JP2011003945A - Broadcaster apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: a procedure is troublesome for a subscriber and it is necessary to secure personnel, who perform contract processing, at all times for a broadcaster, since the processing of adding the contract of a non-contracted broadcast service (program) is not automated.SOLUTION: The broadcaster apparatus updates the contract registration information of a bidirectional digital broadcast receiver 21 by first identification information received from the bidirectional digital broadcast receiver 21 and program registration information based on a contract-adding instruction or a contract-canceling instruction from the bidirectional digital broadcast receiver 21 for program information describing the program registration information provided by the broadcaster apparatus 11 by utilizing a second network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcaster apparatus that automates the process of adding a contract for an uncontracted broadcast service (program) for providing a digital broadcast service (program) in an interactive digital broadcast network system.

  The mechanism of conditional access system (hereinafter referred to as CAS) in digital broadcasting is standardized in the radio wave industry (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses: commonly referred to as ARIB) in Japan. It is used in BS, terrestrial digital broadcasting, and digital CATV broadcasting (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, program registration information in an ECM (Entitlement Control Message) multiplexed in a broadcast transmitted from a broadcaster apparatus, and an EMM (transmitted toward a CAS card attached to each digital broadcast receiver) The subscriber can view the contracted broadcast service (program) by giving the decryption key of the scrambled broadcast signal from the CAS card to the digital broadcast receiver with the agreement of the contract registration information in the Entity Management Message). .

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional digital broadcast network system.

  The subscriber wants to add an uncontracted broadcast service (program) by looking at the program guide or electronic program guide (hereinafter referred to as EPG) provided by the broadcaster with the digital broadcast receiver 113 (a). In this case, the broadcaster is called and the broadcast service (program) to be added and the CAS card number are spoken verbally. The operator of the broadcaster performs a process of adding a broadcast service (program) to the corresponding CAS card number in the subscriber information registration device 112. When the subscriber's broadcast service (program) addition process is performed, the contract additional information is transmitted from the subscriber information registration device 112 to the broadcaster device 111 (a), and the digital broadcast receiver 113 is transmitted through the broadcast network 115. An EMM for adding a contract is issued in (a).

  FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional interactive digital broadcast network system in which a portal server 125 and a communication network 116 are added to the digital broadcast network system 100 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a proposal has been made to use a bidirectional digital broadcast receiver 113 (b), use a portal service operated by a broadcaster, and notify authentication information to a portal server (Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2007-336030 A

Japan Radio Industry Association “Access Control Standards for Digital Broadcasting” ARIB STD-B25

  However, in the conventional configuration, since the management of the contract registration information is a business that leads to the profit of the broadcaster, the broadcaster devices 111 (a) and 111 (b) via the strictly managed subscriber information registration device 112 are used. ) Could only be done.

  For subscribers, it is difficult for the operators of broadcasters to tell about programs such as adults, and there is a desire to perform procedures for adding contracts without the above-mentioned troublesome procedures. On the other hand, it is necessary for broadcasters to prepare operators who perform such processing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in particular, there is a desire to automate the process of adding contracts from an economical point of view, including late at night. . In addition, automation of such a contract addition process is also a request of a general era.

  Further, even when the authentication information is notified to the portal server, the EMM is unidirectional from the broadcaster apparatus 111 (b) to the digital broadcast receiver 113 (b). There was no mechanism to cooperate and to request EMM for additional contracts.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and automates the process of adding a contract for an uncontracted broadcast service (program) by the subscriber through the portal service screen, thereby improving the convenience of the subscriber and the broadcaster. It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcaster apparatus that can improve the operability of the broadcaster.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, a broadcaster apparatus of the present invention holds a broadcaster apparatus, first identification information, and contract registration information associated with the first identification information, and Bidirectional digital broadcast receiver including a broadcast receiver apparatus and a two-way digital communication receiver that performs two-way communication using the second network while receiving a limited signal from the provider apparatus using the first network In the digital network system, based on a contract addition instruction or a contract cancellation instruction from the interactive digital broadcast receiver for program information in which program registration information provided by the broadcaster apparatus using the second network is described. The contract registration information of the interactive digital broadcast receiver is obtained from the first identification information received from the interactive digital broadcast receiver and the program registration information. Characterized in that the update.

  According to the broadcaster apparatus of the present invention, the subscriber's convenience and operability of the broadcaster are improved by automating the contract addition process of the broadcast service (program) by the subscriber through the portal service screen. Can be improved.

