JPH0773125A - Multi-address network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the inquiries of a user to a center station by transmitting ciphered transmission information and addition information for transmission situation, which shows broadcasting stop/delay and which is not ciphered. CONSTITUTION:The transmission information ciphering means 16 of the center station 10 ciphers information becoming the main body of a content which is to be transmitted to a terminal station 14. A transmission signal generation means 18 generates a transmission signal by overlapping addition information on ciphered information and the ciphered information. A radio wave transmission means 22 transmits the radio wave of the transmission signal. The radio wave means 26 of the terminal station 14 receives the radio wave from the center station 10, and an information extraction means 28 extracts ciphered information and addition information from a reception signal. A ciphered information decoding means 30 decodes ciphered information among extracted information, and a decoding result output means 32 outputs the decoding result. An addition information output means 34 outputs information on a transmission schedul or a transmission situation which addition information shows among extracted information. Thus, the inquiries can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network system in which information transmitted from a center station is relayed by a satellite and simultaneously received by a large number of terminals (terminal stations / receiving stations).

Since information can be broadcast to a large number of terminals existing in a wide area, this type of system is used for broadcasting images and voices, and such information is required by the cost of satellite communication and image coding technology. Digitally transmitted in consideration of progress.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A center station encrypts an image or sound of a distribution source and transmits its radio waves to a satellite, and the satellite receives the radio waves of the center station and relays the signals. Each terminal receives from the satellite. The image and sound are decoded and output, and the terminal user views the output image and sound. (The terminal of the user who does not have a receiving contract with the distributor cannot decode the image and sound received from the satellite, I can't watch them).

Since the one-way communication is performed in this way, the transmission schedule (program guide) and the distribution destination are notified to the user of each receiving terminal in advance by using so-called personal computer communication or by mail, and if it is unknown, The user inquires the center station by telephone.

When an image or sound cannot be viewed on the terminal, a message output to the display panel of the receiver or the screen of the television receiver is checked. If the cause cannot be found, the user of the terminal calls by telephone. Contact the center station.

[0006]

As the number of receiving terminals increases, notifications of transmission schedules and delivery destinations are more likely to be missed. If this notification is omitted, you do not know when and what kind of program will be broadcast, and whether your station is designated as a distribution destination (whether you can listen to the desired broadcast)
I don't know.

Further, when it is not possible to confirm whether or not the program is broadcast according to the schedule notified by the center station and the program cannot be received, the cause of this failure occurs in either the center station or its own station. It is impossible to immediately determine whether the program is delayed, whether the program has been canceled, or whether the local station is the delivery destination.

Therefore, although the user calls the center station, when the inquiries are concentrated, it takes time for the attendant to be called. Moreover, in some cases, an appropriate answer cannot be immediately obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a satellite-based broadcast network system capable of significantly reducing the number of calls that a user makes to a center station. Especially.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the system according to the present invention is configured as shown in FIG. 1, in which the radio waves transmitted from the center station 10 are relayed by a satellite 12. Information is received by a large number of terminal stations 14 at the same time, and the center station 10 encrypts the information that is the main body of the content to be transmitted to the terminal stations 14 by the transmission information encryption means 16
And transmission signal generating means 18 for generating a digital or analog transmission signal by superimposing the encrypted information and the additional information indicating the transmission schedule, the destination, and the transmission status of the information to be encrypted. Radio wave transmitting means 22 for transmitting the radio wave of the signal from the antenna 20 to the satellite 12,
Each terminal station 14 has a radio wave receiving means 26 for receiving the radio wave of the center station 10 relayed and transmitted by the satellite 12 with an antenna 24, and extracts encrypted information and additional information from the signal received by the antenna. Information extracting means 28, encrypted information decrypting means 30 for decrypting the encrypted information of the extracted information, decryption result outputting means 32 for outputting the content indicated by the decryption result of the encrypted information, The additional information output unit 34 outputs the transmission schedule, the destination, and the transmission status indicated by the additional information in the extracted information.

[0011]

For example, in the case of a system that broadcasts images and sounds by satellite relay, the program table (transmission schedule) of the broadcast, the receiving terminal (destination) that can be viewed, and the transmission status information (additional information) indicating the broadcasting stop or delay are added. Images without encryption,
It is transmitted from the center station together with the voice.

When the satellite relay radio wave is received by each receiving terminal (terminal station), the broadcast program table, the receiving terminals that can be viewed, and the information on the transmission status indicating the suspension or delay of the broadcasting are displayed on the display panel of the receiver or the television. It is output to the screen of the receiver.

