JPH05115063A - Catv terminal equipment catv system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the CATV (Cable Television or Community Antenna Television) terminal equipment and the CATV system in which the user easily selects a program, the program is arranged with a high degree of freedom and the system configuration is simplified. CONSTITUTION:A CATV center has a modulation means superimposing fluctuated character data relating to a broadcast program and channel data corresponding to the broadcast program onto a TV signal to be sent and sending the result. Moreover, a CATV terminal equipment 102 is provided with an input means 30 to command the operating mode of the device, a display control means 31 receiving the pattern display mode command input from the input means 30 and displaying the broadcast program name onto the display screen of the receiver based on the sent fluctuated character data and incorporated specific character data, and a reception control means 25 receiving a broadcast program selection input from the input means and sending a TV signal of a channel corresponding to the selected broadcast program based on the sent channel data to the receiver.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a CATV (Cable Tele
vision or Community Antenna Television) terminal device and CATV system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A CATV system connects a CATV broadcasting center and CATV terminals of a plurality of subscribers with a cable via a transmission cable, and the CATV broadcasting center side conducts an independent broadcasting program or a commercial broadcasting program on air. Is provided to the CATV terminal of the subscriber. Recently, data communication has also started. Further, a bidirectional CATV system capable of transmitting a signal (uplink signal) from the CATV terminal side to the CATV center side has also appeared. Of the CATV systems, a system in a school or a hotel may be referred to as a CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) for distinction.

In a conventional CATV system, when a desired program is selected and received, a program table distributed in advance is referred to, a channel on which the desired program is being broadcast is searched, and a channel selection switch of a controller is set. This was done by operating and tuning to the desired channel. Further, when displaying some message from the CATV center on the TV receiver of the CATV terminal device,
All message data is transmitted from the CATV center to the buffer memory on the CATV terminal side, the CATV terminal apparatus reads out the transmitted message data from the buffer memory, drives the character generator, and superimposes its output on a video signal. Therefore, it was displayed on the TV receiver.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional CATV system, the CATV center side needs to create and distribute the program table in advance, and it is also necessary to perform broadcasting based on the distributed program table. For this reason,
There is a problem that the cost of creating the program table is high and the degree of freedom in program organization is reduced, such as the program cannot be changed after the program table is created. Further, on the CATV terminal side, it is impossible to determine whether or not a desired program is being broadcast unless the program guide is referred to, and there is a problem that the procedure for program selection is complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a CATV terminal device and a CATV system capable of performing a highly flexible program organization, allowing a user to easily select a program, and simplifying the system configuration. To do.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention is a CATV terminal device which receives a television signal from a CATV center and sends it to a receiver, in which the display content is fixed in advance. A storage unit for storing fixed character data stored therein, an input unit for instructing an operation mode of the CATV terminal device, a screen display mode instruction input from the input unit, and a broadcast program transmitted from the CATV center side. Means for decoding display control data regarding the display control means, display control means for displaying a program name of a broadcast program on the display screen of the receiver based on the decoded display control data and the fixed character data, and the input means. In response to a broadcast program selection input from the CATV center, the broadcast program transmitted from the CATV center side is transmitted. Configuring comprises a reception control means for sending a television signal of the channel corresponding to the selected broadcast program to the receiver, the based on the channel data corresponding to, respectively.

A second invention is a CATV center for transmitting a television signal, a transmission line for transmitting the television signal, a plurality of CATV terminal devices for receiving the television signal, and the plurality of CATV terminals. In a CATV system including a receiver connected to the device, the CATV center superimposes display control data regarding a broadcast program and channel data corresponding to each of the broadcast programs on the television signal to be transmitted. The CATV has a modulation means for transmitting
The terminal device has storage means for storing fixed character data whose display contents are fixed in advance, input means for instructing an operation mode of the CATV terminal device, and a screen display mode instruction input from the input means. , The CAT
Decoding means for decoding display control data transmitted from the V-center side, and display control for displaying the program name of the broadcast program on the display screen of the receiver based on the decoded display control data and the fixed character data. Means, and a reception control means for receiving a broadcast program selection input from the input means and transmitting a television signal of a channel corresponding to the selected broadcast program to the receiver based on the channel data. Constitute.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the storage means stores fixed character data whose display contents are fixed in advance.
Further, the decoding means receives the screen display mode instruction input for instructing the operation mode of the CATV terminal device from the input means, and decodes the display control data regarding the broadcast program transmitted from the CATV center side. The display control means is
The program name of the broadcast program is displayed on the display screen of the receiver based on the decoded display control data and the fixed character data. Further, the reception control means receives the broadcast program selection input from the input means, and based on the channel data corresponding to each broadcast program transmitted from the CATV center side, the television signal of the channel corresponding to the selected broadcast program. Is sent to the receiver.

