초록 ▼

A pay-per-view CATV system which is interfaced with the switched public telephone system is described. A subscriber selects a specific scheduled television event by dialing a telephone number which uniquely identifies the selected event. The called and originating numbers are identified, digitized a

A pay-per-view CATV system which is interfaced with the switched public telephone system is described. A subscriber selects a specific scheduled television event by dialing a telephone number which uniquely identifies the selected event. The called and originating numbers are identified, digitized and combined to form a digital word. The digital word is then transmitted to the CATV supplier.

대표청구항 ▼

In a switched public network telephone system having at least one central office switch, a plurality of subscriber loops, and a plurality of telephones, each of said subscriber loops operatively coupling an associated one of said telephones to said central office switch, said central office switch c

In a switched public network telephone system having at least one central office switch, a plurality of subscriber loops, and a plurality of telephones, each of said subscriber loops operatively coupling an associated one of said telephones to said central office switch, said central office switch connecting one of said telephones identified by a calling number to another of said telephones identified by a called number in response to said telephone identified by said calling number originating a telephone call to said telephone identified by said called number, a method for subscriber selection of a specific one of a plurality of scheduled television program events provided by a supplier of such events comprising the steps of: detecting a telephone call to one of a plurality of predetermined called numbers electrically coupled through any of said subscriber loops, each of said predetermined called numbers identifying one of said television program events; identifying the calling number of the said telephone which originated said detected telephone call; coupling a confirmation message to the said subscriber loop identified by said calling number in response to detecting one of said predetermined called numbers; developing a digital word representing said detected called number and the said identified calling number originating said telephone call to said detected called number; and transmitting said digital word to said supplier subsequent to coupling said confirmation message to the said subscriber loop identified by said calling number, said transmission originating at a location remote from said supplier\s premises.