanged through the video decoder with the decoder in its normal mode of operation. The baseband signal is also fed to the demodulator 36 to produce a baseband audio signal for input to the audio decoder 42. The demodulator 36 does this conventionally as in any television receiver using intercarrier detection or in any other suitable manner. The audio decoder 42, like the video decoder 40, descrambles the audio signal if necessary under the control of the microprocessor 54. An example of a suitable audio scrambling and decoding scheme that can be used is described in the previously mentioned US application No. 188,738. The descrambled audio and video signals are fed to the re-modulator 44 to provide a suitable RF signal for input to a conventional television receiver. The modulator 44 can e.g. produce an RF signal in the TV channel's 3 bands so that all the signals that pass through the decoder can be viewed on this one TV channel. Baseband audio and video signals are also supplied at the output terminals 46 and 48 so that they are available for other purposes such as information (data) transfer, teletext etc.; In accordance with the present invention, the preparation of the video and audio decoders in STV mode controlled on the basis of a number of criteria. In the case of an addressable system with category and group control as in the described embodiment, the decoder 12 must be set to a suitable category and for other than impulse purchase programs or services the correct group code must be present to make use of the STV program material. As will be seen later, in addition to any data necessary for descrambling, the data entered into the TV signal by the encoder 10 includes address data for the addressability of individual decoders, category and group data for limiting access to specific groups and categories of the program material, and IPC data of different types for managing impulse purchases and debiting. All this data may be sent by conventional digital code format, preferably after security encryption, with each data type identified in any suitable way (eg by the first few digits of the signal when locating data in the incoming signal, by format of data, etc). Data entry and identification entry techniques, as well as security encryption and decryption techniques, are well known and any suitable technique adaptable to the various data described herein may be used. With reference to fig. 1-3, data in the incoming television signal is detected by the data detector and formatter 38 and the microprocessor 54 first determines the nature of the data as described above. If the data is an address, the microprocessor 54 evaluates the address relative to a predetermined address assigned to the decoder to see if the decoder has been addressed (fig. 3). If the correct address has been received, subsequent data or data associated with the address are evaluated. ;As described in more detail later, the decoder can be addressed for different purposes. In the embodiment shown, the decoder can be bid addressed to change the group codes, to save or change the IPC credit, to change the viewing record or the user code, and to set a timer in the decoder. As shown in fig. 3, if received data that follows a correct address is recognized as new group code data, new group data is stored. This can occur at any time the subscriber wishes to add or otherwise change the groups to which he subscribes. The new group data may be accompanied by any monthly debit data (which may have changed for various reasons including a group change) and any clock data for presetting the decoder interval time. ;If the incoming data is IPC credit data, the credit is used to update the current IPC credit stored at the decoder. As will be seen later, this credit data update can be carried out in different ways, such as by adding incoming credit to current credit, subtracting incoming credit from previous months' total cost, etc. If incoming IPC credit data is also accompanied by user code data, the user code is updated as appears later. The IPC credit data and the user code data are preferably sent together and a sequence number is included in this data. This sequence number is a. optional number...which differs from previous months' sequence number and can be compared with a stored sequence number so that the IPC credit will only be updated using the first block of credit data with a new sequence number. In this way, the IPC credit and user code can be sent multiple times over a predetermined period (eg over a period of a few days) to ensure that the credit and user code data are received by the subscriber. With renewed reference to fig. 2, it should be noted that the timer is continuously checked to see if it has "timed out" the indication that a payment is due. If it has timed out, a payment due indicator (eg a light) on the decoder display unit 50 (Fig. 1) is made ready and maintained and the timer is reset. The payment due is preferably calculated and stored when the rater charges by subtracting the total IPC credit balance for that billing period from a total monthly debit that includes the sum of the group debit and the proposed IPC credit. The user code is also calculated and stored at the same time. If the subscriber requests display of the payment due when the payment due indicator lights up, the payment due (and the user code, if used) will be displayed. During this presentation, the amount of the due payment (and the user code if one has been used) is copied by the subscriber (or