JP3212505B2 - Paid viewing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pay-per-view device such as a prepaid card type timer device for pay-per-viewing a television receiver or the like installed in a hotel guest room, a hospital room, or the like. The present invention relates to a pay-viewing apparatus having a function of preventing eavesdropping by a remote controller or the like attached to the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a prepaid card type timer device has been connected to the television in order to charge a fee for a television receiver provided in each room such as a hotel guest room and a sick room, and to manage viewing time. A remote control device dedicated to the device (such as an infrared remote control device) is provided, and by operating the remote control device toward the timer device, a remote control signal is transmitted to the television receiver via the timer device. There is a configuration that operates a receiver.

In such a timer device, after a remote control signal from the remote controller is received by a light receiving unit of the device, the timer device transmits the remote control signal from the remote control light emitting unit to the remote control light receiving unit of the television receiver through an internal processing circuit. In the above-mentioned processing circuit, a television channel is selected into a pay-view channel and a free-view channel by the processing circuit, and when the channel selected by the remote controller is a pay-view, a frequency subtraction process of a prepaid card is performed. It has become.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional device, a remote control device attached to the television receiver, which is different from the remote control device dedicated to the timer device,
Alternatively, when the general-purpose remote controller is used to operate the television receiver, channel operation can be performed without the intervention of a timer device. Therefore, in order to prevent such eavesdropping, the remote control light receiving unit of the television receiver is shielded from light so that remote control signals other than the remote control signal from the light emitting unit of the timer device do not enter the remote control light receiving unit of the television receiver. Processing such as doing was necessary. However, it is very troublesome to perform the processing for all the television receivers installed in a hospital room or the like, which has caused a cost increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has made it impossible to operate a television receiver from another remote controller without modifying a light receiving portion of the television receiver such as a shading process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a realized pay viewing apparatus.

[0006]

For the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The to solve the above problems, the first, is connected to the operating device, the paid viewing device for charging operation in response to the selection operation of a predetermined channel, the TV operation for operating the operated device
Special operation means for generating a signal, and the special operation means
TV remote control operation by receiving TV operation signal from
Operation signal transmission means for transmitting a signal to the operated device
And the operated device is provided with the remote control for the television.
The carrier signal component of the signal is detected based on the input of the
Output and goes low when the carrier signal component is detected.
A detection for generating a demodulated output of the TV remote control operation signal.
An output circuit, wherein the operation signal transmitting means includes:
Carry from the oscillator based on the operation of the dedicated operation means
A signal is modulated by the TV operation signal and
A remote control operation signal is generated, and the remote control operation signal for the television is generated.
Is transmitted to the operated device, and the operation by the dedicated operation means is performed.
The carrier signal from the above oscillator is
As an interference signal is intended to be sent to the to-be-operated machine, the upper
The detection circuit of the operated device is based on the input of the interference signal.
Then, while the jamming signal is being input, the
By detecting the rear signal component, the demodulated output is low level.
And a pay-viewing apparatus characterized in that the pay-viewing apparatus is maintained .

While the dedicated operation means is not operated,
The operation signal transmitting means transmits an interference signal to the operated device. The operated device receives and demodulates the interference signal to maintain the demodulated output at a low level. In this state, even if the remote control operation signal attached to the operated device is input to the operated device, for example, by operating the remote control operation device attached to the operated device, the demodulated output of the operated device is included in the interference signal . because it is maintained more low level can not be detected demodulating the remote control signal input. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an eavesdropping by the remote controller attached to the operated device.

[0008] Second, the operation signal transmitting means, the Te
Interference based on the end of the transmission of the remote control signal for Levi
The pay-viewing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured to generate the carrier signal as a signal and transmit the signal to the operated device. When the dedicated operation means is operated , the remote control
The signal is transmitted from the operation signal transmitting means to the operated device, and the operated device can be operated. Thereafter, the operation signal transmitting means transmits an interference signal based on the end of the transmission of the television remote control operation signal . In this state, the demodulated output of the operated device is maintained at a low level. In addition, it is possible to prevent eavesdropping by the remote controller attached to the operated device.

