KR20040075544A - Method and Device for Changing Smart Card in Set Top Box - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and an apparatus for renewing a smart card of a set-top box are provided to prevent separation of the card and inability of data restoration, which occurs due to a user's carelessness during replacement of the card by automating removal and insertion of the card. CONSTITUTION: A method for renewing the smart card of the set-top box includes the steps of automatically inserting the former card into an interface part of the smart card(S44), storing information of the former card into a system memory(S47), automatically discharging the former card(S48), automatically inserting a new card(S49), and copying the stored information of the former card into the new card(S52). For the above method, a smart card renewing apparatus includes a memory part, a card input and output device for inserting and discharging the smart card, and a micom for inwardly and outwardly moving the smart card when the smart card is mounted to the card input and output device, storing the information of the former card into the memory part, and copying the stored information into the new smart card.

Description

Method and Device for Changing Smart Card in Set Top Box}

The present invention relates to an interface device of a set-top box for receiving satellite broadcasts, and more particularly, in the process of determining whether to receive satellite broadcasts through a set-top box using a smart card, which may occur during a smart card chaining operation. It relates to an interface device and a control method of a set-top box that can prevent errors.

Satellite communication method has been mainly used for international communication, but due to various advantages of satellite communication, it can be used for domestic communication in a country with a large territory or a large city. Satellite communication has emerged as a major medium in the information and telecommunications era, not just as an auxiliary means of the main communication network, because of its high value as a complementary means to the parts that terrestrial networks cannot solve.

As a result, broadcasters providing pay broadcasting using satellite communication have emerged. However, since data transmitted from a broadcasting station is compressed by MPEG, etc., when using a conventional general television receiver, a separate antenna and compressed data received through the antenna are extended, the encoded data is decoded, and NTSC, You need a set-top box that converts it into a standard television signal.

In addition, in order to receive satellite broadcasts using a set-top box and an antenna, a broadcast station must first apply for broadcast reception. When you apply, you can receive satellite broadcasts by sending your smart card to the station and inserting it into your set-top box. These smart cards are replaced with new cards periodically or due to the circumstances of the broadcasting station. This smart card renewal is called chaining.

1 is a flowchart showing a conventional method of replacing an existing smart card with a new smart card. As shown in Fig. 1, first, it is determined whether the card needs to be replaced (S12). When it is necessary to replace the card due to broadcasting station circumstances, first, data stored in the existing card is copied to the RAM of the system (S13). After the contents of the old card are copied, the old card is removed by manual operation (S14). Then, a new card is inserted by manual operation (S15). Then, the data of the old card stored in the RAM is copied to the new card (S16), so that reception of satellite broadcast is controlled by the new card, and the old card can no longer be used.

However, in this series of card replacement processes, if the card is pulled out or unplugged due to user's carelessness or other causes, the replacement process must be restarted. In particular, if such a replacement process is interrupted while writing data to a new card, data recovery is impossible. In this case, the user can solve the problem by contacting the customer center of the broadcasting station, but this solution causes a result of increasing the cost of work from the viewpoint of the user as well as the broadcasting station.

In the conventional solution for preventing such a situation, a method of stopping the operation of the power on / off key by a software method is used. However, even at this time, it is not helpful at all when the card is removed due to carelessness of the user.

The present invention is to solve this problem, by automating the removal and insertion of the card that is manually controlled by the user, by the user's carelessness in the card replacement process and the recovery of the data that can be caused It aims to block the incapacity in advance.

1 is a flowchart showing a conventional method of replacing an existing smart card with a new smart card;

2 is a system configuration diagram of a set-top box,

3 is a block diagram of an interface between a set-top box and a smart card,

4 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling input / output of a card for card replacement according to the present invention; and

5 is a block diagram of a smart card updating apparatus showing a smart card input and output device in detail.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

21: channel portion 22: demultiplexer portion

23: control unit 24: system memory

27: modem unit 28: smart card

31: set-top box 35: smart card interface device

37: smart card interface

S44, S48, S49: card's automatic input / output stage

50: card input and output device 51: feed roller

52: stopper 53: cardholder

54: card detection sensor 55: update control unit

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a card holder for mounting a card at the time of inserting and ejecting an old card and inserting and ejecting a new card when the card is to be replaced. And a card automatic input / output device capable of ejecting the card, and a card interface device and a control method of the set-top box which prevents card detachment or data loss due to user's carelessness by adding an automatic card input / output step to a card replacement process. .

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

2 is a system configuration diagram of the set-top box. As shown in FIG. 2, the channel unit 21 selects a high frequency signal of various bands transmitted from the satellite through the antenna 20, and converts the selected digital signal into image, audio, program guide information, rating information, and the like. Decoded compressed video data separated by the demultiplexer unit 22, the demultiplexer unit 22 to be decoded, and decoded compressed voice data separated by the video processing unit 26 and the demultiplexer unit 22 to be displayed on a monitor screen, and output to the speaker. Audio processing unit 25, a smart card 28 having information such as a program and a viewing time watched by a user through a satellite broadcasting service, and a modem unit 27 for uploading information of the smart card 28 to a service provider. ), The control unit 23 for the overall control, the system memory unit 24 for storing the data necessary for the operation of the control unit 23, to perform a function desired by the user And a remote controller 29 or the like for transmitting a signal to the control unit 23.

