KR20040002714A - System for Telemetering the Consumption of Imposts and Electronic Payment the Cost Therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A remote metering system with an electronic payment system is provided to measure an amount of usage of public utility and to allow a user to pay a charge through the electronic payment system by using a set top box of a digital TV system. CONSTITUTION: A remote metering system includes a metering and opening module(110), a metering information processing module(112), an adjusting module(114), a digital set top box(120), a conditional access system(130), a smart card module(140), a digital broadcasting head-end server(150), a digital television(160), a remote metering and counting center(170) and a financial server(180). The metering and opening module(110) is installed in a place where a public utility is used so as to measure a usage of the public utility. The metering information processing module(112) converts usage data into digital data and packeting the digital data so as to transmit the digital data to the remote metering and counting center(170). The digital set top box(120) receives a digital broadcasting supplied from the digital broadcasting head-end server(150).

Description

System for Telemetering the Consumption of Imposts and Electronic Payment the Cost Therefor}

The present invention relates to a meter reading and electronic payment system for public materials such as electricity, water, hot water for heating, gas, paid information service, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for remotely reading the amount of public material and remotely paying the amount of public material using a set-top box and a conditional access module through a digital TV system.

At present, the method of metering and collecting usage of public materials such as electricity, water, heating water, gas, and paid information service is performed as follows. The meter used in each household using public materials is used to read and display the consumption of public materials for each household. Meter readers belonging to the host establishments in the area visit Gagaho for each period, for example, monthly, and read and record the meter reading indicated by the meter. The contents of the meter reading recorded by the meter reader are counted in the relevant establishment and notified to financial institutions such as banks. Financial institutions issue billing statements on the use of public materials for each household in the form of payment bills, and users of each household pay the bills issued by the payment bills to banks.

As such, the usage meter reading and collection method of public materials is a complicated process of sending a bill of payment by mail to a user from a financial institution linked with a manual meter reading by a meter reader and a host company. As a result, a high cost, low efficiency type of work is performed by the host establishment, and a user who does not use home banking or internet banking has an annoying problem of paying a fee by visiting a financial institution with a bill. .

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a system for remotely reading the amount of public materials and remotely paying the amount of public materials using a set-top box and a conditional access module through a digital TV system. It is for that purpose.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for remote meter reading and payment of the amount of public materials constructed in accordance with the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: meter reading open and close module 112: meter information processing module

114: adjustment module 120: digital TV set-top box

130: limited reception module 140: smart card module

150: digital broadcast head end server 160: digital television

170: remote meter reading and settlement center 180: financial server

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the usage meter reading and payment system of the public material, installed in the place using the public material public material usage meter reading and opening and closing module for reading the public material usage ; A meter reading information processing module which receives the amount of the public material from the public material usage meter reading and opening / closing module, converts it into digital usage data, and stores the converted amount; A digital TV set-top box for receiving and transmitting the digital usage data from the meter reading information processing module or transmitting and receiving charging data; A digital broadcast head that receives and transmits the digital usage data from the digital TV set top box, receives one or more signals among cable broadcast signals, satellite broadcast signals, and terrestrial broadcast signals and transmits the signals to the digital TV set top boxes to provide an interactive service. End server; Request transmission of the digital usage data to the meter information processing module connected to the digital cable broadcasting head end server and connected to the digital TV set top box through the digital broadcasting head end server, and according to the request, the digital TV set top box. A remote meter reading and settlement center that collects the digital usage data transmitted from the system and generates billing details and bills for the public materials usage; A limited reception module connected to the digital TV set-top box for encrypting and transmitting the digital usage data received by the digital TV set-top box; And a smart card connected to the conditional access module and performing an electronic payment process according to the billing details.

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

First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible even if displayed on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for reading and paying the amount of use of public materials using an open cable broadcasting system according to the present invention.

The system of the present invention is a public material usage meter reading and opening and closing module 110, meter reading information processing module 112, adjustment module 114, Digital TV Set-Top Box (120), limited reception module ( 130, the smart card module 140, the digital broadcasting head-end server 150, the digital television 160, the remote meter reading and settlement center 170, and the financial server 180.