Therefore, each user determines when and what kind of program will be broadcast, whether the user can watch the broadcast,
Whether the program is being broadcast according to the schedule, whether the program cannot be received at the center station or your own station, whether the program is delayed or canceled, or your station is the destination. It can be determined from the contents output on the display panel of the receiver or the screen of the television receiver, without inquiring the center station by telephone.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 illustrates the overall configuration of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 illustrates the general operation of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 illustrates the contents displayed and output to a terminal user in the first embodiment. ing.

In FIG. 2, an information distribution source 200 is provided with a codec 202 and a terminal computer 204, and the codec 202 broadcasts image and audio signals, and the computer 204 broadcasts a program guide (transmission schedule). , Information indicating a receiving station (receiving terminal: destination) that can be viewed, a message, and the like are input (see FIG. 3).

Further, the center station 206 has a terminal station device 20.
8, a communication control / network management device 210 and a transmission device 212 are provided, and the output of the codec 202 (hereinafter, transmission information) is input to the terminal device 208 and the computer 204 is input to the communication control / network management device 210. The information thus obtained is received via separate ground lines 205.

Then, the information received by the communication control / network management device 210 is given to the terminal device 208, and the terminal device 208 encrypts the transmission information, and transmits the transmission schedule, the destination, and the transmission status (broadcast cancellation or delay). Is shown.
Information generated (for example, by referring to the transmission information and the transmission schedule) is collected as additional information, and a process of multiplexing the transmission information and the additional information is performed (see FIG. 3).

Further, the signal in which the terminal device 208 multiplexes the transmission information and the additional information is transmitted from the antenna 214 to the communication satellite 216 by the transmitting device 212, is relayed by the communication satellite 216, and is transmitted to a large number of receiving stations 218. The signals are received by the respective antennas 220 provided.

The receiving station 218 includes a receiver 222.
And a television receiver 224 are respectively provided, the receiver 222 separates the transmission information and the additional information from the reception signal of the antenna 220 (see FIG. 3), and outputs the transmission information to the television receiver 224. A process of outputting the additional information to its own display unit or the television receiver 224 is performed (for example, the additional information is displayed as shown in FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the second embodiment. A plurality of information distribution sources 200 are connected to a center station 206 by a ground line 205, and a codec 202 and a computer 2 are connected.
04 is also provided in the center station 206.

The codec 202 and the computer 204 are connected to the terminal device 208 and the communication control / network management device 210, respectively. Also, a plurality of communication satellites 216 may be used.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the receiver 222 provided in each receiving station 218 in FIG. 5, and the reception signal of the antenna 220 is input to the low noise frequency converter 600.

The output is input to the tuning unit 602, the output of the tuning unit 602 is input to the demodulation unit 604, the output of the demodulation unit 604 is input to the error correction decoding unit 606, and the output of the error correction decoding unit 606 is encrypted. The data is input to the encryption unit / non-encryption unit separation unit 608.

In the encryption unit / non-encryption unit separation unit 608, the transmission information and the additional information are separated from the input, and the separated transmission information and additional information are the encryption / decryption unit 610 and the additional information detection unit 6.
12 is output.

Further, the output of the encryption / decryption unit 610 is input to the demultiplexing unit 614 and image / audio information (transmission information) is sent.
And the reception availability information, and the signal detection unit 61 addressed to the own station is separated.
6, output to the receivability information detection unit 618.

The receivability information is the receivability information detection section 618.
Is input to the reception permission / inhibition information memory unit 620, and when the reception station 218 can receive the transmission information, the output of the reception permission / inhibition information memory unit 620 is given to the signal detection unit 616 addressed to itself.

Only when the output of the receivability information memory unit 620 is given from the own station address signal detection unit 616, the transmission information is output to the image / voice decoding unit 622, and the output of the image / voice decoding unit 622. (Image and audio reproduction signals) are supplied to the television receiver 224.

The additional information obtained by the additional information detecting unit 612 is written in the additional information memory unit 624. In the additional information memory unit 624, the monitoring information of the tuning unit 602 from the monitoring unit 630 is detected in the additional information memory unit 624. Whether there is synchronization or not), encryption / decryption unit 6
The monitoring information of 10 (indicating whether or not the receiver is registered) and the monitoring information of the local signal detecting unit 616 (indicating whether or not the transmission information is detected) are further received from the receivability information memory unit 620. , Its output (which transmitted information can be received) is written.

