JP2000069453A - Information reception terminal and accounting information collecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the power consumption of an information reception terminal equipment. SOLUTION: An incoming call detection part 90 judges whether the telephone number of a caller is that which is previously stored in an inner memory and which an accounting information collection center uses for collecting the accounting information or not. When the incoming call detection part 90 judges that the telephone number is that of the accounting information collection center, a power control part 80 turns on a power switch 3 by an instruction from the incoming call detection part 90. The power control part 80 simultaneously operates a timer provided inside. A control part 40 transmits the accounting information stored in a storage part 50 through a MODEM part 60 and turns off the power control part 80 when transmission completes. The power control part 80 turns off the power switch 3 when time that is previously set elapses even if any trouble occurs and the transmission of the accounting information is not completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information receiving terminal device for receiving satellite broadcasting, and more particularly to a power saving type information receiving terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information service based on a contract for satellite broadcasting and television broadcasting, when collecting billing information or the like indicating a program, time, or the like received by an information receiving terminal device from the information receiving terminal device, the information is not collected. The service provider collects the billing information by sending the billing information to the information receiving terminal device via a telephone line. The information service provider transmits the contract information, billing information collection time, and the like as individual information to each information receiving terminal device by broadcast waves. Each information receiving terminal device transmits the billing information based on the billing information collection time transmitted from the information service provider.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional information terminal device.

[0004] Individual information (EMM) superimposed on a broadcast wave from an information service provider is stored in a storage unit 50 via a front end unit 10, a transport decoding unit 20, and a control unit 40.

The control unit 40 recognizes the scheduled date and time of collection of the received billing information, reads out the billing information stored in the storage unit 50 when the scheduled date and time comes, and sends the billing information to the information service provider via the modem unit 60. Is sent.

However, in such a system, since the information receiving terminal device cannot detect when the individual information is transmitted in the broadcast wave, it always receives the broadcast wave and updates the individual information. That is, the control unit 40 updates the individual information (EMM) stored in the storage unit 50,
Even when the switch 3 is off, the front end 1
0, power is always supplied to the transport decoding unit 20, the control unit 40, the storage unit 50, and the modem unit 60.

[0007]

In the conventional information receiving terminal device, power is always supplied to most of the circuits, and there is a problem that power consumption is large. Also, the modem unit 60
Has only a function of transmitting billing information, and has a problem that its function is not sufficiently used.

Techniques for only reducing the power consumption of the device are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-236394, 7-231371 and 7-284.
No. 091. However, the technology disclosed in these publications has a problem that it cannot be applied to means for collecting billing information from the information receiving terminal device.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low power consumption information receiving terminal device capable of transmitting billing information.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an information receiving terminal according to a first aspect of the present invention is an information receiving terminal connected to a line for receiving a satellite broadcast. Receiving means for receiving information from a satellite broadcasting station; charging information generating means for generating charging information of the information received by the receiving means; and charging information and a predetermined identification number generated by the charging information generating means. Storage means for storing;
When there is an incoming call via the line, a determination unit that determines whether the identification number of the caller is a predetermined identification number stored in the storage unit, and the determination unit determines the identification number. When it is determined that the number is a predetermined identification number stored in the storage means, the power supply is turned on, and when a preset time has elapsed, the control means for turning off the power supply, and the determination means If it is determined that the identification number of the caller is the predetermined identification number stored in the storage unit, the transmission of the billing information stored in the storage unit is performed by using the power from the power supply turned on. And transmitting means for performing

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of circuit operation parts at the time of waiting for an incoming call for collecting billing information from a satellite broadcast provider, and to suppress power consumption of the apparatus.

[0012] The control means, when the transmitting means finishes transmitting the billing information within a preset time,
The information receiving terminal device may further include a unit for turning off the power.

[0013] The storage unit further stores individual information transmitted from a satellite broadcast station, which is individual information for each information receiving terminal device. In a receivable state, and further comprising updating means for updating the individual information stored in the storage means to the individual information received by the receiving means while the power is on.

[0014] The control means may further comprise means for turning off the power when the updating means has finished updating the individual information.

[0015] The line may be a telephone line, and the predetermined identification number may be a telephone number.

A billing information collecting system according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a billing information collecting device, a satellite broadcast station, and an information receiving terminal device for receiving information from the satellite broadcast station. A charging information collecting system for collecting charging information from an information receiving terminal device, wherein the charging information collecting device collects, from the information receiving terminal device, charging information for information received by the information receiving terminal device from the satellite broadcasting station. Calling means for calling the information receiving terminal device via a communication line, and the satellite broadcasting station transmits, by radio waves, transmitting means for transmitting individual information that is information for each information receiving terminal device, The information receiving terminal device includes a receiving unit that receives the individual information from the satellite broadcasting station by radio waves, and stores the individual information received by the receiving unit, the telephone number of the calling unit, and billing information. Storage means for determining whether or not the telephone number of the caller is the telephone number stored in the storage means when there is an incoming call; and When the number is determined to be a telephone number stored in the storage unit, the control unit turns on the power of the apparatus when a predetermined time elapses, and the determination unit includes: Charging information transmitting means for transmitting the charging information stored in the storage means to a charging information collection destination when it is determined that the telephone number of the caller is the telephone number stored in the storage means; Comprising.

According to the present invention, it is also possible to reduce the number of circuit operation parts at the time of waiting for an incoming call for collecting billing information from a satellite broadcast provider, thereby reducing power consumption of the apparatus.

[0018] The transmitting means of the satellite broadcasting station and the calling means of the billing information collecting device have substantially the same schedule for transmitting individual information and calling for collecting billing information. In accordance with this schedule, transmission is performed for transmitting individual information and collecting billing information, and the transmitting means of the satellite broadcasting station transmits a call by the calling means and supplies power to the information receiving terminal device. While the information is on, the individual information is transmitted to the information receiving terminal device, and the control means of the information receiving terminal device transmits the individual information stored in the storage means to the individual information received by the receiving means. Updating means for updating the information may be further provided.

[0019] The control means of the information receiving terminal device comprises:
When the updating means finishes updating the individual information from the satellite broadcasting station within a preset time, the updating means may further comprise means for turning off the power.

[0020]

Next, an information receiving terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a system for collecting billing information from an information receiving terminal device.

The information receiving terminal device 100, the satellite broadcast provider 200, and the billing information collection center 400 are connected by a telephone line 600, respectively.

Individual information (EMM: Entitlement Control Message) which is control information for each application data, etc.
), Common information such as contract information on individuals (EC
Information such as M (Entitlement Management Message) is transmitted from the satellite broadcast provider 200 to the information receiving terminal device 100 via the broadcast satellite 300 via the broadcast wave 500. Billing information indicating which program the information receiving terminal device 100 has received and for how long is transmitted from the information receiving terminal device 100 to the billing information collection center 400 via the telephone line 600. Billing information collection center 40
0 collects the billing information transmitted from each information receiving terminal device 100, and collects a broadcast fee from each information receiving terminal device 100 based on this billing information at the end of the month, for example, and collects each satellite broadcast provider 200 Distribute to

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information receiving terminal device 100. This receiving terminal device is a satellite broadcast IRD (Intgrated Recever Decorder) or the like.

The information receiving terminal device 100 has an antenna 1
, Power supply unit 2, switch 3, front end unit 10
, A transport decoding unit 20, and a signal processing unit 30
, A control unit 40, a storage unit 50, a modem unit 60, an input I / F unit (input interface unit) 70, a power control unit 80, and a signal detection unit 90.

The antenna 1 is for receiving a broadcast wave from the satellite broadcast provider 200.

The power supply unit 2 is a power supply for the information receiving terminal device 100.

The switch 3 turns on and off the current path of the information receiving terminal device 100. As shown in the figure, even when the switch 3 is off, the power control unit 80 and the incoming call detection unit 90
Is supplied with power.

The front end unit 10 includes a tuner unit,
It comprises a demodulation unit and an error correction unit. The tuner selects a transmission channel of a signal received by the antenna 1. The demodulation unit extracts a digital signal sequence from the transmitted signal, and if there is an error in the digital signal sequence, the error is corrected by the error correction unit.
Output to 0.

The transport decoding section 20 comprises a descrambling section and a demultiplexer section.
The descrambling unit descrambles the scrambled digital signal using the key stored in the storage unit 50, and the demultiplexer unit demultiplexes various data (individual information, common information, and , Program information, etc.) and packet data of video and audio multiplexed by MPEG2 Systems, and output to the signal processing unit 30.

The signal processing unit 30 decompresses the compressed video and audio signals extracted by the transport decoding unit 20 and encodes them into video signals and audio signals.

The control unit 40 controls the entire information receiving terminal device 100, extracts various data from the transport decoding unit 20, writes data into the storage unit 50, reads data, and the like.

The storage unit 50 is composed of an IC card, a semiconductor memory, or the like, and receives individual information,
It stores data such as common information, program information, and billing information, and a key for releasing a scrambled digital signal sequence sent from a satellite broadcast provider.

The modem unit 60 is connected to the telephone line 600 and transmits the billing information and the like input from the control unit 40.

The input I / F 70 is for the user to input an instruction to turn on and off the power switch 3. The instruction input by the input I / F unit 70 is input to the control unit 40.

The power control unit 80 turns on the switch 3 in response to an instruction from the control unit 40 or a signal from the incoming call detection unit 90. In addition, the power supply control unit 80 includes a timer, activates the timer when receiving an incoming call detection signal from the incoming call detection unit 90, and turns off the switch 3 when a preset time has elapsed.

The incoming call detecting section 90 is connected to the charging information collection center 4.
00 has an internal memory for storing in advance a telephone number (specific telephone number) used for collecting billing information. When an incoming call is received via the telephone line, the incoming call detecting section 90 determines whether or not the telephone number of the caller is a telephone number stored in the internal memory. If it is determined that the incoming call is detected, an incoming call detection signal indicating that the detected incoming call is detected is output to the power control unit 80.

The satellite broadcast provider 200 includes a broadcast unit that stores a program (broadcast contents) and the above-described individual information, and transmits information to the broadcast satellite 300 according to a predetermined schedule.

The broadcasting satellite 300 is a satellite broadcasting provider 200
Amplifies the broadcast radio wave transmitted from the broadcast unit of the above and retransmits it to the ground.

The billing information collection center 400 collects the billing information from each information receiving terminal device 100 according to a schedule substantially identical to the schedule of the individual information transmission performed by the satellite broadcast provider 200. 100
, A receiving unit for receiving the billing information transmitted from each information receiving terminal device 100 via the line 600, and a counting unit for counting the received billing information. Based on this billing information, a broadcast fee is collected from each information receiving terminal device 100 and distributed to each satellite broadcast provider 200. A caller number (telephone number of the caller) is given to the incoming information from the calling unit to each information receiving terminal device 100 by an exchange (not shown) or the like.

Next, the information receiving terminal device 100 having the above configuration
Will be described.

When the user is not using the information receiving terminal device 100, that is, when the switch 3 is off, power is supplied only to the incoming call detection unit 90 and the power control unit 80. In this state, when a call is received, the incoming call detection unit 90 determines that the telephone number of the caller is a specific telephone number stored in advance (the telephone number used by the charging information collection center 400 for collecting the charging information). ) Is determined. Then, the incoming call detection section 90 outputs an incoming call detection signal to the power supply control section 80 when determining that it is the specific calling number.

The power control unit 80 turns on the switch 3 in response to the incoming call detection signal from the incoming call detecting unit 90, and starts up the system of the information receiving terminal device 100. At the same time, the power control unit 80 activates a power timer to turn off the switch 3 when a preset time has elapsed.

Thereafter, the control unit 40 reads out the billing information stored in the storage unit 50, transmits the billing information to the billing information collection center 400 which collects the billing information via the modem unit 60, and transmits the billing information. Send out. This billing information is sent to the satellite broadcast provider 200 via the billing information collection center 400.

The control unit 40 outputs a power-off command to the power supply control unit 80 when transmission of the billing information is completed via the modem unit 60 or when a preset time has elapsed.

The power control unit 80 turns off the switch 3 according to a command from the control unit 40.

Some problem arises when sending the billing information,
Even if the transmission is not completed, the power supply control unit 80 turns off the switch 3 when the power supply timer elapses a preset time. Therefore, even if any problem occurs, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

In the information receiving terminal device 100, when charging information is transmitted, most of the device is supplied with power. Therefore, if the individual information is transmitted from the satellite broadcast provider 200, Update of individual information can also be performed.

When the billing information transmission and the individual information updating are simultaneously performed in the information receiving terminal device 100, the satellite broadcast provider 200 makes a call for collecting the billing information and the individual information by the broadcast wave as shown in FIG. A transmission schedule is set in advance. And according to this schedule,
Billing information collection center 400 makes a call, and satellite broadcast provider 200 transmits individual information.

It should be noted that a call is normally sent to a plurality of information receiving terminals 10.
0 is performed in parallel, and the transmission of the individual information is performed by attaching a destination address. Each information receiving terminal 100 receives the individual information while the power is on, determines the destination address attached to the received individual information, fetches only the information addressed to itself, Discard the information addressed to it.

In this case, the control unit 40 of the information receiving terminal device 100 converts the individual information stored in the storage unit 50 into the individual information received via the antenna 1, the front end unit 10, and the transport decode unit 20. Update. Then, the control unit 40 turns off the switch 3 on condition that the reception and the update of the individual information have been completed.

When the information receiving terminal device 100 cannot respond to the incoming call from the billing information collection center 400, the billing information collection center 400 makes a call again using the vacancy of the schedule. Even if this call is repeated a predetermined number of times, if there is no incoming call response from the information receiving terminal device 100, an e-mail or mail is sent to the user of the information receiving terminal device 100 to collect billing information.

As described above, the information receiving terminal 10
In the case of 0, the individual information can be updated simultaneously with the transmission of the billing information.

The charging information collection center 4 described above
It is desirable to make a call from 00 to the information receiving terminal device 100 using the pre-communication information notification service. In this pre-communication information notification service, the charging information collection center 400
Makes a call to the information receiving terminal device 100, the exchange transmits an information receiving terminal activation signal to the information receiving terminal device 100. The incoming call detection section 90 of the information receiving terminal device 100 returns a primary response signal indicating that the information receiving terminal way signal from the exchange has been received. After receiving the primary response signal, the exchange transmits the information of the telephone number of the caller (charging information collection center 400) to information receiving terminal device 100. The incoming call detection unit 90 of the information receiving terminal device 100 uses the information of the telephone number transmitted from the exchange to determine whether or not the telephone number of the caller is a specific telephone number. On the other hand, the billing information collection center 400 disconnects the line when a preset time elapses after calling the information receiving terminal device 100. However, this set time is determined by the charging information collection center 4
00 is shorter than the time from when a call is made to the information receiving terminal device 100 to when a ringing is performed by a telephone or the like connected in parallel to the information receiving terminal device 100. Information receiving terminal device 10
In the case of No. 0, after it is determined that the telephone number of the caller is the specific telephone number, a call is made to the charging information collection center 400 to transmit the charging information. As described above, the information receiving terminal device 1
Since the line is disconnected before a telephone or the like connected in parallel to 00 is ringed, the billing information collection center 400
Telephone charges can be saved. Further, the collection of the billing information usually performed at midnight does not bother the user of the information receiving terminal device 100.

When a call is made from the charging information collection center 400, if the information receiving terminal device 100 is allowed to ring a telephone or the like connected in parallel, the incoming call detection unit 90 responds to the incoming call, and the charging information as it is. May be sent.

The information on the specific telephone number may be stored in the storage unit 50 as one of the individual information transmitted from the satellite broadcast provider 200.

The control unit 40 includes a light emitting diode, a display unit, and the like. When the switch 3 is turned off after a set time without sending the billing information, the issuing diode blinks or the display unit is turned off. A message may be displayed to indicate to the user that a problem has occurred at the time of sending billing information.

The above information receiving terminal device 100
In addition to satellite broadcasting, the present invention can be applied to collection of billing information of a pay cable TV or the like. The telephone line may be a wired line or a wireless line.

In the above description, the power of the entire information receiving terminal device is turned on by turning on the power switch 3 at the time of an incoming call. However, only the power of a necessary portion may be turned on.
For example, separately from the main power supply, a sub-power supply is prepared, and during normal operation, the main power supply is turned on to supply power to the entire apparatus, and when a call is received, only the sub-power supply is turned on. Power may be supplied only to the unit.

Also, an example has been shown in which a call is made to the modem unit 60 using a telephone line in order to collect billing information. However, if a specific information receiving terminal device 100 can be selectively designated, its configuration, etc. Is optional. For example, an IP address may be assigned to each information receiving terminal device 100, and each information receiving terminal device 100 may be called via the Internet, and billing information may be transmitted using this as a trigger.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of circuit operation parts when the information receiving terminal device is not used. Therefore, power consumed by the information receiving terminal device can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a billing information collection system from an information receiving terminal device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information receiving terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of a relationship between a transmission schedule and a calling schedule.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional information receiving terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 2 Power supply part 3 Power switch 10 Front end part 20 Transport decoding part 30 Signal processing part 40 Control part 50 Storage part 60 Modem part 70 Input I / F part (input interface part) 80 Power supply control part 90 Signal detection part 100 Information receiving terminal device 200 Satellite broadcast provider 300 Broadcast satellite 400 Billing information collection center 500 Broadcast wave 600 Telephone line

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information receiving terminal device for receiving satellite broadcasting and connected to a line, comprising: receiving means for receiving information from a satellite broadcasting station; and generating billing information for the information received by the receiving means. Charging information generating means; storing means for storing the charging information generated by the charging information generating means and a predetermined identification number; when an incoming call is received via the line, the identification number of the caller is stored in the storage means. Determining means for determining whether or not the stored identification number is a predetermined identification number, when the determination means determines that the identification number is a predetermined identification number stored in the storage means, Control means for turning on the power supply and turning off the power supply when a preset time elapses; and the determining means determines that the identification number of the caller is a predetermined identification number stored in the storage means. If it is determined that And by using the power from the power source, and transmitting means for transmitting the charging information the storage unit has stored, the information receiving terminal apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a. 2. The control means according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means terminates transmission of billing information within a preset time.
2. The information receiving terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit for turning off the power of the information receiving terminal device. 3. The storage unit further stores individual information transmitted from a satellite broadcast station, which is individual information for each information receiving terminal device. The control unit turns on the power supply, 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that sets the receiving unit in a receivable state, and updates the individual information stored in the storage unit to the individual information received by the receiving unit while the power is on. Or the information receiving terminal device according to 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for turning off the power when said updating means has finished updating the individual information. Information receiving terminal device. 5. The information receiving terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said line is a telephone line, and said predetermined identification number is a telephone number. 6. A charging information collecting apparatus comprising: a charging information collecting device; a satellite broadcasting station; and an information receiving terminal device for receiving information from the satellite broadcasting station, wherein charging information for the received information is collected from the information receiving terminal device. In the system, the charging information collection device, the charging information for the information received from the satellite broadcast station,
Calling means for making a call to the information receiving terminal device via a communication line in order to collect the information from the information receiving terminal device. The information receiving terminal device includes: a receiving unit that receives the individual information from the satellite broadcast station by radio waves; an individual information received by the receiving unit; a telephone number of the calling unit; Storage means for storing billing information; determination means for determining whether or not the telephone number of the caller is the telephone number stored in the storage means when there is an incoming call; and Control means for turning on the power of the apparatus when it is determined that the telephone number of the caller is the telephone number stored in the storage means, and turning off the power after a preset time has passed; The determining means determines whether the calling party Charging information transmitting means for transmitting the charging information stored in the storage means to a charging information collection destination when the number is determined to be a telephone number stored in the storage means. Billing information collection system. 7. The transmitting means of the satellite broadcasting station and the calling means of the charging information collecting device are substantially the same with respect to transmission of individual information and calling for collecting charging information. A schedule is stored, and a call for transmitting individual information and collecting billing information is performed in accordance with the schedule. The transmitting means of the satellite broadcasting station, when the calling means makes a call, the information receiving terminal device While the power supply is turned on, the individual information is transmitted to the information receiving terminal device, and the control unit of the information receiving terminal device receives the individual information stored in the storage unit by the receiving unit. The charging information collection system according to claim 6, further comprising an updating unit that updates the individual information. 8. The control means of the information receiving terminal device,
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a unit for turning off the power when the updating unit finishes updating the individual information from the satellite broadcasting station within a preset time.
The billing information collection system described in 1.