ES2214113B1 - SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATIONS, IN PARTICULAR SYSTEM OF RECEPTION, TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SIGNS. - Google Patents

Abstract

Communications system, in particular a system for receiving, processing and distributing signals, with at least one Communications Center (1), a Control Team (2), a Signal Processing Unit (6), which form the system header (42), a Distribution Network (5) and User Terminals (3) configured so that an interactive menu of services and / or system configuration is presented in a graphic terminal (20) with the graphic terminal being constituted by the television screen (60) and the telephone keypad (8) of any authorized user. Being the menu generated by a computer (21) embedded in the header (42) of the communications system.

Description

Communications system, in particular a system of reception, treatment and distribution of signals.

The present invention relates to a system of communications, in particular a reception system, treatment and signal distribution according to the preamble of the claim one.

MATV / SMATV networks are already known, which are television signal reception and distribution systems terrestrial and / or satellite that through a common equipment allows the television reception to the different components of a Neighborhood community These systems are basically composed by a signal picker responsible for receiving the different terrestrial and / or satellite television channels, a team of header consisting of amplifier equipment, converters, modulators, etc., responsible for adapting and amplifying the channels received and a distribution network responsible for transport the signals to the user sockets located in the different user homes (a home has generally more than one connection to the MATV / SMATV network).

The number of users of these systems of MATV / SMATV is limited to a maximum of a few hundred users and at least one user (housing with various user shots). The signals that are generally distributed do not They are generated in the system itself.

There is currently a large number on the market of equipment for this type of systems. Said equipment exclusively contemplates the aspects of reception, adaptation and distribution of television signals and sound broadcasting.

The objective of the present invention is develop a communications system that incorporates other possibilities of use and allow users to act in a way interactive with the system to configure and select services.

This objective is obtained through a system of communications defined in the claims.

The invention has a plurality of advantages.

In an example of a system according to the invention the communication system is configured so that a menu interactive services and system configuration is presented in a graphic terminal.

This has the advantage of allowing the system monitoring as well as configure the various system parameters and select its services from one simple and simple way, allowing these operations to be made by the network user in the case of a system individually or by authorized users in the case of a network collective

In particular a system according to the invention is characterized in that the graphic terminal is constituted by a TV screen of any user. This presents the advantage of being able to use existing equipment in the home to new functions, with the saving that this supposes. At the same time which allows user interaction through an easy terminal handling to which he is widely accustomed.

Another example of a system according to the invention is characterized in that the menu is presented on the screen of the User television through a television channel. This It has the advantage of allowing easy access to the menu without more than Change the tuned channel on the TV. This is because the channel that carries the menu is a TV channel in PAL of 8 MHZ bandwidth preferably located in the UHF band, with what any standard television can receive.

Another example of a system according to the invention is characterized in that the selection of the various menu options are selected from a telephone keypad of any Authorized user This allows to avoid the proliferation of terminals (remote controls) in the home at the same time as It allows an easy handling to be a widely used device and known.

Another example of a system according to the invention is characterized in that the menu is generated by an embedded computer in the system header. This allows the implementation of various types of menus as well as their storage and the creation of a database to which the Username.

Another example of a system according to the invention is characterized in that the header computer that generates the menu It also controls all the devices connected to the system. This allows to provide the intelligence system for control and service generation

Finally another example of system according to invention is characterized in that the header computer It has interfaces for connections with external networks (Internet, GSM, Basic Telephony ...). This allows users to access services provided by operators in external networks (Cable, ADSL ...).

For a better understanding of the invention, describes by way of non-limiting example a system of communications, based on the drawings below list.

Figure 1: Figure 1 shows a general scheme of the system of the invention.

Figure 2: Figure 2 shows a scheme of Constitution of the Control Team (Multimedia Home Control -M.H.C.-).

Figure 3: Figure 1 shows a scheme of constitution of the Communications Center (Manager of Integral Communications -G.I.C.-).

Figure 4: Figure 4 shows a general scheme of constitution of the Datavoz modulator.

Figure 5: Figure 5 shows a general scheme of constitution of the User Terminal equipment.

Figure 6: Figure 6 shows a general scheme of the RTC adapter circuit.

