JP3594535B2 - Digital TV broadcast receiver and viewer management center in digital TV broadcast system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital television broadcast receiver and a viewer management center in a digital television broadcast system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital broadcasting, multi-channel broadcasting is carried out taking advantage of its characteristics, includes a large number of paying channels, and there are various types of contracts for a plurality of channels, and a user can freely change the contract type. It has become.
[0003]
The new contract information is transmitted from the broadcaster via radio waves as data including individual information for identifying a user called EMM. The receiver updates the contract information by providing the received new contract information to a Conditional Access unit represented by an IC card.
[0004]
To change the form of the contract, the user calls the business operator and applies for a change in the contract. When such an application for changing the contract is made, the receiver must continuously receive radio waves and wait until data called EMM is transmitted by radio waves. There was no means to know when this EMM data was transmitted by radio waves. Therefore, even if the user turns off the power using a remote controller or the like, the receiver has to perform the same operation as in the normal state and constantly acquire and monitor the EMM data. Therefore, there was not much difference in power consumption between when viewing and not watching power consumption.
[0005]
In some recent digital TV broadcasting systems, the receiver obtains the EMM retransmission cycle from the Conditional Access unit to save power. Has a problem that it cannot be processed in real time.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital television broadcast receiver capable of reducing power consumption.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a viewer management center in a digital television broadcasting system capable of reducing the power consumption of a digital television broadcasting receiver.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a digital broadcast receiver in which power supply to a digital broadcast receiving circuit is stopped in principle when the power of the receiver is turned off. On the other hand, when the user changes the contract form, in order for the digital broadcast receiver to recognize that the user has changed the contract form, input means for allowing the user to input that the contract form has been changed, a contract form By communicating with the viewer management center via the communication line based on the fact that the change has been input to the input means, the scheduled transmission time data of the new contract form information is transmitted from the viewer management center via the communication line. Scheduled transmission time acquisition means for acquiring and storing the data in the storage device, when the power of the receiver is off, immediately before the scheduled transmission time stored in the storage means. Means for turning on the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit when the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit is turned off, and new contract form information when the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit is on and the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit is on. Means for stopping supply of power to the digital broadcast receiving circuit when is received and stored in the IC card .
[0009]
The viewer management center in the digital television broadcasting system according to the present invention responds to the user of the digital broadcast receiver when the digital broadcast receiver inquires about the scheduled transmission time data of the new contract form information via the communication line. Means for transmitting the scheduled transmission time data of the new contract form information to the digital broadcast receiver via the communication line.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver.
[0014]
The broadcast wave is sent to the tuner 1 via an antenna, where high-frequency processing and demodulation are performed. An output from the tuner 1 is sent to a transport stream separation unit (hereinafter, referred to as a TS separation unit) 2, and a packet is decoded.
[0015]
In the TS separation section 2, the packet is separated into MPEG data and auxiliary information such as program guide information and EMM. The MPEG video data separated by the TS separation unit 2 is sent to the video processing unit 5. The MPEG audio data separated by the TS separation unit 2 is sent to the audio processing unit 6. The additional information separated by the TS separation unit 2 is stored in the memory 3.
[0016]
The second CPU 16 receives a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter 15 via a remote control light receiver (not shown). The second CPU 16 has a memory 17. The remote control signal input to the second CPU 16 is sent to the first CPU 10.
[0017]
The first CPU 10 sends information for tuning to the tuner 1 and the TS separation unit 2. Further, the first CPU 10 sends an OSD control signal for causing the on-screen display of the program guide screen, various setting screens, and the like to the on-screen generation unit 4. The on-screen generation unit 4 generates display data of various setting screens and sends the display data to the multiplexer 7.
[0018]
The first CPU 10 has a nonvolatile memory 14. The first CPU 10 is connected to a telephone line 12 via a modem 11.
[0019]
The video processing unit 5 demodulates the MPEG video data sent from the TS separation unit 2 and sends it to the multiplexer 7. The multiplexer 7 superimposes the display data sent from the on-screen generation unit 4 on the video data output from the video processing unit 5, and sends it to the video output terminal 8.
[0020]
The audio processing unit 6 demodulates the MPEG audio data sent from the TS separation unit 2 and sends it to the audio output terminal 9.
[0021]
The first CPU 10 performs management of reception of digital television broadcast, acquisition and management of data, presentation of video, and the like. The second CPU 16 receives a remote control signal and performs power management. That is, the second CPU 16 manages power supply to circuits such as the first CPU 10, the tuner 1, the TS separation unit 2, the memory 3, the on-screen generation unit 4, the video processing unit 5, the audio processing unit 6, and the modem 11. .
