Apparatus for receiving scrambled signals and recording method

Abstract: It is checked whether recording by a recording apparatus is or is not feasible on the basis of the results of decision of whether scrambled reception signals can be descrambled. Recording is discontinued when it is decided that descrambling is not feasible to prevent wasteful recording. It may be checked visually and/or audibly whether or not descrambling has been made to apprize the user of the fact that descrambling has not been feasible.

Description: This invention relates to a receiving apparatus for receiving television broadcast signals of a so-called chargeable broadcasting system, and a recording method. The conventional chargeable broadcasting system for e.g. television broadcasting is a system in which viewers desire to view particular broadcasting and conclude a fee-paying reception contract with the broadcasting company to receive broadcasting services and is called a pay service, pay television or limited reception system. In a broadcasting system over a cable, such as a cable television system (CATV), belonging to the chargeable broadcasting system, reception can be controlled by cable connection. However, on radio or cable-less broadcasting, the same electric waves also arrive at a non-subscriber. For this reason, broadcast signals are scrambled so that the program may not be viewed by non-subscribers. Besides, if a particular program is charged in CATV by a particular charging system, means for scrambling signals is similarly required. If the signals are scrambled in this manner, the contracting subscribers receive regular program signals using a decoder. The above-mentioned chargeable broadcasting is put to practical use by e.g. a pay cable for a cable system and by e.g. a subscription television (STV) for a surface radio system. Broadcasting by a direct broadcasting satellite is under investigation. When the program supplying company distributes head-end CATV programs of a number of territories by communication satellites, scrambling is introduced for preventing reception by non-subscribers. It is noted that signal scrambling is frequently controlled by pseudo random (PN) signal series (scrambling signal series) for elevating safety. The receiving side descrambles the scrambled signals using the same signal series (in this case, descrambling series) for reproducing the original signals. Scramble keys are sent to the receiving side for generating the PN signal series. Besides, it is necessary with the chargeable broadcasting system to control descrambling based on the contents of the contract of the respective subscribers, such as services, contract terms or prepaid amounts. The information required for this purpose is also transmitted to the receiver. The information for controlling scramble keys or chargeable broadcasting is termed the pertinent information. The media used for transmission of the pertinent information include physical media such as a wireless medium by electric waves, a magnetic card or IC card, and cable media such as telephone lines. These media are different in their characteristics, such as rates of transmission, volume of information, reliability in transmission and bidirectionality. Transmission of personal information to each receiver by electric waves is generally termed addressing by electric waves. When the personal information is transmitted by electric waves, high transmission reliability is of utmost importance because scrambled broadcasting signals cannot be descrambled unless the pertinent information is received, and some information is direct monetary information. It is noted that the pertinent information in the current television scrambling transmission system may be typified by, for example, program information containing the information concerning the program and the scramble key, control information for instructing forced on/off of the descrambling function of the decoder, personal information having a work key for decoding the contract information and the common information (i.e. both the program information and the control information) for each subscriber and message information for additionally displaying the information concerning the chargeable broadcasting services at the receiving side. It is noted that the personal information is coded by a master key allocated to each subscriber when the information is distributed by electric waves. The pertinent information is transmitted. by electric waves by packet transformation over data channels. The pertinent information in the scrambling transmission system for high definition television system is the information similar to the above-mentioned current television scrambling transmission system and its transmitted by electric waves by packett transmission over data channels. Meanwhile, if the usual receiver for chargeable broadcasting is combined with e.g. a video tape recorder or a cassette tape recorder and the chargeable broadcasting is to be recorded by these recorders, the recorders record the signals no matter whether the signals, which are in the scrambled state, may be descrambled or not. If the signals are recorded in the non-descrambled state, and reproduced subsequently, the signals recorded on the video tape recorder become striped patterns with no sound reproduction, while those recorded on the cassette tape recorder become silent signals. In other words, the program has not been recorded on the