JPH06125504A - Decoder with built-in time correction function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To unnecessiate the backup of a battery at the time of power failure and to surely and automatically perform a terminal call at a set time by auto matically constituting the calendar and clock within a decoder by date and time separated from program information. CONSTITUTION:By program information, the difference between the present date and time extracted by a separation device 23 and the present time within a microcomputer 31 is operated. If the difference is more than a prescribed value, this is corrected, and the present calendar and the clock within a decoder are automatically calibrated. The next time calling date from a memory for calendar 28 and the next time calling time from a memory for clock 29 and the present date and time in program are compared, and if it becomes corresponded time, a terminal call is performed. Thus, the calendar and time are automatically calibrated and a call can be surely performed at set time if a power source is tuned or even when a power failure, etc., occurs.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a decoder used in a pay broadcasting system or the like, and more particularly to a decoder having a time correction function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Below is an example of a conventional pay broadcasting system.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional pay broadcasting system. The transmitter 12 in FIG. 5 is on the broadcast station 11 side,
The decoder 22 is on the viewing contractor 21 side. The video / audio signals supplied to the scrambler 13 are scrambled and supplied to the multiplexer 14. Data about the program (hereinafter,
Program information) is supplied from the program information generator 15 to the multiplexer 14, and this program information is multiplexed on the audio signal by the multiplexer 14 and transmitted to the viewing subscriber 21.

The transmitted signal is received by the viewing subscriber 21 and supplied to the separating device 23. The received signal supplied to the separating device 23 is separated into a video / audio signal and program information, which are supplied to a descrambler 24 and a program information memory 25, respectively. Separator 23 to descrambler 2
The video / audio signal supplied to 4 is descrambled and output when it is a viewable program. Microcomputer 3
1 is an individual information memory 2 in advance according to the contract with the broadcasting station 11.
Data relating to the contract information (hereinafter referred to as individual information) stored in memory 6 is compared with the program information to determine whether the program can be viewed, and the determination result is output to the descrambler 24. The microcomputer 31 in the decoder 22 and the contractor management database 16 of the broadcasting station 11 are the NCU (network
A control unit) 41 is communicably connected by a telephone line.

This individual information is sent to the decoder 22 at the time of new contract and contract renewal, and stored in the individual information memory 26 in the decoder 22. As a method of transmitting the individual information, for example, as shown by a dotted line in the figure, there is a method in which the broadcasting station 11 multiplexes the individual information into an audio signal and transmits the same, as in the program information. Also, in a pay broadcasting system using a telephone line, there is a method of sending individual information via a telephone line.

[0006] There are several methods for viewing a program in a pay broadcast using such a pay broadcast decoder, and it depends on the contents of the contract between the broadcasting station 11 and the viewing contractor 21, for example, a viewing contract. Can be classified as follows: (1) Flat fee / pay a fixed monthly viewing fee,
You can watch all programs on that channel freely.

(2) Pay-per-view (program) / a viewing method in which a predetermined viewing fee for a certain program is paid and only that program can be watched, and there is an advantage that only the viewing fee of the program desired to be watched is paid.

(3) Pay-per-view (time) / A predetermined viewing fee for a certain time is set, and the viewing method is such that the viewing fee is paid for the desired time. The advantage is that you only have to pay the viewing fee. At the time of this pay-per-view viewing contract, the pay-per-view control signal is sent to the microcomputer 3 by setting the user to view the terminal.
1 is supplied, and the program can be viewed.

Among the methods described above, the flat fee can pay the viewing fee by paying a fixed monthly viewing fee by bank transfer or the like. There are various payment methods for paying per-view viewing fees.
For example, there is a post-payment method as shown below.

In this post-payment method, the decoder 22
Is information about programs viewed in pay-per-view (below,
Viewing information) is stored in the viewing information memory 27. The viewing information is, for example, information such as the program number of the viewed program, the unit price of the program, and the number of hours the program has been viewed. The broadcasting station 11 collects the viewing information stored in the viewing information memory 27 in the decoder 22 in the contractor management database 16 using the telephone line, and charges the viewing contractor 21 for the viewing charge.

