JP4427880B2 - TRANSMISSION DEVICE, TRANSMISSION METHOD, RECEPTION DEVICE, RECEPTION METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus and method, a reception apparatus and method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a transmission apparatus and method, a reception apparatus and a method capable of suppressing the amount of information related to a reception contract and easily changing contract contents. And a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, for example, digital satellite broadcasting such as SKY Perfect TV (trademark) has become widespread. Digital satellite broadcasting is capable of transmitting higher quality signals than conventional analog broadcasting, and is designed to be multi-channeled.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a viewing contract for a program desired by the viewer is made, various information related to the viewing contract must be set on the receiving side and the transmitting side of the television broadcast wave. For example, when the viewer makes a contract to view all the broadcast channels from the broadcast channel 300 to the broadcast channel 399, the receiving device needs to store information for identifying each broadcast channel. In addition, the transmission apparatus needs to set information for identifying the broadcast channel for each reception channel for each broadcast channel and transmit the information together with the video data and audio data of the television program.
[0004]
That is, in order to store the broadcast channel 300 as a number representing the broadcast channel to be received, the receiving apparatus needs to store 9-bit information because the decimal number 300 is expressed as a binary number [100101100]. is there. For this reason, in order to store all the broadcast channel numbers of the above-described broadcast channels 300 to 399, the receiving apparatus stores information of 9 (bits) × 100 (the number of broadcast channels) = 900 (bits). There is a need. Also, the transmission device needs to generate and broadcast the information on the number of bits described above, similarly to the reception device.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and suppresses the amount of information related to a reception contract and makes it possible to easily change the contract contents.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The transmitting apparatus according to the present invention uses, as identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing a broadcast channel, and remaining first numbers following the first digit number. It includes generation means for generating identification information composed of second information that represents a 2 digit number in a bitmap, and transmission means for transmitting the identification information generated by the generation means.
[0007]
According to the transmission method of the transmission apparatus of the present invention, as identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number among numbers representing a broadcast channel, and the first digit number are followed. Including a generation step of generating identification information composed of second information representing the remaining second digit number in a bitmap, and a transmission step of transmitting the identification information generated by the processing of the generation step. Features.
[0008]
The program of the recording medium of the present invention includes, as identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number among numbers representing broadcast channels, and a remaining number following the first digit number. A generation step of generating identification information composed of second information representing the second digit number of the second digit number in a bitmap, and a transmission step of transmitting the identification information generated by the processing of the generation step And
[0009]
The receiving apparatus of the present invention is identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content transmitted by a transmitting apparatus, and includes first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing a broadcast channel, and first information Receiving means for receiving the identification information composed of the second information representing the remaining second digit number in the form of a bit map, and the broadcast received based on the identification information received by the receiving means Selection means for selecting a channel.
[0010]
The receiving method of the receiving apparatus of the present invention is identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content transmitted by a transmitting apparatus, and includes first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing the broadcast channel, A reception step of receiving identification information composed of second information representing the remaining second digit number following the first digit number in a bitmap, and based on the identification information received by the processing of the reception step And a selection step of selecting a broadcast channel to be received.
[0011]
The recording medium program of the present invention is identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content transmitted by a transmission device, and includes first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing a broadcast channel, Based on the receiving step for receiving the identification information composed of the second information that represents the remaining second digit number following the first digit number as a bitmap, and the identification information received by the processing of the receiving step And a selection step of selecting a broadcast channel to be received.
[0012]
In the transmission apparatus and method and the recording medium program of the present invention, as identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing a broadcast channel, Identification information composed of second information representing the remaining second digit number following the one digit number in a bitmap is generated, and the generated identification information is transmitted.
[0013]
In the receiving apparatus and method and the recording medium program of the present invention, the identification information for identifying the broadcast channel of the digital content transmitted by the transmitting apparatus is the first digit number among the numbers representing the broadcast channel. Identification information composed of the first information to be shown and the second information representing the remaining second digit number following the first digit number in a bitmap is received, and based on the received identification information, A broadcast channel to receive is selected.
[0014]
According to the transmission apparatus and method, the reception apparatus and method, and the recording medium program of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the amount of information related to the reception contract and easily change the contract content.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a broadcasting system to which the present invention is applied. In this broadcasting system, for example, program data composed of video, audio, and other information is digitized and scrambled and transmitted. In the description of this embodiment, satellite broadcasting will be described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to other broadcasting forms such as digital terrestrial broadcasting and cable television broadcasting. is there.