tape. Above all, in the case of appointment recording using a timer or take-care recording for absence, recording is not made with the user actually checking the state or contents of recording. On the other hand, when setting the appointment recording or take-care recording for absence, it may occur that the program channel or broadcasting time and, in the case of satellite broadcasting, the particular satellite (if there are plural satellites) or the scrambling contract conditions, may be set in a mistaken manner by the user. In such case, there is a risk that, even if the user feels that recording has been made as he set, recording is actually not made. Such risk is particularly high when only a certain program becomes chargeable in accordance with a pay-per program contract. EP-A-0 338 866 and EP-A-0 508 394 (which is prior art by virtue of Article 54(3) EPC) disclose apparatus in accordance with the precharacterising portion of claims 1 and 7. EP-A-0 338 866 discloses the use in the receiver of means for checking a predetermined data code in the incoming scrambled signal, and if it is present switching on the recorder. EP-A-0 508 394 discloses checking whether a program has been selected by a user, and if it has, switching on the recorder. In view of the above-described status of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a receiving apparatus and a recording method in which, when the receiving apparatus is combined with recording apparatus, it becomes possible to prevent mistaken recording from being produced as a consequence of failure in descrambling. According to the present invention, there is provided a receiving apparatus for receiving scrambled signals and for supplying received signals to a recording apparatus connected thereto, said receiving apparatus comprising descrambling means for descrambling said scrambled signals, decision means for deciding whether or not said scrambled signals can be descrambled, and controlling means for controlling a recording operation of said recording apparatus based on the results of decision by said decision means, characterised in that said controlling means includes means for receiving a signal indicating whether said recording apparatus is on or off, and is adapted to initiate the operation of said descrambling means and said decision means only if the recording apparatus is on. The invention also provides a timer recording method for starting recording on recording apparatus of descrambled signals based on a preset timing, comprising the steps of:- A) determining if the recording apparatus is in the timer recording mode, B) determining whether the recording apparatus is on or off, C) receiving scrambled signals, D) deciding whether or not the received signals can be descrambled, and E) if said signals cannot be descrambled carrying out at least one of steps of issuing an alarm, aborting the recording and issuing a message, characterised in that steps D) and E) are only executed if it is determined that the mode is the timer recording mode and that the recording apparatus is on. Thus, with the timer recording method,if the result of decision by decision means becomes negative, it can display a message to the effect that the descrambling has not been feasible on display means as visual recognition means, or issue an alarm by issuing an alarm sound by pronunciation means for audible recognition, or abort the recording operation by the recording apparatus or a combination of these. In one embodiment, if the recording apparatus is in the timer recording mode, and the result of decision becomes negative when the timer times out to initiate recording, the control means discontinues the timer recording to cause the message of that effect to persist. The receiving apparatus can be arranged that, when the program of e.g. a chargeable broadcasting is to be recorded by timer recording by a video tape recorder or a cassette tape audio recorder, the program can be prevented from being recorded if descrambling has not been achieved when the recording state is initiated. In this case, a warning by e.g. an alarm signal can be issued to discontinue the recording or to cause the recording history to persist. That is, by issuing the above warning, the user is in a position of taking some measures if present on the spot. On the other hand, if the user is not present on the spot, the tape or the head may be prevented from being used up by discontinuing the recording. Besides, by causing the recording history to persist, the user may be apprised of what happened subsequently. The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic arrangement of a receiving apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of an alarming circuit of the receiving apparatus shown in Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail. A receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a receiver for receiving scrambled transmission signals via an antenna 1 for supplying the received signals to a recording apparatus, not shown, connected to the receiver via terminals 6, 18, 65, 66, 61 and 62, as shown for example in Figure 1. The receiver includes a descrambling circuit (descrambler) for descrambling the received signals, a contract condition comparator circuit 46 for judging if the received signals can be descrambled by the descrambler, and an alarm circuit 47 as controlling and recognition means for controlling the operation of the recording apparatus connected to the receiver based on the results of decision by the contract condition comparator circuit 46 for permitting the user to recognise the results of decision visually and/or audibly. In the present embodiment, the receiver is a satellite broadcasting receiver, as an example, and the recording apparatus is a video tape recorder (VTR), not shown, as an example. Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated, the satellite broadcasting receiver and the VTR are connected to each other, with terminals 6 and 18 being connected as an example to an image input terminal and an audio input terminal, respectively. In Fig.1, scrambled broadcasting signals from a broadcasting satellite are received by antenna 1 so as to be transmitted to an S-U converter 2 which converts the frequency range from an SHF range (12 GHz range) to a UHF range (1 GHz range). That is, the S-U converter 2 converts the weak signals of the frequency range of 12 GHz, collected by antenna 1, into more readily controllable signals of 1 GHz range. The received signals are transmitted from S-U converter 2 to a station selecting circuit 3 adapted for selecting, from the received signals, one of the channels for the program desired to be viewed. The one-channel signals selected by the station selecting circuit 3 are supplied via a low-pass filter 5 for extracting television broadcast signal range (image signals) to the descrambler 42 and to a PSK decoder 40 for PSK decoding (phase shift keying) of the supplied signals. That is, the PSK decoder 40 demodulates PSK modulated signals comprising voice signals in the satellite television broadcasting signals transmitted from the broadcasting satellite, in the form of 5.727272 MHz subcarrier signals PSK-modulated with PCM digital signals, descrambling keys for descrambling, and the information necessary for controlling the chargeable broadcasting. Meanwhile, the pertinent information, which is the above-mentioned scrambling key and the information for controlling the chargeable broadcasting, includes the program information and the scrambling key, control information for instructing the forced on/off of the descrambling function of the decoder, personal information comprising a work key for decoding the contract information for each-subscriber and the common information (program information plus control information), and message information for additionally displaying the information concerning the chargeable broadcasting service at the receiver side. It is noted that the personal information is coded by the master key of each subscriber when the personal information is distributed by electric waves. Outputs of the PSK demodulating circuit 40, that is voice data resulting from PSK demodulation and the above-mentioned pertinent data, are supplied to a data separation circuit 41 in which the voice data and the pertinent data are separated from each other. The separated voice data are transmitted to descrambler 42. The data separation circuit 41 also separates the pertinent information data into e.g. the personal information data and the common information data which are transmitted to decoders 45, 44, respectively. These decoders 45, 44 perform decoding of the common information and the personal information based on the master key information supplied from master key information generator 43 generating master key information accorded to the particular receiver or user. The common information and personal information data from decoders 44, 45 are transmitted to contract condition comparator 46 where it is determined whether or not descrambling of received signals is feasible in the descrambler 42. In other words, the contract condition comparator 46 performs an operation of comparing if the common information and the personal information are in meeting with the above-mentioned conditions of reception contract concluded between the owner of the receiver and the supplier of broadcasting signals, that is, broadcasting companies or broadcasting enterprises. If the results of condition comparison indicate agreement (OK), the contract condition comparator 46 transmits an initial value of a PN code to a PN signal generator 48 generating the PN signal series, that is the pseudo-random (PN) signal series (scrambling signal series). The PN signal generator 48 generates PN signals based on the above-mentioned initial value to transmit the generated PN signals to descrambler 42. The descrambler 42 descrambles the video signals and the audio signals supplied thereto based on the PN signals to transmit the descrambled video signals and the descrambled voice data to terminal 16 and to PCM decoder 16, respectively. The video signals supplied to terminal 6 are transmitted to video input terminal of the VTR connected to terminal 6. The voice data are PCM-decoded by PCM decoder so as to be converted by D/A (digital to analog converter) 17 before being outputted at terminal 18. The voice signals from terminal 18 are transmitted to voice input terminal of the VTR. The contract condition comparator 46 transmits signals indicating the results of condition comparison to the alarm circuit 47 which controls the operation of the recording apparatus connected thereto, on the basis of the results in the contract condition comparator 46, while allowing the user to visually and/or audibly recognize the results of decision. If the result of decision by contract condition comparator 46 is NO, that is if