JPH08289280A - Video on-demand system and center side device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the burden of a center side by making it possible to charge a subscriber the line usage charge for the period when the providing of a pro gram is interrupted for certain reasons of the subscriber in addition to listening charge by charging the line usage charge for a temporary interruption period when the providing of a broadcasting program is temporarily interrupted accord ing to the pause request from a subscriber side device. CONSTITUTION: A pause controller 116 detects a pause start instruction and a pause release instruction from the pause signal transmitted from a subscriber side device 12. When the pause start instruction is detected, the location of program data is stored in a state preservation memory 115. When a pause release is detected, a program transmission is resumed from the location of the program data stored in the state preservation memory 115. A charging timer 117 starts the counting of a pause period at a point of time when the pause tart instruction is detected by the pause controller 116, charges the line usage charge corresponding to the counted time, terminates the counting of the pause time at a point of time when a pause termination instruction is detected and terminates a charging operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video-on-demand system, in which a subscriber requests a broadcast program from a center to individually provide a program to the subscriber in response to the request. The present invention relates to a system having a pause function for temporarily suspending the provision of broadcast programs in response to a subscriber's request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of CATV, interactive (bidirectional) television broadcasting has been attracting attention. As one form of this broadcasting, a system has been constructed in which a subscriber makes a request for a broadcast program to the center, and the center individually provides the requested program to the subscriber. Generally, this broadcasting system is called a video on demand (hereinafter referred to as VOD) system.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a general VOD system. 11 is a center side device, 12 is a subscriber side device, and both devices 11 and 12 are public line networks managed by a line control device 13. Etc. are connected through a line.

The center-side device 11 is a program storage device 111.
And a plurality of (three in the figure) program transmission devices 112.
The program storage device 111 stores information data (hereinafter referred to as program data) of a program provided by a digital television signal in a recording medium such as a hard disk. The program transmitting device 112 is connected to the subscriber side device 12 that has made a line connection request, and the subscriber side device 1
2 has a function of reading the corresponding program data from the program storage device 111 and sending it to the subscriber side device 12 in response to the program request signal from 2.

On the other hand, the subscriber side device 12 is a VOD adapter 121 for transmitting a line connection request signal, a program request signal, etc., and receiving data such as menus, programs, etc., and a remote controller for remotely operating the VOD adapter 121. (Hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 122.

The VOD adapter 121 is connected to a TV (television) receiver 123 and a remote controller 122.
Is selected, the line connection request signal is sent to the line control device 13, the program request signal is sent to the center side device 11, and the menu data, program data, etc. from the center side device 11 are sent. Upon reception, the television signal corresponding to the received menu or program is supplied to the TV receiver 123.

A specific address (hereinafter referred to as "subscriber address") is given to the subscriber side device 12 in advance, and the center side device identifies the data transmission source by this subscriber address and the data transmission destination. I try to identify.

In the following description, the flow from the center side device to the subscriber side device will be referred to as a down line, and the flow from the subscriber side to the center side will be referred to as an up line. A series of processing operations in the above configuration will be described below.

First, the viewer (subscriber) is the remote controller 122.
When the viewing request operation is further performed, the VOD adapter 121 discriminates this and sends a line connection request signal to which the destination address designating the center side device 11 and its own subscriber address are added to the uplink. The line control device 13 connects the subscriber side device 12 to the center side device 11 based on the destination address. As a result, the line connection request signal is sent to the center-side device 11.

On the other hand, the center side device 11 discriminates the subscriber address from the line connection request signal, and the program sending device 11
Allocating one of the two to the requesting subscriber side device 12,
As a result, after connecting the line with the VOD adapter 121 and establishing the communication link, the program data to which the requester subscriber address is added is transmitted to the downlink.

Here, the program data includes a menu channel, and the menu channel always carries menu data including programs that can be provided and selection operation methods. The VOD adapter 121 first receives the data of this menu channel and then receives the data from the TV receiver 123.
Display the menu screen on.

