JPH11337666A - Clock device system and the clock device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically and accurately set time in an external device, without reducing convenience by sending the time information of a clock device at a master side to an external device used as the clock device at a slave side, and by setting the time of the external device based on the time information. SOLUTION: In a system, the time information of a clock device at a master side is received by external devices A-N which are used as the clock devices on a slave side, and the time is set. In this case, the electronic wave of ground TV broadcasting where a time signal is superimposed to a vertical blanking interval(VBI) is received by a broadcasting signal reception part 2, and the VBI is extracted by a vertical blanking interval extraction part 3a. Then, the specific part of the VBI where the time signal is recorded is decided by a vertical blanking section time signal deciding part 3b, and the time signal is extracted from this specific part. The time signal converted by a time format conversion part 5 is sent to the external devices A-N, and the received time signal is set automatically respectively in the external devices A-N.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clock device system and a clock device for setting time by extracting time information contained in a broadcast wave or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional clock device is used, for example, in a receiving terminal device of a television receiver for receiving a television broadcast, and a local time is inputted by a user's manual input or the like. The time is displayed and the timer is reserved. With this clock device, display reservation and recording reservation of the television broadcast are made.

[0003]

However, in a conventional clock device, the time set in the clock device is deviated with time as in the case of a normal clock, and the correct current time is input again. You need to reset the time.

[0004] When the above-mentioned receiving terminal device makes a reservation for display or recording of a television broadcast, the broadcast time of the television broadcast coincides with the local time set in the clock device of the receiving terminal device. However, in the clock device of the receiving terminal device, the set time is similarly deviated. Therefore, unless the user recognizes the deviation and re-enters the correct time, the set reservation time is set. If the broadcast time remains shifted from the broadcast time, a desired television broadcast cannot be completely viewed from the broadcast start time to the broadcast end time.

In general, there are a plurality of devices such as a personal computer and a rice cooker provided with a clock device in the home. The time of the clock device of each device is checked, and if the time is out of sync, the time is set. There is a problem that impairs convenience because it must be done.

For example, in a personal computer having a clock device,
In order to periodically connect to a device that provides a time providing service such as a UNIX workstation, the computer periodically accesses the device to obtain time information, and adjusts the time of the clock device provided in the personal computer. There is a configuration in which time deviation is eliminated.

Therefore, in order to automatically eliminate the difference between the broadcast time and the time output by the clock device of the receiving terminal device, it is conceivable to provide the receiving terminal device with the above-described configuration. There is a problem that the configuration of the receiving terminal device is complicated, and the convenience of the user is reduced.

In addition, in order to set the time for each device having a time setting function as an external device, if there are a plurality of such devices, the time setting operation must be performed a plurality of times, which is inefficient. There is also a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clock device system and a clock device that automatically set the time of an external device to an accurate time without reducing the convenience of the user.

[0010]

The timepiece system of the present invention transmits the time information of the master timepiece to an external device as the slave timepiece, and the external device receives the time information. This is for setting the time.

