JPH0520075Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a terminal device for a CATV system.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a terminal device of a CATV system in which multiple types of pay program broadcasting with different fee structures are provided.

[Conventional technology]

Inside a hotel where pay program broadcasting is available
The schematic configuration of the CATV system is shown in the block diagram of Figure 2. In the figure, 1 is a broadcasting center room, and 2 is a television antenna. Reference numeral 3 denotes a television public listening system that adjusts the level of the television signal from the television antenna 2 and retransmits it. Reference numeral 4 denotes a video source device for pay program broadcasting, such as a video tape recorder, a video disc player, etc. 5 is a television modulator, and video source equipment 4
The signal from the TV is sent out as a TV frequency signal. 6 is a CATV computer, and 7 is a high frequency modem. Further, 8 is a commander, 9 is an autochanger, and 10 is a mixer. 11 is a bidirectional trunk amplifier, 12 is a branch/distributor, 13 is a hotel guest room, 14 is a CATV terminal, 15 is an operation unit,
16 is a timer-type coin box device, and 17 is a television receiver. The television communal listening system 3 is connected to the mixer 10 , the video source equipment 4 is connected to the television modulator 5 , and the television modulator 5 is connected to the mixer 10 . The CATV computer 6 is a high frequency modem 7
CATV terminal 1 in hotel guest room 13
Data communication is performed with 4. Commander 8 controls autochanger 9, so
The commands from the CATV computer 6 are converted into format and sent to the autochanger 9. The output from the autochanger 9, for example a karaoke program, is supplied to the mixer 10 via the television modulator 5. In the mixer 10, the television signal from the television common listening system 3, the television modulator 5
The TV signal from the high-frequency modem 7, the data signal from the high-frequency modem 7, etc. are mixed, and the output is output to the public listening line in the building, passes through the bidirectional trunk amplifier 11, and is branched off.
Through the distributor 12, each hotel room 13
It is distributed to CATV terminals 14. An operating section 15, a timer-type coin box device 16, and a television receiver 17 are connected to this CATV terminal 14. Next, to explain the outline of the operation, hotel guest room 13
Using the operation unit 15 connected to the CATV terminal 14, customers in Freely select karaoke programs, etc. Usually, the on-air broadcast programs supplied from the antenna 2 and the television public listening system 3 are prepared as free broadcast programs, and include the video programs sent out by the video source equipment 4 and the television modulator 5, and the commander 8. , autochanger 9, television modulator 5
There is a charge for the karaoke programs broadcast by.
This pay program is designed so that the user cannot receive the service unless he or she inserts a coin into a timer-type coin box device 16 and pays the fee. Figure 3 shows CATV terminal 1 installed in a hotel guest room.
4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the coin box device 16 in more detail. In the figure, 18 is a demultiplexer/mixer, 19 is a TV tuner, 20 is a video/audio demodulator, 21 is a TV modulator, 22 is a data modulator/demodulator, 23 is a controller, 24 is a coin discriminator, 25 is a timer, and 26 is a coin accumulation department,
27 is a relay. Broadcast center room 1 to CATV terminal 14
The signal sent to is input to the demultiplexer/mixer 18. Among the transmitted signals, the video and audio signals pass through the television tuner 19, the video and audio demodulator 20, and the television modulator 21, and are sent to the television receiver 1.
7 is output. Further, the control signal is transmitted from the demultiplexer/mixer 18 to the controller 23 through the data modulator/demodulator 22 . In the coin box device 16, when the coin discriminator 24 confirms that a coin has been inserted, the timer 2 is activated.
5 is operated, the relay 27 is closed for a certain period of time, and a contact signal of the relay 27 is given to the controller 23. The coin storage section 26 stores coins from the coin discriminator 24. If the contact signal of the relay 27 of the coin box device 16 is not input to receive a pay broadcast program, the controller 23 of the CATV terminal 14 writes the data of the frequency on which the pay program is broadcast to the TV tuner 19. do not have. Therefore, the coin box device 16
A coin is inserted into the timer 25, and the timer 25 is activated.
