Cable television system and method for providing cable television service using the system

• US 20050183126A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okita, Hirokazu, Fujise, Masayuki, Kojima, Fumihide, Murao, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Herein are disclosed a cable television system, mobile communication terminal, a relay apparatus, a center apparatus, and a method of providing a cable television service using the system, which enable a user operating a CATV mobile terminal (6) to receive a CATV service regardless of the service area of the CATV station where the user is located. When a vehicle (5) having a CATV mobile terminal (6) mounted thereon moves into a service area of a CATV station (3, 4), the CATV mobile terminal (6) is operated to transmit a log-in request to the CATV station (3, 4). The CATV station (3, 4) is operated to inquire about the user to the subscriber station (2), and the subscriber station (2) is operated to judge whether or not the user is authentic. Subscriber station (2) is operated to deliver common contents to the CATV mobile terminal (6) through the CATV station (3, 4) when it is judged that the user is authentic.

Claims

1. A cable television system, comprising:

a mobile communication terminal mounted on a movable object and capable of establishing a connection with a cable television service line by wireless;

a plurality of relay apparatuses respectively installed in a plurality of service areas, and each of said relay apparatuses being operative to deliver common contents concerning a cable television service to said mobile communication terminal located within each of said service areas; and

a center apparatus connected with each of said relay apparatuses through a communication line, for delivering common contents to said relay apparatuses by way of multicast communication, and in which

said mobile communication terminal located within a service area is operative to transmit a log-in request to said relay apparatus installed in said service area by wireless,

said relay apparatus is operative to transmit user identification information of said mobile communication terminal and specifying information for specifying said relay apparatus to said center apparatus,

said center apparatus is operative to transmit authentication information to said relay apparatus, which have transmitted said specifying information, when said user identification information is valid, upon receiving said specifying information,

said relay apparatus is operative to start a cable television service for said mobile communication terminal on the basis of said authentication information, upon receiving said authentication information,

said mobile communication terminal is operative to transmit request information for common contents to said relay apparatus,

said relay apparatus is operative to transmit a request for delivering common contents to said center apparatus, upon receiving said request information for common contents from said mobile communication terminal, and

said center apparatus is operative to deliver common contents to said mobile communication terminal through said relay apparatus and store therein and manage delivery history information indicative of a history of delivering contents, in response to said request for delivering common contents from said relay apparatus.

2. A cable television system as set forth in claim 1, in which said user identification information is constituted by personal information stored in an IC (integrated circuit) card or a magnetic card.

3. A cable television system as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, in which said center apparatus is operative to perform an accounting process on the basis of said delivery history information indicative of delivering said common contents.

4. A relay apparatus installed in a service area and connected with a center apparatus through a communication line, for delivering common contents concerning a cable television service received from said center apparatus to a mobile communication terminal mounted on a movable object located within said service area, said relay apparatus comprises:

first receiving means for receiving said log-in request when said mobile communication terminal transmits a log-in request by wireless;

transmitting means for transmitting user identification information of said mobile communication terminal and specifying information for specifying said relay apparatus, which has received said log-in request and said user identification information, to said center apparatus upon receiving said log-in request;

second receiving means for receiving authentication information from said center apparatus when said user identification information is valid;

service providing means for starting a cable television service for said mobile communication terminal on the basis of said authentication information;

common content request means for transmitting a request for delivering common contents to said center apparatus, upon receiving request information for common contents from said mobile communication terminal; and

delivering means for delivering common contents received from said center apparatus to said mobile communication terminal.

5. A relay apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which

said user identification information is constituted by personal information stored in an IC (integrated circuit) card or a magnetic card.

6. A center apparatus for delivering common contents to a plurality of relay apparatuses respectively installed in a plurality of service areas by way of multicast communication so that each of said relay apparatuses delivers common contents concerning a cable television service to a mobile communication terminal located within each of said service areas, said center apparatus comprising:

first receiving means for receiving user identification information and specifying information for specifying said relay apparatus;

specific information storage means for storing therein personal information on user;

transmitting means for judging whether or not said user identification information is authentic by comparing said personal information stored in said specific information storage means with said user identification information and transmitting authentic information to said relay apparatus specified by said specifying information when it is judged that said user identification information is authentic;

second receiving means for receiving a request for delivering common contents from said relay apparatus; and

delivering means for delivering common contents to said mobile communication terminal through said relay apparatus upon receiving said request for delivering common contents from said relay apparatus.

7. A center apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising

storage means for storing therein delivery history information indicative of a history of delivering said contents;

and accounting means for performing an accounting process on the basis of said delivery history information stored in said storage means.

8. A center apparatus as set forth in claim 6 or claim 7, in which

said user identification information is constituted by personal information stored in an IC (integrated circuit) card or a magnetic card.

9. A method of providing a cable television service of providing a cable television service to a mobile communication terminal through a relay apparatus from a center apparatus, comprising;

(a) preparing a mobile communication terminal mounted on a movable object and capable of establishing a connection with a cable television service line by wireless;

a plurality of relay apparatuses respectively installed in a plurality of service areas, and each of said relay apparatuses being operative to deliver common contents concerning a cable television service to said mobile communication terminal located within each of said service areas; and

a center apparatus connected with each of said relay apparatuses through a communication line, for delivering common contents to said relay apparatuses by way of multicast communication;

(b) transmitting a log-in request to said relay apparatus installed in said service area by wireless, by said mobile communication terminal;

(c) transmitting user identification information of said mobile communication terminal and specifying information for specifying said relay apparatus to said center apparatus, by said relay apparatus;

(d) transmitting authentication information to said relay apparatus, which have transmitted said specifying information, when said user identification information is valid, upon receiving said specifying information, by said center apparatus;

(e) starting a cable television service for said mobile communication terminal on the basis of said authentication information, by said relay apparatus;

(f) transmitting request information for common contents to said relay apparatus, by said mobile communication terminal;

(g) transmitting a request for delivering common contents to said center apparatus, upon receiving said request information for common contents from said mobile communication terminal, by said relay apparatus;

(h) delivering common contents to said mobile communication terminal through said relay apparatus in response to said request for delivering common contents from said relay apparatus, by said center apparatus; and

(i) storing therein and managing delivery history information indicative of a history of delivering contents.

10. A method of providing a cable television service as set forth in claim 9, in which

said user identification information is constituted by personal information stored in an IC (integrated circuit) card or a magnetic card.

11. A method of providing a cable television service as set forth in claim 9 or claim 10, in which

said step (i) has a step of performing an accounting process on the basis of said delivery history information indicative of delivering said common contents.