written automatically) and the due payment is sent to the station operator. ;The microprocessor continues to check incoming data as shown in fig. 2. If the incoming program material is STV (payable) material, the microprocessor evaluates the data for category and group codes. The incoming category code that is not within the category range (eg equal to or less than the category number) set in the decoder by the subscriber results in the display of "wrong category". In this case, the STV program material cannot be used by the subscriber without changing the category limit for which the decoder is set. The group code in the incoming data is also assessed in relation to the group code or the codes stored in the decoder to assess the subscriber's option to access the program material in the incoming TV signal. However, the group code cannot normally be changed by the subscriber. ;If the incoming category code is within the selected category code or the subscriber resets the category code to make it acceptable and if the incoming group code is one that the subscriber can select, the microprocessor prepares the decoder for access to the program material by preparing the descrambling for the incoming audio and video signals or otherwise preparing selection of the program material (e.g. clarifying the selection for a particular audio channel containing data or other services). ;If the incoming category code can be accepted, but ;there is no match to the group code, the data is evaluated to determine the incoming program material is an IPC program that the subscriber can select to receive. If the program is not an IPC program or if it is and the subscriber cannot select it for either the IPC programs in general or the particular IPC program that is received, the decoder indicates to the subscriber that he cannot choose, in the case of a suitable presentation, also presentation of the costs (IPC cost) for that program. If, however, the subscriber can choose, the microprocessor preferably continues a further selection possibility investigation based on the size of the credit stored in the subscriber's decoder. With continued reference to fig. 2, the microprocessor evaluates the subscriber's credit option based on cost data associated with the incoming program. Each IPC program includes a cost signal that contains a debit for that particular program. A unique identification code for that program may also be included in association with each IPC program which will be described in more detail later. The costs of the program are compared with the subscriber's credit balance and if there is a sufficient balance to cover the costs, the subscriber can be accepted to watch the program. If it is desired to display the cost only to subscribers who can choose, the cost will also be displayed at this time instead of earlier as indicated by phantom lines. If the subscriber indicates a desire to use the IPC program material by depressing an access button or key at a specific code or the like, the credit and program code data stored in the decoder are updated and the microprocessor prepares the decoder to descramble or select or otherwise grant access to incoming IPC program material. Fig. 4 shows the operational features of the decoder described above in more detail in order to simplify the understanding of the present invention. With reference to fig. 4, the data detector/formatter 38 detects data in the incoming TV signal and arranges data in a suitable format for use by the microprocessor 54. The decoder and formatter can include a buffer storage so that data can be temporarily stored until read by the microprocessor or data can be immediately entered into the microprocessor's memory set aside for this function. Both features are conventional in data entry systems used in computer processing and will not be described in more detail here. Data from the data detector and formatter 38 is conventionally evaluated by the microprocessor 54 as indicated by the block designated "data buffer/buffer" 60 which determines the identity of incoming data. The manner in which the data evaluation/buffer circuit 60 is operated to identify incoming data will, of course, depend on the type of conventional data input implementation used and the manner in which the data is transcoded. ;Data identified by the evaluator 60 as an incoming address is compared to the output of a suitable local address generator 64 (eg, a ROM) in a suitable conventional manner as indicated by the block 62 designated "address matches". A favorable comparison results in a logical "1" address (ADR) output signal (eg, a flag) which is used to control the storage of various incoming data into various storage registers or stores as functionally indicated by the AND gates 66 to 74. ;Any new group data following an address signal is shown functionally as gated by the ADR signal through the 0G gate circuit 66 for storage in a suitable "group selectability store" register or store 76. Group selectability data in the register 76 may be supplied from the codes entered by the subscriber on a periodic basis, but this data is preferably supplied by the incoming programming signal (or over another communication line such as telephone lines) by addressing or other individual addressing of each decoder as shown. IPC credit data following the address is shown functionally as gated ADR signal through AND gate logic circuit 68 through summing circuit 69 and through OR gate circuit 78 to a suitable "IPC credit store" register or store 80. The