[0016]
The transmission device 1 scrambles the program, adds individual information, and then transmits the program as radio waves through an antenna (parabolic antenna) 2. This radio wave is received by a receiving antenna (parabolic antenna) 4 via a satellite (broadcast satellite or communication satellite) 3 and supplied to a receiving device 5. The receiving device 5 extracts individual information from the received signal supplied from the antenna 4, then performs descrambling processing on the program, and displays the obtained information on the monitor 6 or outputs it to the speaker 7. In addition, the receiving device 5 executes processing corresponding to the control information included in the individual information extracted from the received signal.
[0017]
The network 8 is composed of a public line network such as the Internet, and is used when the viewing history of a program viewed by each viewer is transmitted from the receiving device 5 to the transmitting device 1 periodically or when necessary. . The transmitting device 1 receives the viewing history transmitted from the receiving device 5, and performs charging processing, viewing rate calculation processing, and the like based on the information.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration example of the transmission apparatus 1. The encoder 21 of the transmission apparatus 1 compresses and encodes a program source (video signal and audio signal as a main broadcast signal) using the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 method, and outputs the result to the multiplexer 22. The multiplexer 22 is a main broadcast signal from the encoder 21, individual information (EMM (Entitlement Management Message)) supplied from the scramble control system 25, and common information (ECM (Entitlement Control Message) supplied from the related information sending device 26. Message)) is time-division multiplexed to generate an MPEG2 transport stream. The generated transport stream is supplied to the scrambler 23.
[0019]
The scrambler 23 scrambles the main broadcast signal of the digital signal (transport stream) input from the multiplexer 22 using the scramble key supplied from the related information transmitting device 26, and Output. The program control system 24 controls the encoder 1 by generating a predetermined control signal. Further, the program control system 24 outputs program information including the program ID and broadcast channel ID of the program corresponding to the main broadcast signal compressed and encoded by the encoder 21 to the related information transmitting device 26. The scramble control system 25 supplies the work key to the related information sending device 26 and generates individual information including the work key encrypted by using the unique individual key corresponding to the receiving device 5 to the multiplexer 22. Output.
[0020]
FIG. 3A shows an example of individual information generated by the scramble control system 25. The individual information mainly includes a header part, a contract information part, and a control information part. In the header portion, a card ID for specifying a security module 42 of the receiving device 5 described later, a type of individual information, and the like are described. The contract information section includes a work key number for identifying the work key, a work key for decrypting the encryption applied to the scramble key, a contract type indicating the contract condition, a service ID indicating the contracted broadcast channel, and an expiration date of the contract content. Described. In the control information section, information for instructing the security module 42 at which timing viewing information related to a program viewed by the receiving device 5 is transmitted, a telephone number of a transmission destination, and the like are described.
[0021]
The related information sending device 26 supplies the scramble key to the scrambler 23. Further, the related information transmitting device 26 generates common information including a scramble key encrypted using the work key supplied from the scramble control system 25 and outputs the common information to the multiplexer 22.
[0022]
FIG. 3B shows an example of common information generated by the related information sending device 26. The common information is mainly composed of a header part and a data part. In the header part, a work key number for identifying the work key, information for identifying the type of common information, and the like are described. In the data portion, an encrypted scramble key, a pay per view fee, a preview (viewing) time, a preview (viewing) limit number, and the like are described as information indicating a service form. In the data portion, a service ID indicating a broadcast channel, an event ID indicating a program, a current time, and the like are described.
[0023]
The customer management system 27 processes viewing information or the like input from the receiving device 5 via the network 8 and outputs it to the scramble control system 25 as contract information. Further, the customer management system 27 stores the individual key of the receiving device 5, and when viewing request information is transmitted from the receiving device 5 via the network 8, the scramble control system includes the individual key in the contract information. To 25.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the receiving device 5. The receiving device 5 includes a set top box 41 and a security module 42. The security module 42 is configured by, for example, an IC card that can be attached to and detached from the set top box 41. A signal transmitted from the transmission device 1 via the satellite 3 is received by the conversion antenna 4 (FIG. 1) and is set to a predetermined intermediate frequency. The signal having the intermediate frequency is input to a demodulator (not shown) of the set-top box 41, and after down-conversion and other necessary processing, a predetermined broadcast channel (desired by the viewer is desired). (Broadcast channel) signal is demodulated. The demodulated signal is subjected to error correction by an error correction unit (not shown) and supplied to the demultiplexer 51.
