JPH0449314B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a television pay system used in hotels, inns, etc.

Conventionally, television pay-to-pay devices use empty channels of television broadcasting to send video broadcast signals to a shared line by broadcasting equipment such as video tape recorders, and from this shared line the video broadcast signals are transmitted to multiple television receivers. By turning on and off each of these using a coin timer, viewing video broadcasts on a television receiver can be viewed for a fee using a coin timer. At this time, when broadcasting video broadcast signals on multiple channels, the video broadcast signals of multiple channels are sent from the broadcasting device to the shared line, and the coin timer turns the video broadcast signals on and off for each channel to the television receiver. The coin timer described above is a channel gate type broadcast pay means that turns on/off the video broadcast signal, but it inputs the television signal and the output signal of the oscillator to the hybrid circuit. By causing the output signal of the oscillator to interfere with the television signal, the screen of the television receiver is disturbed and viewing becomes impossible, and by stopping the oscillator, the disturbance of the screen of the television receiver is stopped and viewing is possible. A means for charging for broadcasting is known from Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 16187/1983.

However, in this television pay system, the viewing of video broadcasts on a television receiver is charged for each channel using a coin timer, so as the number of video broadcast channels increases, a large number of coin timers are required. The configuration is complicated and the cost is high. Generally, television receivers use a tuning means to select the broadcast signal of one channel of the television broadcast band, but when viewing a video broadcast by selecting an empty channel of video broadcasting using the tuning means, The video broadcast signal of the selected empty channel leaks to the adjacent channel and is viewed for free.
Therefore, if an attempt is made to prevent free viewing of video broadcasts, the circuitry will be complicated and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a television pay-to-pay device that is simple in structure and inexpensive.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an in-house broadcasting system to which the present invention is applied.

This example is installed in hotels, inns, etc., in which a television broadcast signal is received by an antenna 11 and splitter 12 separates the low frequency side of the first to third channels and the high frequency side of the fourth channel and above. It is split into two parts. Here is the first channel~
Channel 3, channel 9, etc. are empty channels for television broadcasting, and the branching filter 12
The low-frequency side signal is frequency-converted by the frequency converter 13 to a signal of an empty channel of television broadcasting, and for example, the frequency of the signal of the first channel is converted to the signal of the ninth channel.
The high frequency side signal from the duplexer 12 is mixed with the output signal of the frequency converter 13 in a mixer 14.

On the other hand, video tape recorders (or television cameras, etc.) 15, 16 and modulators 17, 18 constitute a broadcasting device;
The video signals from 16 are modulated by modulators 17 and 18 to become video broadcast signals for the second and third channels. This video broadcast signal is mixed with the output signal of mixer 14 in mixer 19, amplified in amplifier 20, and sent to common line 21.

Multiple television receivers 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , 22
₃ ... is installed in each guest room, and each terminal device 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ , ... consisting of a tolling means consisting of a coin timer is fixed integrally. coin timer 23 ₁ ,
23 ₂ , 23 ₃ , . . . are connected to the shared line 21. Television receivers 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , 22 ₃ ,
. . . transmits television broadcast signals from the antenna 11 to coin timers 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ , respectively.
Although it can be received free of charge via ......, modulator 17,
Video broadcast signals from 18 can be received for a fee using coin timers 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ , . . .

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the coin timer 23 ₁ , and the other coin timers 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ , . . . are configured similarly to the coin timer 23 ₁ .

The broadcast signal from the shared line 21 is sent to the first branching filter 24.
The signal is split into a low frequency side of the channel to the third channel and a high frequency side of the fourth channel or higher. The low frequency side signal from the duplexer 24 passes through the switch circuit 25, is mixed with the high frequency side signal from the duplexer 24 in the mixer 26, and is sent to the television receiver ₂₂₁ . Normally, the input from the commercial AC power supply 27 is
The AC/DC converter 28 converts the current into direct current, which is then applied to the oscillator 30 via the coin switch 29 which is in the OFF state. Therefore, the oscillator 30 oscillates at a frequency of, for example, several tens of kilohertz, and the switch circuit 25 intermittently modulates the low frequency side signal from the duplexer 24 based on its output, and the television receiver ₂₂₁ outputs the signal from the second channel and the third channel.
Even if you select a channel, the screen and audio are distorted and become unwatchable. Therefore, when the coin switch 29 is turned off, the switch circuit 25 is connected to the third output from the duplexer 24.
This constitutes a broadcast interfering means that converts a video broadcast signal on the low frequency side below the channel into a distorted and unwatchable broadcast signal. The coin switch 29 is a well-known device that is turned on for a certain period of time by inserting a predetermined coin by a device not shown. When the coin switch 29 is turned on, the oscillator 30 is stopped and the switch circuit 25 becomes continuously conductive due to the output of the AC/DC converter 28, and the low frequency side signal from the duplexer 24 passes through the switch circuit 25 as it is. Pass. Therefore, the television receiver 22 ₁ is in a state where it can receive and view the video broadcast signals of the second channel and the third channel. Therefore, the coin switch 29 is turned on by inserting a coin, turning on the switch circuit 25 to select a broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel and below and send it to the television receiver ₂₂₁ for video broadcast selection. In addition, the above-mentioned device (not shown) also constitutes a charging means for charging for viewing video broadcasts of the third channel and below by turning on the coin switch 29 for a certain period of time by inserting a coin.