In the pay broadcasting system using the telephone line as described above, the broadcasting station 11 operates the decoder 2 through the telephone line.
In addition to collecting the viewing information from 2, the broadcasting station 11 sends new individual information to the decoder 22 when the viewing subscriber 21 updates the contract. The method of performing data communication between the broadcasting station 11 and the viewing subscriber 21 via a telephone line is as follows.
The following two operations are possible. One is an operation for making a call from the broadcasting station 11 to the viewing subscriber 21 (hereinafter referred to as a center call), and it is necessary to provide a no-ringing service so that a person does not pick up the receiver by mistake.
The no-ringing service is a service in which a ringing tone does not sound on a commercially available telephone and only a device for data communication can detect an incoming call, and it is already used for automatic gas meter reading and the like. In order to receive this no-ringing service, the exchange of the telephone communication service company must support the no-ringing service.

The other is from the viewing subscriber 21 to the broadcasting station 11
The operation to make a call to (hereinafter referred to as a terminal call),
It is necessary to deal with this in areas where telephone exchange companies' switches do not support no ringing services.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional pay broadcasting system in the case where there are a plurality of communication facilities (hereinafter referred to as regional centers) of the broadcasting station 11 that communicates with the viewing subscriber 21 for each region. . 6, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The contractor management database 16 is connected to the regional center 1 and the regional center 2 so that individual information and viewing information can be communicated with each other. The regional center 1 and the regional center 2 are communicatively connected to the decoder 22 via a telephone line.

In this way, the communication process in which the broadcasting station 11 collects the viewing information from the decoder 22 and sends new individual information to the decoder 22 is regularly performed. Usually, such communication is regularly performed, for example, once a month.

In an area where the exchange of the telephone communication service company does not support the no ringing service, this periodic communication is a terminal call, so it is necessary to avoid the same time as much as possible due to the number of lines. . Therefore, when the decoder 22 makes a call to the terminal, the broadcasting station 11 negotiates the next call date and the call time with the decoder 22 in advance, and the decoder 22 makes the terminal call at the reserved date and time. To do.

Therefore, the decoder 22 has a calendar and a clock so that the terminal can make a call at the reserved date and time. This calendar and clock must operate even if the AC power is cut off due to a power failure or the like. Therefore, the watch requires a backup battery, which causes an increase in cost. Also,
There was a problem that the user himself had to set the correct time in order to operate the clock at the correct time.

[0017]

As described above, in the conventional decoder having the time correction function of the pay broadcasting system,
It is necessary to back up the built-in clock with batteries etc. in order to cope with power outages, etc., which has led to an increase in cost. In addition, there is a problem that the user himself has to set an accurate time in order to move the clock accurately. The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art,
Even if the power is cut off due to a power failure or the like, the purpose is to automatically correct the time without making a backup of the battery or the like and to call the terminal at the time when the call should be made.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, an input end to which a broadcast signal in which time data indicating the present time is multiplexed is inputted and a time signal from the broadcast signal. Separating means for separating time data, clock means for measuring time, storage means for storing a preset calling time, comparing means for comparing the time data with the measured time, and The setting means for setting the time of the clock means according to the comparison result of the comparison means and the time when the clock means is measuring the calling time are compared with each other, and the terminal making a call is called according to the comparison result. A decoder with a built-in time correction function, which is provided with a calling means.

Further, the present invention provides the decoder with a built-in time correction function, which is provided with a detection means for detecting whether the time data is correct or incorrect, and the setting means does not set the time when the detection result shows an error.

Further, the detecting means fetches the time data at two different time points, and judges whether the time data is correct or not depending on whether or not the time data fetched later by the time which is supposed to advance at these two time points. There is provided the above-mentioned decoder with a built-in time correction function, which is characterized by detecting.

[0021]

In the above-mentioned structure, the separating means separates the inputted time data indicating the present time, and the time data contained in the decoder can be corrected by the separated time data. Therefore, even if the power is turned off, the clock built in the decoder can be automatically corrected to make an automatic call.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a time correction function built-in decoder according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 described in the related art are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In an area in which the exchange of the telephone communication service company does not support the no ringing service, the decoder 2
The terminal 2 makes a call, and is communicably connected to the broadcasting station 11 via a telephone line. When the broadcasting station 11 and the decoder 22 are connected via a telephone line, the viewing information is supplied from the viewing information memory 27 in the decoder 22 to the subscriber management database 16 of the broadcasting station 11, and the broadcasting station 11 contracts. From the person management database 16 to the decoder 22, new individual information is stored in the individual information memory 26, the next calling date is the calendar memory 28, and the calling time is the clock memory 29.
Supplied to each. The individual information memory 26, the viewing information memory 27, the calendar memory 28, and the clock memory 29 are constituted by non-volatile memories such as EEPROM.

