JPS63260287A - Catv system viewing inhibition system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow each subscriber to apply set/release of a viewing inhibition channel uniquely at any time by inputting a set/release data of the viewing inhibition channel from a terminal equipment of each subscriber's home while using a pass word as a key. CONSTITUTION:In case of desiring a viewing inhibition channel, an optional pass word, a viewing inhibition setting section and a viewing inhibition channel number are inputted from an input device 12 of a terminal equipment of each subscriber's home. A controller 11 registers the data into the internal nonvolatile RAM and controls a tuner 9 to inhibit the viewing of the relevant channel number. Since a television receiver 7 receives neither a video signal nor an audio signal, the video and audio signal of the relevant channel cannot be received till the viewing inhibition is released. In case of desiring to release the viewing inhibition, the pass word, the viewing inhibition release section and the viewing inhibition channel number used at the setting are inputted from the input device 12.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a method for prohibiting the viewing of specific channels for each receiver in a CATV system, and in particular a system for prohibiting viewing of adult programs by minors. CATV effective for
Regarding system viewing prohibition method.

(Prior Art) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CAT■ system to which a conventional viewing prohibition method is applied. This type of CATV system
As shown in the figure, it is composed of a combination of a center side part and a terminal side part. On the center side, the TV transmitter 1 sends out an AV signal 101 consisting of a video signal and an audio signal. In addition, computer 2 can set and prohibit viewing for each terminal.
The data transmitter 3 sends out a downlink data signal 102 containing cancellation, and the data transmitter 3 adapts this downlink data signal 102 to the interface of the coupler 4 and sends it out as a downlink data signal 103. The combiner 4 superimposes the AV signal 101 and the downlink data signal 103 by frequency division multiplexing, and
Send to line 5.

At the subscriber's terminal, the signal that has passed through the cATV Il path 5 is split into an AV signal 108a (video signal and audio signal) and a downlink data signal 108b by a splitter 8.

The AV signal 108a tuned by the tuner 9 is sent to a television receiver 1117. The tuning frequency of the tuner 9 is controlled by a controller 11. On the other hand, the downlink data signal 108
b reaches the controller 11 via the data receiver 10. The controller 11 controls the tuner 9 according to the data content, and sets or cancels the viewing prohibition of the corresponding channel.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The conventional viewing prohibition system described above is center-driven, so viewing of adult programs for minors on school excursions is prohibited in the in-house CATV system in the hotel and inn industry. Although it is suitable for conducting CAT with ordinary households as subscribers,
In the V system, viewing prohibition cannot be set or canceled at any time in each household.In this way, the conventional CATV system viewing prohibition method has the inconvenience that subscribers cannot individually set or cancel viewing prohibition. There was a time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides means for selectively supplying a video signal to a television receiver on the subscriber terminal side, A CATV system viewing prohibition method for prohibiting video signals and audio signals from being supplied to the television receiver, and means for inputting a password, a classification for setting or canceling viewing prohibition, and a viewing prohibited channel number. and a means for storing the password, setting cancellation category, and viewing prohibited channel number input from the input means, and a means for storing the password, setting cancellation category, and viewing prohibited channel number inputted from the input means, channel selection means for selecting a video signal and an audio signal and supplying the selected video signal and audio signal to the television receiver; The setting cancellation classification inputted from the input means is stored as valid information, and the channel selection means selects the viewing prohibited channel stored in the storage means according to the setting cancellation classification stored in the storage means. The present invention is characterized in that the video signal and the audio signal are prohibited or permitted to be guided to the television receiver.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a CATV system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.1 When a subscriber using this embodiment wants to set a channel for which viewing is prohibited, input from the terminal 6 at each subscriber's home is required. From the device 12, enter an arbitrary password, viewing prohibited setting category, and viewing prohibited channel number, for example, r9658-1-3.
0. Enter it like this. The controller 11 registers this data in the internal nonvolatile RAM, controls the tuner 9, and prohibits viewing of channel number=30. Then, since TV reception 1!17 cannot receive either a video signal or an audio signal from the tuner 9, both the video and audio of the corresponding channel become unwatchable until the viewing prohibition is lifted.

Next, when the subscriber wants to cancel the viewing prohibition, input the password at the time of setting, the viewing prohibition cancellation category, and the prohibited viewing channel number from the input device W12, for example, r9658-O-30J.
Enter it like this. The controller 11 compares the previously registered password with the currently input password, and if they match, controls the tuner 9 to set the channel number:=3.
0 can be viewed and the data registered in the internal non-volatile RAM is erased. After this, the corresponding channel can be viewed on the television receiver 7 until viewing is prohibited again.

If a person other than the subscriber (for example, a minor) enters some number from the input device during the period when the subscriber has set up a viewing prohibited channel, the subscriber enters a number from the input device and enters the viewing prohibited channel. If an attempt is made to cancel the prohibition, since the PIN number is secret, there is a high probability that the already registered PIN number and the input number will not match, and if the two numbers do not match, the controller 11 will accept the input data as an error. do not have.

In the unlikely event that a subscriber forgets the registered PIN number, the center computer 2 operates to transmit viewing prohibition release data for the corresponding terminal to the data transmitter 3. Combiner 4. CA
TV & l path 59 duplexer 8. It can be sent to the controller-IJll via the data receiver 10. When the controller 11 receives the viewing prohibition cancellation data from the center side, the controller 11 cancels the viewing prohibition on the normal view W1 in the same manner as when the prohibition cancellation data is inputted from the input device 12.

(Efficacy of the Invention As explained above, the present invention is a method that allows setting and canceling data for prohibited viewing channels using a password as a key to be input from a terminal in each subscriber's home, so it is suitable for general households. The CATV system provides convenience in that each subscriber can independently set or cancel channels that are prohibited from viewing at any time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of a CATV system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and Fig. 2 is a diagram of a CATV system to which a conventional viewing prohibition method is applied.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a TV system. 1...TV transmitter, 2...computer, 3...
Data transmitter, 4... Combiner, 5... CATVwA
6... terminal, 7... television receiver, 8... duplexer, 9... tuner, 10... data receiver, 1
1... Controller, 12... Input device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] CATV system viewing that selectively supplies a video signal to a television receiver on a subscriber terminal side and prohibits the video signal and audio signal of a specific channel from being supplied to the television receiver. In the prohibition method, means for inputting a password, a category for setting or canceling the viewing prohibition, and a viewing prohibited channel number, and a means for inputting the password, the setting cancellation category, and the viewing prohibited channel number input from the input means. comprising a storage means, and a channel selection means for selecting an arbitrary channel of video and audio signals from among the plurality of channels of video and audio signals supplied from a CATV line and supplying the selected channel to the television receiver; The storage means stores the setting cancellation category input from the input means as valid information only when the password input from the input means matches a pre-registered password, and the channel selection means prohibits or permits the video signal and audio signal of the viewing prohibited channel stored in the storage means to be guided to the television receiver according to the setting cancellation classification stored in the storage means. Features CATV system viewing prohibition method.