JP2009171377A - Remote viewing control method and control system for optical receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote viewing control system for an optical receiver, in which: another system apparatus of a company that performs charging management or the like cooperates with a remote control center apparatus installed in a transmission station or the like; and an RF signal of an optical receiver of each user is turned OFF directly by the other system apparatus without disturbing control operation by the remote control center apparatus, so that viewing control can be performed. <P>SOLUTION: A system for controlling ON/OFF of an RF signal sent from each optical receiver 8 by making an optical receiver remote viewing control system 11 other than one optical receiver remote viewing control system 10 cooperate with the one optical receiver remote viewing control system 10 comprises: a control reception processing means 12 for receiving control data of the optical receiver 8 from each of the two optical receiver remote viewing control systems 10, 11; a plurality of buffers 14 for accumulating the control data sequentially in time-series; and a control data transmission processing means 15 for extracting the control data accumulated in the buffers 14 in the order of accumulation and for transmitting the data to the optical receivers 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical transmission system using an optical cable, in particular, when retransmitting a digital broadcast signal in CATV (Cable Television), the digital broadcast signal is converted into an optical signal, and the optical signal is transmitted using the optical cable. The optical signal is converted into a high-frequency electrical signal (hereinafter also referred to as RF signal) at the V-ONU terminal installed in the home, and the RF signal sent from the V-ONU terminal is turned on / off remotely. The present invention relates to a remote viewing control method and a control system for an optical receiver capable of performing viewing control of a specific optical receiver by being controlled by a personal computer (remote control center device) installed in the remote control.

  As shown in the rectangular frame of FIG. 1, the above-described remote viewing control system in CATV is conventionally installed in each user's home by a remote control center device installed in a transmission station in each region. -Viewing was controlled by controlling ON / OFF of RF signal of ONU terminal. That is, a V-ONU control signal is transmitted from a remote control center device of each transmitting station via an FSK (frequency shift keying) transmitter, and a CATV video signal received at each transmitting station is mixed by a mixer. A system that adds a V-ONU control signal and transmits the signal to each V-ONU terminal by an optical transmitter is generally adopted.

As this type of remote viewing control system, means for replacing a data byte part (data part excluding the packet header) of a packet carrying a digital broadcast signal with a data byte part of another packet, and a packet replaced by the replacement means Means for transmitting replacement pattern information for PID (packet ID) of the transmission station, and means for receiving replacement pattern information for PID at the transmitting station based on the receiver identification number of the own station There has been proposed a digital broadcast viewing control system in which a receiver is provided with means for selecting a program based on replacement pattern information for PID (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-260558 A (Pages 4 and 5 and FIG. 1)

  By the way, when each user receives a pay program via a V-ONU terminal, conventionally, a management company different from the transmitting station generally collects viewing fees. Usually, the management company obtains information about each user from the transmitting station, charges each user, and collects the fee. Therefore, for example, when the charged user wants to stop viewing or the user cannot collect money due to failure to pay, the conventional remote viewing control system as described above, the management company transmits directly from the V-ONU terminal. RF signal cannot be turned off. For this reason, it is necessary to contact the transmitting station where the remote control center device is installed and turn off the RF signal transmitted from the V-ONU terminal using the center device of the transmitting station.

  Therefore, it is desired to be able to control the ON / OFF of the RF signal of each user's V-ONU terminal using a device different from the personal computer of the management company, that is, the remote control center device. In this case, it is desirable to make use of the conventional remote viewing control system so that the control can be performed with a change such that a simple device is added.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and links a remote control center device installed in a transmission station or the like with another system device such as a company that performs billing management, thereby providing a remote control center device. An optical receiver remote viewing control method and a remote viewing control system capable of performing viewing control by directly turning off the RF signal of each user's optical receiver by other system devices without interfering with the control operation by It is an issue.

