JP3239890B2 - Information receiving device and information receiving billing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information receiving apparatus of an information providing system such as a CATV and a charging method thereof, and more particularly, to a method of providing a plurality of fee systems in an information providing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information providing system such as a CATV, an information provider and a user make a contract, and a CATV line is provided between the information provider and the user. Was offered. In this case, there is basically one charge system, and the same amount of money can be obtained regardless of whether the user records video information provided by the information provider on a VTR or the like on the information receiving side of the user or watches it on a TV. Was periodically collected from the user by the information provider.

[0003]

However, in the above-described configuration, it is not possible to set different fee systems using the same CATV line.

In particular, with the advance of digital technology, video information is digitized and transmitted. If the video information, which is a digital signal, can be directly recorded on a recording medium such as a VTR, an information provider provides the video information. Copying can be performed without deterioration in image quality and sound quality as compared with video information, which poses a problem from the viewpoint of copyright protection and the like.

An object of the present invention is to enable a user of a terminal receiving information such as CATV to pay an appropriate fee to an information provider such as CATV, and to manage a recording apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information receiving apparatus capable of recording the received information on a recording medium and allowing a user to pay a fee to an information provider according to the recorded information, and a charging method thereof.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an information receiving apparatus according to the present invention transmits information provided in response to a user request from an information providing apparatus which provides information and charges a fee. Information receiving means for receiving, and the information receiving means
A recording device that records the output signal of the information receiving device on a recording medium, and determines whether to output the output signal of the information receiving unit to the recording device, and changes the billing amount according to the determination result. And a terminal management unit for notifying that the identifier (ID) for identification is recorded on the recording medium of the recording device. The output signal of the information receiving means is output and recorded.

Therefore, in the information receiving apparatus of the present invention, when a user records a program provided from a line on a recording medium, the user checks whether the ID number is recorded on the recording medium and checks the ID number on the recording medium. If is not recorded,
Does not output a signal to the recording / reproducing device.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the information providing system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment First, the configuration of an information providing apparatus of an information providing system will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a user discriminating means for reading identification information for identifying a user. Reference numeral 2 denotes an information providing means for providing information through the line 11 in response to a user's request. The information includes video information such as a movie, audio information such as music, a city representing a sightseeing spot or a delicious food store. It includes all information such as information and computer programs that make up the game. Reference numeral 3 denotes a providing destination determining unit that determines whether the information providing unit 2 provides the information to a user's display device described later or to the user's storage device. Reference numeral 4 denotes a case in which information is provided to the user's display device. This is charging means for setting a different amount between the amount charged to the user and the amount charged when the information is provided to the storage device of the user.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a money amount storage means provided for each user, and the money amount storage means 5 corresponds to the user provided with the information based on the identification information of the user determined by the user determination means 1. In 5, an amount corresponding to the output of the charging means 4 is accumulated.

Next, the configuration of the information receiving device of the information providing system will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6 denotes provided information designating means for notifying an information provider of information requested by a user, and 7 denotes information for receiving information provided by the information provider in response to a request of the user. It is a receiving means. Reference numeral 8 denotes output destination determining means for determining whether the output signal of the information receiving means 7 is to be provided to the user's display device or to the user's storage device.
The output destination of the signal is notified to the information provider through the line 11. Reference numeral 9 denotes a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the provided information output through the output destination determining means 8. In this embodiment, an optical disk is used. It may be. A display device 10 displays the provided information output through the output destination determining means 8.
RT is used, but if it can display information, the user can respond to the five senses of the user, such as a liquid crystal display device, an image forming device that displays information on a transfer object such as paper such as a printer, etc. Includes everything that conveys information. Reference numeral 11 denotes a CATV wired line, which may be a wired line such as a telephone line or a wireless line such as a satellite broadcast as long as it can transmit information.

The operation of the information providing system configured as described above will be described below. In this embodiment, the information is video information in CATV, and the line 11 uses a CATV line.

First, the user specifies the video information desired to be provided by the provided information specifying means 6 of the information receiving apparatus. The provided information designating unit 6 transmits the identification number of the user and the identification number of the designated video information to the information providing device via the line 11. When the information providing device receives the identification number of the user and the identification number of the designated video information, the user determining means 1 determines the identification number of the user and uses the usage number registered in the information providing device. It is determined whether the user is a user or not, and if the user is a registered user, a signal for permitting information provision is output to the information provision means 2. If the user is not registered, a signal for prohibiting information provision is output to the information providing means 2.

