DE9417937U1 - Remote control for a receiving device - Google Patents

Description

SCHWABE · SANDMAIR,"..MARX,. _# . .. .

Patent attorneys: :'···· · "j .''..J:.:.

STUNTZSTRASSE16 · D-81677 MUNICH '* ·

Attorney file: 40 372 X We/th

C.I.S. Hotel Communications GmbH

Hohenhorststrasse 1

21337 Luneburg

Remote control for a receiver

The invention relates to a remote control for a receiving device, in particular a television set.

In local networks of reception devices, such as those operated in hotels and clinics as so-called pay-TV networks with individual pay-TV channels in addition to the usual broadcast channels of private and public broadcasters, the recording of the reception or reception times of the channels for which payment is required, namely the pay-TV channels, requires a special technical effort for the pay-TV operator. In known pay-TV systems, the reception times of the individual television sets are routed via a separate line from each television set to a central recording point and from there finally booked to the final bill for a guest or patient at the end of the hotel or clinic stay. This central recording is very complex due to the lines and circuits required for this.

Fax: ·· ·#·■
,T^lex:: (0 89)4 707064 (089)4707120 524 560 {089) 4 70 5009 (089)4706417 Swan d

·460

; j Bayer. Vereinsbank Munich 453100 (bank code 70020270) 1307·46066 · Hypo-Bank Munich 4410122850 (bank code 70020001)

Postgiroamt Munich 653 43-808 (bank code 700100 80)

SCHWABE · SANDMAlR ■ MARX

There are already television sets for which registration cards can be purchased. These registration cards are inserted into a card reader, a so-called sweeper, on the television, which can then be activated. The disadvantage of this solution is that structural changes have to be made to the television itself.

The invention therefore had the task of simplifying and thereby reducing the cost of monitoring the switching on and, if desired, also the recording of the switching on times of individual or all program channels of a receiving device.

This object is solved by the subject matter of claim 1.

According to the invention, a reading device for a data carrier, for example a chip or magnetic stripe card, a punched stripe card, an optical or other suitable data carrier, is arranged in or on a remote control or its housing. Using this data carrier reading device, a program channel of a receiving device is activated if the data carrier inserted in the reading direction has been recognized by it as valid. Particularly preferably, a program button or a power button on the remote control itself is activated.

By arranging the data carrier reader on the remote control, the additional cable systems that were previously used in the well-known pay-TV networks are no longer required, which means that the network itself and its installation can be made considerably simpler and cheaper. There is also no need to convert reception devices, as is unavoidable in the case of card readers that are attached to the device itself. This means that a pay-TV operator can operate his network without disruption until he has remote controls designed according to the invention, which he simply has to replace with his existing remote controls. In particular, when switching from centralized recording to decentralized recording on site, he needs

not to remodel or completely replace their expensive television sets.

The data carrier reader is preferably integrated into the remote control, which is not a problem with a number of commercially available remote controls due to the ample space available. Otherwise, a slightly larger housing would be required for a remote control.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the reading device is designed as a combined reading/writing device. This makes it possible not only to verify the validity of an inserted data carrier through the reading process, but also to write to the data carrier after selecting an activated program channel or an activated button on the remote control in order to register the activation on the data carrier. Such a reading/writing device is particularly preferably connected to a time measuring device in order to note on the data carrier the time units recorded by such a time measuring device, which correspond to the usage time of the activated program channel. The data carrier, on the other hand, has stored as information that one or more program channels are to be activated at all, or the number of activation processes that are still possible or the duration of the usage time still available is stored. It is also in accordance with the invention if the time of activation and the end of the usage time are noted on the card.

It is particularly simple and convenient and pleasant for hotel guests or patients in a clinic or their visitors if the data carrier allows a large number of activation processes or a long period of use. The data carrier can be purchased once by the user and used until the end of its useful life and then simply disposed of. This also brings the greatest rationalization for the operator of the receiving devices to be activated, for example a pay-TV operator. The use of their system does not have to be

SCHWABE ■ SANDMAlR · MARX 4 · · · &idigr; !

are billed individually for each user. Only valid data carriers must be made available or sold. If necessary, the used data carriers can be taken back and put back into circulation after appropriate processing or reprogramming.

The invention is preferably used in pay-TV networks in hotels and clinics. For the purposes of the invention, a "pay-TV network" is understood to mean a locally limited network with its own broadcasting station and television sets connected to it. The broadcasting station produces its own programs, in particular video films, which are distributed to the connected television sets in the local network and can be accessed by users. In addition, each television set can receive program channels transmitted from outside the network. However, the invention can also be used to advantage for recording broadcast times of program channels that are often also referred to simply as "pay-TV" and that cover a large broadcasting area, for example "Premiere".

