WO2007028324A1

WO2007028324A1 - A set top box and a device for realizing multiple tv sets supported by a single set top box

Info

Publication number: WO2007028324A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/002271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nan Xia; Qingjian He
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2006-09-04
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: CN1863285A

Abstract

A set-top box and a device, in which multiple TV sets are supported by a single set-top box, are provided. The device includes a set-top box and a television-receiving unit cooperating with the set-top box. The set-top box multiplex decodes a media stream and form multiple separate output to the said television receiving unit at the TV sets side, thus the set-top box cooperating with the television receiving unit transforms the media stream into the audio-video signal receivable for television. And the television-receiving unit receives remote control signal and transmits it to the set-top box in a certain way. The device realizes that one single set-top box can support multiple TV sets and receive different remote control signal from multiple TV sets.

Description

Set top box and device for realizing one set top box supporting multiple televisions

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a set top box and a device for implementing a set top box to support multiple televisions. Background of the invention

At present, the development of television technology has entered the digital age. The transmission mode of TV signals has evolved from analog signals to digital signals. On the one hand, the signal transmission quality has been improved. In addition, due to the mature application of compression coding technology, the transmission of digital signals is also greatly Saves on transfer bandwidth. With the advent of the broadband network era, TV signals can be transmitted not only in the air, coaxial cable or satellite, but also in broadband networks, and can realize the interaction between viewers and TV. The development of TV technology has entered IPTV. (Internet TV) Age.

Since the traditional TV can only receive analog TV signals, in order for the traditional TV to receive digital TV signals, an STB (Set Top Box) must be configured on the TV to decode and convert the digital TV signals into analog signals that the TV can receive. . ·

Configuring a set-top box is an inevitable way to digitize TV, but it also brings a problem. The current situation is that a family has multiple TVs, and the TV is distributed in different physical locations, such as living room, bedroom, study, etc. If each TV is configured A set-top box brings more economic burden to the family and brings difficulties to operation management. Therefore, there is a need to solve the problem of television digitization when a set top box supports multiple televisions distributed in different rooms in the home.

An easy way to solve the above problem is to configure a set-top box for each TV so that each TV receives a digital signal that is independent.

However, the above solution is costly. In the case where the set-top box is to authenticate the user, if the home has multiple set-top boxes for authentication, billing, and management, the complexity of the operation is increased.

In response to the above problem, a current application number is 200410077857.X, entitled "Technology Supporting a Multi-Display Set Top Box", which discloses a set top box capable of carrying multiple displays, including receiving multiple broadcast signals. a control unit that receives a remote control signal from at least two user display components, controls the required broadcast signal to be transmitted to the user display component respectively according to the received remote control signal; and respectively transmits the broadcast signal to the plurality of control signals according to the control signal of the control unit The user displays the allocation unit of the component.

The disadvantages of the technology are: Since the digital signal bandwidth of the set-top box is very large, generally about 270 Mb/s, the current Ethernet interface is generally 10 or 100 Mb/s, and the networking mode according to the technology is through a LAN (Local Area Network). The WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and HOMEPNA (Home Line Network Alliance) interfaces transmit the decoded digital signals to the TV set, which is very difficult to implement. In addition, this scheme cannot realize simultaneous viewing if the multi-channel television receiver independently receives the television signal.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a set top box and a device for implementing a set top box to support multiple televisions, and solve the problem that one set top box supports multiple televisions.

The invention is achieved by the following technical solutions:

The invention provides a set top box, comprising: an uplink interface circuit, a main processor, and the set top box further comprises _{: a} multi-channel decoder, configured to decode the media stream input through the uplink interface circuit and processed by the main processor And a downlink audio and video signal interface circuit, configured to perform multiple independent outputs on the multi-channel decoded signal. The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit comprises: an analog encoder and a frequency modulator, wherein the frequency modulator is configured to modulate a signal encoded by the analog encoder so that it can be transmitted over a long distance.

The downstream audio and video signal interface circuit includes a television encoder for encoding the decoded signal and a synthesizer for modulating the encoded signal to different frequency points.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit is an ITU-BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface circuit that can transmit the encoder encoded signal to a television set.

The downstream audio and video signal interface circuit further includes: • A circuit capable of TV encoding, directly outputted to the nearest television set through an audio and video cable.

