KR19990085238A - CC converter and its operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

The scramble and descramble operation of the CATV converter, which converts the television signal transmitted through the wire into an intermediate frequency for receiving the television for over-the-air broadcasting, is controlled by the information contained in the smart card. If detected, the information of the smart card inserted into the card reader means is read to determine whether the issuer ID matches with the ID of the association hosting the CATV broadcast, and if the ID is matched, the information and memory of the current time from the counter means. It reads and compares the information on the last usage time stored in the means to determine whether the current time is more than the last usage time.If it is determined that the current time is maintained over the last usage time, it reads the information of the expiration date recorded on the smart card If the validity period is longer than the current time, the memory The operation of the CATV converter by up-converting and storing the information of the time used from the present time at the last usage time stored in the stage, and simultaneously applying the control signal for frequency conversion to the scrambler side so that the cable broadcasting signal can be viewed on the airwave television. This control is controlled according to the information of the smart card to be read to prevent illegal eavesdropping of CATV broadcasting which is being operated for a fee, and the fee for the viewing fee is settled through the rate card of the smart card. to provide.

Description

CC converter and its operation method

The present invention relates to a frequency converter, and more particularly, to a scramble of a CATV converter for converting a television signal transmitted through a wire into a predetermined intermediate frequency (IF) so that a television for receiving an over-the-air broadcast can be received; The present invention relates to a CATV converter and its operation method in which a descramble operation is controlled by information contained in a smart card.

In general, CATV stands for "cable antenna television" and started by installing a common antenna reception system as a means of solving blind spots in areas covered by buildings or mountains. It was conducted as a paid broadcast focused on entertainment, and as its size gradually increased, it became an indispensable broadcasting medium in the information society as it is.

In order to receive a television signal transmitted through a wire through a TV set for receiving an over-the-air broadcast, a CATV converter for frequency converting a plurality of CATV signals allocated to the VHF band into an empty channel for over-the-air broadcast is used. It is done.

The above CATV converter generates a UHF-IF signal by up-converting the input signal of the VHF band to the UHF band and down converting it back to the VHF band to generate the VHF-IF signal of the assigned channel. The method is used, as is shown in the up-down frequency converter for CATV, typically US Patent No. 4,352,209.

The CATV converter is a channel allocated within a band of approximately 50 MHz to 450 MHz so that a TV signal transmitted via a wire is frequency-converted to an empty channel of airwaves so as to select a desired channel at the receiving end. Used as a pre-device, the signal processing in the CATV converter is upconverted to 612MHz by a first local oscillation signal generated by a variable frequency oscillator to generate a selected channel of the CATV signal having a carrier of 54 MHz to 440 MHz. Generates a signal of -IF, and the UHF-IF signal is down-converted to a second local oscillation signal generated by the fixed oscillator to generate a VHF-IF signal on an empty channel of the VHF band, thereby broadcasting the airwaves for output of video and audio. Input to the antenna terminal of the receiving television set.

In general, CATV broadcasting is operated by private organizations, so it is mainly paid for the benefit of broadcasting companies, and the types of broadcasting programs are widely distributed according to broadcasting stations such as entertainment, education, movies, and public relations. The program offered by the is also divided into general use and adult use.

Therefore, in order to view a CATV broadcast program, a consumer applies for registration to an association that organizes CATV broadcast, hypothesizes a wire, and has a converter for CATV that performs frequency conversion as described above. You can watch the broadcast program you want, and the customer pays the corresponding cost according to the viewing time of the broadcast and the type of program.

However, because CATV broadcasting is operated for a fee, some customers who do not apply for broadcasting have purchased a separate converter for CATV and illegally connect the converter to a wired line through the surroundings in order to avoid paying the cost of watching. There is a frequent case of continuously listening to CATV broadcasting while eavesdropping on the broadcasting or paying the fee for viewing.

In addition, since the settlement and billing of the fee for viewing the broadcast depends on the payment by giro, direct debit or visiting, there are many difficulties in operating each CATV station operated by private broadcasting because the normal fee is not collected. There was this.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned general problems, and an object thereof is that the frequency conversion operation of the converter for CATV is controlled according to the information contained in the smart card provided by the CATV Broadcasting Association. It prevents eavesdropping and provides information on viewing rates for each channel to smart cards so that it is not convenient to store charges for watching CATV broadcasting and continuous viewing is not possible without paying a fee. will be.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a CATV converter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an operation flowchart of a CATV converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the frequency converter, when a signal for requesting CATV viewing is detected, frequency conversion of a broadcast signal received through a wire by reading information from peripheral devices is allowed or disallowed. Control means for controlling the overall operation of the;

Card reading means for reading the general information contained in the smart card inserted into the slot and then outputting corresponding data in accordance with the request of the control means;

Memory means comprising a non-volatile memory element and storing operation program data for the operation of the control means and information accumulated according to viewing time;

Counter means for counting information on a current time and applying information about the same to the control means;

And display means for displaying overall status information of the smart card and the CATV converter according to the control signal applied from the control means.

The present invention including the above means reads the information of the smart card inserted into the card reader means when the power-on for CATV viewing is detected, and determines whether the issuer ID matches with the ID of the association hosting the CATV broadcast. If there is a match, it reads and compares the information on the current time from the counter means with the information on the last use time stored in the memory means to determine whether the current time is more than the last use time. If it is determined that the valid period is longer than the current time by reading the information of the expiration date contained in the smart card, if the valid period is longer than the current time, the time used from the present time to the last use time stored in the memory means Up-data is stored and stored at the same time. Applying a signal to the cable broadcasting signal for viewing the over-the-air broadcast television.

Therefore, the present invention controls the operation of the converter for CATV through the information contained in the smart card.

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

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the CATV converter according to the present invention includes a microcontroller 10, a smart card reader 20, a memory 30, a counter 40, and a display 50. When the controller 10 detects a signal requesting CATV viewing from a key input means or a remote controller (not shown), the controller 10 reads information from peripheral devices and permits frequency conversion of the CATV broadcast signal received through a wire. Control overall behavior for disallow.

In addition, when it is determined that the information of the smart card read according to the application of the power is a normal card capable of performing the frequency conversion operation, the microcontroller 10 executes the frequency conversion operation of the CATV broadcast signal received through the wire, and is abnormal. If the card is a smart card or an expired card, the frequency conversion operation is rejected.

The smart card reader unit 20 reads the overall information contained in the smart card inserted into the read slot, and then outputs corresponding data according to the request of the microcontroller 10.

The smart card, not shown above, consists of a batch file such as a key file and master file for the issuer, a key file, a CATV station file, an expiration date file of the card, an electronic billing file, and a CATV channel file for a plurality of channels. .

The memory unit 30 is a nonvolatile memory device that stores operation program data and information accumulated according to viewing time for operation of the microcontroller 10 at an address address designated.

The counter 40 counters the information on the current time with the oscillator and applies the information to the microcontroller 10 side.

The display unit 50 is a display device consisting of a liquid crystal display device or seven segments and displays overall state information of the smart card and the CATV converter according to a control signal applied from the microcontroller 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, a frequency conversion operation according to reading of information of a smart card in a CATV converter having a function as described above is as follows.

When the power of the CATV converter is turned on through a key input means or a remote controller (not shown) (step 101), the microcontroller 10 receives information of the smart card reader unit 20 according to an operation program set in the memory unit 30. It reads and judges whether a smart card is inserted (step 102).

If the information read above is detected with no smart card inserted, the microcontroller 10 displays a message for inserting the card through the display unit 50 (step 103) and continuously detects whether the smart card is inserted. If the detected information is determined to be the insertion of the smart card, the microcontroller 10 reads the ID of the company that issued the smart card from the smart card reader unit 20 to identify the ID of the association that manages CATV broadcasting. In step S104, it is determined whether or not the result corresponds to (step 105).

If it is determined that the IDs coincide with each other, the current time information applied from the counter 40 and the information on the last used time stored in the memory unit 30 are read (step 106), and the last use of the current time is stored. It is determined whether or not the time is kept (step 107).

If it is determined that the current time maintains more than the stored last use time, the valid period of the smart card is read from the smart card reader unit 20 (step 108) and the valid period is applied from the counter 40. Whether or not the current time is kept is read (step 109).

If it is determined in the above that the validity period has been maintained for more than the current time, it is determined whether the remaining validity period has been maintained for a predetermined period, for example, one week or more from the present time (step 110).

If it is determined that the valid period has been maintained for more than a predetermined period after the current time, the micro-controller 10 tunes to any channel from the present to the information on the last application time stored in the memory unit 30 to view it. The time information is recorded (step 111) and a control signal for frequency conversion is output to the scrambler side so that the operation for CATV reception can be executed (step 112).

Accordingly, the scrambler converts the CATV broadcast signal received through the wire to the UHF-IF and converts the VHF-IF to the allocated empty channel so that the viewer of the audience can watch the desired channel.

If the ID of the smart card read in step 105 does not match the ID of the association that organizes CATV broadcasting, the microcontroller 10 displays a message indicating that an abnormal card is inserted through the display unit 50 and instructs the user. The operation of the CATV converter is stopped to block the frequency conversion operation of the received broadcast signal (step 113).

If it is determined in step 107 that the current time information read by the counter 30 is after the last usage time stored in the memory unit 40, it is determined that the CATV converter is broken and the CATV converter is broken through the display unit 50. Instructing the user of the message to block the frequency conversion operation of the received broadcast signal (step 114).

If it is determined that the information on the expiration date of the smart card read in step 109 exceeds the current time, the microcontroller 10 displays a message indicating that the expiration date of the card has passed through the display unit 50 to allow the user. After inducing re-issuance of the smart card, the frequency conversion operation of the received broadcast signal is interrupted (step 115). If it is determined in step 110 that the valid period is maintained within a certain period after the current time, the microcontroller 10 ) Displays a message requesting a new card to be issued through the display unit 50 (step 116), and records the current time information in the last use time information stored in the memory unit 40, and then controls to allow CATV reception. The signal is applied to the scrambler side.

As described above, the present invention operates for a fee so that the operation of the CATV converter for frequency conversion so that a broadcast signal received through a wire can be viewed using an over-the-air broadcasting television set is controlled according to the information of the read smart card. The illegal eavesdropping of CATV broadcasting is prevented, and the fee for the viewing fee is settled through the rate information file of the smart card, thereby providing convenience for storing the viewing fee.

Claims (4)

A frequency converter, comprising: control means for controlling the overall operation of allowing or disallowing frequency conversion of a broadcast signal received through a wire by reading information from a peripheral device when a signal for requesting CATV viewing is detected; Card reading means for reading the general information contained in the smart card inserted into the slot and then outputting corresponding data in accordance with the request of the control means; Memory means comprising a non-volatile memory element and storing operation program data for the operation of the control means and information accumulated according to viewing time; Counter means for counting information on a current time and applying information about the same to the control means; And a display means for displaying the overall status information of the smart card and the CATV converter according to the control signal applied from the control means. Reading power information for the smart card inserted into the card reader means to determine whether the issuer ID matches the ID of the association that manages the CATV broadcast when power-on for the CATV viewing is detected; Determining whether the current time is greater than or equal to the last use time by reading and comparing the information on the current time from the counter means with the information on the last use time stored in the memory means when the IDs match in the above process; Determining whether the validity period is longer than the current time by reading information of the validity period recorded in the smart card if it is determined that the current time is longer than the last use time; Determining whether the validity period of the smart card is longer than a predetermined period when the validity period is more than the current time; When the valid period of the smart card is maintained for a predetermined period or more, up-date information of the time used from the present time is stored and stored at the last use time stored in the memory means, and a control signal for frequency conversion is sent to the scrambler side. A method of operating a TV converter comprising the step of allowing the user to watch a cable broadcasting signal on a television for receiving an over-the-air broadcast. The method according to claim 2, wherein if a card inserted in the card reader means is not detected in the process, the card is requested to be inserted and a message is displayed. If the IDs to be compared do not match, a message indicating that an abnormal card is inserted through the display means is displayed. If the information of the current time is less than the last use time stored in the process, a message about the failure of the converter is displayed; A method for operating a TV converter, characterized in that the operation for frequency conversion is cut off. The method of claim 2, wherein if the validity period is maintained within a predetermined period in the process, the display means instructs the issuance of a new card and then displays the time information used from the present time at the last use time stored in the memory means. A method of operating a TV converter, characterized in that the frequency conversion operation is performed through a scrambler while storing and storing up data.