JP2000341662A - Limited receiving method for digital broadcasting system and set-top box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a much stronger limited receiving function by operating the limited receiving function on the basis of the result comparing personal information previously registered in a limited receiving module with personal information which is inputted when a set-top box receives scrambled broadcasting information. SOLUTION: Concerning a subscriber house having a set-top box 16 freely attachably and detachably provided with a CA module packaging the limited receiving function, personal information (fingerprint) is previously registered in the CA module. When the box 16 receives scrambled broadcasting, the input of the personal information is requested by a TV receiver 17 and a viewer compares the personal information inputted to a reader 19 of a remote controller 18 with the previously registered personal information. On the basis of this compared result, the CA module of the box 16 operates the limited receiving function and the broadcasting of a broadcasting device 11 of a CATV station is viewed by the TV receiver 17 or error is displayed. Thus, the much stronger limited receiving function can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a CATV system (cable television system) and a BS (Broadcas).
t Satellite (broadcast satellite broadcasting), CS
(Communication Satellite)
The present invention relates to an improvement in conditional access (CA) or conditional access (CA) in a broadcast (communication satellite broadcast) receiving terminal (hereinafter referred to as a set-top box).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, CATV systems, BS broadcasting, C
In paid broadcasting in S-broadcast, as a function that only a specific viewer who has contracted with a broadcaster can descramble the scrambled broadcast and view the broadcast, conditional access or condition Access (CA: Conditional Accesses)
s) A function (hereinafter, simply referred to as a CA function) is realized.

[0003] The CA function is as follows. For example, when a broadcaster transmits a pay broadcast,
The broadcast video signal and audio signal are encrypted (scrambled) using a scramble key. Then, the scramble key is encrypted with the work key, and the work key is further encrypted with the master key. The encrypted scramble key and work key are multiplexed with the scrambled broadcast and transmitted.

[0004] A broadcaster distributes a set-top box incorporating a CA circuit in which a master key is recorded to a viewing subscriber so that the viewer can descramble the received broadcast and view the actual broadcast. ing. Specifically, in a circuit having a CA function of a set-top box, an encrypted work key is separated from a received broadcast, and the encrypted work key is decrypted with a master key. By decrypting the scramble key encrypted with the work key, a raw scramble key is obtained. Then, the scramble of the video signal and the audio signal is descrambled using the obtained scramble key.

On the other hand, in recent years, CATV systems have been standardized since digitalization has been promoted, and a separate set-top box has been required for each company constructing the CATV system. It is planned in the United States to market this set-top box as a standard product so that only one set-top box can receive the broadcast of all these CATV systems.

[0006] When a common set-top box becomes commercially available, it has been studied to mount the CA function on an IC card as a separate module and removably incorporate it into the set-top box. I have. In this way, the viewer purchases one set-top box, contracts with a pay broadcast broadcaster in the desired broadcast format, and receives an IC card for viewing the broadcast. The pay broadcast can be viewed.

[0007]

As described above, when a contract is made with a pay broadcast broadcasting company and an IC card with a built-in CA function is provided, anyone other than the subscriber can view the pay broadcast with the IC card. There is a problem that it becomes possible to do.

[0008] For example, in the case of pay-per-view broadcasting in which the pay broadcast is charged every time one program is viewed, even if a family member other than the contractor, for example, views the program without the contractor's knowledge, There is a problem of being charged. A similar problem also occurs when online shopping can be performed with the interactive CATV system. That is, there is a problem in that a family member other than the contractor does online shopping without the contractor's knowledge, and the obligation to pay for the charge occurs later.

[0009] Further, when the contractor has contracted with a broadcaster for viewing of adult broadcasts and has been provided with an IC card incorporating a CA function, a minor other than the contractor may contact the contractor. It is possible to watch adult broadcasts without permission.

