JP2008294891A - Digital broadcast receiving system, and digital receiver and card for descrambling and communication that constitute same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast receiver which can be made multifunctional without increasing slots by using differences in shape of adapters inserted into a slot. <P>SOLUTION: The digital broadcast receiver 40 has the slot 47 to which adapters 30 in two kinds of shapes respectively mounted with cards 20 can be mounted, wherein the slot 47 has a detection switch 49 detecting the difference in shape of the mounted adapter 30, and the digital broadcast receiver discriminates that the mounted card is a card for communication when an adapter for 3.3 V is detected and permits a received program to be transmitted to an external device connected to a communication section in the card, while discriminates that the mounted card is a card for descrambling when an adapter for 5 V is detected and permits a predetermined scrambled broadcast to be descrambled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving system including a card, an adapter in which the card is mounted, and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot into which two types of adapters can be mounted.

  In digital television broadcasting services, a conditional access (CA) system is adopted so that only viewers who have paid a predetermined price and have a regular reception contract can view the program correctly.

  In this conditional access system, the program provider side scrambles and transmits the video and audio signals that make up the program, and provides a descrambling card to viewers who have signed a regular reception contract. To do.

  When the viewer inserts the card into the digital broadcast receiving apparatus, the received video signal and audio signal can be descrambled, and the program can be viewed correctly. Examples of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus include a digital tuner, a digital broadcast receiving compatible TV, and a digital broadcast receiving compatible hard disk recorder.

  Also, digital broadcasting systems are not common throughout the world, and different standards are adopted in each region. Therefore, the descrambling card is also different. For example, in Japan, a B-CAS card for descrambling is directly inserted into a slot of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus. In Europe, a descrambling card is inserted into a 5V adapter, and the card is inserted into a digital broadcast receiving apparatus. It is attached to a CI (Common Interface) slot. A 3.3V adapter can also be attached to the CI slot.

  By the way, as PCs (personal computers) are widely used in homes, an increasing number of users are watching TV broadcasts on PCs. A PC with a tuner can be used to watch a TV broadcast, but in order to view a TV broadcast with a PC that does not have a tuner, the TV broadcast received by a set-top box or the like is transmitted to the PC. There is a need. Various proposals have been made for such home systems.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a CATV home unit system including a wireless unit connected to a CATV unit connected to a CATV cable, and a terminal wireless unit that receives a radio wave from the wireless unit and transmits the signal to a PC. Has been.

  For example, in Patent Document 2, when television broadcast program data compressed and encoded by an MPEG2 decoder is received via a bus, content data and television broadcast program data from the Internet are transmitted to a PC in a time-sharing manner by wireless communication. A wireless transmission device is disclosed in which content data and television broadcast program data are transmitted to a PC as independent data.

Further, for example, in Patent Document 3, an extension unit having a wireless local area network (LAN) function for wirelessly connecting to an information processing terminal is added to a cable modem body. There is disclosed a cable modem that is detachably provided by a plug and a connector.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-234028 JP 2003-224739 A JP 2001-53750 A

  As described above, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus requires at least a slot in which a descrambling card can be mounted. Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose means for viewing a television broadcast on a PC. Therefore, when a digital broadcast received by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is transmitted to the PC and viewed on the PC, a slot and a communication unit are required. For example, when a wireless LAN card is used as the communication unit, it is necessary to add a new slot. However, this has a problem of increasing the size of the apparatus and a problem of increasing costs due to an increase in the number of parts.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that enables digital broadcast transmission without increasing the number of slots by effectively utilizing existing slots, and solves the problems of increase in size and cost of the apparatus. . It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcast receiving system including this digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a descrambling / communication card constituting the system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a digital broadcast including a card, an adapter in which the card is mounted, a digital broadcast receiver having a slot into which two types of adapters can be mounted, and a control unit. In the receiving system, the slot includes a detection switch that detects a difference in the shape of the mounted adapter, and the control unit of the digital broadcast receiving device is a communication card when detecting one shape of the adapter. Discriminating and allowing the received program to be transmitted to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card, and if the adapter of the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card and a predetermined scrambled broadcast It is characterized by permitting the release of.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine which of the communication card and the descrambling card is installed using the difference in the shape of the adapter.