IPC user code data is also shown functionally as is gated by the ADR signal through the AND gate 70 to a subtracter 126 whose output signal is applied to a suitable "IPC user code store" register or store 82. Clock setting data is shown functionally as gated by the ADR signal through the AND gate circuit 72 to control a suitable "clocks" 84 and total charge data are gated by the AD signal through the AND gate circuit 74 to a suitable "group and indication IPC credit" register or store 86. ;The program category code contained in the incoming program signal is shown functionally as detected and compared in a "category matching" circuit 88 with a category code selected by the subscriber and supplied through the keyboard interface 52 to a "selected category" store register or store 90. The group data for the incoming program is likewise detected and supplied to a "group comparison" circuit 92 which compares the incoming data with the group eligibility data stored in the register 76. If the respective category and group data comparison is favorable, the AND gate 94 generates an enable signal which is supplied through the OR gate ;96 to a suitable "decode control" circuit 98. The decoder control circuit 98 is operated via the decoder interface 56 to control the audio and video decoders of FIG. 1 in a suitable way depending on where the incoming signal is being recoded. The STV program signal detected by the incoming data may control the decoding of the microprocessor "decode controller" circuit 98 as shown or the decoder may be manually selected by the subscriber. If the category comparison is unfavorable (ie incoming category code is not the same as or within the acceptable categories defined by the category code selected by the subscriber) the output signal from the comparator 88 is inverted by an "inverter" 100 supplied as a "wrong category" signal to the display interface 52 for to demonstrate to the subscriber that the decoder is set for the wrong category in relation to the category of the incoming signal. ;The output signal from the group comparator 92 is shown functionally as supplied through an "inverter" 102 to an input terminal of an "0G" port 104. The IPC signal indicates that the incoming program material is IPC program functionally shown as input via an "inverter" 106 to the second input terminal of the "0G" port 104 to produce a "non-selectable" signal. the signal is applied through the display interface 52 to the subscriber display unit to indicate to the subscriber that he cannot choose to view the incoming program. If desired, the reason why he cannot watch the program can be presented. If the incoming program is in a group that the subscriber cannot select and the incoming signal is ; (or not) an IPC program can e.g. an "invalid group" display is provided in the same manner as the "invalid category" display and/or an IPC" (not IPC) indication is provided in this manner. The IPC signal from the data evaluator/buffer 60 was also provided "AND" gate circuits 108, 110 and 112. Cost data of the incoming program signal was also applied to the AND gate 108. The cost signal from the AND gate 108 was applied to the display interface 52 for display on the subscriber's display unit to indicate to the subscriber the cost of any IPC program being received The output signal from a "comparator" 114 which compares IPC credit data and cost data which will be described in more detail later may also be supplied to the AND gate circuit 108 if it is desired to present cost data only to subscribers who have sufficient credit. In the event that it is not desirable to present this cost information to a subscriber who cannot choose or a subscriber whose category selector is in the wrong position, the ling the cost information for the display be further controlled by wrong category and non-selectable signals. ;The cost signal applied to the AND gate 108 was also applied to the comparator 114 and to a subtracter circuit 116. The IPC credit signal from the storage register 180 was also applied to the subtracter circuit 116 and the microprocessor to thereby subtract the cost of the incoming program from existing IPC credit when the subtracter 116 is prepared by the output signal from the AND port 110. This occurs when the incoming signal is an IPC program and the subscriber has sufficient credit to cover the cost of that program and has accepted the IPC program for consideration as indicated by the IPC accept signal from the keyboard interface 52. The output of the subtractor 116 was applied via the OR gate circuit 78 to the storage register 80 to update the IPC credit available to the subscriber as soon as the IPC program has been accepted for consideration under the above circumstances. The output signal from the comparator 114 is supplied through an "inverter" 118 to the AND gate 112 together with the IPC signal as previously mentioned. If the incoming program material is an IPC program and the subscriber does not have sufficient credit to cover its cost, the AND gate 112 provides an insufficient credit signal ISC to the display unit 52 so that this lack of sufficient credit to purchase the incoming IPC program is presented to the subscriber. The output signal from the AND gate 110 provides the enable access signal to the decoder control circuit 98 through the OR gate 96. This signal from the AND gate 110 was also applied to an AND gate circuit 12 0. The user code 1 of the incoming program is applied to the AND port 120 and the output signal from the AND gate 