Signal generation and broadcasting

The invention includes a substantially conventional digital television system (2000) for outputting compressed digital signals. A multiplexer (2004) receives several additional input signals, assembles one or more transport streams and, via a link (2010), compressed digital signals to a transmitter (2008) in the broadcast center. The transmitter (2008) sends out electromagnetic signals, via a connection (2012) upwards towards a satellite transponder (2014) where they are processed electronically and broadcast via an imaginary connection (2016) down to a ground receiver (2018). The signals received by the receiver (2018) are transmitted to an integrated receiver / decoder (2020) connected to the end-user television set (2022). The receiver / decoder (2020) decodes the compressed MPEG-2 signal into a television signal for the television receiver (2022). A conditional access system is connected to the multiplexer (2004) and the receiver / decoder (2020) and is located partly in the broadcast center and partly in the decoder. It enables the end user to access digital television broadcasts from one or more broadcast providers. A smart card capable of decrypting messages relating to one or more television programs and sold by the broadcast provider can be inserted into the receiver / decoder (2020). By using the decoder (2020) and A smart card capable of decrypting messages relating to one or more television programs and sold by the broadcast provider can be inserted into the receiver / decoder (2020). By using the decoder (2020) and A smart card capable of decrypting messages relating to one or more television programs and sold by the broadcast provider can be inserted into the receiver / decoder (2020). By using the decoder (2020) and