Importance

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Abstract

An authorization system is provided for controlling access to satellite television services. The authorization system includes one or more earth orbiting satellites. The authorization system includes a terrestrial television supplier, one or more orbiting satellites, and a plurality of television units. The authorization system may include a terrestrial cable system for transmitting television signals to the television units. However preferably, the one or more satellites include a first transceiver for receiving and transmitting television signals which are relayed from the television service provider to the television units. Moreover, the satellites are provided with a second transceiver for receiving and transmitting authorization request signals which are transmitted by the television units and relayed by the satellites for receipt by the terrestrial television supplier. The authorization request signals are initiated by commands and are automatically sent by the television units, or initiated by commands initiated by a television watcher into the television unit. The authorization request signals may include authentication signals or may include pay-per-view requests, service change requests, tech services, audio services, video conferencing, Internet access, etc. Moreover, the authorization request signals may be encrypted or used to enable encryption using various formats such as public key/private key encryption systems. Preferably, television signals are transmitted by the satellite to the television units in X-band or K-band. Meanwhile, preferably the authorization request signals and control signals not integrated within the television signals are transmitted and received by the television units in L-band or S-band.

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First Claim