[0025]
The demultiplexer 51 determines whether the transport stream packet (hereinafter referred to as TS packet) output from the error correction unit is a TS packet including program data, or common information or individual information (hereinafter referred to as common information and individual information). If it is not necessary to individually distinguish each piece of information, it is identified with reference to its header (packet ID) whether it is a TS packet including related information). When the TS packet output from the error correction unit includes program data, the TS packet is supplied to the descrambler 52. When the TS packet output from the error correction unit is a TS packet including related information, the demultiplexer 51 supplies the TS packet to the common / individual information analysis device 61 of the security module 42.
[0026]
When the TS packet of the related information supplied from the demultiplexer 51 is the TS packet of the individual information, the common / individual information analysis device 61 reads the decoder ID specific to the receiving device 5 from the contract information storage device 62, and this decoder The ID is compared with the decoder identification number included in the individual information. The common / individual information analysis device 61 reads the individual key from the contract information storage device 62 only when the decoder ID and the decoder identification number match.
[0027]
The individual key is the same key as the individual key stored in the customer management system 27 of the transmission device 1. Accordingly, the encrypted work key included in the individual information can be decrypted by the individual key. Further, the common / individual information analysis device 61 uses the individual key read from the contract information storage device 62 to decrypt the work key included in the individual information, and acquires the scramble key using the obtained work key. The common / individual information analysis device 61 supplies information such as a scramble key to the descrambler 52 as viewing control information.
[0028]
The descrambler 52 descrambles the TS packet including the program data supplied from the demultiplexer 51 using the scramble key supplied from the common / individual information analysis device 61 and supplies the descrambler to the decoder 53. The decoder 53 decodes the descrambled program data by the MPEG2 system, and outputs the video data to the monitor 6 and the audio data to the speaker 7. In addition, after descrambling processing is started in the descrambler 52, if the program being descrambled ends or if the viewer stops watching the program by performing a predetermined operation, The individual information analysis device 61 stops supplying the scramble key. As a result, descrambling is stopped and the program cannot be viewed.
[0029]
Further, when the descrambling process is started by the descrambler 52, if the program is, for example, a program with a pay-per-view contract, the common / individual information analysis device 61 obtains the program number of the descrambled program from the common information. This is extracted and stored in the viewing information storage device 63 as viewing information. The viewing information stored in the viewing information storage device 63 in this way is stored after a certain period of time based on the timing described in the control information section of the individual information, or the common / individual information analysis device 61 uses the individual information. When the forced call instruction is recognized, the instruction is transmitted from the modem 54 provided in the set top box 41 to the transmission device 1 via the network 8.
[0030]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the format of a service ID included in individual information to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 5A, the service ID representing the broadcast channel that the viewer has subscribed to is composed of tag information and bitmap information. The receiving device 5 determines which broadcast channel is subscribed to based on the service ID (tag information and bitmap information) in the individual information stored in advance in the contract information storage device 62 of the security module 42. to decide.
[0031]
FIG. 5B shows an example of a tag portion in which tag information is described. In the tag part, a flag indicating whether the broadcast channel to be described indicates a broadcast channel to be contracted or a broadcast channel to be canceled, and the highest digit of the number (decimal number) indicating the broadcast channel A specified number (a number indicating the number of broadcast channels) is described. The administrator of the transmission device 1 can set the number of broadcast channels that specify contract or cancellation by one piece of individual information, and can set every 10 channels such as channels 1 to 9 and channels 10 to 19, Alternatively, the contract or cancellation information can be managed by setting every 100 channels such as channels 100 to 199 and channels 200 to 299. In the example of FIG. 5B, the channel number is in the 300s, and a broadcast channel (broadcast channel among the broadcast channels 300 to 399) specified by bitmap information described later is a viewing contract target.
