KR970010493B1 - Method for receiving ippv program in catv - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for receiving impulse pay per view(IPPV) program in a cable television comprises a first step of transmitting a first key data for converting a scrambled screen televised currently into a normal screen; a second step of checking whether there is a request for the IPPV program and deciding a final result for each subscriber whether there is a request for the program or its cancellation within a request time for a TV watching, predetermined for each subscriber; a third step of deleting the first key data in case there is no a request signal(P) after a finish of the request for the TV watchable time predetermined, and maintaining the first key data as it is and transmitting the normal screen in case there is the request signal(P); a fourth step of transmitting an existence or non-existence of the program request by the subscriber in case a falling for a program in a broadcasting station is begun; a fifth step of receiving a second key data from the broadcasting station in case that the subscriber requests the program, and storing the second key data at the memory; and a sixth step of changing the key data and executing the de-scrambling by the second key data for the sake of a watch of the normal screen in case that a key data conversion signal is applied, thereby so as to watch the TV for a program requested by the subscriber upon its request.

Description

You can apply for cable TV right away.

1 is a block diagram for schematically illustrating the operation of a cable television system according to a method for receiving a paid program which can be immediately applied for according to the present invention.

2 is a flow chart for explaining a method for receiving a payable program that can be immediately applied according to the present invention in cable television broadcasting.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10 descrambling part 11 memory part

12: control unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for receiving a payable program that can be immediately applied for cable television broadcasting, and more particularly, to a method for allowing an applicant to immediately view a payable program that can be applied for.

Cable Television (CATV) generally refers to a system that transmits information such as video and audio to a subscriber by using a transmission medium cable capable of transmitting a wide band such as a coaxial cable and an optical cable. The first generation of retransmission of the method has already passed, and now the second generation of independent broadcasting and the third generation of interactive broadcasting, the fourth generation of CATV and the fifth generation of data bank and home communication connection system are developing. have.

The rapid change in the function of CATV is because the CATV enables information communication with a large amount of transmission capability. In addition to retransmission of existing broadcasts or transmission of independent broadcasting, which are conventional functions of CATV, communication satellites, satellite broadcasting, and high-definition television (High Definition) It is developing into a medium that can respond to advanced and diversified information needs because it has a high affinity with other new media such as Television: HDTV) and personal computer and has a characteristic as a public comprehensive media.

Among the programs of the current CATV broadcasting, the application can be applied immediately. Impulse Pay Per View (IPPV) is a program that determines whether or not to watch during viewing by the subscriber's desire to purchase, unlike the program that is applied on a monthly basis. It is a program that transmits key data only to subscribers who have applied for communication and can view it. At this time, the polling method used when applying for IPPV program is based on 30,000 subscribers per system operator (S / O), and many times until the permission signal is transmitted from the broadcasting station after the viewer's application for IPPV program. Time is wasted. In other words, if you set up the target subscriber among 30,000 subscribers for each system operator (S / O) (step 1), check whether the IPPV program is applied for the target subscriber (step 2), and then apply for the IPPV program It sends down the key, i.e., permission signal (step 3), sets the next target subscriber and repeats the first to third steps (step 4). Therefore, it takes at least a few minutes to normally watch the IPPV program applied for by the target subscriber, and there is a disadvantage in that the subscriber cannot watch the program immediately applied for the program since the subscriber must be in a waiting state until polling starts at the broadcasting station.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for receiving an IPPV program in order to solve the above-described problems, so that subscribers can immediately watch the program that the subscriber applied for in the CATV broadcast.

In order to achieve the above object, an IPPV program receiving method according to the present invention in CATA broadcasting includes a first step of transmitting first key data for converting a scrambled screen that is currently being broadcast to a normal screen; A second step of confirming whether the subscriber applies for the IPPV program and determining whether to apply or cancel the IPPV program within the basic application time for each subscriber; if there is no application data after the basic viewing time ends, the first key data A third step of deleting the data and maintaining the first key data if there is application data, and transmitting a normal screen; if the polling for the IPPV program is started at the station, transmitting the application of the IPPV program by the subscriber. Step 4: receiving a second key data from the broadcasting station when the subscriber applies for an IPPV program, and storing the second key data in a separate memory; And a sixth process of changing key data to perform descrambling by the second key data to view a normal screen when a key data change command is applied.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for schematically explaining the operation of CATV according to the IPPV program receiving method according to the present invention, and is composed of a descrambling 10, a memory unit 11, and a control unit 12. As shown in FIG.

The descrambling unit 10 descrambles the scrambled signal using the first key data, and outputs the restored signal as a result. The memory unit 11 stores the first and second key data transmitted from the broadcasting station, and stores the first and second data stored in response to the mode switch signal S provided from the controller 12 described later. Output to the scrambling unit 10.

The control unit 12 inputs and stores the viewer's IPPV program viewing request signal P, and transmits the viewing request signal P to the broadcasting station in response to a polling signal provided from the broadcasting station. In addition, the controller 12 outputs the mode switch signal S to the memory unit 11 in response to the key switch signal provided from the broadcasting station.

The operation of CATV operated by the IPPV program receiving method according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in more detail.

First, the first key data and the scrambled signal transmitted from the broadcasting station are input to the memory unit 11 and the descrambling unit 10, respectively. In this case, the first key data is stored for a period of time established in the memory unit 11, and the memory unit 11 continuously descrambles the first key data until the mode switching signal S is input from the control unit 12. Output as (10).

Using the first key data provided from the memory unit 11, the descrambling unit 10 descrambles the scrambled data transmitted from the broadcasting station and outputs a restored signal.