  In order to solve the above problems, a remote viewing control method for an optical receiver according to the present invention transmits a television (TV) broadcast signal to optical receivers of a plurality of users via an optical transmission path, and each optical receiver. When the video and audio are output by the receiver after being converted into a high-frequency electrical signal, the optical receiver remote viewing control system different from the one optical receiver remote viewing control system is used. A method for controlling ON / OFF of a high-frequency electrical signal (RF signal) sent from each optical receiver in cooperation with a control system, the optical receiver from at least the two optical receiver remote viewing control systems Control data is received by the corresponding control reception processing unit, the control data is sequentially stored in a plurality of buffers in time series, and the control data stored in each buffer is extracted in the order of storage, and each optical receiver To It is characterized by believing.

The step of determining whether or not there is control data from the optical receiver remote viewing control system, requesting the right to use the buffer for storing the control data, and A step of accumulating control data in the buffer upon acquisition, and a step of releasing the right to use the buffer when accumulating control data in the buffer;
Determining whether control data is stored in each buffer; transmitting control data stored in each buffer to an optical receiver; and transmitting control data in each buffer in the order of storage. A step of clearing the buffer and releasing the right to use the buffer.

  As described in claim 3, even if the optical receiver is a V-ONU terminal and the control data is data for turning on / off a high-frequency electrical signal sent from a specific V-ONU terminal. Good.

  5. The optical receiver remote viewing control system according to claim 4, wherein the optical receiver remote viewing control system is a remote viewing control system for CATV, and FSK (frequency shift) from a remote control center device installed in a CATV transmitting station in each region. Modulation) V-ONU control signal is transmitted via transmitter, V-ONU control signal is added by mixer to CATV video signal received at each transmitting station, and each V-ONU terminal is transmitted by optical transmitter The system can be sent to the machine.

  6. The remote viewing control system of a management company in which another optical receiver remote viewing control system charges a user installing a V-ONU terminal in the remote control center device according to claim 5 It can be connected by a communication line.

7. The remote viewing control system for an optical receiver according to claim 6, wherein a television broadcast signal is transmitted to the optical receivers of a plurality of users via the optical transmission path, and is converted into a high frequency electric signal by each optical receiver. When the video and audio are output by the optical device, the optical receiver remote viewing control system different from the one optical receiver remote viewing control system is linked to the one optical receiver remote viewing control system to A system for controlling ON / OFF of a high-frequency electrical signal sent from a receiver,
Control reception processing means for receiving and processing the control data of the optical receiver from at least the two optical receiver remote viewing control systems, a plurality of buffers for sequentially storing the control data in time series, and the buffers And control data transmission processing means for taking out the control data accumulated in the order of accumulation and transmitting them to the respective optical receivers.

  As claimed in claim 7, even if the optical receiver is a V-ONU terminal and the control data is data for turning on / off a high-frequency electric signal sent from a specific V-ONU terminal. Good.

  9. The optical receiver remote viewing control system according to claim 8, wherein the optical receiver remote viewing control system is a remote viewing control system for CATV, and FSK (frequency shift) from a remote control center device installed in a CATV transmitting station in each region. Modulation) V-ONU control signal is transmitted via transmitter, V-ONU control signal is added by mixer to CATV video signal received at each transmitting station, and each V-ONU terminal is transmitted by optical transmitter The system can be sent to the machine.

  The remote viewing control system of a management company that charges the user who installs the V-ONU terminal by another optical receiver remote viewing control system according to claim 9, wherein the remote control center device It can be connected by a communication line.

  The remote viewing control method and remote viewing control system for an optical receiver according to the present invention have the following excellent effects.

  According to the remote viewing control method of claim 1 and the remote viewing control system of claim 6, control data reception processing by one optical receiver remote viewing control system and control data reception by another optical receiver remote viewing control system. Since the reception processing is performed in parallel and is stored in a plurality of buffers in time series and the control data is transmitted to the optical receiver in the order of storage, the optical receiver remote viewing control system conventionally operated independently Controls ON / OFF of RF signals sent from multiple optical receivers controlled by an optical receiver remote viewing control system that is operated independently using a separate optical receiver remote viewing control system I can do it now. In addition, the hardware includes only a buffer, a control data reception processing unit, and a control data transmission processing unit, and another optical receiver remote viewing control system is linked to one conventional optical receiver remote viewing control system. The RF signal sent out from the optical receiver can be turned on and off smoothly.

