JPH08331545A - Catv system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide optimum service to lots of terminal equipments connecting to a center via a network NW. CONSTITUTION: Video sources 11, 11,... of a center equipment 10 are connected to a network NW via reverse tuners 12, 12,... and a controller 14 is provided to be connected to a terminal equipment in two-way. Since the controller 14 transmits each state of viewing disabled, regular viewing enabled and viewing enabled in middle way to the terminal equipment depending on the operating state of the video sources 11, 11,... in matching with a viewing request from the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment is available of viewing in middle way in addition to regular viewing from a start of a video program.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CATV system capable of accurately delivering a predetermined video program according to a request from a terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system for delivering a predetermined video program according to a request from a terminal device is widely known as a so-called video-on-demand system (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-505081).

This system comprises a center device having a plurality of video sources and a terminal device connected to the center device via a network. Each video source is a video crossbar switch having a plurality of input / output terminals. ,
It is connected to the network via the modulation circuit. Therefore, when there is a viewing request for designating a specific video program from an arbitrary terminal device, the center device selects a video source that matches the viewing request and sends the video source to the network via the crossbar switch and the modulation circuit. Connect to. Since the modulation circuit frequency-converts the output signal of the video source into a specific channel, the terminal device can display and service the requested video program. However, it is assumed that the channels receivable by each terminal device are fixedly set in advance for each terminal device, and therefore, when the modulation circuit frequency-converts the output signal of the video source, the modulation circuit is transmitted to the terminal device that issued the viewing request. Select the corresponding channel.

Therefore, in this system, a plurality of terminal devices are not simultaneously connected to one video source,
Able to carry out strict private service of video programs.

[0005]

According to such a conventional technique, since a plurality of terminal devices cannot be simultaneously connected to one video source, the problem that service efficiency for customers is extremely low cannot be avoided. It was
That is, such a video-on-demand system
This is useful when providing pay video programs to a large number of unspecified customers such as hotels and hospitals. However, at these facilities, the behavior patterns of each customer are similar, so it is possible to use specific video programs. This is because it is not possible to deal with such a situation at all, although a plurality of viewing requests are often made in duplicate. It should be noted that when a video program is displayed for a long time, the waiting time becomes long and the problem becomes more serious.

Therefore, in view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to transmit a plurality of states including the possibility of halfway viewing to a terminal device depending on the use state of each video source included in the center device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a CATV system capable of smoothly responding to duplicate viewing requests from terminal devices and significantly improving service efficiency.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object has a center device having a plurality of video sources with a reverse tuner, a television receiver, and a center device via a network. In response to a viewing request from the terminal device, the center device, in response to the viewing request from the terminal device, indicates to the terminal device each of the states of unviewable, normal viewable, and halfway viewable depending on the usage status of the video source. The point is to transmit.

[0008] The center device can also transmit the channels set in the reverse tuner when transmitting the normal viewing permission and the midway viewing permission.

[0009]

According to the structure of the present invention, the center device transmits the states of unviewable, normal viewable, and halfway viewable depending on the usage state of the video source, and the terminal device corresponds to each of these states. Then, it is possible to provide the optimal service. That is, in the case of unviewable,
Although it is impossible to show the requested video program, if the normal viewing and halfway viewing are possible, the normal viewing is allowed from the start of the requested video program, respectively, or
By allowing the requested video program to be viewed from the middle, the service efficiency to the customer can be improved. Here, “regularly viewable” means that the video source that matches the viewing request, that is, the video source corresponding to the requested video program is unused, and that the screening service is available from the start of the video program. The "viewable halfway" means that the video source has already been used by a request of another customer, and the screening service can be performed from the middle of the video program in collaboration with the customer.

When the center device also transmits the channel set to the reverse tuner, the terminal device can show the video program from the center device by tuning to the channel transmitted from the center device. This is because the reverse tuner can frequency-convert the output signal from the video source into the set channel and send it to the network.

[0011]

Embodiments Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The CATV system includes a center device 10,
The terminal device 20 is connected to the center device 10 via the network NW (FIGS. 1 and 2). It is assumed that a large number of terminal devices 20, 20 ... Are connected to the network NW, and each terminal device 20 is a television receiver TV.
have.

