JPS6159990A - Two-way catv terminal method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To disable a subscriber of a CATV network from listening in unspecified information by installing a unit including data transmission, converter control, and information processing and storage features between a CATV network and an in-house wiring. CONSTITUTION:On looking at and listening to a CATV program, a subscriber operates a keybad 5 to perform data communication through coaxial cables of the in-house wiring 7 between a terminal device 8 and a unit 9, specifying a desired program. The unit 9 selects required information from the information always sent on the CATV network 2 for a center 1 according to the data specifying a specific program then converts the required information into the frequency signals of the empty channel assigned to a television 6 to send them on the in-house wiring 7. Therefore, only the information specified by the terminal device 8 in all information sent from the center 1 is sent on the in-house wiring, so unspecified information cannot be listened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Applications> The present invention relates to a terminal system for a two-way CATV system, and is intended to improve the operational efficiency and reliability of the system.

<Prior Art> A conventional example of a two-way CATV (cable television) terminal system will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, 1 is the center of the CATV system, which has equipment for collecting 2, creating, storing, and transmitting various types of information to be serviced. A CATV network 2 is installed between the center 1 and each subscriber's residence 3. 4(
This terminal device is connected to the coaxial cable of the CATV network 2 inside the subscriber's residence 3. Note that the video signal from the center 1 is sent to the CATV network 2 after being scrambled to disturb the signal according to specific rules to prevent unauthorized viewing, so the terminal device 4 is equipped with a frequency converter (converter). In addition, it is equipped with a descrambling unit to restore the disturbed video No. 42 to its original state.

5 is a keypad, which is connected to the terminal device 4;
It is used to specify the information you want to receive and to create input h1% of the ↑0 information sent to the center 1. 6 is a television receiver, which is connected to the CATV network 2 through the terminal device 4. The television receiver 6 used is one for receiving general television broadcasts.

When a subscriber wishes to view a CAT ■ program, by operating the keypad 5 and specifying the desired program, the subscriber can select from among the various types of frequency-multiplexed information constantly being sent out from the center 1. Information on a desired program is frequency-converted to an available channel on a television receiver 6 using a terminal device 4, and the information is received. Furthermore, when a subscriber views a pay program, the center 1 investigates the viewing status of each terminal device 4 and counts charges.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems (1) to (5).
There is a problem with this.

(1) Since scrambled information is sent from the center 1 to the CATV network 2, all information is sent as frequency-multiplexed high-frequency signals to the residence 3, so the terminal device 4 It is extremely difficult to detect unauthorized viewing and unauthorized viewing.

(2) Although there are many noise sources inside the residence 3, the CATV network 2 directly enters the residence 3, and the converter for the terminal device 4 is also present within the residence 3, so
The noise generated within the residence 3 is transmitted directly to the CATV network 2, causing a disturbance to the uplink from the terminal device 4 to the center 1. Note that even if the noise level per terminal device 4 is small, the noise from all terminal devices gathers on the uplink, so it cannot be ignored.

(3) Since the center 1 provides services for each terminal device 4, if a subscriber adds more terminal devices 4 within the same residence, the number of terminals to be serviced increases from the perspective of the center 1, and the service is provided separately for each terminal. However, when it comes to providing this, the transmission efficiency of the uplink link decreases. In addition, one CA T N
It is thought that drinking households will join the system.

(4) Since the terminal device 4 has a built-in converter and a descrambler, it is expensive, so it is a heavy burden for the subscriber to add more terminal devices 4.

(5) Since the terminal device 4 of the drinking household is connected to the center 1, all billing counts for paid programs are stored at the center 1.
Doing so requires a large data processing load on the computer.

Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention provides a two-way C
It provides an ATV terminal system, and its configuration is C
An in-house wiring network connected to the ATV network via the following units, and one or more terminal devices connected to this in-house wiring network and transmitting information designation data specifying information desired for viewing and data for the center. and an external line demultiplexing/synthesizing unit that receives frequency-multiplexed high-frequency signals that are information transmitted from a CATV network and selects a specific high-frequency signal from among the frequency-multiplexed high-frequency signals based on the information designation data. Then, the one or more high frequency signals selected by this external line demultiplexing/combining section are converted to different specific frequencies'e,
a converter unit having one or more converters that converts the signal into a number and outputs it; an extension branching/combining unit which sends the frequency-converted signal in this converter unit to the residential wiring network; an outside line branching/combining unit; connected between the demultiplexing and combining section,
A function for transmitting data between CATV II and the residential wiring network, a function for controlling the outside line demultiplexing unit and converter unit based on information specification data from the terminal device or data for the center, and a function for processing information from the terminal device. - A communication control unit having a storage function.

