JP2000138566A - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a broadcast receiver which can automatically switch the present receiving frequency to another frequency of the same broadcasting station without requiring plural receiving sections nor such a multiple-data demodulation circuit as the RDS used in the Europe. SOLUTION: A broadcast receiver is provided with a receiving section 2 which receives radio or television broadcasting and, at the same time, outputs the identification signal corresponding to the received broadcasting, such as the receiving frequency, etc., a GPS receiver 8 which detects the present location, a storing means 10 which stores the service area data of each broadcasting station corresponding to the identification signal and the name data of broadcasting stations, and an arithmetic section 9 which discriminates whether the present location is in the service area of the broadcasting station corresponding to the currently receiving signal by comparing the service area data read out from the storing means 10 with the present location data from the GPS receiver 8. When the receiver discriminates that the present location is in the service area and the sensitivity of reception for the currently receiving broadcasting station drops, the receiver switches the present receiving frequency to another frequency of the same station. It is also possible to select an affiliated broadcasting station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio or television set having a function of automatically switching the same broadcasting station or affiliated broadcasting stations to continuously listen to or listen to a currently listened or viewed program. The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an on-vehicle broadcast receiving apparatus, a receiving condition changes as a vehicle moves over a wide range, and a frequency at which a user can view the broadcast changes every moment. In such an environment, in order to allow the user to continuously view the program currently being listened to, a conventional in-vehicle broadcast receiving apparatus uses a plurality of broadcast receivers so that the receiver can receive signals at a frequency different from that of the currently receiving broadcast station. A receiving unit is provided to analyze and compare both broadcast contents by A / D conversion or the like to determine whether the same contents are broadcast on another frequency. If the reception state is poor, the reception state is good. The frequency was selected and received. Further, there is an RDS function in Europe in which broadcast content data is multiplexed on broadcast radio waves and the reception frequency is switched based on the information.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, in order to simultaneously receive another frequency,
Since it is necessary to provide a plurality of receiving units, there is a problem that a large circuit space is required and it is difficult to reduce the size of the device. In addition, the RDS also requires a circuit for demodulating multiplexed data, and there is a limit in reducing the size of the device.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and does not require a plurality of receiving units and does not require a multiplexed data demodulation circuit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of automatically switching.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a broadcast station which stores service area data and broadcast station name data of each broadcast station and whose current position corresponds to a current reception frequency. If it is determined that the receiving station is within the service area of the same broadcasting station as the name and if it is within the service area and the receiving sensitivity of the currently receiving broadcasting station is reduced, Is automatically switched to another frequency of the series or another frequency of the series, so that even if the receiving sensitivity is lowered and the viewing condition is deteriorated, the automatic operation is performed without any special operation. It is possible to continuously select and watch the same broadcasting station or affiliated broadcasting station.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a receiving means for receiving a radio wave from a broadcasting station and outputting an identification signal corresponding to a received broadcast such as a receiving frequency, and the receiving means. Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the broadcasting station, storing means for storing service area data and broadcasting station name data of each broadcasting station corresponding to the identification signal, service area data read from the storing means and the position detecting means Means for comparing whether the current position is within the service area of the same broadcast station as the name of the broadcast station corresponding to the current reception frequency.あ り In the rear,
A broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by switching to another alternative frequency of the same broadcasting station when it is determined that the receiving sensitivity of the currently receiving broadcasting station is reduced. Even if the condition deteriorates, it is possible to automatically select another frequency of the same broadcasting station and continue watching without any special operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving means for receiving an electric wave from a broadcasting station and outputting an identification signal corresponding to a received broadcast such as a reception frequency, and a current position of the receiving means. Position detection means for detecting, storage means for storing service area data and broadcast station name data of each broadcasting station corresponding to the identification signal, service area data read from the storage means and output from the position detection means Means for comparing with the current position data to determine whether the current position is within the service area of the same broadcast station as the broadcast station name corresponding to the current reception frequency, wherein the current position is the service area of the broadcast station. The broadcast receiving device is characterized by switching to another alternative frequency of the same broadcasting station when it is determined that the frequency has deviated from the broadcasting station. Even if the worse, and the like without the need for special handling what, can continue to watch automatically select a different frequency of the same broadcasting stations.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of alternative frequency candidates, the broadcast frequency whose current position is closest to the location of the transmitting antenna is selected. The broadcast receiving apparatus described above can select a broadcast station with a good reception state preferentially.

In the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention, when there are a plurality of alternative frequency candidates, the distance relationship between the transmitting antenna location and the current position is calculated, and the receiving sensitivity is the highest with respect to the service area radius. 3. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a broadcast frequency considered to be high is selected, and a broadcast station having a good reception state can be preferentially selected.