the result of contract comparison indicate non-coincidence, with the VTR being in e.g the recording mode, the alarm circuit 47 indicates to the user that the descrambling has not been possible, on display means as the visual indication, or issues e.g. an alarm sound from pronunciation means, for audio recognition. Besides, the alarm device causes abortion of the recording operation by VTR. If VTR is in a timer recording mode and the results of decision of the condition comparison are NO, the alarm circuit 47 causes the VTR to abort the timer recording while indicating the effect by a corresponding message. To this end, the alarm circuit 47 generates an alarm sound controlling signal controlling an alarm signal pronunciation means, such as a speaker, to transmit the signal to the alarm sound pronunciation means via terminal 64 to pronunciation means, while also generating message information to the user indicating that descrambling has not been feasible and supplying the message to message storage means 67. The alarm means 47 also generates a recording start control signal controlling the start of recording by VTR to transmit the control signal to VTR, while generating an operation stop control signal controlling the operation stop of VTR to transmit the control signal to VTR via terminal 66. The alarm circuit 47 is supplied with a timer recording mode information for VTR from VTR via terminal 60, a power on/off information for VTR from VTR via terminal 61 and the information from VTR indicating that the VTR is in recording state from terminal 62. The alarm circuit 47 also generates a main power source control signal for on/off control of the main power source for receiver, which control signal is outputted at terminal 63. Concretely, the processing as shown in a flow chart shown in Fig.2 is carried out in the alarm circuit 47. This flow chart shows the processing in which the VTR is in the recording mode. In the flow chart shown in Fig.2, it is checked at step S1 if VTR is in the timer recording mode, based on the timer recording information of VTR supplied via terminal 60. If it is determined that the VTR is not in the timer recording mode (NO), control repeats the processing of step S1. If it is determined that the VTR is in the recording mode (YES), control proceeds to step S2. At step S2, it is first checked, based on the VTR power on/off information supplied via terminal 61, the power source of VTR is on. If it is determined that the power source of VTR is not on (NO), control repeats the processing of step S2. If it is determined that the power source of VTR is on (YES), control proceeds to step S3. Thus, determination can be made by checking changes in the current consumption of the VTR. At step S3, control causes a main power source control signal controlling the main power source of the receiver ON via terminal 63 to turn on the power source of the receiver before proceeding to step S4. At step S4, it is checked, based on the information from terminal 62 indicating that the VTR is in the recording mode. If it is determined that the VTR is not in the recording state (NO), control repeats the processing of step S4. If it is determined that the VTR is in the recording state (YES), control proceeds to step S5. At step S5, it is determined, based on a signal derived from the result of condition comparison, if descrambling is possible. If it is decided that descrambling is possible (YES), control proceeds to step S10 and, if it is determined that descrambling is not possible (NO), control proceeds to step S6. At step S10, it is decided, based on the VTR power source on/off information supplied via terminal 61, if the power source of the VTR is ON. If it is determined that the VTR power source in ON (YES), control reverts to step S5 to repeat the operation of decision. If it is determined that the power source of VTR is not ON (NO), control proceeds to step S11. At step S11, a main power source control signal for controlling the main power source of the receiver OFF is outputted via terminal 63 to turn off the main power source of the receiver before the operation is terminated. At step S6, an alarm sound control signal is sent via terminal 64 to the alarm signal pronunciation means, such as a speaker, to issue an alarm signal for indicating to the user that the descrambling is not possible. Similarly, at step S6, an operation stop control signal for stopping or aborting the recording operation is sent via terminal 66 to VTR. At step S6, a message information for indicating to the user that descrambling is not feasible is sent to message storage means 67. The message information read out from message storage means 67 is displayed on display means on an operating panel of a television receiver, such as liquid crystal display means or LED display means, or a monitor screen of a television receiver. After step S6, control proceeds to step S7 where it is checked, based on the VTR power source on/off information supplied via terminal 61, if the VTR power source is ON. If it is decided that the VTR power source is ON (YES), control proceeds to step S8 and, if the VTR power source is not ON (NO), control proceeds to step S12. At step S12, a main power source control signal for turning the main power source of the receiver OFF is outputted via terminal 63 for turning off the main power source of the receiver before the processing operation is terminated. At step S8, it is decided, based on the