Digital broadcasting receiving apparatus

A digital broadcasting receiving apparatus that can be installed without regard to the location of the telephone outlet where a signal is received by a front-end, reception data is decoded by an A/V decoder, and a video signal and an audio signal are outputted from a D/A converter. Monitor information has been stored in an IC card and is periodically read into a memory by a CPU. Further, the monitor information is transmitted from the memory to a management system by the control of the CPU through a telephone line. A modem and a slave module of a cordless telephone are connected. The monitor information is transmitted between the slave module and an external master unit in a wireless manner. The monitor information is transmitted from the master unit to the management system through the telephone line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus which
 can be applied to a receiving apparatus of a toll broadcasting such as a
 digital satellite broadcasting or the like.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 In recent years, a digital broadcasting system for transmitting multimedia
 data such as image signal, audio signal, and the like by using a
 communicating satellite has been being put into practical use. The present
 invention can be applied to a receiving apparatus of such as a digital
 broadcasting system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a whole
 conventional receiving apparatus of a digital satellite broadcasting.
 In FIG. 1, a receiving antenna 2 receives a radio wave from a communicating
 satellite (or broadcasting satellite). A converter annexed to the antenna
 2 down-converts a reception signal to an IF (intermediate frequency)
 signal of a predetermined frequency and outputs the converted signal to a
 front-end 3. Although not shown, the front-end 3 is constructed by a
 tuner, a demodulating circuit, and an error correcting circuit. A desired
 transponder is selected by the tuner in the front-end 3. A signal from the
 selected transponder is QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) demodulated
 by the demodulating circuit and is, further, error correction processed by
 the error correcting circuit, so that a transport stream output is
 derived. The error corrected output (transport stream) is supplied to a
 descrambling unit 4. A descrambling process for cancelling the scramble is
 performed in the descrambling unit 4.
 A transport stream of MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group) is obtained as
 an output of the descrambling unit 4 and is supplied to a demultiplexer 5.
 In the demultiplexer 5, a packet of a desired program is separated from
 the transport stream and video data, audio data, and control data are
 separated on the basis of information in a header portion. A memory 6 is
 provided so as to be used for a process of the demultiplexer.
 The video/audio data from the demultiplexer 5 is decoded by an audio/video
 decoding unit (A/V decoder) 7 and reception video/audio signals are
 formed. The A/V decoder 7 is a decoder of MPEG2 and a memory 8 is provided
 in association with a process of the A/V decoder 7. The decoded
 video/audio signals are converted into analog video/audio signals by a D/A
 converter 9 and are outputted. An output video signal is supplied to a
 display and a reception video image is displayed. The output audio signal
 is amplified by, for example, an amplifier and is reproduced by a speaker.
 The control data separated by the demultiplexer 5 is supplied to a CPU 10
 serving as an equipment control unit. A memory 11 is provided in
 association with the CPU 10. Further, an interface unit 12 is connected to
 the CPU 10. A remote control signal receiving unit 13, a front panel 14
 equipped with operation keys and the like, and an IC card (security
 module) 15 are connected to the CPU 10 through the interface unit 12. The
 CPU 10 reads out programs from the memory 11 and controls the operation of
 the receiving apparatus. The CPU 10 executes the control of the front-end
 3, descrambling unit 4, demultiplexer 5, and an A/V decoder 7, reception
 of commands from the remote control signal receiving unit 13, display on
 the front panel 14, and reception of the button. As mentioned above, the
 CPU executes the control of the receiving apparatus.
 A modem 16 is connected through the interface unit 12. The modem 16 and a
 modular jack 17 are connected. The modular jack 17 is provided on the rear
 panel of the receiving apparatus 1. The modular jack 17 and a telephone
 line service entrance 18 are connected by a cable. The modem 16 is used to
 transmit viewer information (accounting information and the like) stored
 in the IC card 15 through a telephone line. That is, monitor history
 information such as an accumulated amount of money and the like in the
 case where the viewer monitors a pay-per-view program is stored in the IC
 card 15. When the accumulated money amount reaches a preset upper limit
 value or periodically, the monitor history information which is read out
 from the IC card 15 is transmitted to a management system via the modem
 16.
 Ordinarily, at home, in many cases, there is one service entrance of the
 telephone line and the service entrance is away from the installing
 location of the receiving apparatus of the foregoing digital satellite
 broadcasting. It is, therefore, necessary to place an extension cable and
 to connect the modular jack 17 of the receiving apparatus and the service
 entrance 18. In the case where, on the other hand, there is a service
 entrance at the first floor of a home and the user wants to install the
 receiving apparatus on the second floor, since the extension cable becomes
 too long, it is necessary to perform a construction to install one more
 telephone line service entrance on the wall of the second floor.
 OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a digital
 broadcasting receiving apparatus which can be installed in a location
 independent of the position of a service entrance of a telephone line.
 To solve the above problems, according to the invention, there is provided
 a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus for receiving multiplexed
 digital data, comprising:
 means for receiving a digital broadcasting radio wave and generating
 reception data;
 decoding means for decoding video/audio information from the reception
 data;
 output means for extracting the video/audio information to the outside;
 control means to which a memory and operating means are connected and which
 controls the operation of an equipment; and
 means for transmitting monitor information from the control means by a
 wireless manner to an external equipment connected to a telephone
 transmitting path.
 According to the invention, there is also provided a digital broadcasting
 receiving apparatus for receiving multiplexed digital data, comprising:
 means for receiving a digital broadcasting radio wave and generating
 reception data;
 decoding means for decoding video/audio information from the reception
 data;
 output means for extracting the video/audio information to the outside;
 control means to which a memory and operating means are connected and which
 controls the operation of an equipment;
 means for transmitting monitor information from the control means by a
 wireless manner; and
 an external equipment for receiving the monitor information and
 transmitting it to a management system through a telephone line.
 According to the invention, the monitor information which needs to be
 transmitted to the management system can be transmitted by a wireless
 manner. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the installing location of
 the receiving apparatus from being restricted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 An embodiment of the invention will now be described hereinbelow with
 reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention.
 Reference numeral 100 denotes a whole receiving apparatus according to the
 invention. The receiving apparatus will be described hereinbelow while
 including the overlapped portions with those of the conventional receiving
 apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
 A radio wave from a communicating satellite (or broadcasting satellite) is
 received by the receiving antenna 2. An IF (intermediate frequency) signal
 of a predetermined frequency formed by a converter annexed to the antenna
 2 is generated from the front-end 3. Although not shown, the front-end 3
 is constructed by a tuner, a demodulating circuit, and an error correcting
 circuit. A desired transponder is selected by the tuner in the front-end
 3. A signal from the selected transponder is QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift
 Keying) demodulated by the demodulating circuit and is, further, error
 correction processed by the error correcting circuit, so that a transport
 stream output is derived. The error corrected output (transport stream) is
 supplied to the descrambling unit 4. A scrambling of the transport stream
 is descrambled. The scrambling process is necessary to realize a
 conditional access which is used to control the discrimination about the
 permission or inhibition of the program viewing for every viewer. For
 example, a contract of pay-per-view such that the user views only a
 certain program for pay each time can be realized. A key to descramble has
 been inserted as one of packets into the transport stream in a manner
 similar to the video/audio information.
 A transport stream of MPEG2 is obtained as an output of the descrambling
 unit 4 and is supplied to a demultiplexer 5. In the demultiplexer 5, a
 packet of a desired program is separated from the transport stream and
 video data, audio data, and control data are separated on the basis of
 information in a header portion of each packet. The key for descrambling
 mentioned above is included in the control data. The memory 6 is provided
 in association with the process of the demultiplexer 5.
 The video/audio data separated by the demultiplexer 5 is decoded by the
 audio/video decoding unit (A/V decoder) 7 and reception video/audio
 signals are formed. The A/V decoder 7 is a decoder of MPEG2 and the memory
 8 is provided in association with the process of the A/V decoder 7. The
 decoded video/audio signals are converted into analog video/audio signals
 by the D/A converter 9 and are outputted. An output video signal is
 supplied to a display (CRT) and a reception video image is displayed. The
 output audio signal is amplified by, for example, an amplifier and is
 reproduced by a speaker. A display signal is superimposed to the video
 signal and a numeral or the like of a reception channel is displayed on
 the screen of the display.
 The control data separated by the demultiplexer 5 is supplied to the CPU 10
 serving as an equipment control unit. As a memory 11 connected to the CPU
 10, a flash memory in which a program for an ordinary operation control
 has been stored, a ROM, a RAM which is used as a temporary storing unit
 when the flash memory is rewritten or data from the IC card is read, or
 the like is included. A program for an equipment control is transmitted by
 a digital broadcasting radio wave and the program in the flash memory can
 be rewritten by a loader in the ROM. Further, the interface unit 12 is
 connected to the CPU 10.
 The remote control signal receiving unit 13 for receiving a remote control
 signal by infrared rays, the front panel 14 equipped with operation keys
 and the like, and the IC card (security module) 15 are connected to the
 CPU 10 through the interface unit 12. The CPU 10 reads out the programs
 from the memory 11 and controls the operation of the receiving apparatus.
 The CPU 10 executes the control of the front-end 3 and demultiplexer 5,
 reception of commands from the remote control signal receiving unit 13,
 display on the front panel 14, and reception of the button.
