JPH0946684A - Scramble method, scrambler and video communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute scrambling without the use of a dedicated scrambler by covering a video image being a background with superimposed display being a foreground so as to conduct scrambling. SOLUTION: When the user selects a channel and a tuner 12 selects the channel, whether or not the selected channel is a pay channel is discriminated and when the channel is a pay channel, a scrambling is executed. Whether or not a charge is paid by the user is discriminated and when the charge is paid, the scrambling is released. Whether or not the time count is finished is discriminated and when the time count is not finished, the user conducts scrambling processing again. On the other hand, when the time count is not finished, whether or not the user revises the channel is discriminated and when revised, the tuner 12 selects a revised channel, a video image is displayed as a background and a superimposed display is displayed as a foreground on a display screen of a monitor television receiver 6 and the video image is covered by superimposition to conduct scrambling.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scramble method and a scramble method for scrambling the screen so that the user cannot watch the program, for example, in a cable television system when paying a channel but not paying the fee. The present invention relates to a device and a video communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, pay channels for in-house broadcasting such as hotels are scrambled to broadcast frequency bands. That is, when the fee is not paid,
The pay channels are scrambled so that they cannot be viewed.

In the case of applying such scrambling, conventionally, a dedicated scrambling device is used, and as shown in FIG. 6, this conventional scrambling device generates noise or the like and scrambles by an interfering screen. It was a composition. There are cases where the scramble device is installed on the center device side and cases where it is installed on the terminal device side.

[0004]

However, when the scrambler is installed on the side of the center device, it is necessary to scramble as many channels as there are terminal devices, which causes a problem that the number of usable channels decreases. It was That is, since the pay channels unique to each room are set, the number of channels that can be used as a system is reduced accordingly.

Further, when the scramble device is installed on the terminal device side, the pay channels can be shared by the respective terminal devices, but the scramble device is required for the number of terminal devices. As a result, since the conventional scrambler is expensive, there has been a problem that the price of the system is greatly increased. Further, since a dedicated scrambler is installed for each terminal, there is a problem that the terminal becomes large.

Further, since a predetermined pay channel is scrambled when each terminal device is installed, the scramble device of each terminal device is used when the pay channel is changed due to a specification change or the like after a long period of time since the installation. There is a problem that the user has to replace the device or go to each terminal device for adjustment.

[0007] Also, no matter which side the scrambler is installed, the method for canceling the charge cannot be displayed on the screen. Therefore, a separate manual must be prepared, and the user must provide it. There was a problem that I had to read it.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to scramble without using a dedicated scramble device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the scrambling method of the invention described in claim 1 is a superimposing method which is a foreground with a video as a background and a superimposed display as the foreground on the display screen. It scrambles by covering the background image with a pause display.

The scrambler according to the second aspect of the present invention controls the video control means for superimposing a graphic image such as a character on the video and the video control means to display the video on the display screen. The background and superimpose display are foreground, and the switching control means for switching between scrambled state by covering the background image with the foreground superimposed display and non-scrambled state is provided. There is.

Further, in the video communication system according to the present invention as defined in claim 3, the center device and the terminal device are coupled via a transmission line, and the center device is a video source requested by the terminal device among a plurality of video sources. Is a video communication system for selecting the image of and transmitting it to the terminal device.
A charge detection means for detecting payment of a charge, a video control means for superimposing a graphic image such as a character on the video, and a video control means for controlling the video from the center device, and the charge detection When the payment of the fee is not detected by the means, the image is scrambled on the display screen with the image as the background and the superimpose display as the foreground and the superimpose display as the foreground covering the background image. And a switching control means for switching to.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a communication karaoke device as an example of a video communication system according to the present invention. In this communication karaoke device, a center device 1 and a plurality of terminal devices 2 are used as transmission lines. Are connected by a coaxial cable 3 as an example. The center device 1 can manage a maximum of 99 terminal devices 2. Further, the center device 1 is a BS
Broadcasting, CS broadcasting, television broadcasting such as UHF and VHF, independent broadcasting using laser disk or video tape as a source, and RF signals such as karaoke images and song data are transmitted via the coaxial cable 3 to the terminal device 2
Can be transmitted by a frequency multiplexing method, and the song data of a new song for karaoke is automatically distributed at night from the sub-host computer 5 via the telephone line 4. Each terminal device 2
Are installed in different rooms, and the monitor television 6 and the mixer / amplifier 7 are connected to each other. Mixer
A plurality of speakers 8 are connected to the amplifier 7, and the mixer / amplifier 7 is coupled to an arbitrary number of microphones 9. The terminal device 2 can be controlled by the remote controller 10 arranged in each room.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 includes a CPU 11, a tuner 12, a modem 13, an on-screen display controller 14, a key controller 15, an operating section 16, and a billing device 1.
7, ROM 18, and RAM 19.

