JP2002057948A - Wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication system that allows each reception electronic device to recognize a channel and allows a user to view the channel even when a plurality of reception electronic devices exist in a room and to save an interior facility such as cables for a broadcast signal. SOLUTION: A tuning circuit 41 extracts a broadcast signal of a channel viewed by a desk top television receiver 27 existing indoors among channels included in broadcast signals received with a ground wave antenna and a BS antenna that are installed outdoors, an intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42 and a mixer circuit 46 convert the extracted broadcast signal into a broadcast signal of a channel not in use among channels receptible by the desk top television receiver 27, an SOD(Screen On Display) attached circuit 44 synthesizes an image denoting the channel number received by the ground wave antenna and the BS antenna with the converted broadcast signal and transmits the broadcast signal with which the image is synthesized wirelessly to the desk top television receiver 27 by using an indoor antenna 23a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus for performing a channel conversion process on an outdoor broadcast signal and delivering the signal to indoor electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional broadcast receiving system for receiving a broadcast signal outdoors and providing the contents of the broadcast signal to a user with an indoor electronic device, there is known a broadcast receiving system configured as shown in FIG. ing.

[0003] This broadcast receiving system uses a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) broadcast signal transmitted by radio waves, a VH
An F (Very High Frequency) broadcast signal and an FM broadcast signal are received by a terrestrial antenna 101, and a terrestrial antenna 10
The various broadcast signals received in 1 are mixed by the multiplexer 102 to be supplied indoors as broadcast signals. The broadcast receiving system further includes a BS antenna 103 for receiving a satellite broadcast of a BS (Broadcasting Satellite) system.
Broadcast data is received, and the broadcast data received by the BS antenna 103 is supplied indoors.

In such a broadcast receiving system, when the broadcast signal received by the terrestrial wave antenna 101 is received by the indoor tabletop television 111, the portable television 112, and the portable FM radio 113, the UHF from the multiplexer 102 is received.
A broadcast signal and a VHF broadcast signal are input by a distributor 121,
The duplexer 122 connected to the desktop television 111 by the distributor 121, and the duplexer 1 connected to the portable television 112
Input to 23. The demultiplexer 122 and the demultiplexer 123 are configured to transmit a UHF broadcast signal on which a plurality of channels are superimposed and a VHF broadcast signal.
The broadcast signal is supplied to the desktop television 111 and the portable television 112 after being separated for each frequency band and each channel. Thereby, the desktop television 111 and the portable television 112 provide the viewer with the video and audio of the selected channel.

[0005] Further, a UHF broadcast signal or a VHF broadcast signal received by the desktop television 111 is converted to a VTR (Video Tape).
When recording is performed by the recorder 114, a channel to be recorded is often selected by the desktop television 111, input to the VTR 114, and recorded on an internal magnetic tape.

Further, in this broadcast receiving system, when FM broadcast is provided to a viewer with a portable FM radio 113 existing indoors, the portable FM radio 113 is provided despite the fact that it is being received by the terrestrial antenna 101. In many cases, FM broadcast signals are received by the built-in simple antenna 113a.

[0007]

However, in a broadcast receiving system in an area remote from a base station that emits various broadcast signals, the strength of the various broadcast signals becomes weak. In many cases, a simple antenna cannot receive radio waves in a good condition. That is, depending on the area, even if the receiving electronic device is provided with a simple antenna, noise is apt to be mixed in due to weak signal strength, and high quality video and audio cannot be enjoyed using the simple antenna.

Therefore, in the conventional broadcast receiving system, various broadcast signals are often received by external antennas such as the terrestrial antenna 101 and the BS antenna 103. As this external antenna, a Yagi-type antenna is usually used, and compared with a simple antenna built in a receiving electronic device such as a desktop television 111, it is more than ten d.
A remarkably large signal gain of about B is obtained, and it is regarded as the best signal receiving means.

