JPH0646421A - Control method for catv terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly transit a newly connected terminal equipment in an operation state with no complicated procedure by transmitting repetitively the control signal that can be received by the newly connected terminal equipment only from a central controller. CONSTITUTION:The individual control signals 3.1-3.n are repetitively sent from a central controller. At the same time, the control signals 4 are also repeatedly transmitted at a time interval T to all newly connected terminal equipments so that these equipments are operated. thus the newly connected terminal equipment set on a network can be operated at the maximum time interval T by the signal 4 with no contact made with a CATV center. Furthermore it is not required to previously register the identification numbers of those terminal equipments that may possibly be connected into the central controller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device control method in a CATV system including a plurality of subscriber terminal devices, a central control device and a network connecting these devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional CATV system, when a central control device controls subscriber terminal devices, individual control and subscription for individually transmitting control signals using identification numbers individually assigned to each subscriber terminal device. Group terminal devices are grouped according to their usage conditions, and group control is performed to send control signals that enable reception for each group, or simultaneous control is performed to send control signals that enable reception of all subscriber terminal devices. (For example, National Technical Report Vol.36 N
o.6 PP94-101).

In particular, when it is desired to shift a terminal device in a newly connected state connected on the network to an operating state,
The terminal device must receive the control signal for that purpose, but the installation operator must confirm the operation of the terminal device in the operating state, so that the terminal device can be connected as quickly as possible after being connected to the network. Need to receive control signal. Therefore, the central controller registers all the identification numbers of the terminal devices that may be connected, and the control signal for transitioning the terminal device from the newly connected state to the operating state is frequently controlled by individual control. The control signal is sent out repeatedly by sending it repeatedly or by calling the CATV center where the central control unit is placed after the installation work is completed. At the CATV center side, the operator operates the central control unit to individually It was sending control signals. Then, the corresponding terminal device is in the operating state only after receiving the control signal (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-218197).

[0004]

In the conventional control method as described above, the former method requires high frequency signal transmission by individual control to all terminal devices that may be connected. The load on the control device was increased and the efficiency was lowered. Further, in the latter method, the operation of the central control unit is required every time the installation work is performed, so that the series of processes becomes complicated.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a group of terminal devices in a newly connected state without individually recognizing the state of each terminal device from the central control unit. By repeatedly sending the control signal that can only be received, the terminal device in the newly connected state is quickly transitioned to the operating state.

[0006]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control signal receivable only from the terminal in the newly connected state from the central control unit is repeatedly transmitted without paying attention to the unique identification number of the terminal unit to be received, and at the receiving side. By judging whether each terminal device is in the new connection state and transitioning to the operating state if it is a reception target, the terminal device in the new connection state connected on the network is centrally controlled without complicated procedures. For the device, it is possible to transition to the operating state with a light load.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a display diagram of a control signal transmission sequence in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a display diagram of a control signal / response signal transmission sequence in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a control signal and a response signal. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control signal 1 sent from the central control unit to the subscriber terminal unit comprises a receiving terminal designating section 1.1, a control section 1.2 and an error correcting section 1.3. This control signal 1 is transmitted from the central control unit onto the network and is received by all subscriber terminal devices. After receiving the control signal 1, the subscriber terminal device evaluates the correctness of the received control signal 1 based on the error correction unit 1.3, and discards the control signal 1 if an error is detected. If there is no error, the receiving terminal designating section 1.1 is evaluated, and the control shown in the control section 1.2 is performed only when the receiving terminal designating section 1.1 is designated as the receiving target.

Further, in the bidirectional CATV system, the response signal 2 is sent to the central control unit after performing the processing shown in the control section 1.2. The response signal 2 is an identification number section 2.1 indicating the terminal device that sent it, and a result code section 2.
2. It consists of an error correction unit 2.3.

In the CATV system, the control signals are sequentially transmitted from the central control unit in time series to control each terminal. FIG. 1 shows the situation. Figure 1
In, the vertical direction t indicates the passage of time. From the central control unit, individual control signals 3.1 to 3. individually setting terminal-specific data such as channel authorization data for each subscriber terminal device. n are sequentially transmitted. These control signals are repeatedly transmitted in order to return to the normal state even when the subscriber illegally changes the terminal-specific data by some method and performs sniffing.

On the other hand, the individual control signals 3.1 to 3. In addition to n, the control signal 4 for transitioning the newly connected terminal device to the operating state is repeatedly transmitted at time intervals T for all the terminal devices in the newly connected state as reception targets. When the terminal device in the newly connected state is installed on the network by this control signal 4, it is possible to transition the terminal device to the operating state within the maximum time interval T without the contact of the installation operator to the CATV center. Become. Further, it is not necessary to register the identification number of the terminal device that may be connected to the central control device in advance.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the exchange of control signals between the central control unit and each terminal unit in a two-way CATV system in time series. In FIG. 2, the vertical direction t shows the passage of time. From the central control unit, individual polling signals 5.1 to 5. for collecting the viewing channels and the like of each subscriber terminal unit. n are sequentially transmitted, and each of the designated terminal devices sends back response signals 6.1 to 6. Reply n. As described above, in the bidirectional CATV system, the central controller collects the terminal channel individual information such as the viewing channel data and the usage state from each terminal by polling and operates the entire system.

On the other hand, the individual control signals 5.1 to 5. In addition to n, a control signal 7 for transitioning the newly connected terminal device to the operating state is repeatedly transmitted at time intervals T for all the terminal devices in the newly connected state as reception targets. If there is no newly connected subscriber terminal device connected to the network within the time T from the previous control signal 7, the process proceeds to the next individual information collection as it is. When there is a newly connected terminal device, a response signal 8 is returned from the terminal device in response to the state transition control signal 7. Since the response signal 8 includes the terminal device identification number, the central control device side can automatically know the identification number of the terminal device newly connected to the network.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the terminal device in the newly connected state is transited to the operating state on the network, the load of the central control device does not need to be pre-registered in the central control device of the CATV center. Does not increase.
Further, it is not necessary to perform registration operation to the central control device every time the installation work is completed, and it is possible to transition the new terminal device to a quick operation state very easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a display diagram of a control signal transmission sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control signal / response signal transmission sequence according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of control signals and response signals.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control signal from central control device 2 Response signal from terminal device 4 State transition control signal in unidirectional system 7 State transition control signal in bidirectional system

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A CATV system comprising a plurality of subscriber terminal units, a central control unit for remotely controlling the terminal units, and a cable network connecting these units.
The CATV terminal device control method, wherein the central control device repeatedly transmits a control signal that can be received only by the terminal device in the newly connected state among the terminal devices. 2. The central control device repeatedly sends a control signal that can be received only by a terminal device in a newly connected state, without individually recognizing the state of each terminal device. The CATV terminal device control method according to claim 1. 3. The central control device repeatedly sends out a control signal that can be received only by a terminal device in a newly connected state among the terminal devices, and when the terminal device receives the control signal, an identification number peculiar to the terminal device is provided. A method for controlling a CATV terminal device, which comprises transmitting the data to a central control device.