In conventional pay-TV networks, the television sets have a number of program channels that are received by private or public broadcasters and made available to the user free of charge, as well as a number of paid program channels that are distributed to the individual television sets in the pay-TV network via in-house video systems, for example. In this case, only these paid program channels generally need to be activated, while the other channels can also be used without a valid data carrier.

However, the invention can also be used to advantage in the private sector. It can be used as a child lock. In this case, and also in pay-TV networks, all program channels can be locked and can only be unlocked by inserting a valid data carrier. It is also sufficient to unlock just one central power button, if such a button is available.

SCHWABE ■ SANDMALER ■ MARX

In the case of a local network with receivers that can receive paid program channels, as is the case with pay TV, one remote control is preferably assigned to each specific receiver. This prevents abuse that occurs when a user, after activating his remote control for the first time, switches on additional program channels on other receivers that also have to be activated, without having to pay for these additional uses. There are already receivers on the market that have a receiver that is pre-set to the channel of a specific remote control or can be set to it.

However, since not all manufacturers offer such preset or adjustable devices and the vast majority of devices in use do not yet have this desirable additional feature, a preferred embodiment is proposed, according to which modifications are only to be made to the remote control and an additional transmitting/receiving part is assigned to the receiving device, which, however, does not require any structural changes to the receiving device itself.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the data carrier is "individualized", i.e. can only be used for a given receiving device and in a second embodiment the remote control itself can only be used for a given receiving device.

To identify the receiving device as "operable" or "not operable", a transmitter/receiver is attached to the receiving device or close to it. When the power button or the program button to be activated on the remote control is pressed, the remote control first sends out an identification signal, which is received and identified by this transmitter/receiver. If the transmitter/receiver has recognized the signal received from the remote control as being suitable, it sends an "ok" signal back to the remote control. This signal is received by the remote control.

SCHWABE · SANDMAlR · MARX 6 ****** IZ · *··· '·'·

which, according to the invention, is equipped with a corresponding receiver. Only when such a signal is received and a valid data carrier is recognized by the reading device does the remote control activate.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following figures. Further features and advantages of the invention are disclosed. They show:

Figure 1 shows a remote control according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the remote control according to Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the remote control according to Figure 1,

Figure 4 shows a remote control according to the invention with an additional receiver.

Figure 1 shows a remote control 50 with a slot 32 for inserting a data storage device 40, in the example a chip card, into the area of a reading/writing device 30 integrated into the remote control 50 (Figure 4). The remote control 50 is used to operate a receiver 60 that is connected to a local network, namely a pay-TV network. The remote control 50 has a power button 10 and program buttons 1-9 and 0 as well as unlabeled control buttons, as well as four program buttons Pl - P4 for selecting one of four pay-per-view program channels. The program buttons can easily be replaced by a single rocker button.

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the remote control according to the invention, in which only the paid program channels PTV1 - PTV4 of the television set 60 must first be activated for reception by the user. In the embodiment, activation takes place solely by

SCHWABE · SANDMAlR · MARX 7 · * *** * II * ··!«!·

the activation of the corresponding program buttons Pl - P4 on the side of the remote control, while no structural changes had to be made to the television set 60 in order to block or activate the program channels PTVl - PTV4.

A signal path leads from the program buttons 1-9 and 0, the power button 10 and the pay-TV program buttons Pl - P4 to a transmitter 28 of the remote control 50. The corresponding signal lines 11 - 24, 29 of the buttons mentioned finally lead via the signal line 27 to the transmitter 28, in the exemplary embodiment an infrared transmitter. The transmitter 28 then sends out a characteristic transmission signal S depending on which button has been pressed, which is received by a corresponding receiver 62 of the television set 60. As far as the program buttons 1 - 9, 0 and the power button 10 are concerned, the remote control 50 shown in Figure 2 corresponds to a conventional remote control. The operator can easily select any of the program channels set on the television set 60 and selectable by pressing one of the program buttons. However, the transmitter 28 of the remote control 50 does not receive an input signal via the signal line 27 if one of the pay-TV program buttons Pl - P4 has been pressed and no chip card 4 0 has been inserted through the insertion slot 3 2 indicated in Figure 1.

According to a very simple embodiment of the invention, this is achieved in that the signal lines 21 - 24 from the program keys P1 - P4, which ultimately lead via the signal line 27 to the transmitter 28 of the remote control 50, are interrupted and are only closed by a reading device not shown in the embodiment according to Figure 2, namely when a chip card 40 recognized as valid by this reading device has been properly inserted.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a remote control 50 according to the invention. In this variant, all program buttons 1 - 9, 0 and the power button 10 can be activated using the chip card 40. The further details of the

SCHWABE-SANDMAiR-MARX 8 * I **l * I * * »·&idigr;2·?.