[0032]
Note that the transmission apparatus 1 can execute processing by setting various flags to flags other than “contract” and “cancellation” and causing the reception apparatus 5 to recognize them. For example, the transmission device 1 sets a flag indicating “addition” in the tag portion, and designates a broadcast channel to be “added” in the bitmap portion, so that the reception device 5 can view based on it. Additional broadcast channels can be added.
[0033]
FIG. 5C shows an example of a bitmap portion in which bitmap information is described. The bitmap information is information that designates a lower digit after the most significant digit designated by the tag information. That is, in the example of FIG. 5C, 100 bits are prepared, and each bit corresponds to a number from 300 to 399 indicating a broadcast channel. The numerical bit that is the target of the tag flag is “1”, and the non-target bit is “0”.
[0034]
In this example, the first to third bits are set to “1” and the remaining fourth to 100th bits are set to “0”. Therefore, the channels 300 to 302 are targeted (in this example, the contract The other channels 303 to 399 are non-target (non-contract target). In the example of FIG. 5C, “target” is “1” and “non-target” is “0”, but “target” is “0” and “non-target” is “1”. It can also be set as shown.
[0035]
In the broadcast channel designation method described above, for example, each of the broadcast channels 300 to 399 is represented by representing a broadcast channel to be transmitted / received between the transmission device 1 and the reception device 5 and subject to a viewing contract or viewing cancellation. Compared with the case where the broadcast channel is represented by 9 bits, the amount of information transmitted and received can be reduced.
[0036]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the case where the broadcast channel with which viewing contracts are changed will be described.
[0037]
If the viewer of the receiving device 5 has already subscribed to the broadcast channels 300, 301, and 302, the contract information storage device 62 stores individual information as shown in FIG. . The tag portion indicates that the broadcast channel specified by the bitmap information is a “contract” target for the broadcast channel with the channel number “300”. The first to third bits (FIG. 5C) of the bitmap part are described as “ON (1)”. In this example as well, a state that is a viewing contract target is represented by “1”, and a state that is not a viewing contract target is represented by “0”. In the expiration date portion, the expiration date of the designated viewing contract is described as “October 1, 2010 at midnight”. The individual information for which the expiration date has passed is deleted, and the broadcast channel that can be viewed with the deleted individual information can no longer be viewed. In the expiration date section, in addition to the expiration date of the individual information, in the case of individual information for which the “cancel” flag is set in the tag section, the cancellation date and time are set, and the “add” flag is set in the tag section. In the case of individual information, the viewing start date and time is described.
[0038]
A case where the viewer of the receiving device 5 applies for the cancellation of the broadcast channel 301 to the manager of the transmitting device 1 using an application form or the like in such a contract state will be described. In this case, the administrator of the transmission device 1 transmits the individual information of FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C to the reception device 5 according to the application, and sends it to the contract information storage device 62 of the security module 42. Remember.
[0039]
In the individual information in FIG. 6B, the tag portion indicates that the broadcast channel designated by the bitmap information is “cancelled” for the broadcast channel having the channel number “300”. In the bitmap portion, the second bit (FIG. 5C) is “ON (1)”. That is, it is described that the broadcast channel 301 is an object of cancellation. The cancellation date and time is described as “October 1, 2000, 0:00”.
[0040]
In the individual information in FIG. 6C, the tag portion indicates that the broadcast channel specified by the bitmap information is set to the “contract” state for the broadcast channel having the channel number “300”. In the bitmap section, the first and third bits (FIG. 5C) are set to “ON (1)”. The expiration date is described as “October 1, 2010 at 0:00”.
[0041]
When the individual information shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C is transmitted from the transmission device 1, the reception device 5 stores this in the contract information storage device 62. The individual information in FIG. 6C is overwritten on the individual information shown in FIG. Based on the individual information shown in FIG. 6B, the broadcast channel 301 can be viewed until just before midnight on October 1, 2000, but after that it cannot be viewed. Broadcast channels 300 and 302 can be viewed as before.
[0042]
The individual information in FIG. 6C may be automatically updated in the security module 42 that has received the individual information in FIG. 6B instead of broadcasting.
[0043]
Next, another embodiment for changing the contract status will be described with reference to FIG.
[0044]
In the example of the individual information in FIG. 7A, the viewer of the receiving device 5 has already subscribed to the broadcast channels 300 and 301. For this reason, the tag portion indicates that the broadcast channel specified by the bitmap information is a “contract” target for the broadcast channel with the channel number “300”. The first and second bits (FIG. 5C) of the bitmap portion are set to “ON (1)”. In the expiration date section, the expiration date of the contract is described as “October 1, 2010 at midnight”.
