JPH09289630A - Information processor, method and information reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost by simplifying the system configuration. SOLUTION: A personal computer 12-1 or 12-2 is operated to use a home server 11 to access a prescribed server via a network such as a cable television network, an ISDN and an analog telephone line. The home server 11 incorporates a, format conversion circuit to expand compressed data sent from each server. The home server 11 expands the data sent via the network and output it to the personal computer 12-1 or 12-2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and an information receiving system, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method and a information receiving system that simplify a configuration and enable cost reduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, personal computers have come into widespread use, and personal computers can now receive television broadcasting. FIG.
Represents a configuration example of the system in such a case.

That is, the output of the signal received by the antenna 80 is supplied not only to the television receiver 81 but also to the personal computer 82. The personal computer 82 also has
A display 83 for displaying various characters, figures, images, etc. is connected, and a keyboard 84 and a mouse 85 operated when inputting various commands are connected.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the internal structure of the personal computer 82. The CPU 91 executes various kinds of processing according to the programs stored in the ROM 92. The RAM 93 stores data necessary for the CPU 91 to execute various commands, as appropriate.
The hard disk drive 94 and the floppy disk drive 95 access the hard disk and the floppy disk, respectively, and record and reproduce data, programs and the like.

The keyboard interface 96 and the mouse interface 97 are connected to the keyboard 84 and the mouse 85, respectively, and output signals corresponding to the operation of the keyboard 84 or the mouse 85 to the CPU 91. The display interface 98 is connected to the display 83 and outputs the image data supplied from the CPU 91 to the display 83 for display. The tuner board 99 is connected to the antenna 80, and receives the broadcast of a desired broadcast station.

That is, in this example, the television receiver 81 receives a broadcast of a desired broadcasting station,
You can watch.

Similarly, the personal computer 8
In 2 as well, independently of the television receiver 81,
You can watch the desired broadcast. In this case, when the keyboard 84 or the mouse 85 is operated to instruct the reception of the television broadcast, the CPU 91 controls the tuner board 99 in response to this instruction to broadcast the broadcasting station corresponding to the instruction. To receive. The tuner board 99 receives the radio wave of a predetermined broadcasting station in response to the control of the CPU 91, demodulates it, and outputs a demodulated signal to the display interface 98. The display interface 98 outputs the input signal to the display 83 for display. As a result, the user can view the program of the desired broadcasting station.

[0008]

Thus, the television broadcast can be received by the personal computer. Also, recently, digital television broadcasting is about to be started via a network such as the Internet. By adding a dedicated board for receiving such a television broadcast to the personal computer 82, the television broadcast can be viewed by the personal computer 82.

However, when there are a plurality of personal computers at home, in order to enable any of the personal computers to receive the television broadcast, a dedicated board is added to each personal computer. There was a need.
Further, when performing digital television broadcasting via the Internet, in order to reduce the amount of data, data is compressed by a predetermined method and image data and audio data are transmitted to the network. As this data compression method,
Different methods are being studied for each television broadcasting system.

In order for the personal computer to be able to receive the broadcast of any of these systems, it is necessary to add a dedicated board corresponding to each of these systems to each personal computer.
Therefore, there is a problem that not only the configuration of the information device in each home becomes complicated but also the cost becomes high.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is possible to realize a low-cost system by simplifying the configuration.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, including a selecting means for selecting a transmission system of information to be received, a converting means for converting a format of information of the selected transmission system, and a format. And output means for outputting the converted information to any one of the plurality of information receiving devices.

An information processing method according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a step of selecting a transmission system of information to be received, a step of converting a format of information of the selected transmission system, and a plurality of pieces of information whose formats have been converted. Outputting to any one of the information receiving devices.

An information receiving system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a first system for receiving information transmitted via a network.
Information receiving device, a second information receiving device for receiving information transmitted via a network, and a format of information transmitted via the network to convert the first or second information receiving device. And an information processing device for supplying the device.

In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 and the information processing method according to claim 3, after the information format of the selected transmission system is converted, any one of the plurality of information apparatuses is converted. Is output.

In the information receiving system according to the fourth aspect, the information whose format has been converted by the information processing device is supplied to the first or second information receiving device.

[0017]

1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system to which an information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.
The servers 1-1 and 1-2 mainly provide each home with information including an image and voice or data corresponding to the image via a network. As the network, a cable television network 2, an ISDN 3 and an analog telephone line 4 are used in this embodiment.

That is, for example, the server 1-1 provides information to the cable television center 2-1 or 2-2 via the cable television network 2. The cable television center 2-1 provides the provided information to the homes 5-1 and 5-2 subscribed to the cable television system. Similarly, the cable television center 2-2 includes homes 5-1 and 5-3 subscribed to the cable television system.
Provide information to 5-4.

The server 1-1 also provides information via the ISDN 3 or the analog telephone line 4. Therefore, the homes 5-1 to 5-6 can access the server 1-1 via the ISDN 3 or the analog telephone line 4 and receive information.

The server 1-2, like the server 1-1,
Various information is provided to homes 5-1 to 5-6.

In such a video transmission system, the trunk line of the transmission channel is composed of an optical fiber,
An optical fiber node covering 0 to 500 households is installed, and from the optical fiber node to each home, an HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coa) that transmits information via a coaxial cable is provided.
x) can also be used. Alternatively, FTTC (Fibe), which transmits information by optical fiber to a pedestal (relay device) which covers about 24 households very close to the home, and provides information to each home via a coaxial cable from the pedestal.
r To The Curb) or FTTH (Fiber To The H
ome).

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transmission capacity of the network is the cable television network 2, the ISDN 3, and the analog telephone line 4 in order from the largest. Therefore, the cable television network 2
By using, you can receive the highest quality and high speed moving image in real time. Further, when ISDN 3 is used, general moving images can be received in real time, though not as quickly as in cable television network 2. However, it is not possible to receive a moving image that changes too quickly in real time. On the other hand, when the analog telephone line 4 is used, since the transmission capacity is small, a moving image cannot be received, and only a still image can be received. The audio signal can be received in real time regardless of which network is used.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the information receiving system provided in the home 5-1. Although not shown, the other homes 5-2 to 5-6 also have basically the same information processing system.

The home server 11 (information processing device) is connected to the cable television network 2, the ISDN 3 and the analog telephone line 4, and at least one of the networks is connected to the personal computer 12-.
1, 12-2, set top box (STB) 16,
Alternatively, it is connected to the telephone 18 (information receiving device).

A keyboard 14-1 and a mouse 15-1 are connected to the personal computer 12-1,
Various commands are input. Also, the personal computer 12- is displayed on the display 13-1.
The image from No. 1 is output and displayed as appropriate.

Similarly, the personal computer 12-2
Is connected to a keyboard 14-2, a mouse 15-2, and a display 13-2.

The STB 16 receives the image data supplied from the home server 11, demodulates it, outputs it to the television receiver 17, and displays it. In addition, the telephone 18 uses the home server 11 to
You are able to make calls.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal structure of the home server 11. The CPU 31 executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM 32. The RAM 33 stores data and the like necessary for the CPU 31 to execute various commands as appropriate. The hard disk drive 34 records and reproduces information on a built-in hard disk.

The home server 11 also has various interfaces. Network interface 3
Interfaces 5 to 37 perform interface processing when exchanging data with the cable television network 2, the ISDN 3, and the analog telephone line 4, respectively.
The STB interface 38 executes ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) interface processing with the STB 16. Computer interface 39
Is connected to the personal computer 12-1 and Et
Performs interface processing of the Hernet. The computer interface 40 is the personal computer 12
-2 to execute interface processing corresponding to a dedicated protocol for the personal computer.
The telephone interface 41 executes an interface process with the telephone 18.

Format conversion circuit 42 (conversion means)
Performs a process of converting the format of compressed data transmitted via the Internet, for example, into data of the NTSC format.

Wavelet transform, fractal coding, vector quantization, or DCT (MPEG1) has been proposed as an algorithm for moving image compression (Nikkei Electronics 1996.1.15 (NO.653) page 83, Page 92). The wavelet transform method is used in VDOnet of VDOnet Corp. and Indeo Video Interactive of Intel Corp.
Also, the fractal coding method and the vector quantization method are
It is proposed to be used in the systems of Iterated Systems, Inc. and Gen Tech, respectively. The method of Gen Tech is called NuVEQ (Newbeck). In addition, the DCT (MPEG1) method is Xing
Technology Corp.'s StreamWorks system and Univer
Used in the VOSAIC system of sity of Illinois.

In the wavelet transform, the frequency components of the image are divided into high frequency components and low frequency components. First, it is split vertically and then horizontally. As a result, four combinations of high and low frequency components of the image can be formed. That is, it is a low-frequency component in the vertical direction, a low-frequency component in the horizontal direction (LL component), a low-frequency component in the vertical direction, and a high-frequency component in the horizontal direction (LH component), a high-frequency component in the vertical direction. And a horizontal low-frequency component (HL component), a vertical high-frequency component, and a horizontal high-frequency component (HH component).

