JPH01190150A - Data broadcast system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer a data with high quality simultaneously and economically to an unspecified lots of reception terminal sets by using a time division multiple connection digital exchanges so as to connect a broadcast channel to a subscriber of a non-communication state. CONSTITUTION:An information transmission device 2, according to a schedule, sends a broadcast data stored in a storage device to a digital exchange 1 having a multipath connection section via a broadcast channel 5. The data broadcast is connected multiply to plural subscriber circuits 4 of plural non-communication states by a switch of the exchange 1 and sent to the circuit 4 simultaneously. Each broadcast data is provided with a program identification number end a reception terminal set 3 checks it and fetches only the broadcast data coincident with the commanded identification number of the terminal user and applies processing such as storage, display and print.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication system using a digital switching device, especially when a subscriber line in a idle state where there are no ordinary outgoing calls or incoming calls is used. , relates to a data broadcasting system that transmits data in digital format to an unspecified number of receiving terminals.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for information that changes over time, such as securities transaction information, weather information, and news, to be instantly transmitted to a large number of users as data that is easy to store and process.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, one method of simultaneously transmitting data to an unspecified number of terminals is a broadcasting method using wireless transmission technology. However, in the case of wireless broadcasting, code errors are likely to occur due to the influence of noise radio waves and the condition of the propagation path, making reception almost impossible in some places, and the cost of encoding and decoding due to error correction. There were problems such as being expensive and having poor transmission efficiency.

In place of this, broadcasting does not have the ability to simultaneously transmit data, but as a method of avoiding the quality problems of wireless transmission and transmitting the same data to an unspecified number of terminals, a data storage center (database center) is used. There is a method in which a terminal that requires data calls the center as appropriate via a switching network, and reads the data from the center via a communication line (see FIG. 10).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional method described above, there is a limit to the number of terminals that can be connected simultaneously due to limitations in line equipment on the center side and processing capacity of the center, so it is difficult to transmit data to each terminal at the same time. Furthermore, if an attempt was made to increase the number of lines simultaneously connected at the center, there was a problem in that the center equipment would become expensive.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems and to simultaneously send data to an unspecified number of terminals by using an existing digital switching network without using a dedicated wired network for broadcasting. The object of the present invention is to provide a transmittable and economical data broadcasting system.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the data broadcasting system of the present invention connects a plurality of subscriber lines that are not used for outgoing calls or incoming calls (no call state) and a line (broadcast channel ) by a time division multiplex switch (N-to-1 connection) and broadcastingly distributes the information transmitted from the information transmitting device to the plurality of subscriber lines (hereinafter referred to as multipath connection section). ) to a digital switching device with broadcast order and content data (
broadcast data); and according to the storage means,
an information transmitting device having means for transmitting broadcast data assigned a program identification number to the broadcast channel; and an information transmitting device connected to the subscriber line to transmit the program identification number attached to the broadcast data received from the subscriber line. The present invention is characterized in that it is configured by connecting a terminal having a means for inspecting and receiving only broadcast data that matches the program identification number specified by the terminal user and importing it into the terminal.

Further, in the data broadcasting system of the present invention, one or more broadcasting channels are connected to the digital switching device, and multiple connection (
means for storing and managing the state of the multipath connection (hereinafter referred to as multipath connection); and corresponding to each subscriber line, when the subscriber line is in a no-call state, according to the contents stored in the storage management means;
means for setting the state of the multipath connection; and means for controlling the storage management means from a maintenance terminal connected to the digital switching device to register and change the state of the multipath connection corresponding to the subscriber line. There are certain characteristics.

Furthermore, the data broadcasting system of the present invention connects one or more broadcasting channels to the digital switching device,
means for storing and managing the state of the multipath connection corresponding to each subscriber line in the digital switching device; According to the contents, a means for setting a multipath connection state and a storage management means control registration and change of the multipath connection state corresponding to the subscriber line from a terminal connected to the digital switching device via a communication line. Another feature is that it has a means to do so.

Further, the information transmitting device is provided with means for transmitting and receiving broadcast data and broadcast control data added thereto via a communication line, and means for setting a broadcast order and a schedule of broadcast contents according to the received data. It also has its own characteristics.

