JPS59104876A - Videotex network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To establish early economically a videotex network on a nation-wide scale by constituting the network with an information center transmitting a videotex signal in terms of a TV signal, picture converting centers provide at each prescribed zone and the existing TV broadcast network. CONSTITUTION:The information center 10 inputs videotex (VTX) information from an input device 14 or an external data base 15 to a processor 11 and stores the information to a file 12 with prescribed processing. The VTX is extracted from the file 12, superimposed on the TV signal by transmitters 13A, 13B and inserted thereto, and distributed and transmitted to picture information centers 30A, 30B provided at each prescribed zone via a TV broadcast network 20A and an artificial satellite 20B. The centers 30A, 30B receive the TV signal by receivers 33A, 33B, extract and separate the VTX signal, convert 31 the picture and store the signal to a file 32. Each terminal 50 requests the VTX to the centers 30A, 30B via a telephone line 40A or CATV networks 40B, 40C and obtains the desired VTX information stored in the file 32.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention transmits various types of information stored in an information center to a home-use network using the existing T'l television) broadcasting network, telephone network, etc. as a transmission route. This relates to the Videotex network, which displays images on terminals such as TV receivers and provides image communication services at low cost.

[Prior art]

Videotex networks have been developed and put into practical use in many countries, including Captain in Japan, Terriden in Canada, Prestill in the UK, and Telechill in France.

When a conventional Videotex network is configured over a wide area (for example, nationwide), the same low charges (for example, local telephone charges) are applied between the information center and all terminals.
In order to provide videotex services in Japan, it is necessary to install an image conversion center in each appropriate area (for example, a local telephone charge area) and connect it to an information center using a dedicated line or the like.

Therefore, the above-mentioned system has the following implementation problems.

(1) The construction cost of a Videotex network using a leased line will be enormous, and the leased line usage fee will also be considerable, increasing the system cost.

(2) Failure to configure a nationwide network would not only require huge upfront investment as mentioned above, but would also require complex and advanced technology, making it difficult to realize the network configuration easily and smoothly.

(3) In order to achieve nationwide uniformity of charges, it will be necessary to adopt, for example, a packet switching network, so the line control functions of information centers and image conversion centers will have to be sophisticated, and the costs of their hardware and software will increase significantly. increases to .

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above and to provide a Videotex network that can be economically constructed on a nationwide scale at an early stage.

[Summary of the invention]

The configuration of the Videotex network according to the present invention stores and manages Videotex information, and transmits the Videotex signal to T.
An information center that has the function of superimposing and inserting into the V signal and sending it out so that it can be transmitted even to remote locations, and a telephone network or one-way CA that connects terminals for Videotex service in each predetermined area. TV network or two-way CA, T
It receives the TV signal accommodated through the V network, superimposes and inserts a videotex signal, extracts and separates the videotex signal from it, stores the image information, and responds to a request from the terminal, An image conversion center that has the function of converting and transmitting desired videotex information using a predetermined protocol to the terminal is connected to the information center and each image conversion center, and the videotex signal is superimposed on the TV signal. It is configured to consist of either a normal TV broadcast network or a satellite TV broadcast network, or both, which can be inserted and transmitted.

In short, the Videotex signal is superimposed and inserted into the vertical blanking period of the TV signal, or inserted into an empty TV channel, and transmitted from the above information center using a normal TV broadcasting network or a satellite TV broadcasting network. By transmitting the information to each of the image conversion centers described above, the desired image communication service is provided from the image conversion center to the videotex service terminal.

[Embodiments of the invention]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a Videotex network according to the present invention.

Here, 10 is an information center, 11 is a processing device thereof,
12 is the same file; 13A and 13B are transmitters for the artificial satellite 20B related to the normal TV broadcasting network 2OA or the satellite TV broadcasting network; 14 is the human-powered device; 15
is an external database, 30A and 30B are provided for predetermined areas in a remote location and a neighboring location of the information center 10, respectively, and an image conversion center corresponding to the TV broadcasting network 20A2 and the satellite 20B; 31 is the image conversion center; The device 32 is the same file, 33A, 33B are the same <T
V broadcast network 2 OA, receiver compatible with artificial satellite 20B,
34 is an input device for the image conversion 'J43t, 35 is the same external database, 40A is a telephone network, 40B is a one-way CATV network, 40C is a two-way CATV network, and 50 is a terminal for videotex service. be.

In the information center 10, videotex information is sent to the processing device 11 from the input device 14 or the external database 15.
is sequentially input to file 1 and undergoes prescribed processing there.
Store it in 2.

The videotex signal is superimposed and inserted into the TV signal by the transmitters 13A and 13B based on the videotex information extracted from the file 12 under the control and processing of the processing device 11, and the TV signal is transmitted to the TV broadcasting network 20A9 artificial It is distributed and transmitted sequentially to each image conversion center 30A, 30B via the satellite 20B.

