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US 2006/0190970 A1Published application
Security enhanced tiered subscription broadcast system
AssigneeMartin E Hellman
InventorMartin Hellman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A broadcast system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to provide multiple levels of subscription services. Subscribers have the option of listening to fewer (or no) commercials if they pay a higher fee, or listening to more commercials if they pay a lower (or no) fee. Commercials can be demographically targeted, cannot be skipped, and can be audited for billing purposes.
Claims24
A method of providing a plurality of tiers of receiver privileges in a broadcast system which comprises:
- transmitting a multiplexed signal containing at least program content, additional information and receiver commands;
- receiving the transmitted multiplexed signal;
- and
- demodulating at least portions of said program content, at least portions of said additional information, and at least portions of said receiver commands;
- storing at least part of said portions of said additional information;
- and
- substituting portions of the stored additional information for portions of said program information in response to at least some of said receiver commands to provide an output signal including program content and additional information content.
4 more elements
A receiver in a tiered subscription broadcast system comprising:
- a digital demodulator which outputs a bitstream;
- a cryptoprocessor;
- and
- a receiver controller which divides said bitstream into at least two substreams such that a proper subset of said substreams is decrypted by said cryptoprocessor.
1 more element
A receiver in a tiered subscription broadcast system comprising:
- a digital demodulator which outputs a bitstream;
- a receiver controller;
- and
- a cryptoprocessor which includes at least one protected memory.
1 more element
A receiver in a tiered subscription broadcast system comprising:
- a digital demodulator which outputs a bitstream;
- a receiver controller;
- a cryptoprocessor;
- and
- a protected bus configured so that
- said protected bus can carry data in only one direction;
- and
- data is output on said protected bus by said cryptoprocessor.
5 more elements
A receiver in a broadcast system comprising:
- a digital demodulator which outputs a bitstream;
- a memory for storing at least a portion of said bitstream for delayed output such that:
- said portion of said bitstream is divided into content segments;
- and
- header information is appended to at least some of said content segments;
- a user interface including control means for controlling the delayed output of at least a portion of said content segments;
- and
- a receiver controller which inhibits one or more functions of said control means in response to said header information.
5 more elements
A receiver in a broadcast system comprising:
- an audio output signal;
- audio input means which generates an audio input signal;
- a stored reference signal;
- a stored programmed action;
- and
- a receiver controller;
- in which said receiver controller
- monitors said audio input signal;
- compares a portion of said audio input signal with said stored reference signal;
- and
- executes said stored programmed action when the comparison of said portions of said audio input signal with said stored reference signal meets a predetermined condition.
8 more elements
A tiered subscription broadcast system system comprising:
- a broadcast controller;
- a transmitter which transmits a signal with a plurality of divisions;
- a plurality of receivers at least a portion of which comprise:
- output means;
- selection means;
- a memory;
- and
- reverse channel means;
- and in which at least a portion of said plurality of receivers:
- utilizes said selection means to select a division within said plurality of divisions;
- causes the selected division to be conveyed to said output means;
- stores one or more records in said memory indicative of the selected division;
- and
- communicates record information related to said one or more records to said broadcast controller using said reverse channel means.
11 more elements
A tiered subscription broadcast system system comprising:
- an advertiser;
- a broadcast controller;
- a transmitter which transmits a signal;
- a plurality of receivers at least a portion of which comprise:
- a receiver controller;
- a memory;
- and
- reverse channel means;
- in which at least a portion of said plurality of receivers:
- derives a plurality of advertising content segments from said signal;
- stores at least a portion of said plurality of advertising content segments in said memory;
- utilizes said receiver controller to select an advertising content segment from the stored advertising content segments;
- causes the selected advertising content segment to be conveyed to said output means;
- stores one or more records in said memory indicative of said selected advertising content segment;
- and
- communicates record information related to said one or more records to said broadcast controller using said reverse channel means;
- and
- in which
- said broadcast controller creates a charge for said advertiser;
- and
- said charge is at least partly dependent on said record information.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.