When the viewer looks at this menu screen and selects a program with the remote controller 122, the VOD adapter 121 discriminates this and sends a program request signal to the uplink. Receiving this signal, the program transmission device 112 reads the corresponding program data from the program storage device 111, designates a channel, and transmits it to the downlink. The VOD adapter 121 receives the program data of the designated channel, and the TV receiver 123 reproduces the program. This allows the viewer to view the selected program.

By the way, the VOD system has a pause function as one of the service functions for subscribers. The pause function is, for example, when the viewer presses the pause button on the remote controller 122 to cause the VOD adapter 121 to transmit a pause signal and to cause the program transmission device 112 to repeatedly transmit the program data at that time for one frame, and thus the TV. This is a function of displaying a still image on the receiver 123. By using this pause function, for example, when an incoming call is made to a telephone while a program is being watched and a call is made, it is possible to temporarily suspend the broadcast of the program during the call, thereby missing the scene of the program. No worries.

[0014]

However, the conventional video-on-demand system having such a pause function has the following problems to be improved. That is,
When the subscriber uses the pause function to suspend the broadcasting of the program, the line remains connected during the suspension period as described above. For this reason, the center side has to bear the line usage fee during the period during which the broadcasting is suspended due to the pause, even though the broadcasting is temporarily suspended due to the subscriber's convenience, which causes a disadvantage. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a line usage fee during the period when the provision of a program is temporarily interrupted in response to a pause operation on the subscriber side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video-on-demand system and a device on the center side of the video-on-demand system, which enables the subscriber side to bear the burden, thereby reducing the disadvantages on the center side.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a center side device and a subscriber side device through a line when necessary, and the subscriber side device to the center side device. In a video-on-demand system that provides a broadcast program corresponding to the above request from the center-side device to the subscriber-side device by making a broadcast program request,
The subscriber side device is provided with a pause signal transmitting means, and by this means, a pause signal for instructing temporary suspension and cancellation of the provision of the program while the broadcast program is being provided to the center side device through the line. In addition, the center side device is provided with a pause control means and a charging means, and the pause control means receives a pause signal from the subscriber side device, and in response to an instruction of the pause signal, the line The provision of the broadcast program is temporarily suspended while the connection of the connection is maintained, and further, during the suspension period of the broadcast program provision by the pause control means, the charging means performs the charging processing for the line holding the connection. It is a thing.

Further, according to the present invention, as the charging means, a timer is used to measure the period of interruption of the broadcast program provision, and the charging process is performed based on the time measured by the timer, or the program of the subscriber side is suspended. It is characterized in that it receives the time-measurement time information and performs the charging process based on the time-measurement time information.

Further, according to the present invention, the center side device and the subscriber side device are connected through a line when necessary, and the subscriber side device requests the center side device to send a broadcast program to the center side device. From the subscriber side device to the center side device while providing a broadcast program corresponding to the above request from the subscriber side device to the subscriber side device, and also during the provision of this broadcast program, a pause signal for instructing suspension and cancellation of the provision of this program. The center-side device used in the video-on-demand system having the function of temporarily suspending the provision of the broadcast program by sending out is provided with a billing unit, and the billing unit is provided during the period during which the broadcast program is suspended. In addition, the billing process is performed for the line that holds the connection.

[0019]

As a result, according to the video-on-demand system and the center side apparatus of the present invention, when the provision of the broadcast program is temporarily interrupted in response to the pause request from the subscriber side apparatus, the line usage fee during this interruption period is reduced. You will be charged. Therefore, it becomes possible to charge the subscriber the line usage fee during the period in which the provision of the program is suspended due to the convenience of the subscriber, in addition to the listening fee for the program, thereby reducing the burden on the center side. It will be possible.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

First, the subscriber side device 12 is provided with a still image reproducing device 124 having an image memory for displaying a still image. Further, the remote controller 122 has an operation button (not shown) for pausing. VOD adapter 121
Includes a function of discriminating a pause operation from the remote controller 122 and sending a pause signal for starting / releasing the pause to the upstream line, and a function of displaying a still screen when the still image reproducing device 124 is paused. Be done.

Here, as a pause operation for the remote controller 122, it is assumed that the pause button is pressed when the pause is started and the playback button is pressed when the pause is released.