 The modem 16 is connected through the interface unit 12. A modem having a
 speed of, for example, 2400 bps (or 1200 bps) is used as a modem 16. The
 modem 16 and modular jack 17 provided on the rear panel are connected. The
 modular jack 17 and telephone line service entrance 18 can be connected by
 a cable. The modem 16 is provided to perform a two-way communication with
 a customer management system through the telephone line.
 Monitor history information such as an accumulated amount of money and the
 like in the case where the viewer monitors a pay-per-view program is
 stored in the IC card 15. When the accumulated money amount reaches the
 preset upper limit value or periodically, the monitor history information
 which is read out from the IC card 15 is transmitted to an external
 accounting management system via the modem 16. A telephone number of the
 accounting management system is designated by, for example, control data
 which is broadcasted together with the video data and audio data and a
 telephone number of an up-link destination is set for every receiving
 apparatus. In the up-linking process, first, data is read out from the IC
 card 15 and is loaded into the CPU 10 and, subsequently, a communication
 is performed between the CPU 10 and the accounting management system
 through the modem 16 and telephone line.
 The CPU 10 periodically sends a command to confirm the up-link to the IC
 card 15. The IC card 15 responds to the up-link confirmation command, so
 that the data such as telephone number of the accounting management
 system, IC card authorization information, monitor history information,
 and the like is transferred from the IC card 15 to the CPU 1. By
 controlling the modem, the CPU 10 calls the accounting management system,
 transmits a password, and receives a password from the accounting
 management system. The CPU 10 transmits the monitor history information
 data to the accounting management system. When the transmission is
 finished, the line is disconnected. The signal which is transmitted and
 received between the receiving apparatus and the accounting management
 system is a signal modulated by the hexadecimal value QAM (Quadrature
 Amplitude Modulation). All of the data is encrypted for security.
 In the case where the modular jack 17 and telephone line service entrance
 18 are connected by the cable, the monitor information is transmitted by a
 wire method in a manner similar to the conventional receiving apparatus.
 In the invention, as will be explained hereinafter, the monitor
 information can be transmitted in a wireless manner. FIG. 2 shows an
 example of transmitting and receiving the monitor information in a
 wireless manner.
 The monitor control in a toll broadcasting system is performed by a
 scramble authorization system. In this system, individual information
 (EMM: Entitlement Management Message) that is formed on the transmission
 side and is peculiar to the receiving terminal is sent to the viewer
 together with the video and audio data. On the receiving terminal, the
 encryption of the EMM of the same ID as the own ID is decrypted and a work
 key in the EMM is loaded into the IC card. Information of the telephone
 number serving as a foregoing up-link destination of the management system
 is also included in the EMM. A key to decode the EMM is an individual key
 for each receiving terminal and has previously been stored in the IC card
 15.
 In addition to the work key and the telephone number, a contracted channel
 ID and a contract type (provisional contract, pay-per-view, etc.) are
 included in the EMM.
 When a program is monitored, common information (ECM: Entitlement Control
 Message) that is accompanied in the program and is common to the receiving
 terminals is read out and loaded into the IC card 15. If the work key
 corresponding to the channel has previously been stored, the descrambling
 process is executed and the program can be monitored. The individual
 information and common information (hereinafter, referred to as an ECM)
 are transmitted in a form of a packet of the transport stream of MPEG2 in
 a manner similar to the video/audio data. In case of the pay-per-view, as
 mentioned above, the monitor history information is periodically up-loaded
 through the telephone line.
 According to the embodiment of the invention, a slave module 19 of an
 analog cordless telephone is connected to the modem 16. An antenna 20 for
 the analog cordless telephone is connected to the slave module 19. An
 antenna 21 and a master unit 22 of the analog cordless telephone are
 installed within a radio wave reception range of the analog cordless
 telephone. The radio wave is transmitted and received among the master
 unit 22, antennas 20 and 21, and slave module 19. Since the master unit 22
 does not have functions of dialing, speech communication, and the like as
 an ordinary telephone, an ordinary (not a cordless telephone) telephone 23
 is connected to the master unit 22 as necessary. The master unit 22 and
 telephone line service entrance 18 are connected by a cable.
 A partial specific connection between the modem 16 and slave module 19 is
 shown in FIG. 3. A hybrid circuit comprising operational amplifiers 31 and
 32 and resistors 33 and 34 is provided on the line input/output side of
 the modem 16. A transmission signal Tx generated from the modulation side
 of the modem is supplied to a non-inverting input terminal of the
 operational amplifier 31 and its inverting input terminal is connected to
 the ground. An output terminal of the operational amplifier 31 and an
 inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 32 are connected.