As a method for solving such a problem, it is conceivable to incorporate a mechanism so that the CA function is operated only when the contractor inputs a password and performs personal authentication. However, even in this case, if the password is known to anyone other than the contractor, the above-described problem occurs, and it cannot be a complete measure. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and has as its object to provide a more robust conditional access function.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system having a set-top box in which a conditional access module having a conditional access function is detachably provided, wherein personal information is previously registered in the conditional access module. In advance, when the set-top box receives the scrambled broadcast information, input personal information, compare the input personal information with the registered personal information,
A conditional access method in a digital broadcasting system characterized by operating a conditional access function based on a result of the comparison.

As described above, according to the present invention, only a person whose personal information has been registered in advance can view a scrambled broadcast, so that a more robust conditional access function can be provided.

According to the present invention, in a set-top box in which a conditional access module having a conditional access function is detachably provided, personal information input means for inputting personal information, and personal information input by the personal information input means are provided. A set-top box comprising a registration unit for registering in the conditional access module.

According to the present invention, a set-top box realizing a more robust conditional access function can be provided. The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system having a server computer at a broadcasting station, a set-top box provided with a conditional access module having a conditional access function in a detachable manner, personal information input means for inputting personal information, Registering means for registering personal information input by the input means in the server computer. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a set-top box that realizes a more robust conditional access function.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a digital cable T
1 shows a schematic configuration of a two-way CATV system for performing V broadcast. The CATV station 10 is provided with a broadcasting device 11 and an authentication server computer 12. The details of the broadcasting device 11 may be the same as those of the conventional CATV broadcasting, and the detailed description will be omitted. The authentication server computer 12 records personal information for personal authentication of a viewer when performing video-on-demand broadcasting.

From the broadcasting device 11 via the cable 13,
A broadcast signal is transmitted to each subscriber's home 14 who has concluded a viewing contract with a CATV broadcaster. This transmitted broadcast is called a downlink signal in the bidirectional CATV system. Also,
The authentication server computer 12 also has a function of receiving and processing an upstream signal transmitted from the subscriber home 14.

At the subscriber's house 14, a broadcast signal transmitted from the cable 13 is received via the protector 15 and a set-top box (hereinafter simply referred to as STB) as a receiving terminal.
Distribute to 16. In addition, this protector 15 has an STB 16
There is also a mixing function for outputting the upstream signal output from the cable 13 to the cable 13.

The STB 16 is connected to the TV receiver 17 and controls the viewing of the CATV broadcast. Remote control 18
Is operated by the viewer to use the STB 16, and a reading device 19 for inputting a fingerprint which is personal information for performing an authentication process of the viewer is provided. Although not shown, the remote controller 18 is provided with ten keys and operation buttons for performing various operation instructions.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the STB 16.
The STB 16 has a control unit for controlling the entire device.
The control unit includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32 storing software for operating the CPU 31 and controlling the entire apparatus, and a RAM 33 serving as a work processing memory. These CPU 31, ROM 32, and RAM 33
Each is connected to the system bus 30. Similarly, the system bus 30 includes a tuner 34, a demodulation circuit 35, an error correction circuit 36, a CA module 37, a demultiplexer 38, a decoder 39, an NTSC encoder 40, a data transmission circuit 41, an audio DAC 42, and an infrared signal reception control circuit 43. It is connected.

The tuner 34 has a function of selecting a channel desired to be viewed from a plurality of television broadcast channels transmitted from the broadcast device 11 via the cable 13.
The demodulation circuit 35 has a function of demodulating a signal of the channel selected by the tuner 34 and converting the signal into digital data.
This demodulation circuit performs QAM demodulation.

The digital data demodulated and output by the demodulation circuit 35 includes redundant data. The error correction circuit 36 performs error correction of digital data using redundant data. This digital data is transport stream data in which a plurality of video data and a plurality of audio data are multiplexed. This transport stream data is output to the CA module 37.

If the transport stream data contains scrambled pay broadcast video data and audio data, the CA module 37 de-scrambles the data and outputs the data to the demultiplexer 38. The CA module 37 outputs the unscrambled video data and audio data to the demultiplexer 38 without any processing. This CA module 3
Details of 7 will be described later.