In a conventional broadcast receiving system,
As a method of transmitting a good broadcast signal received by the terrestrial antenna 101 or the BS antenna 103 to a receiving electronic device, usually, a broadcast signal cable such as a coaxial cable is often used. A broadcast receiving system using a broadcast signal cable has an advantage that a broadcast signal received by the terrestrial antenna 101 or the BS antenna 103 can be transmitted to a receiving electronic device without giving external noise. The installation of receiving electronic equipment is because the number of insertion ports for the broadcast signal terminals provided indoors is smaller than the outlet insertion port, and the usability of the broadcast signal cable is worse than the commercial power cord. At present the location is restricted.

On the other hand, in the prior art, JP-A-63-22
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7221, there has been known a method in which a reception booster is made wireless and a broadcast signal is delivered to a reception electronic device. However, if the receiving booster cannot be viewed on the viewer side, there is a problem that a channel corresponding to the video or audio being viewed cannot be recognized.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances. Even when a plurality of receiving electronic devices are present indoors, each receiving electronic device recognizes a channel and allows the user to view a channel. It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device capable of saving indoor equipment such as a cable for a broadcast signal.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention has a receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal on which a plurality of channels are superimposed outdoors, and a receiving means for receiving the broadcast signal on the receiving means. Extracting means for extracting a broadcast signal of a channel to be viewed by a receiving electronic device existing indoors, and a broadcast signal extracted by the extracting means, among the channels receivable by the receiving electronic device. Channel conversion means for converting to a broadcast signal of an unused channel, image synthesis means for synthesizing the broadcast signal converted by the channel conversion means with an image indicating a channel number when received by the reception means, And transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the broadcast signal, on which the image is synthesized by the image synthesizing means, to the receiving electronic device.

In such a wireless communication apparatus, when a channel viewed by a receiving electronic device is received outdoors and redistributed, the channel is converted into a channel not used by the receiving electronic device and the contents of the channel number to be viewed are converted to indoors. To be added to the broadcast signal.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present invention is applied to, for example, a broadcast receiving system configured as shown in FIG.

This broadcast receiving system includes a terrestrial antenna 11, a multiplexer 12, and a BS antenna 13 installed outside the house 1.

The terrestrial antenna 11 comprises, for example, a Yagi-type antenna, and includes a UHF broadcast signal, a VHF broadcast signal, and a FHF broadcast signal.
The M broadcast signal is received from the base station as a radio wave. The terrestrial antenna 11 supplies the received radio wave to the multiplexer 12.

The multiplexer 12 mixes the UHF broadcast signal, the VHF broadcast signal, and the FM broadcast signal from the terrestrial antenna 11 and supplies the mixed signal to the indoor duplexer 21.

The BS antenna 13 receives broadcast data distributed from a satellite and supplies the broadcast data to an indoor BS tuner 22.

Here, U received by the terrestrial antenna 11
The HF broadcast signal, the VHF broadcast signal, the FM broadcast signal, and the broadcast data received by the BS antenna 13 are transmitted using a plurality of channel frequencies within a predetermined frequency band as carriers, and the frequency band is distinguished for each channel. ing.

This broadcast receiving system includes a branching filter 21, a BS tuner 22, a radio communication device 2 inside a house 1.
3, VTR device 24, camera device 25, wireless communication device 2
And a remote controller 26 for performing the operation 3 and a desktop television 27, a portable television 28, and a portable FM radio 29 as receiving electronic devices. In this broadcast receiving system, the viewer operates the remote controller 26 to select a channel to be received by the receiving electronic device.

The demultiplexer 21 performs a process of separating various broadcast signals from the multiplexer 12 for each frequency band.
The signal is separated into UHF broadcast signals, VHF broadcast signals, and FM broadcast signals, and supplied to the wireless communication device 23. The BS tuner 22 receives broadcast data from the BS antenna 13
Broadcast data of a specified channel is extracted and supplied to the wireless communication device 23.