At each image conversion center 30A, 30B, the receiver 33
A and 33B receive the TV signal, extract and separate the videotex signal from it, and store it in a file 32 in a predetermined format under the control and processing of the image conversion device 31.

In this way, the information center 10 has input devices 14 . Every time videotex information is input from an external database, it is registered (accumulated) in file 12, and
Each image conversion center 30A, 3 is superimposed and inserted into the TV signal.
If the file 32 is delivered to 0B, the file 32 is managed so that it is always updated with the latest information.

When each terminal 50 needs videotex information, it communicates with the associated image conversion center 30A, 30B through the -J direction transmission line of the telephone network 40At or the two-way CATV network 40C.
The videotex information stored in the file 32 is transferred to the transmission line of the telephone network 40A, one-way CATV network 40B, or the two-way CATV
Desired videotex information can be obtained through the downlink transmission path of the network 40C.

Next, FIG. 2 is a videotex signal distribution path diagram in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of superimposing the videotex signal, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the videotex signal format.

In order to make it easier to understand, here are 20 key TV broadcasting stations.
1 from the information center 10 attached to the TV broadcasting line network 20
Only the case where the file 33 of the image conversion center 30A attached to the TV broadcasting local station 202 is updated through the TV broadcasting local station 202 will be described.

In other cases, the explanations are omitted here because they are almost the same and easy to analogize.

Input device 14. The videotex signal input from the external database 15 is processed by the processing device 11 into file 1.
2, and then read out again in order to update the files 33 of the image conversion centers 30A distributed at various locations.

The TV broadcast key station 201 transmits the read signals to each TV.
TV being sent out for distribution to broadcast local station 202
The signal is input to the transmitter 13A in order to be superimposed on the signal.

Here, the method of superimposing the videotex signal on the TV signal is exactly the same as the case of the well-known teletext signal.
As shown in the figure, the vertical blanking period of the TV signal is used.

Note that if there is a vacant TV channel, a videotex signal may be inserted therein instead of the above-mentioned superimposition.

This signal is transmitted through the TV broadcasting network almost simultaneously to all TV channels.
It is distributed to the V broadcast local station 202.

At the TV broadcasting local station 202, the receiver 33A
Separate the videotex signal from the received TV signal.

The videotex signal has, for example, the format shown in FIG. 4, and under the control of the image conversion device 31, videotex control information and same-screen information are separated and recorded in a file 32, respectively.

Finally, the files 32 of the image conversion centers 30A and 30B
An example of the 0 update frequency is shown in the table below.

[-TodoT...transaction, S...seconds Therefore, in the worst case, you only need to update one screen per second during busy hours, so you only need to insert a videotex signal once for every 30 TV screens. As a result, it is possible to use the teletext/transmission equipment as is.

In this way, the TV broadcasting network 20A, the satellite TV broadcasting network 20
By distributing Videotex signals through B, it is possible to immediately build a nationwide Videotex network using TV broadcasting key stations and local stations, reducing construction costs, construction period, and maintenance costs. It can be made extremely small.

Further, since files can be distributed for each area of the image conversion centers 30A and 30B, services can be provided at a flat rate, and local information services can also be provided.

Furthermore, since updated information is distributed immediately, not only can the latest information be always provided, but also the processing capacity of the information center can be significantly reduced.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a videotex network that can be economically constructed on a nationwide scale at an early stage, thereby contributing to the diversification and economicization of image communication services, It has a remarkable effect on sexual improvement.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a Videotex network according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram of its Videotex (11) signal distribution path, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the Videotex signal superimposition. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the Videotex signal format. 10... Information center, 11... Processing device, 12...
・File, 13A, 13B...Transmitter, 14...
Input device, 15...external database, 2OA, 20
B...TV broadcast network, satellite TV broadcast network, 30A, 30B
...Image conversion center, 31...Image conversion device, 32
...File, 33A, 33B...Receiver, 34.
...Input device, 35...External database, 40A.
...Telephone network, 40B...One-way CATV, 40C...
・Two-way CATV. 50...Terminal. Agent: Patent attorney Kosaku Fukuda (and 1 other person) (12)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information center that stores and manages Videotex information, superimposes and inserts the Videotex signal into TV signals, and sends it out so that it can be transmitted even to remote locations, and an information center for each designated area. Terminals for Videotex services can be connected to telephone networks, one-way CATV networks, or two-way CATV networks.
Accommodates via ATV network and superimposes Videotex signal.
It has a function of extracting and separating the inserted TV signal, storing its image information, and converting and transmitting desired videotex information to the terminal according to a predetermined protocol in response to a request from the terminal. Connect the image conversion center and the above information center/each image conversion center, and make it possible to superimpose and insert videotex into the TV signal and transmit it to either a normal TV broadcast network or a satellite TV broadcast network. , or a Videotex network consisting of both.