The demultiplexer 38 separates video data and audio data desired to be viewed from the transport stream data received from the CA module 37, and outputs the separated data to a decoder 39.

In digital broadcasting, video data and audio data are coded according to the MPEG2 system, so the decoder 39 removes the coding and converts them into video signals and audio signals. The audio signal is transmitted to a TV via an audio DAC (audio digital / analog converter) 42.
Output to the receiver 17. The video signal is converted into an NTSC composite signal by the NTSC encoder 40 and output to the TV receiver 17.

The infrared signal reception control circuit 43 receives an infrared signal output from the remote controller 18, converts the received signal into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the CPU 31. The infrared signal reception control circuit 43 has a CPU for signal processing.

The data transmission circuit 41 is composed of, for example, a cable modem and has a function of outputting an upstream signal transmitted from the STB 16 to the CATV station 10 via the cable 13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of the configuration of the CA module 37. The CA module 37 is composed of an IC card or a PC card, and is provided on the STB 16 in a detachable manner. The CA module 37 includes a descrambler 44, a CA circuit 45, a personal information memory 46,
A personal identification processing circuit 47 is mounted.

The personal identification processing circuit 47 has a function for inputting fingerprint information via the remote controller 18 to register and record the fingerprint information in the personal information memory 46 when registering fingerprint information as personal information. Has a function of comparing the fingerprint information input via the remote controller 18 with the fingerprint information recorded in the personal information memory 46 when watching a pay broadcast, and outputting a start signal to the CA circuit 45 if the fingerprint information matches. Have.

The CA circuit 45 receives the activation signal from the personal identification processing circuit 47 and, when the descrambling operation is activated, activates the work key encrypted with the master key from the transport stream data and the work key encrypted with the work key. Separated from the encrypted scramble key. Furthermore, a master key is recorded in the CA circuit 45 in advance, and a scramble key is obtained based on the separated encrypted work key and scramble key using the master key. The CA circuit 45 transmits the obtained scramble key to the descrambler 44.
Give to.

The descrambler 44 descrambles the scrambled video data and audio data using the scramble key given from the CA circuit 45, and outputs the descrambled data to the demultiplexer 38. When receiving the unscrambled video data and audio data, the descrambler 44 outputs the data to the demultiplexer 38 without performing any processing.

Next, the operation of the system configured as described above will be described. First, an operation of registering fingerprint information as personal information for identifying an individual of a viewing contractor as initialization when a CA module 37 is provided from a broadcaster will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the remote controller 18 is operated to cause the CPU 31 to start control of registration of personal information via the infrared signal reception control circuit (Ird) 43. Then, the fingerprint is read by the reading device 19 provided on the remote controller 18,
The read fingerprint information is transmitted to the infrared signal reception control circuit 43.
(Step S1). The fingerprint information input to the infrared signal reception control circuit 43 is registered and recorded in the personal information memory 46 by the personal identification processing circuit 47 of the CA module 37 under the control of the CPU 31 (step S).
2). Next, the inputted fingerprint information is transferred to the authentication server computer 12 of the CATV station 10 via the data transmission circuit 41 under the control of the CPU 31, and registered and recorded in the authentication server computer 12 (step S3). . This completes the personal information registration work.