The public material usage meter reading and opening / closing module 110 is installed at a place using public materials, for example, each household to perform a function of metering the usage of public materials. Public material usage meter reading and switching module 110 according to the type of public materials, electricity usage metering and switching module, water consumption metering and switching module, heating water usage metering and switching module, gas usage metering and switching module, paid information services Open / close modules and the like. Public material usage meter reading and opening and closing module 110 through the meter reading information processing module 190, digital TV set-top box 120, digital broadcasting head and server 150 remote meter reading and settlement center ( 170).

The meter reading information processing module 112 converts the usage data of the public materials read by the public material usage metering and opening / closing module 110 into digital data, formats and stores them, and stores the digital TV set-top box 120 and digital broadcasting. The head end server 150 transmits to the remote meter reading and settlement center 170.

The adjusting module 114 receives data input through the digital TV set-top box 120 and adjusts information on public materials recorded in the public material usage metering and opening / closing module 110 according to the received data. Perform.

The digital TV set-top box 120 receives a digital broadcast provided from the digital broadcast head end server 150 through a cable, satellite, terrestrial wave, and the like, and supports the digital broadcast through the digital television 160. Also, the meter reading information processing module 190 collects and formats the meter reading information and other information generated by the viewer between the broadcasting station and / or the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 through the digital broadcasting head end server 150.

Conditional Access System (CAS) 130 is a module that performs a function of controlling the authority to view digital broadcasting and use of public materials, and includes a user restriction module and a communication device (OOB: Out Of Band) and TV receiver is built in.

In addition, the conditional access module 130 has a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot. The conditional access module 130 is a kind of PCMCIA card module that is inserted into and used in a PCMICA slot provided in the digital TV set-top box 120. In addition, the smart card 140 inserted and used in the PCMCIA card module has an authentication code and electronic money information for authenticating the user of the digital TV set-top box 120. The conditional access module 130 withdraws the authentication code from the smart card 140, and transmits the extracted authentication code to the digital broadcast head end server 150 to transmit the digital TV set-top box 120 from the digital broadcast head end server 150. Perform user authentication.

The limited reception module 130 inserted and used in the digital TV set-top box 120 has a slot for inserting a card, and an electronic money or smart card 140 filled with a currency amount is inserted into the slot for inserting a card. do. The smart card 140 is a form of a credit card made of an IC card defined by the international standard (ISO7816), and charges and pays an amount corresponding to the billing details with electronic money.

The digital broadcasting head end server 150 is installed in a broadcasting station and transmits a digital television signal to the digital TV set-top box 120 through a cable, satellite, and terrestrial wave 125 according to the digital method, and the digital TV set-top box 120. It provides an interactive service that receives the meter data and authentication code from and authenticates it.

The digital television 160 provides various broadcasting data reception and two-way communication services to the user through the digital TV set-top box 120 and the digital broadcasting head end server 150.

The remote meter reading and settlement center 170 is connected to the digital broadcasting head end server 150 by wire or wirelessly. The remote meter reading and settlement center 170 requests transmission of the meter reading data stored in the meter reading information processing module 112 through the digital cable broadcasting head end server 150, and in response, digital broadcast from the digital TV set-top box 120. The meter reading data transmitted through the head end server 150 is collected.

In addition, the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 generates billing details for the amount of collected public materials, smart card 140, conditional access module 130 and digital TV set-top box 120 in the form of electronic payment The fee is collected remotely. The electronic money collected at the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 is notified to the financial server 180 with the user information confirmed from the authentication code delivered with the meter reading data.

The financial server 180 includes a computer server system used by a financial institution such as a bank connected to a freight meter reading and settlement center 170 by wire or wirelessly. The financial server 180 is notified of the billing details generated at the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 through the remote meter reading and settlement center 170, and the billing notice is sent to the digital TV set-top box through the digital broadcasting head end server 150. 120). The financial server 180 inserts the conditional access module 130 in which the smart card 140 is inserted into the digital TV set-top box 120 and charges the smart card 140 according to the received billing details. When the payment is made, the billing details received from the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 are compared with the expenses paid by the user, and when the reasonable cost is paid, the fact of payment is reported to the remote meter reading and settlement center 170.