Figure 7: Figure 7 shows a Device of Electronic goal.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the system of the invention is constituted by a Central of Communications 1 (called Integral Communications Manager; (G.I.C.), a Control Team 2 (called Multimedia Home Control; M.H.C.), a Signal Processing Unit 6, which form the header 42 of the communications system, several User Terminals 3. All of them are linked by connection elements (connectors) 4 via cables 41 to the network of MATV / SMATV 5.

The communication system is configured as way information is exchanged between the various elements that make up the system.

Control Team 2 generates a menu of information on an 8 Mhz television channel in the UHF band which is transmitted to users through coaxial cable 41 of the MATV / SMAT 5 network. This television channel is received in the 60 televisions of users connected to the MATV / SMAT 5 network via the connection elements 9 of the user terminal 3.

Via the telephone keypad 8 connected to the connection elements 9 of the user terminal 3 are generated the menu icon selection signals presented in the TV 8. These signals are sent by the user terminal 3 to Control Team 2 through communications center 1. In this way any user (in an individual installation) or Any authorized user in a community facility can monitor the system as well as modify its parameters and / or select the desired services without more devices than the TV 60 and telephone 8.

The signal processing unit 6 is a known unit and is constituted, for example by amplifiers, Converters, Processors, Transmodulators ... etc. This unit of signal processing 6 adapts television and / or radio channels received for distribution to users through the network of MATV / SMAT 5. For example, Control Equipment 2 generates a menu of parameter selection and transmits it to TVs 60 of the users so that once viewed by the user it can using the keypad of your phone 8 modify the parameters current of the signal handling unit 6. For example You can modify the tuning of a particular channel, the voltage of output, audio and video levels ... etc.

The system according to the invention is configured as way that makes communication connections between the Terminal communications center 51 on one side and user terminals 3 on the other hand, it also makes communication connections between two or more user terminals 3 and / or other units of the system (for example alarm sensors, storage memories of data ... etc.).

Within the communication connections of the system analog and / or digital data are transmitted.

The control team 2 finds itself connected to communication center 1 and the various devices that configure the MATV / SMATV treatment unit through elements 7 via a connection bus 71. The user terminal 3 is connected to a telephone terminal 8, a another communication system, in particular to a telephone network Switched through connections 9 via cables 91 and at least a television receiver 60 and / or radio 61.

The Control 2 team has interfaces of connection 72 to external networks allowing users to connect to said networks directly (GSM, GPRS, Internet ...) and to operators distribute their services to various users of the system (Cable, ADSL, LMDS, SAT).

Figure 2 shows an example diagram of Control Team 2 blocks (Multimedia Home Control -M.H.C.-).

As you can see, this team is consisting of a Computer (21) an RGB-PAL Converter 22, a Modulator 23, a Converter 24 and a Power Supply 25.

The Embedded Computer (21) is basically composed from two different parts: Core and Base.

The Core is a compatible "mother" board With the PC standard, designed to serve as a block of embedded application development. It has all the components necessary to operate with Linux, DOS operating systems, VxWorks, Windows CE or Windows 98 / NT.

The Base is a PC / 104 + standard. It contains a PC / 104 + expansion connector which opens the operating range of possible standard peripherals. It contains a bus controller of cards and a series of slots so a PCMCIA card can be inserted into them so that the capacity can be extended of the system, such as hard drives, modems (RTB, ADSL CABLE, LMDS, SAT ...) communications Bluethoot, Wireless Lan.

Computer 21 communicates with the central 1 communications via the RS485 bus to change in frames training using the "slave master" protocol information exchange generates a series of graphic screens which constitute the menu that will later be transported in a television channel up to 60 users TVs to via cable 41 of the MATV / SMATV Network 5.

Also this connection allows the sending of SMS, configure the communication system ... etc.

On the other hand it has I2C connections, Ports RS232, RS485 series, RGB output.

Embedded Computer 21 allows you to perform system control processes as well as direct connections of system users with each other and with external networks through different interfaces RS232, RS485, RS422, MODEM, MODEM, GSM, ETHERNET, USB, IRD, 2IC and all possibilities through the PCMCIA expanders, such as AN, Bluethooth ...

The RGB Converter — PAL 23 is an encoder of RBG to NTSC / PAL signal that receives the screens generated on the PC in RGB format and converts them to the PAL standard. Once coded in PAL the signals are introduced to a modulator 23 that modulates them along with the audio to an intermediate frequency TV channel (38.5 Mhz) later the double conversion converter 24 places them on the selected UHF television channel.

