JP4957087B2 - CATV portal authentication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiver (Set Top Box, abbreviated as STB) that performs an interactive service and a CATV station system that performs portal authentication and VOD service and performs portal authentication in a digital CATV broadcasting system.

  In recent years, digital CATV broadcasting systems that perform digital retransmission have become widespread, and for such services, interactive services using data broadcasting have begun only from conventional one-way broadcasting services. A VOD service using a VOD server has been started at a major CATV station. The VOD service has the advantage that users can view their favorite content at their preferred time. In addition to the movie, animation and karaoke services, the VOD service can provide highly interactive services such as games and education. And usefulness is expected.

  In addition, data broadcasting is underway as a result of the integration of broadcasting and communications, and the development of integrated services in the broadcasting field where multi-channel and high-quality images are advanced, and in the communications field where the advancement and speeding up of communications supporting Internet telephones and VOD are progressing. As a portal service, interactive services combining VOD services are also being studied.

  By the way, the limited reception of the digital CATV broadcast is performed by using a CAS card (limited reception card) that implements the functions described in Chapter 3 of the ARIB STD-B25 and is used by the STB. Are controlled individually based on the CASID (limited reception card ID) unique to the C-CAS card, which is a CATV CAS card. For management of the STB, the CASID and service contents are registered from the customer management system installed in each CATV.

  On the other hand, in a receiving system in which a receiving device that receives a television broadcast signal is connected to a server through the Internet, a mechanism for distributing dedicated content only to a receiving device of a specific TV viewer is proposed in Patent Document 1. .

  Here, the receiving device connects to the Internet, accesses a server, communicates with the server, and receiving device specifying information that holds unique receiving device specifying information that the receiving device has individually Holding means, and receiving apparatus specifying information transmitting means for reading the receiving apparatus specifying information from the receiving apparatus specifying information holding means and transmitting the receiving apparatus specifying information from the communication means to the server through the Internet, wherein the server is connected through the Internet. A receiving device specifying information determining unit for receiving and determining the receiving device specifying information from the receiving device that has accessed, and a receiving device having the receiving device specifying information determined by the receiving device specifying information determining unit based on the determination result; Only for this, a content delivery system that delivers predetermined content according to access from the receiving device. A reception system comprising a Ntsu distribution means.

  Here, the receiving device specifying information holding means holds unique ID information for each TV receiving device as the receiving device specifying information, and the ID information is recorded in an EPROM or the like so as to be unique at the time of factory shipment. It may be stored in the apparatus by software at the time of user registration.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in a system that provides information to a subscriber of a CATV system using an information providing server connected to an open wide area network, from STB installed in a subscriber's home of the CATV system, When a connection request to a WWW server dedicated to each CATV system subscriber is transmitted, the authentication server on the Internet determines whether or not the device that transmitted the connection request is a regular STB registered in advance. Based on the identification information (STBID) given to each STB, it is proposed that the STB is connected to the WWW server of the corresponding CATV system only when it is a connection request from a regular STB. Yes.
JP 2004-179699 A JP 2006-074599 A

  However, when implementing a bidirectional portal service using a data broadcasting mechanism, portal authentication needs to be performed in order to allow access only to users who are permitted the portal service when entering the portal screen. For example, this is the case of a portal service only for a specific member or an age-restricted portal service. Also, even if there is no intention to set access restrictions, authentication is important for security.

  When interactive service is performed in combination with the portal service and VOD service, portal authentication is performed on the portal screen in order to provide only the VOD service to authorized users before viewing the VOD service. There is a need.

  When considering the mechanism of portal authentication, if a CASID used in conventional limited reception of CATV broadcasting is used, the user does not need to input an ID or password, and the system becomes easy to use. Further, if management is performed based on the CASID, the conventional customer management system can be used as it is, and therefore it is easy in terms of management operation. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a portal authentication system based on CASID.

  When the receiver is specified by the STBID proposed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, management is necessary separately from the customer management system with the conventional broadcasting system. In addition, since STBs are manufactured and sold by a plurality of manufacturers, numbering varies depending on each STB manufacturer. Further, the numbering of STBID is optional in the ARIB standard (Radio Industry Association), and it is assumed that the STBID is not assigned.