1 is a configuration diagram of a bidirectional digital broadcast network system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The figure which shows the contract registration information and program registration information in Example 1 of this invention The figure which shows the portal service screen in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the list of the recommended programs of the portal service screen in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the recommended program of the portal screen in Example 1 of this invention The figure which shows the display at the time of the unsigned of the recommended program of the portal screen in Example 1 of this invention. Configuration diagram of interactive digital broadcasting network system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Configuration diagram of a conventional digital broadcasting network system Configuration diagram of a conventional interactive digital broadcasting network system

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a bidirectional digital broadcast network system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the thing of the same structure as the conventional digital broadcast network system.

  The interactive digital broadcast network system 1 includes a subscriber information registration apparatus 112, a broadcast provider apparatus 11, an interactive digital broadcast receiver 21, a broadcast network 115, and a communication network 116.

  The broadcaster apparatus 11 includes a system management apparatus 31, a portal server 32, an ECM generation apparatus 122, an EMM generation apparatus 123, and a scrambler 124.

  The interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 is used with a CAS card 114 for enabling limited reception such as pay broadcasting.

  In the subscriber information registration device 112, the contract contents (contract) are assigned to the unique identification number (CASID) of the CAS card 114 that performs the limited reception processing attached to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 installed in the subscriber's house. Registration information) is associated and registered. The subscriber information registration device 112 transmits the registered CASID and the contract registration information associated therewith to the system management device 31 in the broadcaster device 11. The CASID transmitted to the system management apparatus 31 and the contract registration information associated with the CASID are incorporated into the EMM by the EMM generation apparatus 123. Thereafter, the EMM in which the contract registration information is incorporated is transmitted to the scrambler 124 and is transmitted to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 through the broadcast network 115. The scrambler 124 multiplexes and scrambles an ECM (described later) in which program registration information is incorporated in the broadcast signal of each broadcast service (program), and then transmits it to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 through the broadcast network 115. Is done.

  On the other hand, registration information (program registration information) related to a broadcast service (program) is registered in the system management apparatus 31 for each broadcast service (program) pack (described later), and incorporated into the ECM by the ECM generation apparatus 122. Thereafter, the ECM in which the program registration information is embedded is transmitted to each scrambler 124, multiplexed with a broadcast signal for each broadcast service (program) by the scrambler 124, and then scrambled. It is transmitted to the broadcast receiver 21.

  When a subscriber operates a remote control (not shown) of the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 to select a broadcast service (program) of a specific channel, the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 is multiplexed with the broadcast signal. The ECM in which the program registration information is incorporated is extracted and transmitted to the CAS card 114. The CAS card 114 compares the contract registration information in the EMM received in advance with the program registration information in the ECM. If they match, the CAS card 114 passes the descrambling decryption key to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21. . The interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 decrypts the broadcast signal using the received decryption key. As a result, the subscriber can view the broadcast service (program) of the selected channel. If the program registration information in the ECM does not match the contract registration information in the EMM, an error code “not contracted” is returned to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21. Based on the error code, the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 performs a panel display “not contracted” on the screen.

  On the other hand, in the portal server 32 that provides the portal service operated by the broadcaster, various information such as guidance for the broadcasting service (program) is transmitted to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 via the communication network 116. Offering.

  In the conventional example of FIG. 9, the portal server 125 merely provides information related to a broadcast service (program), and operates the portal service screen to introduce an uncontracted broadcast service (program) introduced on the portal service screen. Could not start watching.

  The portal server 32 sends the program registration information of the broadcast service (program) to the system management apparatus 31 in the broadcast provider apparatus 11 with a unique identification number (corresponding to a service ID, that is, a channel number) for each broadcast service (program). The inquiry and system management device 31 responds to the portal server 32 with the program registration information registered for each broadcast service (program) pack registered in its own device based on the service ID. Note that the broadcast service (program) pack refers to one to which a plurality of broadcast services (programs) are assigned as one contract pack and one program registration information is given.

  The portal server 32 describes the program registration information obtained from the system management apparatus 31 in the broadcaster apparatus 11 in the broadcast service (program) displayed on the portal service screen to be provided.

  When the broadcast service (program) selected by the subscriber from the portal service screen is an uncontracted broadcast service (program), the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 does not display a panel display “not contracted” on the screen. On the portal service screen, it is displayed whether or not an additional contract is made for the broadcast service (program) selected by the subscriber. When the subscriber operates the portal service screen of the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 and performs a contract application process for an uncontracted broadcast service (program) provided by the portal server 32, the portal server 32 receives the interactive digital broadcast. The CASID of the CAS card 114 and the program contract information are inquired to the machine 21, and the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 portals the program contract information and CASID described in the broadcast service (program) for which the subscriber has applied for the contract. Responds to server 32. The portal server 32 transmits the program registration information and the CASID for the broadcast service (program) for which the acquired subscriber has applied for a contract to the system management device 31 in the broadcaster device 11.

