KR100707935B1 - System and method for providing free view channel in digital broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technology that enables a digital broadcasting system to provide a paid channel or a paid channel package to a specific subscriber free of charge for a limited time.

To this end, the present invention, the broadcast schedule generator for generating the viewing target information for each channel, and temporarily generating the viewing target information for free viewing; A limited reception device generating a control signal for each channel based on the viewing target information; And a broadcast signal processor for transmitting the video information, the audio information, and the control signal for the channel through a predetermined transmission network.

Description

System and method for providing free viewing channel in digital broadcasting system

1 is a block diagram of a system for providing a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a data structure diagram of an Entitlement Control Message (ECM).

2B is a data configuration diagram of an Entilement Management Message (EMM).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technology for providing a paid channel or a paid channel package to a specific subscriber free of charge for a limited time. It is about.

In recent years, the analog broadcast is evolving into the digital broadcast (hereinafter referred to as "digital broadcast").

Digital broadcasting refers to a case where the transmission of a broadcast is made digitally, but broadly refers to the digitization of the whole process from production, transmission, and reception of a broadcast program. However, in reality, the introduction of digital broadcasting is mainly mentioned in terms of transmission.

First, in terms of transmission, digital broadcasting is a new transmission method of radio and TV. In the conventional analog system, audio and video are converted into an electronic signal of an analog system that is continuously changed, but in the digital system, the binary system is converted into a binary number, that is, "0" and "1", and is transmitted in a coded state.

With the above-mentioned features, digital broadcasting has advantages of strong resilience and easy encryption, and also has the advantage of being more resistant to noise than analog signals and transmitting broadcast signals with less output.

Therefore, a frequency band not available in analog can be used for digital transmission of terrestrial waves. In addition, a plurality of program services can be transmitted within the same frequency band by the video signal compression technique. Therefore, the broadcasting service provider of digital broadcasting can provide advantages such as multi-channelization, improved quality video and audio, new services such as widescreen TV, and improved reception (inter-mobile reception, etc.).

The digital broadcasting system having the characteristics as described above may be, for example, a satellite broadcasting system, a cable broadcasting system, a terrestrial broadcasting system, or the like.

In general, digital broadcasting systems provide broadcasting signals of various channels to paying subscribers.

For example, in the case of the satellite broadcasting system of the digital broadcasting system, a smart card for performing an authentication function is provided to the viewer who applied for the service, so that the viewer can watch only the channel corresponding to the service that the user applied for. When a broadcast signal is transmitted in a digital broadcasting system, the broadcast signal is scrambled with a specific encryption key and transmitted to a receiver, and only a smart card having a key value capable of generating the same encryption key as that of the transmitter is stored by the smart card. It is to be able to watch by descrambling.

On the other hand, the digital broadcasting system may divide the currently provided programs into several products, package the service products, and provide a service product. In the case of a pay movie channel such as a PPV channel, the digital broadcasting system may charge a viewer for each viewing number.

In particular, packages of service products are generally divided hierarchically, for example, a service 1 package providing 10 public broadcasting channels or a home shopping channel, a service 1 package and a movie channel, a service 2 package providing a stock channel, The service 2 package may include a service 3 package that provides an entertainment channel, a show channel, a learning channel, a hobby channel, and the like.

In this case, the viewer who applied for the service 1 package cannot watch the channel provided by the service 2 package or the service 3 package, whereas the viewer who applied for the service 3 package can watch the service 3 package. You will also be able to watch the Service 1 and Service 2 packages.

Note that the service 1 package, the service 2 package, and the service 3 package are provided by way of example, and the service packages may not be hierarchically configured.

On the other hand, the service package as described above is a service fee (viewing fee) is differentially provided according to its characteristics, when a viewer applies for a specific service package, the channel corresponding to the service package applied by the subscriber from the broadcasting system side to the subscriber side The control signal is transmitted so that the viewer can watch only the channel corresponding to the service package requested by the viewer.

In addition, the charging system associated with the broadcasting system charges the service usage fee for the service package applied by the viewer to the viewer.

