Abstract: A device such as a pay TV decoder, a television receiver, a VCR or a remote control is automatically customized with information such as channel, frequency, and/or remote control codes that is stored in memory in a smart card. The smart card transmits the information to the device via a smart card reader. The information is transmitted to the device in response to the smart card being coupled to the smart card reader. Customization by smart card facilitates efficient production of devices such as pay TV decoders because all devices can be identical during manufacturing and customized easily after manufacturing. For example, a cable TV operator can customize each pay TV decoder with channel allocation information appropriate for the site of the decoder by using a smart card.

Abstract: A video signal processing system, such as a pay TV system, that includes a smart card access control feature decodes control information from data included in groups of video line intervals that represent data channels. Each channel includes data arranged in packets of data. Each packet includes both descriptor data and application data. The packets of data are extracted from the video lines by a data dispatcher. After receiving a packet from a data channel, the data dispatcher analyses the descriptor data to determine the target for the application data. The data dispatcher transmits the application data contained in the packet, without analyzing the data, to the correct target processor unit, e.g. either a control access processor or a decoder intelligent processor. Information that may be transferred to the decoder processor includes, a specific channel allocation table, data related to the VTR of the customer, and information related to a geographic location.

Abstract: The device of the invention for a pay-television system comprises an emitter and several receivers using "smart cards". In addition to the unscrambling control signals, the emitter sends encrypted authentication messages to which a correct response can be given only by the receivers where valid cards are used.

Abstract: To counter illicit prevention of the invalidation of a smart card in a pay television network, for example when the period of validity for the card has expired, a verification of the card reader's ability to write to the card's memory is made. This verification consists in periodically sending a data item to be stored in the card. A counter on the card is reset by the writing voltage of the card's storage. In the event the writing voltage does not reach the counter, the counter's overflow output is connected to a read inhibition circuit which blocks functions of the card.

Abstract: A subscriber/user TV system operates in response to locally stored entitlements. A user gains access to a program only if the description of the program is consistent with entitled rights owned by the user. Each night at a given hour, decoders affiliated with the system tune to a predetermined video or audio channel, a so-called Barker channel. Decoders previously in a stand-by mode are activated in order to tune to the Barker channel. The program provider then sends the entitlement data on the Barker channel while every affiliated decoder is responsive to an incoming data stream.

Abstract: The method of the invention consists, during the transmission of composite video signals, in the inclusion therein of series of access messages (ECM1, ECM2) and, during the unscrambling, carried out using a chip card reader whose chip card comprises encoded digital data, in using an interactive method of identification of a digital signature.

Abstract: The process of the invention concerns pay television networks with reinforced scrambling. To attract potential subscribers, the invention consists in cyclically transmitting non-scrambled images for brief periods, so that the type of program can be seen.

Abstract: To allow teleshopping to be performed quickly and reliably via the television network, receivers (3) are equipped with smart card readers (4), and the transmitter (2) sends information which is processed in the smart cards by means of the viewers' control devices (6). The result of this process is displayed on the screen and communicated later to the transmitter. This result allows the viewers' reactions to be authenticated.

Abstract: To prevent a person having found or stolen a card of a pay-television subscriber from using it fraudulently, the identity of the subscriber is recorded in a zone protected from reading and writing. At the beginning of the period of use of a new card, the new card compares the identity of the new card with that of the old one, and delivers the password only if the two identities are the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for the reception of video signals with a variable gain amplifier to hold the video signal between pre-determined limits. To control the gain of the amplifier, there is provision for a circuit that keeps the amplitude of the line synchronization pulse substantially constant. This circuit has, for example, an analog/digital converter with an output, one bit of which represents the sign of the difference between the line synchronization pulse and its prescribed value.

Abstract: Reader for smart cards comprising a supply for the circuits of the card, a means of controlling information exchanges between the card and the reader and an input for digital signals from a pay-television system. The means of control comprises a first microcontroller which receives the digital signals and which controls a second microcontroller which itself controls the exchange of information with the card and delivers power supply control signals as a function of the information received from the card. The outputs from the first microcontroller are at a fixed potential during the resets and the outputs from the second microcontroller are at a floating potential during the resets. A port enables the first microcontroller to control the power supply during the resets.