The center device 10 includes a plurality of video sources 1
1, 11 ... (FIG. 1). However, each video source 11 is an arbitrary video program reproducing device such as a video tape recorder, a compact disc player, a laser disc player, etc., and the output signal S11 thereof is an appropriate video signal or audio signal of the video program to be reproduced. After being modulated to the carrier frequency, it is input to the corresponding reverse tuner 12. The outputs of the reverse tuners 12, 12, ...
It is connected to the network NW via the mixer 13.

The center device 10 includes a control device 14, which is bidirectionally connected to the network NW via a modem 14a. Also,
The output of the controller 14 is the control signals S4a, S4a ..., S4b,
As S4b ..., They are individually sent to each video source 11 and each reverse tuner 12.

Therefore, the control device 14 can execute an arbitrary control operation including starting / stopping and rewinding of the video source 11 by sending the control signal S4a to each video source 11. Further, the control device 14 frequency-converts the output signal S11 of the corresponding video source 11 into an arbitrary channel by sending the control signal S4b to each reverse tuner 12, and sends it to the network NW via the mixer 13. You can That is, each reverse tuner 12 outputs the output signal S11 from the video source 11.
Is a universal converter for performing frequency conversion into an arbitrary channel, and the output channel from the reverse tuner 12 at this time can be arbitrarily set via the control signal S4b.

Each terminal device 20 has a tuner section 21, a video processing section 22, and a control section 23 as main components (FIG. 2). The network NW is connected to the input side of the tuner unit 21, and the output of the tuner unit 21 is connected to the television receiver TV via the video processing unit 22. The control unit 23 is bidirectionally connected to the network NW via the modem 23a, and the output of the control unit 23 is
The control signals S3a and S3b are individually input to the tuner unit 21 and the video processing unit 22.

The terminal device 20 is provided with an infrared emission type remote controller 24. The output light 24a from the remote controller 24 is received by the light receiving unit 25, and the output of the light receiving unit 25 is input to the control unit 23 as the control signal S3c.

Therefore, when multi-channel video signals are transmitted from the network NW, the tuner section 21 tunes to any one of the channels to extract the video signal of that channel, and the video signal is received by the television receiver. The frequency is converted into a frequency receivable by the TV set, and then transmitted to the TV receiver TV via the video processing unit 22. Therefore, the television receiver TV can select the video signal of a predetermined channel via the tuner unit 21 and show the video program of the selected channel. The channel selected by the tuner section 21 can be set by the control section 23 via the control signal S3a. Also,
The video processing unit 22 can superimpose any display information on the video signal selected by the tuner unit 21, and the content of the display information at that time is controlled by the control unit 23 via the control signal S3b. Can be specified. That is, the control unit 23 can display arbitrary display information on the screen of the television receiver TV via the video processing unit 22.

The remote controller 24 has at least a viewing request button B1, a confirmation button B2, a cancel button B3, an ascending line instruction button B4, and a descending line instruction button B5.
Are included (Fig. 3). However, in addition to these, various predetermined buttons are arranged on the remote controller 24, and these buttons control the television receiver TV via the terminal device 20, or the network NW.
By transmitting necessary information to a host computer (not shown) via the Internet, it can be used to enjoy other broadcasting services or services such as hotel checkout service.

Now, the center device 10 has N video sources 11, 11 ... And each video source 11 has a video program of an appropriate title i (i = 1, 2 ... N, n ≦ N). It is assumed that the video tape etc. is loaded. That is, the center device 10 causes the reverse tuners 12, 12 by reproducing and activating the video sources 11, 11.
The video program of any title i can be sent to the network NW via the mixer 13. In addition, the channel of the video program at this time can be arbitrarily set by each reverse tuner 12.

On the other hand, the control device 14 uses the title table as each video source 11 and each reverse tuner 12 as a title table.
It manages and stores the driving status of (Fig. 4). That is, in the title table, in addition to the title i of a video program such as a video tape loaded in each video source 11, each video source 11 cannot be used for maintenance or the like.
It is unused and usable, and each usage state that is currently in use is also stored. On the other hand, the channels that can be selected in each reverse tuner 12 are m channels with channel numbers 1, 2, ... M as a whole (FIG. 5), and the control device 14 also maintains these channels for maintenance and the like. It is assumed that the channel table is used to manage and store each of the usage states that are unusable, unused, and usable.