Meanwhile, the controller 12 detects whether the viewer inputs the IPPV program viewing request signal P for a predetermined period from the start time of the IPPV program transmission from the broadcasting station. At this time, if the application signal P is not detected during the preset period, the control unit 12 outputs the clear signal C to the memory unit 11, so that the first key data from the memory unit 11 is further increased. Since it is not provided to the descrambling unit 10 above, the viewer cannot watch the IPPV program.

However, when the IPPV program viewing request signal P by the viewer is input within the preset period, the memory unit 11 stores the application symbol P and does not output the clear signal C to the memory unit 11. Viewers can continue to watch the IPPV program.

As described above, the memory unit 11 storing the viewing request signal P transmits the stored viewing request signal P to the broadcasting station when a poly signal indicating a polling state is input from the broadcasting station.

The broadcasting station immediately transmits the second key data to the CATV upon receiving the viewing request signal P of the viewer.

The second key data transmitted from the broadcasting station is input and stored in the memory unit 11.

Subsequently, when the viewing reception time for the IPPV program ends, the broadcasting station transmits a key switch signal, and in response to the key switch signal, the control unit 12 outputs the mode switch signal S. FIG.

In response to the provided mode switching signal S, the memory unit 11 stops outputting the first key data and outputs the stored second data to the descrambling unit 10.

Therefore, the descrambling unit 10 descrambles the scrambled signal continuously using the second key data, and outputs the restored signal to the display unit (not shown).

As a result, by the IPPV program receiving method according to the present invention, the viewer can watch the IPPV program continuously after the application for viewing the IPPV program.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving an IPPV program according to the present invention in CATV broadcasting, comprising: transmitting first key data for converting a currently scrambled screen to a normal screen (step 100); Checking whether the subscriber applies for the IPPV program, and determining whether the subscriber ends the application or cancellation of the IPPV program within the viewing application time (steps 101 to 105), and the application signal after the viewing time is terminated. If there is no P), the first key data is deleted, and if there is application data, the first key data is maintained as it is (steps 106 to 108); when polling for an IPPV program is started at a broadcasting station, Transmitting whether to apply for the IPPV program (steps 109 and 110), and a second key from the broadcasting station when the subscriber applies for the IPPV program. Receiving the data, storing the second key data (steps 111 and 112), and changing the key data when the key data change signal is applied to perform descrambling on the second key data to view a normal screen. It consists of the step (113-115).

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the first process, first key data for transferring the currently scrambled screen to the normal screen is transmitted. (Step 100), in the second process, the control unit 12 checks the subscriber's application for the IPPV program, and at this time, determines whether the subscriber applies or cancels the application within the viewing application time. That is, after determining whether there is an IPPV program application (step 101), if there is an application, the application signal P is stored (step 102), and if there is no application, it is determined whether the preset viewing time is exceeded (step 103). If it is exceeded, the process proceeds to step 106. If the viewing request time is not exceeded in step 103, it is determined whether there is a cancellation of the application for the IPPV program (step 104). If there is a cancellation of application, the application signal P is deleted (step 105). Return to step 100.

In the third process, when there is no viewing application time end signal P, the first key data stored in the memory unit 11 is deleted. Be sure to That is, it is determined whether there is an IPPV program request signal (P) after the preset viewing time (step 106) and if there is no request signal (P), the first key data is deleted so that the original scrambled screen is transmitted. After step 107, the process proceeds to step 109. If there is an application signal P, the first key data is maintained as it is. If there is an application signal P, the first key data is maintained as it is. To be transmitted (step 108). In the fourth process, whether to apply for polling for an IPPV program at a broadcasting station is transmitted. That is, the controller 12 determines whether polling for the IPPV program has been started (step 109), if polling is not started, and returns to step 109, and transmits an application signal P when polling is started. (Step 110). In the fifth process, when the subscriber requests the IPPV program, the subscriber receives the second key data from the broadcasting station and stores the second key data in the memory unit 11. That is, the controller 12 determines whether there is a second key data transmission from the broadcasting station (step 111) and returns to step 111 if there is no second key data transmission, and returns the second key data if there is a second key data transmission. Save (step 112). In the sixth process, when the preset viewing application time ends, the broadcasting station transmits a key data change signal.

In the seventh step, the key data is changed by the key data change signal, descrambled by the second key data, and the normal screen is viewed. That is, the controller 12 determines whether the key data switch signal is applied (step 113), and if the switch signal is not applied, maintains the first key data to transmit the normal screen (step 114), and the switch signal. If is applied, descrambling is performed by changing the second key data.

As described above, in the cable television broadcasting, the IPPV program broadcasting method according to the present invention eliminates the blank period until the subscriber confirms the application by the polling method after the subscriber's application for the IPPV program. It is possible to watch the IPPV program applied for and prevent the city office by the key data transmitted from the broadcasting station.

Claims (1)

1. A cable television comprising: a first step of transmitting first key data for converting a scrambled screen that is currently being broadcast to a normal screen; A second step of confirming whether the subscriber can immediately request the application of the impulse pay per view (IPPV) program and determining whether to end the application or cancellation of the program within a preset viewing time for each subscriber; A third process of deleting the first key data when there is no application signal P after the preset viewing time, and maintaining the first key data as it is so that the normal screen is transmitted; A fourth step of transmitting, at the broadcasting station, whether a program is applied by a subscriber when polling for a program is started; when the subscriber has applied for the program, receiving a second key data from a broadcasting station, and storing the second key data in a memory. A fifth step of storing and descrambled by changing the key data when the key data switch signal is applied; And a sixth process of performing a ring to watch a normal screen.