The CPU 11 operates based on a program stored in the ROM 18 in advance. That is, CPU1
1 transmits / receives control data to / from the center device 1 via the modem 13, monitors the operation unit 16 and the billing device 17, writes / reads necessary data to / from the RAM 19, and turns on the tuner 12 and the on-device. It controls the screen display controller 14 and the key controller 15. The tuner 12 selects and demodulates the RF signal of the channel designated by the CPU 11 among the RF signals from the center device 1. The modem 13 demodulates the control data from the center device 1 and outputs it to the CPU 11, and C
The control data from the PU 11 is modulated and output to the center device 1. The on-screen display controller 14 is controlled by the CPU 11 and superimposes a composite image signal from the tuner 12 with a graphic image such as a character and outputs the composite image signal to the monitor television 6.
The key controller 15 is controlled by the CPU 11, performs key control on the audio signal from the tuner 12, and outputs the audio signal to the mixer / amplifier 7. The operation unit 16 includes, for example, a key switch, a receiver of a signal from the remote controller 10, and the like, and outputs a signal according to a user's operation to the CPU 11. The billing device 17 detects that the fee has been paid by the user and sends a signal to that effect to C
Output to PU11. The ROM 18 stores a program for driving the CPU 11 and the like. The RAM 19 stores channel settings and the like.

The CPU 11 and the on-screen display controller 14 constitute video control means for superimposing a graphic image such as characters on a video. The CPU 11 controls the image control means so that when the image from the center device 1 is charged and the payment of the charge is not detected by the charging device 17,
On the screen of the monitor television 6, a switching control means is provided for switching the scrambled state by covering the image as the background with the image as the background and the superimposed display as the foreground and the superimposed image as the foreground. . The billing device 17 constitutes a billing detection unit that detects payment of a fee.

Next, the operation of the communication karaoke apparatus thus configured will be described. The center device 1 transmits the channel setting data as shown in FIG.
When the pay channel and the free channel are instructed, the CPU 11 stores the channel setting data transmitted from the center device 1 in the RAM 19. Also,
The center device 1 makes RF of various video data and audio data.
The signal is transmitted to the terminal device 2. Here, when the user operates the remote controller 10 to select a desired channel, the CPU 11 retrieves the channel setting data stored in the RAM 19, and the channel selected by the user is charged. Determine whether or not.
If it is not a pay channel, the CPU 11 turns the tuner 1
A channel command signal is output to 2 and an instruction not to scramble is output to the on-screen display controller 14. As a result, the tuner 12 selects and demodulates the RF signal of the channel instructed by the CPU 11 among the RF signals from the center device 1, outputs the audio signal to the key controller 15, and outputs the composite video signal on the screen. Output to the display controller 14. Further, the on-screen display controller 14 outputs the composite video signal from the tuner 12 to the monitor television 6 without scrambling, that is, without performing predetermined superimposing synthesis. As a result, the desired image that is not scrambled is displayed on the screen of the monitor television 6.

