EP0795974A2 - Method and receiver for the reproduction of received spoken messages and method for transmitting spoken messages - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves using a receiver with a tuner (2), a Radio Data System (RDS) a signal decoder (3), a stereo decoder (4), an audio amplifier (5) and twin power amplifiers (6,7) driving two loudspeakers (8,9). The microprocessor (13) evaluates and displays (15) the RDS information, operates a changeover switch (11) between the stereo decoder and an external audio source (12), and adjusts (10) the gain of the audio amplifier. The audio signal source can be selected, and the loudness of reproduction adjusted by means of a keyboard (14). When a group of data with a predetermined content is received, the simultaneously incoming audio signals are reproduced at a predetermined level, and/or stored.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a receiver for reproducing received spoken messages with a receiver, which contains a receiving part, a data signal decoder and a playback device for audio signals, and a method for transmitting spoken messages.

The radio data system (RDS) enables an additional and inaudible transmission of digital data in parallel to radio programs in a data channel. Specifications of the radio data system for VHF radio can be found in Tech. 3244 - E, March 1984 of the European Runfunk Union (EBU). Broadcast receivers with suitable RDS decoders can record and decode transmitted data in addition to audio reception with the same receiver. 32 groups of 104 bits each are provided for data transmission, with each of the transmitted groups being assigned a specific service. Group 8a is currently intended for the transmission of digitally coded traffic reports.

The structure and coding of these traffic reports are specified in CEN ENV 12313-1, which is based on the standard proposal ALERT C, November 1990, published by the RDS ATT ALERT Consortium. The essential elements of a traffic report are the location and the event. This information is cataloged, which means that a unique code is assigned to every traffic-relevant location and every traffic-relevant event. The chaining of the locations in the location table along existing streets shows the course. In addition to the usual facilities of a receiving device with an RDS decoder, facilities for decoding, storing, further processing and outputting the traffic reports are required to use the traffic message channel TMC (Traffic Message Channel).

As a result, the type of messages is limited in the TMC system, so that messages can exist which cannot be coded or cannot be decoded in the radio receiver. These messages include, for example, travel calls such as "Mr. Mustermann, traveling in Northern Germany, would like to call his sister" or personal danger warnings such as "the driver of the car with the license plate YY-XX 00 would like to go to a workshop immediately ...". The content of such messages is too different to be encoded with an event list. Messages about locations that are not contained in a location database in the radio receiver can also not be encoded or decoded. Such messages will continue to have to be broadcast in spoken form in the future.

It is also advantageous to transmit extremely urgent messages, for example about ghost drivers, as spoken messages despite transmission in the TMC system, since the Analog voice transmission is less susceptible to interference than the digital channel of the radio data system when reception conditions are poor.

However, the spoken messages cannot be heard or overheard because the TMC system is activated and the traffic radio decoder is therefore switched off, for example if the user is listening to music from a cassette or has turned the radio receiver down.

The object of the invention is therefore to ensure a sufficiently loud reproduction of such spoken messages.

This object is achieved in the method according to the invention in that when a group of the data signal with a predetermined content is received, the playback device is set to the reproduction of simultaneously received audio signals at a predetermined volume and / or the simultaneously received audio signals are stored.

Not only radio data signals according to the EBU publication mentioned above and coded traffic reports according to the above proposed standard are suitable for the present invention. The method according to the invention and the receiver according to the invention can also be implemented with other data signals transmitted with the aid of radio waves and messages coded in a different way. Both the coded and the spoken messages, in addition to traffic reports, can also be other not only traffic-related or traffic-related reports, for example disaster warnings. In the following, an announcement is used to refer to the transmission of one or more spoken messages.

Instead of a coded traffic message (TMC message), an ODA application (ODA = Open Data Application) can advantageously also be used for the switchover. In addition to the 3A identifier, this application would not need any other data group. To switch over, a 3A group with a special application ID would be sent in block D. The application-specific 16 bits in block C of this 3A group would contain the location code which identifies the location affected by the message and thus enables selection.

The audio signals representing the spoken messages can be stored in addition or as an alternative to immediate playback and enables later listening - for example after the driver is absent from the vehicle.

An automatic increase in volume or switching to radio playback as a function of received analog traffic radio signals is known (US 4,862,513). However, this requires the transmission of such traffic radio signals in addition to the radio data system including the associated identification signals. However, the method according to the invention should also be effective without such a traffic radio system. Even if the traffic radio system still exists, the method according to the invention has the advantage that the user of the TMC system can make use of its advantages (for example selection) and still additionally receive the spoken messages aloud.