Therefore, when the control device 14 sets a specific channel for each reverse tuner 12, the fact that the video source 11 corresponding to the reverse tuner 12 is assigned to the channel is set in the title table as an assigned channel. It can be stored (Fig. 4). In addition, the control device 14 stores information regarding from which terminal device 20 each video source 11 is used by the viewing request, in the item of the video source using terminal in the title table. That is, in the item of the video source using terminal, the identification numbers of one or more terminal devices 20, 20 ... I shall. Note that the control device 14 transmits the contents of the title table to all the terminal devices 20, 20, ... Through the modem 14a and the network NW each time the contents of the title table are updated. Control unit 23
It is assumed that the title table transmitted from the center device 10 is received and stored via the network NW and the modem 23a.

The operation of the CATV system is shown in the program flow charts of FIGS.

First, when the viewing request button B1 on the remote controller 24 is pushed on any terminal device 20, the control unit 23 of the terminal device 20 executes the program shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 23 first
By outputting the control signal S3b to the video processing unit 22, a menu screen is displayed on the screen of the television receiver TV (program step (1) in FIG. 6, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)). , Wait for the viewer to select the title of the video program (2).

Here, the procedure for selecting the title of the video program is as follows, for example. That is, since the guide display screen of FIG. 11A first appears on the television receiver TV, the viewer who sees it displays the remote controller 24.
By pressing the upper confirmation button B2, the control unit 23 displays the screening menu screen of FIG.
Therefore, the viewer may move the cursor to the beginning of an arbitrary title through the ascending instruction button B4 and the descending instruction button B5, and press the confirmation button B2. The screening menu screen may extend over several pages. Further, the control unit 23 can interrupt and terminate the program of FIG. 6 at any time by pressing the cancel button B3 while the guide display screen and the screening menu screen are displayed.

The control unit 23 refers to the title table transmitted from the center device 10 when displaying the screening menu screen. That is, when the video source 11 corresponding to the video program of the specific title i is unavailable, the control unit 23 does not display the title on the screening menu screen, and the video source 11 is already in use. In some cases, for example, by displaying the title in red, it is displayed that only the screening service from the middle of viewing by halfway viewing is possible. When there are a plurality of video sources 11 corresponding to the title i, the titles are not displayed when all of them are unavailable, and the titles are displayed in red when all of them are in use.

When the viewer selects one of the titles on the screening menu screen (program step (2) in FIG. 6), the control section 23 views the center apparatus 10 via the modem 23a and the network NW. A request signal is output (3), and the system waits for the arrival of a viewing permission signal or a viewing disapproval signal from the center device 10 ((4),
(5)). However, in addition to the title number indicating the selected title, the viewing request signal at this time includes the terminal device 20.
Identification number.

When a viewing request signal from any terminal device 20 arrives at the center device 10, the control device 14 of the center device 10 executes the program shown in FIG. The viewing request signal transmitted via the network NW is the modem 14a.
This is because it can be received by the control device 14 via the.

The control device 14 first refers to the title table and uses the video sources 11, 11 ... Corresponding to the title number designated by the viewing request signal, that is, the video sources 11, 11 ... Which match the viewing request. It is checked whether or not it is possible (program step (1) in FIG. 7, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)). That is, the controller 14 cannot find a usable video source 11 (1), and since they are all not in use and unavailable, the video source 1 that is currently in use.
When there is no 1 ((2), (3)), the viewing prohibition signal is transmitted to the terminal device 20 which has transmitted the viewing request signal via the modem 14a and the network NW (4). Therefore, the terminal device 20 at this time determines that the screening service of the designated video program is impossible (program step (5) in FIG. 6), and displays a guide screen to that effect on the TV receiver TV. Then (6), the process ends.

On the other hand, when the control device 14 can find the usable video source 11 that matches the viewing request (program step (1) in FIG. 7), it continues.
By referring to the channel table, it is checked whether or not there is an unused usable channel (5). When there is no available channel (5), another video source in use that plays another video program with the same title.
It is confirmed that there is no 1 (3), the viewing prohibition signal is transmitted (4), and the terminal device 20 displays the guide screen on the television receiver TV as described above, and ends.