The wireless communication device 23 includes a duplexer 21 and a BS.
Various broadcast signals and broadcast data from the tuner 22 are input, and the various broadcast signals and broadcast data are wirelessly supplied as indoor wireless signals to various indoor receiving electronic devices using the indoor antenna 23a. Here, the wireless communication device 23 transmits an indoor wireless signal having a predetermined strength or less.

The wireless communication device 23 receives a wireless operation input signal from a remote controller 26 operated by a user who watches video and audio with a receiving electronic device, and performs various processes according to the operation input signal.

The radio communication device 23 is connected to a VTR device 24, and operates according to an operation input signal.
4 for recording broadcast signals and broadcast data on a tape-shaped recording medium incorporated therein. In addition, the wireless communication device 23 responds to an operation input signal from the remote controller
The broadcast signal is read from the device 24, the broadcast signal is converted into an indoor radio signal, and supplied to the receiving electronic device.

Further, the wireless communication device 23 is connected to the camera device 25, receives a camera signal from the camera device 25, converts the camera signal into an indoor wireless signal, and supplies the signal to the receiving electronic device.

Tabletop television 27 and portable television 28
Has a display mechanism for allowing a viewer to view a broadcast, an audio output mechanism, and a channel selection function for selecting a channel to be viewed. Desktop television 27 and portable television 28
Includes indoor antennas 27a and 28a for receiving indoor wireless signals from the wireless communication device 23, and provides video and audio to viewers using the indoor wireless signals received by the indoor antennas 27a and 28a.

The portable FM radio 29 has a sound output mechanism for allowing a viewer to view a broadcast and a channel selection function for selecting a channel to be viewed. The portable FM radio 29 includes an indoor antenna 29a for receiving an indoor wireless signal from the wireless communication device 23.
The sound is provided to the viewer by the indoor radio signal received in a.

The desktop television 27, the portable television 28, and the portable FM radio 29 perform infrared communication with the remote controller 26, and perform channel switching, volume switching, and the like according to an operation input signal from the remote controller 26. .

The remote controller 26 is operated by a viewer, and inputs an operation input signal according to the operation content to a desktop television 27, a portable television 28, and a portable FM radio 29.
And infrared communication with the remote controller 26.

According to such a broadcast receiving system, for example, when a viewer is watching a broadcast using the desktop television 27, the viewer who watches the desktop television 27 operates the remote controller 26. When the channel is selected, the broadcast signal and broadcast data of the channel received by the wireless communication device 23 are frequency-converted and supplied to the desktop television 27 as an indoor wireless signal. Here, the frequency conversion by the wireless communication device 23 performs a process of converting to a frequency corresponding to a channel not received by the terrestrial antenna 11.

Next, the configuration of the wireless communication device 23 will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the radio communication device 23 receives a broadcast signal or broadcast data from the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 and transmits the indoor radio signal using the indoor antenna 23a. And a remote control transmitting / receiving section 32 for inputting an operation input signal from the remote controller 26, a frequency setting section 33, and a system control section 34 for controlling each section constituting the wireless communication device 23.

The remote control transmitting / receiving section 32 receives an operation input signal corresponding to an operation of the remote controller 26 as a radio wave. The remote control transmitting / receiving unit 32 supplies an operation input signal to the system control unit 34 and transmits a control signal from the system control unit 34 to the remote controller 2.
6 is transmitted.

The frequency setting unit 33 sets the frequency of an indoor radio signal for transmitting a channel specified by a viewer indoors. The frequency setting unit 33 sets the frequency of an unused channel not used on the receiving electronic device side to the frequency of the indoor radio signal according to a control signal from the system control unit 34. The frequency setting unit 33 supplies a control signal for oscillating to the frequency of the indoor radio signal to the oscillation circuit 45. Here, the frequency setting unit 33
As an empty channel, for example, VHF band (30 MHz)
Use the channels set above.

