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Abstract

A distribution control system for controlling the distribution of scrambled impulse pay per view (IPPV) programming from a plurality of different IPPV programmers to a plurality of descramblers. The system includes a plurality of business data processing systems, a plurality of channel control systems respectively related to a plurality of the given IPPV programmers and an IPPV management system. The business data processing systems process view history data identifying descrambled IPPV programs and credit data for individual descramblers and cost data for IPPV programs provided by given IPPV programmers and provide credit data and IPPV authorization data pertaining to individual descramblers. Each of the channel control systems provides descrambler messages containing identification, cost and IPPV status data for individual IPPV programs. The IPPV data management system processes the credit data and IPPV authorization data provided by the business data processing systems to provide descrambler messages unique to each descrambler containing credit data and IPPV authorization data pertaining to the individual descrambler. The IPPV management system also sorts the IPPV program identification and cost data provided the channel control systems in accordance with which business data processing systems process data for those IPPV programs provided by the respective given IPPV programmers, and sorts view history data provided by the descramblers in accordance with which business data processing systems process data for the respective descramblers for the IPPV programmers that provide the IPPV programs identified in the view history data provided by the respective descramblers; and forwards the sorted IPPV program identification and cost data and the sorted view history data to the respective business data processing systems.

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First Claim