Thirdly, the operation signal transmitting means, the Te
After detecting the end of the transmission of the remote control signal for Levi and delaying it for a predetermined time , the carrier signal as the interference signal is detected.
The composed of pay-per-view system of the second aspect, wherein a is intended to be sent to the target controller.
The operation signal transmitting means is a remote control operation signal for the television.
Detecting the end of transmission of the items, the interfere after a predetermined time delay
Since the harm signal is transmitted, the television remote control operation signal is reliably demodulated and detected in the operated device within the predetermined time, and the operated device can be reliably operated,
The operation of the operated device is not affected by the pulse signal transmitted thereafter. In addition, for TV
Transmit carrier pulse signal of remote control operation signal
Because of the configuration, the device must be configured using a conventional circuit.
And the device can be realized at low cost.

[0010]

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a prepaid card type timer device as a pay-viewing device according to the present invention, which is connected to a television receiver (operated device) 2 installed in a hospital room such as a hospital or a hotel, or a guest room, and 2 enables paid viewing and the like. In the device 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a wired dedicated remote controller (dedicated operation means) provided exclusively for the device 1.
A dedicated remote control operation signal (FIG. 2) for operating the television receiver 2 such as a channel is transmitted to the device 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a remote control signal detection unit to which the remote control operation unit 3 is connected, which detects a dedicated remote control signal from the operation unit 3 and sends it to the microcomputer 7. 5
Are various television operation signals for operating the television receiver 2 (power, volume, channel, etc. operation signals, FIG. 2)
Is stored in association with the dedicated remote control operation signal. When the dedicated remote control signal is input to the microcomputer 7, a television operation signal corresponding to the signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 7 in accordance with a command from the microcomputer 7. To be sent.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a card reader / writer, which reads the remaining frequency of the card C according to a command from the microcomputer 7 and sends it to the microcomputer 7 when a prepaid card C is inserted. The remaining number at that time is written in the card, and the card C is ejected. When a pay channel setting card C '(not shown) is inserted, the setting data is read and sent to the microcomputer 7.

Reference numeral 7 denotes the microcomputer, which supplies a power supply 11 to the television receiver 2 via a power supply control unit 12 when the prepaid card C is inserted into the card reader / writer 6. A current flowing through the television receiver 2 is detected by a current detection sensor (not shown) to recognize the start of viewing. Further, when the input dedicated remote control operation signal is a channel signal, it is determined whether the channel is a pay channel or a free channel based on the setting data of the card C ′. Is performed. Also,
While the dedicated remote control operation signal is being input from the remote control signal detection unit 4, the TV operation signal (FIG. 2) corresponding to the remote control operation signal is read from the memory 5,
This signal is sent to the remote control signal generation unit 8 to give the generation unit 8 and the oscillator 9 an instruction to generate a TV remote control operation signal (FIGS. 2B and 2D) as a modulated operation signal.
After confirming that the transmission of the television remote control operation signal has been completed, a carrier signal as a disturbing signal (constant level pulse signal) is transmitted to the remote control signal generator 8 and the oscillator 9 after a delay of T1. Ingredient (38KH
2) to give an interference command for constantly generating a carrier pulse signal of z (FIG. 2). The reason for delaying the interference signal by the time T1 is to secure a time for the television receiver 2 to reliably recognize the television remote control operation signal (FIG. 2b) transmitted immediately before. The same time T1 is set in advance in correspondence with the time required for the above-described recognition of the television receiver 2. If the exclusive remote control operation signal is newly input during transmission of the interference signal, the interference command is stopped, and after a delay of T2, a generation command of the TV remote control operation signal (FIG. 4D) is similarly given. At this time, T2
The reason for delaying the time is to ensure that the television remote control operation signal can be recognized by the television receiver 2.

8 receives a command from the microcomputer 7 and
This is a remote control signal generation unit that generates a remote control operation signal for TV (FIG. 2), and a carrier signal (38 KH) input from the oscillator 9 based on a generation command from the microcomputer.
z) is modulated by a television operation signal, a television remote control operation signal (b, d in FIG. 2) is generated and transmitted to a remote control signal transmission unit 13, and the oscillator 9 is controlled based on an interference command from the microcomputer 7. Is transmitted to the remote control signal transmitting section 13 as a disturbing signal (a, c, e in FIG. 2) without any modulation.

Reference numeral 13 denotes the remote control signal transmitting section, which transmits the remote control signal or interference signal for television from the remote control signal generating section 8 to the light receiving section 2a of the television receiver 2 as an infrared signal. The power supply line of the television receiver 2 is connected to the power supply control unit 12, and supplies the commercial power supply 11 to the television receiver 2 according to a command from the microcomputer 7 when there is the remaining power,
The supply of the power supply 11 to the television receiver 2 is stopped when the residual count reaches 0 or when the prepaid card is removed.

