KR0152777B1 - Circuit and method for controlling record reproduction of vod - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a recording mode switching technology between a video server and a set top box in an on-demand video. When the same program is simultaneously requested simultaneously due to the characteristics of a true audio system, it is possible to simultaneously accommodate the needs of all subscribers. In order to solve the defect that the subscriber who does not enter the schedule request rank cannot receive the desired program, the digital video server 11 prepares the recorded program and then the set-top box ( 20), and the set-top box is coded and stored in a specific format, and when the play request signal is input from the subscriber, the set-top box can play back the promised number of times allowed with the digital video server 11.

Description

VOD recording and playback control circuit and method

The accompanying drawings are block diagrams of the recording control circuit of the present invention V-audio.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: Broadcasting Center 11: Digital Video Server

12: AMT exchange 13: ADSL for home country

14: telephone exchange 20: set-top box

21: ASL for home use 22: Central control unit

23: RAM 24: video processing unit

25 TV receiver 26: code converter 1

27 deck 28: identification code detection unit

29: Code Converter 2

The present invention relates to a recording mode switching technology between a video server and a set top box in a video on demand (VOD), especially from a video server when the communication between the video server and the subscriber is idle in true VOD. The present invention relates to a recording and playback control circuit and method of V-Audio that is suitable for receiving and recording a set-top box.

VOD's methods include True VOD, Near VOD, and Viewer VOD. True VOD is the most typical of these, where each user applies for a program and the provider's server runs the system to send the requested program to the subscriber's set-top box, which the subscriber sees soon after occupying the program or You can control forward rewind or slow motion.

However, in the true audio system, when one program is occupied on one side, access is not possible through the same channel on the other side. In order to solve this problem, the same program should be transmitted to the set-top box of the subscriber through multiple parallel channels, but in reality, the number of channels cannot be limited. There was a flaw that the subscriber could not watch the desired program because the subscriber was not able to enter the schedule request.

As a means of compensating for this, you can think of how you can receive the desired program in a relatively free time, record it, and watch it when you need it, while avoiding the time when the demand for viewing is concentrated. In order to prevent illegal outflow and to avoid compromising with paid broadcasting, anti-copy protection is added to the transmitted program, which means that the set-top box on the subscriber's side cannot record the program randomly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to record and play a video in a true audio, which can be recorded by a promised communication between a provider side and a subscriber of a video server, and can be played back only a predetermined number of times in the set-top box of the video server. To provide a control circuit and method.

As an example block diagram of a recording and playback control circuit of VOD for achieving the object of the present invention, as shown in the figure, various video programs are stored in a compressed form and the corresponding video data is stored according to a subscriber's request. A digital video server (11) for providing and managing subscribers, and ATM (ATM) exchanger connected to the digital video server 11 to guarantee the real-time exchange and the exchange of various bandwidths to provide a stable service to a large number of subscribers 12, and connected between the ATM switch 12 and the subscriber line (L) transmits data up to 5.5KM at a speed of 1.5Mbps using only one twisted pair due to local subscriber line networks and internal wiring characteristics, and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), an asymmetric telephone subscriber line that allows the use of faxes in transmission It is connected to the subscriber line (L) in the set-top box (20) performs the transmission function, such as the DL 13 for the home country, and the local station for the SL 12, and the local station through the interface (RS232C) It is connected to the SDL 21 for the subscriber to perform the subscriber operation function and the network connection function according to various external key signals, and sends a recording request signal to the digital video server 11 side, the digital video server 11 side The central control unit 22 and the central control unit 22 for controlling each part of the system to store the non-volatile RAM (23) and the number of the reproducing allowance and the ID code of the program allowed to record the input from the; Switch SW21 for switching the output path of the data inputted through the own country's LS 21 under the control of the local station, and a compressed data stream inputted through the switch SW21 during the real time processing; After the playback process, the video processing unit (MPEG) 24 which decodes the data input through the switch SW22 and outputs analog video and audio signals to the television receiver 25, and controls the central control unit 22. And a code converter 1 (26) for converting the data stream and the identification code inputted through the switch (SW21) into a specific format promised with the digital video server (11) and supplying it to the deck (27), and the deck (27). By comparing the identification code detection unit 28 for detecting the identification code by scanning the video signal reproduced and output, and the identification code input from the central control unit 11 and the identification code detected by the identification code detection unit 28 Code converter 2 (29) for restoring the image data reproduced and output from the deck 27 to a data stream of a form input from the SDL 21 for the home country, and control of the central controller 22 when they are the same.Ah by selecting the image data outputted from the image data and the second code converter (29) to be reproduced output from the deck (27) of a switch (SW22) to be supplied to the video processor 24.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording method of recording and playback of a VOD system in which a central base station and a subscriber system are connected by using a communication network to transmit a program to a subscriber system. A first step of transmitting a signal; A second step of transmitting the applied program, the number of playing allowances and the identification code to the subscriber when the transmission line is not in use; A third step of storing the number of reproduction allowed and the identification code in the memory; A fourth step of transcoding and recording program data and data in the memory; A fifth step of comparing the data of the memory with the data from the reproducing unit and recoding the same if the same is reproduced; The sixth step of reconfiguring and storing the data of the memory, and the operation and effect of the present invention configured as described above in detail as follows.

First, a general real time process will be described. When the subscriber outputs the subscriber's unique number and the desired program selection signal using the remote controller, the central control unit 22 recognizes this and outputs the selected unique number, which is the interface (RS232C)-> The subscriber line L is transmitted to the digital video server 11 through the subscriber line L → the home country's ALS 13 → ATM switch 12.

Accordingly, the digital video server 11 finds the requested program and transmits the compressed image data of the corresponding program to the central controller 22 through the input path of the selection information.

At this time, the central controller 22 drives the video processor 24 to decode the video data stream inputted through the home office DS 21 to output analog video and audio signals to the television receiver 25. Accordingly, the subscriber can watch the program selected by the user, and can rewind, fast forward, and the like using the input key for the selected program during viewing.

On the other hand, when the application of the same program multiple times due to the nature of TrueVodie, it is frequently not possible to watch the popular program in real time because it can not accept the application of all subscribers at the same time. Through this, you can record the program you want using the relatively free time.

When the subscriber outputs the subscriber's unique number, a recording request signal, and a desired program selection signal by using a remote controller or other key input means, the central controller 22 recognizes this and outputs it through the path. Accordingly, the digital video server 11 prepares the requested program with the subscriber who applied for recording, and then transmits the program, the number of recording allowances, and the identification code of the program allowed to record at a relatively free time. It is sent to the set-top box 20 through.

Accordingly, the central controller 22 permits the number of times of reproduction (eg, 1 to 3 times) and the recording allowed from the digital video server 11 through the local SD and interface RS232C. The program identification code is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 23, a switching control signal is output to the switch SW21, the switch SW21 is shorted to the fixed terminal b1, and the code converter 1 26 and the deck ( 27, the drive control signals are outputted, and they are driven respectively.

As a result, the video and data of the recorded and watched program inputted through the home country's SD21 are supplied to the code converter 26 through the switch SW21, and the code converter 1 26 receives the input data. The stream and the identification code are converted into a specific format agreed with the digital video server 11, output to the deck 27, and the recorded program is stored in the deck 27.

Then, when the subscriber outputs the playback signal using the remote controller, the RAM 23 accesses the RAM 23, checks the number of playback allowances and the identification code of the program allowed to record, and if so stored, drives the deck 27 to The recorded program is played.

At this time, the identification code detection unit 28 detects the identification code included in the image information reproduced and output from the deck 27 and transmits it to the code converter 2 (29) side, the code converter 2 (29) identifies the identification The code converter 1 (27) compares the identification code inputted through the code detector 28 and the identification code inputted from the central control unit 22, and reproduces and outputs image information from the deck 27 when they are the same. The image information is converted and outputted before the code conversion, which is supplied to the video processing unit 24 through the switch SW22 switched to the fixed terminal a2 by the central control unit 22, and decoded. Video and audio signals are supplied to the television receiver 25 so that the subscriber can watch his / her reserved program at a convenient time.

Then, the central controller 22 checks whether all the programs are played through the video processing unit 24, and re-stores by subtracting one by one the allowable number of times stored in the RAM 23 each time the playback is completed. When the allowable frequency is 0, the control function for playback is no longer performed, so if the recorded program is played as the promised allowable number of times, it cannot be viewed again later.

However, when reproducing the general program not received from the digital video server 11 through the deck 27 as described above, the reproduced and output video signal is directly supplied to the video processing unit 24 through the switch sw22. Regardless of the number of times, you can play and watch as you like.

For reference, even when the program is received from the digital video server 11 through the above path and the recorded tape is leaked to the outside and played back to the normal deck, the original code is converted from the code converted by the code converter 1 (26). Since the video signal cannot be restored, the user cannot watch the video signal, thereby maintaining the effect of the paid viewing.

As described in detail above, the present invention is to provide more subscribers by receiving a program from the video server when the communication between the video server and the subscriber in idle, the program is recorded in the set-top box, and can be played only in the allowed number of times It has the effect of providing a program.

Claims (3)

A VOD system in which a central base station and a subscriber system are connected by using a communication network, comprising: a deck for storing and reproducing data; A memory for storing the number of times of reproduction and the identification code of the program; A central control unit for controlling each system unit; A first switch configured to switch an output path of data input from the outside under the control of the central controller; A first code converter for converting the input data and the identification code into a specific format and supplying the deck to the deck; An identification code detection unit for detecting an identification code from a video signal reproduced and output from the deck; A second code converter which compares the identification code inputted from the central control unit with the identification code detected by the identification code detecting unit and restores the image data reproduced and outputted from the deck to an initial input form if they are the same; And a second switch for selecting and outputting video data reproduced and output from the deck or video data output from the second code converter under the control of the central controller. A recording method of a V-Audio system in which a central base station and a subscriber system are connected by using a communication network to transmit a program to a subscriber system, comprising: a first step of transmitting a recording request signal to a server side; A second step of transmitting the applied program, the number of playing allowances and the identification code to the subscriber when the transmission line is not in use; A third step of storing the number of reproduction allowed and the identification code in the memory; A fourth step of transcoding and recording program data and data in the memory; A fifth step of comparing the data of the memory with the data from the reproducing unit and recoding the same if the same is reproduced; And a sixth step of reconstructing and storing the data in the memory. The method of claim 2, wherein the sixth step is to reduce the number of times to be allowed to play once and store it.