Cable television system with two-way telephone communication path

摘要: A method and apparatus to enable billing of subscribers pay-per-view television systems or the like on a non-real-time basis. scrambled signal is received at subscriber terminal from headend. The selectively descrambled in response action indicating acceptance for viewing program contained signal. record maintained billable programs accepted by subscriber. headend monitored call-in command which instructs forward telephone communication path established between command. transmitted over path, billed accordance therewith. plurality transaction credits can be downloaded terminal, stored therein, debited viewing. descrambling prevented if there are not sufficient available pay program. time-out count reinitialized Descrambling expires.