The TV receiver 2 receives a TV remote control operation signal (FIG. 2) transmitted as an infrared signal from the remote control signal transmission section 13 at a light receiving section 2a, and a high level of 38 KHz is detected by an internal well-known detection circuit. The demodulated output (FIG. 2 b ′, d ′) of the remote control signal for the television which becomes low level can be obtained by detecting and integrating.
While the interference signal is being input, the level is always constant, that is, always low (FIGS. 2a ', c', and 2 ').
e ′) Even if a remote control signal (FIG. 2) from the remote controller 15 attached to the television receiver 2 is input, the demodulated output of the television receiver 2 remains at a low level, and reception and demodulation of the signal cannot be performed. Becomes Reference numeral 14 denotes a display unit for displaying the remaining count of the prepaid card C. Further, in the present embodiment, the remote control signal detection unit 4, the microcomputer 7, the remote control signal generation unit 8, and the remote control signal transmission unit 13 constitute an operation signal transmission unit.

The present invention is configured as described above. Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is assumed that the card C 'is inserted into the card reader / writer 6 and a predetermined channel is set in the microcomputer 7 as a pay channel in advance. When the prepaid card C is inserted into the prepaid card type timer device 1, the microcomputer 7 gives a command to the power control unit 12 and
1 is supplied to the television receiver 2 via the power control unit 12. When the power switch of the television receiver 2 is turned on in this state, the microcomputer 7 recognizes the start of viewing of the television receiver 2 based on a signal from the current detection sensor of the power control unit 12 (P1, P2 in FIG. 3).

Thereafter, the microcomputer 7 determines whether or not a dedicated remote control operation signal has been input from the dedicated remote controller 3 (P3). If the signal has not been input, the remote control signal generator 8 transmits an interference signal. Then, a disturbance command is given to the oscillator 9 (P4). Based on the command, the remote control signal generator 8 sends the 38 KHz carrier signal input from the oscillator 9 to the remote controller signal transmitter 13 as a disturbance signal, and transmits the disturbance signal from the transmitter 13 to the television receiver 2 (FIG. 2).
a) is transmitted. In this state, since the demodulated output of the television receiver 2 always keeps the low level (FIG. 2a '), the remote controller 15 attached to the television receiver is used to send a remote control signal to the receiver 2a of the television receiver 2. (Fig. 2)
, The demodulated output (dotted line H in FIG. 2) cannot be obtained on the television receiver 2 side.
5, the operation of the television receiver 2 becomes impossible.

Next, when the microcomputer 7 receives the dedicated remote control operation signal (FIG. 2) (P3), it gives a command to stop transmission of the interference signal to the remote control signal generator 8 (P5). Read out the TV operation signal (FIG. 2) corresponding to the dedicated remote control operation signal,
After a delay of two hours (P6), a command to generate a TV remote control operation signal (FIG.
(P7). Thus, the remote control signal generation unit 8 stops transmitting the interference signal, modulates the 38 KHz carrier signal from the oscillator 9 with the TV operation signal, generates a TV remote control operation signal, and converts the signal to a remote control signal. It is sent to the transmission unit 13. Therefore, the remote control signal for television is transmitted from the remote control signal transmission unit 13 to the television receiver 2 after a delay of T2 (FIG. 2).
b). With the above operation, the television receiver 2 can be operated by the dedicated remote controller 3.

Next, the microcomputer 7 detects whether or not the transmission of the remote control operation signal has been completed (P8). Upon detecting the completion of the transmission, the microcomputer 7 transmits the signal to the remote control signal generator 8 again after a delay of T1. An interference command is given to generate an interference signal (P9, 10). As a result, the remote control signal generator 8 sends the 38 KHz carrier signal input from the oscillator 9 to the remote control signal transmitter 13 as an interference signal. Therefore, after a time delay of T1, the interfering signal (FIG. 2) is transmitted from the remote control signal transmitting unit 13 to the television receiver 2.
c) is transmitted. Since the television remote control operation signal (FIG. 2B) is reliably recognized by the television receiver 2 within the delay time of T1, the interference signal (FIG.
c) does not affect the operation of the television receiver 2 by the television remote control operation signal (FIG. 2b) transmitted immediately before. In this state, the demodulated output of the television receiver 2 is always kept at the low level (FIG. 2c ') as in the above-described case, and the television receiver 2 is operated by the remote controller 16 attached to the television receiver 2. It becomes impossible.

