Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scrambling and unscrambling a plurality of data streams having differing data, on a plurality of signal channels, are taught. The data streams may be television programs or other signal information, transmitted in a frame-by-frame manner with discrete synchronizing information, and where some of the data streams may be high priority such as pay-TV program material. All of the data streams are synchronized, an encryption key code is imposed on them, and a data package containing an identifier code for each data stream and a routing code is generated, so that each data stream is assigned at any instant of time to a specific one of the plurality of signal channels. The data package is encrypted in each data stream by being inserted at a specific place therein relative to the synchronizing information.

Abstract: A time cost recorder enables entry and exit transactions to be recorded at will both by a badge bearing digitally encoded machine readable identity information and by a card bearing both digitally encoded machine readable identity information in the same recording medium and form as a badge and visible characters referring to the entry and exit transactions. Constant instructions for operation of the machine are stored in read-only memory, and a random-access memory includes locations severally allocatable to the badges and cards for recording the data relating to the entry and exit transactions of each badge or card according to the identity thereof. Thus badges are passed in the direction of arrow 4 through a combined reader and printer and cards are inserted in the direction of arrow 6 into a combined badge reader/printer that has a motor driven card transport roller that moves the card into and then out of the reader/printer.