JPS63128888A - Catv chargeable program viewing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an erroneous operation and to decrease the trouble of the charge payment accompanying it by changing over to a guide channel automatically and informing a user of a detailed operation method when a chargeable channel is selected. CONSTITUTION:When a user selects a chargeable channel to be viewed from the information such as a program table and selects a channel number through a key operating part 8, a CPU 5 displays the number at a displaying part 9 and lights up a chargeable lamp. Next, the CPU 5 selects the guide channel concerning the handling of the chargeable channel and outputs it from an an output terminal 2. Thus, the user judges a charge confirming method and a confirming key depressing in accordance with the explanation of the guide channel, and when the user depresses the confirming key, the CPU 5 executes the processing to be able to view the selection channel. Thus, by informing the user of the detailed operation method, the erroneous operation can be minimized and the trouble at the time of the charge payment can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a CATV pay program viewing system for a terminal device for viewing pay programs on a cable television (CATV) pay broadcast system.

〔overview〕

The present invention provides a method for displaying the selected channel number and a pay display when a pay channel is selected in a CATV pay program viewing system of a terminal device that views pay programs on a cable television (CATV) pay broadcast system. In this state, the system automatically selects and outputs a guide channel that explains the paid channel, thereby preventing the user from making erroneous operations and eliminating the troubles associated with payment of charges.

[Conventional technology]

One way to view pay programs on the CATV pay broadcast system is to subscribe to and view pay channels and pay programs at the time you want to view them.

Conventionally, in a CATV pay program viewing system for a terminal device for viewing pay programs in this type of pay broadcast system, a viewing contract has been made according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. CA
When the user of the TV terminal device wants to watch a pay channel based on information such as a program guide, he selects the channel number by operating the channel selection key (step 521).
). The CPU section of the terminal device displays the selected channel number on the display section (step 522), and compares and determines the key manually-powered channel data with channel attribute information previously stored in the storage section.
If the selected channel is a paid channel, a "paid" lamp is lit to inform the user that it is a paid channel (step 523). The user confirms the charge and presses the "confirm" key if approved (step 52).
4). If the user presses the "confirm" key, the channel is made available for viewing (step 525). If the paid channel is not to be viewed, the procedure is to select another free channel (step 526).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The above-mentioned conventional CATV pay program viewing system has the disadvantage that inexperienced users may not know how to operate the system or may perform incorrect operations and be charged, causing trouble when paying fees.

An object of the present invention is to provide a CATV pay program viewing system for a CATV terminal device that is easy to operate, does not cause users to make erroneous operations, and does not cause troubles in payment of fees, by eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks. There is a particular thing.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides for displaying the selected channel number and pay display when a pay channel is selected in a CATV pay program viewing system of a terminal device for viewing pay programs on a cable TV pay broadcast system. The system is characterized in that it automatically selects and outputs a guide channel that explains the handling of paid channels.

[For production]

When the user selects a paid channel, the display of the terminal device displays the selected channel number and the fact that the same channel is paid. Select and output guide channels for channels. It is free of charge while this guide channel is displayed.

Therefore, the user can use the output guide channel to
Since the handling of paid channels will be explained in detail, there will be fewer erroneous operations, and the user will be able to prevent erroneous operations.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent billing troubles due to erroneous operations.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a CATV terminal device to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The terminal device of this embodiment includes an input terminal 1 for inputting a signal sent from a base end, a channel tuner unit 3 connected to the input terminal 1 for selecting a viewing channel, and a contract output from the channel tuner unit 3. A descrambling unit 4 descrambles the paid channels and outputs them to the output terminal 2 as a viewable TV signal, and receives data such as channel attribute information and contract information from the head end, and outputs terminal status information and responses. A data transmitting/receiving section 6 that transmits data, a storage section 7 that stores channel attributes in advance, a key operation section 8 that allows the user to perform key operations, and displays such as displaying the selected channel number and lighting of the "paid" lamp. 020 section 5 that performs comparative judgment between data set by the user using the key operation section and data stored in the storage section 7 and controls each section.

How to operate this example by referring to the flowchart in Figure 1? I will explain.

The user selects a pay channel that he/she wishes to view from information such as a program guide, and selects the channel number by operating the selection key on the key operation unit 8 (step 51). 020
The unit 5 displays the selected channel number on the display unit 9 (step 512).

Next, 020 part 5 uses this selected channel data,
If the selected channel is a paid channel by comparing it with the channel attribute information stored in advance in the storage unit 7, the “paid” lamp on the display unit 9 is lit, and the channel selected by the user is displayed as a paid channel. (Step 513).

If the next selected channel is a paid channel, 020 part 5 will display the selected channel number and “
The "paid channel" lamp is left on, and a guide channel that explains the handling of paid channels prepared among other channels is selected and outputted from the output terminal 2 (step 514). In this guide channel, for example, the following explanation is given. “The channel you have selected now is paid.The fee is 500 yen per hour.
It's yen. If you want to watch it, please press the "Confirm" key. If you do not want to watch it, please choose another channel. ”
That is, the user is informed that this channel is a paid channel and explains in detail how to operate the channel when viewing the channel (step 515).

The user determines how to confirm the fee and whether to press the "confirm" key in accordance with the explanation on the guide channel (step S16). If the user presses the "Confirm J" key, the 020 unit 5 performs the next process to enable viewing of the selected channel (step 517).If the user does not wish to view a paid channel, the user presses the "Confirm" key. Do not press any key and select another free channel (step 518).
).

Note that the operation of the 020 unit 5 according to the flowchart in FIG. 1 is automatically performed by a program according to the flowchart.

The feature of the present invention is that in FIG.
and step S15 for "explaining the operating method etc. using the guide channel".

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention automatically switches to the guide channel when a paid channel is selected.
By showing users the explanations broadcast on the guide channel and informing them of detailed operating methods, it is possible to reduce erroneous operations, which has the effect of preventing troubles when paying fees.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CATV terminal device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a conventional example. 1... Input terminal, 2... Output terminal, 3... Channel tuner section, 4... Descrambler section, 5...
CPU section, 6... data transmitting/receiving section, 7... storage section,
8...Key operation section, 9...Display section, 31)-318
．． 521-326...step. Example (flow diagram) Figure 1 Example (configuration diagram) Figure 2 Conventional example (flow diagram) Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) When a pay channel is selected in the CATV pay program viewing system of a terminal device for viewing pay programs on a cable television pay broadcasting system, the selected channel number and pay display are displayed and in that state, A CATV pay program viewing system characterized by automatically selecting and outputting a guide channel explaining handling of pay channels.