JPH10150652A - Coin timer device for catv system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable only an administrator to easily perform switching and setting operation for a viewing mode by providing a control unit which can be switched and set to the viewing inhibition mode and viewing permission mode of a charged program with a stop switch and a select switch. SOLUTION: When the stop switch 11 is operated, the control unit 21 turns on a lamp of a display part 22, and extracts a video signal of a general program from a CATV network NW through a converter 23 and sends it to a television image receiver TV, so that the general program can be viewed. When the select switch 12 is operated, one wave of the charged program is sent to the television image receiver TV through the converter 23 so that the charged program is viewed. When the select switch 12 is further operated, the control unit 21 turns on the lamp and another wave of the charged program is sent to the television image receiver TV through the converter 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CATV system capable of easily changing the setting of each mode of viewing prohibition and viewing permission of a pay program of a CATV system installed in a hotel, inn or the like from the outside. And a coin timer device for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hotels, inns and the like are actively introducing a CATV system that provides a pay program in addition to a general program, and a coin timer device is widely used as a billing system.

[0003] In general, there are a selection switch operated when viewing a paid program, a stop switch operated when viewing a free general program, and a viewing / listening of a paid program in accordance with the amount of coins inserted. A control unit for setting the available time, the control unit only permits the viewing of the paid program by the selection switch and sets the available viewing time only when the available viewing time of the paid program is set. When not
The stop switch allows viewing of the general program. Therefore, the viewer can pay-view the pay program according to the amount of coins inserted.

[0004] The coin timer device is provided with a pay-program viewing prohibited mode by switching an internal mode setting switch to prevent a minor viewer from inadvertently watching an image such as an adult movie. One of the viewing permission modes can be set. The mode setting switch must be operated by opening the case of the coin timer device, and cannot be operated by anyone other than the administrator who has the key of the case.

[0005]

According to the prior art, since the mode setting switch must be operated by opening the case using a key, the setting change operation of the viewing prohibited mode and the viewing permitted mode of the pay program is performed. Is very complicated. In order to achieve the purpose, it is necessary that only a specific manager can execute the switching between the viewing-prohibited mode and the viewing-permitted mode of the pay program, and it is necessary that an unspecified person cannot easily execute the mode. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to operate a stop switch and a selection switch in accordance with a prescribed procedure, so that only an administrator who knows the prescribed procedure is prohibited from viewing a paid program from outside. CATV that can easily switch and set the mode and viewing permission mode
An object of the present invention is to provide a coin timer device for a system.

[0007]

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stop switch, a selection switch, and a stop switch allow viewing of a general program, and a selection switch allows viewing of a pay program. And a control unit, wherein the control unit operates a stop switch and a selection switch in accordance with a prescribed procedure to switch and set a viewing prohibited mode of the pay program and a viewing permission mode of the paid program. I do.

The control unit can automatically switch to the viewing permission mode of the pay program when the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program exceeds the specified time.

[0009] Further, the control unit can clear the viewable time remaining in the charging timer after the lapse of the specified time when the pay program is interrupted by the stop switch.

[0010] Further, the control unit can allow free viewing of the pay program for a predetermined preview time set in the preview timer by the selection switch.

Note that the control unit may set the preview time to the preview timer at specified time intervals. At this time, the control unit sets the preview time to the preview timer at specified time intervals from the end of pay viewing of the pay program. You may.

[0012]

According to the structure of the present invention, the control unit operates the stop switch and the selection switch in accordance with a prescribed procedure, thereby setting the pay program in the viewing prohibition mode,
The mode can be switched to the viewing permission mode of the pay program. That is, the switching between the viewing prohibited mode and the viewing permitted mode of the pay program can be easily executed only by the administrator who knows the prescribed procedure via the stop switch and the selection switch on the case surface. Note that, in the viewing prohibited mode of the pay program, even if the viewer operates the selection switch, the pay program cannot be viewed at all.

[0013] If the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program is automatically switched to the viewing permission mode due to the lapse of the prescribed time, the administrator may be required to set a different mode between the previous day and the next day for different guests. Even if there is, the setting operation of changing the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program to the viewing permission mode can be omitted. However, when switching from the viewing prohibition mode to the viewing permission mode of the paid program, it is possible to specify whether or not to automatically switch when setting the former in consideration of the case where there are guests staying continuously. preferable.