Next, the information providing means 2 permitted to provide the information transmits the image information desired by the user to the information receiving means 7 through the line 12. The information receiving means 7 performs processing such as demodulation and descrambling of the received video information, and then outputs it to the output destination determining means 8. The output destination judging means 8 outputs to either the CRT or the recording / reproducing device 9 as the display device 10 according to the user's request. At this time, the information of the output destination is transmitted to the provision destination determination means 3 of the information provision apparatus through the line 11.

Next, the providing destination determining means 3 which has received the output destination information outputs the information to the charging means 4. The billing means 4 is set so that the amount charged when providing information to the user's storage device is higher than the amount charged when providing information to the user's display device. The amount is output to the amount storage means 5 in response to the output. The amount storage means 5 accumulates the charging information in the amount storage means 5 corresponding to the user who provided the information in accordance with the output of the charging means 4, and based on the amount stored in the amount storage means 5, Can collect the usage amount from the user every month.

In the case of video information such as a movie, since it is necessary to store video information for several hours as a digital signal, an optical disk is used for the storage / reproduction device 9 in this embodiment.

(Embodiment 2) Next, another embodiment of the information providing system of the present invention will be described. Example 1
The same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 1, a recording / reproducing device 9 is a magnetic disk, and a display device 10 includes a CRT 21, a central processing unit 22, a semiconductor memory 23, a reset circuit 24, and a timer 25. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 23 denotes a semiconductor memory that receives and stores information transmitted from the information providing unit 2 through the output destination determining unit 8, and 22 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a central processing unit) that executes a game based on the information in the semiconductor memory. , CPU), and 21 is a CRT for displaying audio and video corresponding to the execution result. Reference numeral 25 denotes a timer for outputting a signal after a predetermined time after information is recorded in the semiconductor memory 23, and reference numeral 24 denotes a reset circuit for resetting and erasing the contents of the semiconductor memory according to the output signal of the timer 25. The line 11 uses a telephone line.

The operation of the information providing system configured as described above is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Since the information in the semiconductor memory 23 of the display device 10 is erased after a certain time, when the information is provided to the display device 10, the user can play the game only for a certain time.

With such a configuration, it is possible to change the charge system when playing the game only once and when providing the game software to the user.

(Embodiment 3) Next, another embodiment of the information providing system of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the configuration of the information providing device of the information providing system will be described.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14 denotes a usage status collecting means for periodically collecting information on the usage status of the user, which collects the usage amount of each user and records the amount information for each user. And

Next, the configuration of the information receiving device of the information providing system will be described.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an amount of money to be charged to the user when the information is provided to the display device 10 based on the output of the output destination discriminating means 8 and the user when the information is provided to the storage device 9. Charging means for charging an amount different from the amount to be charged. Reference numeral 13 denotes an amount storage unit that accumulates an amount according to the output of the charging unit 12.

The operation of the information providing system configured as described above will be described below. In this embodiment, the information is video information in CATV, and the line 11 uses a CATV line.

First, the user specifies the video information desired to be provided by the provided information specifying means 6 of the information receiving apparatus. The provided information specifying means 6 transmits the identification number of the specified video information to the information providing apparatus via the line 11. When the information providing device receives the identification number of the designated video information, the information providing device 2 outputs a signal to the information providing means 2 to permit information provision.

Next, the information providing means 2 is provided with an information receiving means 7
Then, the user transmits the video information desired by the user through the line 11. The information receiving means 7 demodulates the received video information,
After performing processes such as descrambling, the output is output to the output destination determining means 8. The output destination determining means 8 outputs a signal to either the CRT or the recording / reproducing device 9 as the display device 10 according to the user's request. At this time, a signal indicating whether to provide the information to the display device 10 or the storage device 9 is output to the billing means 12. The billing unit 12 outputs the amount information according to the output destination determining unit 8 to the amount storage unit 13. Based on the output signal, the amount storage means 13 accumulates the amount used by the user.

Next, the usage status collecting means 14 collects, from each user, an identification number of the user and a usage amount which is information on the usage status of the user every month, and records the amount information for each user. I do. The information provider can collect the usage amount from the user every month based on the recorded amount information.