[0045]
In the contract state of FIG. 7A, the case where the viewer of the receiving apparatus 5 applies for the addition of the viewing contract of the broadcast channel 302 to the administrator of the transmitting apparatus 1 using an application form or the like will be described. In this case, the administrator of the transmission device 1 transmits the individual information of FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C to the reception device 5 according to the application, and sends it to the contract information storage device 62 of the security module 42. (The individual information in FIG. 7A is overwritten with the individual information in FIG. 7C).
[0046]
In the individual information in FIG. 7B, the tag portion indicates that the broadcast channel specified by the bitmap information is “added” for the broadcast channel having the channel number “300”. In the bitmap portion, the third bit (FIG. 5C) is “ON (1)”. The viewing start date and time is described as “December 1, 2000, 0:00”.
[0047]
In the individual information in FIG. 7C, the tag portion indicates that the broadcast channel designated by the bitmap information is set to the “contract” state for the broadcast channel with the channel number “300”. In the bitmap portion, the first to third bits (FIG. 5C) are set to “1”. The expiration date is described as “October 1, 2010 at 0:00”.
[0048]
When the receiving device 5 receives the individual information shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C transmitted from the transmitting device 1, the individual information stored in the contract information storage device 62 of the security module 42. (FIG. 7A) is rewritten with the individual information of FIG. 7C. Then, at midnight on December 1, 2000, the viewer can view the broadcast channel 302 by the individual information in FIG. 7B.
[0049]
The individual information in FIG. 7C may be automatically updated in the security module 42 that has received the individual information in FIG. 7B, instead of broadcasting.
[0050]
Hereinafter, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 to 10, the transmitting device 1 transmits the individual information including the service ID described above, and the receiving device 5 that has received the contract registers the contract information based on the individual information, A series of processing for viewing processing will be described.
[0051]
First, a process in which the transmission apparatus 1 generates and transmits individual information, a television program, and the like will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0052]
In step S1, the scramble control system 25 generates tag information included in the service ID of the individual information, based on the contract information transferred from the customer management system 27. The customer management system 27 generates contract information from the viewing request information transmitted from the receiving device 5 via the network 8 or the viewing request information applied by the viewer using the application form, and transfers the contract information to the scramble control system 25. .
[0053]
For example, when a viewer who has not subscribed to any of the broadcast channels desires to view the broadcast channels 300, 301, and 302, the scramble control system 25 uses the example of the tag portion in FIG. As shown, a flag indicating “contract” and information indicating “300 series” are described.
[0054]
In step S <b> 2, the scramble control system 25 generates bitmap information that designates the broadcast channel that is the target of the tag information generated in the process of step S <b> 1 based on the contract information transferred from the customer management system 27.
[0055]
That is, the scramble control system 25 sets the first broadcast channel as the target of the instruction (“contract”) based on the tag information generated in the process of step S1, as shown in the example of the bitmap portion in FIG. The third to third bits are set to “1”, and the fourth to 100th bits are set to “0”. The receiving device 5 that has received the individual information including the tag information and the bitmap information stores the individual information and enables the broadcast channels 300 to 302 to be viewed.
[0056]
In step S3, the scramble control system 25 generates information indicating the expiration date of the tag information and bitmap information (individual information) generated in the processing in steps S1 and S2. The scramble control system 25 generates information indicating that the viewing contract is valid until, for example, “October 1, 2010 at 0:00”. When the receiving device 5 determines that the expiration date of the stored individual information has expired, the receiving device 5 deletes the individual information, and thereafter makes the broadcast channel designated by the individual information unviewable. The processing of the receiving device 5 will be described later.
[0057]
In step S4, the multiplexer 22 receives the MPEG-2 digital data generated by the encoder 21 from the program source, the individual information generated by the scramble control system 25 in the processing of steps S1 to S3, and the related information transmission device 26. The supplied common information is time-division multiplexed to generate a transport stream.
[0058]
In step S <b> 5, the scrambler 23 scrambles the transport stream supplied from the multiplexer 22 using the scramble key provided from the related information transmitting device 26. The scrambler 23 outputs the scrambled transport stream to a sending device (not shown).
