DE3717261A1 - Method for selecting television programmes by telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

Television programmes according to this method are rendered unidentifiable for open reception by encryption and need code information for reproduction. The preferably digital code information is transmitted to the television subscriber interested in the reception via the telephone network after dialling a published number. The call is recorded for charging the subscriber. The number of calls under the number of a particular programme is used for measuring the proportional income of the provider of the transmission. Television by telephone dialling is intended to open the television medium to offerings of all type and to provide the television subscriber with a wide cultural range for his selection.

Description

The invention relates to the technical concept of an old one native television, which enables the television part only charges for the performances chosen by him be offset and the share of revenue of the respective dar provider is recorded.

With the public television stations as well as the private television providers lack the consumer, the television Participants have the option of paying or not payment of the fees to influence the program offer. This is largely due to the interests of television broadcasters as well as the commercial interests of television advertisers Companies determined. There is a need for an alternative here Television, in which the performances of supply and demand, d. H. are subject to the rules of the free market.

There are already numerous processes under the term "pay TV" that are partly in development and partly in use. The "Funkschau" reports on known processes in the Issue: vol. 85, H. 8, p. 58; Vol. 82, H. 22, p. 22 and Jg. 81, H. 21, p. 22. However, the methods mentioned only offer an inadequate one The best alternative to the already extensive range TV stations.

For an additional fee, the participant will only another complete program is offered. The participant has only the possibility to either accept the program or if the subscription is refused, cancel the subscription.  

To protect against "clairvoyants" they are via cable or radio programs sent are encrypted. This encryption is fine depth is known as "scrambling". The participant needs tigt beside the television a more or less complex Additional device that serves to decode the signals.

Going one step further procedures where using a counter of the subscriber device registers the time taken and the dependent fee is an undif refined influence on the offer enables.

To strive for is that the participant hono the individual performances and from a variety of offers Can make a choice. Using technical possibilities options and existing systems, this is as follows to realize:

Parallel to the transmission of image and sound over all ge today common ways, but through encryption (scrambling) The decryption code is immediately obscured before the broadcast or at the same time over the telephone network and is available to all telephone subscribers call available. This is done via the telephone device Registration of participant fees and the share of the individual a provider.

The suitability of telephones for capturing audience craze ion has already been recognized. Sometimes it was on programs by counting the calls of certain telephone numbers TV participants agree on the program broadcast sums up. Each performance receives its own at a given time ne number via which the associated key code is called up can, the subscriber fee is to be recorded via the call sen. The number of participants in a performance is from the An number of connections to those with the key code Determine signal line. Through different fees  rates, as is common in telephone service, is an assessment of the Performances depending on the transmission range and the price demand of each possible provider. After clearing the technical and administration fees by the operator of the telephone network zes - in the Federal Republic of Germany the federal post office - receives the provider his revenue.

Well-known ones can be used to encrypt the image broadcasts Procedures are used. In one z. B. the content individual images inverted according to a pseudo-random sequence, d. H. Light and dark interchanged, causing the rendering of the Broadcast becomes unrecognizable. Unless be at the receiving location the inversions canceled according to the key.

With the simultaneous transmission of the key code, the be a real random sequence that is in no way ahead determinable and therefore not decipherable in time. The low bit rate required allows simultaneous transmission on the telephone subscriber lines without long-distance interference speaking to.

Another way of transferring key information tion is the key code immediately before the sen transmission with an increased bit rate in the subscriber device save and then query it synchronously to the broadcast. Magnetic tape is suitable as the storage medium, which is stored in the device with high Recording- however slow playback speed expires. If a bit sequence that is shortened compared to the broadcast is saved, it can be queried repeatedly during the broadcast. In any case, the fee must be equal to the admission price broadcast performance.

In addition to image encryption, it is useful, too encrypt the TV sound to prevent unauthorized eavesdropping prevent. There are also already tried Ver drive.  

The technical requirements for the proposed procedure Ren are largely present, still open problems can be solved. For the development and introduction of this new form selectable however, chargeable TV shows will audition all cultural and economic reasons.

The introduction of telephone dialing television creates a finan The basis for cultural performances of all kinds excludes an additional source of income for theater, cinema, Concerts, lectures, sporting events, etc. Complementary television according to the invention frees the TV viewers of programs forced by the consumption me and allows him to choose performances personally esteem.

The German Bundespost come because of their monopoly and the necessary provision of telephone equipment Key position to. The following result for the Bundespost additional income from new services and better use of the telephone network. The Indus There are orders to adapt the telephone network zes for the new task. In the further Receiver and additional devices required for decoding.

There are special sales opportunities for video recorders. A Video recorders with decoding facilities offer the possibility at previously unused broadcast times, television shows auto matically to record them at the desired time play.

The block diagram shows possible applications that telephone dialing television offers.

(1) represents the coding device of the central unit ( 14 ), which receives video signals from the television cameras ras ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) via broadband cable ( 2 ) and delivers the signals encrypted with different codes to the television transmitter ( 8 ). The Kame ras ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) are permanently installed recording devices, such as. B. assigned for theater and film screenings. With ( 5 ) a mobile recording device is indicated, which delivers the video signal via the directional radio link ( 6 ), ( 7 ) to the central unit. Two transmitters ( 8 ) feed omnidirectional antennas, another feeds a broadband cable network ( 9 ). The key code assigned to the individual performances are fed in multiplex operation over the line pair ( 11 ) to the local exchanges ( 12 ) with a charge counter (GZ) . There they are available to the television subscribers via call and are fed to the television receivers ( 10 ) with Docoder (D) via the subscriber lines ( 13 ). The fees of the participants are recorded by the fee counter and assigned to the selected programs (performances).

Claims (3)

1. A method for television transmission of encrypted video and audio broadcasts, characterized in that the different key information per performance is transmitted to the television subscriber via the telephone network. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Subscriber by calling a telephone number the key receives code leaked and this call at the same time the Ge fee entry serves. 3. The method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the number of calls for the key code of a certain th performance is automatically counted and the basis for financial settlement with the provider of the shipment.