  According to the optical receiver remote viewing control method of claim 2, the other optical receiver remote viewing control system is linked to the one optical receiver remote viewing control system, and the control data from both is time-series in parallel. Can be stored and transmitted smoothly to the optical receiver.

  According to the remote viewing control method of claim 5 and the remote viewing control system of claim 9, the business operator who manages the billing of the user directly via the center device (personal computer) of the single optical receiver remote viewing control system. It is possible to control ON / OFF of an RF signal transmitted from a V-ONU terminal which is an optical receiver of each user.

  Hereinafter, a remote viewing control system for an optical receiver according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, and a remote viewing control method will also be described.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a remote viewing control system for an optical receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a software configuration of the remote viewing control system of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the operation | movement by the software which concerns on one Example used with the center apparatus 1 of 1 remote place control.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the remote control center device 1 is, for example, a personal computer (also referred to as a personal computer) installed in a local transmission station of cable television (CATV), and a host cooperation device 2 used for other systems. Is a personal computer installed in a management company in charge of accounting. The host cooperation apparatus 2 is connected to the remote control center apparatus 1 by a communication line such as an optical cable 3.

  An FSK transmitter 4 is connected to the remote control center device 1, and a V-ONU control signal (optical receiver control signal) is transmitted through the FSK transmitter 4. In addition, a receiving antenna 5 is installed in the transmitting station. For example, a television broadcast signal distributed by a distribution company to each V-ONU terminal is received by the receiving antenna 5. A V-ONU control signal is added to the TV broadcast signal by the mixer 6, and the optical transmitter 7 transmits the optical signal to each V-ONU terminal (optical receiver) 8 connected via the optical cable 9. Such a remote viewing control system 10 in CATV is a known system by itself.

A remote viewing control system 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, apart from a known system composed of devices in the rectangular frame of FIG. 1, V-ONU center device control reception processing means 13, Other system control reception processing means (also referred to as host cooperative control reception processing means) 12, a plurality of control data received by these reception processing means 12 and 13 are selected in a time series and temporarily stored. Buffers 14-1 to 14-n are provided. Further, control data transmission processing means 15 for sequentially extracting the control data stored in the buffers 14-1 to 14-n and transmitting the control data to the V-ONU terminal 8 is provided. The remote viewing control system 11 constituted by these devices 12 to 15 is incorporated in the remote control center device 1 in this embodiment. Furthermore, the remote control center device 1 processes the V-ONU control signal from the host cooperation device 2 in parallel with the V-ONU control signal from the remote control center device 1 as follows. Software is installed. That is,
As shown in FIG. 3, the V-ONU center control processing unit 21 corresponding to the V-ONU center device control reception processing means 13 in the remote viewing control system 11 and the host cooperation control processing corresponding to the host cooperation control reception processing means 12. A control data transmission processing unit 23 corresponding to the unit 22 and the control data transmission processing means 15 is provided. Here, the operation of the remote control center device 1 in the remote viewing control system 11 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the control data transmission processing unit 23 provided with steps S31 and S32 for starting the V-ONU center control processing unit 21 and the host cooperation control processing unit 22 is started. Subsequently, when the operation starts, the V-ONU center control processing unit 21 determines whether or not there is control data from the remote control center device 1 (step S1), and if YES is determined in step S1. Request the right to use the buffer 14 (step S2). On the other hand, if it is determined No in step S1, the process returns to the position before step S1. Following step S2, it is determined whether or not the right to use the buffer 14 has been acquired (step S3). If it is determined Yes in step S3, control data is set in the buffer 14-1 (step S4). . On the other hand, if it is determined No in step S3, the process returns to the position before step S2. When the control data is set in the buffer 14-1 in step S4, the right to use the buffer 14 is released (step S5), and the process returns to the position before step S1.