  By the way, in the conventional broadcasting service, since a common service is provided to the STB connected to the output of each QAM (Quadrature Amplitude) modulator, a CAS card is inserted into another STB from the STB provided by the user. However, it is possible to view the service subscribed to by the user on another STB. However, in the case of the VOD service, since the provided screen information is different for each STB, when a CAS card is inserted into an STB other than the STB provided by the contract with the CATV station and an interactive service is to be viewed, There may be cases where it cannot be viewed properly.

  FIG. 16 is an example of a block diagram showing a system configuration of an interactive service combining a broadcast service including a portal service and a VOD service.

  This is because the VOD server 5 has a transmission port, but one transmission capability is finite. Therefore, when providing services to a large number of STBs, it is necessary to have a plurality of transmission ports and manage simultaneous transmission. Because there is. Therefore, the VOD server 5 provides the VOD service to the QAM modulator output to which the registered CASID is connected, but actually, the STB 2 operated by the user is different from the registered QAM modulator output. This is because the VOD service does not flow to the QAM modulator output.

  Further, depending on the contents of both services, a service that cannot be appropriately used according to the STB specification is assumed. For example, an interactive service using a camera image mounted on an STB cannot be used on an STB without a camera. As described above, there is a problem that an interactive service according to the function of the STB cannot be provided appropriately.

  Depending on the structure of the STB, the means for setting the receiver specific information is held in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), but the memory area that can be read by a communication command is NV -When the reliability of holding such as RAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) is not high, it is assumed that the receiver specific information cannot be read correctly due to data loss or the like.

In addition, the receiver specific information varies for each STB manufacturer, and there is a problem that it is not suitable for unified management. Furthermore, in order to set unified receiver specific information at each STB manufacturer, it is necessary to manage the combination information with the CAS card to be inserted at each STB manufacturer. Usually, the supplier of the CAS card and the STB manufacturer Since it is another, there exists a subject that man-hours are large in management operation.

  The CATV portal authentication system according to the first aspect of the present invention relates to first receiver information and second receiver information for identifying a receiver, and content data constituting the authentication screen when the portal service authentication screen is displayed. A first command processing unit that processes the received first receiver information acquisition command and a second command processing unit that processes a second receiver information acquisition command. Machine information and the second receiver information are acquired from the receiver, transmitted to the CATV station, and the portal authentication server that performs input authentication of the portal screen of the receiver, the first registered in advance. A holding unit that associates and holds the receiver information and the second receiver information, the first receiver information acquired from the receiver, and the first receiver information that is held in the holding unit A first comparison / determination unit that compares and determines the second receiver information acquired from the receiver and the second receiver information associated with the first receiver information held in the holding unit. A second comparison / determination unit for comparing and determining, and when the result of the first comparison / determination unit is relevant and the result of the second comparison / determination unit is relevant, the portal service screen is displayed on the portal. Permits to the server.

  In addition, the portal server is provided with a content data holding unit for configuring specific screen data. In the portal authentication server, the result of the first comparison determination unit is applicable, and the second comparison determination unit If the result is not applicable, and if the result of the first comparison determination unit is not applicable, according to the comparison determination result, notify the portal server to send the content data of the content data holding unit, Content data constituting the specific screen is transmitted from the portal server to the receiver and displayed on the receiver.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a CATV portal authentication system comprising: a connection information holding unit for holding connection information of a receiver previously associated with the second receiver information in the portal authentication server; and the second receiver. A connection information search unit for searching for the associated connection information from information, and the result of the first comparison determination unit is applicable and the result of the second comparison determination unit is not applicable in the portal authentication server In this case, based on the second receiver information acquired from the receiver, the connection information search unit searches the connection information holding unit, notifies the portal server of relevant connection information of the search result, and the portal The server notifies the VOD server of the notified connection information, and the VOD server sends the VOD service information to the connection destination network.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a CATV portal authentication system comprising: a service information holding unit that holds service information that can be handled by a receiver previously associated with the second receiver information in the portal authentication server; A service information search unit that searches for the associated service information from the receiver information of the receiver, and when the result of the first comparison determination unit is applicable and the result of the second comparison determination unit is applicable, Based on the second receiver information acquired from the receiver, the service information search unit searches the service information holding unit, notifies the portal server of the corresponding service information of the search result, and the portal server is notified. The corresponding portal service screen information is sent based on the service information that can be handled by the receiver.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a CATV portal authentication system in which a third receiver information specifying a function of a receiver is associated with the CATV receiver, and third data associated with content data constituting the portal service screen. A command processing unit that processes a receiver information acquisition command, and a service information holding unit that holds service information that can be handled by a receiver associated with the third receiver information in advance in the portal authentication server; When a service information search unit for searching for the associated service information from third receiver information is provided, the result of the first comparison determination unit is applicable, and the result of the second comparison determination unit is applicable The service information search unit searches the service information holding unit based on the third receiver information acquired from the receiver, and the corresponding service of the search result is retrieved. Notifies information to the portal server, the portal server based on a compatible service information notified receiver is intended to deliver the corresponding portal service screen information.