120 is supplied to a summing circuit 122. The output signal from the summing circuit 122 was supplied to an IPC user code storage register or storage 124 whose output signal is supplied to the summing circuit 122 and a subtracter 126. The credit user code supplied via the AND gate 70 upon receipt of a correct address is supplied to the subtracter ;126 whose output signal is applied to the IPC user code storage register' 124. The IPC user code storage register is thus updated by adding to the total user code any program code associated with an incoming program that has been accepted for consideration by subtracting from the user code any total user code for which the subscriber has received credit by ;make a suitable payment. The signal from the user code storage register 124 was also gate-passed through the AND gate circuit 126 to the display interface 52 to display the user code at the end of the calculation cycle which will be described in more detail later. The clock 84 generates an output signal at the end of any predetermined time period or at the end of a time period set by the clock setting signal sent as data from the central station. A signal from the central station can alternatively be sent to the decoder to produce a control signal which performs the same function as the timer output signal. The clock output signal is shown functionally as applied to an AND gate circuit 128 to the AND gate circuit 126 and to the display interface 52 for display by the subscriber which will be described later. Group and implied IPC credit data in register 86 is also applied to AND gate 128. The output of AND gate 128 together with the IPC credit signal of register 80 is applied to a subtracter 130 to subtract the total group and implied IPC credit from ongoing IPC credit. The result of this subtraction is the total payment due for any billing period determined by timer 84. This value is stored in the payment due storage register 132 and is supplied via display interface 52 to the subscriber display unit. In operation, the microprocessor 54 performs all the functions shown by the various blocks in fig. 4 via a suitable program manager. It should be noted that a logic hardware circuit with individual or integrated logic circuits to perform the indicated functions may be used if desired. All of the individual storage, gating, comparison, etc. functions are conventional in this regard and can be performed with commercially available logic circuits. With reference to fig. 1-4, most of the incoming programs will be grouped and the decoder control circuit 98 will be prepared by the normal grouping process using the AND gate 94 and the OR gate 96. In the case where the subscriber is ready to select an incoming program due to does not fall within one of the groups that the subscriber has agreed to pay, the microprocessor checks the determination that the incoming program is an IPC program. If it is an IPC programme, the cost data is displayed (and if desired if that program is an IPC programme). If the subscriber decides to watch the IPC program, the cost of the program is subtracted from the existing IPC credit in the IPC credit storage register 80 and the decoder controller 98 is made ready. The user code associated with that program is additionally stored at the IPC user code storage register 124 by summing it with the existing user code or alternatively by means of a program code recoding technique described later. The user code used in fig. 4 of the embodiment is preferably in this respect a unique value which, when summed with other unique user codes for the program during the accounting period, will always produce a unique sum. The user code will thus always provide an accurate indication of the identity of the IPC programs viewed (or the IPC service used) during a billing period. If very few IPC programs are delivered during an accounting period, the user code may be unnecessary, especially if the IPC programs all differ in cost. The IPC program costs can actually be arranged, e.g. using odd cents, so that the total costs of any combination of IPC programs is an unambiguous number. The program identification numbers can also be recorded and recoded to provide a unique user code to be entered later. Assuming that the subscriber operates on a monthly billing period, the meter 84 will charge at the end of the month and notify the subscriber that it is time for payment of the program services received during the last billing period. This can be done by switching on a light or by means of suitable indicator devices on the subscriber's display unit. The timer 84 also prepares the AND gate 126 and 128 and payment due for previous billing periods calculated and displayed together with the user code. In this regard, the payment is preferably the total group debit and implied IPC credit for that subscriber less the existing IPC credit in the storage register 80 at the time the timer 84 is timing out. Since the difference is stored as well as displayed and can be retained in storage until replaced by the next month's data (or for multiple billing periods if desired) the total IPC charge for any monthly period is available should there be a dispute over the amount of the bill. ;The display of payment due and the user code allows the subscriber to pay exactly what is shown on the display and indicates to the station operator by including the unique user code with the payment exactly that the IPC programs are viewed. When the station operator receives the subscriber's