When a usable channel exists (5), the video source 11 that matches the viewing request and the usable channel are specified and selected (6), and the reverse tuner corresponding to the video source 11 is selected. When 12 is set, a start command is issued to the video source 11 (7). However, the setting of the reverse tuner 12 at this time means that the output channel of the reverse tuner 12 is set to the channel selected in the program step (6) and the reverse tuner 12 is operated.

Therefore, the video source 11 is the terminal device 2
The playback of the video program of the title requested to be viewed from 0 can be started, and the reverse tuner 12 can frequency-convert the output signal S11 from the video source 11 into a designated channel and send it to the network NW. . In addition, the control device 14 then determines the network NW.
A viewing permission signal and a reproduction start signal are sent to the terminal device 20 which has transmitted the viewing request signal via (8).

At this time, the control unit 14 updates the video source usage status and allocated channel in the title table,
It is assumed that the identification number of the terminal device 20 that has transmitted the viewing request signal is classified as regular viewing and stored. Further, the controller 14 updates the usage status of each channel in the channel table. The viewing permission signal sent to the terminal device 20 includes the identification number of the video source 11 selected in the program step (6) of FIG. 7 and the channel number of the channel set in the reverse tuner 12. And

The control unit 23 of the terminal device 20 receives the viewing permission signal from the center device 10 (program step (4) in FIG. 6), and when it receives the reproduction start signal transmitted at the same time (7), After storing it (8), the control signal S3a is sent to the tuner section 21 to make the tuner section 2
Set 1 (9). That is, the tuner unit 21 at this time can be tuned to the channel corresponding to the channel number included in the viewing permission signal. Therefore,
The tuner unit 21 can extract the channel of the video program that matches the viewing request and send it to the television receiver TV, and the television receiver TV can start the screening service from the start of the video program. The reproduction start signal stored in the program step (8) indicates that the terminal device 20 is in the normal viewing state.

The controller 23 then waits for the preview time to elapse (10). Here, the preview time is
Since it is a fixed trial viewing time, the viewer can make a decision as to whether or not to continue paying for the requested video program by viewing the showing contents within the preview time.

When the preview time has elapsed (10), the control section 23 displays a pay notice screen on the television receiver TV ((11), FIG. 11 (C)). So the viewer
By pressing the confirmation button B2 on the remote controller 24 (12), pay viewing can be continued. At this time, the control unit 23 sends information to a host computer (not shown) to view pay video programs. A billing process for what is done is executed (13).

When the viewer does not properly confirm the pay notification screen (12), for example, when the cancel button B3 is pressed or the confirmation button B2 is not pressed within a predetermined time, control is performed. The unit 23 outputs a viewing cancellation signal to the center device 10 (14), resets the tuner unit 21 (15), and ends the process. The viewing cancellation signal at this time includes the identification number of the terminal device 20 and the identification number of the video source 11 corresponding to the video program of which viewing is canceled. Further, resetting the tuner unit 21 means, for example, the tuner unit 2
It means that the channel to which 1 tunes is reset to a general television broadcasting channel, and then the tuner unit 21
Is an ascending instruction button B4 of the remote controller 24,
By operating the descending instruction button B5 to tune in to an arbitrary TV broadcasting channel, a general TV broadcasting program can be shown on the TV receiver TV.

Further, the control unit 23 has already been activated and is shown in FIG.
Except when executing the program, it is activated any time by pressing the cancel button B3, and when the video program is not being paid for viewing (16), it ends without performing any special operation, but pay viewing When it is in the middle (16), an appropriate screen for cancellation guidance is displayed on the TV receiver TV (17), and it is confirmed that the confirmation button B2 has been pressed correspondingly (18), Similarly, a viewing cancellation signal is output to the center device 10 (14),
The tuner unit 21 can be reset (15).

On the other hand, when the viewing request signal is generated from any of the terminal devices 20, the center device 10 uses all the video sources 11, 11 ... Which match the viewing request (program step (1 in FIG. 7)). ), (2)), or although there are available video sources 11, 11 ... Which meet the viewing request, there is no available channel, and there is a video source 11 currently in use. To do so ((1), (5), (3)), by selecting one video source 11 that is already in use (9),
It is possible to permit halfway viewing from the middle of the video program for which a viewing request has been issued (10).