  In the CATV portal authentication system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the portal authentication server is provided with a receiver information survey unit that investigates the second receiver information, and the result of the receiver information survey unit is nonconforming, An instruction to set the second receiver information is notified to the portal server, and then an instruction to acquire the second receiver information is notified, and the notified portal server notifies the receiver of the first receiver information. 2 receiver information setting commands are sent, and then the second receiver information acquisition command is sent.

  In the CATV portal authentication system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the portal authentication server is provided with a receiver information generating unit that generates the second receiver information, and at the time of the first portal authentication after the receiver information registration, The second receiver information related to the first receiver information is generated and held, the generated second receiver information and the setting instruction are notified to the portal server, and the notified portal server is The notified second receiver information and setting command are transmitted.

  According to the CATV portal authentication system of the present invention, the first and second receiver information acquired from the STB, the first receiver information registered in advance, and the first receiver information are registered in advance in association with each other. Since the second receiver information is compared, the interactive service can be provided only to the STB registered in advance.

  In addition, since a content data holding unit for configuring specific screen data is provided in the portal server, appropriate attention is given to users who want to receive interactive services using an STB different from the registered STB. Can be displayed.

  Furthermore, since the portal authentication server is provided with a connection information holding unit that holds connection information of a receiver associated with the second receiver information in advance, and a connection information search unit, the VOD is different from the registered STB. A VOD service can be appropriately provided to a user who intends to receive the service.

  Furthermore, since the portal authentication server is provided with a service information holding unit that holds service information that can be handled by a receiver that is associated with the second receiver information in advance, and a service information search unit, a service that can be handled by the receiver. Can be provided appropriately.

  Furthermore, service information that can be handled by the receiver associated with the third receiver information registered in advance is searched based on the third receiver information acquired from the receiver. Services can be provided appropriately.

  Further, the portal authentication server is provided with a receiver information investigation unit that investigates the second receiver information, and when the result of the receiver information investigation unit is incompatible, the portal server includes the second receiver Since the information is set, the receiver information lost in the receiver can be appropriately set and the service can be appropriately provided.

  In addition, since the portal authentication server is provided with a receiver information generating unit that generates the second receiver information, the second receiver information can be managed in a unified manner, and the management man-hour can be reduced. .

(Embodiment 1)
A portal authentication system for a digital CATV system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portal authentication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, in addition to the retransmission facility 6 that performs broadcast retransmission and the portal server 1 that performs portal service, the VOD server 5 that performs VOD service constitutes the transmission facility. These service signals a1 to a3 are mixed by the mixer 7, and the mixed signal b is supplied to the STB2. The video, audio and data signals received by the STB 2 are processed and displayed on the TV receiver 4. A portal authentication server 3 that performs authentication based on an access signal d from the STB 2 when the portal screen is accessed is connected to the portal server 1. Receiver information and contract information registered in the portal authentication server 3 are notified from the customer management system 8. The notified receiver information is stored in the receiver information holding unit 35 by the processing unit 32 via the communication unit 31-2. The retained data is receiver information such as CASID that is an ID of a CAS card that controls limited reception of CATV broadcasts, and STBID that is an STB management number.

