JPH0487491A - Charged broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain viewing of a program under the optimum condition by providing a descramble means descrambling a scrambled high definition television broadcast signal, a control code detection means detecting a specific transmission control code from the high definition television broadcast signal, a specific transmission control code setting means and a signal changeover means switching a signal path to the receiver. CONSTITUTION:When no bit is set to a transmission control code detection setting section 20, the section 20 commands to a descramble section 5 to make descrambling, and when descramble is made correctly as a result, a specific bit of a transmission control code is set. Simultaneously, the section 20 allows a transmission control code detection control section 21 to generate a control signal 23 to throw a signal changeover device 13 to the position B via the descramble section 5. When the control signal 23 commands the connection to the position B, the transmission control code detection control section 21 takes a control line with priority based on the state of the specific bit of the transmission control code. As a result, the high definition television broadcast signal in which a specific bit of the transmission control code is set is outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pay broadcast receiving apparatus for high definition television pay broadcast.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, satellite broadcasting has become mainstream, and the practical application of high-definition television to free broadcasting is also imminent.

An example of the above-mentioned pay broadcast receiving device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a conventional pay broadcast receiver and its connection to a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR) for recording high-definition television broadcasts. 1 is an input terminal for a high-definition television broadcast signal. 2 is an analog signal input section.

3 is an A/D converter that converts an analog high-definition television broadcast signal into a digital signal. 4 is a digital high-definition television broadcast signal. 5 is a descrambling section. 6 is a descrambled high-definition television broadcast signal in a digital state. 7
is a video signal processing section. 8 is a display section. 9 is an audio signal processing section. 10 is a D/A converter that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. 11 is an analog signal output processing section. 12 is a high-definition television broadcast signal output terminal. 13 is an audio signal path switch. 14 is an external audio signal input terminal. 15 is an audio signal output terminal. 16 is VT
It is R. 17 is an audio descrambling control signal for descrambling the audio signal. 18 is a high-definition television pay broadcast receiving device.

The operation of the pay broadcast receiving apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

The high-definition television broadcast signal is first input to signal input terminal 1.
Input from This high-definition television broadcast signal consists of a band-compressed analog video signal, a digitized and further compressed audio signal, multiple transmission control codes, and related information necessary for descramble. The video and audio signals are scrambled so that only viewers who have subscribed to pay television can receive them correctly. Such a high-definition television broadcast signal is input processed by an analog signal input section 2, then quantized by an A/D conversion section 3, and converted into a digital high-definition television broadcast signal 4.

In order to descramble the received high-definition television broadcast signal, the signal switch 13 is connected to the B side in the figure. The descrambling unit 5 separates and decodes related information from the digital high-definition television broadcast signal, and if the contract conditions match, descrambles the video signal part of the high-definition television broadcast signal. A high-definition television broadcast signal 6 in which only the video signal portion is descrambled is obtained, and at the same time, an audio descrambling control signal 17 is generated. However, if the contract conditions do not match, the high-definition television broadcast signal 6 is output without any processing, and at the same time, the audio descrambling control signal 1 is output.
7 is not generated. The video signal processing unit 7 decodes the band-compressed video signal into the original video signal to obtain a signal that can be displayed on a display unit 8 having a display device such as a CRT. The audio signal processing section 9 decodes the quantized and compressed audio signal, and obtains the original audio signal using the audio descrambling control signal 17 from the descrambling section 5. This audio signal can be switched with the audio signal input from the external input terminal 14 by the signal switcher 13, and the resulting audio signal is output from the audio output terminal 15.

The D/A converter 10 converts the descrambled high-definition television broadcast signal 6 into an analog signal, which is output processed by the analog signal output section 11 and output from the high-definition television broadcast signal output terminal 12. Ru. In order to record the high-definition television broadcast signal after descrambling, use the VTR 16 to obtain the high-definition television broadcast signal with only the video signal descrambled from the high-definition television broadcast signal output terminal 12. At the same time, audio is obtained from the audio output terminal 15 and recorded.

The reason why the audio signal is recorded separately is that the audio signal in the signal obtained from the high-definition television broadcast signal output terminal I2 is
This is because the signal has not been descrambled, and a signal that has not been descrambled cannot necessarily be descrambled at the time of reproduction. therefore,
It is necessary to record the descrambled signal on the VTR.