The design variants according to Figure 3 correspond to those according to Figure 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the remote control 50 has a receiver 29 in addition to the transmitter 28. An additional transmitting/receiving part 62 is attached to the television set 60, which receives an identification signal I from the transmitter 28 of the remote control and in turn sends an authorization signal A if the transmitting/receiving part 62 has recognized the identification signal I as a permissible signal; otherwise the transmitting/receiving part 62 remains silent. The transmitting/receiving part 62 can, but does not have to, be physically connected to the television set 60. There is no electrical or other signal connection between the transmitting/receiving part 62 and the television set 60.

This modification should of course only be carried out on receivers that are not already set by the manufacturer to receive the signals of a specific remote control or that are not provided with a setting option, for example for a pay-TV operator.

The remote control 50 shown in Figure 4 has a keypad 25 comparable to the remote control 50 in Figure 1. The signal lines 11 - 24, 29, which are shown individually in Figures 2 and 3, are indicated in Figure 4 by the line bus L. The line bus L is connected to an input of a suitable circuit or a processor 26, which communicates with the read/write device 30 via another data bus 31. The processor 26 receives the information via the line bus L as to which of the keys on the keypad 25 has been pressed. If the pressed button is a button that is to be activated - this can be the pay-TV buttons Pl - P4 or all program buttons - the processor 26 only outputs a control signal to the transmitter 28 via the signal line 27 if it receives the information from the read/write device 30 via the bus 31 that a valid chip card 40 has been inserted.

SCHWABE ■ SANDMAlR · MARX 9 · » " I ! · ·♦···**

In the identification and authorization according to the invention, the transmitter 28 sends out an identification signal I that is individual to the remote control and is intended for the transmitting/receiving part 62 as the first signal. The transmitting/receiving part 62 determines whether the transmitted identification signal I is correct or not. If it is a permissible signal I, the transmitting/receiving part 62 sends an authorization signal A, which is received by the receiver 29 of the remote control 50. The receiver 29 forwards the authorization signal A to the processor 26. Only if the processor 26 has received such an authorization signal A from the receiver 2 9 at the beginning and then the other conditions mentioned above are fulfilled, does the processor pass on a switch-on or program selection signal S to the transmitter 28 of the remote control 50, which in turn sends the signal S to the receiver part 61 of the television set 60. This receiver 61 dd is one of the usual receivers for remote control signals.

Claims (12)

1. Remote control for a receiving device, in particular a television set , marked by a data carrier reading device (30) for activating a Program channel of the receiving device (60). 2. Remote control according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading device (30) is integrated into the remote control (50). 3. Remote control according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data carrier reading device (3 0) is provided for enabling a program key (P1 - P4, 1 - 9) or a power key (0) of the remote control (50). 4. Remote control according to claim 3, characterized in that a signal path from the button (Pl - P4, 1-9, 0) to a transmitter (28) of the remote control (50) is closed when it is released. 5. Remote control according to claim 3, characterized in that a circuit (26), in particular a microprogrammable circuit or a minicomputer, is provided for controlling activation processes, which receives a signal from the reading device (30) via a line (31) that a valid data carrier has been inserted into the reading device (30) or not. Fax: ■ · · : : ···* *. .· (0 89)470 7120 Telex: ' ·** VAT: ·· ..* &Ggr; {089)4 70 70 64 (089)470 6417 524 560 DE 130746066 m Sfll &aacgr; 70 50 09 Swan d Bayer. Vereinsbank Munich 453100 (bank code 70020270) Hypo-Bank Munich 4410122850 (bank code 70020001) Postgiroamt Munich 653 43-808 (bank code 700100 80) SCHWABE ■ SANDMAlR · MARX 2 &idigr;&iacgr;*" * J · * ·.! &iacgr;.&iacgr;. 6. Remote control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading device (3 0) is designed as a combined reading/writing device (3 0). 7. Remote control according to claim 6, characterized in that the read/write device (30) records an activation process on the data carrier (40). 8. Remote control according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the data carrier (40) is a chip card on which the usage time of an activated program channel can be noted or debited. 9. Remote control according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that each program button (P1 - P4, 1-9, 0) and the power button (10) can be enabled. 10. Remote control according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that only selected program keys (P1 - P4) are to be activated. 11. Remote control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a receiver (29) for receiving an authorization signal (A) which is transmitted by a transmitting/receiving part (62) which is assigned to the receiving device (60) to be operated, if this transmitting/receiving part (62) has previously received a permissible identification signal (I) from a transmitter (28) of the remote control (50). 12. Remote control according to claim 11, characterized in that the authorization signal (A) is fed to the circuit (26) and an activation process only takes place if the receiver (29) of the remote control (50) has received an authorization signal (A).