  For example, when the portal server 1 sends out a menu constituting the portal screen and the user selects the VOD service menu from the portal screen, the portal server 1 is notified from the STB 2 and the portal service 1 is linked to the portal service. The server 1 performs command conversion from the notification content to the VOD server 5 and gives an instruction to the VOD server 5.

  In order to simplify the figure, the STB 2 is installed at each user's house, but only one unit is described in this figure. Also, network equipment is omitted.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the STB 2 will be described in detail. The video signal (including audio and data) b is descrambled by the descrambling unit 21 and sent to the TV receiver 4 via the display unit 27. The scramble key at the time of descrambling is provided from the CAS card 22.

  Next, at the time of portal authentication, in the case of a command for analyzing the command described in the BML content data constituting the screen by the command processing unit 23 and reading the first receiver information, the first command processing unit 24-1 The first receiver information held in the first receiver information holding unit 25-1 is read out, and the command processing unit 23 notifies the read first receiver information from the communication unit 28 to the portal server 1. To do. Here, the first receiver information is a CAS ID that is specific information of the CAS card that the shipping information setting unit 26 reads out from the CAS card 22 in advance and stores it in the first receiver information holding unit 25-1. The first receiver information is reset when a CAS card is inserted or when power is turned on.

  The command for reading the first receiver information is defined as “get_IRD_ID_2”, for example. Here, the last number “2” of the command is an argument and indicates a CAS card for CATV.

  Similarly, in the case of a command for reading the second receiver information, the second command processing unit 24-2 reads the second receiver information held in the second receiver information holding unit 25-2, and The command processing unit 23 notifies the portal server 1 of the read second receiver information from the communication unit 28. Here, the second receiver information is STB specific information stored in the second receiver information holding unit 25-2 via the shipment information setting unit 26 as shipment setting information when the STB 2 is manufactured. It is a certain STBID.

  The command for reading the second receiver information is defined as “get_STB_ID”, for example.

  In the above, a rewritable nonvolatile memory is used for the first receiver information holding unit 25-1 and the second receiver information holding unit 25-2.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the portal authentication server 3 will be described. The access notification d from the STB 2 is notified to the portal authentication server 3 by the notification e via the portal server 1. The notification e is received by the processing unit 32 via the communication unit 31-1, and the notification content is temporarily stored in the memory unit 33. When the notification content is the first receiver information, the first comparison / determination unit 34-1 searches for the CASID held in the receiver information holding unit 35, and compares and determines whether there is corresponding data. When the determination result is applicable, similarly, when the notification content is the second receiver information, the second comparison determination unit 34-2 searches for the STBID held in the receiver information holding unit 35, and Compare and determine whether there is data.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing the data structure of the receiver information according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the data structure of the receiver information held by the receiver information holding unit 35. . The receiver information is registered in the receiver information holding unit 35 by the processing unit 32 from the customer management system 8 via the communication unit 31-2.

  One row in FIG. 2 represents a management unit of one STB. The first column is the CASID. The second column is the STBID associated with the CASID. Next, the third column is a node ID which is connection information associated with this STBID. The fourth column is a model ID associated with the STBID. Similarly, the fifth column is service information related to the model ID. The service information is, for example, A for a model capable of normal interactive service and B for a model capable of interactive service with a camera.

  Here, using the flowchart for comparing the first and second receiver information according to the first embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 3 and the structure diagram showing the data structure in FIG. explain.

  The first column (CASID) of FIG. 2 is searched, the first receiver information is compared (S2), the comparison result is applicable, the second column (STBID) of FIG. The second receiver information is compared (S3), and if the comparison result is appropriate, a notification that portal screen display is permitted is sent (S4). Upon receiving the notification, the portal server 1 sends portal information to the corresponding STB 2.

  On the other hand, the first column (CASID) in FIG. 2 is searched, the first receiver information is compared (S2), and if the comparison result is not applicable, a notification that the contract has not been made is made ( S6). Upon receiving the notification, the portal server 1 transmits screen data registered in advance and indicating that no contract has been made to the corresponding STB 2.

