JPH11225322A - Scramble control method and receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce possibility of missing individual contract information even in the case of operation where a receiver is not always energized by enhancing a transmission efficiency of the individual contract information in the scramble control method applied to a satellite broadcast or the like. SOLUTION: Two kinds of information as long individual contract information 1 including both a contract content 13 and its validity 16, and short individual contract information 2 including only the validity 16 are prepared. In the case that only the validity is extended with the same contract content, the individual contract information 2 is sent. Since many individual contract informatmon sets are packed and sent by a transport packet with a fixed length, the transmission efficiency of the individual contract information is enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scramble control method and a receiver for scrambling video, audio and data signals, particularly in satellite broadcasting, for broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In satellite broadcasting, video, audio, and data signals are scrambled and transmitted for pay broadcasting and the like, and only a receiver having a viewing right unscrambles and watches.

Conventionally, the scramble control method has been disclosed in Consultation No. 17 of the Telecommunications Technology Council Report (Showa 63).
Year: Technical conditions related to pay system in television broadcasting by satellite broadcasting) or Advisory No. 74 (1995)
Year: Partial report on technical conditions related to digital broadcasting system). The information referred to as "individual information" in these disclosure materials is referred to as "individual contract information" in the present invention.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 8 are diagrams showing an example of the scramble control method. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of two types of related information (scramble control information) called individual contract information and program information. Individual contract information 4
Is related information indicating a viewing contract for each receiver, and includes an identification ID 11 of the receiver, contract contents 13, an expiration date 16 of the contract, and the like. The contract content 13 includes a work key 1 necessary for decoding program information sent later.
4, contract registration code 15 and the like. The contract registration code 15 is a bitmap format called a tier. Each bit indicates a specific channel or a specific program genre (music, sports, etc.), and only the contracted bit takes a value of 1. In the detailed example of FIG. 4, each bit indicates channels 1, 2, 3, and 4, indicating that only one and three channels are subscribed.

[0005] The program information 3 includes a scrambled video
Related information sent in parallel with the audio / data signal, including a scramble key 21 required to descramble those signals, the current time 22 at that moment, and program contents 23 which is information on the program being broadcast. . The program contents include a reference registration code 24 and the like. The reference registration code 24 has a bitmap format (the meaning of each bit is the same) corresponding to the contract registration code, and only the bit of the channel on which the program is broadcast or the genre to which the program belongs takes a value of 1. The detailed example of FIG. 4 indicates that the broadcast is of three channels.

In determining whether or not the user has the viewing right, after confirming that the current time is within the expiration date of the contract, the contract registration code and the reference registration code are collated, and both bits having a value of 1 are set to one. If there is more than one, it is determined that there is a viewing right. FIG.
In the detailed example of the above, since both bits 3 have the value of 1, the viewing right is granted.

In this example, the contract registration code and the reference registration code are in a bitmap format, but may be identifiers such as channel numbers and genre numbers.

FIG. 5 shows a method of transmitting individual contract information multiplexed on video / audio / data signals in digital satellite broadcasting. The individual contract information 4 is converted into a format called an EMM section, and the EMM section 5 is finally packed into a 188-byte transport packet 6 (hereinafter, TS packet) and sent. Video / Audio /
The data signal is also transmitted in the form of a TS packet, and all information is multiplexed and transmitted in the form of a TS packet.

[0009] Since the TS packet 6 has a fixed length, as the length of the individual contract information is shorter, more individual contract information can be packed and transmitted in one TS packet.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the receiving device. Prior to the program, the individual contract information 4 is sent first. Each receiver has a unique identification ID 30, and only individual contract information including the identification ID is received by the EMM receiving unit 31 and sent to the contract information updating unit 33. That is, only the individual contract information addressed to the user is received and processed, and the individual contract information addressed to another person is discarded without being received. Contract information update section 3
3 is the contract content 13 and the expiration date 1 from the individual contract information.
6 is taken out and stored in the contract information storage means 35 as contract information. If old contract information exists, it is overwritten and updated.

