JP3913341B2 - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver, and more particularly to a digital broadcast receiver that receives a digital broadcast broadcast from, for example, a communication satellite (CS).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital broadcasting, hundreds of channels of data are broadcast, and among the broadcasting channels, pay channels and free channels are mixed. In some cases, a free program is partially included in a pay channel. The broadcast data of the pay channel (paid program) is scrambled, and the viewer cannot view it unless he / she purchases the channel (program).
[0003]
In the conventional digital broadcasting receiver, although the pay channel and the free channel are mixed in this way, if the operator operates the channel up / down key, the channel selection channel is switched one by one. It was.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, each time the up / down key is operated, a free channel is selected or a pay channel is selected, and the operation is troublesome for an operator who wants to select only the free channel.
Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of selecting only a free channel.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A digital broadcast receiver according to a first invention is a digital broadcast receiver that decodes a digital broadcast signal that is broadcast through a desired channel selected from among a plurality of channels including a pay channel and a free channel and that is encoded . It refers to the database when the first registration means for registering in a database the channel is free program being broadcast when the power of the plurality of channels are added as free programming channels, and channel up / down key is operated Channel selection means for selecting only the free program channel from a plurality of channels, and the channel selection means is selected when the channel up / down key is operated while any free program channel is selected. The free program channel is selected and the information registered by the first registration means is the free program channel. Identification information, and characterized in that it comprises a broadcast time zone information of the free program.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiver for decoding a digital broadcast signal which is broadcast through a desired channel selected from a plurality of channels including a pay channel and a free channel and which is encoded . , registration means, and the plurality of channels by referring to the database when the channel up / down key is operated to register in a database the channel is free program is broadcast in a specific time slot of the plurality of channels as free programming channels Channel selection means for selecting only the free program channel from the channel, and the channel selection means selects another free program channel when the channel up / down key is operated while any free program channel is selected. Information registered by the registration means, free program channel identification information, and free Characterized in that it comprises a set of broadcast time zone information.
[0006]
[Action]
PSI (Program Specific Information) is allocated to a part of the transport packet to be broadcast, and PSI includes SDT (Service Description information Table). In the SDT, scramble information of each broadcast channel is written. The CPU refers to this SDT, detects a free channel (non-scrambled channel), and creates a free channel database in which the service ID (channel information) of the free channel is recorded.
[0007]
The PSI also includes an EIT (Event Information Table), and the EIT includes current program information and next program information of all broadcast channels. Therefore, the CPU extracts the scramble information from the current program information and the next program information of the pay channel (scramble channel) and searches for a free program. Then, the service ID and time information of the free program are additionally recorded in the free channel database.
[0008]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the channel table in which the channel information of the unscrambled channel is recorded is created, it is possible to select only the free channel with reference to this channel table.
The above object, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
【Example】
Referring to FIG. 1, a digital broadcast receiver 10 of this embodiment includes an antenna 12 for receiving CS digital broadcast, and broadcast data received by this antenna 12 is given to a CS tuner 14. The CS tuner 14 selects broadcast data for 4 to 8 channels output from a desired transponder. That is, in CS broadcasting, broadcast data for 4 to 8 channels is output from each transponder (first transponder), so the CS tuner 14 selects a transponder including a desired channel (channel selection channel). The selected broadcast data is demodulated by the QPSK demodulation circuit 16 and becomes a transport stream composed of a plurality of transport packets for 4 to 8 channels.
[0010]
The descrambler 18 gives only the transport packet of the channel contracted by the receiver among the 4 to 8 channels to the demultiplexer 20, and the demultiplexer 20 detects only the packet of the selected channel from the input packet. . The MPEG decoder 22 decodes the packet detected by the descrambler 18 and provides the decoded video data to the adder 40. The adder 40 also receives bitmap data for on-screen display output from the IC 38 for on-screen display. The adder 40 adds the bitmap data to the video data from the MPEG decoder 22 only when the bitmap data is output from the IC 38. The output data from the adder 40 is converted into an NTSC format composite video signal by the NTSC encoder 24, and this composite video signal is output to the video monitor 26.