The set top box further includes:

The remote controller signal receiving device is configured to receive the multi-channel remote control signal, and control the media stream signal sent to each of the televisions according to the remote control signal.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for implementing a set top box to support multiple televisions, including:

The set top box includes a plurality of decoders for decoding the media stream, and a downlink audio and video signal interface circuit for performing multiple independent outputs on the decoded signals;

The television receiving unit is located on the side of the television and is connected to the set top box for cooperating with the set top box to convert the media stream to a television set in a form receivable by the television.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit in the set top box includes:

A circuit capable of television encoding is directly outputted to the nearest television set through an audio and video cable; and/or a downstream audio and video signal interface circuit capable of transmitting the signal processed by the set top box to the television set.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit includes an ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface circuit that can transmit the encoder encoded signal to a television set. In the present invention, the television receiving unit that cooperates with the set top box further includes:

a television decoder, configured to receive a signal transmitted through an ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface, and to encode the signal into a television, and encode the audio and video signal that can be received by the television to the television Machine audio and video interface.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit includes: an analog encoder that can encode the encoder encoded signal into an audio and video signal that can be received by the television; and

A frequency modulator that frequency modulates the audio and video signals.

In the present invention, the television receiving unit cooperated with the set top box includes a frequency demodulator for receiving the frequency modulated signal, and demodulating the signal to restore the audio and video signals that the television can receive. Transfer to the audio and video interface of the TV.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit includes: a television encoder capable of television encoding the encoder encoded signal; and

The television code is modulated into a synthesizer of different frequency points.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit outputs a signal through a cable TV radio frequency output signal, and the receiving end television receives the signal by frequency modulation to a frequency band corresponding to a frequency of the signal modulated by the synthesizer.

The set top box further includes:

The television receiving unit further includes:

a remote control receiver for receiving signals from the remote controller and modulating the received signals for transmission to a remote control signal receiving device in the set top box.

The remote control receiver further includes:

The infrared receiver is mounted on the front end of the TV through a lead wire for receiving signals from the remote controller.

It can be seen from the above technical solution provided by the present invention that the present invention realizes that a plurality of television sets can be driven by one set top box, so that the multi-channel television can independently receive the television signals, and can receive different remote control signals from multiple television sets, which is simple and convenient. It reduces the cost of configuring a set-top box for multiple TV sets in a home, and also brings convenience to operators' maintenance management.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic structural view of a set top box in the device of the present invention;

2-1 is a schematic structural view of Embodiment 1 of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2-2 is a schematic diagram of the composition of the television receiving unit in Figure 2-1;

FIG. 3-1 is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment 2 of the apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. 3-2 is a schematic diagram of a composition of a television receiving unit in FIG. 3-1;

4 is a schematic structural view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 4-2 is a schematic diagram of the composition of the television receiving unit in Figure 4-11.

Mode for carrying out the invention

The core idea of the present invention is to provide a set top box and a device for implementing a set top box to support multiple televisions. After the set top box decodes the media stream, the plurality of independent outputs are transmitted to the television receiving unit of the television end, and the television receives the television stream. The unit processes the received signal into an AV signal that the television can receive, and transmits the remote control signal received by the television to the set top box in a corresponding manner.

The present invention provides a set top box. The structure of the set top box is as shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the set top box includes: an uplink interface circuit, a main processor, a remote control signal receiving device, and a buffer device. Multiple decoders and downstream audio and video signal interface circuits.

The remote controller signal receiving device is configured to store information of each remote control receiver, receive a multi-channel remote control signal, and control a media stream output to each television set according to the received remote control signal and the stored remote control receiver information.

The set-top box uplink interface may be an IP network interface, or may be DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial Transmission Mode), DVB-S (Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite Transmission Mode), DVB-C (Digital Video Broadcasting Copper Cable Transmission Mode) Such as digital TV interfaces, through multi-channel tuning, or multiple links of the network, can receive multiple independent media streams from different program sources, such as audio/video digital signals, or other services on the network, such as the Web. Web browsing, games, visual communication, and more. The downlink interface of the set top box is an audio and video signal interface decoded by the decoder.

The processing of the media stream in the set top box is as follows: the audio and video media is buffered by the cache device after flowing through the uplink interface, and the main processor performs scheduling control and the like according to the service requirement, and transmits the media stream that needs to be output to the corresponding decoder. Audio and video decoding, the decoded signal is transmitted to the downlink interface through the downlink AV signal interface circuit, and multiple independent outputs are performed.

The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit is configured to perform multiple independent outputs on the signal decoded by the multiplex decoder. The downlink audio and video signal interface circuit adopts the following different settings according to the actual output situation:

1) set up multiple ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface circuits; and / or,

2) setting a plurality of frequency modulators for modulating the signals encoded by the analog encoder so that they can be transmitted over long distances; and/or, 3) setting a plurality of television encoders and a synthesizer, wherein the television encoder is configured to perform television encoding on the decoded digital signals, and output signals recognizable by the television; the synthesizer is configured to modulate the multi-channel television signals to different Frequency point, use cable TV RF output.

