JPH08340526A - Local cable broadcast transmission reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the convenience of use by providing an exclusive guide channel of a pay broadcast in the local cable broadcast transmission reception system whose district is limited such as to a hotel. CONSTITUTION: A picture-in-picture equipment 14, a high frequency modulator 15, and a character information generator 16 are added to a conventional in- house broadcast equipment to generate and distribute a guide program channel, and channel selection of a pay broadcast is controlled by a set-top device 12. Thus, the guide program channel of a pay broadcast is distributed, and a program content of the broadcast is confirmed to select a program of the broadcast, then the convenience of use is improved and the running cost is saved through the reduction in program guide form of the pay broadcast.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a local cable broadcasting transmission / reception system for cable broadcasting within a specific restricted area, and in particular, when paying for a pay program, the content of the pay broadcast program can be confirmed in advance. Related to the local cable broadcasting transmission / reception system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional area cable broadcasting transmission / reception system. In the figure, 1 to 4 are playback devices for video programs such as VTRs and laser disk players, 5 to 8 are high frequency modulators for converting video signals and audio signals into high frequency signals, and 9 is a charge management device for pay broadcasting. Reference numeral 10 is a general broadcast signal, 11 is a mixer, 12 is a set top device, and 13 is a television monitor.

[0003] Conventionally, in a wired type local cable broadcasting transmission / reception system used in hotels or the like, the original pay broadcasting channel and general broadcasting are distributed in a mixed state, and the pay program is usually charged. The scramble signal is superimposed for the purpose of collecting the fee, and the pay broadcasting channel is watched after selecting the scrambled pay broadcasting channel and checking the charge, or after a certain period of time has passed. After that, the scramble was released and it was common to watch pay broadcast channels.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned method according to the prior art, since it is scrambled before the charge of the pay broadcasting channel, it is a movie or the like that has been seen before after the charge. In some cases, it was not easy to use from the viewer's point of view because there were cases where it was noticed, or it was not the program I imagined.

Further, when there are a plurality of pay broadcasting channels and a fee is charged for each channel, it is necessary to select one channel from a plurality of scrambled channels, which is extremely difficult to select. It gets harder.

[0006] In addition, before the charge for the pay broadcasting channel,
Usually, since a scramble signal is superimposed on the receiving side (set top device), it may interfere with a general broadcast channel that originally does not require scrambling, and may cause image quality deterioration.

[0007] Further, basically, since the pay broadcasting channel is usually in a scrambled state, there is a case where the program guide of the pay broadcasting program is provided by a printed matter such as paper. In this case, the printed matter is It was necessary to remake it one by one as the program changed.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to assist the viewer in selecting a channel by a simple operation.
It is to provide a local cable broadcasting transmission / reception system that is effective in improving usability, improving image quality, and reducing running costs.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is used in a limited specific range such as a hotel, and an area where an original program signal can be distributed in addition to a general broadcast signal. In a cable broadcasting transmission / reception system, a pay-per-view original program was inserted into another screen with the screen information compressed, and it was broadcast as a guide program of the original program in which text information was added to this. .

Further, in relation to broadcasting equipment, in the same device,
Even if you distribute multiple movie software etc. as pay broadcasts at different times, or if you are offering multiple pay broadcast programs at the same time, you must select the pay broadcast channel by billing unless you are from the guide program channel. In this case, the viewer is informed each time that a fee is required, and the set top device does not need to generate a scramble signal.

[0011]

According to the present invention, when a plurality of unique pay broadcasting channels are distributed in addition to general broadcasting on the transmission side of the system, the screens of these plural unique programs are respectively compressed, and character information and the like are stored. The added screen is distributed to the receiving side as a guide program channel.

On the receiving side of the guest room or the like, the general broadcast is usually in a state of being viewable only by channel selection. When a pay broadcast channel is selected from this state, the guide program channel is once tuned to by the set top device, and a plurality of unique pay broadcast programs currently being distributed are displayed on the screen in compressed form. While being displayed,
In addition to this, character information or the like that informs the viewer that it is a pay broadcast is displayed.

When the viewer confirms the program content on this guide program channel and selects the pay broadcast program to be watched, the set top device instantly confirms the charge, and the selected pay broadcast channel is selected. Will be displayed on the full screen.