payment and the entered user code, the amount of the payment less than any group charge (ie the total IPC payment) is sent to the subscriber as an IPC credit. The user code is also sent to the subscriber as a user code credit. The station operator may also send a reset signal to reset the payment due indicator (PDI) either as part of the IPC credit signal or as a separate signal. Alternatively, the received IPC credit or user code can be compared with previous months debit or viewership to reset the PDI as described later. ;For updating credits, the subscriber is preferably addressed and these credits sent on a special channel frequency (e.g. the STV channel) when it is likely that the subscriber is not using his TV set or during the broadcast of grouped or IPC program. The tuning circuit in the decoder is preferably arranged so that it is tuned to the specific channel frequency whenever the decoder is not in use so that the IPC credit and user code credit data can be received and detected in order to be able to update the storage registers 80 and 124 respectively. Time setting data can also be sent to individual subscribers to change the billing period as described and new group data can also be sent to individual subscribers when the subscribers give orders for new or different groups. In the event that the subscriber orders a new group or a different group, the group and the indicated IPC total credit can also be changed by addressing the subscriber and sending data containing a new total expected debit for the subscriber's billing period. It should be noted that the embodiment of fig. 4 also allows a subscriber to watch IPC programs up to the credit size in the credit storage register 80 over several billing periods without paying anything more than the group bill. The subscriber can e.g. apply $3.00 of a $20.00 credit in the first month and pay only the group charge in that month. In the following month, the subscriber can apply an additional $10.00 of the remaining $17.00 IPC credit without making any IPC payment and still have $7.00 in credit for subsequent IPC programs. The user code will tell the station operator that IPC programs were seen so that he can pay the program distributor on a viewership basis if such an arrangement has been made with the distributor. Thus, with the system shown, the station operator has the option of allowing the subscriber to continue purchasing IPC programs until the credit is fully used up, a choice that may be desirable if the credit is prepaid by the subscriber. On the other hand, if the IPC credit is an advance credit given by the subscriber without advance payment, the operator has the second choice. If the user code e.g. indicates that the subscriber has watched IPC programs and not paid for these programs, the operator can simply send a signal to zero the IPC credit in the IPC credit storage register 80. Alternatively, the IPC facility can be completely blocked by various means if the received payment and user code do not are compatible or if, as determined by the decoder, the IPC credit sent to the subscriber does not match previous months' IPC user charges stored in the decoder. With reference to fig. 5 can e.g. the microprocessor operates so that the IPC credit from the AND gate circuit 68 (Fig. 4) can be applied to a subtractor circuit 140. The cost signal from the AND gate circuit 108 (Fig. 4) can be applied to an AND gate circuit 142 together with the IPC accept signal from the keyboard interface 52 and the cost/credit comparison signal SC (Fig. 4). The cost signal thus applied is supplied from port 142 to an IPC cost accumulator 144 which accumulates the sum of the debits for each IPC program accepted by the subscriber. These accumulated costs are fed to an AND gate circuit 146, the output of which is fed to a suitable IPC total cost register 148 which feeds its output to the subtracter 140. The accumulated cost signal is also fed to a subtracter circuit 151 for subtracting a signal from the AND gate 150 The subtracter output signal is applied to the AND gate 150 and is decoded by the decoder 141 for controlling the decoder control circuit 98 (Fig. 4) and the gate. 150 and resetting the IPC total cost register as well as the control indicators on the display. The output signal of the clock 84 is applied to the AND gate 146 and presented with a suitable value by means of a delay circuit 150 and applied to a reset terminal of the accumulator 144. The cost of all the IPC programs and services is applied during a billing period is accumulated by drif/h by the accumulator 144. When the timer 84 clocks out, the accumulated costs are transferred to the register 148 and the accumulator 144 accumulates the costs of subsequent IPC programs accepted by the subscriber. ;When the subscriber's payment is received and the IPC credit ;is sent to the decoder, this credit (in addition to that added to existing credit as previously described) is subtracted from the total IPC cost for the billing period to which the credit is applied. If the credit equals or exceeds the cost, the total IPC cost register is reset, the payment due indicator is reset, and the decoder control circuit 98 is unaffected (ie, it remains ready). Also, any excess of credit over the total accumulated cost for previous accounting periods is subtracted from accumulated costs for current accounting periods. If, however, the credit is less than the accumulated cost, the decode controller 98 is blocked or otherwise prevented and a display of this condition