With such a configuration, it is possible to set a fee system different from a normal fee when performing copying without deterioration in image quality and sound quality. In particular, the CRT of the display device 10
In the case where the demodulated and descrambled digital signal is output as it is to the recording / reproducing device 9, the recording / reproducing device is provided with video information of almost the same image quality and sound quality as the software of the information provider. Therefore, it is meaningful to provide two fee systems.

Further, since it is not necessary to determine the identification number of the user every time the information is provided to the user, the configuration of the information providing apparatus can be simplified and the time required for providing the information can be reduced. .

Even if the information providing device does not include the usage status collecting means 12, the information provider periodically visits the user and checks the usage amount displayed on the information receiving device, thereby storing the amount. The same effect can be achieved by the configuration in which the means 13 periodically notifies the information provider of the usage amount of the user.

Further, even when the information receiving apparatus does not include the provided information designating means, it is possible to set a fee system different from a normal fee when performing copying without deterioration in image quality and sound quality.

(Embodiment 4) Next, another embodiment of the information receiving apparatus used in the information providing system of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 31 denotes an information providing apparatus for providing CATV video information and the like, which scrambles the video information to be provided to the user in order to keep it secret, and thereafter sets the channel to a form suitable for the line 32. The signal is encoded (hereinafter, a channel-encoded signal is abbreviated as a modulation signal) and transmitted to the line 32. The video information signal supplied from the information providing device 31 is a packetized digital type bit stream. 32 is CAT
This is a line for transmitting V video information and the like to the user. 33
Is a device (hereinafter abbreviated as DEC & DES) having a channel decoder for demodulating the modulated signal provided from the information providing device 31 and a descrambling function for converting the scrambled signal into video information.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a demultiplexer (hereinafter abbreviated as DEMUX) for converting a packet signal output from the DEC & DES 33 into a parallel signal.
In an output terminal provided in the MUX 34, 34a is control data, 34b is a compressed audio signal,
An output terminal 34c outputs a compressed video signal. Reference numeral 35 denotes a video decoder for decoding the compressed video signal output from the output terminal 34c into an original video signal, and reference numeral 36 denotes an audio decoder for decoding the compressed audio signal output from the output terminal 34b into an original audio signal. It is a decoder. 37 is a VTR
A video output terminal is connected to a video signal input terminal such as a TV or a TV, and an audio output terminal 38 is connected to an audio signal input terminal such as a VTR or a TV.

A terminal management device 39 manages the operation of the terminal based on the key input 40 and the control data 4a. 41
Reference numeral 12 denotes a recording / reproducing device, and the output thereof is input to a terminal management device. That is, DEC & DES 33 which is a demodulator for demodulating information transmitted from the information providing destination, and DEC & D
A terminal management device 39 that outputs a signal to a recording / reproducing device 41 that receives an output signal of the ES 33 and records information on a recording medium on which a user identification number is recorded, and controls the supply of the output signal; The terminal management device 39 stores the information provided by the user from the information providing destination in the recording / reproducing device 41.
When the recording on the recording medium is completed, the user identification number recorded on the recording medium of the recording / reproducing apparatus 41 and the information identification number provided from the information providing destination are registered in the terminal management apparatus. The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

The information providing device 31 scrambles the video information to be provided to the user in order to keep the information confidential, and then modulates the information to a form suitable for the line 32 and
Send to DEC & receiving the modulated signal from line 32
The DES 33 demodulates the modulated signal and descrambles the scrambled signal to release the scramble.

Next, the operation of outputting the provided video information signal to a display device such as a TV will be described.

The output signal of DEC & DES 33 is
The control data, compressed audio signal, and compressed video signal are separated and output by X34. Output terminal 3
4b, the compressed audio signal output from the audio decoder 36 is converted into the original audio signal by the output terminal 3.
The compressed video signal output from 4c is converted into the original video signal by 35 video decoders. As a compression method, for example, an MPEG system is used. Control data, compressed audio signal,
The compressed video signal and the output signal of the DEC & DES 33 are input to the terminal management device 39.

Next, the operation of recording and reproducing the provided video information signal in the recording and reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The operation of the recording / reproducing device is controlled by the terminal management device 39. The interface during this time is, for example, SCSI-2 (ANSI X3.13-
199X standard) is used.

First, the user loads a recording medium into the recording / reproducing device 41, selects a program desired to be recorded with the input keys 40, and gives a recording command to the terminal management device 39. The recording / reproducing apparatus 41 writes a user ID number which is an identification number of a user, a program name of a program to be recorded on a recording medium, and a recording / reproducing apparatus ID number which is an identification number of the recording / reproducing apparatus 41, and a user ID. The terminal management device 39 checks the number and the recorded program name.