If another pay broadcast program is to be selected from this state, the other guide broadcast channel is not directly selected, but the previous guide program channel is once selected. Here, when another pay broadcast program is selected again, the charge confirmation is instantly performed by the set top device, the selected pay broadcast channel is selected, and the screen is displayed in full, as in the previous case. Even if the charging system is introduced for each pay broadcasting channel, the charging information is surely delivered.

[0015]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a regional cable broadcast transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 1 to 4 denote video program reproducing devices such as a VTR, a laser disc player, and a video CD player.
Reference numerals 5 to 8 are high frequency modulators for converting video signals and audio signals into high frequency signals, 9 is a charge management device for pay broadcasting, and 10 is a charge management device.
Is a general broadcast signal, 11 is a mixer, 12 is a set top device, 13 is a television monitor, 14 is a picture-in-picture device, 15 is a high frequency modulator for converting a video signal into a high frequency signal, and 16 is a character information generation device. Is.

Now, assume that the system shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a local cable broadcasting transmission / reception system in a hotel. In this case, what is delivered as the in-house program broadcast in the hotel is the general broadcast signal 10 and the reproduction devices 1 to 4.
It is a signal of an original broadcast as a pay broadcast program being reproduced by. The reproduced video signals and reproduced audio signals obtained from the respective reproduction devices 1 to 4 are output to the corresponding high frequency modulators 5 to 8, and the reproduced video signals from the respective reproduction devices 1 to 4 are picture-in It is also output to the picture device 14. In the picture-in-picture device 14, the four reproduced video signals (four, for example, NT
(SC output) contents are subjected to screen compression, four reduced screens are picture-in-picture fitted to a predetermined menu background screen, and further predetermined character information from the character information generator is added, Create a video signal for the guide program channel. Then, the video signal for the guide program channel from the picture-in-picture device 14 is output to the high frequency modulator 15.

In each of the high frequency modulators 5 to 8 and 15, the input signal is superimposed on a carrier having a predetermined frequency and is output to the mixer 11 (output as an RF signal), and the mixer 11 is used.
Then, the output signals from the high frequency modulators 5 to 8 and 15 and the general broadcast signal 10 are mixed, and for example, the signals are arranged in continuous transmission frequency bands, and these are arranged on the receiving side arranged in each room. It is delivered to the device via a transmission cable (not shown).

On the receiving side of the passenger compartment or the like, a television monitor 13 is connected to the above transmission cable via a set top device 12. Then, in the television monitor 13, the set pay device 12 controls the unique pay broadcasting channel so that the channel cannot be selected directly.
Therefore, normally, the channels that can be directly selected are only general broadcasts and guide programs modulated by the high frequency modulator 15.

Here, when the viewer selects a pay broadcast channel by using, for example, a remote controller, the set top device 12
As a result, the screen on the television monitor 13 is automatically switched to the reception screen on the channel of the guide program. On the screen of this guide program, the viewer confirms the contents of the pay broadcast channel on each compressed sub-screen, and after confirming that these programs are pay broadcasts, the desired channel Will be selected.

FIG. 2 schematically shows how the screens of the television monitor 13 are switched in this case.

First, when a pay broadcast channel is selected from the normal viewing state of a general broadcast, the video is switched to a guide program image as shown in FIG. In the guide program,
The program currently being broadcast on the pay broadcasting channel is displayed in a picture-in-picture format with a compressed screen, and it is a pay broadcasting due to character information,
In addition, additional information of pay broadcasting is also displayed.

In this state, if channel A, which is a pay broadcast channel for the reproduced video "1", is selected, at the same time as channel A is selected, the charge confirmation is performed via the set top device 12, and after the charge confirmation, the set top is confirmed. Device 12
However, the screen of the television monitor 13 is switched to the reproduction image “1” of the channel A as shown in FIG. 2B, while permitting the switching to the channel A.

In the channel A tuning state, for example, when channel B of pay broadcasting is selected, the channel is not directly switched to channel B, but the channel of the guide program shown in FIG. Switch. Then, when the pay broadcast channel B is selected in the display state of the guide program, the pay operation is performed and then the pay broadcast channel B is switched as in the previous case. However, in this case, if the system is such that the charges are not made on a channel-by-channel basis but are made uniformly, the charge management device 9 is set so as not to cause double charges.
Needless to say, it is configured so as to correspond to each other.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the control operation of the above-mentioned local cable broadcasting transmitting / receiving system of the present embodiment.