On the other hand, the program sending device 112 used in the center side device 110 is a program data read output device 114.
A state storage memory 115 and a pause control device 116.
And a charging timer 117.

The program data read / output device 114 stores the program data requested by the subscriber side in the program storage device 111.
It has a function of reading from the program, adding the requesting subscriber address to the program data, and transmitting the program data. State storage memory 11
5 stores the program data position output from the program data read output device 114 at the time when the pause control device 116 detects a pause start instruction.

The pause controller 116 is the subscriber unit 1
A pause start instruction and a pause cancel instruction are detected from the pause signal sent from the device 2. Then, when the pause start instruction is detected, the position of the program data is stored in the state storage memory 115. When the pause release is detected, the program transmission is restarted from the position of the program data stored in the state storage memory 115.

The charging timer 117 starts timing of the pause period when the pause control device 116 detects a pause start instruction, charges the line usage fee corresponding to the clock time, and the pause control device 116. At the time when the pause end instruction is detected, the time measurement of the pause time is finished and the billing operation is finished. The billing data by the billing timer 117 is transferred to the management / control device (not shown) each time or for each communication, and the billing process for the subscriber is performed in this management / control device.

Next, the operation of the system configured as described above will be described. Subscriber side device 1 during program reproduction
2, the pressing operation of the pause button is monitored by the VOD adapter 121. When the pressing of the pause button is detected in this state, the VOD adapter 121 sends a pause start instruction to the upstream line and the still image reproducing device 124.
The screen at the start of the pause is stored in the image memory and is displayed on the TV receiver 123 as a still image.

Subsequently, when the operation of pressing the play button is detected, the VOD adapter 121 sends an instruction to cancel the pause to the upstream line, causes the still picture reproducing device 124 to cancel the still picture reproducing state, and displays the interrupted program. To restart.

On the other hand, in the center-side device 110, the pause control device 116 monitors the arrival of the pause start instruction during the transmission of the program. In this state, when a pause start instruction is sent from the subscriber side device 12, the pause control device 116 detects this and the program position being output at that time (for example, position on program file, time code, etc.). ) Is stored in the state holding memory 115, and the program read output operation by the program data read output device 114 is stopped.

By the way, during the transmission of the program, the charging timer 117 performs the charging timer monitoring operation. Figure 2
It is a flowchart which shows the operation procedure and operation content. That is, when the pause control device 116 detects a pause start instruction and is notified of that, the charging timer 117 is notified.
Detects this notification in step 2a and shifts to step 2b. In step 2b, the time measurement of the pause time is started and the charging process according to the time measurement is performed. Then, while the charging process is being performed, the end of the suspension is monitored in step 2c.

When a pause release instruction is sent from the subscriber side device 12 in this state, the pause control device 116 causes the program read output device 114 to restart the program transmission from the storage position of the state holding memory 115. At the same time, the pause control device 116 notifies the charging timer 117 of the detection notification of the pause cancellation instruction. Then, the charging timer 117
When this notification is detected in step 2c and it is determined that the suspension has ended, the process proceeds to step 2d, where the timing of the suspension time is stopped and the billing process ends. The billing data is transferred to a management / control device (not shown) for billing processing.

That is, in the system of this embodiment, when the subscriber makes a pause operation, the center side device 110
In (1), the transmission of the program is temporarily stopped during the pause period, and during the temporary stop period, the charging timer 117 performs the charging process for the line that is holding the connection. Therefore, the line usage fee during the pause period can be billed to the subscriber later together with the program providing fee, whereby the unreasonable burden on the center side is reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the accounting of the pause period is performed by the charging timer 117 of the center side device 110. However, the subscriber side device 12 measures the pause period, transfers the measured time data to the center side device 110 at the end of communication, and the center side device 110 performs the charging process based on the measured time data. May be.

Further, in the above embodiment, each program transmission device 13
Although a charging timer is provided for each 0 to perform the charging process during the pause period, one charging timer is provided for each program transmitting device or a number of charging timers that is less than the number of installed program transmitting devices, and this small number of chargings are set. The timer may collectively perform the charging process in the pause period in each program transmitting device.