[Effect]

In the present invention, a digital switching device equipped with a multipath connection section is used to provide only one broadcast channel to the digital switching device, and all subscriber lines in idle state are connected to the broadcast channel by multipath connection. By connecting to
Enables data broadcasting to an unspecified number of receiving terminals.

Further, a plurality of broadcast channels are connected to the digital switching device, and means for storing and managing the state of multipath connection for each subscriber line, means for changing the contents, and controlling the multipath connection according to the contents. By providing this means in the digital switching device, it is possible to set the multipath connection state in detail. In other words, for each subscriber line, select the broadcasting channel to connect to when there is no call, prioritize reception of data broadcasting over incoming normal communication calls, and prevent multipath connection from being canceled even if there is an incoming call. This made it possible to control the This makes it possible to cope with cases where data broadcasting is provided only to contracted subscribers, or cases where the number of programs increases to such an extent that it cannot be transmitted on one channel. It is also possible to use the subscriber line as a dedicated line for receiving data broadcasting.

Multipath connection status settings for each subscriber line, such as selecting and registering broadcast channels to connect to each subscriber line, can be done from the maintenance terminal of the digital switching equipment, or remotely online from another terminal. .

Furthermore, by adding means for inputting broadcast data and control data via a communication line to the information transmitting device of the data broadcasting system, the schedule of data broadcasting can be controlled remotely.

Thereby, it is possible to easily organize the broadcast contents of the information transmitting device placed corresponding to each digital switching device.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a data broadcasting system showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a digital switching device having a multi-connection unit that broadcasts and distributes information (broadcast data) transmitted from an information transmitting device 2 to a plurality of subscriber lines 4, and 2 is an information transmitting device that transmits broadcast data. A transmitting device, 3 a receiving terminal that receives broadcast data (data broadcasting) in a no-call state (the line is not used for outgoing or incoming calls), 4 a plurality of subscriber lines, and 5 transmitting broadcast data. 3a and 3b are terminals that are not receiving data broadcasting, and 6 is a relay line used for communication calls between terminal 3b and terminals accommodated in other switching equipment. be. The data to be broadcast in this embodiment includes document data consisting of character code strings, encoded image data such as facsimiles, encoded music performance data, encoded audio, computer programs and data, and their constituent elements. This includes multimedia data configured as . below,
The outline of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG.

The information sending device 2 is connected to a digital switching device 1 having a multipath connection section using a line (broadcasting channel) 5, and according to the schedule managed by the own device 2, information is stored in a storage device within the device in advance. The broadcast data is sent to broadcast channel 5. Broadcasting channel 5 is
A switch in the digital switching device 1 connects multiple subscriber lines 4 in a non-calling state (N-to-1 connection).

Broadcast data input from the broadcast channel 5 is simultaneously sent to each multiplexed subscriber line 4, thereby realizing data broadcasting. A receiving terminal 3 connected to the subscriber line 4 receives broadcast data from the subscriber line 4. When transmitting broadcast data from the information transmitting device 2, a program identification number is assigned to each broadcast data so that different types of information (program information) can be transmitted sequentially using the same broadcast channel. The receiving terminal 3 checks the program identification number added to the broadcast data,
Only broadcast data that matches the program identification number specified by the user of the terminal is imported into the terminal, and processing such as storage 9 display and printing is performed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operating principle of the multipath connection section in the digital switching device ll of FIG. 1.

Although an example in which three subscriber lines are multiplexed on one data highway is shown here, the operating principle described below is the same even if the degree of multiplexing is other than three.

In FIG. 9, 81 is an input data highway for inputting time slots from a line to time slot memory 82, 82 is a time slot memory for sequentially writing input time slots into corresponding areas, and 83 is for inputting time slot memory 82. A read control memory 84 controls the read address, an output data highway 84 is an output of the time slot memory 82, and a clock 85 supplies timing for writing and reading data into the time slot memory 1 in units of time slots. Digital signals transmitted on each line are multiplexed into corresponding time slots on the data highway. A, B, and C are line # (1) and line # (2), respectively.

It represents a signal on a time slot that is input from line #(3), multiplexed and transmitted on the highway.

Below, an overview of the exchange operation using time slot memory will first be explained.