The system control section 34 receives the operation input signal from the remote control transmission / reception section 32, and
1 are controlled. The system control unit 34
When the indoor radio signal is transmitted from the indoor antenna 23a to the receiving electronic device, the tuning control circuit 43 is controlled so as to select the channel specified by the operation input signal, and the broadcast signal of the channel extracted by the tuning circuit 41 is transmitted. The oscillating circuit 45 and the mixing circuit 46 are controlled so that a vacant channel not used by the receiving electronic device is transmitted as a carrier wave.

Here, when delivering the indoor radio signal to the receiving electronic device, the system control unit 34 recognizes in advance the channels that can be used by the receiving electronic device, and sets the channels outside the usable channels to the indoor radio signal. To be used as the frequency.

The transmitting unit 31 includes the terrestrial antenna 1
1 and a broadcast signal and broadcast data from the BS antenna 13, a tuning circuit 41, an intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42, a tuning instruction circuit 43, an SOD (screen-on-display) addition circuit 44, an oscillation circuit 45, and a mixing circuit 46. , An amplification circuit 47, and an auto antenna circuit 48 connected to the indoor antenna 23a.

The tuning instruction circuit 43 receives a control signal for designating a channel number, controls the tuning circuit 41 so as to extract a signal having a frequency corresponding to the channel number, and adds a signal indicating the channel number to the SOD. Circuit 4
4

The tuning circuit 41 performs a process of extracting a broadcast signal or broadcast data of a carrier having a frequency designated by the tuning instruction circuit 43 and supplies the broadcast signal or broadcast data from which the carrier has been removed to the intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42. I do.

In the intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42, an intermediate frequency of a vacant frequency corresponding to a vacant channel on the receiving electronic device side is set in advance by the system control unit 34 as a fundamental frequency of the indoor radio signal. Intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42
Superimposes an intermediate frequency carrier on the broadcast signal or broadcast data from the tuning circuit 41. As a result, the intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42 performs a channel conversion process for forming a broadcast signal or broadcast data using the intermediate frequency as a carrier wave.

The SOD addition circuit 44 includes the SOD addition circuit 4
In accordance with the signal indicating the channel number from No. 4, image data to be combined with the video indicated by the indoor radio signal distributed from the indoor antenna 23a is created. This SOD addition circuit 44
Creates image data for displaying the channel number received by the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 and viewed by the receiving electronic device on a display screen or the like of the receiving electronic device, and supplies the image data to the mixing circuit 46.

The oscillating circuit 45 operates the frequency setting unit 3 at a timing designated by a control signal from the system control unit 34.
It oscillates at the frequency set in 3 and supplies an oscillating signal to the mixing circuit 46. Here, the difference of the oscillation circuit 45 from the frequency of the indoor radio signal of the intermediate frequency is specified.

The mixing circuit 46 includes an intermediate frequency conversion circuit 42
An image from the SOD addition circuit 44 is combined with the broadcast signal or the broadcast data from the SOD, and is used as a signal of a carrier frequency when distribution is performed by the oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 45.

The amplifying circuit 47 amplifies the signal from the mixing circuit 46, performs AGC (auto gain control) processing with a predetermined gain, and supplies it to the auto antenna circuit 48.

The auto antenna circuit 48 includes an amplifying circuit 47
Is supplied to the indoor antenna 23a to distribute the indoor wireless signal from the indoor antenna 23a.

In the broadcast receiving system provided with the wireless communication device 23 configured as described above, the viewer operates the remote controller 26 to supply an operation input signal designating the channel number to be viewed to the remote control transmitting / receiving section 32. When this is done, the system control unit 34 recognizes the channel number to be distributed indoors based on the operation input signal from the remote control transmitting / receiving unit 32, and supplies a control signal indicating the channel number to be distributed to the channel selection instruction circuit 43. . Next, the system control unit 34 extracts the broadcast signal or the broadcast data of the channel number to be distributed by the tuning circuit 41 and generates the image data to be combined with the broadcast signal or the broadcast data to be distributed. Control.

