US 5,497,420 A · Cable TV system using passwords

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of distributing signals to valid subscribers comprised of storing subscriber terminal valid identification codes at a central station, broadcasting promotions of services available to subscribers, each associated with a specific promotion code, selecting one of the services and entering a selected service promotion code into a terminal at a subscriber location, automatically reading an identification number associated with the terminal in response to the entering of a selected promotion code, processing the identification number and the selected promotion code in accordance with an encryption algorithm, and generating an encrypted event request code therefrom, providing the event request code to a verification center, at the verification center, decrypting the event request code, verifying the number against the valid identification codes, and providing a password unique to the terminal and the selected promotion code, entering the password into the terminal at the subscriber location, and providing access to a service utilizing one of the distributed signals corresponding to the selected promotion code to the subscriber in response to the entering of the password.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of distributing signals to valid subscribers comprising:

(a) storing subscriber terminal valid identification codes at a central station,
(b) broadcasting promotions of services available to subscribers, each associated with a specific promotion code,
(c) selecting one of said services and entering a selected service promotion code into a terminal at a subscriber location,
(d) automatically reading an identification number associated with said terminal in response to said entering of a selected promotion code,
(e) processing said identification number and said selected promotion code in accordance with an encryption algorithm, and generating an encrypted event request code therefrom,
(f) providing said event request code to a verification center,
(g) at said verification center, decrypting said event request code, and providing a password unique to said terminal and said selected promotion code,
(h) entering the password into the terminal at the subscriber location, and
(i) providing access to a service utilizing one of said distributed signals corresponding to the selected promotion code to the subscriber in response to said entering of the password.

6 more elements

A cable TV system comprising:

(a) subscriber terminals, each subscriber terminal including:
(i) means for storing a terminal identification code,
(ii) means for storing a program identification code,
(iii) means for storing an encryption key,
(iv) means for processing said codes and said key according to an encryption algorithm and generating a program request code thereby,
(v) a display for displaying programs and for displaying said program request code,
(vi) means for receiving a password and in response, enabling a program to be passed to the display for display thereon,
(b) a head end, and a CATV network connected thereto, for transmitting a scrambled representation of said program to said subscriber terminals,
(c) a central station comprising:
(i) means for receiving said program request code,
(ii) means for decrypting said program request code, and determining the program identification code and the terminal identification code therefrom,
(iv) means for verifying validity of the determined program and terminal identification codes, and
(v) means for generating said password in response to verification of the validity of the determined program and terminal identification codes.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cable TV system using passwords

Life of this patent

Cable TV system using passwords

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19