When the user selects a pay channel, C
The PU 11 outputs a channel command signal to the tuner 12, and the on-screen display controller 14
The superimpose data that covers the entire video screen is output to. Thereby, the tuner 12 selects the RF signal of the channel designated by the CPU 11, demodulates it, outputs the audio signal to the key controller 15, and outputs the composite video signal to the on-screen display controller 14.
Output to Further, the on-screen display controller 14 performs a superimposing process on the composite video signal from the tuner 12 to cover the entire video screen,
Output to the monitor TV 6. This allows the monitor TV 6
A superimpose display covering the entire video screen is displayed on the screen, and the video from the center device 1 cannot be seen. That is, the scramble is applied. Specifically, for example, the display is as shown in FIG. In this superimpose display, characters of a predetermined color are drawn on a blue background, and the superimpose data is stored in the ROM 18 in advance. The text on this superimpose display contains information such as that the currently selected channel is a pay channel and the method of descrambling, and the user can read the following without referring to the instruction manual. You can move on to the operation.

When the user pays the fee, the billing device 17 detects it and outputs a detection signal to that effect to the CPU 11. As a result, the CPU 11 starts the time counting operation, and the on-screen display controller 14
Instruct to not display the superimposed display.
As a result, the scramble is released, and the user can enjoy the desired image on the screen of the monitor television 6.

When the time counting operation by the CPU 11 is completed,
That is, after a lapse of time commensurate with the fee paid by the user, the CPU 11 outputs the superimpose data again to the on-screen display controller 14 unless the user pays an additional fee, and the superimpose data is superimposed. The display is scrambled again.

Regarding the main points of the operation of the CPU 11 described above,
A brief description will be given with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not a channel is selected by the user (S1), and if the channel is selected (S1:
If YES, the tuner 12 is made to select the selected channel (S2). Next, it is determined whether or not the selected channel is charged (S3), and if it is charged (S3: Y
ES) and scramble processing are performed (S4). Next, it is judged whether the fee has been paid by the user (S5), and if the fee has been paid (S5: YES), the scramble is released (S6). Next, it is determined whether or not the time counting operation is completed (S7), and if it is completed (S7: YES), the process returns to S4 and scramble processing is performed again.

If the time counting operation is not completed in S7 (S7: NO), it is judged whether or not the channel is changed by the user (S8), and if it is changed (S8:
(YES), returning to S2, the tuner 12 is caused to tune in to the changed channel. If the channel has not been changed by the user (S8: NO), the process returns to S7 and waits for the timing operation to end.

If the fee has not been paid by the user in S5 (S5: NO), it is judged whether or not the channel has been changed by the user (S9), and if it has been changed (S9: YES), S2. Then, the tuner 12 is made to select the changed channel. If the channel has not been changed by the user (S9: NO), the process returns to S5 and waits for payment of the fee.

If the channel selected in S3 is not charged (S3: NO), the process returns to S1 and continues as it is.

If the channel is not selected by the user in S1 (S1: NO), the process returns to S1 and waits.

Thus, on the display screen of the monitor television 6, the image is the background and the superimposed display is the foreground,
Since scrambling is performed by covering the background image with the superimposed display which is the foreground, it is possible to scramble without using a dedicated scrambling device. Therefore, since it is not necessary to incorporate an expensive dedicated scramble device into each terminal device 2, the system can be constructed at low cost and the terminal device 2 can be constructed.
Can be reduced in size.

Further, the CPU 11 makes an on-screen display.
By controlling the display controller 14 to superimpose a graphic image such as a character on the video, the CPU 11 causes the video to be the background and the superimpose display to be the foreground on the display screen of the monitor TV 6.
Since it is possible to switch between scrambling by covering the background image with the superimpose display which is the foreground and the state where such scrambling is not applied, it is possible to scramble without using a dedicated scrambling device. You can Therefore, since it is not necessary to incorporate an expensive dedicated scramble device into each terminal device 2, the system can be constructed at low cost and the terminal device 2 can be downsized. Moreover, the presence or absence of scrambling can be arbitrarily selected.