When viewing a program, the ECM receiving section 36 receives the program information 3 and sends it to the viewing right determining section 37. The viewing right determining unit 37 collates the program information with the contract information stored in the contract information storage unit. First, the current time 22 and the contract expiration date 16
Is checked to see if the contract is valid or expired. If it has expired, it is determined that there is no viewing right. If it is within the validity period, the program contents 23 and the contract contents 13
Is checked to see if there is a viewing right. Only when it is finally determined that there is a viewing right, the scramble key 21 is extracted and sent to the descrambler 38, and the video / audio / data signal is descrambled.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the update of the viewing contract and the transmission timing of the individual contract information. For example, it is assumed that the viewing contract is made on a yearly basis, the contract is renewed before the contract ends, and the contract is extended. The horizontal axis is a time axis 40 in units of years, and indicates the number of years since the subscription. Arrows 51-
Reference numeral 55 denotes a state in which new individual contract information for extending the expiration date is sent in accordance with the contract renewal timing. The expiration date 16 is an expiration date included in each individual contract information. As shown in FIG. 8, every time the contract is renewed,
New individual contract information whose expiration date is until the actual contract expiration date (one year after the renewal) is sent. If the contract is canceled without extending the contract (the end of the fifth year in the example of FIG. 8), no new individual contract information is sent. When the power of the receiving apparatus is turned off, the same individual contract information is retransmitted many times during a certain period (for example, about one month) because the receiving apparatus is missed and not received.

In the conventional scramble control method as described above, since there is only one type of individual contract information including both the contract content and the expiration date, the contract expiration date without changing the contract content such as the channel or genre to be viewed. Even if only the extension was extended, long individual contract information that re-filled the same contract details as before was sent. If the length of the individual contract information becomes longer, the number of individual contract information that can be transmitted in one TS packet decreases as described above. Therefore, a large amount of transmission capacity is required to send a large number of individual contract information including retransmission. There was a problem of becoming. Further, when the transmission capacity is constant, there is a problem that the number of pieces of individual contract information that can be sent is reduced, and the probability of receiving without being missed is reduced. There is also a broadcasting system in which the receiving device is always energized in order to increase the probability of reception, which has a problem that it is against energy saving.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a scrambling control method for improving the transmission efficiency of individual contract information, and reduces the probability of receiving individual contract information even in an operation where the receiver is not always energized. The purpose is to raise.

[0015]

In order to solve this problem, according to the present invention, as individual contract information, a long first individual contract information including both a contract content and an expiration date and a valid first individual contract information including no contract content are provided. 2nd short individual contract information including only the time limit
In the case where a type is provided and only the expiration date is extended with the same contract content, second individual contract information is sent.

[0016] Also, individual contract information including an expiration date longer than the contract expiration date concluded in the viewing contract is sent in advance to a contract recipient whose past contract renewal count is high and charge delinquency count is low. If the viewing contract is terminated without being extended within the validity period, the shortened validity period is sent again.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of two types of related information of individual contract information and program information. As individual contract information, two of the first individual contract information 1 and the second individual contract information 2
There are different types of molds. The first individual contract information 1 is shown in FIG.
, And includes the identification ID 11 of the receiver, the contract contents 13, the expiration date 16 of the contract, and the like. The contract content 13 includes a work key 14, a contract registration code 15, and the like necessary for decoding program information transmitted later. The contract registration code 15 is a bitmap format called a tier. Each bit indicates a specific channel or a specific program genre (music, sports, etc.), and only the contracted bit takes a value of 1. In the detailed example of FIG. 1, each bit indicates channels 1, 2, 3, and 4, of which 1 and 3
Indicates that you subscribe to only the channel.

The second individual contract information 2 is individual contract information obtained by eliminating the part of the contract content 13 from the first individual contract information 1 and shortening the overall length. Before the second individual contract information is sent, the first individual contract information is always sent, and the expiration date 16 in the second individual contract information is the first expiration date sent before that. Indicates the expiration date of the contract content 13 that was in the individual contract information.

Whether the received individual contract information is the first type or the second type can be identified by providing a section 12 indicating the type in each individual contract information.

The program information 3 is exactly the same as the conventional program information 3 shown in FIG. 4, and includes a scramble key 21 required for descrambling a video / audio / data signal.
It includes the current time 22 at that moment, the program content 23 which is information on the program being broadcast. The program contents 23 include a reference registration code 24 and the like. Reference registration code 24
Is a bitmap format corresponding to the contract registration code (the meaning of each bit is the same), and only the bits of the channel on which the program is broadcast or the genre to which the program belongs take a value of 1. The detailed example of FIG. 1 shows that the broadcast is on three channels.

In the determination as to whether the user has the viewing right or not, after confirming that the current time is within the validity period of the contract, the contract registration code and the reference registration code are collated, and both bits having a value of 1 are set to one. If there is more than one, it is determined that there is a viewing right. FIG.
In the detailed example of (1), since both bits 3 are 1, the viewing right is granted.

In this example, the contract registration code and the reference registration code are in a bitmap format, but may be identifiers such as channel numbers and genre numbers.

FIG. 2 shows a transmission method in which the two types of individual contract information shown in FIG. 1 are multiplexed on a video / audio / data signal and transmitted. The individual contract information 1 and 2 are converted into a format called an EMM section, and the EMM section 5 is finally packed into a 188-byte TS packet 6 and sent.

Since the TS packet 6 has a fixed length, the sending method B for sending only the second individual contract information (short type) is different from the sending method A for sending only the first individual contract information (long type).
Also, the sending method C in which the first and second individual contract information are sent in a mixed manner can send more individual contract information.

In the prior art, there was only the sending method A because the individual contract information had only the first long type, but by introducing the second short type in addition to the first long type,
It becomes possible to use the three sending methods A, B, and C together, thereby improving the transmission efficiency of individual contract information as a whole. As a result, T required to send the same number of individual contract information
The number of S packets (transmission capacity) can be reduced,
Alternatively, at the same transmission capacity, more individual contract information can be sent.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the receiving device. Prior to the program, first, individual contract information 1 and 2 are sent. Each receiver has a unique identification ID 30, and only the individual contract information including the identification ID is transmitted to the EMM receiving unit 31.
And sent to the individual contract information identification unit 32. The individual contract information identifying unit 32 identifies the first type or the second type by looking at the section 12 in the individual contract information, and sends the first type to the contract information updating unit 33 if it is the first individual contract information. Is sent to the expiration date updating unit 34. Contract information update unit 33
Extracts the pair of the contract content 13 and the expiration date 16 from the first individual contract information and stores it in the contract information storage means 35 as contract information. If old contract information exists, it is overwritten and updated. The expiration date updating unit 34 extracts the expiration date 16 from the second individual contract information, and stores the contract information (contract content 1) held in the contract information storage unit 35.
3 and the expiration date 16), only the expiration date portion is overwritten and updated. The contract content 13 remains as it is, and only its expiration date is changed.

In the above description, only one piece of contract information is stored. However, it is also possible to store a plurality of identifiable pieces of contract information and perform the same update for specific contract information. .

When viewing a program, the ECM receiving unit 36 receives the program information 3 and sends it to the viewing right determining unit 37. The viewing right determination unit 37 collates the program information 3 with the contract information stored in the contract information storage unit 35. First, the current time 22 is checked against the expiration date 16 of the contract to check whether the contract is within the expiration date or expired. If it has expired, it is determined that there is no viewing right. If it is within the expiration date, the program contents 23 and the contract contents 13 are collated to check whether or not there is a viewing right. Only when it is finally determined that there is a viewing right, the scramble key 21 is extracted and sent to the descrambler 38, and the video / audio / data signal is descrambled.

Depending on the method of configuring the receiving apparatus, not only a configuration in which all the above blocks are built in the receiver main body, but also a configuration in which a part of the above blocks is mounted on a security module such as a removable IC card. It is possible.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the updating of the viewing contract and the transmission timing of the individual contract information. For example, it is assumed that the viewing contract is made on a yearly basis, the contract is renewed before the contract ends, and the contract is extended. The horizontal axis is a time axis 40 in units of years, and indicates the number of years since the subscription. Arrows 41-
Numeral 45 indicates the timing at which new individual contract information for extending the expiration date is sent. The expiration date 16 is an expiration date included in each individual contract information. In the transmission example A of FIG. 7, the expiration date of the individual contract information 41 sent at the time of subscription is the same as the end of the first year of the viewing contract, but the individual contract information sent at the time of the first renewal (the end of the first year) 42 is the actual contract expiration date (it will be renewed every year, so it will be until the end of the second year)
This shows how to send an e-mail with an expiration date until the end of the third year, one year longer. If the contract term is extended at the end of the second year with the same contract contents (second renewal), the valid contract information 42 has already been sent until the end of the third year, so new individual contract information No need to send. If the contract term is extended at the end of the third year while the contract contents are the same (third renewal), the actual contract term (renewed every year, so it will be up to the end of the fourth year) The valid individual contract information 43 is sent until the end of the seventh year, which is long by the year. Even if the contract term is extended at the end of the fourth, fifth, or sixth year, there is no need to send new individual contract information. After the end of the seventh year, similarly, new individual contract information may be sent every four years.

In this transmission example A, the time difference between the actual contract expiration date and the expiration date sent in the individual contract information is set to 0 years for the subscription, 1 year for the first renewal, and 3 years for the third renewal.
Like the year, the larger the number of updates, the larger.