is effected, e.g. by activating an indicator on the display or flashing the indicator for payment due. ;The payment due indicator.in particular may remain on until an IPC credit is received from the central station and the IPC credit is compared to the total IPC cost for the billing period to which the credit is applied. ;As shown in fig. 5 prepares a credit less than the size due to the preparation of the pulse generator 132 which, when prepared, provides a pulsed signal through the display interface to the payment due indicator to flash the indicator so that the subscriber knows that the payment was received but was insufficient . This notifies the subscriber of the necessity and again present payment due to check his records to ensure that the correct amount was sent. If, on the other hand, the IPC credit equals or exceeds the stored IPC cost for previous accounting periods, the indicator of payment due that has remained on from the end of the previous accounting period can be reset by the same subtractor 140's output signal that resets the cost register 148. On above in the aforementioned manner, the subscriber is notified automatically when payment is due and when that payment with the correct amount (the indicator is reset) or the incorrect amount (the indicator flashes) has been received and credited by the system operator. It should be noted that with the device of fig. 5 the subscriber must pay the exact amount or more than the IPC cost for each billing period (in addition to any group charge) or the IPC features will be blocked. Other ways of performing this same function with cost and credit data will be obvious to the person skilled in the art if he wishes to operate the IPC system in this way. ;It should be noted that instead of blocking the decoder under the above-mentioned circumstances, the system operator may also only wish to shorten the time for the next calculation cycle by providing a certain timing data to the timer 84. Only after this shortened time period without payment of the full IPC amount would the decoder get blocked. ;While according to fig. 5 cost accumulator/credit comparison functions can be performed in conjunction with functions shown in fig. 4 as a further IPC decoder option requirement, it may also be used depending on the credit register and the comparison functions shown in FIG. 4. The functions represented by the circuit 69, the OR gate 78, the credit register 80, the comparison circuit 114 and the subtracter 116 can e.g. be eliminated and replaced by the functions shown in fig. 5. With reference to fig. 4 and 5 can e.g. The IPC charges are accumulated by the charge accumulator 144 without regard to the comparison of charge and credit (ie, without regard to the SC signal which would be eliminated from the AND gate 142). Each time the subscriber accepts an IPC program, the IPC acceptance signal thus ports the cost signal to the cost accumulator where the total debit for all accepted IPC programs is accumulated. ;At the end of a billing period, accumulated charges are stored in the total charges register 148 and summed with the total group charge to produce a payment due for the show. In this connection, the blocks designated 86', 128', 130' and 132' can take the place of the similarly numbered blocks in fig. 4. When the IPC credit is received it is subtracted from the total IPC cost for the billing period. A favorable comparison (a credit greater than or equal to the total cost) results in resetting the indicator for due payment, resetting the register for total cost and due payment and preparation (or not preparation) of the code manager 98. The user code transfer, the calculation and the storage can continue in connection with the embodiment of fig. 5 as described earlier. ;It should be noted that with the embodiment described above, the subscriber can access as many IPC programs as are available during the billing period. If a credit other than or greater than or equal to the total IPC accumulated cost is received (or if a zero credit is sent after a period of time during which payment has not been received) the decoder is blocked so that no further IPC program may be granted access to. ;A credit at least sufficient to cover accumulated charges allows the subscriber to continue using the impulse purchase option and any overpayment is credited to the IPC debit for the next billing period. The processing of credit data and user code data by the microprocessor 54 is functionally shown in more detail in fig. 6 for an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The numerical references in fig. 6 previously used in fig. 4 indicates the same function block as previously described. With reference to fig. 6, IPC credit data, user code data and rate data can be sent from the central location as a block of* similar data as previously mentioned. When the correct address is received as indicated by the ADR signal, these blocks of IPC data are stored in memory or storage 160 and the position of the data in storage determines what type of data they hold. Clock data is supplied to the timer 84 and the received user code data is compared with stored user code as indicated at 162 and used to retrieve the viewer record from the program code store 164 and to control a suitable indicator as well as further decoding if desired. The signal from the program code store 164 is ported to a encoder 166 using the output signal from the timer 84 and the encoder output signal is supplied to the display interface as user code.

