JP3851447B2 - Broadcast receiving terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a receiving terminal such as a digital satellite broadcast. In particular, when receiving and viewing a broadcasted program, information communication is performed using a communication line in order to charge a viewing fee. The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the increase in the number of broadcast media channels, pay broadcasts in which viewers pay a viewing fee for a predetermined period or for individual broadcast programs have begun to spread. For example, a broadcast receiving terminal in digital satellite broadcasting includes a communication means using a communication line such as a telephone line in order to charge a viewing fee for an individual broadcast program, and charges each customer by information communication with a charge management center. Management is performed. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional broadcast receiving terminal. In FIG. 3, 101 is a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal and extracts main information and accompanying information of the main information, 102 is a main information processing unit that processes main information extracted by the receiving unit 101, and 103 is a receiving unit 101. An accompanying information processing unit that processes the extracted accompanying information according to a user's operation input, 104 a control unit that controls the main information processing unit 102 and the accompanying information processing unit 103, and 107 according to an output of the main information processing unit 102 An output unit 205 that generates a reproduction signal, and an interface unit 205 that performs information communication using a communication line.
[0003]
Next, the operation of the conventional broadcast receiving terminal will be described.
[0004]
In FIG. 3, the receiving unit 101 extracts main information such as video and audio from the input broadcast signal and accompanying information representing attributes such as identification information and viewing fee of the program. The accompanying information includes general information related to a broadcast channel and billing in addition to information related to a specific program. The main information output from the receiving unit 101 is decoded by the main information processing unit 102. On the other hand, the accompanying information processing unit 103 decodes and displays the accompanying information as information such as what kind of content the main information corresponding to the accompanying information is and how much the fee is for viewing. When viewing the program corresponding to the main information and the accompanying information, the user inputs an operation to the accompanying information processing unit 103. Then, the interface unit 205 starts communication with a communication partner registered in advance or a communication partner input as accompanying information in accordance with an output from the accompanying information processing unit 103. Here, a telephone line is used as the communication line, and communication is performed by calling a telephone. The communication partner is a management server that manages broadcasting and billing, and performs information communication via a telephone line. Note that the interface unit 205 does not necessarily perform information communication every time according to an output from the accompanying information processing unit 103, but may perform information communication at a predetermined timing after storing communication contents for a certain period. is there. The interface unit 205 performs authentication for the user to view the program through information communication with a management server (not shown), and outputs the authentication result to the control unit 104. When the control unit 104 determines that the user can view the program in accordance with the output of the interface unit 205, the control unit 104 allows the main information processing unit 102 to output the decoded main information. And the output part 107 produces | generates the reproduction | regeneration signal of main information, for example, outputs a video signal to a television monitor (not shown), and outputs an audio | voice signal to a loudspeaker (not shown). On the other hand, when the control unit 104 determines that the user cannot view the program as a result of authentication in the interface unit, the control unit 104 prohibits the main information processing unit 102 from outputting the decrypted main information, and the associated information processing unit 103. Display that the user cannot view the program.
[0005]
As described above, in the conventional broadcast receiving terminal, a program viewing fee is obtained by performing information communication at a predetermined timing with a communication partner set in advance or a communication partner included in the accompanying information extracted from the broadcast signal. User authentication and billing management.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional broadcast receiving terminal, information communication is only made unilaterally from the broadcast receiving terminal, and cannot be made from the management server, which is the communication partner, to the broadcast receiving terminal. This is because in order for the broadcast receiving terminal to occupy the incoming call from the management server and connect to the line, a dedicated communication line is provided for the broadcast receiving terminal, or the telephone line is shared with a general call. This is because the user must connect the line for each call from the management server to check the other party and switch the line connection to the broadcast receiving terminal each time the incoming call is recognized as information communication by the management server. .
[0007]
Moreover, the timing of information communication can be performed only at a preset timing or a timing included in accompanying information transmitted as a broadcast signal, and the management server performs urgent information update for the broadcast receiving terminal. I can't.