  On the other hand, the first column (CASID) of FIG. 2 is searched, the first receiver information is compared (S2), and if the comparison result is appropriate, the second column (STBID) of FIG. Search and compare the second receiver information (S3), and if the comparison result is not applicable, notify that the access is not from a registered receiver (S7). Upon receipt of the notification, the portal server 1 transmits to the corresponding STB 2 screen data that is registered in advance and indicates that the access is not from a registered receiver.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portal server 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  When the portal server 1 receives a notification (S6) that the contract is not made from the portal authentication server 3, the processing unit 11 sends the corresponding content data registered in advance to the content data holding unit via the communication unit 12. The data is read from 16 and sent to the STB 2 via the mixer 14 via the sending unit 14.

  The same applies when a notification (S7) indicating that access is not received from a registered receiver is received.

  In FIG. 2, the related information is represented by the structure of one data list. However, the structure of the list is not particularly meaningful, and some related information may be managed by another list. Further, information representing a relationship may be assigned to one data and managed.

  In this embodiment, the comparison result of the first receiver information is not applicable, the comparison result of the first receiver information is applicable, and the comparison result of the second receiver information is not applicable. In this case, it is assumed that the content held in the content data holding unit of the portal server 1 is sent, but at the time of portal authentication, the comparison result of the first receiver information is applicable, and the comparison result of the second receiver information is In such a case, content such as a welcome message tailored to the individual user may be sent to the authenticated user.

  In the present embodiment, the first and second command processing units 24-1 and 24-2 are provided separately from the command processing unit 23, but may be included in the command processing unit 23. Further, although the first and second comparison determination units 34-1 and 34-2 are provided separately from the processing unit 32, they may be included in the processing unit 32.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, interactive services can be provided only to STBs registered in advance. Furthermore, it is possible to perform a display for calling appropriate attention to a user who intends to receive an interactive service using an STB different from the registered STB.

(Embodiment 2)
A portal authentication system of a digital CATV system according to another embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portal authentication server according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The portal authentication server 3-2 in FIG. 5 includes a connection information holding unit 36 and a connection information search unit 37 in addition to the configuration of the portal authentication server 3 shown in FIG.

  As in the first embodiment, the access notification d from the STB 2 is notified via the portal server 1 to the portal authentication server 3-2 by the notification e. The notification e is received by the processing unit 32 via the communication unit 31-1 in FIG. 5, and the notification content is temporarily held in the memory unit 33. When the notification content is the first receiver information, the first comparison / determination unit 34-1 searches for the CASID held in the receiver information holding unit 35, and compares and determines whether there is corresponding data. When the determination result is applicable, similarly, when the notification content is the second receiver information, the second comparison determination unit 34-2 searches for the STBID held in the receiver information holding unit 35, and Compare and determine whether there is data. If the comparison result is not applicable, in order to search for information to which the STBID is connected based on the second receiver information that is the STBID, the connection information holding unit stores the connection information of the receiver such as the node ID. 36, and the connection information search unit 37 for searching for connection information of the receiver in the connection information holding unit 36 is added.

  Next, the comparison determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 for comparing the first and second receiver information according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The first comparison / determination unit 34-1 compares the first receiver information (S2), and if the comparison result is appropriate, the second comparison / determination unit 34-2 determines the second receiver information. If the comparison result is not applicable, the connection information of the receiver such as the node ID held in the connection information holding unit 36 is obtained based on the second receiver information and the connection information Search is performed by the search unit 37 (S8), and the corresponding connection information of the search result is notified to the portal server 1 (S9). Upon receiving the notification, the portal server 1 notifies the VOD server 5 of the relevant connection information. Upon receiving the notification, the VOD server sends the VOD service content to the network of the corresponding connection information to which the STB 2 currently operated by the user is connected, not the network of the connection information registered in advance.

  Other processes in FIG. 6 are the same as those in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

  The operation of the connection information search unit 37 is performed, for example, by searching the second column information (STBID) in FIG. 2 for the second receiver information and connecting information (nodes) in the third column of the row of the corresponding STBID ID).

