Importance

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Abstract

A television system for broadcasting data simultaneously with but independently of television programs, in which digitally coded information carrying signals are superimposed or otherwise added to a video system in the field blanking interval. The local receiver is fitted with a decoder by means of which a viewer is able to select a particular page of supplementary information which is then superimposed over the broadcast program. Generally, this information is available to any member of the public who has a requisite decoder. In this system the digitally coded information carrying signals are enciphered prior to transmission in accordance with a predetermined key and the receiving terminal has a cipher circuit operable in accordance with the key to decipher the enciphered signals. In a preferred form each cipher circuit is a pseudo-random sequence generator for generating pulses in accordance with the predetermined key and the output of which is connected to one input of a gate, the other gate input being connected to the data signals. By enciphering the signals prior to transmission some pages can be dedicated for the private use of selected viewers to whom the cipher key is available.

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First Claim