As previously mentioned, the IPC credit data preferably has

a credit sequence number that remains the same for a certain accounting period, but differs from the sequence numbers used for previous or more accounting periods. This

the sequence number is compared ("compare credit sequence number" 168) with the sequence number of the credit data stored in the "IPC credit store 80" and if they are not the same, the IPC credit is gated by the AND gate circuit 170 to the summing circuit 69 and the sum of incoming and current credits is stored.

During operation, each IPC program will be accompanied by a program code such as a number. The program number can accompany all the IPC programmes, but for different subscriber groups it may be desirable to report only part of the viewing record in order to minimize the size of the user code number that the subscriber must report. If only part of the viewer record is used to generate the user code will . the same part will be used by a first fraction of subscribers (e.g. 10%) while another part will be used by another group etc., which thus allows statistical sampling of the program viewing rate instead of a current viewer record for each subscriber.

In any case, the IPC program number is stored e.g.

by inserting a bit into a storage location that corresponds to the program number. This number, which will be in binary form, is shifted by the timer output to a suitable storage location in storage 164 and is recoded in a suitable manner such as by forming a hexadecimal, alphanumeric code. If e.g. The IPC programs 1, 3, 7 and 10 were thus viewed and corresponding bits of the register are set at the end of the billing period, the encoder 166 would transmit the code 48 to the display unit and the subscriber would send the user code with his payment. When the user code credit 48A is received by the decoder from the central station, this credit is compared with the stored user code by the comparison circuit 162 and suitable parts of the viewer drawing in the program code store are scrapped.

In addition to recoding the current program viewing record

in the store 164, one or more parity or checksum bits are preferably included with the user code in any suitable conventional manner for additional security. If the user code sent to the station operator is deliberately or accidentally recorded with an error, the parity or control bits will notify the operator of the error before the user code credit is sent to the subscriber. The error can thus be corrected before further precautions are taken or the error can be decisive for which further precaution is to be taken.

The IPC credit data with its accompanying credit sequence number is sent multiple times to ensure that it is properly received and credited by the decoder. Each time credit data is received, its sequence number is compared to the credit sequence number of the IPC credit data in the warehouse 80. If the sequence number matches, this confirms that the credit data in the warehouse is the same as the one being sent so that no credit update is necessary. If the sequence numbers are different, the incoming credit data is added to the credit data in the warehouse to produce a new total credit. If the user code and clock data have also been sent several times

naturally, during a calculation period, this data will also be ported to the storage of the credit sequence comparison either with additional AND gate blocks between the storage 160 and the decoder 162 and the timer 84 or by supplying the comparison signal from the block 168 to the AND gate 68.

It should be noted that the present technique may also be useful for services other than pay-TV or pay-radio or other transmission services. The technique can e.g. be used in connection with the remote purchase of products by transferring a product cost and identification code while it is identified on the TV receiver that the subscriber can buy the product by pressing the acceptance button or entering a specific code. When subscribers take the necessary steps, the cost of the product is deducted from the subscriber's credit and, if sufficient credit is available, the product code is stored. When the subscriber pays the bill for the purchased service, the product cost is included and the product code tells the station operator that the product should be sent to that subscriber.

Services such as home recording of programs at times when normal programs are not broadcast can also be purchased in advance in this way and a particular subscriber's recording device can be activated to record films (or other programs) after payment has been received and the the particular program is indicated by the user code. The addressability facility associated with the above-mentioned IPC facility allows such control on a subscriber by subscriber basis.

