RU56016U1 - REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM OF PAY TV CHANNELS - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of automation and computer technology and can be used in hotel television systems to provide paid television broadcasting services. A system for remote control of paid television channels, containing k televisions, each of which includes a first PC receiver and channel selector, as well as k remote controls containing a first IR transmitter, characterized in that an encoder, modulator, for the first input are additionally introduced which connects the broadband signal of the cable network, and to the second input-output of the encoder; k prefixes, each of which has a third IR receiver and decoder, the first input of which is connected to the output of the modulator, the second input is connected to the output of the third IR receiver, and the output to the channel selector of the k-th television; in k remote controls: single-crystal microcomputer connected by an address and data bus with random-access memory, read-only memory, display unit, keyboard unit, additional input port, additional output port connected to the first IR transmitter, which is connected to the first IR by an optical channel the receiver of the k-th TV and the third IR receiver of the k-th set-top box, the second IR receiver, the output of which is connected to the input of the additional input port; to the registration point: a computer with software, a second IR transmitter, the input of which is connected to the output of the computer, and the output is an optical channel with the input of the second IR receiver.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of automation and computer technology and can be used in hotel television systems to provide paid television broadcasting services.

These issues are of particular importance in cable television systems, where access control to the network has been and remains a critical issue, which is critical both for collecting subscription fees and for controlling unauthorized access. For this purpose, address coding systems, controlled coupler systems, or a control system at the level of a television receiver are used, when paid channels can be switched on using a remote control (RC). The latter systems are most suitable for hotel complexes, since they are almost an order of magnitude cheaper than the first two systems. Known address coding systems Conax, Irdeto, Mediaguard and others. Among the systems of controlled couplers, LINDSAY Electronics, Leihua Electronics, Chengdu, Electroline can be distinguished.

For a control system at the level of a television receiver, the Philips company solution is known (Fig. 1), which consists in sharing a remote control (RC) and an ITV TV of the same company. Switching to paid and open channels is carried out by Smoovie remote control, which is initially programmed in

work for 1 to 5 days. Activation of the remote control starts from the moment you press any button. After the expiration of the programmed validity period, the remote control is not suitable for further operation. The remote control signal decoder is installed on the TV. The block diagram of the Smoovie remote control is presented in figure 2.

However, this device only works with Philips ITV hotel-type televisions.

The technical result of the utility model is to provide channel switching in a pay-TV system taking into account viewing time for any TV systems having an infrared (IR) port for controlling a channel selector.

The system includes:

- encoder, modulator and k decoders;

- k TVs having an IR port for controlling a channel selector;

- k programmable remote controls;

- registration point (Reception), designed for programming remote control.

The encoder and modulator are installed at the input of the hotel’s common cable television network, and k decoders are installed directly on each TV.

At the registration point, each k-th remote control is programmed for a given time and the number of paid channels. The process of remote control remote control is carried out through an IR interface connected to a computer with appropriate software.

The closest technical solution that meets the requirements of remote control of paid television channels is the Philips system, consisting of k televisions, which include an IR receiver and channel selector, as well as k Smoovie remote controls (www.smoovie.com) containing an IR transmitter .

This goal is achieved by the fact that in the system containing k televisions, each of which includes the first IR receiver and channel selector, as well as k remote controls containing the first IR transmitter, an encoder and a modulator are additionally introduced, the broadband cable signal is connected to its first input network, and the second input-output encoder; k prefixes, each of which has a third IR receiver and decoder, the first input of which is connected to the output of the modulator, the second input is connected to the output of the third IR receiver, and the output to the channel selector of the k-th television; in k remote controls: single-crystal microcomputer connected by an address and data bus with random access memory, read-only memory, display unit, keyboard unit, additional input port, additional output port connected to the first IR transmitter, which is connected via optical channel to the first IR the receiver of the k-th TV and the third IR receiver of the k-th set-top box, the second IR receiver, the output of which is connected to the input

additional input port; to the registration point: a computer with software, a second IR transmitter, the input of which is connected to the output of the computer, and the output is an optical channel with the input of the second IR receiver.

Figure 3 presents the General block diagram of the proposed system, figure 4 is a structural diagram of a programmable remote control.

The system includes: encoder 1, modulator 2, k set-top boxes I as a part of: an additional decoder 3 and a third IR receiver 18, k TVs II as a part: first IR receiver 4, channel selector 5; k programmable remote control IV including: a second IR receiver 6, a first IR transmitter 7, an additional input port 8, a keyboard unit 9, an indication unit 10, a microcomputer 11, read-only memory (ROM) 12, random access memory (RAM) 13, additional output port 14; at registration point III: computer 15, software 16, second IR transmitter 17.

Comparison with the prototype shows that the inventive device is distinguished by the presence of new blocks and their interconnections. Thus, the claimed device meets the criterion of "novelty."

Comparison of the proposed solution with other technical solutions shows that the listed elements used in the blocks are known, however, their introduction in this connection with other elements leads to new capabilities of the product as a whole. This confirms the conformity of the technical solution to the criterion of "significant differences".

The system operates as follows.

The system is divided into four stages:

1. Organization of coding of paid channels of television cable hotel network.

2. Teaching a programmable remote control IV to control the TV of any system that has an infrared port. After training, the remote control that previously worked with the TV can be deleted, and all the functions of controlling the TV will be performed by the new remote control IV.

3. Programming each remote control IV at the request of the hotel client: the number of channels watched, viewing time.

4. Using the remote control IV to view paid (if the service is paid) and free television channels.

From the output of the head equipment of the hotel’s cable television network, a complete RF (Radio Frequency) signal is fed to the input of modulator 3, to the second input of which the signal of encoder 1, which performs the function of analog coding of the selected frequency grid of paid channels, is fed. Encoding is to disrupt the synchronization of "paid" television channels. At the same time, at the output of modulator 3, a spectrum of television channels appears, both synchronized and non-synchronized, that is, only synchronized channels included in the group of open channels can be viewed on the TV.

Teaching the programmable remote control IV to the commands of the old control panel is carried out through the infrared channel between the two panels. In this case, the signals of the old remote control through the IR receiver 6 of the remote control IV are received through the additional input port 8 of the microcomputer 11 and are recorded in read-only memory (ROM) 12. Thus, all the signals of the old control panel are copied to the new remote control. The transmission of the selected control commands is carried out by the microcomputer 11 through an additional output port 14 via the IR transmitter 7.

Remote control IV programming for viewing paid (closed) channels is carried out at the registration point (Reception). Using the appropriate software 16 installed on the computer 15 and the IR transmitter 17 connected to the computer 15, the information is transmitted via the infrared channel to the 1 input of the IR receiver 6 of the remote control IV and then through the additional input port 8, the microcomputer 11 is entered into the random access memory ( RAM) 13, where information about the selected numbers of paid channels and the time they are viewed until the next programming is stored. The choice of channels is made through the keyboard unit 9 and is indicated by the display unit 10.

When you select to view the “paid” channel, the signal from the keyboard unit 9 goes to the additional output port 14 of the microcomputer 11 and turns on the IR transmitter 7, which transmits information to the TV II and STB via the infrared channel. If the “paid” channel is not programmed, the TV does not display it. If it is programmed, then the signal is received by the IR receiver 18 of the prefix I, is decoded (restores synchronization) in the decoder 3 and is fed to the input of the channel selector 5 of TV II.

Thus, the proposed system allows you to remotely control the inclusion of "paid" television channels for any TV models that have an infrared port for receiving remote control commands.

Claims (1)

A system for remote control of paid television channels, comprising k televisions, each of which includes a first infrared (IR) receiver and channel selector, as well as k remote controls containing a first IR transmitter, characterized in that it additionally includes an encoder, modulator, the first input of which connects the broadband signal of the cable network, and the second input-output of the encoder; k prefixes, each of which has a third IR receiver and decoder, the first input of which is connected to the output of the modulator, the second input is connected to the output of the third IR receiver, and the output to the channel selector of the k-th television; in k remote controls: single-crystal microcomputer connected by an address and data bus with random-access memory, read-only memory, display unit, keyboard unit, additional input port, additional output port connected to the first IR transmitter, which is connected to the first IR by an optical channel the receiver of the k-th TV and the third IR receiver of the k-th set-top box, the second IR receiver, the output of which is connected to the input of the additional input port; to the registration point: a computer with software, a second IR transmitter, the input of which is connected to the output of the computer, and the output is an optical channel with the input of the second IR receiver.