That is, when the control device 14 selects the video source 11 which is already in use in response to the viewing request from the other terminal device 20 in the program step (9) in FIG. 7, the video source 11 is identified. A viewing permission signal including the number and the corresponding channel number set in the reverse tuner 12 is sent to the terminal device 20 (10). Therefore, the terminal device 20 at this time tunes the tuner unit 21 to the designated channel,
It is possible to execute a screening service by halfway viewing from the middle of the video program requested to be viewed (program steps (4) to (13) in FIG. 6).

In the program step (9) of FIG. 7, if there are a plurality of video sources 11, 11 ... Which match the viewing request, the control device 14 selects the last selected one. It shall be. Also,
When outputting the viewing permission signal in the program step (10), the control device 14 classifies the identification number of the terminal device 20 which has issued the viewing request signal this time into the halfway viewing, with respect to the item of the video source using terminal in the title table. It will be additionally stored.

When the playing time of one video source 11 in the center device 10 has elapsed and the reproduction of the video program is completed, the control device 14 detects this and executes the program of FIG.

That is, the control device 14 refers to the terminal of the video source using terminal of the title table and refers to all the terminal devices 20, 2 using the video source 11.
0, and a reproduction end signal is output to all the terminal devices 20, 20 ... Using the other video source 11 that is reproducing the video program having the same title as the video source 11 (FIG. 8). Program step (1), hereinafter simply referred to as (1)).

Subsequently, the control unit 14 instructs the video source 11 which has finished the reproduction to stop and rewind (2), and the video source 11 is used only for the normal viewing, and the other same. When the video source 11 for playing the video program of the title is not used or is used only for regular viewing and the terminal device 20 being viewed halfway does not exist (3), the playback is ended. The reverse tuner 12 corresponding to the video source 11 is stopped (4), and the channel set in the stopped reverse tuner 12 is released from the busy state to the usable state on the channel table. Also, video source 1
When the rewinding operation of 1 is completed (5), the control device 14
In the title table, the usage state of the video source 11 is released from being used (6), and the identification number of the terminal device 20 being normally viewed and stored in the terminal using the video source is deleted. The pay viewing end processing can be completed.

On the other hand, the control device 14 has at least one terminal device 20 being viewed halfway in the video source 11 whose reproduction of the video program has been completed, or in another video source 11 which is reproducing the video program of the same title. When doing so (3), after the rewinding operation of the video source 11 whose reproduction has been completed is completed (7), the video source 11 is instructed to restart (8). After that, the control device 14 deletes the identification number of the terminal device 20 during normal viewing stored in the item of the terminal using the video source in the title table, and changes the identification number of the terminal device 20 during middle viewing to normal viewing. Reclassify (9). However, the terminal device 2 being viewed halfway at this time
As for 0, a plurality of units may exist.

Subsequently, the control device 14 responds to the terminal devices 20, 20 ...
A reproduction start signal is output (10), and the process ends. Note that the reproduction start signal at this time includes the identification number of the video source 11 that has been rewound and restarted, and the channel number of the channel that has been set in the reverse tuner 12 corresponding thereto.

The control unit 23 of each terminal device 20 controls the center device 1 output in the program step (1) of FIG.
The program of FIG. 9 is executed by receiving the reproduction end signal from 0. The control unit 23 first stores the reproduction start signal (program step (1) in FIG. 9, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), and the terminal device 2
When 0 is in normal viewing, the end screen is displayed on the television receiver TV (2), and the confirmation button B2 is pressed or a predetermined time elapses (3), after which the tuner unit 21 is turned on. Reset (4) and finish.

When the reproduction start signal is not stored (1) and the terminal device 20 is being viewed halfway, the control section 23 causes the television receiver TV to display a standby screen ((5), FIG. 11 (D)), the arrival of the reproduction start signal from the center device 10 is awaited (6). The center device 10 has a video source 11
If the terminal device 20 that is being viewed halfway is present when the reproduction of the video program by (3) is completed (program step (3) in FIG. 8), after rewinding the video source 11 is completed (7), it is restarted. Then (8), since the reproduction start signal is output to the terminal device 20 being viewed halfway (10), the terminal device 20 receives this reproduction start signal (program step (6) in FIG. 9). By storing it (7) and resetting the tuner unit 21 according to the channel number included in the reproduction start signal to erase the standby screen, regular viewing can be resumed from the start of the requested video program. (8).

In the terminal device 20 thus transitioned from the halfway viewing to the normal viewing, the control device 14 of the center device 10 causes the control device 14 of the center device 10 to execute the program steps (1) to (6) in FIG. ), The pay viewing end processing is completed by the procedure described above.

After the preview time of the requested video program has elapsed, or during the pay viewing, the cancel button B
When 3 is pressed, the terminal device 20 moves to the center device 1
A viewing cancellation signal is sent to 0 (program step (14) in FIG. 6). Therefore, the center device 1 at this time
0 executes the program of FIG. 10 by the control device 14.

The control device 14 first searches the title table by the identification number of the video source 11 included in the viewing cancellation signal, and the terminal device 20 that is currently co-viewing by the normal viewing or the halfway viewing of the video source 11 is searched. It is determined whether or not there is another (program step (1) in FIG. 10, hereinafter referred to simply as (1)). When there is no other terminal device 20 being co-viewed (1), the reverse tuner 12 corresponding to the video source 11 is stopped to open the channel in use, and stop rewind to the video source 11. A command is sent (2), after rewinding is completed (3), the video source 11 is released to be usable (4), and the process ends. When the reverse tuner 12 is stopped (2) and the video source 11 is released (4), the control device 14 controls the channel table and the title table as in the program steps (4) and (6) of FIG. Shall be updated at the same time.

On the other hand, when there is another terminal device 20 that is currently performing joint viewing (program step (1) in FIG. 10), the control device 14 indicates that the viewing cancellation signal has been entered in the video source using terminal in the title table. The identification number of the terminal device 20 that has generated is deleted (5), and the process ends.

In the above explanation of the operation, when the video sources 11, 11 for reproducing the video programs of the same specific title are present in the center device 10, the change of the pay viewing mode including the halfway viewing can be illustrated in time series. This is as shown in FIG. However, in FIG. 12, the video sources 11, 11
Are displayed by the identification numbers VTR1 and VTR2, and the terminal devices 20, 20 ... Which issue the viewing request for the video program are identified by the identification numbers X1 and X2 in the order of request.
It is displayed by.

When both the video sources VTR1 and VTR2 are unused and usable, when a viewing request is issued from the terminal device X1, the video source VTR1 is activated (program step (7) in FIG. 7) and the terminal Device X
1 can start normal viewing using the video source VTR1. Next, when a viewing request is issued from the terminal device X2, the video source VTR2 is activated in the same manner (same), and the terminal device X2 receives the video source VTR2.
Can be used to start regular viewing.

After that, when a viewing request is issued from the terminal device X3, both the video sources VTR1 and VTR2 are in use, so that the video source VTR selected later is selected.
2 is selected (program step (9) in FIG. 7), the terminal device X3 can use the video source VTR2 to start halfway viewing of the video program. The same applies when a viewing request is issued from the terminal device X4 thereafter.

When the reproduction of the first selected video source VTR1 is completed, the normal viewing on the terminal device X1 is completed, but at this time, the video program of the same title is being viewed halfway on another video source VTR2. Since the terminal devices X3 and X4 are present, the video source VTR1 that has finished playing is restarted immediately after the rewinding is completed (program step (8) in FIG. 8). Further, at this time, the terminal devices X3 and X4 must receive the reproduction start signal from the center device 10 output after the restart of the video source 11 after being suspended for a while (program step (5) in FIG. 9). With (6), it is possible to shift to regular viewing by the video source VTR1 (8).

When the reproduction of the video source VTR2 is completed, the video source VTR1 and VTR2 at this time do not have terminal devices which are being viewed midway.
TR2 is stopped as it is, rewound, and released to a usable state (program step (6) in FIG. 8). Then, thereafter, if there is a viewing request from the terminal device X5, the terminal device X5 uses the video source VTR2 to start regular viewing (program step (7) in FIG. 7), and so on. it can.

That is, the center device 10 of the present invention is
In response to the viewing request from the terminal device 20, the usage statuses of the video sources 11, 11 ... Which match the viewing request are checked (program steps (1) to (3) in FIG. 7,
(5)), by transmitting each state of unusable, normal viewing enabled, and halfway viewing enabled to the terminal device 20 ((4),
(8), (10), each terminal device 20 can provide the optimal service.

