Patent ID: 6424947
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: H03J,H04N

Abstract:
A subscriber unit in a television system comprising:an integrated receiver and decoder (IRD) comprising a first smart card reader which is operative to accept a first smart card; a remote control comprising a second smart card reader which is operative to accept a second smart card that is operative to generate an authorization signal authorizing access to services; a two-way wireless IRD communicator operative to enable two-way wireless communication between the first smart card and the second smart card over a wireless communication link when the first smart card and the second smart card are inserted in the corresponding first and second smart card readers respectively; and an IRD verifier operatively associated with the first smart card reader and the two-way wireless IRD communicator and operative to receive from the second smart card via the two-way wireless IRD communicator said authorization signal authorizing access to services and to enable access to said services in response to reception of said authorization signal wherein each of said IRD and said remote control include an encryptor/decryptor which encrypts/decrypts said wireless communication between the first smart card and the second smart card.