JPH0139270B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a system for transmitting a video signal from one video signal generating device to a plurality of television receivers.
This invention relates to a video signal transmission method for a CATV system.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, when a single business unit such as a hotel had a large number of television receivers installed and paid viewing was possible, a center for generating video signals was set up in the same building, and each television receiver and the center were connected by cable. A CATV system is used to perform two-way data communication.

An embodiment of this CATV system in which a television receiver is installed in each guest room of a hotel will be described with reference to FIG.

A hotel 1 that occupies one building has a television receiver 3 in each guest room 2, and a center 4 installed in each television receiver 3 and the hotel 1.
A transmitter/receiver 5 is connected to the transmitter/receiver 5 by a down cable 6 and an up cable 7. This building has a computer room 8, and a computer 9 and a transmitter/receiver 5 provided here are connected by a data cable 10. Further, a terminal device 12 is provided at the front desk 11 of the hotel 1, and the computer 9 and the terminal device 12 are connected by a data cable 13. An antenna 14 for receiving commercial television broadcasting is connected to the transceiver 5.

In this system, guests staying in each guest room 2 of a hotel 1 can watch television programs on the television receiver 3 by operating the respective television receiver 3. The television broadcasts received by the antenna 14 are retransmitted to each television receiver 3 via a down cable 6 (in addition, original programs may be created and transmitted within the center 4), and the television receiver 3 When activated,
The usage status is transmitted to the center 4 via the upstream cable 7, and the usage time, image reception channel, etc. are stored in the computer 9 via the data cable 10. This computer 9 totals the usage time of the television receiver 3, and when checking out, the usage fee is displayed on the terminal device 12 at the front desk 11 and billed. Also, depending on the reception channel,
In the case of a special program, the usage time of that program is totaled,
A special fee is charged separately at the time of checkout.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In this configuration, if there are hotels 1 operating independently in multiple adjacent buildings,
Unless a center 4 is installed in each hotel 1, it is not possible to search for viewing information on each television receiver 3, manage usage fees, etc.

This is a format in which the transceiver 5 communicates bidirectionally with each television receiver 3, and billing operations are realized by analyzing uplink communication information retrieved from the transceiver 5 to the computer 9. This is because a video signal transmission method is used. For this reason, even in cases where the number of TV receivers used is small, such as in small and medium-sized hotels, a separate center must be installed to transmit video signals to those TV receivers, and A certain amount of installation was required regardless of the number of television receivers. In addition, the labor costs, operating costs, etc. for operating the center are added uniformly to the hotel, making it difficult for small and medium-sized hotels to implement a CATV system.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and the video signal need only be given unidirectionally from the receiver to each television receiver, and upstream data from each television receiver can be obtained for billing operations. By focusing on the point that it is possible to easily transmit video signals from one center to multiple buildings and receiving the images on multiple television receivers installed in each building, we can simplify the equipment in each building, reduce costs, and CATV can reduce running costs, etc.
The present invention provides a method for transmitting video signals in a system.

[Method for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in the present invention, one video signal transmitting device that mainly performs only transmitting video signals, and a system that distributes the video signals to each television receiver and constantly monitors the reception state of the video signals is provided. It is equipped with a reception distribution device having a search function and means for managing usage charges based on reception time, reception channel, etc., the reception distribution device is installed in each building, and the video signal transmission device is installed in each building. The video signal is connected to the reception distribution device by a cable, and the video signal is transmitted to each of the television receivers in each building via the reception distribution device.

〔Example〕

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

In the video signal transmission method of the present invention, a plurality of buildings in close proximity to each other in a specific area, for example, independently operated hotels, are grouped together, and one video signal transmitting device common to each hotel is used to transmit the signals by wire. The format is such that images are transmitted directionally to multiple television receivers installed at each hotel. That is, one specific hotel 20 among the plurality of hotels 20 to 24 located in a nearby area is provided with a video signal transmitting device 25 corresponding to the above-mentioned center 4. This video transmission device 25 retransmits the general TV broadcasts received by the antenna 26 to each hotel via cable, and also creates its own programs on video tapes and video discs, converts them to specific channels, and sends them via cable as well. Sent to hotel. Each of the hotels 20 to 24 has a reception distribution device 27 to 31 and a plurality of television receivers (not shown) installed in the guest rooms, and the reception distribution devices 27 to 31 and the television receivers in the hotel are connected by cable. are tied together. The video signal transmitting device 25 and the receiving and distributing devices 27 to 31 are connected by a cable 32. Each of the reception distribution devices 27 to 31 has a built-in computer and has a function (polling function) to constantly search the reception status of television receivers in each hotel. , and is equipped with usage fee management means based on image reception channels, etc.
Therefore, each of the reception distribution devices 27 to 31 manages the reception distribution devices 27 to 31.
It is only for each of the hotels 20 to 24 where the hotel is located, and each of the hotels 20 to 24 is separate and independent.

In this embodiment, various video signals converted into specific channels by the video signal transmitting device 25 are transmitted via cables 32 to receiving and distributing devices 27 to 31 provided in each of the hotels 20 to 24. It is distributed to television receivers installed in each hotel 20 to 24 via. 20-2 hotels each
Each of the television receivers in the hotel 4 is centrally managed by each reception distribution device 27 to 31, and charges are totaled for each hotel 20 to 24 based on usage time. In other words, the video signal transmitting device 25 only transmits video signals, and the management of each television receiver is assigned to each reception distribution device 27 to 31. Except for video signal reception, each hotel 20
~24 are independent.

In this embodiment, the video signal transmission device 25 is installed in the hotel 20, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
Buildings grouped into multiple groups, i.e. 20 hotels
A configuration may also be adopted in which a dedicated building is provided in each of the 24 regions and each hotel is connected by cable from the dedicated building.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a video signal is transmitted from one video signal transmitting device to a plurality of buildings via a cable, and each building has a reception distribution device to transmit the video signal to a television installed inside. The information is sent to the receiver, and the above-mentioned reception and distribution device can perform the processing necessary for billing. Therefore, there is no need for each building to have its own video signal transmitting device, which is expensive and requires a lot of maintenance costs, and one video signal transmitting device can be used in common in many buildings. Even small and medium-sized buildings with a small number of machines can use a high-quality CATV system that includes pay programs.

Furthermore, since the operator of the video signal transmission of the CATV system and the building manager of a hotel or the like are separated, detailed CATV services can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional CATV system installed in a building, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 20-24...Hotel as a building, 25...Video signal transmission device, 27-31...Reception distribution device, 32
…cable.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. One video signal transmitting device that mainly performs only transmitting video signals, and a plurality of receiving and distributing devices that distribute the video signals transmitted from the video signal transmitting device;
and a large number of television receivers that receive the video signals distributed from the reception distribution device.
A video signal transmission method for a CATV system,
The video signal transmission device is installed in a predetermined building,
The plurality of reception distribution devices are installed in each of the plurality of buildings, and have a function of constantly searching the reception status of the television receiver, and use of the television receiver according to the reception time and reception channel of the television receiver based on the search results. The CATV is characterized by comprising a management means for managing billing, and transmitting the video signal sent from the video signal sending device to each of the television receivers in each building via the reception distribution device.
System video signal transmission method.