ANI auto dialer with carrier current interface

An impulse pay per view television receiver system for communicating with a head end via a telephone comprising:

• a telephone terminal located at a subscriber site;
• memory means at said subscriber site for storing a head end telephone number;
• auto dialer means coupled between said memory means and said subscriber site telephone terminal;
• means for signalling said auto dialer means to dial said head end telephone number to authorize receipt of a pay television program at said subscriber site;
• signal receiving means coupled to said auto dialer means for receiving said signal and causing said auto dialer means to dial said head end telephone number;
• a decoder means for receiving downloaded data from the head end, including a program identifier and at least a portion of said head end telephone number;
• and
• means for supplying said program identifier and at least said portion of said head end telephone number to said auto dialer means in response to said signalling means.

An impulse pay-per-view television receiving system for communicating with a head end via a telephone number comprising:

• decoder means, including an IR receiver/detector, and a telephone terminal located at a subscriber site;
• memory means at said subscriber site for storing a head end telephone number;
• auto dialer means coupled between said memory means and said telephone terminal;
• microprocessor means for controlling said memory means and said auto dialer means;
• said decoder means having a port for passing downloaded data from said head end to said microprocessor means, said downloaded data including a program identifier and at least a portion of said head end telephone number;
• and
• signalling means including a portable IR transmitter for signalling said auto dialer means to dial said head end telephone number to request authorization to receive and decode a pay television program.