Digital signals input from a plurality of lines are divided into data of a fixed length called time slots, and are multiplexed and transported on the input data highway 81 as time slots corresponding to each line on a one-to-one basis. Similarly, the signals on each time slot that are multiplexed and carried on the outgoing data highway 84 are distributed and transmitted to the corresponding lines. That is, the time slot memory 82 is
The time slots inputted from the input data highway 81 are sequentially written into the corresponding memories by the clock 85. Then, the read control memory 83 reads out the time slot written in the memory in the time slot memory 82 according to the stored read address. It is now possible to read out the time slots in a different order from the previous one and send them to the outgoing data highway 84, and the order of the time slots changes between the incoming data highway 81 and the outgoing data highway 84, making it possible to exchange signals between lines. It becomes possible.

Next, a multipath connection by a multipath connection unit using the digital switching device described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

If the contents of the read control memory 83 are set to 1, for example, all "2", all B are read out on the output data highway 84, and the signal input from line #(2) becomes #(1).
, #(2), and #(3), a multipath connection can be realized. Here, the signal input from line #(2) is transferred to the time slot memory 8.
The time difference between transmissions from #2 to #(1), #(2), and #(3) is less than or equal to the time required to transmit one time slot on each channel. The time slot, which is the unit of switching processing in normal digital switching equipment, is only a few bits long, which is much smaller than the length of the entire information to be transmitted. The difference in transmission time is virtually negligible.

This enables open-ended data broadcasting when transmitting information to an unspecified number of terminals.

The trigger for multipath connecting a subscriber's line to a specific line (broadcasting channel in this example) is when a normal outgoing or incoming communication call is completed and the subscriber's line is restored to an idle state. do.

When a terminal connected to a subscriber line that is broadcasting through this multipath connection unit makes a call for normal communication, it disconnects from the broadcasting channel, as in terminal 3a in Figure 1. Then, the switching device 1 performs a normal call connection operation. Furthermore, when an incoming call is received on a subscriber line that is currently broadcasting through this multipath connection unit, the incoming call is given priority and the connection with the broadcasting channel is disconnected. Make a connection for a call. Below, Figures 2 to 8
The details and operation of each part of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of broadcast management data stored in the information transmitting device 2 shown in FIG. It shows. The information sending device 2 sequentially reads broadcast data from its storage device according to the broadcast management table 21, assigns a corresponding program identification number, and sends the data to a broadcast channel. After the information transmitting device 2 finishes transmitting the broadcast data registered at the end (nth in FIG. 2) of the broadcast management table 21, it transmits the broadcast data again in order starting from the first registered broadcast data. repeat.

As an example, the program identification numbers in Fig. 2 are given consecutive numbers from 1 to 1 to n programs in the order of transmission, but they do not necessarily have to be a series of numbers, and in short, each program has a different identification number. It only needs to be given a name, and it can be any character string that is not an ordinal number. Furthermore, in the case where there are a plurality of broadcast channels (a second embodiment described below), the program identification number may include an element for identifying the broadcast channel. In the information transmission device 2, in parallel with the transmission control of the broadcast data, by updating the contents of the broadcast data registered in the broadcast management table 21,
It is possible to broadcast the latest data at all times, and it can be applied to data broadcasting where the content changes in a relatively short period of time, such as market conditions such as securities, news, and weather forecasts.

FIG. 3 shows program information 31 sent from the information sending device 2.
This is an example of a configuration in which a program identification number and an error correction code are added to broadcast data.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the program information 31 shown in FIG. 3 is continuously and repeatedly transmitted according to the broadcast management table 21 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, in order to identify the beginning and end of each program information, program delimiters are given before and after each program information, as shown in FIG. 3. An example of a delimiter is High Level Data Link Control Procedure (JIS c6363)
There is a method that uses interframe flags. In that case, by performing transmission encoding/decoding processing of "02 bit insertion/deletion" to prevent the same pit sequence as the flag from appearing in the program information between the flags during transmission, arbitrary pit A sequence of program information can be transmitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a data broadcasting system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This shows a data broadcasting system in which a plurality of broadcasting channels are connected to a digital switching device, and the state of multipath connection can be set for each subscriber line. Further, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a multi-connection management table for managing multi-path connection states.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, 1 is a digital switching device, 2
a, 2b are information sending devices, 3a to 3e are receiving terminals, 48
~4e is subscriber line, 5a, 5b are broadcast channels, 7
11, 12, 13, and 14 are the switches, control section, control storage section, and maintenance terminal of the digital switching device 1, respectively, and 131 is the control storage section. This is a multi-connection management table stored in 13.