The principle, preferred embodiments and operating modes of the present invention have been described in the present description. However, the invention intended to be protected herein is not intended to be limited to particular forms described, since these are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Variations and changes can also be made by the expert in the field without depending on the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. Method for providing subscriber services, where a subscriber gains access to a transmission from a transmitting station by paying an amount contained in a cost signal associated with transmission, characterized by transmission from the transfer station to the subscriber location (12) upon receipt of payment by the subscriber in respect of a preceding billing period, a credit signal indicating credit availability for payment for transmissions not normally available to the subscriber on a prearranged basis and which may be selected on impulse at the next accounting period, storing the credit signal as a stored credit value at the subscriber location (12), assessment that a transfer has been chosen on impulse and not in a group paid for by the subscriber by prior agreement, comparison of the cost signal associated with the impulse-selected transfer with the stored credit value, if the stored credit value is equal to or above the amount in the cost signal, access to the impulse-selected transfer and subtraction of the amount in the cost signal from the stored credit value is made available to update the stored credit value, and when the amount in the cost signal exceeds the stored credit value, access to the impulse-selected transfer and presentation of an insufficient credit indication to the subscriber is prevented. 2. Method according to claim 1, for providing a pay TV service, characterized in that the credit signal is sent from the broadcasting station as data codes together with the television signal. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized by transmission with television signal program group signals identifying programs, storing group data at the subscriber's location identifying program categories paid for at a fixed amount on a pre-agreed basis, comparing the received program group with the stored group data and preparing and access to a program when the comparison is valid. 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes sending a cost signal only with programs to which access has not been agreed in advance and which can be selected on impulse. 5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it includes the recording of user code data signals at the subscriber location which identify programs selected on impulse and which present the recording of these program identities to the subscriber. 6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes sending a signal with the TV signal which modifies the recording of the user code data signals in response to receiving a payment at a central location. 7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes blocking insufficient credit indication at the subscriber's location when a credit signal is transmitted which, upon receipt of payment at a central location, restores the stored credit value at the subscriber's location. 8. System for providing subscriber services where a subscriber accesses a transmission to the subscriber site (12) from a transmitting station (10) which sends a cost signal containing an amount associated with the transmission, with equipment at the subscriber site to pay that amount to provide access to the transfer, characterized by a data generator (26) at the transmitting station (10) which generates a signal indicating credit available for payment for impulse-selected transmission in a billing period, a transmission group signal for each transmission and a transmission cost signal for each transmission not in a pre-agreed group, a data decoder (60) at the subscriber location (12) having a credit data output connected to the credit value store (80) and a transfer group output connected to a transfer group comparator (92), a group register (76) which stores data indicative of the groups of the transfers paid for on a pre-agreed basis, and has an output connected to the transfer group comparator (92), a transmission cost signal from the decoder (60) which output is connected to a subtracter (116), a credit comparator (114) connected to the output of the credit value store (80) and to the transmission cost signal output of the decoder (60), and gate control circuits associated with the transfer group comparator (92), the credit comparator (114) and the subtracter (116) and operable when the group comparator (92) indicates a non-pre-agreed pulse selection of a transfer to enable the subscriber's access to that transfer and to cause the subtracter (116) subtracts the cost of the stored credit and updates the credit register (80) if the credit comparator (114) indicates that the value of the stored credit is equal to or above the transmission cost. 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that it includes an indicator at a display unit (50) which is connected to the credit comparator (114) to display a sufficient credit indication, and a timer (84) connected to the display unit (50) to control the indicator automatically by indicating the end of an accounting period. 10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the timer (84) is connected to the output of the decoder (60) and responds to a signal sent from the transmitting station (10) to control the duration of the calculation period. 11. System according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the data generator (26) is operable to generate a user code data signal that identifies a transmission, that the decoder (60) has an output for the user code data that is connected to a user code store ( 122. accounting period. 12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the data generator (26) is operable by generating a user code modification signal, and that the decoder (60) has a further output connected to the user code store (122, 124, 126) whereby stored user code data can be modified in response to reception of a payment at a central location.