Here, the system control unit 34 recognizes the vacant channel of the receiving electronic device, and converts the intermediate frequency (basic frequency) of the vacant channel into a broadcast signal or broadcast data using a carrier wave as a carrier signal. 42 is controlled.

Next, the system control section 34 controls the mixing circuit 46, the frequency setting section 33 and the oscillation circuit 45 so as to set the frequency for distribution indoors, the amplification circuit 47, the auto antenna circuit 48 and the indoor antenna. Control for distributing an indoor radio signal to the room through the 23a is performed.

Thus, in the receiving electronic device, the video and audio corresponding to the channel number designated by the remote controller 26 can be viewed while being combined with the image data created by the SOD addition circuit 44. The channel number distributed to the viewer can be presented. Here, when presenting the channel number being viewed on the portable FM radio 29, the SOD addition circuit 44 creates a signal for displaying the channel number on a display mechanism provided in the portable FM radio 29.

According to the broadcast receiving system which performs such processing, even when the broadcast signal or the broadcast data received by the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 is redistributed indoors, the indoor radio signal is received by the receiving electronic device. Since the frequency can be set to the frequency of a vacant channel of the device, there is no occurrence of interference between the broadcast signal or broadcast data distributed from the base station and the indoor radio signal.

Further, according to this broadcast receiving system, it is possible to redistribute as a radio wave using the indoor antenna 23a of the wireless communication device 23, the indoor antenna of the receiving electronic device, or the built-in simple antenna. There is no need to install a broadcast cable for distributing broadcast data in a room, and it is possible to eliminate restrictions on the installation position of the receiving electronic device.

Further, according to this broadcast receiving system, even if the channel received by the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 is converted into an empty channel, the channel number received by the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 is converted to the image data. Can be included in a broadcast signal or broadcast data, so that the viewer can recognize the channel number being viewed by each receiving electronic device.

When an operation input signal for controlling the VTR device 24 is input, the system control unit 34 supplies an instruction to that effect to the VTR device 24,
Control for performing the reproducing operation and the recording operation. When an operation input signal for distributing a broadcast signal recorded by the VTR device 24 is input, the system control unit 34 controls the VTR device 24 to perform a reproducing operation and uses an available channel of the receiving electronic device. The transmission unit 31 is controlled so as to redistribute.

Thus, in the broadcast receiving system, even when the broadcast signal recorded on the recording medium is redistributed, interference between the broadcast signal or broadcast data received by the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 and the indoor radio signal is generated. There is nothing to let you do. According to the broadcast receiving system, V
In addition to eliminating the restrictions on the installation location of the TR device 24,
By creating the image data indicating "TR reproduction" by the SOD addition circuit 44, it is possible to make the viewer recognize the content distributed. Further, according to the broadcast receiving system, even when a plurality of receiving electronic devices exist indoors,
The TR device 24 can be used in common.

When an operation input signal for controlling the camera device 25 is input, the system control unit 34 supplies an instruction to that effect to the camera device 25, and
Is used to control the imaging operation. The system control unit 34
When an operation input signal for distributing a camera signal captured by the camera device 25 is input, the camera device 25 is controlled to perform an image capturing operation, and is redistributed using an available channel of the receiving electronic device. The transmission unit 31 is controlled.

Thus, in the broadcast receiving system, even when the camera signal captured by the camera device 25 is distributed,
There is no occurrence of interference between the broadcast signal or broadcast data received by the terrestrial antenna 11 or the BS antenna 13 and the indoor radio signal. Further, according to the broadcast receiving system, by creating image data indicating “camera captured image” by the SOD addition circuit 44, it is possible to make the viewer recognize the content distributed. Further, according to this broadcast receiving system, even when a plurality of receiving electronic devices exist indoors, the camera device 25 can be used in common, and the state outside the house 1 can be determined by any receiving electronic device. You can still watch it.