[0011]
As bitmap data for on-screen display, there is a channel number of a broadcast channel. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 30 is provided with a channel selection channel up / down key 30a, and when the operator operates this up / down key 30a while receiving any one of the broadcast channels. The CPU 28 expands the channel number bit map data of the channel selection channel in the VRAM 36. The channel number bitmap data developed in the VRAM 28 in this way is read out by the IC 38 in response to the vertical synchronization signal. As a result, a three-digit channel number is displayed in the upper right of the monitor screen. Note that the CPU 28 also performs tuning according to the channel tuning operation.
[0012]
A PSI is allocated to a part of the transport packet, and the PSI includes a NIT (Network Information Table). The CPU 28 refers to this NIT, detects service IDs (channel information) of all broadcast channels that can be received by the CS tuner 14 from the transport packet, and stores them in the DRAM 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the DRAM 32 has an all-channel database 32a in which indexes and service IDs are associated with each other.
[0013]
The PSI also includes an SDT, in which scramble information (first scramble information) of all receivable channels is written. The scramble information is information indicating whether the corresponding broadcast channel is a pay channel (scramble channel) or a free channel (non-scramble channel). The CPU 28 determines the pay channel / free channel for each broadcast channel, and extracts only the service ID of the free channel.
[0014]
The CPU 28 further extracts EIT from the PSI. As described above, only 4 to 8 channels of broadcast data are output from each transponder. However, in EIT, the currently broadcast program (current program) and the program broadcast next to the current program (next program) are displayed. As long as the program information for all channels is written. The program scramble information corresponding to this program information is also written. Since even a pay channel partially includes a free program, the CPU 28 determines a pay program / free program for the current program and the next program in the pay channel. Then, the service ID of the free program and the time information of the free program, that is, the start time information and the end time information are extracted.
[0015]
A free channel database 32b (channel table) as shown in FIG. 4 is created in the DRAM 32 based on the service ID of the free channel and the service ID and time information of the free program thus extracted.
The CS is provided with a promotion transponder (second transponder), and the program information of the future program broadcast after the next program is included only in the broadcast data output from this promotion transponder. Therefore, the CS tuner 14 cannot detect future program information when a transponder (first transponder) other than the promotion transponder is selected. When the transponder can be switched, the CPU 28 causes the CS tuner 14 to select a promotion transponder and detects future program information. Then, the future program information of the pay channel is extracted from the future program information of all channels, and the free program / paid program is determined based on the scramble information included in the future program information. The CPU 28 updates the time information written in the free channel database according to the determination result.
[0016]
Accordingly, when the operator sets the free channel selection mode by the remote control transmitter 30 and operates the up / down key 30a, the reception channel is switched according to the free channel database 32b. That is, the operator can select a free channel or a free program by using the up / down key 30a.
Specifically, the CPU 28 processes the flowcharts shown in FIGS. That is, when the power is turned on, first, NIT is acquired from the PSI in step S1. In step S3, the service IDs of all receivable broadcast channels are acquired with reference to the NIT, and the all channel database 32a is created in the DRAM 32 in step S5.
[0017]
Subsequently, the CPU 28 acquires the SDT from the PSI at step S 7 and temporarily holds it in the DRAM 32. In step S9, the index (L index) of the minimum value of all channel database 32a is used as a determination index, and in step S11, scramble information (CA mode information) of the service ID corresponding to the current determination index is detected from the SDT. If the CA mode is “0”, since the corresponding broadcast channel is a free channel, the process proceeds from step S13 to step S15, and the service ID (current service ID) corresponding to the current determination index is stored in the free channel database 32b. sign up. At this time, the CA mode information is also registered in the free channel database 32b in association with the service ID. Thereafter, in step S17, it is determined whether or not the determination index is equal to the H index, that is, the index of the maximum value in the all channel database 32a. If “NO”, the determination index is incremented in step S19, and the process returns to step S11.
