Importance

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Abstract

A method and an arrangement are disclosed for providing a nationwide dial-a-view service in which a caller desiring a given viewing selection dials an '800' dial-a-view number for ordering that selection through the telephone networking arrangement. The arrangement includes local and toll switching offices for accessing a centralized database system for providing routing instructions advantageously to network services equipment which acknowledges the request and processes the request to cable television distribution equipment. The dialed '800' number is recognized as a dial-a-view request, and the database system provides the originating toll office with routing instructions for sending the request to the network service equipment. Automatic number identification of the caller is requested from the originating toll office and forwarded along with requested programming to the vendor equipment. The vendor equipment supplies the requested programming to the calling customer via an addressable decoder at the calling customer's television. The vendor equipment also perform customer order entitlement verification prior to supplying the calling customer with the requested programming.

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First Claim