[0008]
Furthermore, since the conventional broadcast receiving terminal can only perform information communication from the broadcast receiving terminal to the management server at a predetermined time interval as described above, the user uses the broadcast receiving terminal and the communication line. Additional services such as information communication could not be newly added or realized.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving terminal to which a function of a communication service capable of two-way calling is added in consideration of the above-described problems of conventional broadcast receiving terminals.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention (corresponding to the aspect of the present invention described in claim 1) includes: a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal and extracts main information and accompanying information; A main information processing unit to be processed, an accompanying information processing unit for processing the accompanying information in response to a user operation input, an interface unit for performing information communication through a communication line, the accompanying information processing unit and / or the interface unit A control unit that controls the accompanying information processing unit and the main information processing unit according to an output; an output unit that generates a reproduction signal according to an output of the main information processing unit; A broadcast reception, comprising: an identification unit that detects identification information of the communication partner when receiving an incoming call to the interface unit and causes the interface unit to perform information communication with the communication partner in response thereto It is the end.
[0011]
In the first aspect of the present invention, the timing at which the identification information is transmitted from the communication partner may be the same timing as the call signal by the call or immediately after connection of the communication line.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention (corresponding to the present invention described in claim 2), the identification information includes the identification information for identifying the communication partner and the type and / or old and new of the communication information from the communication partner. Including identification information to be identified, the identification unit having identification information storage means for storing the identification information, and the control unit is stored in the newly transmitted information identification information and the identification unit. The accompanying information processing unit is caused to update the accompanying information based on the communication information, and the identification information storage means is caused to update the information identification information according to a result of comparison with the information identification information. 1 is a broadcast receiving terminal according to a first aspect of the present invention.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention (corresponding to the third aspect of the present invention), the identification information is transmitted from the communication partner even when information communication is started by a call to the communication partner. A broadcast receiving terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to the aspect of the present invention described in claim 4), the control unit causes the identification information storage unit to respond to the output of the accompanying information processing unit and / or the communication information. The broadcast receiving terminal according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, wherein the partner identification information is updated.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal and extracts main information and accompanying information of the main information, 102 is a main information processing unit that processes main information extracted by the receiving unit 101, and 103 is a receiving unit 101. An accompanying information processing unit that processes the extracted accompanying information according to a user's operation input, 104 is a control unit that controls the main information processing unit 102 and the accompanying information processing unit 103, and 105 is a communication line such as a telephone line. An interface unit that performs information communication, 106 is an identification unit that detects identification information of a communication partner when a call from the communication partner arrives at the interface unit 105, and 107 controls connection of the communication line. 107 is a main information processing unit 102 This is an output unit that generates a reproduction signal in accordance with the output of. Here, the interface unit 105 calls a management server (not shown), connects a communication line with the management server, and sets up a communication line with the management server in response to a call from the management server. It has a function to connect. Note that 101 to 104 and 107 are the same as the components of the conventional broadcast receiving terminal.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the broadcast receiving terminal in this embodiment will be described.
[0019]
The receiving unit 101 extracts main information and accompanying information from the input broadcast signal. The main information output from the receiving unit 101 is decoded by the main information processing unit 102. On the other hand, the accompanying information processing unit 103 decodes and displays the accompanying information. When viewing the program corresponding to the main information and the accompanying information, the user inputs an operation to the accompanying information processing unit 103. The operation so far is the same as the operation of the conventional broadcast receiving terminal.
