| 摘要 |
A system for providing a video-on-demand service comprises a repository of video programs, an administration facility associated with the repository of video programs, one or more television broadcast receivers remote from the repository, a satellite communication channel capable of carrying a television broadcast signal between the repository and the television broadcast receivers, and a television broadcast transmitter capable of broadcasting any selected one of the video programs in the repository along the satellite communication channel to the television broadcast receivers. The administration facility has a register of authorized users of the repository, and each television broadcast receiver has an associated storage means in the form of a hard disk drive. The broadcast selected video program is stored, at least partially, upon reception thereof, in the associated storage means of the television broadcast receivers. An activation facility responsive to a request by a registered user enables the stored selected video program for viewing on the television broadcast receiver. A billing facility bills the authorized user as a function of a number of stored video programs viewed by that user.
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