In general, in order for a viewer to use a service package having a different service usage fee, the viewer needs to request a service package change to the broadcasting system and pay a service fee corresponding to the changed service package. Even in this case, the billing system is notified of the change state of the service package of the viewer, and the billing system is charged by the billing system.

On the other hand, when the broadcasting system wants to provide a viewer with a specific channel or a specific service package for free for promotion or other purposes, the broadcasting system transmits the broadcast signal of the channel that the artificial system wants to provide free of charge without encryption. Method of rebilling by allowing all receivers to be able to reproduce and output broadcast signals of the corresponding channel or by subtracting the service fee for the channel to be provided for free from the service fee of each viewer charged by the broadcasting system. Was used.

However, according to the above methods, it is necessary to separately control the multiplexer provided on the broadcasting system side so that encryption (scramble) of the channel to be provided for free is released or to charge the specific channel in conjunction with the charging system side. There was a hassle of taking measures such as recalculating the billing.

This hassle applies to both satellite broadcast systems, cable broadcast systems, and terrestrial broadcast systems.

The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and generates free viewing information in the step of generating a schedule of a broadcast program, and transmits a control signal reflecting the free viewing information to a broadcast receiving side, thereby promoting or promoting to a specific subscriber. It is an object of the present invention to conveniently provide free viewing of a specific channel provided for other purposes.

In order to achieve the above object, a free viewing channel providing system in a digital broadcasting system according to the present invention includes: a broadcast schedule generator for generating viewing target information for each channel and temporarily generating viewing target information for free viewing; A limited reception device generating a control signal for each channel based on the viewing target information; And a broadcast signal processor for transmitting the video information, the audio information, and the control signal for the channel through a predetermined transmission network.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, a method for providing a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system according to the present invention includes: a first process of registering a service package for providing free viewing; A second process of registering a free viewing service period and a free viewing target for the free viewing; A third step of generating an ECM generation signal including the free viewing information for the service package when a current time reaches the start time of the free viewing service period; A fourth step of generating an ECM including free viewing information based on the ECM generation signal and transmitting the generated ECM to a broadcast receiving side; A fifth step of deleting free viewing information from the ECM generation signal when a current time reaches an end time of the free viewing service period; And a sixth process of generating an ECM based on the ECM generation signal from which the free viewing information is deleted and transmitting the generated ECM to the broadcast receiving side.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

For reference, the present invention is a technology applied to a head end (H / E) that is provided on the transmitting side of a digital broadcasting system and transmits a broadcast signal.

1 is a block diagram of a free viewing channel providing system in a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the digital broadcasting system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system for providing a free viewing channel includes a broadcast schedule generator (hereinafter referred to as "TCS") 10 and a CA system (hereinafter referred to as "CAS"). 20), and a multiplexer (30).

The TCS 10 transmits ECM generation information including the audience information about each channel to the CAS 20, and the CAS 20 generates an Entitlement Control Message (ECM) based on the ECM generation information, and the customer After generating an EMM (Entilement Management Message) using the subscriber viewing authority information generated by the management system (not shown), and receiving authentication from a security authentication server (not shown), the ECM corresponding to the control signal and the EMM Is transmitted to the multiplexer 30.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the ECM includes a rating information field A in which a rating rating parameter is stored, and a first and second subscription type product information fields B1 in which a conditional access service ID parameter is stored. , B2), and a stored PPV product information field (C) such as a CA service ID parameter, a price parameter, and a service expiration date corresponding to the PPV product.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the EMM includes a subscriber target information field (S) in which subscriber target information such as a specific subscriber name or a specific subscriber region is stored, and a CA service for the subscriber or a product that can be viewed in the subscriber region. A product entitlement information field (A1) in which an ID parameter is stored, a product entitlement cancellation information field (A2) in which a CA service ID parameter is stored for a product unviewed in the subscriber or the subscriber's region, and the subscriber or the subscriber's region. PPV-related information fields (B), such as callback threshold information for transmitting the viewing information when a purchase threshold or a predetermined amount of money for the PPV product is provided.

The above-described ECM displays the service package capable of viewing each channel from each channel's point of view and information on the products to which each channel belongs, and the EMM provides information on service packages and PPV viewing restrictions that can be viewed from each subscriber's point of view. Is displayed.

On the other hand, the multiplexer 30 scrambles video information and audio information of each channel using the ECM and transmits it to the broadcasting system 40. In this case, the video information and audio information input to the multiplexer 30 are video information and audio information provided to a program provider (PP) and are digital data compressed by an MPEG-2 compressor (not shown).

Subsequently, the broadcasting system 40 processes the combination information received from the multiplexer 30 (hereinafter, the video information, the audio information, and the control signal as "combination information") into a form suitable for transmission to a transmission medium. send.

Thereafter, the receiving side, which has received the combination information through the transmission medium, reproduces the combination information, and outputs the reproduction information through the display means provided at the receiving side. Here, the transmission medium may be a cable network applied to cable broadcasting according to the type of digital broadcasting system, or may be a satellite system applied to satellite broadcasting. In addition, it may be a transmission network applied to a broadcast that may be classified as a digital broadcast system.

Next, a method for providing a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3.

First, when a free viewing service package (eg, service ID: 150) is selected by the operator of the TCS 10 (S2), the TCS 10 receives a free viewing service providing deadline from the operator (S4), and the free viewing The target is input (S6). The free-viewing target inputted in S6 is information on a target that allows viewing of a channel corresponding to the free-viewing service package, and a service ID corresponding to a specific service package is registered. Since the service ID is registered in the free viewing target, subscribers using the service package corresponding to the service ID are eligible for free viewing.

The TCS 10 receiving the above-described information drives the built-in timer to determine whether the current time reaches the start time of free viewing corresponding to the free viewing service deadline (S8).

As a result of the determination, when the current time reaches the free viewing start time corresponding to the free viewing service deadline (Yes in S8), ECM generation information for free viewing information is included in the ECM of all channels corresponding to the free viewing service package. To the CAS 20.

The CAS 20 registers the service ID of the free viewing service package and the service ID of the service package corresponding to the free viewing target in the ECM signal to generate an ECM including the free viewing information for each channel. For example, if the service ID of the free viewing service package is "150" and the service ID of the service package corresponding to the free viewing object is "100", "150" is registered in B1 of the ECM shown in FIG. 2A, and at B2. "100" is registered, and the ECM is generated for each channel belonging to the service package of the service ID "150".

The ECM transmitted from the CAS 20 is transmitted to the multiplexer 30 and scrambled together with the broadcast signals (video information and audio information) of each channel corresponding to the service ID "150" and transmitted to the broadcast system 40. The ECM and the broadcast signal transmitted by the broadcast system 40 are transmitted to the broadcast receiver 60 carried by the subscriber through the transmission network 50.

At this time, if the receiver registers the service package corresponding to the service ID "150", the subscriber can descramble the ECM and the broadcast signal by using the encryption key recorded on the smart card possessed by the subscriber. Through a broadcast output means (eg, a television, etc.) connected to the broadcast receiver, the channel provided through the service package corresponding to the service ID "150" can be viewed.

On the other hand, while providing the free viewing service for a particular service package to the subscriber through the above procedure, the TCS 10 determines whether the current time reaches the end time of free viewing corresponding to the free viewing service deadline (S14). .

As a result of the determination, if the current time does not reach the end of the free viewing time corresponding to the free viewing service providing period (No in S14), the process proceeds to the step S10 described above and transmits CAS generation information according to the free viewing to the CAS.

However, when the current time reaches the end of the free viewing time corresponding to the free viewing service provision period (Yes in S14), the TCS 10 deletes the free viewing information included in the ECM generation information (S16). By S16, by the ECM generation information from which the free viewing information is deleted, the CAS generates an ECM consisting of "A", "B1", and "C" in which "B2" is deleted from the ECM format shown in FIG. 2A, This is transmitted to the multiplexer 30.

As mentioned above, since the ECM can set the length of the message variably, if the service ID of the service package corresponding to the free view target is deleted from the ECM, the subscriber who applied for the service package corresponding to the free view target They will not be able to watch the channels belonging to the service package that provided the free viewing.

For example, the ECM with the service ID " 100 " corresponding to the free view information is deleted is transmitted to the broadcast receiver 60 through the multiplexer 30, the broadcast system 40, and the transmission network 50. If the subscriber having the broadcast receiver 60 is a subscriber watching the service package corresponding to the service ID "100", the subscriber belongs to the service package corresponding to the ECM (eg, the service ID "130"). The channel will not be available for viewing.

According to the above example, the subscriber who applied for the service package corresponding to the service ID "100" can watch the broadcast provided by the channel belonging to the service package corresponding to the service ID "130" during the free viewing service provision period. However, when the free viewing service provision period ends, the broadcast provided by the channel belonging to the service package corresponding to the service ID "130" cannot be viewed.

According to the present invention described above, by allowing a particular subscriber to watch a channel belonging to a service package free of charge for a certain period of time, it is possible to induce the subscriber to apply for the service package after experiencing the service package. have.

In addition, the present invention provides a free viewing service, free viewing of channels belonging to a specific service package for a certain period of time for a specific subscriber only by the operation of the broadcasting scheduler generator of the broadcasting transmitter without changing the broadcasting receiver or the billing center. Since the service can be provided, the structural change of the related device can be minimized.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified and modified within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, such modifications and changes should be regarded as belonging to the following claims. will be.

Claims (8)

delete A broadcast schedule generator for generating viewing target information for each channel and temporarily generating viewing target information for free viewing; A limited reception device generating a control signal for each channel based on the viewing target information; And A broadcast signal processor for transmitting video information, audio information, and the control signal of the channel through a predetermined transmission network; The broadcast schedule generator When the current time reaches the start time of the free service providing period, the viewing target information is generated by using the service ID of the service package that is the paid viewing target and the service ID of the service package that is the free viewing target for each channel, When the current time reaches the end time of the free service providing period, the service target information is generated by deleting the service ID of the service package that is the target for free viewing of each channel from the viewing target information to generate the viewing target information. Viewing channel providing system. The method of claim 2, wherein the viewing target information is The ECM generation information, and the reception limiting device generates an ECM based on the ECM generation information and transmits the ECM to the broadcast signal processing unit. The subscriber of claim 2, wherein the subscriber who has applied for a service package which is a free viewing target included in the viewing target information, The free viewing channel providing system in the digital broadcasting system, characterized in that the descrambling and watching the broadcast signal of the channels belonging to the service package during the period of receiving the service ID of the service package through the ECM. A first step of registering a service package for providing free viewing; A second process of registering a free viewing service period and a free viewing target for the free viewing; A third step of generating an ECM generation signal including the free viewing information for the service package when a current time reaches the start time of the free viewing service period; A fourth step of generating an ECM including free viewing information based on the ECM generation signal and transmitting the generated ECM to a broadcast receiving side; A fifth step of deleting free viewing information from the ECM generation signal when a current time reaches an end time of the free viewing service period; And And a sixth process of generating an ECM based on the generated ECM signal from which the free viewing information is deleted and transmitting the generated ECM to the room transmitting / receiving side. The method of claim 5, wherein The ECM generation signal provides a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system, wherein a service ID of the service package including a free viewing channel and an ID of another service package for designating a target for free viewing of the service package are registered. Way. The method of claim 6, wherein the other service package is A method for providing a free viewing channel in a digital broadcasting system, characterized in that the service package that the targets to watch the service package for free are currently applying for and using. The method of claim 7, wherein the broadcast receiving side is Receives information about the service package requested by the subscriber from the broadcasting transmitter, And if a service ID of a service package pre-registered in the ECM of the channel selected by the subscriber is detected, the broadcast signal of the channel is descrambled and reproduced and outputted.

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