[0018]
In this way, the service ID and CA mode information of the free channel are registered in the free channel database 32b shown in FIG. Therefore, only the free channel can be selected with reference to the free channel database 32b.
If “YES” in the step S17, the CPU 28 acquires the current program information and the next program information of all channels from the EIT in a step S21, and sets the determination index to the L index of the all channel database 32a in a step S23. In step S25, it is determined whether the service ID (current service ID) of the current determination index has been registered in the free channel database 32a. If “NO”, the channel indicated by the current service ID is a pay channel, so in step S27, the pay program / free program is determined for the current program and the next program of the channel indicated by the current service ID, and the free channel is determined. The service ID and time information of the free program are registered in the database 32b. Thereafter, the determination index is incremented in step S29, and the process returns to step S25. If “YES” in the step S25, it is determined whether or not the current determination index is equal to the H index of the all channel database 32a in a step S31. If “NO” is determined here, the process also proceeds to step S29.
[0019]
In step S27, the CPU 28 processes the subroutine shown in FIG. First, in step S2701, CA mode information is detected from the current program information corresponding to the current service ID, and in step S2703, it is determined whether or not the CA mode is “0”. If “NO” here, since the current program is a pay program, the process proceeds to step S2709. If “YES”, the current program is a free program, so in step S2705 the current service ID and the current program are processed. Is registered in the free channel database 32b, the flag 32c is set in step S2707, and the process proceeds to step S2709. In step S2709, the CPU 28 detects CA mode information from the next program information corresponding to the current service ID. In step S2711, it is determined whether the CA mode is “0”. If “NO”, the process proceeds to step S2721. If “YES”, it is determined in step S2713 whether the flag 32c is set. To do.
[0020]
If “NO”, the current program with the current service ID is a pay program, and the current program is not registered in the free channel database 32b. Therefore, in step S2719, the current service ID, the start time information and end time information of the next program which is a free program, and the CA mode information are registered in the free channel database 32b, and the process returns. If “YES” in the step S2713, since the current program with the current service ID has already been registered in the free channel database 32b, only the end time information of the current program is updated to the end time information of the next program in a step S2715. In step S2717, the flag 32c is reset, and the process returns.
[0021]
If “YES” in the step S31, that is, if the current determination index becomes equal to the H index, the CPU 28 extracts end time information indicating the latest end time closest to the current time from the free channel database 32b in a step S32. In step S33, it is determined whether the current time is the latest end time. If “YES”, the service ID corresponding to the latest end time, the start time information, and the end time information are deleted from the free channel database 32b, and the process returns to step S21.
[0022]
Thus, based on the current program information and next program information of all channels, the service ID of the free program and the start time information and end time information of the program are registered in the free channel database 32b shown in FIG. For this reason, when a free program is partially broadcast on a pay channel, the free program can be selected with reference to the free channel database 32b.
[0023]
If “NO” in the step S33, the CPU 28 determines whether or not the transponder can be switched in a step S37. In step S37, “NO” is determined if the operator is watching the digital broadcast, and “YES” is determined when the power is on but the operator is not watching the digital broadcast. When it is determined “NO”, the CPU 28 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed in step S39. If “NO”, the process returns to step S33, and if “YES”, the process returns to step S21. That is, the processes of steps S21 to S32 are executed every predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes), and only the comparison between the current time and the latest end time is performed in other periods. If “YES” in the step S37, the process proceeds to a step S41, so that the current time cannot be compared with the latest end time until the process after the step S41 is completed. Therefore, in step S33, “YES” is determined not only when the current time has reached the latest end time but also when the current time has passed the latest end time.
[0024]
In step S41, the CPU 28 selects a promotion transponder, and then in step S43, the determination index is set to the L index. In step S45, the service ID of the broadcast channel corresponding to the current determination index is detected, and in step S47, it is determined whether the service ID has been registered in the free channel database 32b. If “YES” here, it is determined in step S51 whether or not the service ID has a time limit, that is, whether or not the service ID is a pay channel for partially broadcasting a free program. If “NO” in the step S47, a free program is detected from the future program in a step S49, and the free program is registered.