[0059]
In step S <b> 6, the transmission device (not shown) transmits the transport stream scrambled by the scrambler 23 from the antenna 2. The transmitted transport stream is received by the antenna 4 provided in the receiving device 5 via the satellite 3, and the receiving device 5 performs contract information registration processing.
[0060]
Next, the viewing contract information registration process of the receiving device 5 that has received the individual information included in the transport stream will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The demultiplexer 51 extracts the main broadcast signal and related information (common information and individual information) from the transport stream supplied from the antenna 4, and uses the main broadcast signal as the descrambler 52 and the related information as common / individual information. The data is transferred to the analysis device 61.
[0061]
In step S <b> 21, the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines whether individual information has been transferred from the demultiplexer 51. The common / individual information analysis device 61 waits until the individual information is transferred, and if it is determined that the individual information has been transferred from the demultiplexer 51, the process proceeds to step S22.
[0062]
In step S22, the common / individual information analysis device 61 uses the individual key stored in the contract information storage device 62 to decrypt the individual information encrypted by the transmission device 1, and includes the tag included in the individual information. It is determined whether or not the “contract” flag is set in the section. That is, the common / individual information analysis device 61 confirms the contents described in the tag part, and updates the contract information stored in the contract information storage device 62 based on the content (not yet in the contract information storage device 62). If the contract information is not stored, register new information).
[0063]
When the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines in step S22 that the “contract” flag is not set in the transferred individual information (“add” or “cancel” is set), Advances to step S23.
[0064]
In step S 23, the contract information storage device 62 stores the individual information transferred from the common / individual information analysis device 61. That is, when the “add” or “cancel” flag is set in the tag portion of the transferred individual information, the contract information storage device 62 registers the individual information as it is.
[0065]
On the other hand, if the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines in step S22 that the “contract” flag is set in the tag portion of the transferred individual information, the process proceeds to step S24.
[0066]
In step S24, the common / individual information analysis device 61 inquires of the contract information storage device 62, and based on the notification from the contract information storage device 62, the registered individual information and the “contract” flag in the tag portion. It is determined whether there is individual information for which is set. When the viewer first transmits viewing request information to the transmission device 1 and the individual information is transmitted from the transmission device 1 in response thereto, the contract information is not stored in the contract information storage device 62. In step S23, the contract information storage device 62 newly registers individual information. For example, when the newly registered individual information is the individual information shown in FIG. 6A, the viewer can view the broadcast channels 300 to 302.
[0067]
In step S24, based on the notification from the contract information storage device 62, the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines that the individual information in which the “contract” flag is already set in the tag portion is stored. If so, the process proceeds to step S25.
[0068]
In step S25, the contract information storage device 62 overwrites the individual information newly transferred from the common / individual information analysis device 61 on the already stored individual information, and updates the registered information. When the individual information already stored is the individual information of FIG. 6A, and the transferred individual information is the individual information of FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, FIG. The contract information is updated and registered with the description contents of the individual information, and the broadcast channel 300 and the broadcast channel 302 can be viewed. Also, the viewer can view the broadcast channel 301 until the cancellation date and time (October 1, 2000 at midnight) by the individual information of FIG. 6B registered in the process of step S23.
[0069]
In step S26, the contract information storage device 62 determines whether there is individual information whose expiration date has expired. If the contract information storage device 62 determines that there is no individual information whose expiration date has expired, the processing returns to step S21, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.
[0070]
In step S26, when the contract information storage device 62 determines that there is individual information whose expiration date has expired, the process proceeds to step S27.
[0071]
In step S27, the contract information storage device 62 deletes the individual information whose expiration date has expired. When the individual information erased by the contract information storage device 62 is the individual information shown in FIG. 6B, the viewer can no longer view the broadcast channel 301 thereafter. Thereafter, the process returns to step S21, and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed.
[0072]
Next, digital content viewing processing of the receiving device 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0073]
In step S <b> 41, the common / individual information analysis device 61 acquires the channel number of the broadcast channel designated by the viewer based on the common information transferred from the demultiplexer 51.
[0074]
In step S42, the common / individual information analysis device 61 stores in the contract information storage device 62 whether or not the channel number of the acquired broadcast channel is registered in the individual information for which the “contract” flag is set. Judge by inquiring.