Transmission example B of FIG. 7 shows a case where the transmission method of transmission example A is canceled at the end of the fifth year without extension of the contract. We have already sent the individual contract information 43 that was valid until the end of the seventh year, and since the contract termination was confirmed within the validity period, the expiration date is two years from the end of the fifth year to the end of the seventh year Is repeatedly sent to change the individual contract information 46 by the end of the fifth year. The individual contract information 46 is obtained by shortening the expiration date by the end of the fifth year.

In a pay broadcast viewing contract, the receiving subscriber who extends the contract with the same contract content is more overwhelming than the receiving subscriber who cancels without extending the contract or who changes the contract contents on the way. As described above, the method of sending individual contract information including an expiration date longer than the contract period concluded in the actual viewing contract in advance as described above can reduce the total number of individual contract information to be sent, The transmission efficiency of individual contract information can be improved.

If the contract is canceled without extending the contract, it is necessary to resend new individual contract information for shortening the expiration date during the period until the expiration date has already been sent. Since the number of subscribers who have a smaller number of times has a higher probability of extending the contract, the performance of those numbers is managed. If a difference is provided, the average period for retransmitting new individual contract information can be shortened, and the total number of individual contract information to be transmitted can be reduced.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the transmission efficiency of individual contract information can be increased, more individual contract information can be sent with the same transmission capacity as before.
The number of retransmissions for sending the same individual contract information can also be increased. As a result, the probability that the receiver can receive the individual contract information normally can be increased, so that the necessity of constantly energizing to increase the reception probability is reduced, and the practical effect is large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of individual contract information and program information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how to send individual contract information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of conventional individual contract information and program information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional method of sending individual contract information.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional receiving apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transmission timing of individual contract information according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing transmission timing of conventional individual contract information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 First individual contract information 2 Second individual contract information 3 Program information 4 Individual contract information (conventional) 5 EMM section 6 Transport (TS) packet 11 Identification ID 12 Classification 13 Contract contents 14 Work key 15 Contract registration code 16 Expiration date 21 Scramble key 22 Current time 23 Program contents 24 Reference registration code 30 Identification ID 31 EMM reception unit 32 Individual contract information identification unit 33 Contract information update unit 34 Expiration date update unit 35 Contract information storage unit 36 ECM reception unit (program information Receiving part) 37 Viewing right judgment part 38 Descramble part 40 Time axis 41 Individual contract information (transmitted at the time of joining) 42 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the first year) 43 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the third year) 44 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the seventh year) 45 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the eleventh year) 46 Separate contract information (transmitted from the end of the fifth year to the end of the seventh year) 51 Individual contract information (transmitted at the time of subscription) 52 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the first year) 53 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the second year) 54 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the third year) 55 Individual contract information (transmitted at the end of the fourth year)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A scramble control method for scrambling a video / audio / data signal, transmitting the signal, and multiplexing the individual contract information necessary to descramble the signal to a receiver having a viewing right into the signal and transmitting the multiplexed signal. , The first individual contract information that includes at least both the contract content and the expiration date, and the second individual contract information that does not include the contract content but only the expiration date, and sends the first individual contract information first, A scramble control method for sending the second individual contract information when only the expiration date is changed with the same contract contents. 2. Receiving individual contract information necessary for descrambling, storing a contract content and an expiration date included therein as a pair, and determining whether or not a viewing right exists based on the pair information, If there is a viewing right, in a receiving device that descrambles and displays the video / audio / data signal, when the first individual contract information is received, the contract contents and the expiration date included therein are Stored as a pair, if the second individual contract information is received, only the expiration date portion of the pair already stored is changed to the expiration date included in the second individual contract information, A receiving device that stores a contract content transmitted in the first individual contract information and an expiration date transmitted in the second individual contract information as a pair. (3) Individual contract information including an expiration date longer than the expiration date concluded in the pay TV viewing contract is sent in advance, and if the contract end is determined within the expiration date,
A scramble control method for sending new individual contract information including a shortened expiration date. 4. A scramble control method in which individual contract information including an expiration date longer than the expiration date concluded in a pay broadcast viewing contract is sent in advance. And the performance of the number of delinquent payments,
A scramble control method characterized in that a contract receiver having a larger number of contract renewals and a smaller number of delinquent payments has a larger time difference between the contract expiration date and the expiration date. 5. The scramble control method according to claim 3, wherein new individual contract information including a shortened expiration date is said second individual contract information.