Further, the contents of the additional information memory unit 624 are output to the display unit 628 or the television receiver 224 via the interface unit 626. However, the contents of the additional information memory unit 624 are edited by the monitoring unit 630, and the output destination (display unit 628 or television receiver 224) of the edited contents is displayed on the monitoring unit 630 by the user operating the operation unit 632. It is set in advance.

FIG. 7 explains the operation of this embodiment (display operation of additional information). When no carrier is detected (NO in step 700), that fact and possible cause are displayed and output. (Step 702).

Further, even if the carrier is detected (YES in step 700), but the code cannot be decrypted (NO in step 704), the receiver 222 of the own station.
Is displayed to the effect that it has not been registered (step 7).
06).

When the carrier is detected (YES in step 700) and the code can be decrypted (YES in step 704), when the transmission information is detected (YES in step 708), The display output indicating that the image and the sound (broadcast) are being received is performed (step 7).
10).

Further, even when the carrier is detected (YES in step 700) and the code can be decrypted (YES in step 704), when the transmission information is not detected (NO in step 708). Determines whether the transmission (broadcasting) is delayed or is stopped from the additional information (step 712).

At this time, if it is confirmed that the transmission is performed correctly (YES in step 712), it is determined from the additional information whether or not the own station is the destination (step 714), and the own station If it is the destination (Step 7)
If YES in step 14), the failure is displayed, and if it is not the destination, the failure is displayed (step 71).
6,718).

When it is confirmed that the transmission is not being performed correctly (NO in step 712), the transmission schedule in the additional information is checked (step 720), and the schedule indicates that the program is being broadcast. A display output indicating that the program is delayed is output (step 722), and when the broadcast time is not reached, a reception waiting display is output (step 724).

In this way, each user determines when and what kind of program is broadcast, whether his / her station can view the broadcast,
Whether the program is being broadcast according to the schedule, whether the program cannot be received at the center station or your own station, whether the program is delayed or canceled, or your station is the destination. The receiver 22
2 and the contents output on the screen of the television receiver 224 (transmission status, transmission schedule, analysis result of destination or reception information), and messages can be easily determined and dealt with on the spot.

Therefore, the user does not need to make an inquiry to the center station 206 by telephone. Further, since the number of telephone inquiries is significantly reduced, it is possible to reduce the personnel of the center station 206 and reduce the operating cost of the system.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, since information on matters that may be inquired to the center station is displayed on the terminal, the user does not need to call the center station by telephone, and Since the number of calls is greatly reduced, it is possible to reduce the number of reception staff and reduce the operating cost of the system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic operation explanatory view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of contents displayed and output by the receiving station according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a receiver configuration of a receiving station in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 Information distribution destination 202 Codec 204 Computer 205 Terrestrial line 206 Center station 208 Terminal device 210 Communication control / network management device 212 Transmitter 214 Antenna 216 Communication satellite 218 Reception station 220 Antenna 222 Receiver 224 Television receiver 600 Low noise frequency conversion Device 602 Tuning unit 604 Demodulation unit 606 Error correction decoding unit 608 Encryption unit, non-encryption unit separation unit 610 Encryption / decryption unit 612 Additional information detection unit 614 Demultiplexing unit 616 Self-addressed signal detection unit 618 Receivability information detection unit 620 Receivability information memory unit 622 Image / voice decoding unit 624 Additional information memory unit 626 Interface unit 628 Display unit 630 Monitoring unit 632 Operation unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a broadcast network system in which radio waves transmitted from a center station (10) are received by a large number of terminal stations (14), the center station (10) provides information on the contents to be transmitted to the terminal station (14). A transmission information encryption means (16) for encrypting information to be a main body, a transmission signal by superimposing the above-mentioned encrypted information and the additional information which is information on the transmission schedule or transmission status of the information to be encrypted. And a radio wave transmitting means (22) for transmitting the radio wave of the generated signal.
Each terminal station (14) has a radio wave receiving means (2) for receiving the radio wave of the center station (10).
6), information extracting means (28) for extracting encrypted information and additional information from the received signal, and encrypted information decrypting means (30) for decrypting the encrypted information of the extracted information. ), The decryption result output means (32) for outputting the content indicated by the decryption result of the encrypted information, and the additional information output means for outputting the information regarding the transmission schedule or the transmission status indicated by the additional information in the extracted information. (34) and, The broadcast network system characterized by having.