[0075]
In step S42, the common / individual information analysis device 61 is registered in the individual information in which the channel number acquired in the process of step S41 is set to the “contract” flag based on the notification from the contract information storage device 62. If it is determined that the process has been performed, the process proceeds to step S43.
[0076]
In step S43, the common / individual information analysis device 61 stores in the contract information storage device 62 whether or not the channel number of the acquired broadcast channel is registered in the individual information for which the “add” flag is set. Judge by inquiring. For example, even for the channel 302 registered by the individual information (FIG. 7C) in which the “contract” flag is set, the individual information in which the “add” flag is set (FIG. 7B This is because the viewing process may be prohibited because the viewing start date has not yet passed. Therefore, the common / individual information analysis device 61 registers the channel number acquired in the process of step S41 in the individual information in which the “add” flag is set based on the notification from the contract information storage device 62. If it is determined that there is not, the process proceeds to step S44.
[0077]
In step S44, the common / individual information analysis device 61 performs digital content viewing processing. As described above, the common / individual information analysis device 61 decrypts the individual information using the individual key provided from the contract information storage device 62, and further decrypts the common information with the work key obtained from the individual information. Then, the scramble key obtained from the decrypted common information is supplied to the descrambler 52. The descrambler 52 descrambles the main broadcast signal supplied from the demultiplexer 51 with the provided scramble key, and outputs the descrambler 52 to the decoder 53. The decoder 53 decodes the supplied digital data and outputs an analog signal to the monitor 6 or the speaker 7.
[0078]
Returning to FIG. 10, in step S43, the common / individual information analysis device 61 is set with the flag “add” as the channel number acquired in the process of step S41 based on the notification from the contract information storage device 62. If it is determined that it is registered in the individual information, the common / individual information analysis device 61 recognizes that the viewing process is prohibited until the viewing start date and time elapses, and the process proceeds to step S45.
[0079]
In step S45, the common / individual information analysis device 61 causes the monitor 6 to output a message that cannot be viewed. The message displayed on the monitor 6 is, for example, a message such as “viewing process cannot be performed because the viewing start date has not passed”.
[0080]
On the other hand, in step S42, the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines whether or not the channel number of the acquired broadcast channel is registered in the individual information in which the “cancel” flag is set. 62 and makes a determination based on the notification.
[0081]
In step S46, when the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines that the channel number of the acquired broadcast channel is registered in the individual information in which the “cancel” flag is set, the viewer commands The broadcast channel recognizes that the viewing process is permitted until the cancellation date and time, proceeds to the process of step S44, and executes the viewing process. For example, in the example of FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, even if the individual information in FIG. 6C is not registered, the channel 302 is canceled by the individual information in FIG. It can be viewed until 0:00 am on October 1st.
[0082]
In step S46, when the common / individual information analysis device 61 determines that the channel number of the acquired broadcast channel is not registered in the individual information for which the “cancel” flag is set, the acquired broadcast channel The channel number is not registered in any individual information, and it is recognized that the viewing process cannot be performed, and the process proceeds to step S45.
[0083]
In step S45, the common / individual information analysis device 61 causes the monitor 6 to display a non-viewable message. The message to be displayed is, for example, a message such as “Cannot view because it is not contracted”.
[0084]
In the above description, the service ID of the individual information is described separately as tag information and bitmap information. However, the transmission device 1 can also generate information composed only of tag information and bitmap information. is there. The receiving device 5 determines the description content of the header of the information, recognizes that only the tag information and the bitmap information are described, and registers the contract information. Thereby, the transmission apparatus 1 can transmit contract information collectively, and can transmit data efficiently.
[0085]
The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. In this case, for example, the transmission device 1 and the reception device 5 are configured by a personal computer as shown in FIG.
[0086]
In FIG. 11, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81 performs various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 82 or a program loaded from a storage unit 88 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 83. Execute. The RAM 83 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 81 to execute various processes.
[0087]
The CPU 81, ROM 82, and RAM 83 are connected to each other via a bus 84. An input / output interface 85 is also connected to the bus 84. The input / output interface 85 includes an input unit 86 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display including a CRT and an LCD, an output unit 87 including a speaker, a storage unit 88 including a hard disk, a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like. A communicator 89 configured is connected. The communication unit 89 performs communication processing via the network 8.