Figure 3 shows an example of a diagram of Communications Center blocks 1. As well you can observe Communication Center 1 is constituted by a Base Datavoz 11, a Modem Datavoz 12, a Control Manager 13, a Bus 485 14 interface and an RS 232 Bus 15 interface. It also has of connection elements 4 for connection to the MATV / SMATV 5 Network, connection elements 7 for connection with Control Equipment 2 and the various teams that configure the treatment unit of signal 6 and connection elements 10 to connect equipment general computer data entry and exit.

The Base Datavoz 11 is constituted by a microprocessor, adapted for example to the communications standard DECT and a memory device that stores the software Microprocessor management.

The Modem Datavoz 12, as you can see in figure 4 it is constituted by a collector of input-output 16, a band pass filter 17 of input and an output band pass filter 18 constituting the stage device input-output Through a switching circuit 19 the input and output signals are separated exit.

For the input signal, Data Modem 12 It has a first Mixer 26 circuit whose mission is to convert the input signal at a first intermediate frequency (110 MHz) and whose output is introduced in a stage of 1st FI composed of a amplifier 27 and a SAW filter 28, a second mixer circuit 29 converts the signal to a 2nd IF (9.96 MHz), then the signal is introduced in a 2nd IF stage consisting of two band pass filters 30 and 31 and amplifiers 32 and 33.

Subsequently the signal is introduced in a Quadrature demodulator 34 from which data is extracted in GFSK (Gaucian Frequency Shiftling Keying) for shipment to the Base Datavoz 11. Conversion mixing signals are generated by two local oscillators 35 and 36 controlled by circuits PLL 37 and 38.

The output signal is generated from the data from the Datavoz Database in 11 GFSK. The signal is FM modulated and inserted into an output Mixer 39 and subsequently amplified in an output amplifier 40 and a through circuit breaker 19 sent at the output.

The Control Manager 13 is constituted by a microprocessor and a memory device that stores the microprocessor management software. Said processor is the Responsible for managing RS 2332 and 485 communication buses.

Figure 5 shows the block diagram of User Terminal 3 as you can see is constituted for a Data Modem 12, a Datavoz Terminal 44 and an RTC Adapter 45. It also has connections 9 to Telephone Terminal 8 and the Switched Telephone Network and 4 connections to the MATV / SMATV Network 5.

The Datavoz Terminal 44 is constituted by a dedicated microprocessor, to which hardware has been added necessary for the execution of the physical layer for example of DECT standard.

Said Data Speaker Terminal 44 manages the connections between User Terminal 3 and Communications Center 2 and performs the control of the RTC Adapter 45 and Data Modem 12 for to carry out the functions of the User Terminals 3 such as holding calls, opening the electronic goal, sending commands from the telephone 8 keypad to PC 21 via communications unit 1 and configure the goal electronics.

The RTC 45 Adapter Circuit is constituted As can be seen in Figure 6 by a DAA circuit 46, one SLIC 47 circuit, one DTMF Detector 48 two sets of Relays 49 and an Oscillator 50. Said Adapter 45 connects the element of Connection 9 to the Switched Telephone Network with the Datavoz Terminal 44.

The MATV / SMATV 5 Network connects to said Terminal 44 via Data Modem 12. The mission of the RTC Adapter 45 is the one to route, towards the telephone of the user 8, the different calls that could be produced by the telephone line conventional as per the internal line provided by the modem Dataphone 12 via coaxial cable 41 (see figure 1). Their possibilities are to route internal or external calls, hold any type of call, enter DTMF tones to select the function to be performed such as the call type selection (internal or external), switch to waiting, opening of the electronic goal and sending datagrams

The DAA 46 circuit is responsible for introducing DTMF tones from the Datavoz Terminal 44 on the line conventional telephone and extract the DTMF tones sent by the user from your phone, through the phone line, to Terminal Datavoz 44. This device will also be used for the call hold function since DAA 46 will remain off-hook when an external call is in progress, a Internal that is decided to attend. The basic lines that control this circuit are EN_HOOK that performs the pick-up function and DET_RING that informs of possible calls coming from the network commuted

The RTC 45 Adapter also incorporates a circuit SLIC 47 whose function is to simulate a telephone line to which the phone is connected when an internal call is received by the coaxial cable. This device will generate the necessary RING signal so that the phone can ring, as well as the line voltage that It will allow the phone to work. The most control lines important that control the SLIC are DET_HOOK, used for the detection of the user's telephone pick-up, and EN_RING used to enable the transmission of a ring signal to the User Phone