The multi-connection management table 131 shown in FIG. 6 is data in which broadcast channel numbers (line numbers used for broadcast channels) and broadcast priority states are registered in correspondence with subscriber line numbers, and is stored in the control storage section of the digital switching device 1. placed in 13. The control unit 12 of the digital switching device 1 controls the switch 11 according to the contents registered in the multi-connection management table 131, and connects an idle subscriber line to a designated broadcast channel in a multipath manner, or Or leave it unconnected to any broadcast channel. In the example of the multi-connection management table 131 in FIG. 6, subscriber lines 4a and 4b are connected to broadcast channel 5a, subscriber lines 4c and 4d are connected to broadcast channel 5b, and each subscriber line is in an idle state (no call state). However, since the corresponding broadcast channel is not registered for subscriber line 4e, even if subscriber line 4e becomes vacant, digital switching device 1 will connect subscriber line 4e to Do not connect to any broadcast channel. Further, since the subscriber line 4d is set to the broadcast priority state, the connection with the broadcast channel 5b is not canceled even if there is an incoming call on the subscriber line 4d.

In this way, the multi-connection management table 131 can be used not only to register the broadcasting channel to which each subscriber line is connected, but also to register a state in which the data broadcasting service is not used.

In the embodiment of Mizuei 2, as a means of registering or changing the contents of the multi-connection management table 131.

A means for inputting a maintenance command for changing control storage data in the switching device 1 from a maintenance terminal 14 attached to the digital switching device 1 is used. Separately, it is also possible to use means for transmitting a signal (broadcast channel setting signal) from a terminal connected to the digital switching device 1 via a communication line to instruct the digital switching device 1 to register or change a broadcast channel. You may also do so. That is, the fifth
This can be done by connecting the information sending device 2b in the figure to the control section 12 of the digital switching device 1 via the line 7. This example shows an example in which data broadcasting is performed only to subscriber lines for which a reception contract has been made for each information transmitting device.

As a result, the information sending device 2b manages contract recipients,
When making a new contract or canceling a contract, the information transmitting device sends the subscriber line number to be set in a broadcast channel setting signal to the digital switching device 1 via the line, and the multi-connection within the switching device 1 is sent. Since the portion of the management table 131 corresponding to the subscriber line number designated by the signal can be set, the data broadcasting service can be operated efficiently.

As another example, the receiving terminal 3e in FIG. 5 may be connected to the subscriber line 4e.
An example in which the controller 12 is connected to the control unit 12 of the digital switching device 1 will be described next. In this case, the multipath connection status for each subscriber line can be set from the terminal itself connected to each subscriber line, and as the user of the receiving terminal selects the appropriate broadcast channel, the A broadcast channel setting signal is transmitted from the terminal, and the part of the multi-connection management table 131 in the switching device 1 corresponding to the subscriber line is set, or the reception of data broadcasting is set to have priority over incoming calls, Since the state can be canceled, convenience for data broadcast receivers is improved.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the method of setting the multipath connection state for each subscriber line from the terminal to the digital switching device in the second embodiment.

A terminal that wishes to register or change the contents of the multi-connection management table 131 stored in the control storage unit 13 of the digital switching device 1 first sets up a control communication path between the terminal and the digital switching device 1. do. The method depends on the control channel used, but for example, if the digital switching device 1 is an 15DN switch, the control channel
There are a method of providing a dedicated control signal in a channel, a method of setting a logical channel between a terminal and the control unit 12 of the digital switching device 1 using a packet-switched call, and the like. After establishing the control channel, the terminal transmits a broadcast channel setting signal, and the digital switching device 1 receives it.
checks the validity of the signal and the qualification of the terminal, and if it passes, sets the contents of the multi-connection management table 131.