  Further, the present invention provides a digital broadcast receiving system including a card, an adapter in which the card is mounted, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot into which two types of adapters can be mounted, and a control unit. Comprises a detection switch for detecting a difference in the shape of the mounted adapter, and when the controller of the digital broadcast receiving device detects one shape of the adapter, it determines that it is a descrambling and communication card, When it is permitted to cancel a predetermined scrambled broadcast and send the received program to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card, and when the adapter of the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descramble card. The release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine which of the descrambling / communication card and the descrambling card is installed using the difference in the shape of the adapter.

  In the above digital broadcast receiving system, it is desirable that the adapter having the one shape is for 3.3V and the adapter having the other shape is for 5V.

  This is because, in the past, European digital broadcast receivers have adopted dual slots for 3.3V and 5V.

  In the digital broadcast receiving system, it is preferable that the detection switch is pressed by the adapter having the one shape and not pressed by the adapter having the other shape.

  According to this configuration, an inexpensive switch such as a tact switch can be used as the detection switch.

  Further, when the present invention is applied to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot and a control unit in which two types of adapters to which cards are attached can be attached, the slot has a shape of the attached adapter. When the controller detects one of the adapters, the controller determines that the adapter is a communication card and transfers the received program to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card. When transmission is permitted and the adapter of the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card, and the release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted.

  Further, when the present invention is applied to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot and a control unit in which two types of adapters to which cards are attached can be attached, the slot has a shape of the attached adapter. When the controller detects one shape of the adapter, the control unit determines that the card is a descrambling / communication card, and cancels a predetermined scrambled broadcast and receives the received program in the card. When an adapter having the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card, and the release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted. .

  Similarly, in the above digital broadcast receiving apparatus, it is desirable that the adapter having the one shape is for 3.3V and the adapter having the other shape is for 5V.

  Similarly, in the above-described digital broadcast receiving apparatus, it is desirable that the detection switch is pressed by the adapter having the one shape and not pressed by the adapter having the other shape.

  The descrambling / communication card of the present invention is installed in a slot of a digital broadcast receiving device via an adapter, and a descramble unit for canceling a predetermined scrambled broadcast, and a program received by the digital broadcast receiving device in the card. And a communication unit for transmitting to an external device connected to the communication unit.

  According to this card, it is possible to provide both functions of descrambling and program transmission.

  According to the present invention, descrambling is permitted when an adapter of one shape and a descrambling card are attached, and reception is performed when an adapter and a communication card of the other shape are attached. By permitting the transmission of the program, it is possible to transmit a digital broadcast without increasing the number of slots and realize a multi-function.

  Further, according to the present invention, when one shape of the adapter and the descrambling card are attached, the descrambling process is permitted, and the other shape of the adapter and the descrambling / communication card is attached. In some cases, by permitting descrambling processing and transmission of the received program, digital broadcasting can be transmitted without increasing the number of slots, and multi-functionalization can be realized.

  Further, since there is no need to increase the number of slots, there is no problem of an increase in the size of the apparatus and an increase in cost.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital broadcast receiving system of the present invention. The digital broadcast receiving system 10 includes a card 20, an adapter 30 to which the card 20 is attached, a digital broadcast receiver 40 to which two types of adapters can be attached, and an antenna 60.

  The digital broadcast receiver 40 includes a tuner unit 41, a demodulation & FEC unit 42, a data separation unit 43, a video / audio decoding unit 44, a video synthesis unit 45, an audio D / A converter 46, and a slot 47. A switching unit 48, a detection switch 49, a control unit 50, and an MPEG codec 51.

  The antenna 60 is connected to the tuner unit, receives a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast, converts it into a broadcast signal that is an electrical signal, and outputs it to the tuner unit 41. The tuner unit 41 extracts a broadcast signal having a frequency indicated by the control unit 50 from the broadcast signal input from the antenna 60, performs frequency conversion on the extracted broadcast signal, generates an intermediate frequency signal, and performs demodulation & FEC. To the unit 42.

