JP2785522B2 - Pay broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention considers convenience in receiving a pay broadcast such as a tier system in which a fee is charged for each program or a pay-per-view system in which a fee is charged for a total viewing time. And related pay broadcast receiving devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japan, the age of satellite broadcasting has entered the age of pay broadcasting. There are the above-mentioned tier method and pay-per-view method as a method of receiving a contract for receiving such a pay broadcast. In particular, in the tier system, in order to allow the viewer to select whether or not to watch the program (whether or not to subscribe to the program), it is allowed to view the program free of charge within a range of 1 minute x 3 times per channel. It is. That is, the scramble is canceled for one minute after the start of reception, and returns to the scramble state again after one minute. When switching back to the original channel after switching to another channel, the scramble is canceled again for one minute. This is allowed up to three times. Therefore, in the tier system, the above-mentioned reception time and the number of times of reception are determined for each channel at the stage of judging whether or not to watch the program. In the pay-per-view system, the total viewing time (integrated time) is determined for each channel. For example, a function of displaying a message is required. However, such a function has not been realized at this stage.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides on-screen display of information necessary for the tier system and the pay-per-view system, such as the reception time and the number of receptions, in order to improve the convenience of the receiver. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pay broadcast receiving apparatus.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pay broadcast receiving apparatus comprising a descrambling circuit, a control microcomputer, and a scramble decoder for descrambling a scrambled video signal input from a tuner section. In the case where the form of the pay broadcast is a so-called tier system, a memory unit for storing the number of receptions before receiving a contract for each received program via the control microcomputer, and a reception time for each received program. a timer for counting a character generator for generating a character signal based on the signal representative of the number of receptions read out from the memory section via the該制patronized microcomputer, scrambler than該De scrambler
A switching circuit for switching between the video signal released from the bull and the character signal from the character generator according to the switching signal of the control microcomputer.

[0005] A pay-broadcast receiver comprising a descramble circuit and a control microcomputer, and a scramble decoder for descrambling the scrambled video signal input from the tuner section, wherein the form of the pay-broadcast is so-called. In the case of the pay-per-view method, a memory unit that stores the received cumulative time for each reception channel via the control microcomputer, a timer that counts the reception time for each reception channel, and A character generator for generating a character signal based on the signal indicating the accumulated time read from the memory unit, and a scrambler from the descrambling circuit
A switching circuit for switching between the released video signal and the character signal from the character generator according to a switching signal from the control microcomputer. Further, in the case of the tier system, one end is connected to the output end of the tuner section , the other end is connected to the input end of the descramble circuit, and the switching circuit is switched by a switching signal from the control microcomputer. An input on / off operation unit for inputting a signal to the control microcomputer; when the input on / off operation unit is operated, the switching circuit which is on by the control microcomputer is once turned off and then turned on again Such a switching signal is output to the switching circuit. In addition to the operation of the input on / off operation unit, a switching signal for automatically turning on / off the switching circuit may be output to the switching circuit after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0006]

According to the data response between the descrambling circuit and the control microcomputer, the control microcomputer reads whether the selected signal is the tier system or the pay-per-view system. When the result is a tier system, program information for specifying a program is read, and when the result is a pay-per-view system, channel information for specifying a channel is read. In the tier system, the number of receptions and the elapsed reception time for each number of receptions are output as display signals, and in the pay-per-view system, the accumulated viewing time for each channel is output as a display signal.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pay broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of a pay broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a receiving tuner section for selecting a channel from a signal from an antenna and demodulating a video signal or the like, 2 is a scramble decoder having the illustrated one, and 3 is a scrambled video signal from the receiving tuner section 1 Circuit for descrambling by the data response 21 with the control microcomputer 8 stores the number of receptions for each program in the case of the tier system, and accumulates the reception time for each channel in the case of the pay-per-view system. Memory section for storing
5 is a timer for counting the reception elapsed time, 6 is a character generator for generating a character signal based on a signal from the control microcomputer 8, 7 is a video signal descrambled by the descrambling circuit 3 and a character from the character generator 6. A switching circuit for switching the signal and the character signal by the switching signal 22 from the control microcomputer 8 and superimposing the character signal on the video signal. Reference numeral 8 denotes a control microcomputer (described later).

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control microcomputer 8 in FIG. In parentheses below
The ST number indicates each step in FIG. Now, tuner 1
When a certain channel is selected (ST1), the scrambled video signal is input to the descrambling circuit 3. The control microcomputer 8 starts the timer 5 to start time counting (ST2) and, based on the relevant information multiplexed with the video signal via the data response 21 with the descrambling circuit 3, switches the selected channel to the tier system. Or not (in this case, the pay-per-view method is used) (ST3). Subsequent processing operations of the control microcomputer 8 are different between the case of the tier system and the case of the pay-per-view system, and will be described separately.

(1) In the case of the tier system In the case of the tier system (ST3 YES), program information for specifying a program is further read (ST4). It is determined (ST5) whether or not the program is a reception contract operation based on intention (ST5). If the reception contract has been completed (ST5 YES), the descramble circuit 3
And the data response 21 to release the scramble (ST6).
If it is an uncontracted program (ST5 NO), the number of receptions is stored in the memory unit 4 (ST7). A determination is made based on whether or not this reception is the fourth or more reception of the same program (ST
8). The reason for setting the fourth or more times as a reference is that, in the case of this system, reception is possible only up to three times before a reception contract. Then, when the reception of the same program is within the third time (ST8)
In NO), it is monitored whether or not the time count by the timer 5 has elapsed before one minute has elapsed (ST9).
ES) Descramble (ST10) and output on-screen display data (number of receptions and reception time during current reception) (ST11). It is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 50 seconds) has elapsed with respect to the allowable reception time (1 minute) (ST12). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (ST12 NO), ST10 and ST11 are continued. When the predetermined time has elapsed (ST12 YES), display data indicating a warning such as blinking of the display data is output (ST13). If the reception is within one minute, ST9 is repeated from ST9 YES, but after one minute (ST9 NO), the descrambling is stopped (ST14). Also, when the same program is received four or more times (ST8 YES), the descrambling is stopped (ST14).