[0088]
A drive 90 is connected to the input / output interface 85 as necessary, and a magnetic disk 91, an optical disk 92, a magneto-optical disk 93, a semiconductor memory 94, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read from the disk is required. Is installed in the storage unit 88 accordingly.
[0089]
When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed in a general-purpose personal computer from a network or a recording medium.
[0090]
As shown in FIG. 11, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the main body of the apparatus, and includes a magnetic disk 91 (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk 92 (CD -ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disk)), magneto-optical disk 93 (including MO (Magnet-Optacl)), or just a package media consisting of semiconductor memory 94, etc. Instead, it is configured by a ROM 82 in which a program is recorded and a hard disk included in the storage unit 88 provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance.
[0091]
In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded in the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in time series, either in parallel or individually. The process to be executed is also included.
[0092]
Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.
[0093]
【The invention's effect】
According to the transmission apparatus and method, the reception apparatus and method, and the recording medium of the present invention, as identification information for identifying the broadcast channel of digital content, the first digit indicating the first digit number among the numbers representing the broadcast channel is provided. Since the identification information composed of the information and the second information that represents the remaining second digit number following the first digit number in the form of a bitmap is generated, the generated identification information is transmitted. The amount of information related to the contract can be reduced, and the contract contents can be easily changed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a broadcasting system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the transmission apparatus in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information generated by the transmission apparatus in FIG. 1;
4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the receiving apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of individual information transmitted by the transmission apparatus in FIG. 1;
6 is a diagram showing another example of individual information transmitted by the transmission apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is a diagram showing still another example of individual information transmitted by the transmission apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating transmission processing of the transmission device in FIG. 1;
9 is a flowchart illustrating contract information registration processing of the receiving apparatus in FIG. 1;
10 is a flowchart for explaining viewing processing of the receiving apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Transmitter, 2 Antenna, 4 Antenna, 5 Receiver, 21 Encoder, 22 Multiplexer, 23 Scrambler, 24 Program Control System, 25 Scramble Control System, 26 Related Information Transmitter, 27 Customer Management System, 41 Set Top Box, 42 security module, 51 demultiplexer, 52 descrambler, 53 decoder, 54 modem, 61 common / individual information analysis device, 62 contract information storage device, 63 viewing information storage device, 81 CPU, 82 ROM, 83 RAM, 84 Bus, 85 I / O interface, 86 input section, 87 output section, 88 display section, 89 storage section, 90 communication section, 91 drive, 92 magnetic disk, 93 optical disk, 94 magneto-optical disk, 95 semiconductor memory

Claims (6)

As identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing the broadcast channel and a remaining second digit number following the first digit number are included. Generating means for generating identification information composed of second information represented by a bitmap;
And a transmission unit that transmits the identification information generated by the generation unit. As identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing the broadcast channel and a remaining second digit number following the first digit number are included. A generation step of generating identification information composed of second information represented by a bitmap;
And a transmission step of transmitting the identification information generated by the processing of the generation step. As identification information for identifying a broadcast channel of digital content, first information indicating a first digit number of numbers representing the broadcast channel and a remaining second digit number following the first digit number are included. A generation step of generating identification information composed of second information represented by a bitmap;
And a transmission step of transmitting the identification information generated by the processing of the generation step. A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded. Identification information for identifying the broadcast channel of the digital content transmitted by the transmission device, the first information indicating the first digit number among the numbers representing the broadcast channel, and the first digit number Receiving means for receiving identification information composed of second information representing the remaining second digit number in a bitmap;
And a selection unit that selects the broadcast channel to be received based on the identification information received by the reception unit. Identification information for identifying the broadcast channel of the digital content transmitted by the transmission device, the first information indicating the first digit number among the numbers representing the broadcast channel, and the first digit number A receiving step for receiving identification information composed of second information representing the remaining second digit number in a bitmap;
And a selection step of selecting the broadcast channel to be received based on the identification information received by the processing of the reception step. Identification information for identifying the broadcast channel of the digital content transmitted by the transmission device, the first information indicating the first digit number among the numbers representing the broadcast channel, and the first digit number A receiving step for receiving identification information composed of second information representing the remaining second digit number in a bitmap;
And a selection step of selecting the broadcast channel to be received based on the identification information received by the processing of the reception step.

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