Generally, in image data, information is concentrated on low frequency components. When the data transfer rate becomes slow, do not send high frequency components such as the contour of the object. That is, of the four divided images, the HH component, the HL component,
The transmission is omitted in the order of the LH component according to the transfer rate. In this way, by appropriately reducing the amount of data to be transmitted, the display speed of moving images can be maintained.

This wavelet transform is a kind of orthogonal transform, but it is also the same kind of orthogonal transform, DCT (discrete transform).
Compared to te cosine transform), it has less block distortion and less mosquito noise.

The fractal coding describes an image by repeating similar shapes, and has features that even if the image is enlarged, the blocks on the mosaic are not conspicuous and the load of the data expansion processing is relatively light. ing. In this fractal coding, an image can be enlarged while advancing data expansion. Data decompression is performed by repeating conversion processing such as affine conversion. The resolution of the enlarged image can be increased by increasing the number of iterative processes.

Vector quantization is suitable for applications when the data transfer rate is low. Since the data decompression process is light,
It has the feature that the scale of data decompression software can be small. In vector quantization, a dictionary containing an image pattern in block units is created in advance.
This is called a codebook. When compressing data, an image pattern that most closely resembles a block in the image is selected from the codebook and the code number for that pattern is transmitted. At the time of data expansion, the image pattern of the codebook corresponding to the code number is selected.

In DCT, an image is divided into small blocks (for example, blocks of 8 × 8 pixels), and data is DCT-converted for each block. The method using this DCT is MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 1
Has been adopted.

The format conversion circuit 42 has a function of performing decompression processing corresponding to these four basic algorithms for data compression.

FIG. 4 shows a personal computer 12-1.
It shows an example of the internal structure of the. The CPU 71 has a ROM 7
2 executes various processes according to the program stored in the storage device 2. The RAM 73 appropriately stores data and the like necessary for the CPU 71 to execute various processes. The hard disk drive 74 is controlled by the CPU 71 and records and reproduces various data and programs on a built-in hard disk. The floppy disk drive 75 executes a recording / reproducing process for a floppy disk.

The home server interface 76 executes interface processing with the home server 11. The keyboard interface 77 and the mouse interface 78 are respectively a keyboard 14-1 and a mouse 1
An interface process with 5-1 is executed.
Further, the display interface 79 executes an interface process for the display 13-1. The personal computer 12-1 does not have the tuner board 99 shown in FIG.

The personal computer 12-2
Is configured similarly to the personal computer 12-1.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal structure of the STB 16. The CPU 51 executes various types of processing according to the programs stored in the ROM 52. RAM53
In the area, data and the like necessary for the CPU 51 to execute various processes are appropriately stored. The graphics controller 54 outputs the graphics data supplied from the CPU 51 to the television receiver 17 for display. The MPEG2 video decoder 55 and the MPEG audio decoder 56 send the video data and the audio data supplied from the home server 11 via the network interface card 57, respectively.
Alternatively, it is decoded by the MPEG system and output to the television receiver 17 for display or sound emission.

Network interface card 57
Is connected to the home server 11 and executes interface processing for the home server 11. The smart card interface 58 performs an interface process with the smart card 59. The smart card 59 is attached to and detached from the STB 16 as appropriate.
The smart card 59 stores personal information of the user, key information for scrambling data, or billing information.

The joystick interface 60 is
An interface process with the game machine 61 connected to the STB 16 is executed. The IR remote commander interface 62 is connected to the infrared (I)
R) A process for receiving the signal and outputting the command to the CPU 51 is executed. The remote commander 63 has a changeover switch 63A. This changeover switch 63A is
MPEG2 video decoder 55 built in B16
And the MPEG audio decoder 56 are used to perform the decoding process or the format conversion circuit 42 of the home server 11 to perform the decoding process.

Next, the operation of the system of the home 5-1 for receiving a desired television broadcast via the network will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1 (selection means), the user selects a predetermined television broadcasting system. That is, as described above, in this embodiment, the broadcasting of four broadcasting systems can be received, and the data compression method in each system is DCT transform, wavelet transform, fractal coding, It is one of vector quantization. When the user operates, for example, the keyboard 14-1 or the mouse 15-1 to instruct to receive the broadcast transmitted by any one of the four systems, the CPU 71 of the personal computer 12-1.
When receiving this command input via the keyboard interface 77 or the mouse interface 78, requests the home server 11 to receive the broadcast of the system via the home server interface 76.

