CABLE TELEVISION PAYMENT AND LOAD SYSTEM USING SMART CARD

摘要

An architecture and system loads and uses a smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet or directly from a cable provider. A set-top box module on a set-top box controls the interaction with a consumer and interfaces to a card reader which accepts a smart card. Debiting works in conjunction with a merchant server and a merchant payment server. In addition, debiting works in conjunction with a cable head end server and a cable head end payment server. Loading works in conjunction with a bank server and a load server. Alternatively, loading functions in conjunction with a load server when value is loaded from a pre-funded account. To load value, the cable head end server requests a load from a user account at the bank server or a pre-funded account at the load server.