Therefore, among the data relating to the character information to be displayed, by storing the character information whose display content is predetermined, it is not necessary to send and receive all the character information, and the load on the system can be reduced. The communication efficiency can be improved and the capacity of the receiving buffer memory and the like can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, on the CATV center side, the modulating means superimposes the display control data relating to the broadcast program and the channel data corresponding to each of the broadcast programs on the television signal to be transmitted. To send.

On the other hand, on the CATV terminal device side, the decoding means receives the screen display mode instruction input from the input means and decodes the display control data transmitted from the CATV center side. The display control means displays the program name of the broadcast program on the display screen of the receiver based on the decoded display control data and the fixed character data read from the storage means. The reception control means receives a broadcast program selection input from the input means, and sends a television signal of a channel corresponding to the selected broadcast program to the receiver based on the channel data.

Therefore, it is not necessary for the CATV center side to transmit all the display information, the system load can be reduced, the communication efficiency can be improved, and the reception buffer memory or the like on the CATV terminal device side can be improved. The capacity can be reduced.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a CATV system which is an embodiment of the present invention. This CATV system 100 is
CATV center (head end) 101 and a plurality of CAs
The TV terminal device 102 and the TV receiver 3 are provided.
The CATV center 101 transmits commercial broadcast programs to the artificial satellites 10.
3 from the satellite antenna 1 or a terrestrial commercial broadcast program from the terrestrial antenna 2. Alternatively, a self-produced program is created and these television signals are scrambled to form a transmission path, that is, a transmission cable trunk line 108, a trunk line amplifier 104, a trunk line branch amplifier 105, a transmission cable branch line 109, and a branch device 10.
6. The distribution service is provided to each CATV terminal device 102 through the security device 107. Generally, the distribution service is provided by a contract with each user (viewer) and is charged. The transmitted CATV signal is received by the CATV terminal device 102, subjected to descramble processing for restoring the scramble processing for preventing wiretap viewing, and then sent to the TV receiver 3 to be viewed by the user.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the CATV center. C
The ATV center 101 includes a satellite antenna 1, a BS converter 4 that frequency-converts a satellite signal received by the satellite antenna 1, a signal processor 5, and a mixer 6. Signals from the terrestrial antenna 2 and the signal processor 7 that receive a terrestrial broadcast signal are input to the mixer 6. In addition, the video signal and the program V from the TV camera 8 created in the CATV center.
The video signal from TR 11 is scrambled by a scrambler 9 to prevent eavesdropping as a paid independent program and then input to a mixer 6 via a modulator 10. The control computer 15 uses in-band data and F
Data for SK modulation is generated and the data is sent to the CATV terminal. This output is subjected to in-band weight modulation or FSK modulation and sent to the mixer 6.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the CATV terminal device. In the case of normal program broadcasting, an RF (Radio Frequency) signal from the CATV center is input to the converter 20. The converter 20 selects a desired channel from the input signals, frequency-converts the signal of the selected channel, and outputs the intermediate frequency signal IF. The intermediate frequency signal IF is input to the descrambler 22 via the selector 21.

The descrambler 22 receives the intermediate frequency signal I
The scrambled data superimposed in F is extracted by AM detection, and descrambled according to the extracted data. The descrambled signal is sent to the modulator 23 via the on-screen control IC (OSDIC) 31, the audio signal part is FM-modulated and the video signal part is AM-modulated, and is sent to the TV receiver as an RF signal. Is output. At this time, the on-screen control IC3
1 displays a message or the like by superimposing it on the image of the selected channel. In the case of a simultaneous emergency broadcast such as an earthquake or storm disaster warning, the scramble processing is not performed, and therefore the selector 21 directly outputs the signal to the modulator 23 without passing through the descrambler 22.

The CPU 25 controls the entire CATV terminal 102 and controls the memory 26, the notification display LED 27, the buzzer 28, the on-screen control IC 31 and the like. Under the control of the CPU 25, the memory 26 stores the CAT
Various character data and setting data in the V terminal device 102 are stored, various data sent from the CATV center 101 are stored, and the notification display LED 27 and the buzzer 28 are required to inform the user that there is a message from the CATV center 101 side. In the case or when an abnormality occurs, it lights or sounds to notify the abnormality. Further, the on-screen control IC 31 performs various on-screen controls such as superimposing.

