KR19990051200A - Communication connection limiting device according to communication fee setting of internet television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is to determine the communication fee of the Internet television receiver in order to limit the communication connection in the case of exceeding the predetermined cost by pre-determining the limit of the usage fee for the time to be used for a certain period by accessing the communication service from the Internet television receiver. The present invention relates to a communication connection limiting device.

The present invention provides a key input unit for inputting a command to execute a setting function of a communication usage limit fee, a usage storage unit for storing a communication usage limit fee set through the key input unit as data, and billing data per unit time for communication use. A billing data storage unit, a timer for counting a predetermined time, a billing settlement unit for calculating billing for the time counted according to the use of a communication connection, a communication usage fee calculated through the billing settlement unit, and the utilization storage unit A comparator for comparing the stored communication usage limit rates, an OSD generator for generating OSD data for outputting the OSD comparison subtitles according to a predetermined control signal, and counting the communication usage time Settle the billing and compare the result with the billed rate and display the result as OSD subtitles on the CRT screen. In addition, when the communication usage fee exceeds the usage fee, it is characterized by including an Internet processor for restricting the communication connection.

Description

Communication connection limiting device according to the communication cost of internet television receiver

The present invention relates to an internet television receiver having an internet access function. In particular, the present invention relates to a telecommunication service in which an internet television receiver is connected to a communication service. The present invention relates to a communication connection limiting device according to a communication cost setting of an internet television receiver.

Recently, as the general public's interest in the Internet has been concentrated, the number of users accessing the Internet through personal computers has exploded.In response to this trend, even a company manufacturing a television receiver has an easy way for viewers to connect to the Internet. Efforts are being made to develop an Internet television receiver that allows access.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the above-described Internet television receiver.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 is an antenna for receiving a broadcast frequency signal, 2 is a tuner for tuning a predetermined channel broadcast from a broadcast frequency signal received through this antenna 1, and 3 is a tuner 2; IF amplification unit for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal (IF) output from the, 4 is a P / S separation unit for separating the audio intermediate frequency signal (SIF) and the image intermediate frequency signal (PIF) from the intermediate frequency signal, 5 is P The voice detector detects the voice signal from the voice intermediate frequency signal (SIF) output from the / S splitter (4).

In the drawing, reference numeral 6 denotes a voice processor for performing voice processing such as volume control on the voice signal output from the voice detector 5, and 7 amplifies the voice signal output from the voice processor 6 An audio amplifier for outputting to a speaker, 8 is an image detector for detecting and outputting a composite video signal from the image intermediate frequency signal (SIF) output from the P / S separation unit (4), 9 is this image detector (8) The image processing unit outputs the R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) signals corresponding to the composite video signal output from

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a mixer for mixing and outputting an RGB signal output from the image processor 9 and an RGB signal output from the Internet processor 15 through the D / A converter 16 to be described later. 11 is a CRT driving unit for driving a CRT based on the RGB signal output from the mixer 10, 12 is a remote control device for the user to operate a television receiver, which is an Internet key for inputting a command for executing an Internet function. 12a is provided.

In addition, reference numeral 13 in the drawing is a receiving unit for converting the infrared signal applied from the remote control device 12 into an electrical code signal, 14 is to control the entire device in accordance with the operation data applied from the remote control device 13 The control unit 15 controls the Internet connection according to the control signal from the control unit 14, reads the Internet image data from the image data storage unit 17 to be described later, executes image processing, and executes Internet communication. Is an internet processor.

In addition, reference numeral 16 is a D / A conversion unit for analog conversion of the image data applied from the Internet processor 15, 17 is an image data storage unit for storing the initial screen or Internet-related image data of the Internet, A trunk line connection port for connecting to a telephone line, 19, is a network control unit that executes connection processing with a telephone line to connect to an Internet communication network.

In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a modem which modulates and outputs audio and video data output from the Internet processor 15 at a predetermined frequency rate or demodulates a signal applied from a trunk line, and 21 denotes data by executing an internet function. A key input unit for selecting an input and a program, etc., 22 is a data storage unit for storing the received data information, and reference numeral CON. Is a connector for connecting the key input unit 21 and the Internet processor 15.

That is, in the Internet television receiver having the above-described configuration, when the viewer selects the Internet key 12a provided in the remote control apparatus 12, the television receiver receiving the command signal for executing the Internet through the receiver 13 is selected. The control unit 14 controls the image processing unit 9 to stop the output of the video signal of the broadcast signal and sends an Internet execution command to the Internet processor 15. Accordingly, the internet processor 15 stores the image data storage unit ( The Internet initial screen image data stored in 17 is read and sent to the image processing unit 9 through the D / A converter 16.