Next, the operation of viewing a pay broadcast will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The user operates the remote controller 18 to select and instruct a program desired to be viewed. This remote control 1
The selection instruction of 8 is transmitted via the infrared signal reception control circuit 43 to C.
It is transmitted to PU31. The CPU 31 controls the tuner 34 based on the selection instruction to select a desired channel (step S10). The CA circuit 45 determines whether or not the pay stream scrambled video data and audio data are included in the transport stream data received by the error correction circuit 36, based on the descriptor of the conditional access system included in the transport stream data. Judge by presence or absence. If there is no descriptor of the conditional access system, the video data and the audio data of the selected channel are output to the demultiplexer 38 without any processing, and the selected broadcast program is viewed (step S17). . Step S12
When the CA circuit 45 detects the descriptor of the conditional access system in
This is notified to the CPU 31. The CPU 31 displays a message prompting the TV receiver 17 to input personal information for personal authentication (step S12). When viewers see this,
By operating the remote controller 18, the fingerprint is read by the reading device 19 provided on the remote controller 18, and the read fingerprint information is output to the infrared signal reception control circuit 43 (step S13). This infrared signal reception control circuit 43
Is transferred to the personal identification processing circuit 47 of the CA module 37. Personal identification processing circuit 4
In step 7, the personal information of the viewer is authenticated by comparing the inputted fingerprint information with the fingerprint information registered in the personal information memory 46 in advance (step S14). If the comparison results in a match, the individual identification processing circuit 47 determines that the viewer is the correct viewer, outputs an activation signal to the CA circuit 45, and activates the descrambling operation in the CA circuit 45 (step). S15). As a result, a scramble key is obtained in the CA circuit 45. By giving the scramble key to the descrambler 44,
The scramble is released (step S16). As a result, the pay broadcast can be viewed (step S17). If the result of the comparison is inconsistent in step S14, an error message is displayed on the TV receiver 17 in step S18 indicating that personal authentication has failed.

Next, the operation when receiving a video-on-demand broadcast will be described. In this case, the CATV station 10 transmits the broadcast to be transmitted with the personal information of the subscriber who has made a video-on-demand reception contract registered in the authentication server computer 12. At each subscriber's house, personal authentication is performed by comparing the personal information input from the remote controller 18 with the transmitted personal information at the STB 16.

In such a system, when a plurality of viewers use one CA module 37 jointly, personal information of a plurality of persons may be registered in the personal information memory 46 and shared. At this time, when registering personal information, the individual to be registered may be identified by providing a password, and the personal information may be registered as a result of the identification. Also, when actually watching the broadcast, it is sufficient to specify which personal information is to be used, then specify the corresponding personal information, and compare the personal information.

In the above description, the fingerprint is used as the personal information. However, any physical information that can identify an individual may be used, for example, a retinal pattern. C
The configuration of the A module 37 is not limited to the configuration described above, and may be another configuration. For example, a CA module that does not include a descrambler may be used. In this case, the CA module may be configured to output the scramble key to an external descrambler.

The CA module 37 of the present invention can be applied not only to bidirectional CATV but also to BS broadcasting and CS broadcasting. In the case of BS broadcasting or CS broadcasting, the uplink information transmitted from the subscriber's house may be connected to a broadcasting station via a wired line, for example, a telephone line.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, a more robust conditional access function can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a digital cable T according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure which shows the schematic structure of the bidirectional CATV system which performs V broadcast.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a set-top box 16 in detail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a CA module 37 in detail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of registering personal information in a CA module 37;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of viewing a pay broadcast.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CATV station 11 Broadcasting equipment 12 Authentication server computer 13 Cable 14 Subscriber home 15 Security device 16 Set-top box 17 TV receiver 18 Remote control 19 ‥ Reader

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 9/00 673A (72) Inventor Eiichi Shinshiro 3-3-1, Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Computer Engineering F term in the company (reference) 5C064 BA01 BB01 BB02 BB07 BC01 BC07 BC17 BC22 BD02 BD07 BD08 5J104 AA07 BA03 KA01 NA36 PA05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A digital broadcasting system having a set-top box in which a conditional access module having a conditional access function is detachably provided, wherein personal information is registered in advance in the conditional access module, and the set-top box is When receiving the scrambled broadcast information, the personal information is input, the input personal information is compared with the registered personal information, and the conditional access function is operated based on a result of the comparison. Conditional access method in a digital broadcasting system. 2. A personal computer, comprising: a set-top box in which a conditional access module having a conditional access function is detachably provided; and personal information input means for inputting personal information; A set-top box, comprising: registration means for registering in a receiving module. 3. A digital broadcasting system having a server computer at a broadcasting station, a set-top box provided with a conditional access module having a conditional access function detachably, personal information input means for inputting personal information, Registering means for registering personal information input by the information input means in the server computer.