  The demodulation & FEC unit 42 performs demodulation and error correction (FEC) on the intermediate frequency signal to generate a TS (transport stream), and outputs it to the data separation unit 43 in the case of a TS that is not scrambled, If the TS is scrambled, it is output to the card 20. When the installed card 20 is a descrambling card or a descrambling / communication card to be described later, the TS is descrambled in the card and output to the data separation unit 43.

  The data separation unit 43 separates video data and audio data from the input TS, and outputs the video data and audio data to the video / audio decoding unit 44. The video / audio decoding unit 44 decodes the input video data and audio data, outputs the decoded video data to the video synthesis unit 45, and outputs the decoded audio data to the audio D / A converter 46. The video / audio decoding unit 44 also outputs the decoded video data and audio data to the control unit 50.

  The video synthesizing unit 45 synthesizes the input video data and the video data generated by itself, and outputs a display signal based on the synthesized data to a display device (not shown). In addition, the video composition unit 45 outputs a display signal based on the video data generated by itself without performing the synthesis. The audio D / A converter 46 converts the input audio data from digital to analog and outputs it to a speaker (not shown). The display device and the speaker may be integrated with the digital broadcast receiving device 40 or may be connected as an external device.

  The slot 47 is a slot into which two types of shapes of adapters 30 can be attached. Here, description will be made assuming that adapters for driving voltages of 5V and 3.3V can be attached. The switching unit 48 is provided between the control unit 50 and the slot 47, and switches circuits for 5V and 3.3V according to an instruction from the control unit 50. The detection switch 49 is provided in the slot 47 and detects a difference in the shape of the adapter 30 attached to the slot 47. Details of the detection switch 49 will be described later.

  The control unit 50 controls the entire digital broadcast receiving apparatus 40, instructs the frequency of the broadcast signal to be extracted to the tuner unit 41, generates image data such as characters and graphics, and outputs it to the video composition unit 45. To do.

  The MPEG codec 51 compresses video data and audio data input from the video / audio decoding unit 44 via the control unit 50 to generate video compressed data and audio compressed data, and these are generated via the slot 47 and the adapter 30. To the card 20.

  The card 20 is a descrambling card provided to viewers who have signed a reception contract, and an accessory of the digital broadcast receiving device 40, which can transmit received programs to an external device such as a PC. Card and a descrambling / communication card having both functions. The descrambling card is used by being attached to a 5V adapter, and the communication card and descrambling / communication card are used by being attached to a 3.3V adapter. The form of the card 20 is not particularly limited, and for example, an IC card, an SD memory card, a CF card, or the like can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a state in which a descrambling card is attached to a 5V adapter, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state in which a communication card is attached to a 3.3V adapter, and FIG. The block diagram of the state in which the descrambling and communication card is mounted on the 3.3V adapter is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the descrambling card 21 is used by being attached to a 5V adapter 31. The descrambling card 21 includes a release key 22 and a descrambling unit 23. The release key 22 is key information for releasing a predetermined program that has been scrambled. Depending on the type of the release key 22, it is possible to release the scrambled program. The descrambling unit 23 descrambles the TS input from the demodulation & FEC unit 42 and outputs it to the data separation unit 43. Subsequent processing can be performed in the same manner as a TS that is not scrambled.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the communication card 25 is used by being attached to a 3.3 V adapter 32. The communication card 25 includes a wireless communication unit 26 that is a communication unit that communicates with an external device, and an antenna 28 is connected to the wireless communication unit 26. As the wireless communication unit 26, for example, a wireless LAN device that transmits / receives data to / from a PC via a wireless LAN can be used. As the wireless LAN device, for example, a device corresponding to a standard such as IEEE802.11b or IEEE802.11a is used. The wireless communication unit 26 transmits video compression data and audio compression data input from the MPEG codec 51 to the PC, and receives a request (command) related to program viewing such as channel selection from the PC.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the descrambling / communication card 27 is mounted on a 3.3V adapter 32 for use. The descrambling / communication card 27 is a card that combines the functions of the descrambling card 21 and the communication card 25, and includes a release key 22, a descrambling unit 23, and a recording unit 26. Yes. According to the descrambling and communication card 27, descrambling processing and communication can be performed.