  The system management apparatus 31 adds the received program registration information to the contract registration information associated with the CASID received from the portal server 32 (updated contract registration information), and is updated by the EMM generation apparatus 123. The transmission of the EMM (updated EMM) in which the contract registration information is incorporated is instructed. The EMM generation device 123 transmits the updated EMM to the CAS card 114 of the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 via the scrambler 124.

  The CAS card 114 of the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 extracts the updated contract registration information from the received updated EMM, and updates the contract registration information held. Since the updated contract registration information includes the program registration information of the broadcast service (program) that was originally uncontracted, the CAS card 114 is added to the broadcast signal of the broadcast service (program) that was not originally contracted. When the program registration information in the multiplexed ECM is taken out and compared with the updated contract registration information held and the match is confirmed, the decryption key for descrambling is passed to the bidirectional digital broadcast receiver 21. The interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 can descramble the broadcast signal of the broadcast service (program) that was not originally contracted by the received decryption key, and the subscriber can call the broadcast service (program) to the broadcaster. It is possible to view without any procedures such as applying for an additional contract.

  In order to ensure consistency between the registration information of the subscriber information registration device 112 and the registration information of the broadcaster device 11, the system management device 31 subscribes the CASID of the CAS card 114 with the updated contract and the updated contract registration information. To the person information registration device 112. The subscriber information registration device 112 updates the contract registration information associated with the notified CASID.

  FIG. 2 is an example of contract registration information and program registration information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The mechanism regarding the contract registration information and the program registration information will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, 61 (1), 61 (2) and 61 (3) are contract registration information with which three subscribers contract, and 62 (1), 62 (2) and 62 (3) are three broadcasts. This is program registration information of a service (program). For example, 61 (1) subscribers have basic pack contracts, 61 (2) subscribers have basic pack contracts and sports pack contracts, and 61 (3) subscribers have basic pack contracts. Suppose you have an adult pack contract in addition to the contract. That is, the first bit of the contract registration information corresponds to a basic pack contract, the second bit corresponds to a sports pack contract, and the third bit corresponds to an adult pack contract.

  Service IDs (corresponding to channel numbers) 101 to 110 are assigned to the basic pack contract, service IDs 201 to 210 are assigned to the sports pack contract, and service IDs are assigned to the adult pack contract. Assume that 301 to 310 are assigned.

  In the case of a broadcast service (program) with a service ID of 101, since the program registration information is a service included in the basic pack contract, it can be viewed by all subscribers 61 (1), 61 (2), and 61 (3). In the case of a broadcast service (program) with a service ID of 201, the program registration information is a service included in the sports pack contract, so that 61 (2) subscribers can view it. In the case of a broadcast service (program) with a service ID of 301, since the program registration information is a service included in the adult pack contract, 61 (3) subscribers can view it.

  Here, it is assumed that the subscriber is a subscriber of 61 (1) basic pack contract, and the broadcast service (program) desired to be viewed is the broadcast service (program) of service ID 301. The portal server 32 notifies the system management apparatus 31 of the service ID 301, obtains program registration information 62 (3) for the service ID, and the broadcast service (program) of the service ID 301 provided from the portal service screen includes a program. Registration information 62 (3) is described in advance. When the subscriber 61 (1) operates the portal service screen and desires to view the service ID 301 and applies for a contract addition, the portal server 32 receives the program registration information and the subscriber 61 ( 1) Obtain the CASID and notify the system management device 31 of it. The system management apparatus 31 searches for the contract registration information of the subscriber 61 (1) associated with the CASID received from the portal server 32, and reads the contract registration information of 61 (1). 04 (hexadecimal notation) which is the notified program registration information 62 (3) is added to the contract registration information 01 (hexadecimal notation), and 05 (hexadecimal notation), that is, 61 (3) subscribers are added. As with the contract registration information, the updated EMM is transmitted to the CAS card of the subscriber 61 (1).

  The transition of the screen when applying for contract addition of an uncontracted broadcast service (program) will be described more specifically using the display examples of the portal service screen of FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows the TOP screen of the portal service screen 70. When the subscriber operates the cursor of the remote controller and selects “Recommended Program” in the portal screen menu 71, the portal server 32 cooperates with the browser of the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the program advertisement of the “recommended program list” is displayed.

