CN102496108A - Electronic billing system based on set top box - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an electronic billing system based on a set top box. The electronic billing system comprises an operation supporting module, a mail sending module and the set top box with the identifier, wherein the operation supporting module is used for periodically deriving bill information in a predetermined rate, the bill information contains the identifier of the set top box, and the mail sending module is used for generating bill mails based on bill information and sending the bill mails; and the set top box with the identifier is used for receiving the bill mails corresponding to the identifier of the set top box from the mail sending module. The electronic billing system sends bills with pertinence in a simpler manner.

Description

E bill system based on STB

Technical field

The present invention relates to televisor and set-top box technique, relate in particular to a kind of e bill system based on STB.

Background technology

In the prior art, the bill of CATV generally all is the papery bill, drops when entering an item of expenditure in the accounts the date, and the user a little pays the fees to paying the fees accordingly after receiving the papery bill.Dropping of papery bill is consuming time longer, and the user can't in time be known the amount of money that oneself should be paid the fees, and the papery bill also can be brought cost problems such as paper, printing, rate.

In addition; E bill has been widely used in internet arena; The terminal visits but e bill of the prior art system need use personal computer etc., can't be applicable to the user who is not equipped with computing machine or does not connect network, and need to gather user's e-mail address before delivering; If the user has changed e-mail address or has gathered mistake, the problem that possibly cause bill in time to send.

Summary of the invention

The technical matters that the present invention will solve provides a kind of e bill system based on STB, can make that the user checks bill through STB on televisor.

For solving the problems of the technologies described above, the invention provides a kind of e bill system based on STB, comprising:

The operation support module derives bill information termly with predetermined frequencies, comprises the STB identifier in the said bill information;

Mail sending module is sent based on said bill information generation bill mail and to it;

STB with said STB identifier receives the bill mail corresponding to this STB identifier from said mail sending module.

Alternatively, said mail sending module comprises:

The bill resolution unit is resolved said bill information, confirms STB identifier wherein;

The mail generation unit sends according to said STB identifier generation bill mail and to it.

Alternatively, said mail generation unit is followed Simple Mail Transfer protocol (SMTP) said bill mail is sent.

Alternatively, said STB comprises:

The mail reception unit receives the bill mail according to said STB identifier from said mail sending module;

The bill display unit based on user's query requests, is presented on said bill mail on the televisor that is connected with said STB.

Alternatively, said STB also comprises:

The bill reminding unit, the new bill mail based on said mail reception unit receives generates the mail reminder mark;

Said bill display unit is exported the mail reminder signal by said mail reminder mark triggers on said televisor.

Alternatively, said mail reminder signal comprises the prompting icon and/or reminds the tinkle of bells.

Alternatively, said STB also comprises:

The bill payment unit, based on user's Payment Request, link is paid with the paying server of said STB coupling.

Alternatively, said bill information comprises the bill number information, and said bill payment unit is sent to said paying server with said bill number information.

Alternatively, said mail reception unit is followed post office protocol (POP3) and is received said bill mail.

Alternatively, said STB identifier medium access control (MAC) address that is STB.

Compared with prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

In the e bill system based on STB of the embodiment of the invention; The operation support module derives the bill information that includes the STB identifier; Mail sending module generates corresponding bill mail and sends; This bill mail is sent to the STB with this STB identifier, thereby has realized the specific aim delivery of bill, compares with the papery bill and has reduced cost.Compare with e bill,, saved the process that e-mail messages is collected because the bill mail of the embodiment of the invention directly sends according to the STB identifier based on terminal, more simple and targeted.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the general structure block diagram based on the e bill system of STB of the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the detailed block diagram of the e bill system of the embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment

Often adopt the papery bill in the prior art or based on the e bill of terminal, cost is higher, perhaps need be equipped with relevant hardware equipment and network and connect, and also depend on the collection of user profile based on the e bill of terminal.