[0025]
Specifically, for the future program for 3 hours broadcast after the next program, the pay program / free program is determined, and the service ID and time information of the free program and the CA mode information are registered in the free channel database 32b. . When the pay program is detected, the process of step S49 is finished. Therefore, when there are a plurality of free programs across the pay program, only the free program detected first is registered. However, only when a pay program is detected for the first time, the pay / free determination is performed until a free program is found within 3 hours of interest.
[0026]
If “YES” in the step S51, in a step S53, the future program for 3 hours to be broadcast after the next program is determined to be paid / free, and the end time registered in the free channel database 32b is extended. . The processing in step S51 is the same as that in step S49 except that the end time information is updated instead of registering the service ID, time information, and CA mode information, and a duplicate description is omitted.
[0027]
In step S55, the CPU 28 determines whether or not the current determination index is equal to the H index. If “NO”, the determination index is incremented in step S57 and the process returns to step S45. On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S55, it is determined in a step S59 whether or not the end time of the time period for 3 hours searched in the above-described step S49 or S53 is equal to the end time of the time period in which the program information can be acquired. to decide. If “NO” here, the search time zone is shifted to the future by 3 hours in step S61 and the process returns to step S43. If “YES”, the process returns to step S33.
[0028]
Since the free channel database 32b in which only free channels and free programs are registered is created in this way, if the operator sets the free channel tuning mode and operates the up / down key 30a, it follows the free channel database 32b. Tuning is performed. That is, operability when selecting a free channel is improved.
[0029]
If you ban pay channel selection according to the setting of the free channel tuning mode and request a password to change the setting so that you can tune the paid channel, pay programs by third parties Can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a remote control transmitter;
FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing an all-channel database.
FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a free channel database;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 1;
6 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing still another part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital broadcast receiver 18 ... Descrambler 20 ... Demultiplexer 28 ... CPU

Claims (6)

In a digital broadcast receiver that decodes a digital broadcast signal that is broadcast and encoded through a desired channel selected from a plurality of channels including a pay channel and a free channel,
Referring to the database when the first registering means free program is registered in the database which channel is being broadcast as a free programming channels, and channel up / down key is operated when the power of the plurality of channels is turned and includes a channel selection means to tune only the free program channel from the plurality of channels,
The channel selection means selects another free program channel when the channel up / down key is operated in a state where an arbitrary free program channel is selected,
The information registered by the first registration unit includes identification information of the free program channel and broadcast time zone information of the free program . The free programming channels that are registered by the first registration means, free channel free of charge program is broadcast always, and the first specific pay channel the power Ru Tei no charge program is broadcast in a time zone that is turned The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, comprising: Second registration means further comprises, according to claim 1 or 2 digital broadcast receiver according to be registered in said database a second specific pay channel free of charge program is broadcast in a specific time zone as the free program channel. The specific time zone is a future time zone than the current time,
4. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 3 , wherein the second registration means detects the second specific pay channel based on broadcast data output from the specific transponder. In a digital broadcast receiver that decodes a digital broadcast signal that is broadcast and encoded through a desired channel selected from a plurality of channels including a pay channel and a free channel,
Registration means for registering in the database as a free program channel a channel on which a free program is broadcast in a specific time zone among the plurality of channels, and the plurality of channels with reference to the database when a channel up / down key is operated comprising a tuning means for tuning only the free program channel from among,
The channel selection means selects another free program channel when the channel up / down key is operated in a state where an arbitrary free program channel is selected,
The information registered by the registration means includes identification information of the free program channel and broadcast time zone information of the free program . The free program channel comprises a specific pay channel free channel free of charge program is broadcast always, and the is no charge program to a particular time slot is broadcast, the digital broadcasting receiver of claim 5, wherein.

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