Patent ID: 8099749
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A data collection system comprising: a digital tuner/demodulator for receiving a digital video stream on a single carrier frequency from a direct broadcast satellite system, said tuner/demodulator tuning to and demodulating the stream to output a digital baseband signal, said stream comprising multiple virtual channels of program content and associated channel identification information, and smartcard commands including authorization commands for program content access; a processor for parsing said digital baseband signal into program content, channel identification information and smartcard commands; a user interface responsive to user input for selecting channels of said program content; a smartcard interface that receives and forwards the channel identification associated with user selections and the smartcard commands; and a smartcard responsive to said smartcard commands and said channel identification, said smartcard authorizing viewership of user selected program content, monitoring and storing viewership data comprising channel identification information, and sending the stored viewership data to said direct broadcast satellite system.