Another circuit that is inserted into the Adapter RTC 45 is a DTMF 48 Tone Detector that detects tones entered by the user through the Switched Telephone Network when the call is outside or the tones introduced by the user through the SLIC 47 Circuit when it comes to a internal call The information detected will be entered in the Data Voice 44 terminal for analysis allowing the user use the keypad of your phone 8 to route calls, hold, put a call on hold, open the goal electronic or send a command to the treatment unit of signal 6.

Figure 7 shows a variant of the Terminal User 3. This variant constitutes the Goal Device Electronics 51. The Electronic Goal Device 51 incorporates a Datavoz Modem 12, a Datavoz Terminal 44, a Keyboard 52 for data entry, an LCD 53 for message display, a Speaker 54, a Microphone 55 and a Portal Opening Device 56.

The Electronic Goal Device 51 manages the communication and the opening of the goal.

In summary, the system according to the invention is configured in a way that allows interconnection between all elements (for example 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 51, 60, 61 ... etc.) of the bidirectional system, also allows management Complete communication of all system elements. In particular the system allows the administration of rights of use.

It also allows the connection of all kinds of terminals integrated into the system through the terminal user or other type of terminal.

The connection of terminals to the antenna cable (in particular to the coaxial cable) can be done through any channel (RF, Coaxial, pair cable, etc.), since the user terminal or system terminal can have the necessary interfaces.

Finally, the system according to the invention has of the possibility of connecting with public networks, both from system terminals as the manager if necessary.

Reference List

one

Communications Center (Manager of Integral Communications; G.I.C.)

2

Equipment Control (Multimedia Home M.H.C.)

3

User terminal

4

Connection elements (connector)

5

Cable antenna, MATV / SMATV network

6

Unity signal processing, header

7

Interfaces

8

Phone

9

Connection element

10

SR232 interface

eleven

Base Data spokesman

12

Modem Data spokesman

13

Control Manager

14

Interface Bus 485

fifteen

RS 232 Bus Interface

16

Coupler entrance exit

17

Input band pass filter

18

Output band pass filter

19

Switching circuit

twenty

Graphic Terminal

twenty-one

PC embedded

22

Modulated

2. 3

Converter RGB-PAL

24

Converter

25

Power supply.

26

First Mixer circuit

27

Amplifier

28

SAW filter

29

Mixer.

30

Band Pass Filter.

31

Band Pass Filter.

32

Amplifier

33

Amplifier.

3. 4

Quadrature demodulator.

35

Local Oscillator

36

Local Oscillator

37

PLL

38

PLL

39

Output Mixer

40

Output amplifier

41

Cable coaxial

42

System header communications

43

44

Dataphone terminal

Four. Five

RTC adapter

46

DAA circuit

47

SLIC circuit

48

DTMF detector

49

Relay set

fifty

Oscillator

51

Electronic goal device, Central Communication Terminal

52

Keyboard

53

LCD

54

Speaker

55

Microphone

56

Opening device portal

57

Up-converter

60

Television

61

Radio

71

Bus of connections

91

Cables

Claims (7)

1. Communications system, in particular a system for receiving, processing and distributing signals, with at least one Communications Center (1), a Control Team (2), a Signal Processing Unit (6), which they form the head (42) of the system, a distribution network (5) and user terminals (3) characterized in that the communications system is configured so that an interactive menu of services and / or system configuration is presented in a graphic terminal (20). 2. Communications system according to claim 1 characterized in that the graphic terminal is constituted by a television screen (60) of any user. 3. Communications system according to previous claims characterized in that the menu is presented on the screen of the user television (60) through a television channel. 4. Communications system according to previous claims characterized in that the selection of the various menu options are selected from a telephone keypad (8) of any authorized user. 5. Communications system according to claim 1 characterized in that the menu is generated by a computer (21) embedded in the header (42) of the communications system. 6. Communications system according to claim 5 characterized in that the computer (21) embedded in the header (42) that generates the menu also controls all the devices connected to the communications system. 7. Communications system according to claim 5 characterized in that the computer (21) embedded in the header (42) has interfaces (72) for connections with external networks (Internet, GSM, ...).