[0010] The invention according to claim 5 of the present invention stores data indicating an affiliated station in addition to a broadcast station name, and switches to the affiliated station when it is determined that the same broadcast station does not exist. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the receiving station automatically receives the same broadcasting station without requiring any special operation even when the viewing condition deteriorates due to a decrease in receiving sensitivity. Can continue to select and watch another frequency or series of broadcast stations.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an on-vehicle radio receiver as an embodiment of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a radio antenna,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a PLL synthesizer receiving unit (hereinafter, referred to as a receiving unit), which includes a tuner, a demodulation circuit, a power amplifier, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a speaker, and reference numeral 4 denotes a radio control unit for controlling the receiving unit 2, which is composed of a microcomputer or the like. Reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit, and 6 denotes an operation unit equipped with various operation buttons such as preset buttons. When an operation button of the operation unit 6 is operated, a control signal is transmitted from the radio control unit 4 to the reception unit 2 and the display unit. 5 to control the reception frequency, display, and the like. 7 is a G that receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites.
PS antenna, 8 is GP received by GPS antenna 7
A GPS receiver that calculates the current position of the vehicle based on the S signal and outputs the current position data. The GPS receiver is composed of a digital signal processing circuit and the like. Etc. can be output. Reference numeral 9 denotes an arithmetic unit including a microcomputer and the like. Reference numeral 10 denotes data relating to a plurality of broadcast stations, that is, frequency data of each broadcast station, position (longitude, longitude) data of the location of the transmitting antenna of each broadcast station, and data of each broadcast station. The storage unit stores a broadcast station table in which radius data of a service area, station name data of each broadcast station, and the like are stored.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the broadcast station table. This broadcast station table contains data of a plurality of broadcast stations (frequency number f, latitude data x at the location of the transmitting antenna,
Longitude data y, service area radius data r, and broadcast station name N) are stored in ascending order of frequency number. Even if the order of storage of the broadcast station table is in the order of the largest frequency number, and regardless of the magnitude of the frequency number,
It may be random. The operation unit 9 can determine the name of the currently receiving broadcast station based on the current reception frequency transferred from the reception unit 2 and the current position data output from the GPS reception device 8.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an operation flow of searching for the same broadcast station started by interruption every predetermined time in the arithmetic unit 9. It is assumed that the receiving unit 2 is currently receiving a broadcast station having the frequency number f1. The broadcast station name corresponding to the frequency f1 is specified as follows. First, in step A, referring to the broadcast station table, the first broadcast station data of the plurality of broadcast station data of the frequency f1 in the broadcast station name table, that is, the broadcast station data (f1, x1, y1, r1, N
Read 1). Next, in step B, it is determined whether the frequency of the read broadcast station data is the frequency f1. Since the frequency of the broadcast station data read in step A is f1, it is determined yes in step B. Next, in step C, the frequency f1 is obtained from the current position data (latitude data xp, longitude data yp) read from the GPS receiver 8 and the latitude data x1 and y1 of the data read from the broadcast station table. Calculate the distance between the transmitting antenna and its location. Next, in step D, the magnitude of the calculated distance and the radius r1 of the service area of the broadcast station of the frequency f1 is determined. That is, the current position is the frequency f1
Is determined within the service area of the broadcasting station. If the determination is yes in step D, the broadcast station name of frequency f1 is specified as N1 in step G. on the other hand,
If it is determined NO in step D, the process proceeds to step E, where the second broadcast station data of f1 (f1, x2, y
2, r2, N2) is read from the broadcast station table, and the process returns to step B to determine whether or not the mobile station is in the service area in the same procedure as the first broadcast station data. The same operation is repeated until the broadcast station name can be specified. If the frequency read in step E is determined to be no in step B, the broadcast station is not specified (step F).

Next, an operation for searching for a broadcast station having the same frequency as the frequency currently being received will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step H, the head data of the broadcast station table is read. In step I, it is determined whether or not the station name N is the same as the currently received station name N1. If yes in step I, that is, if the station name is the same,
The distance between the current position data (latitude data xp, longitude data yp) read from the PS receiver 8 and the transmission antenna location from the longitude and latitude data of the data read from the broadcast station table. Is calculated. Next, in step K, it is determined whether or not the current location is within the service area. If the determination is yes in step K, the frequency is registered in the alternative frequency list in step M. If it is determined NO in step I or J, the process proceeds to step L, and it is determined whether the reading from the broadcast station table is completed. If the reading has not been completed, the next data is read in step N, and the process returns to step I to repeat the comparison. When the comparison is completed from the beginning to the end of the broadcast station table, a frequency that can be viewed at the current position among the frequencies of the same broadcast station as the currently received frequency is selected in the alternative frequency list.