In the present invention, although the financial server 180 is illustrated and described as being connected to the remote meter reading and settlement center 150, the financial server 180 may be directly wired or wirelessly connected to the remote meter reading and settlement center 170. have. In addition, although it has been described as generating billing details at the remote metering and settlement center 170, the remote metering and settlement center 170 notifies the financial server 180 only of the usage of the public materials, and at the financial server 180 the public materials. It may be configured to generate a billing history corresponding to the usage amount and directly notify the digital TV set-top box 120.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a digital TV set-top box 120 and a conditional access module 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The digital TV set-top box 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a tuner 210, a channel decoder 220, a demodulator 230, a PCMCIA slot 240, a central processing unit 250, and a demux 260. And a decoder unit 270 or the like. The conditional access module 130 also includes a communication device 280, a conditional access control processor 290, and the like.

The tuner 210 tunes to a frequency of a certain radio wave (or electric signal) and selects and receives only a corresponding broadcast signal. The channel decoder 220 extracts a channel desired by a user from among various broadcast signals received under the control of the CPU 250. Including the tuner 210 and the channel decoder 220 may configure a kind of signal input interface. The broadcast signal selected by the tuner 210 is transmitted to the demodulator 230 to undergo a demodulation process. Of course, a demultifler may be added to separate various types of broadcast signals received at the front end of the demodulator 230, for example, an audio signal, a video signal, a data broadcast data signal, and the like.

The PCMCIA slot 240 performs a function of transmitting and receiving various data with the communication device 280 of the conditional access module 120 connected thereto. Here, the data transmitted and received with the PCMCIA slot 240, the authentication code for the user authentication of the digital TV set-top box 120 and the card information for smart card authentication when the smart card 140 is inserted into the conditional access module 120 And payment information.

The central processing unit 250 receives data from a user, receives a predetermined broadcast signal, classifies and demodulates the received broadcast signal, and transmits the received signal to the digital television 160. To control.

The demux 260 performs a function of classifying according to a variety of information data formats read from the PCMCIA slot 240 or the smart card 140, for example, audio data, video data, data for broadcasting data, and the like.

The decoder 270 decodes the data received from the demux 260 using an appropriate decoder and transmits the decoded data to the digital television 160. Accordingly, the decoder unit 270 may preferably include an audio decoder, a video decoder, a data broadcast data decoder, and the like.

The communication device 280 of the conditional access module 120 reads card information recorded in the smart card 140 connected to the conditional access module 120, or transmits card payment information to the smart card 140. Do this. In addition, the data received from the meter reading processing module 112 is transmitted to the digital TV set-top box 120 through the PCMCIA slot 240.

The conditional access control processor 290 receives user information, card information, payment amount information, etc. read from the smart card 140 to which the communication device 280 is connected, performs a predetermined encryption process, and performs a function related to electronic payment. Process.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of reading and paying public material usage using a digital TV broadcasting system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Public material usage metering and opening and closing module 110 installed in each home, etc., the various public material usage meter reading every certain period (S300). The meter reading information processing module 112, the public material usage meter reading and opening and closing module 110 receives and stores the metered public material usage data (S302). The meter reading information processing module 112 transmits the stored public material usage data and user information to the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 through the digital TV set-top box 120 and the digital broadcasting head end server 150 (S304). ).

The remote meter reading and settlement center 170 having received the user information and the public material usage data generates the billing details and the billing notice for each user and transmits them to the digital TV set-top box 120 through the digital broadcasting head-end server 150 ( S306). Here, the billing notice refers to the electronic form, not the material form. The digital TV set-top box 120 receiving the billing notice allows the billing notice to be displayed through the digital television 160 (S308).

The user who confirms the billing notice through the digital television 160 connects (inserts) the smart card 140 to the CA module 130, and the CA module 130 authenticates the authentication recorded in the connected smart card 140. Read the code (S310). The digital TV set-top box 120 transmits the read authentication code to the digital broadcasting head end server 150, and compares it with the user authentication code stored in the digital broadcasting head end server 150 (S312). . When the user authentication is made, the digital broadcasting head end server 1500 transmits a user authentication signal to the digital TV set-top box 120.

The digital TV set-top box 120 receiving the user authentication signal transmits the charge request signal to the conditional access module 130, and the conditional access module 130 receiving the charge request signal transmits the card of the connected smart card 140. The information is read and transmitted to the digital TV set-top box 120 (S314). The digital TV set-top box 120 receiving the card information transmits the received card information to the financial server 180 through the remote meter reading and settlement center 170, and the financial server 180 determines whether the smart card is authenticated. (S316).