The broadcast channel setting signal at this time includes the subscriber line number to be set and information instructing the setting contents. The settings include the broadcast channel number, cancellation of multipath connection, and whether or not to give priority to broadcasting.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a data broadcasting system showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 8, la and lb are digital switching devices, 2
3a and 3b are receiving terminals, 8 is a broadcast management center, and 9 is a communication network for transferring broadcast data between the information transmitters 2a and 2b and the broadcast management center 4* 21a and 21b are information transmitting devices 2a,
2b, a data broadcasting control section 22a;

Reference numerals 22b are input/output terminals for maintenance and operation added to the information sending devices 2a and 2b, respectively. Reference numerals 23a and 23b are information transfer units in the information transmitting devices 2a and 2b, respectively, and are means for the data broadcast control units 21a and 21b to control communication lines and transmit and receive broadcast data and control information to and from the outside.

A data broadcast programming method with the above configuration will be described below.

The broadcast management data and broadcast data shown in FIG. 2 are stored in the data broadcast control units 21a and 21b, and can be input or changed from input/output terminals 22a and 22b for maintenance and operation. , each information sending device 2a, 2
A unique program structure can be organized for each program. However, if there is a common program for each information transmission device 2a, 2b, a broadcast management center 8 is installed to create and supply a common program to each information transmission bag [2a, 2b, By distributing broadcast data to each of the information transmitting devices 2a, 2b, it becomes possible to easily organize programs for each of the information transmitting devices 2a, 2b. Particularly in the case of data whose contents are updated in a relatively short period of time, this online broadcast data distribution system using the communication network 9 is effective. Furthermore, it becomes possible to easily share a program by transferring a program created by one information transmitting device to another information transmitting device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a data broadcasting system with better transmission quality than wireless data broadcasting which is affected by the state of the radio wave propagation path, and it is possible to provide a data broadcasting system that is constructed for communication. By using the existing digital switching network, there is no need to separately construct a dedicated wired network for broadcasting, and an economical data broadcasting system that can simultaneously transmit data to an unspecified number of terminals is provided. Furthermore, it becomes possible to operate the data broadcasting system efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a data broadcasting system showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of broadcast management data stored in the information transmission device in FIG. 1. , FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of program information sent from the information transmitting device in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an example in which the program information shown in FIG. 3 is continuously and repeatedly transmitted from the information transmitting device. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the data broadcasting system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the multi-connection management table in FIG. 5.
8 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of a method for setting a multipath connection state according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a data broadcasting system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a diagram illustrating an example of the operating principle of multipath connection in a digital switching device, and FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional method of transmitting the same data to an unspecified number of terminals using a switching network. It is. 1: Digital switching device, 2: Information sending device, 3: Receiving terminal, 4: Subscriber line, 5: Broadcasting channel, 6: Relay line, 11: Switch, 12: Control unit, 13: Control storage unit, 14: Maintenance terminal, 8: Broadcast management center, 9: Communication network. Figure 1 Subscriber line Figure 2 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 7 Digital exchange equipment 8shi ≧ Ying 雛

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A time division multiplex switch connects multiple subscriber lines that are not used for outgoing calls or incoming calls (no call state) and the line connected to the information transmission device (broadcast channel). (N-to-1 connection) and stores data (broadcast data) of the broadcast order and broadcast content in a digital switching device having means for broadcasting the information transmitted from the information transmitting device to the plurality of subscriber lines. and the means to
an information transmitting device having means for transmitting broadcast data to which a program identification number has been assigned to the broadcast channel according to the storage means; Data characterized in that it is configured by connecting a terminal with means for inspecting the program identification number of the terminal and receiving only broadcast data that matches the program identification number specified by the terminal user and importing it into the terminal. Broadcasting system. (2) means for connecting one or more broadcast channels to the digital switching device, storing and managing the state of multiple connections corresponding to each subscriber line in the digital switching device; means for setting the state of multiple connection according to the contents stored in the storage management means when the subscriber line is in a non-call state; 2. The data broadcasting system according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling registration and change of corresponding multiple connection status. (3) means for connecting one or more broadcast channels to the digital switching device, storing and managing the state of multiple connections corresponding to each subscriber line in the digital switching device; means for setting the state of multiple connection according to the contents stored in the storage management means when the telephone line is in a non-call state; 2. The data broadcasting system according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling registration and change of multiple connection status corresponding to said subscriber line. (4) The information transmitting device is provided with means for transmitting and receiving broadcast data and broadcast control data added thereto via a communication line, and means for setting a broadcast order and a schedule of broadcast contents according to the received data. A data broadcasting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: