JP2006197380A - Composite terminal device in facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite terminal device in facility which allows a user to utilize various kinds of services including commercial broadcast under a comfortable environment, the device for compositing viewing of television broadcasting and video on demand and the utilization of a personal computer. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of services to be provided are represented by each of selection icons IC1-IC6 on a top screen and an image displaying a commercial image, and sounds corresponding to the commercial image are outputted in a specific selection icon IC 2 among the icons (step S02), an instruction of selecting of an arbitrary selection icon on the top screen is accepted (steps S03-S05), and the service to be provided by the accepted selection icon is executed (step S11). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is an in-facility complex where an unspecified user, for example, in an accommodation facility such as a hotel or an inn or an inpatient facility such as a hospital, views a television broadcast or video on demand, or uses a personal computer. It relates to a terminal device.

  Conventionally, when watching TV broadcasts on the on-site TV distribution network laid in accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns or hospitalized facilities such as hospitals, terrestrial and CS broadcasts received with antennas are unique within the facility. There is a method for receiving a plurality of programs such as independent broadcasts to be broadcasted in a guest room or the like by a dedicated television broadcast receiving apparatus individually installed and outputting the demodulated output to a monitor device connected to the television broadcast receiving apparatus for viewing. It is common.

  In such a case, a pay program is assigned to a part of the plurality of programs, and when the user views the pay program, the fee is paid, and the operator who lends and operates the device And has become an important revenue for facility managers.

  In recent years, various high-definition high-definition programs such as BS digital broadcasting and 110 ° CS digital broadcasting have become widespread, and terrestrial digital broadcasting has also started. Uses a system that charges movies on video-on-demand for data streaming using a personal computer that has a different distribution form from TV broadcasting, an Internet connection environment, and application programs such as various word processors and spreadsheets Realization of a possible environment is urgently needed.

  The introduction of these digital TV broadcast viewing facilities and video-on-demand viewing facilities will require high facility costs to provide users with additional services. In order to promote the above, in addition to the above-described charging to the user, a method of collecting the advertising fee from the advertiser by commercial broadcasting or the like is conceivable and partially realized.

As one method of this type, there is considered a method in which general information including advertisement information is displayed by an information display installed in a place visible to a person waiting in a waiting place such as a hospital or a bank. (For example, Patent Document 1)
JP 2002-032067 A

  However, the technology of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is intended for information that many unspecified users see at a waiting place at the same time. Individual users select viewing contents according to their own hobbies and preferences, In addition, since it is not assumed that an application program of a personal computer is executed, consideration is given to a method of advertising without causing discomfort to each user under the use environment such as the selection operation. Absent.

  However, in order to improve profitability with the above commercial broadcast, by outputting the commercial broadcast, the operability of the user who is watching TV broadcast or video-on-demand is not impaired, discomfort or complexity, etc. It is important not to let you feel it.

  Also, it is necessary that no new equipment costs be incurred in order to output commercial broadcasting.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is an apparatus that combines television broadcasting, video-on-demand viewing, and use of a personal computer. It is to provide an in-facility composite terminal device that can utilize various services including commercial broadcasting in a harsh environment.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of provided services are represented by respective selection icons on the top screen, and an image displaying a commercial image in a specific selection icon among them and a sound corresponding to the commercial image are displayed. A first output means for outputting; a selection input means for receiving a selection instruction for an arbitrary selection icon in the top screen; and an execution control means for executing a service for providing a selection icon for which the selection instruction is received by the selection input means. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the first output means outputs the commercial image and a sound corresponding to the commercial image each time the display is switched to the top screen. It is characterized by switching to a content different from that at the time of display.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the selection input means accepts a temporary selection of an arbitrary icon and accepts a selection instruction of the selected icon by a confirmation instruction in a temporarily selected state. Corresponding to an image that requires a step-by-step operation, displays the commercial image in the icon by enlarging the selected icon to a predetermined size while the specific selection icon is temporarily selected by the selection input means, and the commercial image And a second output means for outputting the sound.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first output means selects the occupancy output of the commercial image separately from the specific selection icon. Is output independently, and when the selection input means for selecting the exclusive output of the commercial image is received by the selection input means, an image for displaying the commercial image on the entire screen and the commercial image are displayed. A third output means for outputting the corresponding sound is further provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, while displaying a commercial image in the icon with a specific icon for selecting, for example, a television broadcast in the top screen for selecting a provided service, the commercial image is also supported. Since the audio is output, the commercial image and the corresponding audio are displayed until the user indicates a certain function with the selection icon while considering that the user using the terminal device does not feel uncomfortable. Can continue to output.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the output of the commercial image and the corresponding sound is switched in proportion to the display frequency of the top screen, and the setting is performed. It is possible to increase profits efficiently by setting fine advertising fees for advertisers.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, when a specific selection icon is temporarily selected, its size is enlarged, and a commercial image is also enlarged and displayed. Therefore, the commercial effect can be enhanced with a clear image without giving an unnatural impression to the user.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the commercial effect is greatly enhanced with a clearer image without giving an unnatural impression to the user. Can do.

  In the following, the present invention is installed in a hotel facility building, which is a system in which a television broadcast viewing system, a computer, and a video on demand viewing system are combined, and is adapted to an in-facility combined terminal device installed in each hotel room. One embodiment of the case will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The TV broadcasting viewing system in the hotel facility receives BS / 110 ° CS digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting with dedicated antennas, and outputs them, independent broadcasting in the building, and all digital TV broadcasting receivers. After the signals from the data line connected to the front computer that manages the signal are arranged and mixed on the same frequency axis with a mixer, they are placed in each guest room in the hotel hall through the coaxial transmission line that constitutes the distribution network of this system. The data is transmitted to the television broadcast receiving device in the arranged composite terminal device.

  On the other hand, streaming data such as video-on-demand movies using a computer, OS (operating system) and application software (video / audio playback software, word processor software, spreadsheet software, e-mail) of general personal computers・ Software, personal information management software, Internet browsing software, etc.) are stored in the server equipment in the hotel building. For example, a complex installed in each guest room via a LAN line via a hub that is divided into floor units in the hotel building. By downloading to the computer in the terminal device, it can be used each time.

  FIG. 1 mainly shows a schematic configuration of connections and functions of an in-facility composite terminal device 1 installed in each guest room. The in-facility composite terminal device 1 basically includes a television broadcast receiving device 2 and a computer 3. And are configured integrally.

  The television broadcast receiver 2 receives BS / 110 ° CS digital broadcast intermediate frequency signals, terrestrial digital broadcast reception signals, and commercial broadcasts as independent broadcasts from the coaxial transmission line 10. 2 is sent to the BS · 110 ° CS digital tuner or terrestrial tuner, and the channel selection operation corresponding to the instruction operation from the remote controller 5 is executed, and the transport stream (TS) of the channel is demodulated, if necessary. Similarly, video and audio information is obtained by descrambling and decoding in accordance with information stored in a B-CAS card mounted in the television broadcast receiver 2, and this is also obtained by an AV decoder in the television broadcast receiver 2. A temporally continuous video signal and stereo audio signal are generated.

  The video signal and the stereo audio signal generated in this way are output from the liquid crystal monitor device 4 by connecting the liquid crystal monitor device 4 installed together with the in-facility composite terminal device 1 through the video and audio cable 11 and outputting it. Audio is reproduced and output together.

  On the other hand, the computer 3 uses the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to view a television broadcast, view a video on demand such as a movie using streaming data input via the LAN line 12, and use the above-described personal computer application software. This is realized according to the operation on the remote controller 5, and specifically, a desired function by selecting one of various icons displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor device 4 by the operation on the remote controller 5. Execute.

  An infrared modulation signal transmitted by operating a key of the remote controller 5 is received by a light receiving sensor in the television broadcast receiver 2, and the demodulated signal is input to a control unit in the computer 3 via the remote control signal cable 13. The

  The TV broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the computer 3 are connected to each other by a serial communication line 14 and a video / audio cable 15. The TV broadcast receiving apparatus 2 appropriately controls necessary data via the computer 3 and the serial communication line 14. The video and audio signals sent from the computer 3 via the video and audio cable 15 are output to the liquid crystal monitor device 4 via the video and audio cable 11 to be reproduced and output.

  FIG. 2 exemplifies a specific key top configuration of the remote controller 5. Here, only the keys used in the present embodiment will be mainly described, and the power key 31 for turning on / off the composite terminal device 1 in the facility and the numerical value for selecting a desired channel are selected. A channel key 32 composed of keys, a direction instruction key 33 for instructing movement of the cursor displayed on the screen in the up, down, left and right directions, a pay CH up / down key 34 for instructing up / down of a pay broadcast channel, which will be described later A top screen key 35 for displaying a top screen to be displayed, a trackball 36 that functions as a pointing device at the center of the direction instruction key 33, and a free CH up / down key 37 for instructing up / down of a free broadcast channel. "Determine" key 38 for instructing confirmation from the temporarily selected state, and "Return" key for returning to the previous state It has a 9.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 shows the processing contents until the display of the top screen mainly associated with the operation of the power key 31 of the remote controller 5 and the subsequent selection of various functions. At the beginning of the processing, it appears from the user. The above shows whether the power key 31 of the remote controller 5 is operated in the standby state where the power of the in-facility composite terminal device 1 is turned off, or whether the top screen key 35 is operated while the power is already turned on. By repeatedly determining whether or not there is a key operation input, the system waits (step S01).

  Accordingly, when the power key 31 or the top screen key 35 is operated, this is determined, and the top screen is displayed (step S02).

  FIG. 4 exemplifies an initial top screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor device 4. Here, “PC” icon IC 1, “TV” icon IC 2, “CM” icon IC 3, “Movie” icon IC 4, It is assumed that a “hotel guide” icon IC5 and a “manual” icon IC6 are displayed, and the “personal computer” icon IC1 is highlighted by the cursor CS as an initial state.

  The “PC” icon IC1 realizes the functions of a personal computer using the computer 3, and includes the above-mentioned various application software such as word processor software, spreadsheet software, e-mail software, personal information management software, Internet browsing software, etc. Select when you want to execute.

  The “TV” icon IC2 is selected when the TV broadcast receiving apparatus 2 views BS / 110 ° CS digital broadcast or terrestrial digital broadcast, and a symbol imitating a television receiver screen is displayed. It is assumed that a commercial (CM) image is actually displayed on the screen, and an audio signal corresponding to the commercial image is output from the speaker of the liquid crystal monitor device 4 with the volume level suppressed.

  The “CM” icon IC3 is selected to display the commercial image displayed in the “TV” icon IC2 on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor device 4.

  The “movie” icon IC4 is selected when a movie is viewed by the video-on-demand function using the computer 3.

  The “hotel guide” icon IC5 is selected when viewing a hotel guide program by independent broadcasting in the hotel building.

  The “instruction manual” icon IC6 is selected when a help function by the computer 3 is executed and various handling explanation information such as an operation method of the in-facility composite terminal device 1 is used.

  In the state where the top screen is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor device 4 and the commercial image is being displayed in the “TV” icon IC2 as described above, “PC” other than the “TV” icon IC2 and the “CM” icon IC3. Whether any one of the icon IC1, the “movie” icon IC4, the “hotel guide” icon IC5, and the “manual” icon IC6 has been selected (step S03), and whether the cursor CS has been moved to the “TV” icon IC2. (Step S04), repeatedly determining whether or not the “CM” icon IC3 has been selected (Step S05), the state indication key 33, the trackball 36, and “Determine” ”By the key operation of the key 38.

FIG. 5A shows that the “PC” icon IC1 is highlighted by the cursor CS in the initial state of the top screen as in FIG.
Here, when the cursor CS is moved to the “TV” icon IC2 by the operation of the direction instruction key 33 or the trackball 36, this is determined in the above step S04, and the “TV” icon IC2 is compared with other icons. After the image is enlarged at a predetermined magnification and the commercial image output in the icon is enlarged accordingly (step S06), the “enter” key 38 is operated to select the “TV” icon IC2. It is determined whether or not it has been determined (step S07), and whether or not the cursor CS has been moved to another position by operating the direction instruction key 33, the trackball 36 or the “return” key 39 (step S08). When it is repeatedly executed and the cursor CS is on the “TV” icon IC2, the “TV” While larger view con IC2 its internal commercial images to a predetermined size, or "enter" key 38 is operated, or the cursor CS is waiting to be moved.

  FIG. 5B illustrates the display screen on the liquid crystal monitor device 4 at this time. As described above, the “TV” icon IC2 is enlarged and displayed in a predetermined size, and therefore, the internal commercial image is also proportional. And the appealing power of the commercial image to the user is improved.

  At this time, the volume level of the audio signal corresponding to the commercial image may be increased to some extent to link the image and the audio.

  However, if it is determined that the cursor CS has been moved from the position of the “TV” icon IC2, this is determined in step S08, and the cursor CS is returned to a position other than the “TV” icon IC2 in response to the operation. Then, the operation returns to the operation from step S02 again.

  If it is determined in step S05 that the cursor CS is moved to the position of the “CM” icon IC3 and is selected, “Return” is displayed while displaying the commercial image on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor device 4 in an enlarged manner. It is determined whether or not the key 39 has been operated (step S10), and a commercial image is displayed on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor device 4 until the “return” key 39 is operated.

  FIG. 5C illustrates the display screen on the liquid crystal monitor device 4 at this time. As described above, since only the commercial image is enlarged and displayed on the entire surface, the appeal of the commercial image to the user is remarkably improved. To do.

  At this time, the sound volume level of the audio signal corresponding to the commercial image may be sufficiently increased within the allowable range to link the image and the sound.

  When the "return" key 39 is operated from the state where the commercial image is displayed on the entire screen, this is determined in step S10, and the cursor CS is returned to the position of the previously selected icon and displayed. After displaying the top screen, the operation returns to step S02 again.

  In step S03, however, the “PC” icon IC1, “movie” icon IC4, “hotel guide” icon IC5 and “instruction manual” icon IC6 other than the “TV” icon IC2 and “CM” icon IC3 are temporarily selected. When the “determine” key 38 is operated from the state in which the CS has been moved to execute the function, or the “television” icon IC2 is enlarged together with the commercial image in the step S06, the “determination” is performed. When the key 38 is operated to execute the TV broadcast viewing function, the operation according to the icon function content selected and determined is started (step S11). This process is terminated, and the operation state of the determined function is shifted to.

  As described above, the “TV” icon IC2 on the top screen for selecting a service that can be provided displays a commercial image in the icon and outputs a sound corresponding to the commercial image. , While taking care not to give discomfort to the user who uses the in-facility composite terminal device 1, until the user designates some function with the selection icon, the commercial image and the corresponding sound are continuously output. Can do.

  In this case, in particular, the commercial image displayed in the “TV” icon IC2 and the sound corresponding to the commercial image are not a single pattern, but a plurality of patterns are prepared in advance, and the contents of the top screen are sequentially or randomly selected. It may be switched.

  In this way, by switching the output of commercial images and corresponding audio in proportion to the display frequency of the top screen, it is possible to set fine advertising fees for advertisers depending on how they are set, and increase profits efficiently. In addition, it is possible to provide a non-uniform commercial to the user of the in-facility composite terminal device 1 that is a viewer, and to avoid getting tired of the commercial content and reducing the advertising effect.