When clearing the viewable time remaining in the charging timer after the lapse of the specified time, the control unit uses the viewable time of the paid program left in the charging timer by the guest on the previous day to allow the guest on the next day to clear. It is possible to reliably prevent a paid program from being viewed for free. The specified time at this time can be set to, for example, 12 hours from the start or interruption of the pay viewing of the pay program.

[0015] The control unit, which allows free viewing of the pay program for the preview time set in the preview timer, allows the viewer to view the pay program for free for a short preview time, thereby determining whether the pay program is to be viewed for a fee. Can make a decision.
Note that the preview time may be about 1 to 2 minutes as a whole, even when providing a pay program of a plurality of channels of about 2 to 3 channels.

If the preview time is set in the preview timer for each specified time, the preview timer can limit the free viewing time of the paid program within the specified time to a predetermined preview time. However, the specified time at this time is set to, for example, about 3 hours.

If the preview time is set at specified time intervals from the end of the pay viewing of the pay program, the preview timer sets the preview time of the pay program for a predetermined new preview time simultaneously with the end of the pay viewing of the pay program. Free viewing can be tolerated.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The coin timer device for the CATV system mainly includes a stop switch 11, a selection switch 12, and a control unit 21 (FIG. 1).

The stop switch 11 and the selection switch 12
Each is connected to the control unit 21, and the output of the check unit 13 is connected to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 includes a memory 21a, a charging timer 21
b, a preview timer 21c, a timer (1) 21d, a timer (2) 21e, and a timer (3) 21f are connected bidirectionally. The output of the control unit 21 is individually connected to the display unit 22 and the converter 23. The converter 23 includes a C that carries a multi-channel video signal including a pay program and a general program.
One end of the ATV network NW is branched and connected,
The output of the converter 23 is connected to a television receiver TV which is a terminal of the CATV network NW.

The stop switch 11, the selection switch 12, and the display unit 22 are mounted on the front of a case B that houses the checkout unit 13, the control unit 21, and the converter 23 (FIG. 2). The display unit 22 is provided with a lamp P1 that is turned on by operating the stop switch 11 and lamps P2, P3, and P4 that are turned on sequentially by operating the selection switch 12. The case B has a coin insertion slot B1 connected to the check section 13.

Then, when the stop switch 11 is operated,
The control unit 21 turns on the lamp P1 of the display unit 22, extracts a video signal of a general program from the CATV network NW via the converter 23, transmits the video signal to the television receiver TV, and transmits the video signal via the television receiver TV. General programs can be viewed. The general program includes a plurality of channels, and the viewer can select any channel of the general program by using the channel switching function of the television receiver TV.

When the selection switch 12 is operated, the control unit 21 turns on the lamp P2 of the display unit 22, transmits one wave of the pay program to the television receiver TV via the converter 23, and Can be viewed. When the selection switch 12 is further operated while viewing the pay program, the control unit 21 turns on the lamp P3 and transmits another one wave of the pay program to the television receiver TV via the converter 23. When the selection switch 12 is operated, the lamp P4 is turned on and another wave is transmitted to the television receiver TV. That is, the control unit 21 allows viewing of the pay program by the selection switch 12,
Further, an arbitrary channel of a pay program including a plurality of channels can be selected via the selection switch 12.

In FIG. 1, the check section 13 identifies a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot B1 for pay viewing of the pay program, and the charging timer 21b measures the pay viewing time of the pay program. Note that the charging timer 2
1b is set to a predetermined viewable time via the control unit 21 according to the inserted amount of the inserted coin. The timer (1) 21d measures the elapsed time when the control unit 21 is set to the viewing prohibited mode of the pay program, and the timer (2) 21e measures the elapsed time from the start or interruption of the pay viewing of the pay program. Is measured. Further, the timer (3) measures an elapsed time since the power-on and an elapsed time since the end of the pay viewing of the pay program.

In the present invention, the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program means that even if the selection switch 12 is operated, the operation of the selection switch 12 is invalidated and the converter 2
3 is fixed to the viewing side of the general program. The viewing permission mode of the pay program means that the operation of the selection switch 12 is enabled and the lamp P
2, one of P3 and P4 is turned on, and any one channel of the pay program can be selected and viewed via the converter 23.

The control unit 21 includes a stop switch 11,
By simultaneously operating the selection switch 12 in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the entire program can be switched to the viewing prohibited mode and the viewing enabled mode of the pay program. The control unit 21 includes a timer (1) 21d, a timer (2) 2
1e, by monitoring the time-up of the timer (3) 21f, the watching-prohibited mode of the pay program is automatically switched to the viewing-permitted mode when the specified time has elapsed,
It is possible to forcibly clear the viewable time remaining in the charging timer 21b as the specified time elapses, and set a predetermined preview time in the preview timer 21c for each specified time.