According to the present invention, the time setting of the external device can be automatically set to an accurate time without reducing the convenience of the user.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, time information is transmitted from a master clock device to a slave clock device, and the slave clock device receives the time information. In this case, the time setting of the external device as the clock device on the slave side can be automatically set to an accurate time without lowering the convenience of the user. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clock device for setting a time of an external device based on transmitted time information, wherein the receiving unit receives a broadcast wave including the time information, and A time information extraction processing unit that converts time information extracted from a broadcast wave received by a reception unit into a data format that can be recognized as time information by the external device and outputs the time information; and outputs the time information from the time information extraction processing unit to the external device. The clock device is provided with a transmission unit for transmitting to the external device, and the time setting of the external device can be automatically and simultaneously set to the correct time without lowering the convenience of the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the time is calibrated based on time information extracted from a broadcast wave and set in a time setting unit, and the time engraved by the time setting unit is stored as time information as external information. 3. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein the time information extraction processing unit is configured to output the time information to the device, and the time set in the time setting unit even if the time information is not continuously obtained from the broadcast wave. , The time setting of the external device can be automatically and simultaneously set to the correct time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the time information extraction processing unit is configured to convert the extracted time information into a data format for each external device and output the converted data. The clock device described above can be converted into a data format for each external device and output.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when a specific external device is selected to be set to a time in a different region, the extracted external time information is stored in the specific external device. The time device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a time information extraction processing unit is configured to set the time based on the extracted time information in an external device other than these. A specific external device can be set to a time in a different area, and the other external devices can be set to the time extracted by the time information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slave clock device for setting time by receiving time information from a master clock device, wherein the received time information is transmitted to another slave device. A time information extraction processing unit that converts the data into a data format that can be recognized as time information by the clock device and outputs the data.
And a transmission unit for transmitting the time information from the time information extraction processing unit to another clock device on the slave side. The time information is extracted from a broadcast wave like a clock device on the master side. The clock device on the slave side can have a simpler configuration because a complicated configuration is unnecessary, and another slave side can be configured based on the time information transmitted from the clock device on the slave side. Clock device can be automatically set to the correct time.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the identification code of the transmitting side of the time information and the identification code of the external device for receiving the time information and setting the time are added to the extracted time information. 4. The clock device according to claim 2, wherein the time information extraction processing unit is configured to convert the time information into time information in a data format recognizable by the external device. , And only the external device whose time is desired to be set can be automatically set to the correct time at the same time.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the transmission unit is configured as the timepiece device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the time information is transmitted to the external device by infrared rays. The time of the external device can be set without directly connecting a transmission cable or the like to the external device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the time information extracting unit is configured to extract the time information superimposed on the vertical blanking interval of the terrestrial television broadcast. 3. The timepiece device according to item 3, wherein time information superimposed on the vertical blanking interval of terrestrial television broadcasting can be extracted to set the time of an external device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video tape recorder provided with the clock device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the receiving unit of the video tape recorder receives a broadcast wave. The clock device can be made compact because it can be used as a receiving unit of the clock device, and since the video tape recorder has a clock device, the clock device is specially installed outside the video tape recorder. No need for a place.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a television receiver provided with the timepiece device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the receiving unit of the television receiver is provided with a broadcast wave. Can be used as a receiving portion of a clock device for receiving the clock, the clock device can be made compact, and since the television receiver is provided with a clock device, a special clock can be provided outside the television receiver. There is no need for a place to install the equipment.

Hereinafter, a timepiece device system and a timepiece device of the present invention will be described based on specific embodiments. (Embodiment 1) A timepiece device system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention
As shown in FIG. 1, the time information of the master clock device 1 is transmitted to the external devices A to N as the slave clock devices, and the external devices A to N receive the time information and set the time. Is what you do.

The master-side clock device 1 is, for example, a device built in a television receiver. Further, the external devices A to N have a function of receiving time information and setting the time, and are specifically a clock device incorporated in a VTR, a rice cooker, an air conditioner, or the like.

The clock device 1 on the master side receives a terrestrial television broadcast in which a time signal as time information is superimposed on a vertical blanking interval, and the broadcast signal receiving unit 2 receives the broadcast signal. A time information extraction processing unit 3 that converts a time signal extracted from a terrestrial television broadcast wave into a data format that can be recognized as time information by the external devices A to N and outputs the converted signal, and a time signal from the time information extraction processing unit 3 A time signal transmitting unit 4 as a transmitting unit for transmitting to a plurality of external devices A to N is provided.

The broadcast signal receiving section 2 is realized by sharing a receiving section of a television receiver. The time information extraction processing section 3 includes a vertical blanking section deletion section 3a, a vertical blanking section time signal determination section 3b, a time signal extraction section 3c, and a time format conversion section 5.

Here, in this timepiece device, a terrestrial television broadcast in which a time signal is superimposed on a vertical blanking interval (hereinafter referred to as VBI) is received, and a time reception setting is performed based on the extracted time signal. External devices A to N having functions
The operation for setting the time will be specifically described.

First, the broadcast signal receiving section 2 receives a terrestrial television broadcast wave in which a time signal is superimposed on VBI. From the terrestrial television broadcast wave received by the broadcast signal receiving unit 2, VBI is extracted by the vertical blanking interval extraction unit 3a.