In the e bill system based on STB of the embodiment of the invention; The operation support module derives the bill information that includes the STB identifier; Mail sending module generates corresponding bill mail and sends; This bill mail is sent to the STB with this STB identifier, thereby has realized the specific aim delivery of bill, compares with the papery bill and has reduced cost.Compare with e bill,, saved the process that e-mail messages is collected because the bill mail of the embodiment of the invention directly sends according to the STB identifier based on terminal, more simple and targeted.

Below in conjunction with specific embodiment and accompanying drawing the present invention is described further, but should limit protection scope of the present invention with this.

Fig. 1 shows the general structure block diagram based on the e bill system of STB of present embodiment, mainly comprises:operation support module 11,mail sending module 12,STB 13 and thetelevisor 14 that links to each other withSTB 13.

Concrete,operation support module 11 derives the bill information that includes the STB identifier termly with predetermined frequencies;Mail sending module 12 generates the bill mail based on this bill information and it is sent;STB 13 with corresponding set-top box identifier receives corresponding bill mail frommail sending module 12, and the STB identifier that is promptly comprised in the bill mail is identical with the STB identifier of theSTB 13 that receives this bill mail.

In one embodiment;Operation support module 11 can be integrated on the server of CATV operator withmail sending module 12; The TV programme ofoperation support module 11 through customization, channel etc.; Regularly (like every month, per season) generate the bill information of CATV, directly comprised STB identifier (like the MAC Address of STB) and the current amount of money detail that should pay the fees of user of the presently used STB of user etc. in this bill information.Mail sending module 12 generates the bill mail with the STB identifier as the sign (for example can be used as addresses of items of mail) of sending, and sends it to corresponding set-top box 13 according to the content of bill information.

The STB identifier carries out because the generation of whole e bill and process of transmitting are based on; Do not need to gather specially user's information such as address, EMAIL address; But directly send on theSTB 13 according to the STB identifier; Process of transmitting is simple more, targeted, and the user needs only purchase or usedSTB 13, and server can automatically send to the bill mail on theSTB 13; Even if user's resettlement, the situations such as transfer ofSTB 13 have taken place, also can't influence the delivery of bill.

Fig. 2 shows the detailed block diagram of the e bill system of present embodiment, and whereinmail sending module 12 specifically comprisesbill resolution unit 121 andmail generation unit 122; STB 13 comprisesmail reception unit 131,bill display unit 132,bill reminding unit 133 andbill payment unit 134, is described in detail and explains in the face of each module down.

Concrete;Operation support module 11 can export to the bill information that regularly generates in the preset file directory;Bill resolution unit 121 can be monitored this document catalogue; When detecting new bill information derivation, this bill information is resolved, confirm the STB identifier that wherein comprises.For example,operation support module 11 can generate this bill information corresponding to thisSTB 13 according to information such as the program ofSTB 13 current customized, channels, wherein can comprise the MAC Address ofSTB 13.

Mail generation unit 122 can be resolved the STB identifier that obtains according tobill resolution unit 121 and generated the bill mail, and it is sent.This bill mail can wherein can comprise the full content of bill information in addition with STB identifier (like MAC Address) as destination address, like the current detail etc. of paying the fees of user.Mail generation unit 122 can be followed the bill mail that smtp protocol sends generation, and certainly, smtp protocol only is an example, and any suitable e-mail sending formula all can adopt.

The STB identifier (like MAC Address) thatmail reception unit 131 has according to himself receives corresponding bill mail from mail sending module 12.The user can check the bill mail that receives through built-in browser or other suitable modes of operation on theSTB 13; And send query requests through modes such as clicks;Bill display unit 132 is based on user's query requests; The bill mail is presented on thetelevisor 14 that links to each other withSTB 13, makes the user to check own current bill content throughtelevisor 14.

In the present embodiment,mail reception unit 131 can triggerbill reminding unit 133 and generate the mail reminder mark when receiving new bill mail, is set to " very " like a certain mark.This mail reminder mark further triggersbill display unit 132 and ontelevisor 14, exports the mail reminder signal.The mail reminder signal can comprise to be reminded icon and/or reminds the tinkle of bells etc., and for example,bill display unit 132 can be in the upper right corner oftelevisor 14, the lower right corner etc. ejected and reminded icon, and can send the prompting the tinkle of bells simultaneously.Whetherbill reminding unit 133 is optional certainly, also can be had by user's active inquiry in other embodiments and receive new bill mail.

After the user had checked new bill mail,bill reminding unit 133 can be eliminated the mail reminder mark, as this mail reminder mark is set to " vacation " by " very ".

In addition; The user can go out Payment Request through embedded type browser sending in the process of checking the bill mail, request is paid to current bill of checking;Bill payment unit 134 links to the payingserver 15 ofSTB 13 couplings and pays when receiving this Payment Request.Preferably; Can comprise the bill number information in the bill information thatoperation support module 11 derives; This bill number information is passed in the bill mail with other information in the bill information in the lump; When receiving user's Payment Request,bill payment unit 134 can be sent to payingserver 15 with this bill numberinformation.Paying server 15 can be according to its corresponding information such as payment of bill number information inquiry, so that accomplish payment process.

Certainly, also can comprise corresponding secure verification module in theSTB 13, with the security of the process of guaranteeing payment.

Server as operator;Operation support module 11 can " congenitally " be known the STB identifier of eachSTB 13; Thereby can directly targetedly bill be sent toSTB 13 according to the STB identifier, and needn't gather user's destination address.

Need to prove, though be that bill with CATV is that example describes in the present embodiment,, this e bill system also can extend to other bills, for example bills such as water, electricity consumption is sent to user's STB through such scheme.

Though the present invention with preferred embodiment openly as above; But it is not to be used for limiting the present invention; Any those skilled in the art are not breaking away from the spirit and scope of the present invention; Can make possible change and modification, so protection scope of the present invention should be as the criterion with the scope that claim of the present invention was defined.

Claims (10)

1. the e bill system based on STB is characterized in that, comprising:

The operation support module derives bill information termly with predetermined frequencies, comprises the STB identifier in the said bill information;

Mail sending module is sent based on said bill information generation bill mail and to it;

STB with said STB identifier receives the bill mail corresponding to this STB identifier from said mail sending module.

2. e bill according to claim 1 system is characterized in that said mail sending module comprises:

The bill resolution unit is resolved said bill information, confirms STB identifier wherein;

The mail generation unit sends according to said STB identifier generation bill mail and to it.

3. e bill according to claim 2 system is characterized in that said mail generation unit is followed Simple Mail Transfer protocol said bill mail is sent.

4. e bill according to claim 1 system is characterized in that said STB comprises:

The mail reception unit receives the bill mail according to said STB identifier from said mail sending module;

The bill display unit based on user's query requests, is presented on said bill mail on the televisor that is connected with said STB.

5. e bill according to claim 4 system is characterized in that said STB also comprises:

The bill reminding unit, the new bill mail based on said mail reception unit receives generates the mail reminder mark;

Said bill display unit is exported the mail reminder signal by said mail reminder mark triggers on said televisor.

6. e bill according to claim 5 system is characterized in that, said mail reminder signal comprises to be reminded icon and/or remind the tinkle of bells.

7. e bill according to claim 4 system is characterized in that said STB also comprises:

The bill payment unit, based on user's Payment Request, link is paid with the paying server of said STB coupling.

8. e bill according to claim 7 system is characterized in that said bill information comprises the bill number information, and said bill payment unit is sent to said paying server with said bill number information.

9. e bill according to claim 4 system is characterized in that said mail reception unit is followed post office protocol and received said bill mail.

10. according to each described e bill system in the claim 1 to 9, it is characterized in that said STB identifier is the Media Access Control address of STB.

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