  When the subscriber selects any of “program advertisements” on the portal service screen 70 shown in FIG. 4, the selected program advertisements transition to the portal service screen 70 shown in FIG. 5.

  When “view program” is selected on the portal service screen 70 shown in FIG. 5, since the program registration information of this broadcast service (program) does not match the contract registration information of the subscriber's CAS card 114, the subscriber's interactive digital broadcasting The receiver 21 cannot be descrambled, and a transition is made to the portal service screen 70 shown in FIG.

  When the subscriber wishes to subscribe to the broadcast service (program) on the portal service screen 70 shown in FIG. 6, the portal screen menu “contract to view” is selected. In this portal screen menu “contract viewing”, program registration information for this broadcast service (program) is described. Thereafter, as described above, the updated EMM is transmitted to the subscriber's CASID, and the contract is made. Registration information is updated.

  According to the broadcaster apparatus of the present invention, the subscriber's convenience and operability of the broadcaster are improved by automating the contract addition process of the broadcast service (program) by the subscriber through the portal service screen. Can be improved.

  FIG. 7 shows a bidirectional digital broadcast network system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The operation until the portal server 33 transmits the acquired program registration information and CASID to the system management apparatus 31 in the broadcaster apparatus 12 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, thereafter, the portal server 33 requests the EMM generation device 123 for an updated EMM for the CASID for which a broadcast service (program) addition contract has been made, and sends the acquired EMM to the communication system. The data is transmitted to the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 via the network 116. The interactive digital broadcast receiver 22 transmits an EMM to the attached CAS card 114 and returns a response to the browser of the interactive digital broadcast receiver 22, and the browser returns an EMM reception response to the portal server 33.

  As a result, according to the first embodiment, in addition to automating the addition of a contract from the portal service screen, it is possible to construct a mechanism that allows the portal server 33 to check EMM reception.

  In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which a non-contracted broadcast service (program) is additionally contracted according to the portal service screen provided from the portal servers 32 and 33. The same applies when trying to select a program. Conventionally, the panel display “not contracted” is only displayed on the screen, but when an error code “not contracted” is received from the CAS card 114, the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 , 22 access the portal servers 32 and 33 and display a guide menu of “contract viewing”, and thereafter, the contract is updated for the subscriber's CAS card 114 according to the procedure shown in the first embodiment. It is also possible to send EMM and add contract registration information for broadcasting services (programs).

  In this embodiment, the case of applying for an additional broadcast service (program) has been described, but the same applies to the case of canceling a broadcast service (program). That is, a portal screen menu for canceling a broadcast service (program) is prepared on the portal service screen provided from the portal servers 32 and 33, and the subscriber cancels the broadcast service (program) by operating the portal screen menu. The program registration information of the confirmed broadcast service (program) and the CAS ID of the CAS card 114 are transmitted to the system management apparatus 31 in the broadcast situation person apparatuses 11 and 12 as cancellation information. The system management apparatus 31 subtracts the received program contract information from the contract registration information held for the received CASID, and instructs the EMM generation apparatus 123 to transmit the contract registration information obtained by subtracting the CASID. The EMM generation device 123 transmits the EMM incorporating the updated contract registration information to the CAS card 114 of the interactive digital broadcast receivers 21 and 22 via the scrambler 124.

  In this embodiment, in the case of a program addition application, the program registration information and the CASID are requested by an instruction from the portal servers 32 and 33, but the identification number for identifying the program registration information and the interactive digital broadcast receiver 21 is used. (STBID) may be requested. The portal servers 32 and 33 transmit the acquired program registration information and STBID to the system management apparatus 31. The system management device 31 retrieves the contract registration information for the corresponding STBID from the STBID and the contract registration information registered in advance from the subscriber information registration device 112, and displays the contract registration information corresponding to the requested program registration information. Additional processing may be performed.

  In this embodiment, in the case of an application for adding a program, the CASID is requested by an instruction from the portal servers 32 and 33. However, an STBID may be requested in addition to the CASID. The portal servers 32 and 33 transmit STBID to the system management apparatus 31 in addition to the acquired program registration information and CASID. When the system management apparatus 31 searches for contract registration information for the corresponding CASID and adds contract registration information corresponding to the requested program registration information, the system management apparatus 31 compares the stored STBID with the notified STBID, The contract addition process may be performed only when they match.