Next, of the VBIs extracted by the vertical blanking section extraction section 3a, the VB in which the time signal is recorded is stored.
The specific portion of I is determined by a vertical blanking section time signal determination section 3b.
Determined by

The time signal is extracted by the time signal extracting unit 3c from the specific portion of the VBI determined by the vertical blanking interval time signal determining unit 3b. The extracted time signal is converted by the time format converter 5 into a data format that can be recognized as time information by the external devices A to N and output.

The time signal converted by the time format converter 5 by the time signal transmitter 4 is transmitted to the external device A using the infrared rays 9.
To N. The plurality of external devices A to N receive the transmitted time signal and automatically set the time of each of the plurality of external devices A to N.

With this configuration, the times of the plurality of external devices A to N can be automatically and simultaneously set to the correct time independently of the user's manual input as in the related art. Since the broadcast signal receiving section 2 is realized by sharing the receiving section of the television receiver, the timepiece apparatus 1 can be made more compact than an independent timepiece apparatus. Since the device 1 is built in the television receiver, there is no need for a special installation place like an independent clock device.

Further, by transmitting a time signal to a plurality of external devices A to N using infrared rays 9, the plurality of external devices A to N are transmitted.
To N can be transmitted without directly connecting a transmission cable or the like.

In the first embodiment, the timepiece device is built in the television receiver. However, the same effect can be obtained even when the timepiece device is built in a device for receiving broadcast waves, such as a video tape recorder.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 2, a timepiece device 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is obtained by adding a time setting unit 3d to the time information extraction processing unit 3 of Embodiment 1. is there.

Since the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the time setting unit 3d, a detailed description of the components other than the time setting unit 3d is omitted here. The time setting unit 3d calibrates and sets the time of the timepiece device 1 based on the time signal extracted from the terrestrial television broadcast by the time signal extracting unit 3c.

With such a configuration, the time of the clock device 1 can be automatically set, and a plurality of external devices A
~ N can be automatically and simultaneously set to the correct time independently of the user's manual input as in the prior art.

Further, VB of terrestrial television broadcast wave
Even if the time signal is not continuously obtained from I, the time signal can be output to the plurality of external devices A to N based on the time set in the timepiece device 1. ~ N can be set at the same time, and VBI
The time setting of a plurality of external devices A to N can be performed with the time resolution of the receiver (generally higher accuracy than the time resolution broadcasted by VBI) without being affected by the time resolution transmitted by the receiver. .

(Third Embodiment) A timepiece device 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is built in a television receiver, and as shown in FIG. For example, if the external device A is selected to set a standard time in a different area in the external device A, the extracted time signal is converted into a standard time signal in the different area and extracted from the terrestrial television broadcast. To each of the normal time signal and the converted standard time signal, an identification code of a side transmitting the time signal and an identification code of the external device A to N for receiving the time signal and setting the time are added to each, The time information extraction processing unit 6 is configured to convert the data into a time signal in a data format that can be recognized by the external devices A to N.

Since the configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment except for the time information extraction processing unit 6, a detailed description of the components other than the time information extraction processing unit 6 is omitted here.
Here, a terrestrial television broadcast in which a time signal is superimposed on the VBI is received, and the standard time of country A is used as the standard time of an area different from the extracted time signal to the external device A, and the standard time of home country is used as the external time. The operation of the timepiece device when it is set in the devices B to N will be specifically described.

The external devices A to N and the external device Q are respectively set with receiving side IDs “RA” to “RN” and “RQ” as identification codes. The external device does not want to change the set time. The receiving side ID is an ID uniformly assigned by the type of the external device and the manufacturer of the external device.

The time until the time of the clock device is set by the time setting unit 3d based on the time signal extracted by the time signal extraction unit 3c after receiving the terrestrial television broadcast in which the time signal is superimposed on the VBI. Since the third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment, the description is omitted.

When the external device A among the external devices A to N whose time is to be set is selected to set the time to the standard time of country A, the time format converter 5a converts the extracted time signal into the standard time of country A. The converted time signal is converted to a country A standard time signal, and the converted signal is provided with a transmitting side ID “SA” as an identification code of a side transmitting the time signal and a receiving side ID “RA” as an identification code of the external device A. And converts the signal into a time signal in a data format that can be recognized by the external device A.