Pay broadcast programs can be viewed on the television receiver 17 only during the time when the relay contact is on.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

The CATV terminal device of the conventional in-hotel CATV system is configured as described above, and is configured to use a timer type coin box device as a fee collection means. Inside a traditional hotel
In the CATV system, a timer-type coin box device is used to collect fees and charges are made on an hourly basis, so there is no problem with paid programs such as pay TV programs that are charged on an hourly basis. For paid request-based karaoke broadcast programs, etc., there is a problem that depending on the charging unit time setting, you can sing as many songs as you want, or the song ends midway through, so there is no appropriate charging method. Nakatsuta. Therefore, in CATV systems that provide paid request-based karaoke program broadcasting services such as in-hotel CATV systems, the billing method for this service is not hourly billing using a timer-type coin box device, but an appropriate frequency unit. It has been desired to be able to use a charging method that allows for the charging of customers. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a system in which fee collection is performed by a coin box device and multiple types of pay program broadcasting with different fee structures are provided.
To provide a terminal device for a CATV system in which billing in frequency units and billing in units of time can be performed depending on the type of pay program.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above purpose, in this invention,
A terminal device for a CATV system in which multiple types of pay program broadcasting with different fee structures are provided, the terminal device being composed of a coin box device for collecting fees and a CATV terminal device,
The terminal device includes a control means for determining the type of pay program broadcast being viewed, generating a program type charging pulse, and sending a fee collection control signal to the coin box device, and the coin box device The present invention is characterized by comprising a logic section that receives a toll collection control signal from the computer and performs toll collection control on a time-by-time or frequency-by-time basis, and a coin discrimination section and a coin storage section that accept inserted coins. As a result, the terminal device of the CATV system of the present invention determines the type of pay broadcast program, and based on this determination, generates a program type charging pulse,
Since charge collection control can be performed separately on a time basis and a frequency basis, charges for pay broadcast programs can be appropriately performed and charges can be collected.

【Example】

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the structure of a coin box device and a CATV terminal according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 showing the conventional configuration indicate the same parts, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 15 is an operation unit, and 17 is a television receiver. 18 is a demultiplexer/mixer, 19 is a television tuner, 20 is a video/audio demodulator, 21 is a television modulator, 22 is a data modulator/demodulator, 24 is a coin discriminator, and 26 is a coin storage unit. These are similar to the conventional one shown in FIG. The CATV terminal 29 here is equipped with a controller 28, and the coin box device 30 is
It includes a logic section 31, a frequency unit price setting section 32, and an hourly unit price setting section 33. Unlike the conventional controller 23, the controller 28 determines the type of pay program selected by the operation unit 15, and generates charging pulses in units of time or degrees according to the program type, thereby controlling the logic of the coin box device 30. A control means for sending a toll collection control signal to the section 31 is provided. In addition, the coin box device 30
The logic unit 31 receives set value information from the frequency unit price setting unit 32, set value information from the hourly unit price setting unit 33, and further inputs information on the amount of inserted coins accepted from the coin discriminator 24. , Toll collection control is performed on a time-by-time or frequency-by-time basis based on the toll collection control signal from the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29, and the resulting signal is
It is sent back to the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29. Next, the operation of this invention will be explained. The operation will be explained with reference to the overall system configuration of the in-hotel CATV system shown in FIG. A customer who desires karaoke uses an operation unit 15 from a hotel guest room 13 to request a desired song using a preset karaoke number. When the CATV computer 6 in the broadcasting center room 1 receives the request as karaoke number data via the mixer 10 and high-frequency modem 7, the karaoke number data is read from the CATV computer 6, and the processed song number is It is sent to the autochanger 9 through the commander 8. The autochanger 9 starts playing the desired karaoke song, and the program of this karaoke song is broadcast via the television modulator 5. The CATV terminal 29 in the guest room 13 for which the application was made is sent from the CATV computer 6 to the high-frequency modem 7, further through the demultiplexer/mixer 18, and demodulated by the data modulator/demodulator 22. to automatically select the channel broadcasting the desired karaoke program. In addition, in each CATV terminal 29, the contents of each channel are set by the settings from the CATV computer 6 of the center 1 before the system is started, and the channels from the channel to the channel are free broadcast program channels. The number of channels to which channels are paid video program channels is set, and the number of channels to which channels are karaoke program channels are set. Therefore, CATV terminal 2
The controller 28 of 9 is the CATV of center 1.