(2) In the case of the pay-per-view method In the case where the determination in ST3 is the pay-per-view method (ST3N
In O), channel information specifying a channel is read from the data response 21 (ST15), and the accumulated viewing time of the corresponding channel is read from the memory unit 4 (ST16).
Then, the current viewing time by the timer 5 is added to the accumulated time (ST17), and the on-screen display data is output (ST18). The integrated total viewing time is stored in the memory unit 4 for each channel data (ST19).

The display data output for each system output from the control microcomputer 8 as described above is input to the character generator 6, and is converted into a character signal corresponding to the display data. The character signal and the descrambled video signal from the descrambling circuit 3 are switched by the switching circuit 7. This switching is for synthesizing the video signal and the character signal. The switching timing is controlled by a control signal 22 from the control microcomputer 8. As a result, the switching circuit 7 outputs a video signal 23 on which the number of times of reception, the elapsed time, and the like are superimposed. If the video signal is input to the monitor, these are displayed on-screen. Next, FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a main block diagram showing another embodiment of the pay broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention, in which the convenience in the case of the tier system is further improved. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and 9 is provided between the output terminal 31 of the receiving tuner unit 1 and the input terminal 32 of the descrambling circuit 3 and switched by the switching signal 24. A circuit 10 is an input on / off operation unit for performing an on / off operation of the switching circuit 9, and 11 is a control microcomputer.

[0012] In the tier system, as described above, once switching to another channel within one minute, and returning to the original channel, the program can be viewed again for one minute (up to three times). Here, the same effect can be obtained even if the video signal input to the descramble circuit is turned off once and then input again. This is because turning off the video signal updates the descrambling operation. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 provides a method of turning on / off the video signal input without performing such channel switching. Now, when the viewer operates the input on / off operation unit 10 to turn on / off the switching circuit 9, an operation signal 25 is input to the control microcomputer 11.
The control microcomputer 11 outputs a switching signal 24 based on the operation signal, and once turns off the switching circuit 9 in the on state, and turns it on again. This allows the user to view the content again within one minute. In the above description, the viewer manually operates the input on / off operation unit 10. However, the switching circuit 9 can be automatically turned on and off when one minute has elapsed by software processing of the control microcomputer 11. The switching signal 24 is output immediately after one minute. By doing so, the viewer can check the contents of the program three times for about one minute without any operation. In this case, the input on / off operation unit 10 can be deleted. However, in the case of software processing, the switching timing is fixed. It is advisable to leave the operation unit 10 as shown in FIG.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of receptions, the elapsed reception time, the accumulated viewing time, and the like when judging whether or not to contract for a pay broadcast such as a tier system or a pay-per-view system are determined. Since it is superimposed on the signal and displayed on-screen, it provides convenience to the viewer and contributes to improvement of the function as a pay broadcast receiving apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of a pay broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part block diagram showing another embodiment of the pay broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control microcomputer 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receiving tuner part 2 Scramble decoder 3 Descramble circuit 4 Memory part 5 Timer 6 Character generator 7 Switching circuit 8 Control microcomputer 9 Switching circuit 10 Input ON / OFF operation part 11 Control microcomputer

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pay-broadcast receiving apparatus comprising a descrambling circuit, a control microcomputer, and a scramble decoder for descrambling a scrambled video signal input from a tuner section, the pay-broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: Is a so-called tier system, a memory unit for storing the number of receptions before receiving a contract for each reception program via the control microcomputer, a timer for counting the reception time for each reception program, and the control microcomputer A character generator for generating a character signal based on the signal indicating the number of receptions read from the memory unit via the memory, a descrambled video signal from the descrambling circuit, and a character signal from the character generator. And a switching circuit for switching the control circuit in accordance with a switching signal of the control microcomputer. Broadcasting receiver. 2. A descramble circuit and a control microcomputer.
And the scrambled input from the tuner section.
Scramble deco to cancel the scramble of the video signal
A pay-broadcast receiving apparatus provided with a receiver, wherein when the form of the pay-broadcast is a so-called pay-per-view system, a memory unit for storing the received cumulative time for each receiving channel via the control microcomputer; A timer that counts a reception time for each channel, a character generator that generates a character signal based on a signal representing the accumulated time read from the memory unit via the control microcomputer, and a character generator that generates a character signal. scramble
A pay-broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a switching circuit for switching between a released video signal and a character signal from the character generator in accordance with a switching signal of the control microcomputer. 3. In the case of the tier system, one end is connected to an output end of the tuner unit , the other end is connected to an input end of a descramble circuit, and the switching circuit is switched by a switching signal from a control microcomputer. And an input on / off operation unit for inputting an operation signal to the control microcomputer. When the input on / off operation unit is operated, the switching circuit which is on by the control microcomputer is once turned off and then turned on again. 2. The pay-broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a switching signal for setting the state is output to the switching circuit. 4. In the case of the tier system, one end is
A switching circuit connected to the output terminal of the tuner section , the other end connected to the input terminal of the descramble circuit, and a switching circuit switched by a switching signal from the control microcomputer is provided. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the control microcomputer automatically outputs a switching signal to the switching circuit so that the switching circuit, which is in the on state, is once turned off and then turned on again. The pay broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1.