If the recording / reproducing apparatus ID number, user ID number, and recorded program name are all registered by this inspection, recording on the recording medium is started in the following procedure.

If any one of the recording / reproducing device ID number, user ID number, and recorded program name is not registered by this inspection, the terminal management device 39 informs the user of the recording / reproducing device ID number, user ID number. Or that the recorded program name is abnormal.

Thereafter, the terminal management device 39 gives a recording start command to the recording / reproducing device 41, and when the program requested by the user is actually input via the line 32, the recording / reproducing device 41 starts the recording operation. I do. When the recording / reproducing device 41 completes the recording, the fact that the recording has been completed is registered in the terminal management device 39.

With the above configuration, the CATV information provider can manage the user's fee as needed.

The video signal and the audio signal output from the terminals 37 and 38 are all output via the terminal management device 39. When starting the recording, it is checked whether or not the ID number is recorded on the recording medium. However, when the user ID number is not recorded on the recording medium, no signal is output to the recording / reproducing device. Therefore, the terminal management device 39 records the recording / reproducing device ID number, the user ID number, the recorded program name. The user cannot record the program on the recording / reproducing device 41 or watch the program on the TV unless all of the items are registered.

In the above embodiment, the user is identified by using the ID number which is the identification number of the user. Instead, the unique identification number of the recording / reproducing apparatus itself is used. Further, the same effect can be obtained with an information providing system that determines the owner of the recording / reproducing apparatus from the unique identification number of the recording / reproducing apparatus itself and collects a usage fee from the owner.

Further, the information provider registers a program name for a specific program, and when the user attempts to record the program name, the terminal management device checks the information provider for approval. It can also be configured to be able to do so.

Further, a fee system can be set so that the information can be reproduced only by the recording / reproducing apparatus used for recording the information or by an arbitrary reproducing apparatus.

[0054]

As described above, according to the information providing system of the present invention, it is possible to set a fee system different from a normal fee when making a copy without deteriorating image quality and sound quality. In particular, when the analog signal is demodulated on the display device and the demodulated and descrambled digital signal is output as it is on the recording / reproducing device, the recording / reproducing device is provided with video information having almost the same image quality and sound quality as the software of the information provider. Therefore, it is meaningful to provide two fee systems.

Also, programs and information are always user IDs.
Since recording is performed on the recording medium based on the number or the ID number of the recording / reproducing device, the recording / reproducing device that can be used at the time of reproduction can be limited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a display device used in the information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an information receiving device used in the information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an information receiving apparatus used in the information providing system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 user discriminating means 2 information providing means 3 providing destination discriminating means 4 billing means 5 amount storage means 6 provided information instructing means 7 information receiving means 8 output destination discriminating means 9 storage / reproducing device 10 display means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N ^7/ 16-7/173 H04N 7/10 H04N 5/76 G11B 20/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information receiving means for receiving information provided in response to a request from a user from an information providing apparatus which provides information and charges a fee, and records an output signal of the information receiving means on a recording medium. A recording device, and terminal management means for discriminating whether to output an output signal of the information receiving means to the recording device, and for notifying the discrimination result to the information providing device for changing a billing amount according to the discrimination result. The terminal management unit checks whether an identifier (ID) for identification is recorded on the recording medium of the recording device, and outputs an output signal of the information receiving unit to the recording device if the identifier (ID) is recorded. An information receiving apparatus characterized by recording. 2. When the identifier (ID) for identification is recorded on the recording medium, the terminal management means checks whether or not the identifier (ID) is registered in the terminal management means. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output signal of the information receiving means is output to the recording apparatus when the information is registered. 3. An information receiving means for receiving information provided in response to a user's request from an information providing apparatus which provides information and charges a fee, and records an output signal of the information receiving means on a recording medium. A billing method using an information receiving device comprising: a recording device; and a terminal management device for determining whether to output or transmit the output signal of the information receiving device or to output the signal to the recording device. And an identifier (I) for identification on the recording medium.
D) checking whether the recorded information is recorded; and, when an identifier (ID) is recorded on the recording medium, the terminal management means outputs the received information to the recording device. Outputting to the information providing apparatus charging different fees for displaying or transmitting the information and recording the information, and recording the received information on the recording medium.