  In the present embodiment, the program registration information of the broadcast service (program) is described in the portal screen menu “contract viewing” of the recommended programs provided from the portal servers 32 and 33, but instead, for each broadcast service (program). A unique identification number (service ID) may be described. The portal servers 32 and 33 transmit the service ID and CASID for the broadcast service (program) for which the obtained subscriber has applied for a contract to the system management apparatus 31 in the broadcast provider apparatus 11. The system management apparatus 31 reads out program registration information corresponding to the service ID received from the portal servers 32 and 33, and similarly adds the program registration information to the contract registration information associated with the received CASID ( (Updated contract registration information) and the EMM generation device 123 is instructed to transmit an EMM (updated EMM) in which the updated contract registration information is incorporated. The subsequent steps are the same as in the above embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the program registration information of the broadcast service (program) is described in the portal screen menu of “contract viewing” of the recommended programs provided from the portal servers 32 and 33. It may be described in the content of “program advertisement” and the program registration information may be acquired when the subscriber selects the portal screen menu “contract viewing”.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which one program registration information is registered as a single pack of a plurality of broadcast services (programs). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one broadcast service (program) has one. A configuration in which program registration information is registered may be used.

  The broadcaster apparatus according to the present invention can improve the convenience of the subscriber and the operability of the broadcaster, and the subscriber can subscribe to an unsubscribed broadcast service (program) through the portal service screen. This is useful as a broadcaster apparatus that automates additional processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Interactive digital broadcasting network system 11, 12 Broadcaster apparatus 21 Interactive digital broadcast receiver 31 System management apparatus 32, 33 Portal server 70 Portal service screen 71 Portal screen menu 112 Subscriber information registration apparatus 114 CAS card 115 Broadcast network 116 Communication network 122 ECM generator 123 EMM generator 124 Scrambler

Claims (5)

A broadcaster device;
The first identification information and the contract registration information associated with the first identification information are held, the signal from the broadcasting company apparatus is limitedly received using the first network, and the broadcasting company apparatus A two-way digital broadcast receiver for two-way communication using the second network;
In a two-way digital network system including
The interactive digital broadcast reception based on the contract addition instruction or contract cancellation instruction from the interactive digital broadcast receiver for the program information describing the program registration information provided by the broadcaster apparatus using the second network A broadcaster apparatus that updates the contract registration information of the interactive digital broadcast receiver with the first identification information and the program registration information received from a broadcasting device. A portal server that receives the first identification information and the program registration information from the interactive digital broadcast receiver based on a contract addition instruction or a contract cancellation instruction from the interactive digital broadcast receiver;
A system management unit that holds the same information as the first identification information held by the interactive digital broadcast receiver and the contract registration information associated with the first identification information;
The portal server transmits the first identification information and the program registration information received from the interactive digital broadcast receiver to the system management unit,
The system management unit adds the program registration information received from the portal server to the contract registration information associated with the first identification information that is the same as the first identification information received from the portal server that is held. The broadcaster apparatus according to claim 1, wherein subtraction is performed. The interactive digital broadcast receiver further holds second identification information associated with the first identification information;
The system management unit further holds the same information as the second identification information held by the interactive digital broadcast receiver,
The portal server receives the first identification information, the second identification information, and the program registration information from the interactive digital broadcast receiver based on a contract addition instruction or contract cancellation instruction from the interactive digital broadcast receiver. Receiving the first identification information received from the interactive digital broadcast receiver, the second identification information and the program registration information to the system management unit,
The system management unit is identical to the first identification information received from the portal server only when the second identification information held by the system management unit matches the second identification information received from the portal server. 3. The broadcaster apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the program registration information received from the portal server is added to or subtracted from the contract registration information associated with one identification information. The portal server transmits the first identification information and the program registration information received from the interactive digital broadcast receiver to the system management unit, and then adds or subtracts the first identification information that the system management unit adds or subtracts. The contract registration information associated with the information is received from the system management unit, and the contract registration information associated with the first identification information received from the system management unit is received using the second network. 3. The broadcast provider apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the broadcast provider apparatus transmits to a digital broadcast receiver and obtains a transmission response from the interactive digital broadcast receiver. The first identification information and the contract registration information associated with the first identification information are held, the signal from the broadcasting company apparatus is limitedly received using the first network, and the broadcasting company apparatus A two-way digital broadcast receiver for two-way communication using the second network;
The interactive digital broadcasting based on a contract addition instruction or contract cancellation instruction from the interactive digital broadcast receiver for program information describing program registration information provided to the interactive digital broadcast receiver using the second network. A bidirectional digital network system comprising: a broadcaster apparatus that updates the contract registration information of the interactive digital broadcast receiver with the first identification information and the program registration information received from a broadcast receiver.

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