On the side of the terminal device 2, the billing device 17 detects payment of the charge, and the CPU 11 controls the on-screen display controller 14 to superimpose a graphic image such as a character on the video. When the image from the center device 1 is charged by the CPU 11 and the payment of the charge is not detected by the charging device 17, the image is the background and the superimposed display is the foreground on the display screen of the monitor television 6. ,
Since the background image is covered by the superimpose display which is the foreground to switch to the scrambled state, the scramble can be performed without using a dedicated scramble device. Therefore, since it is not necessary to incorporate an expensive dedicated scramble device into each terminal device 2, the system can be constructed at low cost and the terminal device 2 can be downsized. Furthermore,
The center device 1 can automatically and independently set pay channels in the terminal device 2 by environmental settings. Further, one charging device 17 can charge for any channel within the number of channels that can be used. Further, it is possible to inform the user on the display screen of the monitor television 6 how to watch the pay channel.

In the above embodiment, the video communication system of the present invention is applied to the communication karaoke apparatus, but the video communication system of the present invention can of course be applied to various video communication systems other than the communication karaoke apparatus.

In the above embodiment, the scramble device of the present invention is applied to the communication karaoke device which is an example of the video communication system. However, the scramble device of the present invention has a superimpose function in addition to the video communication system. Of course, it can be applied to various image devices that it has.

[0031]

As described above, according to the scrambling method of the invention described in claim 1, scrambling can be performed without using a dedicated scrambling device. Therefore, since it is not necessary to incorporate an expensive dedicated scramble device in the terminal device, the system can be constructed at low cost and the terminal device can be downsized.

According to the scrambler of the invention described in claim 2, scramble can be performed without using a dedicated scrambler. Therefore, since it is not necessary to use an expensive dedicated scrambler, scramble can be realized at low cost. Moreover,
Whether to scramble or not can be arbitrarily selected.

Further, according to the video communication system of the invention described in claim 3, scrambling can be performed without using a dedicated scrambling device. Therefore, since it is not necessary to incorporate an expensive dedicated scramble device in the terminal device, the system can be constructed at low cost and the terminal device can be downsized. Furthermore, the center device can automatically and independently set pay channels in the terminal device by environmental settings. Further, it is possible to charge for any channel within the number of channels that can be used by one charging means. Further, it is possible to inform the user on the display screen how to watch the pay channel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a communication karaoke device as an example of a video communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a terminal device included in a communication karaoke device as an example of a video communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of channel setting data set in a terminal device provided in a communication karaoke device as an example of the video communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a scramble screen of a monitor television provided in a communication karaoke apparatus as an example of a video communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a CPU of a terminal device included in a communication karaoke device as an example of a video communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a scramble screen by a conventional scramble device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 center device 2 terminal device 3 coaxial cable 6 monitor TV 11 CPU 12 tuner 14 on-screen display controller 17 billing device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A scramble method comprising scrambling a video image as a background, a superimpose display as a foreground, and a superimpose display as a foreground to cover a video as a background on a display screen. 2. A video control unit for superimposing a graphic image such as a character on a video image, and controlling the video control unit to set the video image as the background and the superimpose display as the foreground on the display screen, and the foreground. 2. A scramble device comprising: a switching control means for switching between a state in which scrambling is performed by covering an image which is a background with a superimpose display, and a state in which such scrambling is not performed. 3. A center device and a terminal device are coupled via a transmission line, and the center device selects a video of a video source requested by the terminal device from a plurality of video sources and transmits the video to the terminal device. In the video communication system, the terminal device is provided with a billing detection unit that detects payment of a charge, a video control unit that superimposes a graphic image such as text on a video image, and the video control unit. When the image from the center device is charged and the payment of the charge is not detected by the billing detection means, the image is the background and the superimpose display is the foreground on the display screen, which is the foreground. And a switching control means for switching to a scrambled state by covering the background image with an impose display. Image communication system.