Accordingly, the image processor 9 applies the initial image of the Internet to the CRT driver 11 to output the image through the CRT screen. In addition, the Internet processor 15 controls the network control unit 19 to execute the Internet access processing through the modem 20. If the user ID is registered, the Internet processor 15 executes the access processing based on the ID. When the user ID is not registered, the access processing is executed through the process of requesting the viewer to input the ID through the control unit 14.

After the initial screen of the Internet is output on the CRT screen of the television receiver, Internet access or program menu selection or data input is performed through the key input unit 21, and the telephone line is not connected in the above process. If the connection is unsuccessful for some reason, the control unit 14 displays the internet connection failure on the CRT and then terminates the processing.

On the other hand, when accessing the Internet through the Internet television receiver and executing any communication service program is too eager to take too much time. Therefore, if you later receive a bill regarding the communication fee and pay the communication fee, there is an unexpected economic expenditure.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and when the internet television receiver accesses a communication service and sets a limit of the usage fee for the time to be used for a predetermined period, the communication connection is established when the predetermined cost is exceeded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication connection limiting device according to the communication cost setting of the Internet television receiver which can prevent excessive communication cost by limiting.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a general Internet television receiver.

2 is a block diagram showing a communication connection limiting device according to a communication cost setting of an Internet television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the device of the configuration of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: antenna 2: tuner

3: IF amplification part 4: P / S separation part

5: voice detector 6: voice processor

7 amplification unit 8 image detection unit

9: image processor 10: mixer

11: CRT drive unit 12: remote control device

12a: Internet key 13: receiver

14: control unit 15, 38: Internet processor

16: D / A converter 17: Image data storage

18: trunk line connection port 19: network control unit (NCU)

20: modem 21,31: key input unit

22: data storage 31a: function key

31b: numeric keys 32: utilization storage unit

33: billing data storage 34: billing and settlement

35: comparison unit 36: timer

37: OSD generator

The communication connection limiting device according to the communication cost setting of the Internet television receiver according to the present invention for realizing the above object has a function of setting a communication usage limit fee in an Internet television receiver which is capable of communicating by connecting to the Internet via a telephone line. A key input unit for inputting a command to execute, a utilization storage unit for storing the communication usage limit fee set through the key input unit as data, a billing data storage unit for storing charging data per unit time for communication use, and a predetermined time Timer for counting, billing settlement unit for calculating the billing for the time counted according to the use of the communication connection, the comparison of the communication usage fee settled through the billing settlement unit and the communication usage limit fee stored in the utilization storage unit In addition, the result of comparison by the comparison unit according to the predetermined control signal is converted into OSD guided subtitle. OSD generation unit that generates OSD data for output, counts the communication usage time and calculates billing for it, compares the calculated fee with the calculated fee and displays the result as OSD guided subtitle on the CRT screen. When the communication usage fee exceeds the usage fee, it is characterized by including an Internet processor for limiting the communication connection.

That is, according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, if the Internet TV receiver sets and sets the communication usage limit rate to be used for a certain period of time, the usage rate and the limit rate are compared each time the communication connection is executed. As a result, if the limit of communication usage is exceeded, communication connection is restricted.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive spending due to communication costs.

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

Figure 2 shows the configuration of the communication connection limiting device according to the communication cost of the Internet television set according to an embodiment of the present invention, the same reference numerals are attached to the same parts as the configuration of Figure 1 shown in the detailed description thereof is omitted. do.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 31 is a key input unit including a function key 31a for setting a communication usage limit fee and a numeric key 31b for inputting the limit fee numerically, and 32 is the key input unit ( A usage storage unit for storing the communication usage limit fee set through 31), 33 is a billing data storage unit that stores the billing data per unit time for communication usage, for example, "40 won per minute" billing data.

In addition, reference numeral 34 is a billing settlement unit for calculating the billing for the time counted according to the use of the communication connection, 35 is the communication utilization fee and the utilization storage unit 32 calculated through the billing settlement unit 34 A comparison unit for comparing the communication usage limit fee stored in the storage unit 36, is a timer for counting a predetermined time, for example, the communication usage time.

In the drawing, reference numeral 37 denotes an OSD generator which generates OSD data for outputting the OSD comparison subtitles based on a control signal according to a predetermined control signal, and reference numeral 38 denotes a communication usage time. It calculates the billing fee, compares the calculated fee with the billed fee, displays the result as OSD-guided subtitles on the CRT screen, and restricts access to the communication when the fee exceeds the billed fee. Processor.

Next, the operation of the device having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 3.

First, when the power of the television receiver is turned on, the broadcast signal received through the antenna 1 is tuned to a broadcast frequency signal corresponding to a channel selected by the viewer through the tuner 2, and is separated into a video signal and an audio signal, respectively. The speaker outputs.

In addition, the viewer performs an operation of selecting a desired channel or adjusting a volume through the remote control device 12. When an operation signal is input from the remote control device 12, the control unit 14 controls the OSD generating unit ( 37), the normal control processing for the broadcast signal processing for displaying the operation state on the CRT screen is performed.

On the other hand, if the Internet function is selected because the viewer inputs the Internet key 12a provided in the remote control device 12 while the general television function is being executed as described above, the control unit 14 of the television receiver is the image processor 9. ) To stop the input of the video signal of the broadcast signal, and to send the Internet function execution command signal to the Internet processor 38 so that the control operation is executed by the Internet processor 38. Accordingly, a control operation for executing an internet function is performed by the internet processor 38.

In the above state, when the viewer inputs the function key 31a according to the present invention through the key input unit 31, the Internet processor 38 to the control unit 14 to be a screen output for setting the communication charge limit rate Sends the screen output command signal.

Accordingly, the control unit 14 controls the image processing unit 9 according to the screen output command signal sent from the Internet processor 38 to display the screen requesting the input of the communication usage limit fee according to the communication usage period and usage period. Will print on the screen.

Therefore, when the usage period and the communication usage limit fee are set and input through the numeric key 31b of the key input unit 31 by the viewer who views the screen related to the communication usage limit rate setting (step ST1), the Internet processor ( 38 stores the set utilization data as data in the utilization storage unit 32 (step ST2).

Thereafter, when there is a key input related to the execution of the Internet function (ST3 step), the Internet processor 38 executes the Internet connection through the modem 20 (ST4 step).

Subsequently, when connected to the Internet (step ST5), the communication usage time is counted through the timer 36, and the selected program is executed through the key input unit 31 (step ST6).

On the other hand, when the viewer has a key input related to the termination of the communication connection and the communication connection is released through the modem 20 and the Internet is terminated (step ST7), the Internet processor 38 is configured to execute the communication usage time through the timer 20. The counting is stopped and the communication usage fee for the time counted through the billing settlement unit 34 is settled (step ST8).

In addition, the comparison unit 35 compares whether the communication usage fee settled by the charging and settlement unit 34 exceeds the utilization rate set in the utilization storage unit 32, and compares the result with the control unit. The control unit 14 controls the OSD generator 37 to output the image on the CRT screen (ST9).

On the other hand, even when the Internet is not terminated in the step ST7 and the selected program is running, the Internet processor 38 calculates the communication usage fee for the time counted through the billing settlement unit 34 (step ST10). The calculated communication usage fee is compared with the usage fee set in the utilization storage unit 32 via the comparison unit 35 (step ST11).

As a result of the comparison through the comparison unit 35, if the usage fee is exceeded (step ST12), the OSD is output through the control unit 14 so that a guide message asking whether to re-set the set usage fee is output. The generating unit 37 is controlled (step ST13).

After the guide message regarding the utilization rate re-establishment is output, if there is no key input for resetting (step ST14), the Internet processor 38 controls the modem 20 to stop communication connection (step ST15). ).

However, when the guide message regarding the re-establishment of the toll rate used in step ST14 is output and there is a key input for resetting, the Internet processor 38 controls the image processor 9 through the control unit 14 to control the reset data. Control to output a screen requesting an input (ST16 step).

Subsequently, when data regarding the usage fee reset is input (step ST17), the utilization setting data stored in the utilization storage unit 32 is cleared, and newly input data is stored and reset (ST18). step). Then, the process returns to step ST3 to determine whether the Internet function is selected.

That is, according to the above embodiment, when the usage rate of the monthly communication service fee is set in the Internet television receiver, for example, every time the user connects to the Internet and performs the communication, the fee based on the usage time is compared with the service fee. In addition, if the usage fee is exceeded, the communication connection is automatically terminated.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can variously deform and implement within the range which does not deviate from the technical summary of this invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, the communication connection limiting device according to the communication cost setting of the Internet television receiver, which can prevent the excessive communication cost by setting the communication usage in the Internet television receiver to execute the communication restriction Can be realized.

Claims (1)

In an Internet television receiver, which is capable of communicating by connecting to the Internet through a telephone line, A key input unit for inputting a command to execute a setting function of a communication usage limit fee, Usage storage unit for storing the communication limit charges set through the key input unit as data, Billing data storage unit for storing the billing data per unit time for communication use, A timer that counts a predetermined time, A billing settlement unit that calculates billing for the time counted according to the use of the communication connection; A comparison unit comparing the communication usage fee calculated through the billing settlement unit with the communication usage limit fee stored in the utilization storage unit; An OSD generator for generating OSD data for outputting OSD comparison subtitles according to a control signal according to a predetermined control signal; If the communication usage time is counted and the billing for it is calculated, the result is compared with the accounting charge using the calculated fee, and the result is displayed on the CRT screen with OSD subtitles. Communication connection limiting apparatus according to the communication cost of the Internet television set characterized in that it comprises an Internet processor for limiting the communication connection.