  In this embodiment, the connection information search unit 37 is provided separately from the processing unit 32, but may be included in the processing unit 32.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately provide a VOD service based on CADID even to a user who wants to receive a VOD service using an STB different from the registered STB.

(Embodiment 3)
A portal authentication system for a digital CATV system according to another embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portal authentication server according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The portal authentication server 3-3 in FIG. 7 includes a service information holding unit 38 and a service information search unit 39 in addition to the configuration of the portal authentication server 3 shown in FIG.

  As in the first embodiment, the access notification d from the STB 2 is notified to the portal authentication server 3-3 via the portal server 1. The notification e is received by the processing unit 32 via the communication unit 31-1 in FIG. 5, and when the notification content is the first receiver information, the first comparison determination unit 34-1 receives the receiver e. The CAS ID held in the information holding unit 35 is searched, and it is determined whether there is corresponding data. When the determination result is applicable, similarly, when the notification content is the second receiver information, the second comparison determination unit 34-2 searches for the STBID held in the receiver information holding unit 35, and Compare and determine whether there is data. If the comparison result is true, service information is held in the service information holding unit 38 in order to search for service information depending on the STB model based on the second receiver information that is STBID, and the service The service information search unit 39 for searching for service information in the information holding unit 38 is added.

  Next, the comparison determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 for comparing the first and second receiver information according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The first comparison / determination unit 34-1 compares the first receiver information (S2), and if the comparison result is appropriate, the second comparison / determination unit 34-2 determines the second receiver information. Compare (S3), and if the comparison result is appropriate, the service information search unit obtains service information depending on the STB model held in the service information holding unit 38 based on the second receiver information. Search is made at 39 (S10), and the corresponding service information of the search result is notified to the portal server 1 (S11). The portal server 1 that has received the notification can provide an appropriate service to the STB 2 by providing an interactive service corresponding to the notified service information.

  Other processes in FIG. 8 are the same as those in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

  For example, the connection information search unit 39 searches the second receiver information in the second column information (STBID) of FIG. 2 and searches for the service information in the fifth column in the row of the corresponding STBID.

  In the present embodiment, the service information search unit 39 is provided separately from the processing unit 32, but may be included in the processing unit 32.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately provide services that can be handled by the receiver.

(Embodiment 4)
A portal authentication system for a digital CATV system according to another embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The STB according to the present embodiment is an STB having the structure shown in FIG. 9, and the portal authentication server is the portal authentication server shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of an STB according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In addition to the configuration of the STB 2 shown in FIG. 1, the STB 2-2 of FIG. 9 has a third receiver information holding unit 25-3 and a third command processing unit 24-3.

  As in the first embodiment, at the time of portal authentication, a command described in the BML content data constituting the screen is analyzed by the command processing unit 23, and in the case of a command for reading the third receiver information, the third command processing unit 24-3 reads out the third receiver information held in the third receiver information holding unit 25-3, and the command processing unit 23 reads the read out third receiver information from the communication unit 28. Notify the portal server 1.

  The command for reading the third receiver information is defined as “get_Model_ID”, for example.

  Here, the third receiver information specifies the STB type stored in the third receiver information holding unit 25-3 via the shipment information setting unit 26 as the shipment setting information when the STB 2 is manufactured. Information. For example, model ID or model ID. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

  In the above, like the first receiver information holding unit 25-1 and the second receiver information holding unit 25-2, the third receiver information holding unit 25-3 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. Memory is used.

  Next, the operation of the portal authentication server according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart for comparing the first and second receiver information according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

  The first comparison / determination unit 34-1 compares the first receiver information (S2), and if the comparison result is appropriate, the second comparison / determination unit 34-2 determines the second receiver information. Compare (S3), and if the comparison result is appropriate, based on the third receiver information (for example, model ID), the service contents that can be handled by each STB held in the service information holding unit 38 are displayed as service information. Search is performed by the search unit 39 (S12), and the corresponding service information of the search result is notified to the portal server 1 (S11). Upon receiving the notification, the portal server 1 can provide an appropriate service to the STB 2 by providing an interactive service corresponding to the notified service information.