The operation of the coin timer device for the CATV system is shown in each program flowchart of FIGS.

When the power is turned on, the control unit 21 executes a preview time setting processing program shown in FIG. However, the program in FIG. 3 is also started by the time-up of the timer (3) 21f in addition to turning on the power, and further, the pay program viewing stop processing program in FIG.
It is also assumed that it is started by the charging timer forced clearing processing program of FIG.

The preview time setting processing program shown in FIG. 3 first confirms that the program has been started by turning on the power (program step (1) in FIG. 3, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)).
), And system initialization is performed (2). The system initialization is performed by a charging timer 21b, a preview timer 21c, and a timer (1) 21.
d, the timer (2) 21e and the timer (3) 21f are all cleared and stopped, and the converter 23 is reset to the general program viewing side. Thereafter, when the program is started by a time other than the time-up of the timer (3) 21f (3), the selection information on the selected channel of the previously selected pay program is deleted (4), and the next pay program is deleted. Viewing can be started from a predetermined first channel.

Further, the program includes a timer (3) 21
For f, a specified time of, for example, 3 hours is set (5), which is started (6), a predetermined preview time is set in the preview timer 21c, and the process ends (7). Also, the program is restarted when the timer (3) 21f times out, etc., and the same operation is repeated ((1), (3) to (7)) to set the timer (3) 21f. A predetermined preview time can be set in the preview timer 21c for each specified time.

The control unit 21 includes a stop switch 11,
By simultaneously operating the selection switch 12, the mode switching processing program of FIG. 4 is executed.

The program first includes a stop switch 11,
The operation procedure of the selection switch 12 is compared with the regulation procedure for switching the viewing mode of the pay program stored in the memory 21a.
1. It can be determined that the operation procedure of the selection switch 12 has been operated in accordance with the prescribed procedure (program step (1) in FIG. 4, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)). However, the prescribed procedure here refers to, for example, operating both the stop switch 11 and the selection switch 12 simultaneously a prescribed number of times. After that, when the program confirms that it is in the viewing permission mode of the paid program (2),
The entire program is switched to the viewing prohibited mode of the pay program (3), and a specified time of, for example, 12 hours is set in the timer (1) 21d (4) and started (5).

Subsequently, when there is a setting confirmation operation by, for example, operating only the stop switch 11 once (6), the program executes the lamps P2, P3,.
P4 is blinked to indicate that the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program is correctly set, and the process ends (7). If there is no setting confirmation operation (6), the process ends.

On the other hand, the program includes a stop switch 11,
When the selection switch 12 is simultaneously operated according to the prescribed procedure (1), if it is confirmed that the program is in the viewing prohibited mode of the pay program (2), the timer (1) 21d is stopped (8) and the entire program is paid. (9). When there is a setting confirmation operation by operating only the selection switch 12 once, for example (6), the program displays the lamps P2 and P3 on the display unit 22.
, P4 are blinked to indicate that the viewing permission mode of the pay program is correctly set (7), and the processing is terminated. That is, by simultaneously operating the stop switch 11 and the selection switch 12 in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the program can be manually switched alternately between the viewing prohibited mode and the viewing permitted mode of the pay program.

The mode switching processing program shown in FIG. 4 is also started by the time-up of the timer (1) 21d which is started in the program step (4). Forcibly returns to the viewing permission mode ((1), (10), (9)). That is, the entire program at this time can be automatically switched to the viewing permission mode of the pay program when the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program exceeds the specified time set in the timer (1) 21d.

The control unit 21 executes the pay program viewing processing program of FIG. 5 by operating the selection switch 12 while viewing the general program.

When the entire program is not set to the viewing permission mode of the pay program (program step (1) in FIG. 5, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), the operation of the selection switch 12 is invalidated. And the process ends. On the other hand, when the program is in the viewing permission mode of the pay program (1), the pay program is not being viewed for free, that is, not being previewed (2), the pay program is not being viewed for pay (3), and charging is not performed. That the timer 21b has no remaining viewing permitted time for the paid program (4), the preview timer 21
After checking each condition of (5) that the preview time remains in c, the preview timer 21c is started, and the converter 23 is set to the viewing side of the pay program (8). The setting of the converter 23 means that one of the lamps P2, P3 and P4 of the display unit 22 is turned on, and one wave of the pay program is transmitted to the television receiver TV via the converter 23.

That is, the viewer can use the television receiver T only during the predetermined preview time set in the preview timer 21c by the program step (7) in FIG.
Via V, one channel of the pay program extracted by the converter 23 can be viewed for free. The program in FIG. 5 is restarted by re-operating the selection switch 12 during the free viewing of the paid program. At this time, the lamps P2, P3, P4
Can be sequentially switched, and the channel of the pay program being viewed can be sequentially switched via the converter 23 (program step (1) in FIG. 5,
(2), (6)).

On the other hand, the control unit 21 executes the coin insertion processing program of FIG. 6 by inserting a coin into the check section 13 through the coin insertion slot B1.

If the program is not set to the viewing permitted mode of the pay program (program step (1) in FIG. 6, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), the inserted coin is invalidated and the program is terminated. I do. Also, when the program is set to the pay program viewing permission mode (1), the pay program is not currently being paid for viewing (2), and the chargeable timer 21b has no remaining viewable time of the paid program. (3) It is confirmed that the inserted coin has not reached the start amount (4), and the inserted amount is stored in the memory 21a (5).

Repeat coin insertion ((1)-
(5)) When the input amount reaches a start amount necessary for starting viewing of the pay program (4), the program sets a specified time in the timer (2) 21e, starts the specified time, and performs a preview. The timer 21c is stopped (6), and the viewable time with or without the service time is set in the charging timer 21b depending on whether or not the inserted coin includes a 500 yen coin (7). (8), (9)). That is, the viewable time of the pay program set in the charging timer 21b is determined by the inserted amount, but when the inserted coin includes a 500 yen coin, a certain service time is added to the viewable time. . For example, if the payable viewing time of a paid program is 10 minutes per 100 yen, inserting 5 coins of 100 yen will set a viewing time of 50 minutes. The time of 10 minutes is added to set a viewable time of 60 minutes.

Subsequently, the program confirms that the charging timer 21b is not currently operating (10), starts the charging timer 21b, sets the converter 23 on the pay program viewing side (11), and ends. . That is, the program starts pay viewing of the pay program via the television receiver TV,
The pay viewing time of the pay program can be measured via the charging timer 21b.
You can watch paid programs until the time runs out.

On the other hand, when the selection switch 12 is operated again while the pay program is being watched, the pay program viewing processing program shown in FIG. 5 is restarted. In other words, the program at this time can sequentially switch the channels of the pay program via the selection switch 12 while the pay program is being watched for pay (the program steps (1) to (3) in FIG. 5).
(6)).

When the pay viewing of the pay program is started by the coin insertion processing program shown in FIG. 6, the display unit 22 displays the display immediately before the charging timer 21b times out.
For example, one minute before, any one of the lamps P2, P3, and P4 corresponding to the channel of the pay program being paid and viewed is blinking. Therefore, the viewer can insert additional coins through the coin insertion slot B1, and at this time, the coin insertion processing program of FIG. 6 is started.
However, the program at this time is that the paying program is currently being paid and viewed and the charging timer 21b is operating, so that the viewable time corresponding to the inserted amount of the inserted coin is additionally set in the charging timer 21b. By simply doing so, the paid viewing can be extended (program steps (1), (2), (7) to (10) in FIG. 6).

When the preview timer 21c times out during the free viewing of the pay program, the control unit 21 executes the charging timer 21b during the pay viewing of the pay program.
When the time is up, or by operating the stop switch 11, the pay program viewing stop processing program of FIG. 7 is executed.

When the time of the preview timer 21c has expired (the program step (1) in FIG. 8, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), the converter 23 is reset to the general program viewing side, and the program ends. However, (2), when the billing timer 21b times out ((1), (3)), the converter 23 is reset (4), and the preview time setting processing program of FIG. 3 is started and ended ( 5). In other words, the program can reset the converter 23 by terminating the preview timer 21c and the charging timer 21b to end the free viewing of the paid program, end the paid viewing, and forcibly switch to the viewing state of the general program.
In particular, in the latter case, the timer (3) 21f can be reset and a new predetermined preview time can be set for the preview timer 21c (program steps (5) to (7) in FIG. 3). .

The pay program viewing stop processing program shown in FIG. 7 is executed when the stop switch 11 is operated.
If you are watching a paid program ((1),
(3), (6)), the charging timer 21b is stopped (7), and the paid viewing of the paid program is interrupted (2),
If the paid program is being viewed free of charge (8), the preview timer 21c is stopped (9), and the free viewing of the paid program is suspended (2). The paid viewing of the paid program suspended in this manner is performed by selecting the selection switch 1.
2 can be resumed by re-operation (program steps (1) to (4), (7) in FIG. 5), and the same applies to free viewing (the same (1) to (5), (8)). Also, in this way, when the paid viewing and the free viewing of the paid program are interrupted and resumed, the selected channel of the paid program at the time of the interruption is stored as selection information, and is reproduced when the program is resumed. And

The operation of the stop switch 11 while viewing the general program is invalid (program steps (1), (3), (6), (8) in FIG. 7).

When the timer (2) 21e started in the program step (6) of FIG. 6 times out, the control unit 21 executes the charging timer forced clearing processing program of FIG.

When the pay program is not being watched for pay (program step (1) in FIG. 8, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), that is, when a general program is being watched, the charging timer 21b is used. After forcibly clearing the viewable time of the pay program remaining in (2), the preview time setting processing program shown in FIG. 3 is started (3), and the process ends. When the pay program is being paid-viewed (1), the program waits until the charging timer 21b times out and the pay-view of the pay program ends ((4), (3)). In other words, the program does not forcibly interrupt the paid program while the pay program is being watched, but the charging timer 21 keeps stopping the paid program viewing.
If the viewable time of the pay program is left in b, it can be forcibly cleared when the specified time set in the timer (2) 21e elapses.

In the above description, the setting and starting operations of the timer (1) 21d in the program steps (4) and (5) in FIG. 4 are performed by the stop switch 11 and the selection switch 1 to be checked in the program step (1).
The necessity of execution may be selectable according to the content of the operation 2. When the timer (1) 21d is not set and started, the mode switching processing program of FIG. 4 does not restart due to the time-up of the timer (1) 21d. Therefore, the stop switch 11, the selection switch 1
2 is not automatically switched to the view permitting mode unless the user re-operates in accordance with the prescribed procedure. It can be set continuously throughout.

The setting and start operation of the timer (2) 21e in the program step (6) in FIG. 6 may be moved after the program step (7) in FIG. At this time, the timer (2) 21e operates the stop switch 1
When the specified time elapses after the paid viewing of the pay program is interrupted via 1, the time is up, and the viewable time of the pay program remaining in the charging timer 21 b can be forcibly cleared (FIG. 8).

The control unit 21 can also charge a general program by setting a setting switch (not shown). At this time, the control unit 21
Means that the power is not turned on unless a predetermined amount of coins are inserted, and the charging timer 21b sets different viewable times corresponding to a fixed insertion amount for each of the general program mode and the pay program mode. , Two types, one for a general program mode and one for a pay program mode.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a control unit which can be set to switch between a viewing prohibited mode and a viewing permitted mode of a pay program by operating a stop switch and a selection switch in accordance with a prescribed procedure. Accordingly, the control unit can switch to the predetermined viewing mode only by operating the stop switch and the selection switch outside the case, so that only the administrator who knows the prescribed procedure easily performs the switching operation of the viewing mode. There is an excellent effect that you can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the overall configuration

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view

FIG. 3 is a program flowchart (1).

FIG. 4 is a program flowchart (2).

FIG. 5 is a program flowchart (3).

FIG. 6 is a program flowchart (4).

FIG. 7 is a program flowchart (5).

FIG. 8 is a program flowchart (6).

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Stop switch 12 Selection switch 21 Control unit 21b Billing timer 21c Preview timer

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A stop switch, a selection switch, and a control unit that allows viewing of a general program by the stop switch and allows viewing of a pay program by the selection switch, the control unit comprising: Operating the stop switch and the selection switch in accordance with (1) and (2) to switch and set the mode to the viewing prohibited mode of the pay program and the viewing permission mode of the pay program. 2. The coin timer for a CATV system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically switches to a viewing permission mode of the pay program when the viewing prohibition mode of the pay program exceeds a specified time. apparatus. 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the pay switch is interrupted by the stop switch, the control unit clears a viewable time remaining in a charging timer after a specified time has elapsed. 2. A coin timer device for a CATV system according to item 2. 4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the selection switch allows free viewing of the pay program for a predetermined preview time set in a preview timer by the selection switch. C
Coin timer device for ATV system. 5. The coin timer device for a CATV system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit sets a predetermined preview time to the preview timer at every specified time. 6. The CATV system coin according to claim 5, wherein the control unit sets a predetermined preview time to the preview timer at specified time intervals from the time when the pay viewing of the pay program ends. Timer device.