Controlling the playback of spoken messages is possible through the TA bit provided in the radio data signal. However, the automatic increase in volume or switchover from cassette to radio mode possible with the TA bit is switched off at the TMC receiver Avoid duplicate reports. The TA bit is also only able to mark the beginning and end of an announcement (usually of several messages). The method according to the invention, however, marks the beginning and the end of reading out individual messages within an announcement.

One embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the playback device can be switched over to audio signals other than that of the receiving part, consists in switching over from a possibly set audio signal source to the receiving part when the group with the predetermined content is received. Both in the case of radio receivers with other audio signal sources and without such, one embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the volume is increased when the group receives the given content.

A further development of the invention consists in that the setting of the reproduction device is further influenced by traffic radio identification signals transmitted in the data signal. The traffic information signals are transmitted in the RDS protocol by two bits, namely TP and TA. Both bits are only set during a traffic announcement. The further development has the advantage that the group with the specified content only needs to be sent briefly to announce the spoken message. The link also causes an incorrect switch to the audio program, as z. B. occurs in the traffic radio system in the event of interference, can be connected in the inventive method. A switch back takes place automatically when either the special message is deleted or TA and TP are no longer set. In the RDS system, the bits TA and TP are transmitted more frequently, which increases the security of the automatic downshift leads.

In order to reproduce spoken messages from another transmitter even when receiving a transmitter that does not itself transmit spoken messages, another development provides that during the reception of data signals from a first transmitter with a first receiving part, a second receiving part is set to a second transmitter and is connected to the playback device if the group with the predetermined content is contained in the received data signals and the traffic information signals also contained in the received data signal indicate that the received transmitter does not transmit spoken messages, but the second transmitter.

A method for sending a spoken message, which is transmitted as an audio signal via a transmitter, is characterized in that a predetermined content of a group of the data signal is sent during the spoken message. It can be provided that the group with the specified content with information from which transmitter the spoken message is sent is sent by another transmitter.

The messages intended for reading are usually prepared in a computer-assisted manner and are available in the form of stored data. For the method according to the invention, it is assumed that the messages are already marked if they cannot be decoded. Various ways of presenting the text to the speaker are known for reading out the spoken messages. When using a teleprompter, the messages scroll from bottom to top at a constant speed, with the speaker reading the messages line by line. At the beginning the speaker starts rolling with a key press and ends it with a further key press after the announcement has ended. If the roll is too fast, you can pause with a third button. In the so-called paging process, only one message is visible on the screen at a time, the speaker scrolling from one message to the next by pressing a button.

With the so-called list procedure, more than one message is displayed on the screen, possibly all messages of an announcement. The speaker starts and ends the reading with the push of a button. Within an announcement, messages that are also sent as codable messages and spoken messages that cannot be coded can be read out. The method according to the invention assumes that the messages to be read out in a memory are identified as codable or non-codable messages.

With the teleprompter method and with the paging method, the picking system recognizes the point in time at which a non-codable message appears on the screen. For this purpose, in a development of the method according to the invention for sending a non-codable spoken message, it is provided that the group with the specified content is automatically sent while the spoken message appears on the screen of a picking place.

In the case of the list procedure, the exact time of reading cannot be determined, since all the messages belonging to an announcement are displayed on the screen at the same time. An embodiment of the invention suitable for the list method therefore provides that the group with the predetermined content is sent by a suitable operating procedure. The speaker can do this are supported in that the non-codable spoken messages are highlighted on the screen.

In the event that an additional operating procedure, for example pressing an additional button, does not seem reasonable to the speaker, it is provided according to another embodiment of the invention that the group with the specified content is automatically sent while the entire announcement is on the screen Picking place appears if it contains at least one non-codable message.

A local selection can also take place in the case of non-codable messages which were generated with the method according to the invention for the transmission, in that the group is given a location with the specified content. This location can preferably be the transmission area of the respective broadcaster. Furthermore, the specified content can be a special message with the highest priority.

An advantageous possibility for forming the group with the predetermined content in the method according to the invention is that the predetermined content is characterized by a predetermined event code and / or a predetermined location code.

Depending on the individual requirements, the method according to the invention can provide that the group with the specified content is an RDS / TMC message or that the group with the specified content is a 3A group of the radio data signal with existing identification within the block 4 is. In the second possibility, 16 bits can also be available in a group of block 3 as additional information, in particular as a location code.

A receiver for performing the method according to the invention is characterized in that the receiving part is connected to a playback device and to a radio data signal decoder, to which an evaluation device for radio data signals is connected, and that the playback device is operated by one Output signal of the evaluation device is controllable.