Furthermore, the descrambler 5 does not obtain a high-definition television broadcast signal that has been descrambled including the audio signal part. This is because the same decompression processing as previously performed must be performed, compression processing again, and then multiplexed into a high-definition television broadcast signal, resulting in a significant increase in circuit scale. During VTR playback, the VTR output is connected to the high-definition television broadcast signal input terminal 1 and the external audio signal input terminal 14. Furthermore, the signal switch 13 is switched to the A side.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, an operation is required to connect the signal switch 13 to the A side during VTR playback, and if this operation is neglected, even if the signal has been descrambled. Regardless, there is a possibility that the descrambling process will be performed again, and depending on the content of the related information,
You will be charged again, and 5. There may be cases where a program in a normal state cannot be viewed. Furthermore, VTR
The high-definition television broadcast signal recorded on the VTR may not be descrambled, and it may be necessary to connect the signal switch 13 to the B side instead of the A side during VTR playback. It had such problems.

In view of the above problems, the present invention controls a signal switcher depending on whether the input high-definition television broadcast signal is descrambled or not, and allows the viewer to select the optimal signal without any operation. To provide a pay broadcast receiving device that allows programs to be viewed under certain conditions.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the pay broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention includes a descrambling means for descrambling a scrambled high-definition television broadcast signal, and a descrambling means for descrambling a scrambled high-definition television broadcast signal. The apparatus includes a control code detection means for detecting a more specific transmission control code, a specific transmission control code setting means, and a signal switching means for switching the signal path.

According to the above-described configuration, the present invention sets a specific transmission control code in a high-definition television broadcast signal to indicate that it has been descrambled when the descrambling is correctly performed due to agreement of contract conditions, On the other hand, if the specific transmission control code is set, video signal processing is performed without going through the descrambler, and the external input side is used for the audio signal.

Embodiment Hereinafter, a free broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a pay broadcast receiving apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. 1st
In the figure, 1 to 18 are the same as in FIG. 2 described above. Reference numeral 20 denotes a transmission control code detection and setting unit that detects a specific transmission control code superimposed on the digital high-definition television broadcast signal 4 and sets the specific code if descrambling is possible. 21 is a transmission control code detection control unit that detects the specific transmission control code and controls the signal switch 13 according to its value.

22 is a control signal that controls the signal switch 13. 23 is a control signal that controls the transmission control code detection control section.

The operation of the free broadcast receiving apparatus configured as described above will be explained. In the transmission control code detection control section 21,
Among the transmission control codes in the high-definition television broadcast signal, a specific bit that is not used for expansion is detected, and if the focus is on the signal switch 1
A control signal 22 is generated to connect the signal switch 13 to the A side, and if that bit is not set, a control signal 22 is generated to connect the signal switch 13 to the B side. If the bit is not set, the transmission control code detection and setting unit 20 instructs the descrambling unit 5 to perform a descrambling operation. As a result, if the contract conditions match and descrambling can be performed correctly, the above-mentioned process is performed. A specific bit of the transmission control code is set. At the same time, a control signal 2 is sent to the transmission control code detection control unit 21 via the descrambling unit 5 to connect the signal switch 13 to the B side.
Generates 3. When the control code 23 instructs connection to the B side, for the transmission control code detection control unit 21, it becomes a control line that takes priority over the state of the specific bit of the above-mentioned transmission control code. As a result, the video signal portion is descrambled from the high-definition television broadcast signal output terminal 12.
A high-definition television broadcast signal in which a specific bit of the transmission control code is set is output.

A descrambled audio signal is output from the audio signal output terminal 15. When the signals output from the terminals 12 and 15 are recorded and reproduced by a VTR, the signals are input to the terminals 1 and 14 as described above. At that time, the transmission control code detection and setting unit 20 detects the above-mentioned specific bit set.
The signal switch 13 generates a control signal 23 for the transmission control code detection control unit 21 to connect to the A side. As a result, since the signal is not connected to the descrambling unit 5, high-definition television broadcasting is possible without causing problems such as re-billing due to reprocessing of related information and descrambled signals being descrambled again. In the signal, the transmission control code is transmitted without being subjected to processing such as compression, so its detection and setting are relatively easy.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides descrambling means for descrambling a scrambled high-definition television broadcast signal, and control code detection means for detecting a specific transmission control code from the high-definition television broadcast signal. By providing a specific transmission control code setting means and a signal switching means for switching the signal route, it is possible to eliminate re-billing due to reprocessing of related information and the problem of descrambled signals being descrambled again. This eliminates the need for the viewer to be aware of the scrambled state of the input high-definition television broadcast signal.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pay broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional pay broadcast receiver and a connection diagram with a VTR. 5... Descrambling unit, 13... Signal switching unit, 20... Transmission control code detection and setting unit, 21... Transmission control code detection control unit, 22・
...Signal switch control signal, 23...
Transmission control code detection control unit control signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a descrambling means for descrambling a scrambled high-definition television broadcast signal; a control code detection means for detecting a specific transmission control code from the high-definition television broadcast signal; and a specific transmission control code setting means; A pay broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: signal switching means for switching a signal route based on the outputs of the control code detection means and the transmission control code setting means.