US3172948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Billing system for subscription television
Assignee: —
•
Filing: —
•
Granted: 1965-03-09
•
Expires: 1982-03-09
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N2007/1739
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
IN A SUBSCRIPTION-TELEVISION SYSTEM OF THE TYPE WHEREIN PROGRAMS FOR WHICH PAYMENT IS SOUGHT ARE TRANSMITTED TO A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVERS, EACH SAID SUBSCRIBER RECEIVER HAVING A SWITCH WHICH IS CLOSED WHEN IT IS DESIRED TO RECEIVE ONE OF SAID PROGRAMS, APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AT WHICH AT SAID SUBSCRIBER RECEIVER SAID SWITCH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR ENABLING A BILLING OF THE SUBSCRIBER WHO THEREBY HAVE PURCHASED SAID PROGRAM, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING CONDUCTORS EXTENDING FROM A CENTRAL LOCATION TO EACH ONE OF SAID SUBSCRIBER RECEIVERS,MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONNECTING EACH ONE OF SAID SWITCHES TO SAID CONDUCTORS, MEANS AT SAID CENTRAL LOCATION FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THE SWITCH WHICH IS CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUCTORS AT THE TIME IS CLOSED, AND A RECORDING MEANS AT SAID CENTRAL LOCATION OPERATED SYNCHRONOUSLY WITH SAID MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONNECTING EACH ONE OF SAID SWITCHES TO SAID CONDUCTORS AND RESPONSIVE TO OUTPUT FROM SAID MEANS FOR DETERMINING TO MAKE A RECORD INDICATIVE OF WHICH OF SAID SWITCHES HAS BEEN CLOSED.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
IN A SUBSCRIPTION-TELEVISION SYSTEM OF THE TYPE WHEREIN PROGRAMS FOR WHICH PAYMENT IS SOUGHT ARE TRANSMITTED TO A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVERS, EACH SAID SUBSCRIBER RECEIVER HAVING A SWITCH WHICH IS CLOSED WHEN IT IS DESIRED TO RECEIVE ONE OF SAID PROGRAMS, APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AT WHICH AT SAID SUBSCRIBER RECEIVER SAID SWITCH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR ENABLING A BILLING OF THE SUBSCRIBER WHO THEREBY HAVE PURCHASED SAID PROGRAM, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING CONDUCTORS EXTENDING FROM A CENTRAL LOCATION TO EACH ONE OF SAID SUBSCRIBER RECEIVERS,MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONNECTING EACH ONE OF SAID SWITCHES TO SAID CONDUCTORS, MEANS AT SAID CENTRAL LOCATION FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THE SWITCH WHICH IS CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUCTORS AT THE TIME IS CLOSED, AND A RECORDING MEANS AT SAID CENTRAL LOCATION OPERATED SYNCHRONOUSLY WITH SAID MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONNECTING EACH ONE OF SAID SWITCHES TO SAID CONDUCTORS AND RESPONSIVE TO OUTPUT FROM SAID MEANS FOR DETERMINING TO MAKE A RECORD INDICATIVE OF WHICH OF SAID SWITCHES HAS BEEN CLOSED.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3021383A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1968-03-08 | 1968-09-07 | 1969-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1972-03-08 | 1972-09-07 | 1973-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1976-03-08 | 1976-09-07 | 1977-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |