JPH0433491A - Catv converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To collect the charge immediately by providing a memory storing a data of a charge transferred from a subscriber and a charge collection means to a CATV converter. CONSTITUTION:When a subscriber transfers a charge in advance to a CATV station 6, the CATV station 6 stores the transferred charge data to a memory 8 of the CATV converter 7 of the subscriber. When an instruction to allow the CATV converter 7 to receive the message and the program charge data simultaneously, the program is receptible. Moreover, a charge collection means 10 of the CATV converter 7 subtracts the charge data of the received program from the charge data stored in advance in the memory 8. Thus, the charge of the paid-program is collected apparently by a CATV station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CATV converter that can instantly receive CATV pay programs on a program-by-program basis and collect the fees immediately.

Conventional technology Conventionally, the configuration is as shown in Fig. 2, where 1 is a CATV station;
2 is a CATV converter. 3 is a memory for recording data; 4 is a transmitting means for transmitting the received program data stored in the memory 3 of the CATV converter 2 to the CATV station 1; and 5 is a cable for transmitting data and video signals.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With a configuration that goes beyond the problems that the invention aims to solve, subscribers can transmit the number of the program they wish to receive to CATV.
When the CATV station 1 sends a command to the memory 3 of the converter 2 and causes the CATV converter 2 to receive the program, the CATV converter 2 becomes ready to receive the program, and its status is stored in the memory 3. This stored content is periodically transmitted from the transmitting means 4 to the CATV station 1, and based on this data, the CATV station 1 collects the fee from the subscriber on a deferred payment basis. As described above, in the conventional configuration, there was a problem in that the fee was paid in arrears.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and aims to make it possible to collect fees immediately.

Means for Solving the Problems and To Achieve This Object According to the present invention, when the ka-da-on transfers the fee to the CATV station in advance, the fee data is stored in the memory in the CATV converter by a signal from the CATV station. And each time a subscriber receives a paid program,
The fee data of this pay program is subtracted from the memory by the fee collection means.

Effect: With this configuration, the fee can be collected immediately.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a CATV converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 6 is a CATV station and 7 is a CATV converter.
It is a TV converter. 8 is a memory for recording data;
9 is a cable for transmitting data and video signals. When a subscriber transfers charges to the CATV station 6 in advance in a configuration of 0 or more, the CATV station 6 stores the transferred charge data in the memory of the subscriber's CATV converter 7. 8 to be memorized.

In this situation, when the subscriber wants to watch a desired program, he inputs the number of the program into the CATV converter 7. As a result, when the CATV station 6 simultaneously transmits a command for the CATV converter 7 to receive the program and charge data for the program, the CATV converter 7 becomes able to receive the program. Furthermore, the charge collection means 10 of the CATV converter 7 subtracts the charge data of the received program from the charge data stored in the memory 8 in advance. As a result, it appears that the CATV station is collecting fees for pay programs. Of course, if the transferred fee is no longer available, the CATV converter 7 can be disabled and paid programs will not be provided free of charge. If the number of the program that the subscriber has already watched is displayed on the display (not shown) of the CAT■ converter 7 by key operation,
The subscriber can also check whether the collected fee matches the received program. Furthermore, when the charges that the subscriber has deposited in advance fall below a certain amount, the display will display "LOG" (LOW CREDIT - Low charges remaining), and when the charges are completely gone, "LOG" will be displayed on the display.
n o c (No CREDIT = no charge)
By displaying ``etc.'', the fee transferred to the subscriber in advance will be
By informing the subscriber that the balance is running low or not at all, it is possible to inform the subscriber of the time to transfer the fee.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a CATV converter with a memory for storing data of fees transferred from subscribers and a fee collection means, subscribers can receive the number of a pay program that they wish to receive. If you input it to the CATV converter, C
The ATV station simultaneously transmits a command to enable the CATV converter to receive pay programs, as well as charge data for the programs, thereby making the CATV converter capable of receiving pay programs.

Furthermore, since the charge data of the program to be received is subtracted from the charge data stored in advance, the charge can be collected immediately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CATV converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional CATV converter. 6...CATV station, 7...CATV converter, 8...memory, 10...
Means of collecting fees.

Claims (1)

[Claims] If the subscriber transfers the fee to the CATV station in advance, the CAT
It is equipped with a memory in which the transferred fee is stored as data in response to a signal from the V station, and a fee collection means that subtracts the fee data of the pay program from the memory each time a subscriber receives a pay program. CATV converter.