Here, the smart card 28 is paid by the paying broadcasting station when the user pays the fee as a recording medium on which the user's unique number, such as a right to receive paying broadcasting, is recorded. In addition, the broadcasting program and the viewing time watched by the user are recorded, and the information of the recorded smart card 28 is transmitted through the modem 27 when the service provider desires it.

3 is a block diagram of an interface between a set-top box and a smart card. As shown in FIG. 3, the interface system is largely divided into a set top box 31, a smart card interface device 35, and a smart card 28. As shown in FIG.

According to the interface system of this structure, the set-top box 10 from the network interface unit 32, the smart card interface device 35 for receiving the user's unique number transmitted from the broadcasting station providing the pay-through via the satellite broadcasting antenna Serial interface unit 34 for receiving the transmitted user's unique number, and the user's unique received from the smart card interface device 35 through the serial number and the user's unique number received from the network interface unit 32 It comprises a microprocessor 33 for comparing the numbers, and determines whether or not to receive the broadcast.

On the other hand, the smart card interface device 35 is detachable to the set-top box 31, the serial interface unit 36 for communicating with the set-top box 31, the smart card interface unit for interfacing with the smart card 28 ( 37) and a microcomputer 38 for reading the user identification number recorded in the smart card 39 and outputting it to the serial interface unit 36.

Looking at the basic operation of the smart card interface device, reading the user identification number from the smart card 28, receiving the user identification number from the network, comparing the two user identification numbers to determine whether to start the broadcast reception Consists of steps.

In the use of such a smart card interface device, when the old card is to be replaced with a new card, it is necessary to copy the old card storage contents such as the card unique number to the new card.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling input / output of a card for card replacement according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, when it is necessary to replace the smart card due to the circumstances of the broadcasting station (S42), if the old card is first mounted on the card holder of the card input and output device to detect the insertion of the smart card by the sensor The smart card is automatically inserted (S44). At this time, the smart card is completely inserted into the interface device, and if the smart card is forcibly released by the user after the smart card is inserted, unless the user presses a separate cancel button and the inserted smart card is not discharged. none. The smart card automatic input / output device used here may be used exclusively for the card automatic input / output device of an ATM (Auto Teller Machine) used in the field of financial services. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the smart card input / output device includes a card holder 53 on which the smart card 28 is mounted, a card detection sensor 54 that detects whether the smart card is mounted on the card holder, and a card. A plurality of feed rollers 51 for moving the card holder 53 to the inside according to the signal of the sensor 54, a stopper 52 for fixing the card holder to a predetermined position therein, and a drive motor for driving the feed rollers ( Not shown).

When the old card is fully inserted, the old card is checked for validity (S45). If there is a problem with the old card, an error message is displayed (S46). If there is no problem, the old card information is stored in the system memory (S47), and the old card is automatically ejected by the operation of the card input / output device (S48). .

If the information of the old card is effectively stored, a new card received from the broadcasting station is inserted into the card input / output device (S49). At this time, the scene card is completely inserted into the card input / output device by the operation of the input / output device.

When the scene card is completely inserted into the input / output device, the validity of the scene card is checked (S50). If there is an error in the validity of the new card, an error message is displayed (S51). If there is no error, the information of the old card stored in the system memory is copied to the new card (S52). When copying to the new card is completed without abnormal information on the old card, a replacement confirmation message is displayed (S53).

According to the above configuration and control method, the chaining of the smart card is changed from manual to automatic, thereby completely eliminating card detachment and inability to recover data due to user's carelessness during the card replacement process. You can prevent it. Through this, it improves the convenience of using the set-top box for the user, and reduces the unnecessary work for the broadcasting station, thereby improving the work efficiency and reducing the cost.

Claims (5)

In the method of updating the smart card used in the set-top box, Automatically inserting the old card into the interface of the smart card; Storing the information of the old card in the system memory; Automatically ejecting the old card; Automatically inserting a scene card; And Smart card update method of the set-top box comprising the step of copying the old card information stored in the new card. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic insertion of the scene card Smart card update method of the set-top box, characterized in that the entire new card is inserted into the interface. The method of claim 2, The smart card update of the set-top box further comprises the step of determining the validity of the old card after the old card automatic insertion step, and the step of determining the validity of the new card after the new card automatic insertion step. Way. In the smart card interface device that can renew the smart card used in the set-top box, A memory unit; Card I / O device for inserting and ejecting smart card: And When the smart card is installed in the card I / O device, the smart card interface of the set top box includes a micom for moving the smart card in and out, and storing the information of the old smart card in the memory unit and copying it to the new smart card. Device. The card input and output device of claim 4, wherein A card holder equipped with a smart card; A card detection sensor for detecting whether a smart card is mounted in the card holder; A plurality of transfer rollers for moving the card holder inward according to a detection signal of the card detection sensor; A stopper for fixing the card holder to an internal predetermined position; And Smart card interface device of the set-top box comprising a motor for driving the feed roller.