The switching of the receiving frequency is performed by detecting the receiving sensitivity of the frequency currently being received based on the signal from the receiving unit 2 and automatically switching the receiving sensitivity when the receiving sensitivity is reduced. Further, the switching may be performed not based on the reception sensitivity but based on the fact that the frequency being received is no longer within the service area.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the reception status of the currently received broadcast becomes worse,
It is possible to automatically switch to a broadcasting station of the same broadcast but a different frequency without any special operation. When a plurality of frequencies are listed as an alternative frequency list, as a method for narrowing down candidates from among them, it is possible to select a broadcast station closest to the location of the transmitting antenna. Further, as another method,
It is also possible to divide the distance between the position of the transmitting antenna and the current location by the radius of the service area and select a broadcasting station having the smallest ratio (that is, the station having the strongest electric field strength). The alternative broadcasting stations selected in this way are stored in the order in which they are closer to their own vehicle or in order of increasing electric field strength.

In the above embodiment, the GPS receiver is used to detect the current position.
Not only the S receiving device but also various current position detecting devices used for a navigation device or the like may be used. Further, in the above embodiment, the reception frequency number output from the radio control unit 4 is used as an identification signal for referencing the broadcast station table, but the identification frequency is set in the variable frequency divider of the PLL of the reception unit 2. A frequency division ratio (AM is 9 kHz) may be used as an identification signal.
The order may be set to 2, 3, 4,... for each z and FM of 0.1 MHz, and the order may be referred to the broadcast station table as an identification signal. Alternatively, broadcast station series data (so-called network data) may be stored in the broadcast station table, and if the same broadcast station is not searched, the frequency may be switched based on the network data.

Although the above embodiment has been described by taking a radio receiving apparatus as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to an apparatus for receiving a television broadcast. In this case, 1 in FIG. 1 is an antenna for a television, 2 is a receiving unit for receiving a television broadcast, 4 is a television control unit, and a C that outputs a video in addition to the 3 speakers.
RT or liquid crystal display is required. FIG.
Is easier to understand if the frequency number f of the channel number is the channel number ch. Furthermore, when both the radio receiving device and the television receiving device are provided, other configurations can be shared except for the antenna 1 and the receiving unit 2 in FIG.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the reception status of the currently received broadcast is getting worse, the same broadcast but different frequency is used without any special operation. It is possible to automatically switch to the affiliated broadcasting station. In addition, since the present invention can be realized by software, there is no need to change hardware such as adding components.
This has the effect of requiring less space on the printed circuit board.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of a broadcast station table according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation for specifying a broadcast station name corresponding to a frequency currently being received in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for searching for a frequency broadcasting the same broadcasting station as the currently receiving broadcasting station in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of an alternative frequency list which is a result searched according to the flow of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radio antenna 2 PLL synthesizer reception part 3 Speaker 4 Radio control part 5 Display device 6 Operation part 7 GPS antenna 8 GPS communication device 9 Operation part 10 Storage part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. While receiving radio waves from a broadcasting station,
Receiving means for outputting an identification signal corresponding to a reception broadcast such as a reception frequency; position detection means for detecting a current position of the reception means; service area data and broadcast station name data of each broadcasting station corresponding to the identification signal And a service station that compares the service area data read from the storage unit with the current position data output from the position detection unit, and determines that the current position is the same as the broadcast station name corresponding to the current reception frequency. Means for determining whether or not the service area is within the service area, and when it is determined that the current position is within the service area, and the reception sensitivity of the currently receiving broadcast station is reduced, the same is performed. A broadcast receiving apparatus for switching to another alternative frequency of a broadcast station. 2. While receiving radio waves from a broadcasting station,
Receiving means for outputting an identification signal corresponding to a reception broadcast such as a reception frequency; position detection means for detecting a current position of the reception means; service area data and broadcast station name data of each broadcasting station corresponding to the identification signal And a service station that compares the service area data read from the storage unit with the current position data output from the position detection unit, and determines that the current position is the same as the broadcast station name corresponding to the current reception frequency. Means for determining whether or not the broadcast station is within the service area of the broadcast station, and when it is determined that the current position is out of the service area of the broadcast station, switching to another alternative frequency of the same broadcast station is performed. apparatus. 3. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when there are a plurality of alternative frequency candidates, a broadcast frequency whose current position is closest to the location of the transmitting antenna is selected. 4. When there are a plurality of alternative frequency candidates, a distance relationship between the transmitting antenna location and the current position is calculated, and a broadcasting frequency which is considered to have the highest receiving sensitivity with respect to the service area radius is selected. The broadcast receiving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein data indicating an affiliated station is stored in addition to the broadcast station name, and when it is determined that the same broadcast station does not exist, switching to the affiliated station is performed. The broadcast receiving device according to the above.