The keyboard unit 29 has a keyboard panel (not shown) for inputting various data. Further, the remote control input unit 30 analyzes and processes an input control signal from a remote control device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller) 35, and transmits it to the CPU 25.

Here, the remote controller 35 will be described with reference to FIG. The remote controller 35 is configured to transmit various data to the remote control input unit 30 by infrared rays, and C is displayed on the operation panel of the remote controller 35.
Power button K to turn ON / OFF the power of the ATV terminal
₁ and menu button K for displaying the menu screen
₂ , an order button K ₃ for instructing to purchase a pay program, and a channel / response switch button K
₄ , a display button K ₅ for displaying various information on the TV receiver 3, an enter button K ₆ for confirming and inputting various data, a clear button K _7, and a memory recall button K ₈ for reading out memory contents. , A mute button K ₉ for muting the output sound of the TV receiver, a volume up button K _10, and a volume down button K
₁₁ and the last channel recall button K ₁₂ for displaying the program of the channel before the channel switching on the TV receiver,
Seesaw type channel up / down button K ₁₃ ,
A numeric button group KNUM consisting of ten numeric buttons, "1" to "0" buttons, is configured. In this case, "1" to "7" in the numeric button group KNUM
The buttons are used as day of the week buttons (“SUN”, ..., “SAT”) when performing timer input, and “0”
The buttons are used as daily buttons (“SUN” to “SAT”). In addition, the channel up / down button K ₁₃ is used when inputting the timer by using the AM button and PM button.
Used as a button. It should be noted that keys that perform the same operations as these buttons are also provided on the key panel of the keyboard unit 29.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
To do. First, the CPU 25 is the keyboard 29 or the remote
Menu button K of Con 35 ₂Determine whether or not
Different (step S1).

If the menu button K ₂ is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S6 described later. If the menu button K ₂ is pressed, the
The menu channel transmitted from the center 101 and stored in the RAM (not shown) of the memory 26 is selected (step S2). In this case, it is assumed that character data relating to the broadcast program and channel data corresponding to the broadcast program are superimposed and transmitted as in-band data on the television signal of the menu channel.

Then, for example, a movie title, a broadcast channel number (channel number), and a menu selection number (selection number) are read out from the in-band data of the menu channel (step S3). Next, a data table in which channel numbers and select numbers are associated is created (step S4). More specifically, FIG. 6 (a)
And a data table as shown in FIG. 6B is created.

Next, the CPU 25 sends the data of the movie title to the on-screen control IC 31, and FIG.
The menu screen as shown in is displayed on the TV receiver 3 (step S5), and the standby state is set.

Next, when the operator inputs a desired number to be viewed using the number buttons, it is determined whether or not the menu screen is being displayed through the processing of steps S1 and S6 (step S7). .. When it is determined in step S7 that the menu screen is not being displayed, the process corresponding to the input number is performed (step S1).
8).

When the menu screen is being displayed, the target channel is selected based on the data table shown in FIG. 6A or 6B (step S8).
For example, when the target channel is selected based on the data table shown in FIG. 6A, if the input number button = “3”, the “91” channel will be selected.

When a channel is selected, the movie title, the in-band data of the selected channel,
The broadcast start time and the charge are read (step S9). Then, it is determined whether or not the program of the movie title has already been purchased (step S11). If it is determined in step S11 that the program has already been purchased, erase data is sent to the on-screen control IC,
Only the video signal is output to the screen of the TV receiver 3 (step S17).

If the program has not been purchased yet,
Each data such as the channel number, the current time, the movie title, the broadcast start time, the charge, and the elapsed time from the broadcast start time is sent to the on-screen control IC 31 to superimpose them on the screen of the TV receiver 3 ( Step S12). When the "91" channel is selected as in the above example, the screen as shown in FIG. 7B is displayed, and the CPU 25 enters the order button waiting state (step S13).

After the processing of steps S1 and S6, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the order button K ₃ has been pressed (step S14). When a button other than the order button K ₃ is pressed in the determination of step S14, the pressed button is processed (step S18).

When the order button K ₃ is pressed,
It is determined whether or not the order button K3 is in a waiting state (step S15). In the case of waiting for the order button, the CPU 25 holds the movie title, the broadcast start time, and the charge in the RAM (step S16), sends the erase data to the on-screen control IC 31, and the TV receiver 3
Only the video signal is output to the screen (step S1
7). Therefore, the screen of the TV receiver 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, only the image of the channel 91 is projected. After that, when the broadcast start time comes, the desired program can be viewed.