In the above example, the wireless communication device 2
3 has been described as an example in which the single transmission unit unit 31 is single and a single indoor radio signal is distributed to a plurality of receiving electronic devices.
And by providing a plurality of transmission units 31 in the wireless communication device 23, it is possible to distribute indoor radio signals corresponding to the respective receiving electronic devices. That is, each transmitting unit 31 distributes an indoor radio signal of a different channel according to an operation input signal from each remote controller 26 corresponding to each receiving electronic device, so that each of the receiving electronic devices can transmit an indoor radio signal of a different channel. To receive different broadcasts.

In the above example, the wireless communication device 2
3 describes an example in which the VTR device 24 is connected to a recording device that records a terrestrial broadcast signal, a CS broadcast signal, or a BS broadcast signal on a disk-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk. Wireless communication device 2
3 may be connected.

[0060]

In the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention, when a channel to be viewed by the receiving electronic device is received outdoors and redistributed, the channel is converted into a channel not used by the receiving electronic device and the channel number to be viewed is changed. Since the content can be added to the indoor broadcast signal, even when a plurality of receiving electronic devices are present indoors, each receiving electronic device recognizes the channel and allows the user to view and listen to the broadcast signal cable. Indoor equipment can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a broadcast receiving system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional broadcast receiving system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 House 11 Terrestrial antenna 12 Mixer 13 BS antenna 23 Wireless communication device 24 VTR device 25 Camera device 26 Remote controller 27 Desktop television 28 Portable television 29 Portable FM radio 31 Transmission unit 32 Remote control transmission / reception unit 33 Frequency Setting unit 34 System control unit 41 Tuning circuit 42 Intermediate frequency conversion circuit 43 Tuning instruction circuit 44 SOD addition circuit 45 Oscillation circuit 46 Mixing circuit 47 Amplifying circuit 48 Auto antenna circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C025 AA02 AA08 AA09 AA21 AA23 BA01 BA30 CA04 CA09 CB05 5C056 AA01 BA01 BA08 BA10 FA05 HA01 HA04

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal on which a plurality of channels are superimposed outdoors, and a broadcast signal of a channel to be viewed by an indoor receiving electronic device among the plurality of channels received by the receiving means. Extracting means for extracting; a channel converting means for converting the broadcast signal extracted by the extracting means into a broadcast signal of an unused channel among channels receivable by the receiving electronic device; An image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the converted broadcast signal with an image indicating a channel number when received by the receiving unit; and a broadcast signal in which the image is synthesized by the image synthesizing unit is wirelessly transmitted to the receiving electronic device. A wireless communication device comprising: a transmission unit. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of said extracting means corresponding to a plurality of receiving electronic devices; and a plurality of said channel converting means. Each of said extracting means extracts a broadcast signal of a channel viewed by each receiving electronic device. 2. The channel conversion unit according to claim 1, wherein the channel conversion unit converts each broadcast signal extracted by each of the extraction units into a broadcast signal of an unused channel among channels receivable by each of the electronic devices. Wireless communication device. 3. A storage unit for storing a broadcast signal received by the receiving unit, wherein the channel converting unit is configured to receive a broadcast signal stored in the storage unit from among channels that can be received by the receiving electronic device. Converting the broadcast signal into a broadcast signal of an unused channel, and the transmitting unit wirelessly transmitting the broadcast signal stored in the storage unit and converted by the channel converting unit to the receiving electronic device. The wireless communication device according to claim 1. 4. An image pickup means for receiving an external light to generate an image pickup signal, wherein said channel conversion means includes an image pickup signal picked up by said image pickup means out of channels that can be received by said receiving electronic device. An image pickup signal having a frequency of an unused channel; and the transmitting unit wirelessly transmits the image pickup signal obtained by the image pickup unit and converted by the channel conversion unit to the receiving electronic device. The wireless communication device according to claim 1.