  Further, the host cooperation control processing unit 22 is basically in common with the V-ONU center control processing unit 21, and when the operation is started, it is determined whether or not there is control data from the host cooperation device 2 (step S11). If it is determined Yes in step S11, the right to use the buffer 14 is requested (step S12). On the other hand, if it is determined No in step S11, the process returns to the position before step S11. Subsequent to step S12, it is determined whether or not the right to use the buffer 14 has been acquired (step S13). If YES is determined in step S13, control data is set in the buffer 14-2 (step S14). . On the other hand, if it is determined No in step S13, the process returns to the position before step S12. When the control data is set in the buffer 14-2 in step S14, the right to use the buffer 14 is released (step S15), and the process returns to the position before step S11. The control data from the remote control center device 1 and the control data from the host linkage device 2 are buffered in time series, that is, based on the time received by the reception processing means 12 and 13. Get in order.

  When starting the operation, the control data transmission processing unit 23 activates the V-ONU center control processing unit 21 (step S31), and then activates the host cooperation control processing unit 22 (step S32). It is determined whether or not there is control data in the buffer 14 (step S33). If it is determined Yes in step S33, the control data in the buffer 14 is transmitted to the V-ONU terminal 8 (step S34). When the control data of the buffer 14 is transmitted, the inside of the buffer 14 is cleared (step S35). Then, the right to use the buffer 14 is released (step S36). Further, it is determined whether or not there is control data in the next buffer 14-x (step S33). If it is determined Yes in step S33, the control data in the buffer 14-x is sent to the V-ONU terminal 8. Transmit (step S34). When the control data of the buffer 14-x is transmitted, the buffer 14-x is cleared (step S35). Then, the right to use the buffer 14-x is released (step S36). In this way, the control data in the buffers 14-1 to 14-n are transmitted to the V-ONU terminal 8 in the order of accumulation, and when all the buffers 14-n are cleared and the right to use is released, the process returns to the step S33.

  As described above, the remote viewing control system for the optical receiver according to the present embodiment is configured. This remote viewing control system transmits a video signal from a local transmission station A that receives a video signal and an audio signal such as a television broadcast signal transmitted from an information distribution provider such as a CATV provider, and the local transmission station A. A plurality of users C, and a management company B that collects money from each user C and collects charges based on the number of viewing or viewing time of each user C's pay program.

  The information distribution company or management company B guides the user C who wants a contract about the contents of the video information such as the CATV program menu (movies, sports, etc.) and the scheduled broadcast date. User C selects a desired menu from the program menu, and mails a contract describing the address, name, fee payment method, and the like. Upon receiving the contract, the information distribution company or management company B registers the ID of the V-ONU terminal 8 installed in each user C's home in the host linkage apparatus 2 and via a communication line such as the optical cable 3. Register in the remote control center device 1.

  As described above, the local transmitting station A includes the receiving antenna 5 for receiving the video signal and the audio signal distributed from the information distributor, and the video signal and the audio signal received by this antenna are transmitted to the optical transmitter 7. Then, an optical signal is transmitted to the V-ONU terminal 8 via the optical cable. On the other hand, in the V-ONU terminal 8, it is converted into an RF signal, and the user C can watch on an empty channel of the television receiver. When a V-ONU control signal is transmitted from the remote control center device (personal computer) 1 of the local transmitting station A via the transmitter 4, a mixer is applied to the video signal and audio signal received by the receiving antenna 5. 6, a V-ONU control signal is added, and the optical transmitter 7 transmits the optical signal to the V-ONU terminal 8. Thereby, the RF signal sent out from the V-ONU terminal 8 can be turned OFF, and the viewing of the user C can be restricted. In addition, if the user C who has been charged does not pay the viewing fee, the management company B operates the host linkage device (personal computer) 2 of the remote viewing control system 11 installed in the company to control V-ONU. By transmitting the signal to the remote control center device 1 of the local transmitting station A through the optical cable 3, ON / OFF of the RF signal of the V-ONU terminal 8 in the user C can be directly controlled.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the remote viewing-and-listening control system of the optical receiver which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the software of the remote viewing-and-listening control system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure by software according to an embodiment used in the remote control center apparatus 1 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Center device for remote control 2 Host cooperation device 3.9 Optical cable 4 FSK transmitter 5 Receiving antenna 6 Mixer 7 Optical transmitter 8 V-ONU terminal (optical receiver)
10.11 Remote viewing control system 12 Other system control reception processing means (host cooperation control reception processing means)
13 V-ONU Center Device Control Reception Processing Unit 14 Buffer 15 Control Data Transmission Processing Unit 21 V-ONU Center Control Processing Unit 22 Host Cooperation Control Processing Unit 23 Control Data Transmission Processing Unit