[0020]
Next, the interface unit 105 starts communication with a communication partner registered in advance or a communication partner input as accompanying information in response to an output from the accompanying information processing unit 103. The interface unit 105 does not necessarily perform information communication every time according to the output from the accompanying information processing unit 103, like the interface unit 205 in the conventional broadcast receiving terminal, but stores the communication contents for a certain period. After that, information communication can be performed at a predetermined timing. When the interface unit 105 calls the management server and connects a communication line with the management server, after the connection, the user authenticates the user to view the program through information communication with the management server, and The result is output to the control unit 104. When the control unit 104 determines that the user can view the program according to the output of the interface unit 105, the control unit 104 permits the main information processing unit 102 to output the decoded main information. And the output part 107 produces | generates the reproduction | regeneration signal of main information, for example, outputs a video signal to a television monitor (not shown), and outputs an audio | voice signal to a loudspeaker (not shown). Further, when the control unit 104 determines that the user cannot view the program as a result of authentication in the interface unit, the control unit 104 prohibits the main information processing unit 102 from outputting the decrypted main information, and the associated information processing unit 103. Display that the user cannot view the program. The operation so far is basically the same as the operation of the conventional broadcast receiving terminal except that the interface unit 205 is replaced with the interface unit 105.
[0021]
On the other hand, when the interface unit 105 connects a communication line with the management server in response to a call from the management server, first, the communication partner transmitted at the same timing as the call signal from the call from the management server. The interface unit 105 outputs the identification information to the identification unit 106. The identification unit 106 detects whether or not the other party is a broadcast management server from the input identification information, and if it is determined that the other party is a management server, the interface unit connects the communication line. 105 is instructed. The interface unit 105 starts information communication with the management server in response to the output of the identification unit 106 and outputs the communication information transmitted from the management server to the control unit 104. The control unit 104 controls the main information processing unit 102 and the accompanying information processing unit 103 according to the communication information transmitted from the management server. As a specific example of this control, if it becomes clear that the user is unable to pay the viewing fee for the user while watching the program, the playback of the main information is stopped, and the viewing fee is not paid. For a completed program, for example, updating the usage statement record managed by the accompanying information processing unit 103 when payment is completed.
[0022]
As described above, the broadcast receiving terminal in the present embodiment identifies the destination of the incoming call on the communication line, and preferentially connects the line when the communication partner is a pre-registered management server, Information communication can be performed.
[0023]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the broadcast receiving terminal in the present embodiment, the identification unit has the identification information storage means of the present invention, and the identification information identifies the partner identification information of the present invention and the type and / or old and new of the communication information from the communication partner. This is the same as the broadcast receiving terminal in the first embodiment described above, except for the point relating to including the information identification information. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In addition, those not specifically described are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast receiving terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the configuration of the broadcast receiving terminal in the first embodiment described above is that it includes an identification unit 116 having identification information storage means (not shown) for storing identification information instead of the identification unit 106. It is.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the broadcast receiving terminal in this embodiment will be described.
[0026]
The operation of the broadcast receiving terminal in the present embodiment is the same as the operation of the broadcast receiving terminal in the first embodiment except for the operations described below.
[0027]
When the interface unit 105 connects a communication line with the management server in response to a call from the management server, the identification information transmitted from the management server includes partner identification information for identifying the communication partner itself, Information identification information for identifying the type and / or old and new of communication information from the communication partner is included. The control unit 104 compares the transmitted new identification information with the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit of the identification information identification unit 116, and the communication information corresponding to the new identification information updates the accompanying information. If it is determined that the information communication between the interface unit 105 and the management server is started, the accompanying information processing unit 103 updates the accompanying information and the identification information storage unit updates the identification information.
[0028]
For example, the control unit 104 identifies the billing management server related to the broadcast viewing fee and the additional service management server that performs information communication services such as e-mails based on the partner identification information of the new identification information, and the communication partner manages the billing management. When it is identified that the server is a server, if the flag relating to the update of the usage statement record specified by the information identification information of the new identification information is different from that of the old identification information, the usage information record is recorded in the accompanying information processing unit 103. Update. On the other hand, when the communication partner is identified as the additional service management server, the communication information is displayed on the accompanying information processing unit 103, or the outgoing information input by the user is input to the communication line via the interface unit 105. Send it.