In the above description, when there is a viewing request from the terminal device 20, the control device 14 of the center device 10 causes the terminal device 20 to start halfway viewing (program step (9) in FIG. 7). Instead of selecting the video source 11 selected last, the video source 11 selected first may be selected. Further, at this time, which of the video programs is selected may be specified for each video source 11 depending on the content of the video program requested to be viewed. Some video programs consist of a story that cuts in half if you watch the last part first, and vice versa, no matter where you start watching
This is because some do not cause a big problem.

Further, the control device 14 controls the video source 11
When the reproduction of the video program is finished, or when there is at least one terminal device 20 being viewed halfway in the video source 11 that has finished the reproduction or another video source 11 that is reproducing the video program of the same title ( Program step (3) of FIG. 8), if there is another available video source 11 for playing the video program of the same title,
The channel assigned to the video source 11 that has finished playing is provisionally assigned to the other video source 11, and then the terminal device 20 that is currently viewing the content continues to continue the video program that is being viewed. Alternatively, an inquiry signal may be transmitted as to whether or not to start normal viewing from the start of the video program.

The viewer of the terminal device 20 desiring to shift to the normal viewing is, for example, the remote controller 2
4 is transmitted to the center device 10, and the control device 14 responds to this by transmitting the other video source 11
Is activated, and a viewing permission signal and a reproduction start signal are transmitted to the terminal device 20. Therefore, the terminal device 20 desiring to shift to the normal viewing can promptly start the screening service by the normal viewing without waiting for the completion of the rewinding of the video source 11 that has finished playing. However, the control device 1
When there is no terminal device 20 desiring to shift to regular viewing, the channel 4 may open the channel temporarily assigned to the other video source 11 and wait for the next viewing request.

Similarly, when the terminal device 20 being viewed halfway exists in the video source 11 itself which has finished playing, and there is another available video source 11 for playing the video program of the same title. Allocates the channel assigned to the video source 11 that has finished playing to the other video source 11 and then immediately activates the other video source 11 to watch the video that was present on the video source 11 that finished playing. The terminal device 20 inside can be promptly changed to regular viewing. However, at this time, the terminal device 2 that is currently watching another video source 11 having the same title as the video source 11 that has finished playing
When there is 0, it is preferable that the terminal device 20 be able to select on the terminal device side whether to continue the halfway viewing as it is or to shift to the normal viewing by the newly activated video source 11.

The video source 11 outputs the output signal S11.
For example, the video signal and audio signal of the video program to be reproduced may be output as they are. However, the reverse tuner 12 at this time is a programmable modulator that modulates and outputs a carrier wave corresponding to an arbitrary channel by a video signal and an audio signal from the video source 11, and a control signal S4b from the control device 14. , The channel of the carrier wave can be arbitrarily set.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, in response to a viewing request from the terminal device, the center device cannot view the terminal device due to the usage state of the video source that matches the viewing request. By transmitting each of the viewable state and the halfway viewable state, each terminal device not only performs regular viewing from the start of the video program requested to be viewed,
Since it is possible to view from the middle of a video source that is already in use, even if multiple viewing requests for the same title of video program are duplicated, it can be handled smoothly as a whole, There is an excellent effect that the service efficiency for the can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1] Block system diagram of center device

FIG. 2 is a block system diagram of a terminal device.

[Figure 3] Front view of remote controller

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the title table.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a channel table.

FIG. 6 Program flow chart (1)

FIG. 7: Program flow chart (2)

FIG. 8: Program flow chart (3)

FIG. 9: Program flow chart (4)

FIG. 10: Program flow chart (5)

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram

[Explanation of symbols]

 NW ... Network TV ... TV receiver 10 ... Center device 11 ... Video source 12 ... Reverse tuner 20 ... Terminal device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A center device having a plurality of video sources with a reverse tuner, and a terminal device having a television receiver and connected to the center device via a network, wherein the center device is the terminal device. In response to the viewing request from the CAT, the CAT transmits to the terminal device each status of viewing-disabled, normal-viewable and half-viewable depending on the usage status of the video source that matches the viewing request.
V system. 2. The CATV system according to claim 1, wherein the center device also transmits a channel to be set in the reverse tuner when transmitting the normal viewing enabled and the midway viewing enabled.