With this configuration, the number of charging timers installed can be reduced. If you do this,
If more than the number of billing timers are installed in the program transmission device at the same time, some lines will not be able to perform billing processing at the same time. However, it is extremely unlikely that many lines will be paused at the same time. It is considered that there will be no problems in the operation of.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the entire period of the pause period is set as the charging target time has been described, but a part of the pause period is set as the service period, and when the pause period exceeds a certain time, it is exceeded. You may charge only for time.

Further, during the pause period, the message information indicating that the billing is being performed is transferred from the center side device to the subscriber side device, and this message information is superimposed on the still image and displayed on the TV receiver. Good. Further, the message information may be generated in the subscriber side device and displayed on the TV receiver.

Further, in the above embodiment, the center side device 110
In order to reduce the functional load of the TV receiver 12 during the pause period, the subscriber side device 12 generates a still image.
However, the still image data may be transmitted from the center side device to the subscriber side device and displayed. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of the subscriber side device. At that time, it is preferable that the still image data transmitted from the center side device includes message information indicating that charging is in progress.

Further, in the above embodiment, the remote controller 122 is used.
However, it is needless to say that this operation may be performed by the main body switch. In addition, the configurations of the center side device and the subscriber side device, the procedure and contents of the charging process in the charging means, the type of the line and the configuration thereof, etc. can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0040]

As described above in detail, in the present invention, the subscriber side device is provided with the pause signal transmitting means, and by this means, during the provision of the broadcast program, the suspension of the provision of this program and the cancellation thereof are instructed. A pause signal for sending to the center side device through the line, and the center side device is provided with a pause control means and a charging means, and the pause control means receives the pause signal from the subscriber side device. In response to the instruction of the pause signal, the provision of the broadcast program is temporarily suspended while maintaining the connection of the line, and the connection is made by the charging means during the suspension period of the broadcast program provided by the pause control means. Charge processing is performed for the line that is being held.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the provision of the program is temporarily suspended in response to the pause operation on the subscriber side,
It becomes possible to burden the subscriber side with the line usage fee during that time, and thereby it is possible to provide the video-on-demand system and the center-side apparatus capable of reducing the disadvantage suffered by the center side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video on demand system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a billing processing operation in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional video on demand system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 ... Center-side device 111 ... Program storage device 113 ... Program transmission device 114 ... Program data read / output device 115 ... State saving memory 116 ... Pause control device 117 ... Billing timer 12 ... Subscriber side device 121 ... VOD adapter 122 ... Remote controller (Remote control) 123 ... TV receiver 124 ... still image reproducing device 13 ... line control device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A center side device and a subscriber side device are connected via a line when necessary, and the subscriber side device makes a request for a broadcast program to the center side device, whereby the center side device In a video-on-demand system for providing a broadcast program corresponding to the request to a device at the subscriber side, the subscriber device has a pause signal for instructing suspension and cancellation of provision of the program during provision of the broadcast program. Is provided to the center side apparatus via the line, and the center side apparatus receives the pause signal from the subscriber side apparatus, and the center side apparatus receives the pause signal from the subscriber side apparatus. Pause control means for temporarily suspending the provision of a broadcast program while holding the connection, and the line that is holding the connection during the suspension period of the broadcast program provision by the pause control means. Video-on-demand system characterized by comprising a charging means for performing charging processing against. 2. The video-on-demand according to claim 1, wherein the charging means comprises a timer for measuring the period of interruption of provision of the broadcast program, and the charging process is performed based on the time measured by the timer. system. 3. The video-on-demand according to claim 1, wherein the charging means receives time-measurement time information of the broadcast program interruption period from the subscriber-side device, and performs charge-processing based on the time-measurement time information. system. 4. The center side device and the subscriber side device are connected via a line when necessary, and the subscriber side device requests the broadcast program to the center side device, whereby the center side device To provide a broadcast program corresponding to the request to the side device, and send a pause signal from the subscriber side device to the center side device during the provision of this broadcast program to instruct the suspension and cancellation of the provision of this program. In the center side device used in the video-on-demand system having the function of temporarily suspending the provision of the broadcast program, the billing process is performed for the line that is holding the connection during the suspension period of the broadcast program provision. A center-side device comprising means.