When the CPU 31 of the home server 11 receives an input of this request, for example, via the computer interface 39, it refers to a table stored in advance in the RAM 33 or the ROM 32 and broadcasts the image (the image thereof). Find the server that is transmitting the data)
Access there. For example, when the image data is being transmitted by the server 1-1, the CPU 31 accesses the server 1-1. At this time, the CPU 31
When there are a plurality of methods for accessing the server 1-1, selects the optimum route from among them. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as a method of accessing the server 1-1 from the home 5-1 a method of accessing via the cable television network 2, a method of accessing via the ISDN 3, and an analog telephone line 4 There is a way to access via. The CPU 31 preferentially selects the transmission path having the largest transmission capacity among these three transmission paths. However, when the transmission path is used by another device and there is no free space, the transmission path having the next largest transmission capacity is selected.

Further, when the cable television network 2 is selected, there are a method of accessing via the cable television center 2-1 and a method of accessing via the cable television center 2-2. When the transmission capacities are equal to each other through any of the centers, the CPU 31 preferentially selects a system with a lower cost.

In this way, for example, when the transmission path to be accessed is selected via the cable television center 2-1, the CPU 31 of the home server 11 controls the network interface 35 to cause the cable television center 2 to operate. The server 1-1 is accessed via -1. Then, the image data and the audio data corresponding thereto are transmitted from the server 1-1.

Next, the CPU 31 causes the RAM 33 or RO
Referring to the table of M32, it is determined in step S2 whether the image data compression method adopted in the system selected in step S1 is DCT transform, wavelet transform, fractal coding, or vector quantization. The determination is made in S6, S8 or S10.

If it is determined in step S2 that the data compression method in the system selected in step S1 uses DCT conversion, the process proceeds to step S3.
It is determined whether the image data is decoded by the STB 16 or the home server 11. That is, in the case of the DCT conversion method, the system in this home 5-1 is provided with a dedicated receiving device called STB16. Therefore, in the case of this method, the user should decide whether this image data is decoded by the STB 16,
Alternatively, a selection command is issued by operating the keyboard 14-1 or the mouse 15-1 as to whether or not the home server 11 should decode.

CPU of personal computer 12-1
When the command 71 is input, the command 71 transfers it to the home server 11. When the command to decode the image data is input in the STB 16, the process proceeds to step S5, and the CPU 31 does not format-convert the data input to the home server 11 by the format conversion circuit 42, and transmits the data via the STB interface 38. STB
16 to output.

When the STB 16 receives this data input via the network interface card 57, the CPU 51 outputs this data to the MPEG2 video decoder 55 and the MPEG audio decoder 56. The MPEG2 video decoder 55 decodes the video data data of the input data and outputs it to the television receiver 17. Further, the MPEG audio decoder 56 decodes the audio data of the input data and outputs it to the television receiver 17. Accordingly, in this case, the television receiver 17 can view the broadcast (program) for which the reception is instructed in step S1.

On the other hand, in step S3 (switching means),
Home server 1 instead of decoding with STB16
When it is determined that the data is to be decoded by 1, the process proceeds to step S4, and the CPU 31 temporarily stores the data transferred via the network interface 35 in the RAM 33, reads it, and outputs it to the format conversion circuit 42. Perform format conversion. That is, the DCT inverse transform is performed (the MPEG1 method decoding process is performed). Further, in step S5 (output means), the CPU 31 causes the personal computer 12-1 to output the data whose format has been converted by the format conversion circuit 42 via the computer interface 39.

CPU of personal computer 12-1
When the format-converted data is received via the home server interface 76, the 71 outputs it via the display interface 79 to the display 13-1 for display. The audio data is output from a speaker (not shown) built in the display 13-1. As a result, the viewer can view the program of the broadcasting system selected in step S1 on the display 13-1.

If it is determined in step S6 that the data of the system selected in step S1 has been compressed using the wavelet transform, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the format conversion circuit 42 transmits the data via the network interface 35. The received data is subjected to inverse wavelet transform processing, and then the data is output to the personal computer 12-1 via the computer interface 39 in step S5. Personal computer 1
The CPU 71 of 2-1 is the home server interface 7
When this data is input via RAM 6, RAM 7
3 stores this, reads it, and outputs it to the display 13-1 via the display interface 79.

Similarly, if it is determined in step S8 or S10 that the data in the selected system is compressed by fractal coding or vector quantization, the process proceeds to step S9 or S11, respectively.
After the fractal decoding process or the vector dequantization process is performed, in step S5, the personal computer 1
2-1 is output. Personal computer 12-1
When this data is input via the home server interface 76, the RAM 73 temporarily stores this data in the RAM 73, then reads it out and outputs it to the display 13-1 via the display interface 79. , Display.