Since the external devices B to N set a normal time, the time format converters 5b and 5c receive the time signal and set the time by receiving the time signal from the transmitting side ID "SA". The receiving device IDs “RB” of the external devices B to N to be made
In addition to the extracted time signals, "RN" is converted to a time signal in a data format that can be recognized by the external devices B to N.

The time signals thus converted for each of the external devices A to N are transmitted by the time signal transmitting unit 4 using the infrared rays 9. The external device A recognizes that it is a time signal transmitted from a predetermined clock device by identifying whether or not the received time signal includes the transmission side ID “SA”. Receiver ID in signal
If "RA" is included, it is determined that the received time signal is a time signal to be captured, and the time is set based on the time signal. Here, the time of the external device A is set to the standard time of the country A.

The same determination as described above is performed for the external devices B to N other than the external device A, and if there is a time signal to be taken, the time is set based on the time signal. Here, the time of the external devices B to N is set at home standard time.

Since the external device Q does not include the reception side ID “RQ” of the external device Q in the received time signal,
Do not set the time. With such a configuration, the timepiece device 1 can transmit a time signal in a plurality of data formats for each of the external devices A to N, so that the time device can be transmitted without affecting the external device Q whose time the user does not want to change. The time of a specific external device A to N to be set can be set.

Further, different time settings can be made for a plurality of external devices A to N. Specifically, the external device A can be set to the standard time of country A, and the external devices B to N can be set to the standard time of home country.

In the third embodiment, the receiving-side ID is an ID uniformly assigned by the type of the external device and the manufacturer of the external device. However, the external devices are individually designated by other methods. May be assigned to the ID.

(Embodiment 4) A slave clock device 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is not a master clock device 1 built in a television receiver, but a master clock device 1. The time is set by receiving a transmitted time signal as time information.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slave-side clock device 10 does not receive the terrestrial television broadcast including the time signal, but receives the time signal transmitted from the master-side clock device 1. A signal reception unit 8, a time information extraction processing unit 7 including a time setting unit 3d and time format conversion units 5a to 5c, and a time signal from the time information extraction processing unit 7 as a clock device on another slave side. External devices A to N
And a transmission unit for transmitting the data to the server.

With this configuration, it is possible to receive the time signal transmitted from the master-side clock device 1 according to the first to third embodiments, etc., so that the time signal from the VBI of the terrestrial television broadcast can be received. The vertical blanking section extraction unit 3a, vertical blanking section time signal determination unit 3b, and time signal extraction unit 3c as means for extracting signals are unnecessary. The configuration can be simpler than that of the timepiece device 1.

The clock device 10 on the slave side has
Since it is not a built-in device of the television receiver but an independent device, it can be used as a remote control type clock device capable of setting the time for the external devices A to N where infrared rays 9 cannot reach. .

In each of the above embodiments, the transmitting unit transmits the time signal using infrared rays. However, the transmitting unit may transmit the time signal using electromagnetic waves in other bands. In the above embodiments, the time information extraction processing unit is configured to extract the time signal superimposed on the vertical blanking interval of terrestrial television broadcasting. The same effect can be obtained even when the time information extraction processing unit is configured to extract the time signal superimposed on the time information.

[0055]

As described above, according to the timepiece system of the present invention, time information is transmitted from the master timepiece to the slave timepiece, and the slave timepiece receives this time information. By setting the time
The time setting of the clock device on the slave side can be automatically set to an accurate time without reducing the convenience of the user.

According to the clock device of the present invention, the receiving unit for receiving the broadcast wave including the time information and the time information extracted from the broadcast wave received by the receiving unit can be recognized by the external device as the time information. By providing a time information extraction processing unit for converting and outputting to a format, and a transmission unit for transmitting the time information from the time information extraction processing unit to the external device, the external device can be used without deteriorating the user's convenience. The time setting of the device can be automatically set to the correct time.

A time information extracting process is performed such that the own time is calibrated by the time information extracted from the broadcast wave and set in the time setting unit, and the time engraved by the time setting unit is output as time information to an external device. In the case where the unit is configured, the time setting of not only the clock device itself but also the external device can be automatically and simultaneously set to the correct time without lowering the convenience of the user. Further, even if the time information is not continuously obtained from the broadcast wave, the time setting of the external device can be automatically set to an accurate time based on the time set by the time setting unit.

