JPH0549028A - System for viewing subscription channel free of charge for prescribed period in catv system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the income of the CATV operator by solving a problem of number of contracts of a subscription broadcast unable to make moving upward and advertising the subscription channel widely to the user thereby promoting the contract in the subscription broadcast used for the CATV system. CONSTITUTION:A CATV converter controller (line controller 1) of a center A sends channel selection control information, subscription channel information not contracted yet and information representing free charge viewing period to a CATV converter 8 of a subscriber C according to the content of the contract for each subscriber, and the CATV converter 8 of the subscriber stores both the information sets relating to non-contract to a memory and stores a specific contract propaganda onto a television receiver 9 when a channel is a subscription channel not contracted and the channel is viewed free of charge for the period while the subscriber selects the channel.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pay channel for free viewing for a certain period of time in a CATV system, and particularly to promotion of subscription to the pay channel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the CATV system, it has been required to improve the management by promoting the subscription of pay channels to each subscriber and increasing the revenue of the CATV operator.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a CATV system, which comprises a center A, a transmission line B and a subscriber C.

In the center A, 1 is a line controller for controlling and managing a CATV converter connected to the CATV system (also called a CATV converter control device), 2 is a line controller between the line controller and the CATV converter 8 of the subscriber C. A radio frequency (RF) data modulator / demodulator modem for data communication, 3 is C
Multiple T's for sending video and audio to ATV system
V modulators 4 are mixers for sending the output signal of the TV modulator 3 and the input / output signal to / from the modem 2 to the CATV system to the CATV cable.

The transmission line B 5 is an amplifier for compensating the transmission loss of the transmission signal in the coaxial cable 6, the coaxial cable 6
Transmits TV signals and data carriers. 7 is each CAT
It is a branching / distributing device for branching and distributing a signal to V subscribers.

In subscriber C, 8 is a CATV converter installed in each subscriber's house, and 9 is a TV receiver.

In the CATV system having the above-mentioned structure, the line controller 1 sends channel information to each CATV converter 8 so that the channel can be selected according to the contract of each subscriber, and system control is performed to limit the channel. In this case, pay channels are also included in the contract contents with each subscriber to control the system.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned configuration, after the pay channel contract with the subscriber, which channel is the pay channel, or only the further contracted channel can be selected, so that another channel is not available. There was a problem that it was a difficult situation to raise the consciousness to subscribe to the pay channel of subscription.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a CATV system in which a subscriber additionally subscribes to an uncontracted pay channel to increase the income of a CATV operator.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a CATV system including a CATV converter control device for controlling and managing a CATV converter of a subscriber, which is connected to the center via a transmission line, in the center. The converter control device sends the tuning control information to the subscriber's CATV converter according to the contract contents of each subscriber, and also sends the unsubscribed pay channel information and the free viewing period information to the subscriber. The CATV converter stores both pieces of information regarding the above-mentioned non-contract in the memory, and when the subscriber tunes in to the channel, the particular contract call indication is displayed on the TV when the channel is an uncontracted pay channel and the free viewing period. It is characterized in that it is displayed on the receiver.

[0011]

According to the present invention, from the line controller (CATV converter controller) of the center, the subscriber's C
Channel selection control information is sent to the ATV converter according to the contract contents of each subscriber, and unsubscribed pay channel information and free viewing period information are sent to the subscriber's C
The ATV converter stores both of the above information regarding the non-contract in the memory, and when the subscriber tunes in to the channel, the particular contract call display is displayed on the TV when the channel is an uncontracted pay channel and the free viewing period. Display on the receiver.

[0012] As a result, the subscriber can motivate to subscribe by paying unpaid pay channels for a certain period of time, thereby promoting the additional subscription of the pay channels, resulting in CA.
It will increase the income of TV operators.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An interactive CATV system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the system configuration of the CATV system shown in FIG. 1, the line controller 1 of the center A
And the function of the CATV converter 8 of the subscriber C is improved.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the internal structure of the CATV converter 8. Explaining this internal structure, it is a base band type CATV.
Reference numeral 81 is a converter, 81 is a CATV tuner, 82 is a modem that performs RF demodulation of data for receiving data from the line controller 1 via the coaxial cable 6, 83 is a CPU that controls the inside of the CATV converter, and 84 is a CP
A memory for temporarily storing data controlled by U83 (paid channel information, free viewing period information), 85 is a demodulation unit for detecting video / audio signals of the selected channel,
Reference numeral 86 is a descrambling unit for restoring the scrambled video / audio signal to the original, and reference numeral 87 is an RF modulator for modulating the video / audio signal to a specific channel again. Also,
The TV receiver 9 is connected to the outside of the CATV converter via an RF modulator.

The operation of the CATV system configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a control flow chart for promoting subscription to a pay channel that has not yet been contracted in this system. When subscriber C is to be promoted to subscribe to pay channels for a certain period of time, all subscribers from the line controller 1 of center A or the CAT of a particular subscriber
The pay channel information and the free viewing period information are sent to the V converter 8. The CATV converter 8 of the subscriber stores these pieces of information in the memory 84 under the control of the CPU 83. After this setting, as shown in route a (steps S1 to S4) in FIG. 3, when the channel is selected, if the selected channel is an uncontracted pay channel and the free viewing period is set, the TV receiver On the screen of 9, an intention display such as a contract call to a pay channel is displayed in characters, for example.

If the free viewing period is not set, the channel before switching the channel selection is the same process as the conventional CATV converter as shown in route b (steps S1 to S3 and S5) of FIG. It does not show the intention of the contract for the unsubscribed pay channel at all.

[0019]

As described above, the pay channel free viewing method in the CATV system of the present invention for a certain period of time includes pay channel information and no charge for all subscribers or a particular subscriber's CATV converter from the line controller. Sends viewing period information and CATs of subscribers
The V converter stores both of these information in memory.
After this setting, when the channel is selected, if the selected channel is a non-contracted pay channel and a free viewing period is set, an intention display such as calling for a contract to the pay channel is displayed to the subscriber. By encouraging additional subscriptions to pay channels and promoting subscriptions, we can expect to increase the income of CATV operators.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a CATV system in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a CATV converter.

FIG. 3 is a control flow chart for promoting subscription to an uncontracted pay channel according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Line controller, 2, 82 ... Modem, 3 ...
TV modulator, 4 ... Mixer, 5 ... Amplifier, 6 ... Coaxial cable, 7 ... Branch / divider, 8 ... CATV converter, 9 ... TV receiver, 81 ... Tuner, 83 ... C
PU, 84 ... Memory, 85 ... Demodulation section, 86 ... Descramble section, 87 ... RF modulator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A CA for controlling and managing a CATV converter of a subscriber connected to a center via a transmission line.
CATV equipped with TV converter controller in the center
In the system, the CATV converter control device of the center sends the channel selection control information to the subscriber's CATV converter according to the contract contents of each subscriber, and the unsubscribed pay channel information and free viewing period information are sent. The subscriber's CATV converter stores both pieces of information regarding the non-contract in the memory, and when the subscriber tunes in to the channel and the channel is a non-contracted pay channel and the viewing period is free. A free viewing method for pay channels for a certain period in a CATV system, which is characterized by displaying a specific contract calling display on a TV receiver.