 The output terminal of the operational amplifier 31 and a non-inverting
 input terminal of the operational amplifier 32 are connected through the
 resistors 33 and 34. A node of the resistors 33 and 34 is connected to the
 modular jack 17 through a line 35. Further, an output of the operational
 amplifier 32 is supplied as a reception signal Rx to the demodulation side
 of the modem 16.
 The transmission signal Tx from the modulation side is transmitted to the
 telephone line by the hybrid circuit through the line 35 and modular jack
 17, and the reception signal Rx can be also supplied to the demodulation
 side from the telephone line through the modular jack 17 and line 35. The
 transmission signal Tx and reception signal Rx are, for example, signals
 obtained by modulating monitor information (digital data) by the
 hexadecimal value QAM. The hexadecimal value QAM is a modulating system
 for transmitting data of four bits (hexadecimal value) by setting
 amplitudes of two carrier waves which perpendicularly cross at four
 stages. The hexadecimal value QAM is an example of the modulating system
 and another modulating system such as QPSK or the like can be also used.
 Frequencies of the signals (Tx, Rx) modulated by the hexadecimal value QAM
 from the modem are distributed in an audio band (for example, range from
 300 Hz to 3 kHz) which is used in the analog cordless telephone.
 Therefore, the modulated signal is regarded as an audio signal and can be
 transmitted and received by the analog cordless telephone.
 As shown in FIG. 3, the slave module 19 is constructed by a frequency
 modulator 36 for frequency modulating the transmission signal Tx, a
 frequency demodulator 37 for frequency demodulating the reception signal,
 a duplexer 38, and a microcomputer for control (not shown). The frequency
 modulator 36 and frequency demodulator 37 have a construction using a PLL
 and execute a frequency modulation and a frequency demodulation of
 predetermined carrier frequencies, respectively. The duplexer 38 is
 constructed by a buffer amplifier, a band pass filter, and the like,
 transmits the modulated signal from the frequency modulator 36 through the
 antenna 20, and supplies the modulated signal from the antenna 20 to the
 frequency demodulator 37. A frequency modulator and a frequency
 demodulator are also provided for the master unit 22. The data modulated
 by the hexadecimal value QAM is transmitted to the telephone line
 connected to the master unit 22.
 FIG. 4 shows an example in which the invention is applied to a case where
 the monitor information itself lies within a frequency range where it can
 be transmitted by the digital cordless telephone. In this case, the modem
 16 is not provided for a receiving apparatus and the monitor information
 itself which is outputted from the IC card 15 through the I/F unit 12 is
 transmitted and received between the slave module 19 and antenna 20 of the
 digital cordless telephone and the antenna 21 and master unit 22 side. A
 modem 24 is connected to the master unit 22 and the modem 24 is connected
 to the telephone line service entrance 18. The monitor information is
 transmitted between the slave module 19 and master unit 22 by using a
 predetermined digital modulation. In the master unit 22, the monitor
 information which was modulated and transmitted is demodulated and the
 demodulated monitor information is outputted to the modem 24. The monitor
 information is modulated by the modem 24 by a modulating system different
 from the modulating system used for transmission between the slave module
 19 and master unit 22, for example, by the hexadecimal value QAM. The
 ordinary telephone 23 is connected to the modem 24 and can be switched so
 that the ordinary telephone can be used.
 The slave module 19 can be also provided out of the receiver instead of
 providing in the receiver. Further, the function as a telephone can be
 also provided for the slave module 19 by adding a dialing function, a
 speaker, a microphone, and the like thereto. The modem 24 can be omitted
 by making the modulating system between the slave module 19 and master
 unit 22 of the digital cordless telephone coincide with the modulating
 system in the modem 24.
 According to the embodiment of the invention as mentioned above, the
 monitor information can be transmitted by a wireless manner by using the
 digital cordless telephone. In place of the digital cordless telephone, a
 digital cellular phone, a digital simple mobile telephone [what is called
 a PHS (Personal Handyphone System)], or the like can be also used. In case
 of the digital cellular phone or a digital simple mobile telephone, a
 modulating system such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or TDMA
 (Time Division Multiple Access) is used. In this case, the modem 16 of the
 receiving apparatus 1 can be omitted as mentioned above.
 Further, although the embodiment has been described with respect to an
 example of transmitting the video/audio data through the broadcasting
 wave, only one of the video data and the audio data can be also
 transmitted. Data of computer programs can be also transmitted without
 limiting to the video/audio data.
 According to the invention as described above, since the receiving
 apparatus and the telephone line service entrance can be connected in a
 wireless manner, when the receiver and a television receiver are
 installed, arbitrary installing locations can be selected without regard
 to the position of the telephone line service entrance. Therefore, the
 troublesomeness and costs which are required for the installation of an
 extended cable and one more telephone line service entrance can be
 reduced.
 The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments but many
 modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of
 the appended claims of the invention.