The calendar memory 28 stores the date of the next calling date, and the stored date is stored in the microcomputer 3
Supply to 1. The clock memory 29 stores the calling time of the next calling day, and the stored time is stored in the microcomputer 31.
Supply to. The microcomputer 31 obtains the present time by calculating a calendar and a clock by software.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer 31 in the decoder 22 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 2, when the decoder 22 is turned on, the microcomputer 3
1 retrieves program information and obtains the current date and time (step 1). Next, the microcomputer 31 calculates the difference between the current date and time obtained from the captured program information and the current date and time calculated by the microcomputer 31 by software, and this difference is a predetermined value. It is judged whether or not it exceeds (step 2). If the comparison result does not exceed the predetermined value, the clock calculated by the microcomputer 31 is regarded as correct, and the process returns to step 1. If the comparison result exceeds the predetermined value, the clock calculated by the microcomputer 31 shifts. Then, the date / time of the microcomputer 31 is changed to the current date / time supplied from the program information (step 3). When the change is made, the process returns to step 1. In this way, the clock in the microcomputer 31 is calibrated. As described above, the current calendar and clock in the decoder can be automatically calibrated according to the date and time in the program information.

Further, when the clock in the microcomputer 31 is reset due to a power failure or the like, the current year and month is obtained from the program information supplied as a part of the initial setting operation when the microcomputer 31 is turned on when the power is turned on. The date and time may be read and the time may be calibrated. As the actual operation, when the power is turned on, the broadcasting station transmitting the program information is selected, and the current date is read from the program information of the selected broadcasting station to calibrate the time. .

The microcomputer 31 is supplied with the next calling date from the calendar memory 28 and the next calling time from the clock memory 29, and the microcomputer 31 receives the current date obtained from the program information. The time is compared with the next call date and time supplied from the calendar memory 28 and the clock memory 29, and the result of this comparison is equal, or the current call is stored next time. If it is ahead of the date / time, call the terminal. By doing so, even if the power is turned off at the time and date when the terminal should be called, if the power is turned on, the terminal is called.

As described above, even if the AC power is cut off due to a power failure or the like, the microcomputer 31 automatically calibrates the calendar and time in the decoder after the power is turned on, and the reserved date and time for making a call may be exceeded. Since the call is also issued, there is no system failure, and the battery backup cost of the decoder can be reduced. Next, a time correction function built-in decoder according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The broadcasting station 11 may not be able to broadcast accurate data as the date and time data in the program information in an emergency, and may broadcast the program information including the incorrect date and time. . In such a case, it becomes a problem if the microcomputer 31 in the decoder 22 corrects the clock in the microcomputer 31 with the program information including the wrong date. Therefore, when broadcasting station 11 broadcasts program information including a wrong date and time in an emergency, for example, a value that cannot actually exist (eg, month ≧ 13, day ≧ 32, hour ≧) 25, minutes ≧ 61, etc.) is transmitted.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer 31 in such a case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, when the decoder 22 is turned on, the microcomputer 31 takes in the program information and obtains the current date and time (step 1). Next, the microcomputer 31 determines whether the date and time in the fetched program information is a value that can actually exist (step 2). Then, as a result of the determination, if the value cannot actually exist, the process returns to step 1, and if the value can exist, the following operation is performed. The microcomputer 31 calculates the difference between the current date and time obtained from the program information and the current date and time that the microcomputer 31 calculates by software, and whether this difference exceeds a predetermined value. Is determined (step 3). If the comparison result does not exceed the predetermined value, the clock calculated by the microcomputer 31 is regarded as correct, and the process returns to step 1. If the comparison result exceeds the predetermined value, the clock calculated by the microcomputer 31 shifts. Microcomputer 3 as
The date and time of 1 is changed to the current date and time supplied from the program information (step 4). When the change is made, the process returns to step 1. In this way, the clock in the microcomputer 31 is calibrated.