First, when the viewer turns on the power of the television monitor 13 (step 101), the channel is in a reception state (step 102). When a channel is selected, it is determined whether or not the selected channel is a pay channel (step 103). If the channel is a pay channel, the guide program (step 104) is executed. If it is a general broadcast channel, general broadcast is selected. (Step 10
9) is processed.

When a channel is selected in the guide program (step 104), it is determined whether or not the selected channel is a pay channel (step 105), and if it is a pay channel, a billing process (step 106).
After that, in the pay broadcast (step 107), the pay broadcast can be viewed, and if the pay channel is not the pay channel, the re-input state is set. Therefore, the pay channel determination state (step 103) is returned to. When another channel is selected (step 108) in the pay channel viewing state (step 107), the process is returned to the pay channel determination state (step 103).

On the other hand, the viewing state of the general broadcast (step 10
If the channel is changed (step 110) from 9), the state returns to the pay channel determination state (step 103). If the selected channel is a pay channel, the guide program (step 104) is switched to the general broadcast channel. If there is, it is processed to the general broadcast (step 109) and processed in the same manner as above.

However, in the processing flow of FIG. 3, branch determination (steps 102, 103, 105, 108, 11
0) may be configured to determine “No” when no operation is performed for a certain period of time.

In the operation of the television monitor 13,
Operations such as power ON / OFF that are not related to channel selection can be selected from any part of the processing flow of FIG.

Although not mentioned in the above-mentioned embodiments, a typical configuration for realizing the picture-in-picture system necessary for constructing a screen of a pay broadcast guide program is shown in, for example, FIG. In general, as described above, in order to combine four reduced screens into one screen as in the above-described embodiment, four sets of the configuration of FIG. It is feasible by using 4 sets of 24 to 24).

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 17 is a first video signal which is a parent video signal (background image video signal), 18 is a second video signal which is a child video signal (reduced image video signal), 19
Is a parent video signal processing circuit, 20 is a parent synchronization signal processing circuit, 21 is a child video signal processing circuit, 22 is a child synchronization signal processing circuit, 23 is a memory control circuit, 24 is a memory, 25
Is a signal switching circuit, and 26 is an output video signal. In this configuration, the video signal from the child video signal processing circuit 22 is synchronized with the sync signal of the child video signal by the memory control circuit 23 which controls the memory 24 based on the outputs of the sync signal processing circuits 20 and 21. It is temporarily stored in the memory 24. Then, the video signal from the parent video signal processing circuit 19 and the video signal read as a reduced image from the memory 24 in synchronization with the sync signal of the parent video signal are switched / superposed by the signal switching circuit 25. As a result, a picture-in-picture output video signal 26 in which a reduced image is embedded in the background image is obtained.

However, in implementing the present invention, the picture-in-picture system is not specified.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, as compared with the conventional area cable broadcasting transmission / reception system, the usability for the channel selection of the viewer is improved, and in the case of the pay broadcasting mode, It is possible to realize a system that can reduce charging troubles due to viewer misidentification and can reliably perform charging operation when the viewer is not satisfied.

Further, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to generate a scramble signal, which has been conventionally required for a pay broadcast channel or the like, an image quality deterioration factor such as interference with a general broadcast channel which originally does not need to be scrambled is generated. It is not necessary to do so and the image quality can be improved.

In addition, since it is not necessary to use a program such as a printed matter such as paper for explaining the pay broadcasting channel, which is conventionally required, it is effective in reducing the running cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a regional cable broadcast transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display of a pay broadcast guide program in the system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control operation in the system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic circuit configuration example for realizing a picture-in-picture system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a regional cable broadcast transmission / reception system according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 Playback Equipment 5-8 High Frequency Modulator 9 Charge Management Device 10 General Broadcast Signal 11 Mixer 12 Set Top Device 13 Television Monitor 14 Picture In Picture Device 15 High Frequency Modulator 16 Character Information Generator

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Sato 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Incorporated company Hitachi Ltd. Information & Video Division

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A regional cable broadcasting transmission / reception system in which at least one or more unique program signals can be distributed in addition to a general broadcast signal at a transmitting side, wherein the at least one or more unique program is displayed as screen information. A local cable broadcasting transmission / reception system characterized by inserting a compressed form into another screen and broadcasting it as a guide program of a unique program in which character information and the like is added. 2. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the viewing of the unique program is charged, and the unique program cannot be tuned in except after confirming the charge with the guide program. A regional cable broadcasting transmission / reception system characterized by being configured on the receiving side.