The present invention provides an apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions, the apparatus comprising the set top box described above, and a plurality of television receiving units mounted on the side of the television. The television receiving unit is connected to the set top box for cooperating with the set top box, converting the signal output by the set top box into a format that the television can receive, and transmitting the remote control signal of the TV side to the set top box.

The device for supporting one set top box supporting multiple televisions according to the present invention, and the connection and cooperation with the set top box are as follows:

1) Support all-way short-distance transmission;

That is, the analog encoder performs analog coding on the signal decoded by the decoder to obtain an AV signal that the television can receive, and then directly outputs it to the nearest television set through the AV cable;

2) Support multiple long-distance transmission;

Specifically, the following three cases are included - the first mode is as shown in Fig. 2-1 and Fig. 2-2, and a television encoder and a remote control receiver are set in the television receiving unit on the television side. The television encoder is configured to perform television encoding on the transmitted digital signal, and output the PAL (line-by-line phase-in) or NTSC (National Television System Committee) or SECAM (sequential color and stored video) that the television can directly receive. The AV receiver signal of the system; the remote receiver includes an infrared receiver that is mounted on the front end of the television via a lead wire, is capable of receiving a signal from the remote controller, and transmits the received signal to the remote control The receiver performs modulation and synthesis and transmits it to the remote control signal receiving device in the set top box via a cable.

The working principle of the composition mode is as follows: The digital signal decoded by the decoder in the set top box is transmitted to the television side through the cable of the ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface, and the television receiving unit on the television side The television encoder in the television encodes the digital signal, and outputs an AV signal directly receivable by the television to the AV interface of the television. The process of uploading the remote control signal is as follows: After receiving the signal of the remote controller, the infrared receiver disposed at the front end of the television is transmitted to the remote control receiver for modulation and synthesis, and the remote control receiver uploads the modulated remote control signal to the set top box. In the remote control signal receiving device.

The cables of the ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interfaces are pairs of shielded twisted pairs with a maximum distance of 50 meters, which is sufficient in a home environment. The second mode is shown in Figure 3-1 and Figure 2-3. The frequency modulator is set in the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit of the set-top box, and the frequency demodulator and the remote control receiver are set in the TV receiving unit on the TV side. . The frequency modulator is configured to modulate a signal encoded by the analog encoder so that it can be transmitted over long distances. The frequency demodulator is configured to demodulate and recover the received signal into an AV signal, and transmit the signal to an AV interface of the television; the remote control receiver includes an infrared receiver, and the infrared receiver can be installed on the front end of the television through a lead wire. Being capable of receiving a signal from a remote controller, modulating the received sensor signal, transmitting it to a remote control signal receiving device in the set top box via a cable, and recovering the remote control signal recognizable by the set top box in the remote control signal receiving device In the uplink frequency band, different remote control receivers are modulated to different frequencies, and the remote control signal receiving devices on the set top box side are demultiplexed to obtain signals from different remote controllers.

The working principle of the combination mode is that the signal decoded by the decoder in the set top box is first encoded by the analog encoder into an AV analog signal that the television can receive, and since the AV signal cannot be transmitted from a long distance, the frequency modulator is used again. The AV analog signal is frequency-modulated so that it can be transmitted over long distances, and then transmitted to the receiving unit on the TV side through a cable, such as an RF (cable television) coaxial cable, a shielded twisted pair cable, etc., and the frequency demodulation in the receiving unit The device demodulates the modulated signal, restores it to an AV signal, and then transmits it directly to the TV AV interface. The process of uploading the remote control signal is as follows: After receiving the signal of the remote controller, the infrared receiver disposed at the front end of the television is transmitted to the remote control receiver for modulation and synthesis, and the remote control receiver uploads the modulated remote control signal to the set top box. In the remote control signal receiving device, in the uplink frequency band, different remote control receivers are modulated to different frequencies, and the remote control signal receiving devices on the set top box side are demultiplexed to obtain signals from different remote controllers.