If it is determined in steps S2, S6, S8, and S10 that the data is compressed by a method other than DCT transform, wavelet transform, fractal coding, or vector quantization, error processing is performed in step S12. Be seen.

Changeover switch 63 of the remote commander 63
When A is operated, the reception mode in step S3 is switched. That is, when the mode for performing the decoding process in the STB 16 is set at that time,
When the home server 11 is switched to the decoding processing mode and the home server 11 is set to the decoding processing mode, the STB 16 is switched to the decoding processing mode.

The same operation as described above can be performed in the personal computer 12-2.

The present invention can also be applied to the case where data is compressed by a method other than DCT transform, wavelet transform, fractal coding, or vector quantization.

That is, for example, ITU-T (Internat
ional Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication St
andardization Sector (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector)) as a recommendation. 261 is px64 kbp
It is defined as an international standard for video coding for audiovisual communication, and is also defined by H.264. 262 is defined as an international standard for high quality video general coding.

In addition, ITU-R (ITU-Radiocommunicati
on Sector) (ITU wireless communication division)
T. 601-3 for the digital television coding parameters, CMTT. 721-2 adds a CM for component coding for 140 Mbps material transmission quality.
TT. 723-1 has been internationally standardized for component coding for 34-45 Mbps material transmission quality.

Furthermore, ISO / IEC (International Or
ganization for Standardization / International Elect
rotechnical commission) standard, 11172-2
(MPEG1) for video coding for storage media up to 1.5 Mbps, and 13818-2 (MPE).
G2) is specified as an international standard for high-quality video general-purpose coding.

In addition, Quick Time of Apple Computer, Inc. has been announced as a non-international standard moving picture compression / decompression format. In this method, a file to be handled is called a movie file, and moving images and sounds on a computer are processed as a movie file. Also, this Quick Ti
For me, the compression and decompression function of still images and moving images can be performed with Cinepak, JPEG by Image Compression Manager.
Alternatively, a predetermined one can be selected from MPEG1 and the like.

In addition, Microsoft Video for Wind
ows uses Microsoft RLE, Mi for animation, natural video, and full motion video, respectively.
Supports crosoft Video or Intel Indeo compression method.

It goes without saying that any of these compression / expansion methods may be supported by the format conversion circuit 42.

The above H. 261, MPEG1,
The differences between MPEG2 are summarized in FIG.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the compression / expansion method but also when the protocol is converted when the protocol is different in each system.

[0070]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect and the information processing method according to the third aspect, the format of the selected transmission system is converted and any one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses is converted. Since only one is output, the configuration of the entire system can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

Further, according to the information receiving system of the fourth aspect, the format of the information transmitted through the network is converted by the information processing device and then the first information is converted.
Since the information is supplied to the information receiving device or the second information receiving device, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the entire system and reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system to which an information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing device in a home 5-1 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a home server 11 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a personal computer 12-1 in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the STB 16 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the personal computer 12-1 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data compression / decompression method.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional information providing system.

9 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the personal computer 82 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1, 1-2 server, 2 cable television network, 2-1, 2-2 cable television center, 3 ISDN, 4 analog telephone line,
5-1 to 5-6 home, 11 home server,
12-1, 12-2 Personal computer, 13
-1, 13-2 display, 14-1, 14-2
Keyboard, 15-1, 15-2 Mouse, 16
Set-top box, 17 television receiver, 18 telephone, 42 format conversion circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus, to which a plurality of information receiving apparatuses for receiving information transmitted via a network are connected, and selecting means for selecting a transmission system of information to be received; An information processing apparatus, comprising: a conversion unit that converts the format of the information; and an output unit that outputs the format-converted information to any one of the plurality of information receiving devices. 2. The information of the selected transmission system,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that switches between a mode in which the format is converted and output by the conversion unit and a mode in which the format is output without conversion. 3. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus to which a plurality of information receiving apparatuses for receiving information transmitted via a network are connected, the step of selecting a transmission system of information to be received; An information processing method comprising: a step of converting the format of the information of the transmission system; and a step of outputting the information of which the format is converted to any one of the plurality of information receiving devices. 4. An information receiving system for receiving information transmitted via a network, comprising: a first information receiving device for receiving information transmitted via the network; and a first information receiving device transmitted via the network. A second information receiving device for receiving incoming information; and an information processing device for converting a format of information transmitted via the network and supplying the converted information to the first or second information receiving device. An information receiving system characterized by the above.