  Other processes in FIG. 10 are the same as those in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the third command processing unit 24-3 is provided separately from the processing unit 23, but may be included in the processing unit 23.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately provide services that can be handled by the receiver.

(Embodiment 5)
A portal authentication system for a digital CATV system according to another embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portal authentication server according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In addition to the configuration of the portal authentication server 3 shown in FIG. 1, a receiver information investigation unit 301 is added to the portal authentication server 3-4 of FIG.

  As in the first embodiment, the access notification d from the STB 2 is communicated via the portal server 1 to the portal authentication server 3-4 with the notification e. The notification e is received by the processing unit 32 via the communication unit 31-1 in FIG. 11, and the notification content is temporarily held in the memory unit 33. When the notification content is the second receiver information, the processing unit 32 notifies the receiver information investigation unit 301 of the notification content and investigates whether the value is within a predetermined range. For example, it investigates the number of digits, the range of numerical values used, and whether or not it is a permitted type of character. If the investigation result is appropriate, the processing of the first embodiment is performed thereafter. If the investigation result is non-conforming, the portal server 1 is notified to set the second receiver information. Then, it notifies to acquire the second receiver information. Upon receiving the notification, the portal server 1 sends a command for setting the second receiver information to the STB 2. Thereafter, a command for obtaining the second receiver information is sent.

  Next, the investigation process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12 for investigating the second receiver information according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  When the notification content is the second receiver information, the notification content notified to the receiver information investigation unit 301 is investigated (S102). When the result is conformity, the same as in the first embodiment. 3 is performed (S1). On the other hand, if the result is non-conforming, the portal server 1 is notified to set the second receiver information (S103), and thereafter, the second receiver information is notified to be acquired (S103). S104). The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Next, description will be made with reference to the block diagram showing the structure of the STB according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention shown in FIG.

  At the time of holding the shipment setting information, the shipment information setting unit 26 holds the information in the shipment information holding unit 202 configured by, for example, an EEPROM, and the first receiver information holding unit 25-1 configured by NV-RAM or the like. Information is held in the second receiver information holding unit 25-2. The first receiver information holding unit 25-1 and the second receiver information holding unit 25-2 are connected to the first command processing unit 24-1 and the second command processing unit 24-2, respectively. Although the memory area can be read via the command processing unit 23, the shipping information holding unit 202 is a memory area that cannot be read from the command processing unit 23.

  When the command processing unit 23 receives the second receiver information setting command, the command processing unit 23 instructs the second receiver information setting processing unit 201 to set the second receiver information. The second receiver information setting processing unit 201 instructs the shipping information setting unit 26 to set the second receiver information in the second receiver information holding unit 25-2. To do. The shipping information setting unit 26 reads the second receiver information from the shipping information holding unit 202 and sets the read information in the second receiver information holding unit 25-2.

  The process of reading the second receiver information is the same as in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately set the receiver information lost in the receiver and appropriately provide the service.

(Embodiment 6)
A portal authentication system for a digital CATV system according to another embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portal authentication server according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The portal authentication server 3-5 in FIG. 14 has a receiver information generating unit 302 that generates the second receiver information in addition to the configuration of the portal authentication server 3 shown in FIG.

  After the CASID is registered in the portal authentication server 3-5 as the first receiver information from the customer management system 8 in FIG. 1, the first receiver information and the unset first receiver are set at the time of authentication as in the first embodiment. 2 receiver information is sent to the portal authentication server 3-5. The processing unit 32 of the portal authentication server 3-5 investigates the receiver information holding unit 35 based on the sent first receiver information and relates to the sent first receiver information. If the second receiver information to be confirmed is not generated, the receiver information generating unit 302 generates second receiver information related to the first receiver information, and the receiver information The holding unit 35 holds the second receiver information in association with the first receiver information. The holding method is the same as that shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. The generated second receiver information is arbitrary management information such as a random number, a series of management numbers, and a license code. Further, whether or not the second receiver information has been generated can be determined by adding, for example, a flag indicating that the second receiver information has been generated to FIG. 2 (not shown).