Claims (9)

One optical receiver when transmitting TV broadcast signals to optical receivers of multiple users via an optical transmission line, converting them to high-frequency electrical signals at each optical receiver, and outputting video and audio at the receiver A method of controlling ON / OFF of a high-frequency electrical signal sent from each optical receiver by linking an optical receiver remote viewing control system different from the remote remote viewing control system to one optical receiver remote viewing control system Because
Control processing of the optical receiver from at least the two optical receiver remote viewing control systems is respectively received by the corresponding control reception processing unit, the control data is sequentially stored in a plurality of buffers in time series, A remote viewing control method for an optical receiver, comprising: extracting control data stored in each buffer in the order of storage and transmitting the data to each optical receiver. Determining the presence or absence of control data from the optical receiver remote viewing control system; and requesting the right to use the buffer for storing the control data and storing the control data in the buffer when the right to use the buffer is acquired; And a step of releasing the right to use the buffer when the control data is accumulated in the buffer,
Determining whether control data is stored in each buffer; transmitting control data stored in each buffer to an optical receiver; and transmitting control data in each buffer in the order of storage. 2. The remote viewing control method for an optical receiver according to claim 1, further comprising the step of clearing the buffer and releasing the right to use the buffer.   2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is a V-ONU terminal, and the control data is data for turning on / off a high-frequency electric signal transmitted from a specific V-ONU terminal. Remote viewing control method for receiver.   One optical receiver remote viewing control system is a remote viewing control system in CATV, which is connected to a remote control center device installed in a CATV transmission station in each region via an FSK (frequency shift keying) transmitter. It is a system that transmits ONU control signals, adds V-ONU control signals to CATV video signals received at each transmitting station using a mixer, and transmits them to each V-ONU terminal using an optical transmitter. The remote viewing control method for an optical receiver according to claim 3.   Another optical receiver remote viewing control system is a remote viewing control system of a management business that charges a user installing a V-ONU terminal, and is connected to the remote control center device via a communication line. 5. The remote viewing control method for an optical receiver according to claim 3, wherein the remote viewing control method is used. When a television broadcast signal is transmitted to an optical receiver of a plurality of users via an optical transmission line, converted into a high-frequency electric signal by each optical receiver and a video image and audio are output by the receiver, one light is transmitted. An optical receiver remote viewing control system different from the receiver remote viewing control system is linked to the one optical receiver remote viewing control system to control ON / OFF of high-frequency electrical signals sent from the respective optical receivers. A system,
Control reception processing means for receiving and processing the control data of the optical receiver from at least the two optical receiver remote viewing control systems, a plurality of buffers for sequentially storing the control data in time series, and the buffers A remote viewing control system for an optical receiver, comprising: control data transmission processing means for extracting the control data stored in the data in the order of storage and transmitting the control data to each optical receiver.   7. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein the optical receiver is a V-ONU terminal, and the control data is data for turning on / off a high-frequency electric signal sent from a specific V-ONU terminal. Remote viewing control system for receivers.   One optical receiver remote viewing control system is a remote viewing control system in CATV, which is connected to a remote control center device installed in a CATV transmission station in each region via an FSK (frequency shift keying) transmitter. It is a system that transmits ONU control signals, adds V-ONU control signals to CATV video signals received at each transmitting station using a mixer, and transmits them to each V-ONU terminal using an optical transmitter. 8. The remote viewing control system for an optical receiver according to claim 7.   Another optical receiver remote viewing control system is a remote viewing control system of a management business that charges a user installing a V-ONU terminal, and is connected to the remote control center device via a communication line. 9. The remote viewing control system for an optical receiver according to claim 7 or 8.

Images