When a specific external device is selected to be set to a time in a different area, the extracted external time information is converted to time information in a different area and output to the specific external apparatus. When the time information extraction processing unit is configured to set the time based on the extracted time information in the external device, a specific external device can be set to a time in a different region, and the time information can be set to other external devices. Can be set to the time extracted from.

The identification code of the transmitting side of the time information and the identification code of the external device for receiving the time information and setting the time are added to the time information extracted from the broadcast wave.
If the time information extraction processing unit is configured to convert to time information in a data format that can be recognized by the external device, a specific external device whose time is to be set without affecting the external device whose time the user does not want to change. Only the time of the device can be set.

A time information extraction processing unit for converting the time information received from the clock device on the master side into a data format recognizable as time information by another clock device on the slave side, and outputting the converted data. A slave clock device provided with a transmission unit for transmitting time information to another slave clock device does not require a complicated configuration for extracting time information from a broadcast wave like a master clock device. Therefore, the clock device on the slave side can have a simpler configuration, and the clock device on another slave side can be automatically and accurately adjusted based on the time information transmitted from the clock device on the slave side. You can set the time. The clock device on the slave side can be used as a remote control type clock device capable of setting time, and the clock device on another slave side located in a place where the time information transmitted from the clock device on the master side does not reach. The time can be automatically set to the correct time.

In the case where a clock device is provided in a device having a function of receiving broadcast waves, such as a video tape recorder or a television receiver, the receiving unit of the device having a function of receiving broadcast waves is shared with the clock device. Since the receiving unit of the present invention is realized, the timepiece device can be made more compact than an independent timepiece device, and since the timepiece device is incorporated in a device having a function of receiving broadcast waves, There is no need for a special installation place like a separate clock device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a timepiece device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a timepiece device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a timepiece device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a timepiece device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clock device 2 Broadcast signal receiving part 3 Time information extraction processing part 3a Vertical blanking elimination section extraction part 3b Vertical blanking elimination section time signal determination part 3c Time signal broadcasting part 3d Time setting part 4 Time signal transmitting part 5 Time format conversion Unit 5a time format conversion unit 5b time format conversion unit 5c time format conversion unit 6 time information extraction processing unit 7 time information extraction processing unit 8 time signal reception unit 9 infrared ray 10 clock device on slave side

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Jiro Kishoda 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A clock device system in which time information is transmitted from a master clock device to a slave clock device, and the slave clock device receives the time information and sets the time. 2. A clock device for setting a time of an external device based on transmitted time information, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a broadcast wave including the time information; A clock provided with a time information extraction processing unit that converts time information into a data format that can be recognized as time information by the external device and outputs the data, and a transmission unit that transmits time information from the time information extraction processing unit to the external device apparatus. 3. A time information extracting process for calibrating its own time based on time information extracted from a broadcast wave, setting the time in a time setting unit, and outputting the time engraved by the time setting unit to an external device as time information. 3. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein the timepiece comprises a part. 4. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein the time information extraction processing unit is configured to convert the extracted time information into a data format for each external device and output the data format. 5. When a specific external device is selected to be set to a time in a different region, the extracted external device converts the extracted time information into time information in a different region, and outputs the converted time information.
4. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein a time information extraction processing unit is configured to set a time based on the extracted time information in an external device other than the above. 6. A slave clock device for setting time by receiving time information from a master clock device, wherein the received time information can be recognized as time information by another slave clock device. A clock device, comprising: a time information extraction processing unit that converts the information into a format and outputs the time information; and a transmission unit that transmits the time information from the time information extraction processing unit to another clock device on the slave side. 7. In addition to the extracted time information, an identification code of a side transmitting the time information and an identification code of an external device for receiving the time information and setting the time are provided in a data format recognizable by the external device. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein the time information extraction processing unit is configured to convert the time information into time information. 8. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the time information to the external device by infrared rays. 9. The timepiece device according to claim 2, wherein the time information extraction processing unit is configured to extract time information superimposed on a vertical blanking interval of a terrestrial television broadcast. 10. A video tape recorder comprising the clock device according to claim 2. 11. A television receiver comprising the timepiece device according to claim 2.