Embodiment> Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In Figure 1, l is the center, 2 II C
ATVwJ, 3 is a residence, 5 is a keypad, and 6 is a television receiver, which are the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. Furthermore, in FIG. 1, 7 is an in-house wiring network, 8 is a terminal device, and 9 is a unit. As shown in FIG.
, an extension branching and combining section 12 , and a communication control section 13 . In addition, the converter section 11 has the same number of converters 11a' as the number of terminal devices 8 in the residence 3, so that each converter i<
-Talla have different output frequencies from each other. Each terminal device 8
The television receivers 6 associated with this are assigned to receive on different vacant channels (channels other than those used for general television broadcasting). Each terminal device 8
A code is assigned for identification and added to the transmitted data.

An overview of prevention of eavesdropping will be explained with reference to FIG.

When a subscriber views a CATV program, the subscriber operates the keypad 5 to connect the residential wiring wJ between the terminal device 8 and the unit 9.
Data communication is performed through a transmission communication channel 7, for example, a coaxial cable, and a desired program is specified. The unit 9 selects necessary information from among the information constantly sent to the CATV network 2 from the center 1, based on the program designation data from the terminal device 8. Next, the video signal selected here is changed to the frequency of an empty channel assigned to this television receiver 41j16 so that it can be received by the television receiver 6 in the residence 3, and sent to the in-house wiring network 7. Therefore, out of all the information sent from the center 1 to the residential wiring network 7,
Since only the information specified by the terminal device 8 is transmitted, it is impossible to eavesdrop on information other than the specified information. For this reason,
There is no need to scramble the video signal and send it out from the center 1, and the terminal device 8 also does not require a descrambling function, resulting in a simple configuration.

Furthermore, since the frequency conversion is performed by the unit 9 all at once, each terminal device 8 does not require a converter function, resulting in a simpler configuration. If the terminal device 8 is added without permission from the service provider, converter I corresponding to the added terminal 8
Since the converter is not equipped with the converter lla or is not registered in the converter lla to be able to handle it, spying cannot be performed. Furthermore, even if the terminal device 8 is added by some suitable method, in this case, charges will be counted, so it will not actually be considered eavesdropping.

The residential wiring network 7 is connected to an extension branching/combining unit 12 , and the data signal from the terminal device 8 inputted with the keypad 5 is demultiplexed by the extension branching/combining unit 12 and passed through the control unit 13 . to go into.

The communication control unit 13 registers in advance the service content that can be provided for each terminal device 8, that is, the contract conditions, and determines whether the input data conforms to the contract conditions. If it is not included in the contract conditions, a signal representing a message indicating that it is not included in the contract conditions is sent to the extension demultiplexing unit 12.
．． The message is transmitted through the residential wiring network 7 and the terminal device 8 and displayed on the television receiver 6. In addition, if the data is compatible, the data that has entered the communication control unit 13 and should be transmitted to the center 1 is subjected to processing such as format conversion here, and then frequency multiplexed by the external line demultiplexing unit 10. and is sent to the CATV network 2. At the same time, if it is program specification data, the communication control section 13 outputs an information avoidance signal to the outside line branching/combining section 10, and also determines which terminal device 8 the request is from. A selection signal for frequency conversion to an empty channel of the television receiver 6 set in advance to the converter section 11 is output to the converter section 11. The selected controller 7<-ta l
ln converts the frequency of the video signal from the outside line branching/combining unit 10, and then synthesizes it in the extension line splitting/combining unit 12 and sends it to the in-house wiring network 7. The converter unit 11 also sends a status signal to the communication control unit 13, and the converter unit 11
When la has an IJIN failure, the communication control unit 13 can detect the failure.