  The portal authentication server 3-5 notifies the portal server 1 of the generated second receiver information and setting instruction. Upon receiving the notification, the portal server 1 notifies the STB of the notified second receiver information and setting command. The command processing unit 23 of the STB holds the notified second receiver information in the second receiver information holding unit 25-2 via the second command processing unit 24-2.

  Subsequent authentication operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, the above process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15 for generating the second receiver information according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

  The portal authentication server 3-5 investigates whether or not the second receiver information has not occurred (S111) when the first receiver information is applicable at the time of authentication (S111). The second receiver information is generated and held (S112), and the portal server 1 is instructed to set the second receiver information (S113). Since other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the second receiver information can be managed in a unified manner, and the management man-hour can be reduced.

  Although the first to sixth embodiments have been described for BML data broadcasting, it is only necessary to be able to construct a bidirectional data broadcasting mechanism, and other languages such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) may be used.

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the first receiver information has been described as the CASID of a CATV CAS card, for example. However, any ID used for customer management may be used, for example, a B-CAS card. good.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the second receiver information has been described as STBID, for example. However, the information is not limited to STBID as long as it is information specifying the receiver. It may be the number assigned to. The number assigned uniquely may be a random number, a management number generated by a certain mechanism, or a license code.

  The present invention relates to a portal authentication system for performing a portal service by data broadcasting as a bidirectional service and a VOD service combined with the portal service in a digital CATV system including a portal server, a VOD server, a receiver, and a portal authentication system. Available to:

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portal authentication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Structure diagram showing a data structure of receiver information according to the first embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which compares the 1st and 2nd receiver information which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the portal server which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the portal authentication server which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The flowchart which compares the 1st and 2nd receiver information which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the portal authentication server which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The flowchart which compares the 1st and 2nd receiver information which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of STB which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. The flowchart which compares the 1st and 2nd receiver information which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the portal authentication server which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. The flowchart which investigates the 2nd receiver information which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of STB which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the portal authentication server which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. The flowchart which investigates the 2nd receiver information which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention Block diagram showing configuration of interactive service system

Explanation of symbols

1 Portal server 2 STB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Portal authentication server 4 TV receiver 5 VOD server 6 Retransmission equipment 7 Mixer 8 Customer management system 11 Processing part 12 Communication part 13 Communication part 14 Transmission part 15 Communication part 16 Content data holding part 21 Descrambling part 22 CAS card 23 Command processing section 24-1 First command processing section 24-2 Second command processing section 24-3 Third command processing section 25-1 First receiver information holding section 25-2 Second receiver information Holding unit 25-3 Third receiver information holding unit 26 Shipping information setting unit 27 Display unit 28 Communication unit 31-1 Communication unit 31-2 Communication unit 32 Processing unit 33 Memory unit 34-1 First comparison determination unit 34 -2 Second comparison / determination unit 35 Receiver information storage unit 36 Connection information storage unit 37 Connection information search unit 38 Service information storage unit 39 Service information search 201 second receiver information setting processing unit 202 shipment information holding section 301 Receiver information examination unit 302 receiver information generating unit

Claims (1)

A receiver that holds first receiver information for identifying a user and second receiver information for identifying the receiver ;
A processing unit that receives the first receiver information and the second receiver information from the receiver, and associates the first receiver information registered in advance with the first receiver information registered in advance. a receiver information holding section for holding the second receiver information which is, first, which is the previously registered stored in said processing said receiver information holding section and said first receiver information accepted by unit of the first comparison section comparing determines the receiver information, the first received that is the previously registered stored in said processing said receiver information holding unit and said second receiver information accepted by unit a second receiver information and the second comparison section comparing determines associated with aircraft information, associated with the first second receiver information associated with the receiver information registered in advance A connection information holding unit that holds connection information and the processing unit A connection information search unit that searches connection information associated with the second receiver information based on the attached second receiver information, and the result of the first comparison determination unit is applicable, And a portal authentication server for notifying the portal server described later of connection information searched by the connection information search unit when the result of the second comparison determination unit is not applicable,
A portal server for notifying the VOD server described later of the connection information notified from the portal authentication server;
A VOD server for sending the VOD information requested from the receiver to the network of connection information notified from the portal server;
CATV portal authentication system with.

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