signal derived from condition comparison from contract comparison circuit 46, if descrambling is possible. If it is determined that descrambling is possible (YES), control proceeds to step 59 and, if it is determined that descrambling is not possible (NO), control reverts to step S7. At step S9, an operation start control signal for starting the recording operation of the VTR is transmitted via terminal 65. At step S9, an alarm sound control signal is transmitted via terminal 64 for terminating generation of the alarm sound by the alarm sound pronunciation means. The VTR timer recording mode information is supplied to the alarm circuit 47 as described above. Alternatively, the VTR being in the timer recording mode may also be set on the alarm circuit 47. When the VTR is in the timer recording mode and the power source of the VTR is turned ON, the main power source of the receiver may be turned on. The alarm circuit 47 may perform a series of operations of generating an alarm sound, terminating the operation of the VTR or displaying a message to the effect that descrambling is not possible when it is sensed that the VTR is in the recording state and descrambling has not been made. As long as the VTR power source in ON, the alarm circuit 47 repeats checking whether descrambling is possible, and causes the VTR recording to be started when descrambling is possible. Meanwhile, in the embodiment illustrated, a signal indicating that the power source of VTR is ON or recording is being made by VTR may be outputted by VTR itself by so-called wired SIRCS or by a separate timer operated responsive to the VTR recording time. Alternatively, changes in the current consumption by VTR may be sensed by the receiver to sense that the VTR power source is ON or recording is being made by VTR for making a decision as to the recording state of the VTR or the ON state of the VTR power source. Although the description of the first embodiment has been made in connection with the satellite broadcasting tuner, the above also applies to a VTR having an enclosed satellite tuner. It will be seen from above that, since the descrambled state can be recognised by the user by warning in the form of an alarm, the user present on the scene can readily take suitable measures. If the user is not present on the scene, recording is discontinued, at the same time that there remains a message to the effect that recording has been aborted, so that the tape or head of the VTR are not used wastefully, while the user is apprised of what happened at a later time.

Claims: A receiving apparatus for receiving scrambled signals and for supplying received signals to a recording apparatus connected thereto, said receiving apparatus comprising descrambling means (42) for descrambling said scrambled signals, decision means (46) for deciding whether or not said scrambled signals can be descrambled, and controlling means (47) for controlling a recording operation of said recording apparatus based on the results of decision by said decision means (46), characterised in that said controlling means (47) includes means (61) for receiving a signal indicating whether said recording apparatus is on or off, and is adapted to initiate the operation of said descrambling means (42) and said decision means (46) only if the recording apparatus is on. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means (47) controls the operation of said recording apparatus based on results of decision by said decision means (46). Receiving apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said controlling means (47) judges the current operating state of said recording apparatus based on sensed changes in the current consumed by said recording apparatus. Receiving apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising alarm means (47) for indicating visually and/or audibly the results of the decision of said decision means (46). Receiving apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising pronunciation means (47) for issuing an alarm sound. Receiving apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising display means for displaying message information, said alarm means (47) displaying said message information on said display means as said visual indication. A timer recording method for starting recording on recording apparatus of descrambled signals based on a preset timing, comprising the steps of:- A) determining if the recording apparatus is in the timer recording mode (51), B) determining whether the recording apparatus is on or off (52), C) receiving scrambled signals (53), D) deciding whether or not the received signals can be descrambled (55), and E) if said signals cannot be descrambled carrying out at least one of steps of issuing an alarm (56), aborting the recording (56) and issuing a message (56), characterised in that steps D) and E) are only executed if it is determined that the mode is the timer recording mode and that the recording apparatus is on. A timer recording method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps following step E) of again determining if the received signals can be descrambled (58), and terminating the alarm and/or starting recording when it is determined that the received signals can be descrambled.

Inventors: KOTAKA YOSHIKAZU, MINEMATSU TORU, NAMEKAWA NOBUO, KOTAKA, YOSHIKAZU, MINEMATSU, TORU, NAMEKAWA, NOBUO
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N7, G11B15, H04N5, H04H1, G06F21