JPS63128886A - Chargeable program accounting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the double accounting to a chargeable program viewer, to attain the changing of the accounting multiplying factor in day unit, and to diversify a program arrangement by transmitting simultaneously a chargeable program broadcasting starting instruction to a terminal device at the time of the starting of the broadcasting of the chargeable program. CONSTITUTION:In a bidirectional CATV system having a CPU 1 and plural terminal devices 2i, the CPU 1, when the broadcasting of the chargeable program is started, transmits the chargeable program broadcasting starting instruction composed of the program number of the chargeable program, the broadcasting data of the day and the broadcasting CH number to all devices 2. The CPU 1, after the starting instruction is simultaneously transmitted by a transmitting control part 13, transmits individually an accounting information collecting instruction to respective terminals 2i. A receiving control part 21 of respective devices 2i transmits the program number of the chargeable program and the broadcasting date viewed to the accounting information collecting instruction as accounting information toward the CPU 1 and the CPU 1 executes the accounting of the chargeable program based on the received accounting information. Thus, the double accounting to the chargeable program viewer can be prevented, the accounting multiplying factor can be changed in day unit and the program arrangement can be diversified.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention provides two-way C! Regarding ATV systems.

In particular, it concerns the billing method for paid programs.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the charging method for pay programs in this type of interactive zero ATV system is such that the central processing unit inputs the program number and broadcast channel (CH) of the pay program when the pay program starts broadcasting.
After the number is sent to all terminal devices simultaneously as an instruction to start broadcasting paid programs, an instruction to collect one billing information is sent to each terminal device, and each terminal device responds to the instruction to collect paid programs by After transmitting the program number as billing information to the central processing unit, the billing information is cleared in response to an affirmative response from the central processing unit.

Thereafter, the central processing unit calculates the charge for the pay program based on the received charge information.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The conventional two-way C! mentioned above! The pay program billing method for ATV systems uses only the program number as billing information, so if billing information cannot be cleared until the next day due to an abnormality in one communication line, the problem is that you will be charged twice. However, since billing information cannot be sent to the central processing unit when the terminal device is powered off, there is a drawback that the billing multiplier for the program number cannot be changed on a daily basis.

[Means for solving problems]

The pay program billing system of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices that are connected to a television on which one program is viewed and that transmit and receive data, and a plurality of terminal devices that are connected to the plurality of terminal devices.

In the two-way CATV system, the central processing unit is configured to include a central processing unit that controls each terminal device and calculates charges for pay programs.

When the broadcast of a pay program starts, a pay program broadcast start instruction consisting of the program number of the pay program, the current day of broadcast date, and the broadcast channel number is sent to all terminal devices at the same time, and the pay program broadcast start instruction is sent to all terminal devices at the same time. After a certain period of time after transmission, the program program and broadcast date of the pay program for which one charge information has been received are sent to the central processing unit as billing information, and the central processing unit charges the pay program based on the received billing information. It is characterized by performing calculations.

〔Example〕

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

Referring to FIG. 6, 1. Two-way 0ATV to which the present invention is applied
The system includes a central processing unit 1 and a plurality of terminal devices 21. ..., 2n. Each terminal device 2i
(1≦1≦n) is connected to a television (not shown) for viewing one program.

It transmits and receives data to and from the central processing unit 1. The central processing unit 1 controls each terminal device 21, and also controls each terminal device 2.
1, collects billing information and performs billing and billing calculations for pay programs.

Referring to FIG. 1, the central processing unit 1 performs a paid
), the program name of the program starting broadcasting,
A pay program broadcast start instruction consisting of the current day's broadcast date and broadcast (H number) is created and transmitted to all terminal devices 2□ via the transmission control unit 13. Note that C1 represents the broadcast start instruction. It is a control signal.

The reception control unit 21 of each terminal device 2i identifies that the received data is a broadcast start instruction, and stores the program number in the first program number register 221 and the broadcast date in the first month and day register 251. C) 1 number is the first broadcast an
Store in register 241. Next, in each terminal device 21, when pay program broadcast C)I is selected, the C1 channel selection section 25.

The selected channel and the broadcast channel stored in the first broadcast channel register 241 are compared, and when they match, the viewing status is stored in the first viewing status register 261.