  In addition, when the “TV” icon IC2 is provisionally selected as in the above embodiment, the size is enlarged and the commercial image is also enlarged and displayed, so that an unnatural impression is not given to the user. The commercial effect can be enhanced with a clear image.

  Further, when the dedicated “CM” icon IC3 is selected, the commercial image is displayed on the entire screen of the liquid crystal monitor device 4 instead of being enlarged at a predetermined size.

  Therefore, the commercial effect can be greatly enhanced with a clearer image without giving an unnatural impression to the user.

  In the above embodiment, a system in which a television broadcast viewing system, a computer, and a video-on-demand viewing system are combined is built in a hotel facility, and the combined terminal device in the facility installed in each hotel guest room. Although the in-facility composite terminal device 1 has been described as being separate from the liquid crystal monitor device 4 as an adaptation, the in-facility composite terminal device 1 and the liquid crystal monitor device 4 or a general television receiver are integrated. The same can be realized as well.

  The key operation performed by the remote controller 5 may be performed using a keyboard (whether wired / wireless) of the computer 3 or another operation member having an equivalent function, or may be used in combination.

  Further, although the commercial image is provided as streaming data from the server device in the facility, the commercial image is appropriately stored after being stored in a storage medium such as the HDD device of the computer 3 in the composite terminal device 1 installed in each guest room. May be read and output.

  The above system and its terminal device are not limited to accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, or hospital facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, but also complex terminal devices in facilities that can be used by unspecified users. I just need it.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and described in the column of the effect of the invention. In a case where at least one of the obtained effects can be obtained, a configuration in which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

The block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the connection of an in-facility composite terminal device which mainly concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and a function. The figure which illustrates the keytop structure of the remote controller which concerns on the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the processing content of the transition control from the top screen corresponding to the key operation of the remote controller which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which illustrates the display state of the top screen which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which illustrates the change of the display state from the top screen concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facility terminal in a facility, 2 ... Television broadcast receiver, 3 ... Computer, 4 ... Liquid crystal monitor device, 5 ... Remote controller, 10 ... Coaxial transmission line, 11 ... Video and audio cable, 12 ... LAN line, 13 ... Remote control signal cable, 14 ... Video and audio cable, 15 ... Video and audio cable, 31 ... Power key, 32 ... Channel key, 33 ... Direction key, 34 ... Paid CH up / down key, 35 ... Top screen key, 36 ... Track ball, 37 ... Free CH up / down key, 38 ... "Enter" key, 39 ... "Back" key, CS ... Cursor, IC1 ... "PC" icon, IC2 ... "TV" icon, IC3 ... "CM" Icon, IC4 ... "Movie" icon, IC5 ... "Hotel information" icon, IC6 ... "Instruction manual" icon.

Claims (4)

A first output means for expressing a plurality of provided services by respective selection icons on the top screen and displaying a commercial image in a specific selection icon of them and outputting a sound corresponding to the commercial image; ,
A selection input means for receiving an instruction to select an arbitrary selection icon in the top screen;
An in-facility composite terminal device comprising: an execution control unit for executing a selection icon providing service for which a selection instruction is received by the selection input unit.   The first output means switches the commercial image and the sound corresponding to the commercial image to contents different from the previous display time of the top screen every time the display is switched to the top screen. In-facility compound terminal. The selection input means requires a two-step operation of accepting a temporary selection of an arbitrary icon and accepting a selection instruction of the selected icon by a confirmation instruction in the temporarily selected state,
Secondly, when a specific selection icon is temporarily selected by the selection input means, the selection icon is enlarged to a predetermined size, and an image displaying a commercial image in the icon and a sound corresponding to the commercial image are output. The in-facility composite terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: an output unit. The first output means outputs a top screen image in which a selection icon for selecting an exclusive output of the commercial image is arranged separately from the specific selection icon,
When the selection input unit receives a selection icon for selecting the exclusive output of the commercial image, the image processing apparatus further includes a third output unit that outputs an image that displays the commercial image on a full screen and a sound corresponding to the commercial image. The in-facility composite terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

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