Based on the channel selection instruction from the computer 6, the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 determines whether the channel being received is a pay video program channel or a pay karaoke program channel.
Every time channel selection is performed, a pulse for determining whether the selected channel is a pay video program or a karaoke program is sent to the logic section 31 of the coin box device 30. In the coin box device 30, the logic section 31 detects the amount of inserted coins based on the signal from the coin discriminator 24, and compares the amount of inserted coins with the setting value of the frequency unit price setting section 32, or compares the amount of inserted coins with the set value of the frequency unit price setting section 32. Hourly price setting section 33
The comparison with the set value is performed in response to a pay video program/karaoke program discrimination signal from the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29. When the amount of coins inserted is compared with the set value of the unit price setting section and the amount exceeding the set value is inserted, the logic section 31
This notifies the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 of the presence or absence of coins. By the way, even if a karaoke program is selected by the operation unit 15, if there is a shortage of coins or coins are not inserted, for example, "COIN" is displayed on-screen on the television receiver 17. This display will be displayed for 30 seconds after selecting a channel, and if coins are not inserted into the coin box device 30 during that time, it will be considered as a cancellation and the CATV terminal 29
The controller 28 controls the television tuner 19 to select the guide channel or the channel that was originally being viewed. Note that the channel selection for the karaoke program is performed only by a channel selection instruction from the CATV computer 6 of the center 1, and the channel selection cannot be performed by operating the operation unit 15. do not have. Further, when a karaoke program is selected and viewed for 30 seconds or more, a charge pulse for the karaoke program is generated by the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 and sent to the logic section 31. The logic unit 31 subtracts the unit price for one song set in the frequency unit price setting unit 33 from the information on the amount of coins inserted from the coin discriminator 24. As a result, viewing of the karaoke program is valid until the end of one song. If the end signal is not received, the timer is automatically activated, and after the set value has elapsed, the guide channel or the previously viewed channel is selected. After the song of the karaoke program ends, the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 is instructed by the CATV computer 6 of the center 1 to
Select the guide channel or the channel you were previously watching. A customer desiring a pay video program uses an operation unit 15 from a hotel guest room 13 to request a pay video program channel. In this case, the desired channel will be selected immediately and the CATV terminal will
9 controller 28 is a coin box device 30
A pay video discrimination pulse is sent to the logic section 31 of the controller. When the coin box device 30 receives this paid video discrimination pulse, the logic section 31 compares the setting value of the hourly unit price setting section 33 with the input coin amount information from the coin discriminator 24, and the hourly unit price setting section 33 If more coins than the set value have been inserted, the logic section 31 notifies the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 of the presence of coins. If there is a shortage of coins or coins have not been inserted, the TV receiver 17 displays, for example, "COIN" on-screen, similar to when selecting a karaoke program, to prompt the user to insert coins.
This display will be displayed for 30 seconds after selecting a channel, and if coins are not fully inserted into the coin box device 30 during that time, it will be considered as a cancellation.
The controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 controls the TV tuner 19 to provide a guidance channel or
Select the channel you used to watch. Operation unit 1
Within 30 seconds after selecting a paid video program by 5.
When the coin presence status is sent from the logic unit 31 of the coin box device 30 and the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 detects the coin presence status, the controller 28 sends the pay video program to the logic unit 31 of the coin box device 30 after 30 seconds. A charging pulse is sent out, and the logic section 31 subtracts the amount of the hourly unit price set by the hourly unit price setting section 32 from the input coin amount information. and,
While watching a pay video program, this hourly charging pulse is sent to the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29.