As described above, the current calendar and clock in the decoder can be automatically calibrated according to the date and time in the program information. Also, if accurate data cannot be sent as the date and time in the program information due to the reasons of the broadcasting station, the clock in the microcomputer 31 will not be corrected, so it may be calibrated to the wrong time. There is no. Next, a time correction function built-in decoder according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Depending on the broadcasting station, it may not be possible to transmit accurate data as the year, month, day, and hour in the program information, and a value that cannot actually exist (for example, year, month, day, time = all 0, etc.) or even if it exists. There is a case where the program information whose time is not advanced is being broadcast.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer 31 in such a case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 4, the microcomputer 31 takes in program information when the decoder 22 is turned on, and obtains the current date and time (step 1). Next, the microcomputer 31 fetches the program information again after 60 seconds and obtains the current date and time again (step 2). Next, the date obtained in step 1 and step 2
The year, month, day and time obtained in step 1 are compared with each other to see if the unit of "minute" has advanced by 1 minute. If the result of this comparison indicates that the time has advanced by one minute, the microcomputer 31 determines whether the date and time in the fetched program information is a value that can actually exist (step 4). Then, as a result of the determination, if the value cannot actually exist, the process returns to step 1, and if the value can exist, the following operation is performed. The microcomputer 31 calculates the difference between the current date and time obtained from the program information and the current date and time that the microcomputer 31 calculates by software, and whether this difference exceeds a predetermined value. Is determined (step 5). If the comparison result does not exceed the predetermined value, the clock calculated by the microcomputer 31 is regarded as correct and the process returns to step 1. If it exceeds the predetermined value, the microcomputer 3
Microcomputer 31 assuming that the clock calculated by 1 is not correct
The date and time of is changed to the current date and time supplied from the program information (step 6). When the change is made, the process returns to step 1. In this way, the clock in the microcomputer 31 is calibrated.

As described above, the microcomputer 31 observes the "minute" of the date and time for a predetermined time, and if the "minute" is incremented approximately every 60 seconds during the observation, the date and time of this program information is Judge as correct and use it to calibrate the calendar and time.

As described above, the current calendar and clock in the decoder can be automatically calibrated according to the date and time in the program information. Also, if accurate data cannot be sent as the date and time in the program information due to the reasons of the broadcasting station, the clock in the microcomputer 31 will not be corrected, so it may be calibrated to the wrong time. There is no.

In the above description, the decoder is shown as one box, but in reality, a plurality of boxes are provided. For example, even if the microcomputer for data communication control and the viewing information management is another box, The same effect can be obtained as long as it functions as one decoder.

Although the calendar memory 28 and the clock memory 29 are connected to the microcomputer 31 in these embodiments, a calendar and clock IC that can interface with the microcomputer 31 may be used. Further, although the processing is performed by one microcomputer 31 in these embodiments, a plurality of microcomputers may share the processing. In addition, although the wireless broadcasting is described in these embodiments, wired transmission may be used.

[0038]

According to the present invention, the clock built in the decoder is corrected according to the date and time in the program information, and the terminal automatically makes a call when a preset call is made. It is possible to automatically make a terminal call without setting the time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a decoder with a built-in time correction function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing one operation of a microcomputer 31.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another operation of the microcomputer 31.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another operation of the microcomputer 31.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional decoder.

FIG. 6 is another block diagram of a conventional decoder.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Broadcasting station, 12 ... Transmitter, 13 ... Scrambler, 1
4 ... Multiplexing device, 15 ... Program information generating device, 16 ... Contractor management database, 21 ... Viewing contractor, 22 ... Decoder, 23 ... Separation device, 24 ... Descrambler, 25 ... Program information memory, 26 ... Individual information memory , 27 ... Viewing information memory, 28 ... Calendar memory, 29 ... Clock memory, 41 ... Network control unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input terminal to which a broadcast signal in which time data indicating the current time is multiplexed is input, a separating means for separating time data from the broadcast signal according to time, and a clock means for measuring time. A storage unit that stores a preset calling time, a comparison unit that compares the time data with the measured time, and a setting unit that sets the time of the clock unit according to the comparison result of the comparison unit. And a calling means for comparing the time when the clock means is measuring with the calling time and calling the terminal according to the comparison result. 2. A decoder with a built-in time correction function according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit for detecting whether the time data is correct or incorrect, and the setting unit does not set the time when the detection result indicates an error. . 3. The detection means acquires the time data at two different time points, and determines whether the time data is correct or not depending on whether or not the time data acquired after a time that has advanced at these two time points has advanced. The decoder with a built-in time correction function according to claim 2, wherein the decoder is provided.