Fig. 1

ein Blockschaltbild eines Empfängers zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 2

ein Ablaufdiagramm zur weiteren Erläuterung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Wiedergabe von empfangenen gesprochenen Meldungen,

Fig. 3

ein Ablaufdiagramm zur Erläuterung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Senden von gesprochenen Meldungen und

Fig. 4

ein Ablaufdiagramm zur Erläuterung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Senden von gesprochenen Meldungen.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing using several figures and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

Fig. 1

2 shows a block diagram of a receiver for carrying out the method according to the invention,

Fig. 2

1 shows a flowchart to further explain the method according to the invention for reproducing received spoken messages,

Fig. 3

a flowchart to explain a first embodiment of the inventive method for sending spoken messages and

Fig. 4

a flowchart to explain a second embodiment of the method according to the invention for sending spoken messages.

1 shows in the form of a block diagram the parts of a radio receiver, preferably a car radio, required to explain the method according to the invention. An FM radio transmitter is received in a manner known per se via an antenna 1 and a receiver (tuner) 2. The tuner 2 emits a multiplex signal MPX, which is an audio signal or, in the case of a stereo transmission in coded form, audio signals for the left and right channels contains. Furthermore, the multiplex signal on a 57 kHz carrier modulates a radio data signal which is decoded in a decoder 3. When a station is received which broadcasts traffic announcements spoken in a conventional manner, the multiplex signal also contains analog traffic information signals, namely a transmitter identifier, an announcement identifier and an area identifier. These are not evaluated in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The audio component of the multiplex signal MPX is decoded in a stereo decoder 4. An audio amplifier 5 with two output stages 6, 7 and two loudspeakers 8, 9 is used to reproduce the audio signals and has an input 10 for adjusting the volume. Audio inputs of the audio amplifier 5 can be connected via a switch 11 on the one hand to the output of the stereo decoder 4 and on the other hand to an auxiliary input 12 to which a cassette or CD player can be connected.

A microcomputer 13 performs a number of functions in the radio receiver shown. Among other things, inputs made via a keyboard 14 are evaluated and various information is shown on a display device (display) 15. Furthermore, the decoder 3 supplies the microcomputer 13 with RDS signals, which evaluates them and makes information contained in the RDS signals visible on the display 15. Outputs of the microcomputer 13 are connected to the control input 10 of the audio amplifier 5 and to a control input of the switch 11. One of the audio signal sources can thus be selected via the keyboard 14 and the volume can be adjusted.

The microcomputer 13 also serves as an evaluation device for the RDS signals for the purposes of the method according to the invention. If the microcomputer 13 recognizes the group with the specified content in the radio data signal, the Switch 11 to the lower position and the volume set to a higher value if these settings have not already been made. This switching is explained with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2, which is part of a program running in the microcomputer 13. After starting the program at 20, it is checked at 21 whether the audio amplifier 5 is connected to the input 12 and whether the TMC system is activated.

A query then follows at 22 as to whether the received radio data signal corresponds to the group with the predetermined content S-TMC (S as special message), that is to say whether a spoken message is to be received and reproduced. If this is the case, the switch 11 is controlled to the lower position at 23 and the volume is set to an increased value via the control input 10. The loop formed by the program parts 22 and 23 is repeated until the group with the specified content is no longer received. Then the switch is controlled again at 24 to the previously set input and the volume is reduced to the previously set value. The program ends at 25.

The coded messages distributed via the TMC system can, depending on the scope, be coded as single-sequence or as multi-sequence messages. A one-sequence message is sufficient for the transmission of the group with the specified content, the coding of which according to the ALERT-C protocol is shown below: U G DP D extent event place 0 1 bit 3 bit 1 bit 4 bit 11 bit 16 bit

U

= 0 = ALERT-C-Protokoll

G

= Ein-Sequenz-Standardsmeldungsmerker,

DP

= Dauer/Anstehdauer,

D

= Umleitung.

Here mean:

U

= 0 = ALERT-C protocol

G

= One-sequence standard message flag,

DP

= Duration / waiting time,

D

= Diversion.

The extent indicates the number of affected locations along the route. The event code means, for example, "slow-moving traffic" or "traffic jam" and is decoded with the aid of an event table stored in the radio receiver. The location code represents a location of a location list, which is also stored in the receiver. These places are, for example, road crossings and junctions, freeway entrances and exits and places in the sense of towns and villages.

For example, event code 1929 is selected from the 2 ¹¹ possible event codes for the group with the specified content. A section from a corresponding event table is shown below: Event code event 108 slow-moving traffic, ... ..., 1929 important information is read out in the spoken program (S-TMC), ... ..., 2046 (free).