On the other hand, the communication control section 13 of the unit 9 is provided with a data processing device and memory for charge counting, so that no matter which terminal device 8 is used to view a paid program, the terminal device in the same residence can If it is a device, the billing information is processed as a bill for the residence 3 and stored for data communication with the center 1. As a result, even if the number of terminal devices 8 increases or decreases within the subscriber's residence 3, the center 1
It is sufficient to collect the processed billing information for each unit 9 using, for example, a polling type communication means, thereby reducing the load on the center 1.

Furthermore, by installing the unit 9, the CATv network 2 is isolated from noise within the residence 3, especially through the intervention of the communication control unit 13. In other words, even if there is noise on the residential wiring network 7, the communication control section 13 performs data processing such as format conversion, and then sends the data from the terminal device 8 to the CATV network 2. is not directly transmitted (this prevents uplink C/N deterioration.

In addition, the converter unit 1 receives status information of the terminal device 8, such as equipment abnormality and operation information, as data for the center 1.
1, the communication control unit 13 detects the external line demultiplexing unit 10.
The data is sent to the center 1 via the CATV network 2.

Furthermore, a home security system (not shown) is connected to the unit 9, and anomaly information (time of occurrence of anomaly, type of anomaly such as intrusion or fire, etc.) is sent to the extension demultiplexing unit 12 and the communication 1 control unit 13 in real time. and external line demultiplexing unit 1
The signal is sent to the center -1 through the CATV network 2 via the signal number 0. In addition, the normal ↑a information (occurrence time and identification of the luxury commandment state and the warning release state, etc.) of the moss commandment state and the moss commandment state,
The information is stored in the storage unit of the communication control unit 13 and collected from the center 1 using a polling method or the like whenever necessary.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the unit 9 is installed outside the residence 3, but it may also be installed inside the residence 3.Even if it is inside the residence 3, the terminal device 8 The unit 9 can be installed in a low-noise lifting station, unlike the residential wiring network 7.

In the above embodiment, an example was explained in which one or more terminal equipment U8 is provided in the residence 3 of one unit. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the unit 9 has an accounting file for each terminal device or each household.

<Effect of the invention> According to the present invention, the following effects (a) to (d) are achieved.

(I) Of all the information from the CATV network, only that specified by the terminal device is converted to a specific frequency and sent to the in-house wiring network, so other information cannot be viewed and viewed by eavesdropping.

(W) In-house noise is isolated by the communication control section of the unit and is not sent directly to the CATv network, thereby preventing C/N deterioration in the uplink.

(c) Even if the number of terminal devices increases or decreases, transmission efficiency is not affected by the increase or decrease in the number of terminal devices, since from the center 1's point of view, the unit is the service target.

(d) Since the terminal device does not require a converter or a descrambler, the configuration is simple and inexpensive. This reduces the burden on the same subscriber when installing additional terminal equipment! Perish.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a ti'ff configuration diagram of a unit, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional example. In the drawing, 1 is the center, 2 is the CATV network, 3 is the residence, and 5
is a keypad, 6 is a TV reception (number, 7 is an in-house wiring network, 8 is a terminal device, 9 is a unit, 10 is an outside line branching/combining unit, 11 is a converter unit, 12 is an extension line branching/combining unit, 13 is a communication unit) It is a control section.Patent application: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. SECOM Co., Ltd. Agent

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An in-house wiring network connected to a CATV network via the following unit; and 1 which is connected to this in-home wiring network and transmits information designation data specifying information desired for viewing and data for the center. or two or more terminal devices, and the unit receives a frequency-multiplexed high-frequency signal that is information transmitted from a CATV network, and selects a specific high-frequency signal from among the frequency-multiplexed high-frequency signals based on the information designation data. and one or more converters that convert the one or more high frequency signals selected by the external line demultiplexer to different specific frequencies based on the information designation data and output the same. a converter section having a converter section, an extension branching/combining section that sends the signal frequency-converted by the converter section to the residential wiring network, and an extension branching/combining section connected between the outside line branching/synthesizing section and the extension branching/synthesizing section, and connected to the CATV network. A function for transmitting data between residential wiring networks, a function for controlling the outside line branching/combining section and a converter section based on information specification data from a terminal device or data for the center, and a function for processing and storing information from a terminal device. 1. A two-way CATV terminal system, comprising: a communication control unit having a communication control unit.