[0022]
In this embodiment, power is supplied to the second CPU 16 and the memory 17 even when the power is off. In other circuits, power is supplied in principle when the power is turned on, but is not supplied when the power is turned off. However, as described later, even when the power is off, power is supplied to circuits other than the second CPU 16 and the memory 17 for a certain period of time for acquiring the EMM.
[0023]
This digital broadcast receiver responds to the contract form update based on the contract form change notification input by the user after the user has performed a contract form change procedure with the viewer management center of the broadcaster. A function of acquiring the time at which the transmitted EMM is transmitted from the viewer management center.
[0024]
Further, the digital broadcast receiver has a function of monitoring the time at which the EMM is transmitted when the power is turned off, and automatically turning on the power when the scheduled transmission time comes, and acquiring the EMM.
[0025]
First, the user applies for a contract change to the viewer management center of the broadcaster using a telephone or the like, either orally or in writing. Thereafter, the user notifies the receiver that the contract has been changed.
[0026]
FIG. 2 shows a procedure of EMM transmission scheduled time data acquisition processing executed by the first CPU 10 based on a contract form change notification from a user.
[0027]
When a contract form change notification is input from the user (YES in step 21), a password input screen for prompting the user to input a password registered in advance by the user is displayed as shown in FIG. (Step 22). When the user normally enters the personal identification number on this screen and presses the enter button (step 23), a connection permission confirmation screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (step 24).
[0028]
On the connection permission confirmation screen, when the user operates the remote controller 15 or the like to give a connection permission instruction (step 25), the first CPU 10 activates the modem 11 to transmit the broadcast An attempt is made to obtain the transmission time of the EMM data from the viewer management center (step 26). At this time, the user ID is sent to the viewer management center of the broadcaster.
[0029]
When the access is performed from the receiver, the viewer management center of the broadcaster specifies the procedure of the contract change already performed with the user based on the transmitted user ID, and EMM transmission scheduled time data including the new contract type information according to the contract type change information is transmitted to the CPU 10.
[0030]
If the transmission scheduled time data of the EMM is received after the communication is started in step 26 (YES in step 27), the received transmission scheduled time data of the EMM is stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 (step 28). In addition, it sends the received scheduled transmission time data of the EMM to the second CPU 16. (Step 29). The second CPU 16 stores the transmitted scheduled transmission time data of the EMM in the memory 17.
[0031]
In step 23, the connection permission confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. When the contract is changed, the code is transmitted from the viewer management center to the user, and the code is input as shown in FIG. A screen may be displayed. The code transmitted from the viewer management center to the user when the contract is changed is a code that can be generated on the receiver side.
[0032]
For example, a code generated based on the current time and the card number of the IC card 13 is used as the content of the code. However, in this case, the user needs to input a contract form change notification command within a certain time after the code is transmitted from the viewer management center to the user.
[0033]
When the user inputs a code on the code input screen of FIG. 5, the first CPU 10 generates a code, determines whether the generated code matches the code input by the user, and determines whether the generated code matches the code input by the user. Only if so, go to step 25.
[0034]
FIG. 6 shows an EMM acquisition processing procedure performed by the first CPU 10 when power is supplied to the first CPU 10.
[0035]
When the power is supplied, the first CPU 10 monitors whether it is immediately before the scheduled EMM transmission time stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 (step 31). If it is immediately before the scheduled EMM transmission time, an EMM acquisition command is transmitted to the TS separation unit 2, and a first flag F1 for storing that the EMM acquisition operation is being performed is set (F1 = 1). (Step 32). Upon receiving this command, the TS separation unit 2 performs a process for acquiring an EMM.
[0036]
When the EMM is sent from the TS separation unit 2, that is, when the EMM can be acquired (YES in Step 33), the acquired EMM is stored in the IC card 13 (Step 34). Thereby, the contract form information stored in the IC card 13 is updated to the new contract form information. Then, the first flag F1 for notifying the second CPU 16 of the completion of the change of the contract form information and storing that the EMM obtaining operation is being performed is reset (F1 = 0) (step 35).
[0037]
FIG. 7 shows a power management processing procedure performed by the second CPU 16.
[0038]
When power is not supplied to circuits other than the second CPU 16 and the memory 17 (hereinafter, referred to as other circuits), the second CPU 16 determines whether or not a power-on command has been input from the remote controller (step 41), and It is monitored whether or not the time is immediately before the scheduled EMM transmission time held in the memory 17 (step 43).