In the third mode, as shown in FIG. 4-1 and FIG. 4-2, a television encoder and a synthesizer are disposed in the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit of the set top box, and a remote control receiver is disposed in the television receiving unit on the television side. The television encoder is configured to perform television encoding on the digital signal decoded by the decoder, and output the AV signal directly receivable by the television after encoding; the synthesizer is configured to modulate the television signal encoded by the multi-channel television encoder to different Frequency point, and output through RF. The remote control receiver includes an infrared receiver that can be mounted on the front end of the television through a lead wire, can receive signals from the remote controller, and transmits the received signal to the remote control receiver for modulation and synthesis. The cable is delivered to the remote control signal receiving device in the set top box. The remote control receiver is installed at the end of the R cable, and the remote control receiver includes an infrared receiver, which can be installed on the front end of the television through a lead wire, can receive signals from the remote controller, and performs signals on the remote control receiver. Modulation, frequency multiplexing to coaxial cable, uplink transmission to the remote control signal receiving device in the set top box; in the uplink frequency band, different remote control receivers are modulated to different frequencies, and the remote control signal receiving device on the set top box side is demultiplexed Get signals from different remotes. The working principle of the mode is as follows: The signal decoded by the decoder in the set top box is encoded and output by the television encoder, and then modulated by the synthesizer to multi-channel television signals to different frequency points, and output through the RF RF, generally used cable television The coaxial cable directly transmits the signals of different frequency points to the RF receiving port on the TV side, and the TV sets the signals transmitted to the corresponding frequency point receiver top box by frequency modulation. The process of uploading the remote control signal is as follows: After receiving the signal of the remote controller, the infrared receiver disposed at the front end of the television is transmitted to the remote control receiver for modulation and synthesis, and the remote control receiver uploads the modulated remote control signal to the set top box. In the remote control signal receiving device.

In summary, the present invention realizes the use of a set top box to drive multiple television sets, and enables multiple channels of television to independently receive signals, which is simple and convenient, reduces the cost of configuring a set top box for multiple homes and a plurality of television sets, and also maintains the cost of the operator. Management brings convenience.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention. Alternatives are intended to be covered by the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

Rights request

A set-top box, comprising: an uplink interface circuit, a main processor, further comprising: a multi-channel decoder, configured to decode a media stream input through the uplink interface circuit and processed by the main processor; The audio and video signal interface circuit is configured to perform multiple independent outputs on the multi-channel decoded signal.

2. The set top box according to claim 1, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit comprises: an analog encoder and a frequency modulator, wherein the frequency modulator is configured to perform signal encoded by the analog encoder Modulation, making it possible to transmit over long distances.

3. The set top box according to claim 1, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit comprises: a television encoder for encoding the decoded signal and modulating the encoded signal to Synthesizers with different frequency points.

The set top box according to claim 1, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit is an ITU-R BT.601 or ITU- that can transmit the encoder encoded signal to a television set. R.BT.656 interface circuit.

The set top box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit further comprises:

A circuit that can encode TV is output directly to the nearest TV through an audio and video cable.

The set top box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the set top box further comprises:

7. A device for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions, comprising:

8. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 7, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit in the set top box comprises: a circuit capable of performing television coding, directly passing the sound The video cable is output to the nearest television set; and/or, the downstream audio and video signal interface circuit can be transmitted over long distances, and the signal processed by the set top box is transmitted to the television set.

9. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 8, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit comprises:

The encoder encoded signal can be transmitted to an ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface circuit of the television set.

10. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 9, wherein the television receiving unit that cooperates with the set top box further comprises:

a television decoder for receiving a signal transmitted through an ITU-R BT.601 or ITU-R.BT.656 interface, and encoding the signal into a television, and encoding the audio and video signals receivable by the television to the television Audio and video interface.

11. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 8, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit comprises:

An encoder capable of encoding the encoder encoded signal into an audio and video signal receivable by the television; and

A frequency modulator that frequency modulates the audio and video signals.

12. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 11, wherein the television receiving unit that cooperates with the set top box comprises:

The frequency demodulator is configured to receive the frequency modulated signal, demodulate the signal, and restore the audio and video signals that can be received by the television to the audio and video interface of the television.

13. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 8, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit comprises:

a television encoder capable of television encoding the encoder encoded signal; and,

14. The apparatus for implementing a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 13, wherein the downlink audio and video signal interface circuit passes the cable radio frequency output signal, and the receiving end television adjusts the frequency to the mobile station. The frequency band corresponding to the frequency of the signal modulated by the synthesizer receives the signal.

The apparatus for implementing a set top box supporting a plurality of televisions according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the set top box further comprises a remote controller signal receiving device, configured to receive the multi-channel remote control signal. And controlling a media stream signal sent to each television set according to the remote control signal.

The device for supporting a set top box to support a plurality of televisions according to claim 15, wherein the television receiving unit further comprises: a remote control receiver for receiving signals from the remote controller and modulating the received signals for transmission to a remote control signal receiving device in the set top box.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the remote control receiver further comprises: