KR20030090741A - Digital System Prepared For Cable with 1394 De-Scrambling Module - Google Patents

Abstract

The digital cable preparation system functions without a standard POD interface module. The television uses an IEEE 1394 compatible interface to perform functions such as descrambling scrambled signals, providing electronic program guide information, and the like. The television receives an input signal comprising the scrambled signal. The scrambled signal leaves the main transmission data stream and is converted to a descrambler through an IEEE 1394 compliant interface. The scrambled signal is descrambled according to the permission information inserted in the input signal and recombined with the main transport data stream via an IEEE 1394 compatible interface, where the descrambled signal replaces the scrambled signal. The combined signal is provided to the display / audio device in a suitable format such as HD-MPEG. The IEEE 1394 compliant interface module may also provide copy protected content.

Description

Digital System Prepared For Cable with 1394 De-Scrambling Module

Current digital cable systems use a standard POD interface. Such interfaces usually require interaction with a large number of connectors (eg, pin connectors) and multiple television receivers. Thus, POD modules require a large amount of circuitry and television receivers require a large amount of software that is compatible with POD modules. These current digital preparation systems are complex and expensive. Thus, there is a need for a digital cable preparation system that can function without a standard POD interface.

The present invention relates to a digital cable preparation system that functions without a standard point-of-deployment interface module.

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following examples in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are as follows.

1 is a functional block diagram of a processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exemplary processing flow diagram for processing a television signal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The system includes a first processor configured to receive an input signal. The system also includes a second processor configured to descramble the scrambled signal component in association with the input signal. The first processing unit is coupled to the second processing unit by an IEEE 1394 compatible interface.

A description of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface is in the IEEE 1394-1995 standard. In short, IEEE 1394 supports data transfer rates of up to 400 megabits per second. IEEE 1394 also supports isochronous data (data provided at guaranteed data rates) useful for video applications. IEEE 1394 consists of a number of layers, each performing a specific function. These layers include a transaction layer, a link layer, and a physical layer (Phy). The transaction layer defines a high level of functionality, such as how data is transferred between nodes and how errors are handled. The link layer communicates with the transaction layer and provides addressing, data checking, and data frame information. The physical layer provides a physical interface between the node and its bus and converts the signal from the link layer into an appropriate electrical signal for the 1394 bus.

1 is a functional block diagram of a processing system 100 that includes an IEEE 1394 link, as described herein. In one embodiment, processing system 100 performs the function of a digital cable ready television receiver having 1394 link based descrambling capability. The system 100 includes a first processing unit 12 for tuning and demodulating the input signal 22 and for providing audio and / or video data (signal 24) in the form of a transport stream, descrambling, acknowledgment (eg For example, the second processing unit 14 may perform a function such as providing a signal according to a pay channel charged according to the number of times of viewing and providing electronic program guide (EPG) information. In one embodiment, the processing unit 12 may be included in a digital cable ready television. In such an embodiment, the processor 12 may provide a POD interface to the second processor 14 or a POD for achieving the functions described above (e.g., descrambling, providing a licensed signal, providing electronic program guide information). No module required As is known in the art, typical POD modules and interfaces utilize a large number of connector pins, such as those used in complex data protocols and PCMCIA cards.

The system 100 uses the IEEE 1394 interface with only four or six pin connectors to achieve the functions of descrambling, signal provision according to an authorization grant, and electronic program guide information provision. These functions are achieved by using the processing unit 14 through the IEEE 1394 interface. The first processor 12 may receive an input signal 22 and transmit an output signal 24. The input signal 22 may include digital television signals such as cable television (CATV) signals, broadcast signals, and / or satellite signals. In addition, the input signal 22 may include an out-of-band signal and a service signal. The OOB signal may include, for example, conditional access and processing messages, interactive program guide information, and / or other private data. The service signal may include the remainder of the input signal 22, such as a network broadcast channel, a paid channel, a paid channel charged according to the number of views, an Internet service channel, a scrambled channel, or a combination of the above channels. The input signal 22 may be formatted in various formats such as, for example, the National Television System Council (NTSC), the American Television System Council (ATSC), and / or digital cable. The output signal 24 may comprise a video signal and / or an audio signal. The output signal 24 can be formatted in various formats. For example, the output signal 24 may be formatted according to the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Descriptions of some MPEG formats are described, for example, in ISO / IEC standard 11172-1 (MPEG-1 system), 11172-2 (MPEG-1 video), 11172-3 (MPEG-1 audio), 11172-4 (MPEG). -1 Compliance Testing), 11172-5 (MPEG-1 Technical Report), 13818-1 (MPEG-2 System), 13818-2 (MPEG-2 Video), 13818-3 (MPEG-2 Audio), and 13818- See 4 (MPEG-2 Compliance).

The processor 14 includes a portion of the 1394 link 20 and a descrambler 26. The 1394 link 20 connects the processor 12 with the processor 14. Optionally, the 1394 link provides content protection, such as 5C digital transmission content protection, for example, such that the signal is not interfered, copied, and / or disturbed. For descriptions of 5C digital transmission content protection, see Hitachi Ltd., Intel Corporation, Matsushita Electric Indstrial, Co. Ltd., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation, which are available at "5C Digital Transmission Content Protection White Paper", version 1.0 of July 14, 1998, of the 1998 copyright registration. The processor 14 may be integrated within the processor 12 or external to the processor 12 as shown in FIG. 1.

The processing unit 12 includes a third processing unit 16, a fourth processing unit 18, a portion of the 1394 link 20, and an optional power supply for supplying power to the processing unit 14. The processing unit 16 tunes and demodulates a part of the input signal 22. The processor 16 includes a tuner 30 for tuning a portion of the input signal 22, such as a service signal, and a tuner / demodulator 32, for tuning another portion of the input signal 22, such as an OOB signal. . Processing unit 16 also includes a demodulator 34 for demodulating a portion of the input signal 22, such as a service signal, and optionally for providing forward error correction (FEC). The processor 18 includes a transmission / switching processor 36 and an audio / video processor 38. As described in more detail herein, the transmit / switching processor 36 is configured to receive the tuned and demodulated portions of the input signal 22 (signals 25 and 27). The transmit / switching processor 36 provides a selected portion of the tuned and demodulated signals 25 and 27 to the processor 14 (signal 31) for further processing (e.g., descrambling) and the audio / video processor. A portion of the data transport stream (signal 29) provided to 38 and the signal (e.g., descrambled signal) provided by the processing section 14 (signal 33) are recombined.

2 is an exemplary processing flow diagram for processing a television signal. 1 and 2, input signal 22 is received at step 54. The input signal 22 is simultaneously provided to the main tuner 30 and the OOB tuner / demodulator 32. The tuner 30 filters and tunes the input signal 22 (eg, service signal portion) in step 56 in accordance with, for example, an ATSC format, an NTSC format, a digital cable format, or a combination thereof. The tuned signal 23 is provided to a demodulator 34 (step 56). Demodulator 34 provides FEC processing (step 56) to demodulate the tuned signal 23 and optionally generate an output signal 25 that is an output from the module 34. The tuner / demodulator 32 tunes and demodulates the OOB signal portion of the input signal 22 in step 58 to provide a signal 27. Various types of modulation / demodulation designs are possible. Examples include Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) and its corresponding demodulation, Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) and its corresponding demodulation, and residual sideband modulation (VSB) and its corresponding. There is demodulation. For example, demodulator 34 may perform demodulation corresponding to quadrature amplitude modulation on the service signal, and tuner / demodulator 32 may perform quadrature phase shift modulation and demodulation on the OOB signal.

The tuned and demodulated signals 25 and 27 are provided to the transmission / switching processor 36 of the processing unit 18. The transmit / switching processor 36 may include any suitable processor, such as a microprocessor, a computer, a specially designed processor, or a combination thereof. The tuned / demodulated service signal 25 may include a number of scrambled channels and unscrambled (unencrypted) channels. The tuned / demodulated signal 27 is a signal 25 such as whether the channel is scrambled or not, whether a particular user has the right to watch the channel, or whether a particular user has the right to descramble the channel. Information about each channel in the and may include electronic program guide information. The tuned / demodulated service signal 25 is provided to the transmit / switching processor 36 in the form of a transport stream which may include a number of channels. Selected portions of the tuned / demodulated signals 25 and 27 are provided to the processing unit 14 in steps 60, 62, and 64. The transmit / switching processor 36 provides a portion of the scrambled service signal for the 1394 link 20 in steps 60 and 62. In other words, the selected portion of the transmission data stream (signal 25), such as the scrambled audio and / or video signal provided by the demodulator 34, is transmitted by the transmission / switching processor 36, namely FIG. Switched off the path including the signals 25 and 27 not shown at 1 and provided to the 1394 link 20 (signal 31). The selection of a portion of the signal 25 is accomplished according to the corresponding portion of the tuned / demodulated signal 27 that includes information associated with the data in the signal 25. For example, the tuned / demodulated signal 27 may include a portion indicating that the channel included in the signal 25 has been scrambled. The transmit / switching processor 36 analyzes the signal 27 and thus provides a scrambled channel corresponding to the processor 14 as part of the signal 31. The scrambling channel is then descrambled by the descrambler 26 (if approved) and provided back to the transmit / switching processor 36 as part of the signal 33. The descrambled signal is then recombined with the main transport stream as part of signal 29 and provided to the audio / video processor 38. The scrambled signal (signal 31) can be provided by a serial interface, a parallel interface, or a combination thereof. The 1394 link may be in the form of an integrated circuit and may include separate components, or a combination thereof. 1394 link 20 (processing module 52) may optionally provide content protection for the received service signal. The service signal is provided to a part of the 1394 link included in the processor 14 by a part of the 1394 bus link included in the processor 12. This signal is provided to the descrambler 26 to be descrambled in step 66. The descrambled transport stream and optional 5C protected data are returned on the 1394 link in step 68. Optional 5C protection is removed from the transport stream descrambled by the transmission / switching processor 36 and then provided to the audio / video processor 38. The unencrypted (unscrambled) portion of the transport stream provided by the demodulator 34 is provided to the transmission / switching processor 36, which in turn is directly to the audio / video processor 38 without being provided to the 1394 bus link. To provide an unencrypted signal. The transport stream data is formatted by the audio / video processor 38 in step 70. The output signal 24 is then provided by the audio / video processor 38 in step 72. The audio / video processor 38 processes audio and / or video signals, such as a processor capable of processing a transport stream, and is formatted according to an MPEG format, such as, for example, high definition MPEG (HD-MPEG) format. Any suitable processor may be included for providing a video and / or audio signal.

The OOB signal is provided to the transmit / switching processor 36 by a tuner / demodulator 32 (signal 27) in step 58. The OOB signal is included in the transport stream containing the service signal and provided to the 1394 link 20 by the transmit / switching processor 36 and to the external descrambler 26 using the isochronous data mode of the 1394 link. . Alternatively, the OOB signal is provided to the 1394 link via the auxiliary interface 42 and to the external descrambler 26 using the asynchronous data mode of the 1394 link. OOB signals are provided in these two formats for compatibility with existing systems. The OOB signal includes, for example, user data such as permission for descrambling of scrambled channels, channel guide information, and other local broadcast (ATSC). User data can be processed according to any of a variety of techniques. For example, in one embodiment, all user data is provided as part of the transport stream on the 1394 link in step 64. The authorization information for channel descrambling is used to determine which channel the descrambler 26 will descramble (step 64). Other user data, such as user guide information, is for example reinserted into the transport stream instead of null packets. This other user data can then be processed in a manner similar to that used for digital television and other local broadcast (ATSC), and converted into graphical information for final display.

In another embodiment, only descrambling permissions associated with some of the user data are provided to the 1394 link in step 64. The remainder of the user data is stored in a memory such as memory circuitry 50. The remainder of the user data is then recombined with the transport stream and processed as described above. This embodiment simplifies the processing complexity of the processor 14 when compared with the previous embodiment.

In one embodiment of system 100, processor 14 may include a power source (not shown in FIG. 1). In this configuration, the processor 14 can be coupled to the processor 12 using a four-pin connector, as shown in FIG. In other embodiments, processor 14 may obtain power from optional power source 40. In this configuration, the processor 14 can be coupled to the processor 12 using a 6-pin connector, as shown in FIG. 1, where two additional pins are connected from the power source 40 to the processor 14. It can be used to supply power.

Advantages of current systems of processing systems that include an IEEE 1394 compatible descrambler, as described herein, include reduced interface circuitry, reduced protocol complexity, reduced hardware in the form of pin connectors, and software in a television receiver. The decrease is mentioned. As a result, system cost is reduced. The system allows the digital cable ready television receiver to function without the use of a standard POD interface module. The system enables asynchronous and isochronous transmissions on the same interface at the same time. The system also enables self-powered supply via an optional power supply 40. Moreover, external processor 14 can be coupled and / or disconnected from / to processor 12 without consuming power from processor 12 or 14 (actual coupling / disconnection).

Although the invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is in no way limited by the details disclosed. Rather, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention within the scope having the sameity as the claims of the present invention.

Claims (11)

In the processing system, A first processing unit configured to receive an input signal; And A second processor configured to descramble scrambled signal components associated with the input signal Wherein the first processing unit is coupled to the second processing unit by an IEEE 1394 compatible interface. The method of claim 1, And the scrambled signal is provided to the second processor in accordance with at least one of an IEEE 1394 compatible asynchronous data mode and an IEEE 1394 compatible isochronous data mode. The method of claim 1, The first processor is further configured to provide an output signal, The first processing unit, A third processing unit configured to receive the input signal and provide at least one of a demodulated out-of-band signal, a demodulated service signal, and a forward error correction (FEC) signal; A fourth processing unit configured to receive at least one of the OOB signal, the demodulated service signal, and the FEC signal, and configured to provide at least one of the output signal, an auxiliary data signal, and a transport stream signal; And An IEEE 1394 compliant circuit configured to receive at least one of the auxiliary data signal and the transport stream signal and configured to provide the scrambled signal to the second processing unit Processing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the first processing unit includes a power supply device for supplying power to the second processing unit. The method of claim 1, And the IEEE 1394 compliant interface provides copy protected content. As a method for signal processing, Receiving the signal comprising at least one of a scrambled signal and an OOB signal, the OOB signal including information regarding a descrambling permission of at least one scrambled signal; And Processing the received signal to provide at least one selected scrambled signal to a descrambler through an IEEE 1394 compliant circuit in accordance with the OOB signal; Signal processing method comprising a. The method of claim 6, And descrambling the at least one selected scrambled signal. The method of claim 7, wherein Combining the processed received signal with a signal descrambled the at least one selected scrambled signal. The method of claim 8, Providing the combined signal as an output signal. The method of claim 6, And a portion of the OOB signal is provided to the descrambler according to at least one of an IEEE 1394 compatible asynchronous data mode and an IEEE 1394 compatible isochronous data mode. The method of claim 6, And the IEEE 1394 compatible circuitry provides copy protected content.