From then on, it is sent to the logic section 31 of the coin box device 30 at regular intervals. The logic unit 31 receives this charging pulse every certain time, subtracts the amount of the hourly price from the information on the amount of inserted coins, and when the amount of inserted coins becomes insufficient, the state of no coins is detected on the CATV terminal. 29 controller 2
Let 8 know. In this case, the controller 28 displays, for example, "COIN" on-screen on the television receiver 17 to prompt coin insertion.
This display is performed for 30 seconds, and if the coins are not fully inserted into the coin box device 30 during that time, it is considered to be canceled and the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29 switches to the TV tuner 1.
9 to select the guide channel or the previously viewed channel. This billing panel for charging in units of time is managed and output by a software timer in the controller 28 of the CATV terminal 29. The setting time of this timer is instructed and set by the CATV computer 6 of the center 1. Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, in the description of the above embodiment, the timer for generating hourly billing pulses when viewing a paid video program is set to the controller 2 of the CATV terminal 29.
8 is described as a configuration in which this is performed using a software timer, but it is also possible to have a configuration in which a timer for generating charging pulses in units of time is provided on the coin box device side. The configuration of the coin box device and CATV terminal in that case is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, 15 is an operation unit, 17 is a television receiver, 18 is a demultiplexer/mixer,
19 is a TV tuner, 20 is a video and audio demodulator,
21 is a television modulator, 22 is a data modulator/demodulator, 2
4 is a coin discriminator, 26 is a coin storage unit, 32 is a frequency unit price setting unit, 33 is a time unit price setting unit, 34 is a logic unit, 35 is a coin box device, 36 is a controller, 37 is a CATV terminal, 38 is a timer It is. The basic configuration is the same as the configuration in FIG. 1, but the coin box device 35 here is the same as the coin box device 30 in FIG.
Unlike the above, it is equipped with a timer 38, and the logic section 3
4 and the functions of the controller 36 of the CATV terminal 37 have been changed accordingly. By providing the timer 38 in the coin box device 35, the controller 36 of the CATV terminal 37 can omit part of the process of generating the hourly charging pulse of the fee collection control signal for the coin box device 35, and The logic section 34 of the coin box device 35 performs the billing process. As a result, the configuration of the controller 36 of the CATV terminal 37 is simplified compared to that in FIG. The operations of the coin box device 35 and the CATV terminal 37 shown in FIG. 4 are basically the same as those shown in FIG. Since the generation of hourly billing pulses while viewing a program is mainly controlled by the coin box device 35,
The processing load on the controller 36 of the CATV terminal 37 is reduced, and the charge collection control signal sent from the controller 36 to the coin box device 35 mainly indicates only the program type instead of the charge pulse for the type of program being viewed. It's going to be a good thing.
That is, when viewing a paid video program, the generation of a program type discrimination pulse and the operation when coins are insufficient are the same as those shown in FIG. When the coin is present, the timer 38 operates, and during that time, the logic unit 34 outputs a coin presence signal, and when the coin is absent, the controller 36 of the CATV terminal 37 controls the display of, for example, "COIN". If there is no coin for more than 30 seconds, the guide channel will be selected. In addition, in the above embodiment, the coin box device has two frequency unit price setting sections 32, which set the unit price for one karaoke song, and a time unit price setting section 33, which sets the unit price for a certain period of time for viewing paid video programs. The figure shows one with two unit price setting sections, but
Since the time interval of billing pulses generated in fixed time units can be set arbitrarily, the unit price setting section is shared, and only the frequency unit price setting represents the unit price setting, and the hourly unit price setting is converted by the frequency unit price setting. This may be done by adjusting the time interval between billing pulse generation. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the coin box device and the CATV terminal in this case. In FIG. 5, 15 is an operating section;
7 is a television receiver, 18 is a demultiplexer/mixer, 19 is a television tuner, 20 is a video/audio demodulator, 21 is a television modulator, 24 is a coin discriminator, 26 is a coin storage section, 39 is a logic section, 40 is a Unit price setting section, 41 is coin box device, 42 is CATV
The terminal device 43 is a controller. The basic configuration of these configurations is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, but the coin box device 41 here is
differs from the coin box device 30 in FIG.