  5A and 5B are external views of the adapter 31 for 5V, where FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a side view. 6A and 6B are external views of the 3.3V adapter 32, where FIG. 6A is a plan view, FIG. 6B is a front view, and FIG. 6C is a side view. Although not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cards 21 and 25 are inserted from the back side of the adapters 31 and 32 and mounted in the adapters 31 and 32.

  As can be seen by comparing FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, notches 31a and 31b are formed at the front end portions of the right side surfaces of the 5V adapter 31 and the 3.3V adapter 32, respectively, and the thickness of the notch 31a. Is thicker than the thickness of the notch 32a. Other shapes of the 5V adapter 31 and the 3.3V adapter 32 are the same.

  Next, details of the detection switch 49 will be described. 7A and 7B are external views of the detection switch 49 in a state where the 5V adapter 31 is mounted. FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG. 7B is a front view. 8A and 8B are external views of the detection switch 49 with the 3.3V adapter 32 attached, where FIG. 8A is a plan view and FIG. 8B is a front view.

  The detection switch 49 does not touch the notch 31a when the adapters 31 and 32 are attached (see FIG. 7), and is pushed down on the adapter side surface 32b below the notch 32a (see FIG. 8). 47 is disposed on a side surface 47a. The detection switch 49 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and it is desirable that at least the corner of the insertion-side end portion 49a is rounded or formed obliquely. This is because the detection switch 49 is smoothly pressed when the 3.3V adapter 32 is inserted. The detection switch 49 is a switch that is turned off when not pressed and turned on when pressed, and a tact switch or the like can be used.

  The detection switch 49 is not limited to the above-described shape. For example, the detection switch 49 is formed in a rod shape (needle shape) and is pushed in the insertion direction of the adapter 30 so that the back surface 47b of the slot 47 facing the notch 31a. You may arrange in.

  Next, the operation of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 40 relating to descrambling and communication will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast receiver 40.

  First, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the card 20 and the adapter 30 are installed in the slot 47 in step S10. This is determined by a card detect signal input to the control unit 50. For example, the determination can be made by setting the card detect signal to high when nothing is installed in the slot 47 and setting the card detect signal to low when the card 20 and the adapter 30 are installed.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the card 20 and the adapter 30 are not installed in the slot 47, the process proceeds to step S11, and the video and audio are output without descrambling. That is, a program that is not scrambled can be viewed but a program that is scrambled cannot be viewed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the card 20 and the adapter 30 are installed in the slot 47, the process proceeds to step S12, and ON / OFF of the detection switch 49 is determined. If it is determined in step S12 that it is OFF, it can be seen that the 5V adapter 31, that is, the descrambling card 21, is attached, so that the process proceeds to step S13 and descrambling processing is permitted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined to be ON in step S12, it can be seen that either the 3.3V adapter 32, that is, either the communication card 25 or the descrambling / communication card 27 is installed. It is determined whether the card 25 or the descrambling / communication card 27 is installed. For this determination, for example, the control unit 50 outputs a signal for confirming the presence of the descrambling unit 23 to the card and a signal for confirming the existence of the wireless communication unit 26, and there is a response signal from the card. What is necessary is just to discriminate | determine.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the communication card 25 is used, the process proceeds to step S15 to permit transmission of a program from the wireless communication unit 26. If the transmission is permitted, the user can operate the transmission destination PC to transmit a command such as a TV viewing request, and the desired program can be transmitted from the wireless communication unit 26 to the PC, and the program can be viewed on the PC. it can. At this time, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 40 receives the television viewing request from the PC by the wireless communication unit 26 and analyzes that the request received by the control unit 50 is the television viewing request. Then, the control unit 50 generates a command including parameters such as a television channel number and a transmission rate (bit rate of generated code amount) and instructs each unit. Thus, the receiving operation of the digital broadcast program is started by the tuner unit 41, and the received program is finally compressed by the MPEG codec 51 and transmitted from the wireless communication unit 26 to the PC.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the card is a descrambling / communication card 27, the process proceeds to step S16, where descrambling processing and transmission of a program from the wireless communication unit 26 are permitted. The descrambling process and transmission method are the same as described above.