[0029]
As described above, in addition to the effects of the broadcast receiving terminal according to the first embodiment, the broadcast receiving terminal according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of management servers in which destinations of incoming calls are registered in advance through a communication line. It is possible to identify and perform information communication according to each management server and processing of transmitted information efficiently.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the identification information of the present invention has been described as being transmitted from the communication partner when the information communication is started by a call from the communication partner. Even when information communication is started by a call, it may be transmitted from the communication partner. As a result, the same effect as described above can be obtained when information communication is started by a call to the communication partner.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the control unit 104 updates the partner identification information in the identification information storage unit of the identification unit 116 according to the output of the accompanying information processing unit 103 and / or the transmitted communication information. It may be allowed. For example, the above-mentioned additional service management server additionally updates the setting values for performing new services and necessary information communication for specific broadcast receiving terminals in accordance with the user's request and the intention of the service provider. Or conversely, the registration of a specific service is deleted.
[0032]
In the first and second embodiments described above, the communication line used for information communication according to the present invention has been described as a telephone line. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a network line is used. But the same effect can be obtained.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can provide a broadcast receiving terminal to which a function of a communication service capable of bidirectional calling is added.
[0034]
That is, according to the present invention of claim 1, the identification unit detects the identification information of the calling party with respect to the incoming call on the communication line, and when the outgoing call is received by the management server, this is detected. The broadcast receiving terminal can be preferentially connected to the call from the management server without having to confirm the caller one by one while sharing the line with the line for information communication. Accordingly, the management server can transmit emergency information to a specific user, and can provide a new additional service by interactive information communication such as electronic mail.
[0035]
Further, in the present invention of claim 2 or 3, the identification unit stores identification information of the management server, identifies incoming calls from a plurality of management servers, and performs information communication and system operation according to them. Can do. As a result, for example, a plurality of information communication services are received from different servers and a reply corresponding to each is transmitted, or the billing management server for broadcasting and the savings management server of the user are linked via the terminal transmission / reception terminal for payment processing. Etc. can be performed.
[0036]
Further, in the present invention of claim 4, the partner identification information stored in the identification information storage means possessed by the identification unit is controlled to be updated according to the output of the accompanying information processing unit and / or the communication information. Thus, information related to the management server that provides a new information communication service for a specific user can be additionally updated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast receiving terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast receiving terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional broadcast receiving terminal.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 receiving unit 102 main information processing unit 103 accompanying information processing unit 104 control unit 105, 205 IF unit 106, 116 identification unit 107 output unit

Claims (4)

A receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal and extracts main information and accompanying information; a main information processing unit that processes the main information; an accompanying information processing unit that processes the accompanying information in response to a user operation input; An interface unit that performs information communication via a communication line; a control unit that controls the accompanying information processing unit and / or the main information processing unit according to an output of the accompanying information processing unit and / or the interface unit; and the main information processing An output unit that generates a reproduction signal according to the output of the communication unit; and when a call from the communication partner arrives at the interface unit, the identification information of the communication partner is detected, and the communication unit communicates with the interface unit accordingly. A broadcast receiving terminal comprising: an identification unit that performs information communication with a partner. The identification information includes partner identification information for identifying the communication partner and information identification information for identifying the type and / or old / new of the communication information from the communication partner, and the identification unit stores the identification information. Identification information storage means, and the control unit includes the associated information processing unit according to a result of comparing the newly transmitted information identification information with the information identification information stored in the identification unit. The broadcast receiving terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: updating the accompanying information based on the communication information and causing the identification information storage unit to update the information identification information. The broadcast receiving terminal according to claim 2, wherein the identification information is transmitted from the communication partner even when information communication is started by a call to the communication partner. The said control part makes the said identification information storage means update the said other party identification information according to the output of the said accompanying information processing part, and / or the said communication information, The Claim 2 or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Broadcast receiving terminal.

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