As described above, since a desired program can be selected simply by inputting data according to the instruction on the screen, the program selection procedure on the CATV terminal side is simplified. Further, since the CATV center does not need to distribute a pamphlet on which the program name is printed in advance, it is possible to reduce the cost of creating the pamphlet and
Fluid program operation can be performed. Second Embodiment In this embodiment, in addition to the operation of the first embodiment, the fixed message portion at the time of displaying the menu screen is stored in the ROM of the CATV terminal side in advance, and the CATV center 101 can change the fixed message other than the fixed message. The operation for transferring only the message and the data for display control is performed. In the following, the T of the CATV terminal device 102
It is assumed that 10 lines of messages are displayed on the screen of the V receiver 3 and the messages displayed on the 1st and 10th lines are fixed messages.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the menu button K ₂ is pressed (step S2).
0).

If the menu button K ₂ is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S27 described later. If the menu button K ₂ is pressed, CA
The menu channel transmitted from the TV center 101 and stored in the RAM (not shown) of the memory 26 is read and the channel is selected (step S21).

Next, the page data is set to the first page (step S22). This page data is data for designating which of the plurality of display screens that can be displayed on the screen of the TV receiver 3 is to be displayed.

Since the display data on the first line of page 1 of the display screen has a fixed content (fixed message), the display data is read from the ROM (not shown) of the memory 26 and the on-screen control IC 31 displays the first line. The head address is designated and the display data is transferred (step S2).
3). As a result, a fixed message is displayed on the screen of the TV receiver 3 based on the display data. For example,
In the case of the display screen as shown in FIG. 9A, "PAY PER VIEW MENU" is displayed on the first line.

The display data of the second line of the page specified by the page data (one page in this case) is taken out from the in-band data described later, and the start address of the second line is specified in the on-screen control IC 31 to display the display data. Is transferred (step S24). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10A, the start address is designated by 1-byte address data, and the display data is transferred by a 1-byte character code. The start address is "0" when displaying from the start position of the first line as shown in FIG. 10 (b). In this case, the in-band data ID shown in FIG. 10 is transmitted from the CATV center 101. The in-band data ID is a display composed of page number data PD indicating the page to be displayed and line number data LD storing the line number of the display data in the page indicated by the page number data PD. Position data DPD
Is represented by 1 byte, and the display code D of the display data to be displayed at the display position indicated by the display position data DPD.
C is represented by 24 bytes (= 24 characters), and data of a plurality of lines is continuously transmitted. For example, when page number data = "1" and line number data = "3", the character string indicated by the display code (composed of a plurality of character codes) is displayed on the third line of page 1. Will be done.

In the display processing on the third to ninth lines,
The same process as the process of the second line is performed (step S25).
The display data of the 10th line is stored in the ROM (not shown)
Then, the head address for one line is designated and transferred to the on-screen control IC 31 (step S2).
6). For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, “TO EXIT PRESS MENU” is displayed on the 10th line.

Next, a data table of select numbers and channel numbers is created (step S27). More specifically, a table as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is created.

When the menu button K2 is not pressed in the process of step S20, it is determined whether or not the numeric button is pressed (step S28). If any button other than the numeric buttons is pressed, the process corresponding to the pressed button is performed (step S37).

When the number button is pressed, it is determined whether or not the menu screen is being displayed (step S2).
9). If the menu screen is not being displayed, the processing corresponding to the number buttons is performed (step S38).

While the menu screen is displayed, the channel number is read from the select number corresponding to the pressed numeric button by referring to the data table (FIGS. 6A and 6B) (step S30). For example, the number button =
In the case of "1", the select number = "1", and the corresponding channel number = "89" is read.

Next, referring to the data table, it is determined whether or not the next page code (NEXT CODE) is stored in the channel number storage area corresponding to the selected number (step S31).

If it is determined in step S31 that the numeric button corresponds to the next page code (NEXT CODE), the page data is incremented (step S3).
2), the process proceeds to step S23. More specifically, for example, in the case where the data table is as shown in FIG. 6A, if the select number = “9”, the next page code (= FE) is stored instead of the channel number. Therefore, 1 is added to the page data and the data of the next page is displayed.

If it is determined in step S31 that the numeric button does not correspond to the next page code, it is determined whether the numeric button corresponds to the previous page code (PREVIOUSCODE) (step S33).

The numeric button is the previous page code (PREVIO
If it corresponds to US CODE), the page data is decremented (step S34), and the process proceeds to step S23. More specifically, for example, when the data table is as shown in FIG. 6B, select number =
If it is "8", the previous page code (= FD) is stored instead of the channel number, so that 1 is subtracted from the page data to display the previous page data.