In the RDS standard (DIN EN 50 067, February 1993, page 27), a traffic information identifier TP and a traffic announcement identifier TA are provided in the radio data signal, the meaning of which is explained in the following table. TP TA meaning 0 0 this program does not broadcast traffic announcements, nor does it use EON to refer to programs that broadcast traffic announcements, 0 1 this program transmits EON information through another program with traffic announcements, 1 0 this program broadcasts traffic announcements but is not currently broadcasting, 1 1 this program is currently broadcasting a traffic announcement.

EON means Enhanced Other Network. Information about this is available in the so-called EON group of the radio data signal. In particular in the case of a two-tuner receiver, the one tuner can be set to receive a spoken message while the other tuner remains on the transmitter whose radio data signals are being evaluated.

The methods for identifying spoken messages shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be carried out at a picking station for the spoken messages.

The method shown in FIG. 3 for sending the special message is provided when reading the messages using the list method. After starting at 31, the messages are brought to the screen at 32, and depending on the number of messages to be read within an announcement, all or part of the messages fit on a screen. If the speaker is ready to read the messages, the button TA is set to 1 by pressing a key (program part 33). Then it is checked at 34 whether all messages can be coded. If this is not the case, that is, if at least one of the messages intended for an announcement cannot be decoded, the transmission of the special message is switched on at 35. However, this does not happen if all messages can be coded. At the push of a button after the reading is finished at 36 there is a branch 37 depending on whether the special message is active. If this is the case, the special message is switched off at 38. In the program part 39, the bit TA is then reset to 0, whereupon the program is ended at 40.

The embodiment according to FIG. 4 describes the sending of the special message during the reading according to the teleprompter or the paging method. After a start at 41, the bit TA is set to 1 at 42. A pointer n is set at 43 to the first message. At 44, the first message is fetched from memory and made visible on the screen. A branch 45 then takes place depending on whether the message can be decoded. If this is not the case, the sending of the special message is started at 46. Otherwise, a query is made at 47 as to whether a special message is already being sent. If this is the case, the special message is canceled at 48.

After reading, the speaker calls up the next message with a keystroke (49). If the message provided with the pointer n is the last one, after branching 50 the program is branched again at 51 depending on whether a special message is being sent. If this is the case, it is ended at 52 and then the TA bit is set to 0 at 53 and the program is ended at 54.

If the message displayed so far is not the last one at branch 50, the pointer n is set to the next message at 54, whereupon the program steps 44 to 50 are repeated with the next one.

Claims (19)

Method for reproducing received spoken messages with a receiver which contains a receiving part, a data signal decoder and a playback device for audio signals, characterized in that when receiving a group of the data signal with a predetermined content in the data signal, the playback device for the playback of simultaneously received audio signals is set at a predetermined volume and / or the audio signals received at the same time are stored. A method according to claim 1, wherein the playback device can be switched to audio signals other than that of the receiving part, characterized in that when the group with the predetermined content is received, a switch is made from an optionally different audio signal source to the receiving part. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the volume is increased when the group receives the predetermined content. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the setting of the playback device is further influenced by traffic information signals transmitted in the data signal. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that during the reception of data signals from a first transmitter with a first receiving part, a second receiving part is set to a second transmitter and connected to the playback device if the group with the predetermined content is contained in the received data signals and the traffic identification signals also contained in the received radio data signal indicate that the received transmitter does not transmit spoken messages, but the second transmitter. Method for sending a non-codable spoken message, which is transmitted as an audio signal via a transmitter, characterized in that a predetermined content of a group of the data signal is sent during the spoken message. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the group with the predetermined content with information from which transmitter the spoken message is sent is sent by another transmitter. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the group with the predetermined content is automatically sent while the spoken message appears on the screen of a picking place. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the group with the predetermined content is sent by a suitable operating procedure. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the non-codable spoken messages are highlighted on the screen. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that when an announcement consisting of several messages is displayed on the screen of a reading point, the group with the predetermined content is automatically sent, while the announcement appears on the screen if at least one non-codable one is therein Message is included. Method according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the group is provided with the given content with a location. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the location is the transmission area of the respective broadcaster. Method according to one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the predetermined content is a special message with the highest priority. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined content is characterized by a predetermined event code and / or a predetermined location code. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group with the specified content is an RDS / TMC message. Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the group with predetermined content is a 3A group of the radio data signal with existing identification within block 4. Method according to Claim 17, characterized in that 16 bits are also available in a group of block 3 as additional information, in particular as a location code. Receiver for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving part (2) is connected to a playback device (5 to 9) and to a radio data signal decoder (3) to which an evaluation device (13) is connected. for radio data signals, and that the playback device (5 to 9) can be controlled by an output signal of the evaluation device (13).

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