  As described above, when the 5V adapter 31 and the descrambling card 21 are attached, the descrambling process is permitted. When the 3.3V adapter 32 and the communication card 25 are attached, the program When transmission is permitted and the 3.3V adapter 32 and the descrambling / communication card 27 are installed, the descrambling process and transmission of the received program are permitted, thereby enabling digital broadcasting without increasing the number of slots. Transmission is possible and multi-functionalization can be realized. Further, since there is no need to increase the number of slots, there is no problem of an increase in the size of the apparatus and an increase in cost.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MPEG codec 51 is provided in the digital broadcast receiver 40, but it may be provided in the communication card 25 or the descrambling / communication card 27. According to this configuration, since the cost of the digital broadcast receiving device 40 can be suppressed, the burden on the user who does not need the communication function is reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the wireless communication unit 26 is used as the communication unit, but a wired communication unit connected by a LAN wiring or the like may be used. In this case, wiring is connected to the card instead of the antenna.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention can be used for a set-top box, a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a television set, a DVD recorder or an HDD recorder, or a complex machine thereof.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the digital broadcast receiving system of this invention. It is a block diagram in the state where the card for scramble release was attached to the adapter for 5V. It is a block diagram of the state in which the communication card was mounted | worn with the adapter for 3.3V. It is a block diagram in the state where the descrambling and communication card is mounted on the 3.3V adapter. It is an external view of the adapter for 5V, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view. It is an external view of the adapter for 3.3V, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view. It is an external view of the detection switch in the state where the adapter for 5V is attached, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view. It is an external view of the detection switch in the state where the 3.3V adapter is mounted, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a front view. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a digital broadcast receiver.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital broadcast receiving system 20 Card 21 Card for descrambling 25 Communication card 26 Wireless communication part 27 Card for descrambling and communication 30 Adapter 31 Adapter for 5V 32 3.3 Adapter for 3.3V 47 Slot 49 Detection switch

Claims (9)

In a digital broadcast receiving system including a card, an adapter in which the card is mounted, and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot in which two types of adapters can be mounted and a control unit,
The slot includes a detection switch that detects a difference in the shape of the mounted adapter;
The control unit of the digital broadcast receiving device,
If one shape of adapter is detected, it is determined that the adapter is a communication card, and the received program is allowed to be transmitted to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card.
A digital broadcast receiving system characterized in that when an adapter having the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card, and the release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted. In a digital broadcast receiving system including a card, an adapter in which the card is mounted, and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot in which two types of adapters can be mounted and a control unit,
The slot includes a detection switch that detects a difference in the shape of the mounted adapter;
The control unit of the digital broadcast receiving device,
When one shape of adapter is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling / communication card, and a predetermined scrambled broadcast is canceled and the received program is transmitted to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card. Allow,
A digital broadcast receiving system characterized in that when an adapter having the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card, and the release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted.   3. The digital broadcast receiving system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter having the one shape is for 3.3V and the adapter having the other shape is for 5V.   The digital broadcast receiving system according to claim 1, wherein the detection switch is pressed by the adapter having the one shape and is not pressed by the adapter having the other shape. In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot and a control unit in which two types of adapters on which cards are mounted can be mounted,
The slot includes a detection switch that detects a difference in the shape of the mounted adapter;
The controller is
If one shape of adapter is detected, it is determined that the adapter is a communication card, and the received program is allowed to be transmitted to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card.
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus characterized in that when an adapter having the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card, and the release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted. In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a slot and a control unit in which two types of adapters on which cards are mounted can be mounted,
The slot includes a detection switch that detects a difference in the shape of the mounted adapter;
The controller is
When one shape of adapter is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling / communication card, and a predetermined scrambled broadcast is canceled and the received program is transmitted to an external device connected to the communication unit in the card. Allow,
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus characterized in that when an adapter having the other shape is detected, it is determined that the card is a descrambling card, and the release of a predetermined scrambled broadcast is permitted.   7. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the adapter having the one shape is for 3.3V, and the adapter having the other shape is for 5V.   8. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection switch is pressed by the adapter having the one shape and is not pressed by the adapter having the other shape. A descrambling and communication card that is inserted into a slot of a digital broadcast receiver via an adapter,
A descrambling part for canceling a predetermined scrambled broadcast,
A card for descrambling and communication comprising: a communication unit that transmits a program received by a digital broadcast receiving device to an external device connected to a communication unit in the card.

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