If it is determined in step S33 that the numeric button is not the previous page code, it is determined whether a channel number is entered (step S3).
5). If the channel number is not entered, the input wait state is entered.

If the channel number is included, the channel of the channel number is selected and the process is terminated (step S36). As described above, according to the present embodiment, the fixed message is stored in advance in the memory such as the ROM of the CATV terminal device 102.
Data for display control to be transmitted from the TV center 101 can be reduced, and communication efficiency can be improved. In addition, the receiving buffer memory on the CATV terminal side can be reduced, and the system configuration can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the message is fixed for each line. However, only a specific message within a certain line is set as a fixed message, and a variable message such as time is embedded in the fixed message and displayed. Is also possible. In this case, FIG.
In the address data shown in, the start address corresponding to the start position of the character code to be displayed is designated by 1 byte. For example, when displaying 5 characters from the 10th character on the 4th line, the 10th character is designated by the head address.

[0048]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the CATV terminal device transmits the display character data from the CATV center side for the fixed display text whose display content is predetermined such as the title of the menu screen. You do n’t have to
The data can be displayed on the receiver of the CATV terminal by simply sending the control data to the memory of the CATV terminal, so the efficiency of data transmission from the CATV center to the CATV terminal can be improved. Becomes

According to the second aspect of the invention, the CATV system does not need to transmit the display character data of the fixed display text whose display content is predetermined in advance from the CATV center side. Since it is possible to perform display on the receiver on the CATV terminal device side simply by transmitting control data to the memory,
The efficiency of data transmission from the center side to the CATV terminal device side can be improved, and the capacity of the receiving buffer memory and the like on the CATV terminal device side can be reduced to simplify the system configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CATV center in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CATV terminal in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an appearance of a remote control device.

FIG. 5 is an operation flow chart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating display control.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating in-band data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Satellite antenna 2 ... Terrestrial antenna 3 ... TV receiver 4 ... BS converter 5 ... Signal processor 6 ... Mixer 7 ... Signal processor 8 ... TV camera 9 ... Scrambler 10 ... Modulator 11 ... Program VTR 15 ... Control computer 16 ... Communication control device 20 ... Converter 21 ... Selector 22 ... Descrambler 23 ... Modulator 24 ... FSK receiver 25 ... CPU 26 ... Memory 27 ... Notification display LED 28 ... Buzzer 29 ... Keyboard section 30 ... Remote control input section 31 ... On-screen control IC 35 ... Remote control device 100 ... CATV system 101 ... CATV center 102 ... CATV terminal 103 ... Artificial satellite 104 ... Main line amplifier 105 ... Main line branch amplifier 106 ... Branch device 107 ... Protector 108 ... Transmission case Cable trunk line 109 ... Transmission cable branch line

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Eiji Oga Eiji Oga 4-15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Inventor Tatsuo Takahashi 4-15 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 5 Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Inventor Ryusuke Tozaki 4-15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A CATV terminal device for receiving a television signal from a CATV center and sending it to a receiver, a storage means for storing fixed character data whose display contents are fixed in advance, and an operation of the CATV terminal device. Input means for instructing a mode; decoding means for receiving a screen display mode instruction input from the input means and decoding display control data relating to a broadcast program transmitted from the CATV center side; and the decoded display control. Display control means for displaying the program name of the broadcast program on the display screen of the receiver based on the data and the fixed character data, and a broadcast program selection input from the input means, and the data is transmitted from the CATV center side. The selection based on the channel data corresponding to each broadcasting program CATV terminal apparatus characterized by comprising a, a reception control means for sending to the receiver a television signal of the channel corresponding to the broadcast program. 2. A CATV center for transmitting a television signal, a transmission line for transmitting the television signal, a plurality of CATV terminal devices for receiving the television signal, and a CATV terminal device connected to the plurality of CATV terminal devices. In the CATV system including a receiver, the CATV center includes a modulation unit that superimposes display control data relating to a broadcast program and channel data corresponding to each of the broadcast programs on the television signal to be transmitted and transmits the modulation signal. The CATV terminal device has storage means for storing fixed character data whose display content is fixed in advance, input means for instructing an operation mode of the CATV terminal device, and screen display from the input means. Display control transmitted from the CATV center side in response to mode instruction input Decoding means for decoding the data, display control means for displaying the program name of the broadcast program on the display screen of the receiver based on the decoded display control data and the fixed character data, and from the input means A CATV system comprising: a reception control means for receiving a broadcast program selection input and transmitting a television signal of a channel corresponding to the selected broadcast program to the receiver based on the channel data.