3, a single unit price setting section 40 is provided. Correspondingly, the functions of the logic section 39 and the functions of the controller 43 have been partially changed. Controller 43 of CATV terminal 42
Then, the type of pay program is determined, and a program type charging pulse is generated in units of time or units of frequency, and is sent to the logic section 39 of the coin box device 41. The logic unit 39 of the coin box device 41 compares the amount of coins inserted from the coin discriminator 24 with the set value set in the unit price setting unit 40 every time a charge pulse from the controller 43 arrives, and determines the set value. If more coins are inserted,
Outputs coin presence status signal. This enables viewing of paid programs. For example, “COIN” will be displayed for 30 seconds when there is no coin.
If there are no coins after 30 seconds, select the guide channel. Therefore, since these billing processes and fee collection processes are mainly performed by the controller 43 of the CATV terminal 42, the configuration of the coin box device 41 side becomes simple, and the coin box device 41 can be configured at low cost. There is an advantage that can be achieved.

[Effect of the idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention,
The terminal device of the CATV system is composed of a coin box device that collects fees and a CATV terminal device, and is composed of a box device and a CATV terminal device that determines the type of pay program broadcast that the CATV terminal is viewing. , a program type charging pulse is generated, a fee collection control signal is sent to the coin box device, and the coin box device is controlled to collect fees on an hourly or frequency basis. Charges can be set and collected separately for each song, such as for charging per song, and for charging per predetermined time, such as for paid video broadcasting. In addition, the predetermined time setting of the charge unit for this paid video program broadcast is as follows.
Since it can be done from the center to all CATV terminals, the setting time can be easily changed. In addition, in this invention, the generation of billing pulses is
Since the configuration is such that the data is sent from the CATV terminal side, the configuration of the coin box device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a CATV terminal and coin box device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a hotel CATV system, and Figure 3 is a conventional CATV terminal. FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing the configurations of a CATV terminal and a coin box apparatus according to other embodiments of the present invention. 1...Broadcasting center room, 2...TV antenna, 3...TV shared viewing system, 4...Video source equipment, 5...TV modulator, 6...CATV
computer, 7...high frequency modem, 8...commander, 9...auto changer, 10...
Mixer, 11... Bidirectional trunk amplifier, 12... Branch/distributor, 13... Hotel guest room, 14...
CATV terminal, 15... operation unit, 16... coin box device, 17... television receiver, 18...
...Demultiplexer/mixer, 19...TV tuner, 20
...Video audio demodulator, 21 ...TV modulator, 2
2...Data modulator/demodulator, 23...Controller,
24... Coin discriminator, 25... Timer, 26
... Coin storage section, 27 ... Relay, 28 ... Controller, 29 ... CATV terminal, 30 ...
Coin box device, 31...Logic department, 32
... Frequency unit price setting section, 33... Hourly unit price setting section,
34...Logic unit, 35...Coin box device, 36...Controller, 37...CATV terminal, 38...Timer, 39...Logic unit,
40... frequency unit price setting unit, 41... coin box device, 42... CATV terminal device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A terminal device for a CATV system in which multiple types of pay program broadcasting with different fee structures are provided, the terminal device being composed of a coin box device for collecting fees and a CATV terminal device,
The CATV terminal determines the type of pay program broadcasting that is being viewed, generates a program type charging pulse,
a logic unit comprising a control means for sending a fee collection control signal to the coin box device, the coin box device receiving the fee collection control signal from the control means and controlling the fee collection on a time-by-time basis or on a frequency-by-time basis; 1. A terminal device for a CATV system, comprising a coin discriminating section and a coin accumulating section for accepting inserted coins.