If it is determined in step S316 that the smart card is valid, the financial server 180 performs the billing payment using the billing details received from the remote meter reading and settlement center 170 (S318). Otherwise, if it is determined in step S316 that the smart card is invalid, an authentication error code is generated and transmitted to the digital TV set-top box 120 through the digital broadcast head end server 150 (S320).

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, according to the present invention as described above, by using the digital TV set-top box and the conditional access module to transmit the public material usage in the public material usage metering and switching module to the public material remote metering and settlement center of the public material Usage metering and payment can be done automatically.

In addition, it is possible to provide a convenient payment method for the user by paying the bill for the use of public materials used by each material service institution to a financial institution online using a digital TV set-top box and a conditional access module.

Claims (10)

In the meter reading and payment system of public materials, A public material usage meter reading and opening / closing module installed at a place using the public material to read public material usage; A meter reading information processing module which receives the amount of the public material from the public material usage meter reading and opening / closing module, converts it into digital usage data, and stores the converted amount; A digital TV set-top box for receiving and transmitting the digital usage data from the meter reading information processing module or transmitting and receiving charging data; Receiving and transmitting the digital usage data from the digital TV set-top box, receiving one or more signals of a cable broadcast signal, satellite broadcast signal and terrestrial broadcast signal to transmit to the digital TV set-top box to provide an interactive service Digital broadcast head end server; Request transmission of the digital usage data to the meter information processing module connected to the digital cable broadcasting head end server and connected to the digital TV set top box through the digital broadcasting head end server, and according to the request, the digital TV set top box. A remote meter reading and settlement center that collects the digital usage data transmitted from the system and generates billing details and bills for the public materials usage; A conditional access module (CAS) connected to the digital TV set-top box for encrypting and transmitting the digital usage data received by the digital TV set-top box; And A smart card connected to the conditional access module and performing electronic payment processing according to the billing details; Public meter usage remote meter reading and electronic payment system comprising a. The method of claim 1, The digital TV set-top box receives encrypted digital usage data from the connected conditional access module and transmits the encrypted digital usage data to the digital broadcasting head end server, and the remote meter reading and settlement center decrypts the received digital usage data to receive a royalty fee. The billing and payment system for generating and billing bills and bills, and transmits the billing details and bills to the digital TV set-top box through the digital broadcasting head-end server. The method of claim 1, The public material usage metering and payment system, characterized in that at least one of electricity consumption, water consumption, heating hot water usage, gas usage and paid information service usage. The method of claim 1, The public material usage meter reading and opening and closing module is characterized in that at least one of electricity usage meter reading and opening and closing module, water consumption meter reading and opening and closing module, heating water usage meter reading and opening and closing module, gas usage meter reading and opening and closing module and paid information service opening and closing module. Public material usage metering and payment system. The method of claim 1, The conditional access module includes: a communication device (OOB: Out Of Band) for reading card information recorded in the connected smart card or transmitting card payment information to the smart card; And Limited reception control processor that receives user information, card information, and payment amount information read from the connected smart card and processes a function related to electronic payment through an encryption process Public material usage meter reading and payment system comprising a. The method of claim 5, wherein The limited reception module is a public material usage metering and payment system, characterized in that it comprises a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot for transmitting and receiving data with the smart card. The method of claim 1, The smart card is a public code usage meter reading and payment system, characterized in that the authentication code for charging the user and electronic money information is recorded. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital TV set-top box, A tuner (Tuner) which selects and receives only a corresponding broadcast signal by tuning to a frequency of a predetermined broadcast wave; A channel decoder for extracting only a channel having a preset frequency among the received broadcast signals; A demodulator for receiving and demodulating a broadcast signal selected from the tuner; A PCMCIA slot for transmitting and receiving various types of data to and from the CA module; A central processing unit which receives data and receives a predetermined broadcast signal, classifies, demodulates the received broadcast signal, and transmits the digital television; A demultifler for classifying broadcast data received from the PCMCIA slot according to audio data, video data and data broadcasting data; And Decoder unit for decoding the data received from the demux using an appropriate decoder (decoder) to transmit to the digital television Public material usage meter reading and payment system comprising a. The method of claim 1, The public material usage metering and payment system further comprises a financial server that processes the electronic payment information processed by the smart card through the digital broadcasting head end server and the remote metering and settlement center. Meter reading and payment system. The method of claim 9, The financial server compares the billing history received from the remote metering and settlement center with the payment cost transmitted from the smart card to perform billing payment remotely characterized in that the public material usage metering and payment system.