[0039]
When a power-on command is input from the remote controller (YES in step 41) or when the current time is immediately before the scheduled EMM transmission time (YES in step 43), power is supplied to other circuits (step 41). 44). However, when a power-on command is input from the remote controller (YES in step 41), after the second flag F2 for storing that power is supplied based on the remote control command is set (F2 = 1). (Step 42) Power is supplied to other circuits (Step 44).
[0040]
In a state where power is supplied to other circuits, the second CPU 16 notifies whether or not a power-off command has been input from the remote controller (step 45), and notifies the first CPU 10 that the change of the contract form information has been completed. It is monitored whether or not it has been performed (step 48).
[0041]
If the power-off command is input from the remote controller (YES in step 45), the second flag F2 is reset (F2 = 0) (step 46), and then whether the first flag F1 is set or not Is determined (step 47). If the first flag F1 is not set (F1 = 0), the supply of power to other circuits is stopped (step 50). Then, the process returns to step 41.
[0042]
If the first flag F1 is set (F1 = 1) in step 47, it is determined that the EMM acquisition operation is being performed, and the power supply to other circuits is not stopped. Transition.
[0043]
When the first CPU 10 notifies that the change of the contract form information has been completed (YES in step 48), it is determined whether or not the second flag F2 has been reset (step 49). If the second flag F2 is reset (F2 = 0), the power supply to another circuit is stopped because the power is not on by the remote control command (step 50). Then, the process returns to step 41.
[0044]
In step 49, when the second flag F2 is set (F2 = 1), it is determined that the power-on state by the remote control command is continued, and the supply of power to other circuits is stopped. And return to step 41.
[0045]
In a state where the power of the receiver is off and the power is not supplied to the other circuits, when the current time is immediately before the scheduled EMM transmission time stored in the memory 17, the other circuits as a whole are transmitted. Rather than supplying power, only the receiving circuits (in this example, the first CPU 10, tuner 1, TS separation unit 2, memory 3, and IC card 13) required to receive the EMM and store it in the IC card 13 are provided. Power may be supplied.
[0046]
According to the above embodiment, the receiver can confirm that the user has changed the contract form by telephone to the viewer management center by inputting the change to the receiver. become.
[0047]
When the receiver confirms that the user has changed the contract form, the receiver determines, by bidirectional communication with the viewer management center, when the EMM including the new contract form information is transmitted by radio waves. Will be able to get. When the power is turned off, the power of the circuit for acquiring the EMM can be turned on only during the time when the EMM is transmitted, so that the power consumption can be suppressed.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, power consumption can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an EMM transmission scheduled time data acquisition processing procedure executed by a first CPU 10 based on a contract form change notification from a user.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a password input screen displayed in step 22 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a connection permission confirmation screen displayed in step 23 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a code input screen.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an EMM acquisition processing procedure performed by the first CPU 10 when power is supplied to the first CPU 10;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a power management process performed by a second CPU 16;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tuner 2 TS separation part 3 Memory 4 On-screen generation part 10 1st CPU
11 Modem 13 IC card 14 Non-volatile memory 15 Remote controller 16 Second CPU
17 Memory

Claims (2)

A digital broadcast receiver in which the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit is basically stopped when the power of the receiver is off,
When the user changes the contract form to the viewer management center, an input for allowing the user to input that the contract form has been changed so that the digital broadcast receiver recognizes that the contract form has been changed by the user. means,
By communicating with the viewer management center via a communication line based on the fact that the contract form has been changed being input to the input means, the scheduled transmission time data of the new contract form information is communicated from the viewer management center. Scheduled transmission time acquisition means for acquiring via a line and storing the same in a storage device; when the power of the receiver is off, digital broadcast reception is performed immediately before the scheduled transmission time stored in the storage means. Means for turning on the power supply to the circuit; and when the power supply of the receiver is off and the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit is on, the new contract form information is received and stored in the IC card. Means for stopping the power supply to the digital broadcast receiving circuit when
A digital broadcast receiver, comprising: At the viewer management center in digital television broadcasting systems,
When the digital broadcast receiver inquires about the scheduled transmission time data of the new contract form information via the communication line, the transmission time data of the new contract form information corresponding to the user of the digital broadcast receiver is transmitted to the communication. A viewer management center in a digital television broadcasting system, comprising: means for transmitting to a digital broadcast receiver via a line .

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