The pay program operation control section 11 of the central processing unit 1 is.

After a certain period of time has elapsed since the pay program broadcast start instruction was sent, as shown in FIG. Each terminal device 2 via the transmission control unit 13
Send to □. In addition.

C2 is a control signal representing a collection instruction.

Each terminal device 2. The reception control unit 21 recognizes that the received data is an instruction to collect billing information, and notifies the transmission control unit 27 of this fact. The transmission control unit 27 refers to the first and second viewing registers 261 and 262, and if the first viewing register 261 is in the viewing yes state, the
), the first program number register 2
The program number of 21 yen and the broadcast date in the first date register 231 are sent to the central processing unit 1 together with the terminal address as billing information. Note that 03 is a control signal indicating billing information.

When the reception control unit 15 of the central processing unit 1 receives the 9 billing information, it notifies the transmission control unit 13 to that effect. The transmission control unit 16 transmits an acknowledgment to each terminal device 21 .

The reception control unit 21 of each terminal device 21 recognizes the positive response and clears the first viewing/listening/non-viewing register 261.

The reception control unit 15 of the central processing unit 1 passes the received billing information to the pay program billing calculation processing unit 16. The pay program billing calculation processing unit 16 stores the program number and broadcast date of 9 billing information in the billing information group 17 together with the terminal address.

Also, the pay program billing calculation processing unit 16 calculates the program number stored in the 9 storage money information group 17 at the time of billing calculation.

Based on the broadcast date, refer to the pay program fee information group 18.9
Calculate the charge amount.

The pay program operation control section 11 of the central processing unit 1 is.

Based on the pay program operation control unit 12, as shown in FIG. 2(d), the program number and the broadcast CHTi number of the program to be broadcasted are sent to each terminal device 2□ as a pay program broadcast end instruction. do. In addition.

C4 is a control signal representing a broadcast end instruction.

Reception lIJ of each terminal device 21? The flI section 21 recognizes that the received data is a broadcast end instruction, and registers the first program number register 221. The first month/day register 231 and the first broadcast CH register 241 are cleared.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a two-way CATV system having a central processing unit and a plurality of terminal devices, the central processing unit, at the start of broadcasting of a pay program, calculates the program number of the pay program, After a pay program broadcast start instruction consisting of the month, date and broadcast CH number is sent to all terminal devices at the same time, a zero billing information collection instruction is sent to each terminal device individually.

In response to the billing information collection instruction, the program number and broadcast date of the watched pay program are sent to the central processing unit as billing information, and then the central processing unit.

By calculating charges for paid programs based on the received billing information, it is possible to prevent double billing for paid program viewers, and it is possible to change the billing multiplier for program numbers on a daily basis. This has the effect of making it possible to diversify program organization.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a central processing unit and a terminal device to which the pay program charging system of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a format of information transmitted and received between the central processing unit and terminal device shown in FIG. 1. , (a) is an instruction to start broadcasting a pay program, (b) is an instruction to collect billing information, (C) is billing information, and (d)
) represents an instruction to end pay program broadcasting, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a two-way 0 ATV system to which the present invention is applied. 1...Central processing unit, 21-2n, 2i...Terminal device. Response information group, 15... Reception control unit, 16... Paid program billing calculation processing unit, 17... Billing information group, 18...
Pay program fee information group, 21...reception control unit, 22+
. 222...Program number register, 231.23
2... Month and date register a 241.242... Broadcast C
H register. 25...CH selection section -26++262...Viewing/listening/non-viewing register, 27...Transmission control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of terminal devices connected to the television used to view programs and transmitting and receiving data, and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the plurality of terminal devices,
In a two-way CATV system configured with a central processing unit that controls each terminal device and calculates charges for pay programs, the central processing unit is configured to:
A pay program broadcast start instruction consisting of the program number of the pay program, the current broadcast date, and a broadcast channel number is sent to all terminal devices at the same time, and a certain period of time after the pay program broadcast start instruction is sent. After that, an instruction to collect billing information is individually transmitted to each terminal device, and each terminal device transmits the program program and broadcast date of the watched pay program as billing information to the central processing unit in response to the instruction to collect billing information. A pay program billing system, wherein the central processing unit calculates charges for the pay program based on the received billing information.