Also, based on the input of the dedicated remote control operation signal (FIG. 2) from the dedicated remote controller 3, the microcomputer 7 determines whether or not the operation signal is a pay channel signal based on the setting data. (P11) If the signal is a pay channel signal, an operation of subtracting the remaining number of the prepaid card is performed (P12). In the case of a free channel signal, no subtraction operation is performed. Thereafter, the operation when the dedicated remote controller 3 is newly operated is the same as the above operation (see FIGS. 2d and 2e).

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention,
When the dedicated remote controller 3 is not operated, the remote controller signal transmitter 1 of the prepaid card type timer device 1
3 always transmits a disturbance signal to the television receiver 2, and the disturbance signal is demodulated in the television receiver 2 and its demodulated output is constantly maintained at a low level. Alternatively, even if a remote control operation signal is transmitted to the television receiver 2 using another general-purpose remote controller (not shown) or the like, the demodulated output cannot be obtained in the television receiver 2 and these remote controller Thus, the operation of the television receiver 2 can be disabled.

Further, the light receiving section 2a of the television receiver 2 does not need to be subjected to processing such as shading, and the television receiver 2 can be used as it is. Therefore, no special work is required, and the prepaid card type timer device can be used. Installation work is extremely simple.

Further, since the carrier signal of 38 KHz is used as the interference signal, the circuit configuration of the conventional prepaid card type timer device (remote control signal generator 8, oscillator 9, etc.) is diverted as it is and only the software of the microcomputer is changed. Since it can cope, the device itself can be configured at low cost.

Incidentally, the wired dedicated remote controller 3 may be an infrared remote controller, or a configuration in which a dedicated operating section is provided integrally with the main body of the apparatus 1. In addition, the present apparatus can be applied not only to the television receiver 2 but also to a pay-to-view device of another operated device such as a sound reproducing device such as a radio receiver.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the dedicated operation means is not operated , a carrier signal as an interference signal is transmitted from the operation signal transmission means of the apparatus to the operated machine.
Since the carrier signal is demodulated in the operated device and its demodulated output is maintained at a low level, operation of the operated device by another remote controller or the like can be disabled.
Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the operated device from being stolen and viewed without performing a processing such as a light shielding process on the operated device.

[0028] In addition, hand carrier signal as an interference signal
By using the carrier pulse signal of the remote control operation signal for the Levi, it is possible to cope with only the change of the control software, for example, by utilizing the circuit configuration of the conventional pay-viewing apparatus, and the apparatus itself can be realized at low cost .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a pay-viewing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing signal waveforms related to the above device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a microcomputer of the above device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Prepaid card type timer device 2 TV receiver 3 Dedicated remote controller 4 Remote controller signal detector 7 Microcomputer 8 Remote controller signal generator 9 Oscillator 13 Remote controller signal transmitter

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pay television apparatus connected to an operated device and performing a billing operation in response to an operation of selecting a predetermined channel , generates a television operation signal for operating the operated device.
A dedicated operating means for, TV receiving TV operation signal from the dedicated operation means
Transmitting the remote control operation signal to the operated device
Operating signal transmission means, wherein the operated device receives the remote control operation signal for the television.
Detecting a carrier signal component of the signal based on the
For the above-mentioned TV, which goes low when a rear signal component is detected
Has a detection circuit that generates a demodulated output of the remote control operation signal
A shall, said operation signal transmitting means, based on the operation of the dedicated operating means
The carrier signal from the oscillator
To generate the TV remote control operation signal.
Transmits the TV remote control operation signal to the
Note that the above operation is not performed while the dedicated operation means is not used.
The operated machine described above, using the carrier signal from the vibration
And the detection circuit of the operated device receives the input of the interference signal.
While inputting the interference signal based on the
Carrier signal component to detect the demodulated output.
A pay-viewing apparatus characterized by being maintained at a bell . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation signal transmitting means is for the television.
The interference signal and on the basis of the transmission end of the remote control signal
The pay-viewing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier signal is generated and transmitted to the operated device. 3. The operation signal transmitting means for the television
The pay-viewing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein after detecting the end of transmission of the remote control operation signal and delaying the transmission for a predetermined time, the carrier signal as the interference signal is transmitted to the operated device.