Patent ID: 6067564
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A pay broadcasting receiver apparatus, comprising:a memory device that stores plural sets of data as users personal information, each set of the plural sets of data including user identification data, a password, a limit total viewing charge allotted the user for a specified period of time and a total viewing charge incurred by a user within a predetermined period of time;a device that designates programs selected to be viewed by the user;a device that calculates the sum of viewing charges of the programs selected to be viewed and the total viewing charge within a predetermined period of time when the programs are selected to be viewed;a charge comparing device that compares the sum with the limit total viewing charge for a specified period of time;an input device for inputting user input from the user; anda screen signal generation device that enables a man-machine interactive input in response to the user input;wherein, based on a result of comparison provided by the charge comparing device, when the sum is equal to or less than the limit total viewing charge for a specified period of time, the viewing charge within a predetermined period of time is combined with the sum to produce a new sum, and when the new sum is greater than the limit total viewing charge for a specified period of time, the screen signal generation device generates a signal representative thereof.