In the above example, a coin timer was used as the terminal device, but instead of the coin switch 29, a pushbutton switch was used as the video broadcast selection means to select the second channel and the third channel, and charge the charges therefor using FC. In other words, charging means may be provided for charging for viewing video broadcasts on the third channel and below when the push button switch is turned on.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a first branching filter that separates the television broadcast signal of the fourth channel or higher from the television broadcast signal from the antenna, and a video broadcast signal of a plurality of channels of the third channel or lower. a broadcasting device that outputs a video broadcasting signal from the broadcasting device and the first broadcasting device;
a first mixer that mixes the television broadcast signal of the fourth channel or higher from the splitter; a shared line that sends the broadcast signal from the first mixer; and a shared line that sends the broadcast signal from the shared line. a second branching filter that separates signals into a low frequency side below the third channel and a high frequency side above the fourth channel; a video broadcast selection means for selecting a broadcast signal on the low frequency side below the third channel; If the broadcast selection means does not select a broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or lower, the broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or lower from the second branching filter is converted into a distorted broadcast signal that cannot be viewed. the video broadcasting selection means converts and outputs the video broadcasting
When a broadcast signal on the low frequency side below the channel is selected, the broadcast interference means outputs the broadcast signal on the low frequency side below the third channel from the second branching filter as it is; Charging means for charging for viewing of broadcasting on the low frequency side of the third channel or less when a broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or less is selected, and a high frequency side of the fourth channel or more from the second branching filter. a second mixer that mixes the broadcast signal and the output signal of the broadcast interference means and sends the mixture to the television receiver, and charging means provided between the shared line and each television receiver. With this, it is possible to charge a fee for video broadcast signals of multiple channels all at once rather than for each channel, which simplifies the configuration and reduces costs. Moreover, the video broadcast signals of multiple channels are sent all at once to the television receiver.
Alternatively, it is converted into a distorted and unviewable broadcast signal, making it unviewable, so there is no need to consider video broadcast signal leakage between adjacent channels. Furthermore, since there are no channels below the first channel and the third and fourth channels are quite far apart, video broadcast signals of multiple channels are broadcast signals below the third channel, so the tuning means of the television receiver is without having to create a complicated circuit configuration.
The video broadcast signal will not leak beyond the fourth channel and be viewed for free.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an in-house broadcast system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a coin timer in the in-house broadcast system. 12... Duplexer, 15-18... Broadcasting device, 1
9... Mixer, 21... Common line, 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ ,
22 ₃ ... television receiver, 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ ,
23 ₃ ... Coin timer, 24... Duplexer, 2
5...Switch circuit, 26...Mixer, 27...
Commercial AC power supply, 28...AC/DC converter, 29...
...coin switch, 30...oscillator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first branching filter that separates television broadcast signals from a fourth channel or higher of a plurality of channels from a television broadcast signal from an antenna, and a video broadcast signal of a plurality of channels from the third channel onwards. a broadcasting device that outputs a video broadcasting signal from the broadcasting device and the first broadcasting device;
a first mixer that mixes the television broadcast signal of the fourth channel or higher from the splitter; a shared line that sends the broadcast signal from the first mixer; and a shared line that sends the broadcast signal from the shared line. a second branching filter that splits the signal into a low frequency side below the third channel and a high frequency side above the fourth channel; a video broadcast selection means for selecting a broadcast signal on the low frequency side below the third channel; and this video broadcasting. If the selection means does not select the broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or below, converts the broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or below from the second splitter into a distorted broadcast signal that is unviewable. and when the video broadcast selection means selects a broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or lower, outputs the broadcast signal on the low frequency side of the third channel or lower from the second splitter as it is. a broadcast interfering means for outputting; a charging means for charging for viewing a broadcast on a low frequency side of a third channel or lower when the video broadcast selection means selects a broadcast signal on a lower frequency side of a third channel or lower; a second mixer that mixes the broadcast signal on the high frequency side of the fourth channel or higher from the splitter and the output signal of the broadcast interfering means and sends the mixed signal to the television receiver; What is claimed is: 1. A television pay charging device comprising: a pay charging means provided between the television receiver and the television receiver.