JP2002094894A - Superimposing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for allowing a user to superimpose information on a home television. SOLUTION: This superimposing unit is provided with an input terminal for receiving television broadcast, a signal superimposing function for superimposing another information on the input signal, and an output terminal for displaying the superimposed signal on a television screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a superimpose unit for displaying a normal broadcast on a television screen and superimposing and displaying other information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional superimposition, a broadcasting station almost always broadcasts an election bulletin or earthquake information as a telop in its own program.

[0003]

In the case of the conventional superimposition, a broadcast station broadcasts all over the country (or the range of the broadcast radio wave) so as to respond to local topics and individual needs in detail. I couldn't do that. Television broadcasting has become a part of family life. Even if there is no particular program to watch, it may be attached as background or background music. Some people are watching the television broadcast and thinking about something else, while others are looking at the screen for a short time when the conversation breaks while they are in a family. In this way, despite watching only a part of the time of the television broadcast, it was wasteful in terms of energy and personal time to use the television somehow.

[0004]

A superimpose unit according to the present invention comprises, firstly, an input terminal for receiving a television broadcast and a signal superimposing function for superimposing another information on the input signal. And an output terminal for displaying the superimposed signal on a television screen, second, that the input terminal is a radio broadcast receiving antenna in addition to the first feature, third, Fourth, in addition to the first feature, the input terminal is connected to a cable for receiving cable television broadcast, and fourth, in addition to the first feature, the input terminal is connected to a video output terminal of a television receiver. Fifthly, the fact that a signal to be superimposed in addition to any one of the first to fourth characteristics is read from a storage medium incorporated in the unit, sixthly, the first to fifth. Either Seventh, the signal to be superimposed is obtained by reading the output signal from the personal computer and converting the signal in addition to the features of the first to fifth aspects. Eighth, in addition to any of the first to seventh characteristics, the received broadcast signal is a signal transmitted directly to the superimpose unit from a remote location through a communication line or a personal computer communication line. Ninth, that a signal to be superimposed is displayed on the front in the background, ninth, that in addition to any of the first to eighth features, that sound is superimposed in addition to the television screen, tenth, In addition to any of the first to seventh or ninth features, the broadcast screen is interrupted, superimposition information is output to the screen during this interruption period, and after the superimposition information is output, the broadcast screen is interrupted again. Outputting the contents after, the eleventh, said overlay information from the first addition to the tenth one of the features of a English learning software,
Twelfthly, in addition to any one of the first to eleventh features, the unit must be operated with a personal key.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an input terminal for receiving a television broadcast and a signal superimposing function for superimposing another information on the input signal are provided, and an output terminal for displaying the superimposed signal on a television screen. In the case of having the first feature of the present invention, it is possible to flow a desired superimposed signal like a telop in each home, each workplace, and each store equipped with the television receiver. As a specific method of superimposing, it can be realized by capacitively coupling the superimposed information at the stage when the television broadcast is converted into a video signal, or switching between the television broadcast and the superimposed signal by an analog switch or a transistor switch every time. Output to the screen. In the case where the input terminal has a second characteristic that is an antenna for receiving a radio broadcast in addition to the first characteristic, the case where the input terminal has a third characteristic that is connected to a cable for receiving a cable television broadcast When the input terminal is connected to a video output terminal provided in a television receiver, the radio terminal directly receives a radio broadcast, or receives a cable television broadcast directly, or outputs a video output signal. It can be directly received and used as a superimposition source signal. In the case where the signal to be superimposed has the fifth characteristic read from the storage medium incorporated in the unit in addition to any one of the first to fourth characteristics, the semiconductor memory, the CD-ROM, the DVD, the hard disk, Video signals and audio signals stored in a flash memory, FRAM, or the like can be displayed on a television screen as superimposed signals. In the case where the signal to be superimposed in addition to any one of the first to fifth features has the sixth feature of being obtained by reading an output signal from a personal computer and converting the signal, the personal computer Converts the character information, image information or audio code stored in to a video signal of the television and transmits it to the television receiver. In addition to any one of the first to fifth features, the signal to be superimposed is a signal transmitted directly to the superimpose unit from a remote place via a telephone line or a personal computer communication line. In the case where the seventh feature is provided, the data and the command signal can be transmitted from a remote place to a unit using a communication line so that the unit can be superimposed. It is also possible to control a plurality of units from one command device.
Here, a telephone line or a communication line for a personal computer includes a communication system using radio waves. Mobile phones and PHS are included. The mobile phone may be analog data or digital data. The communication frequency band may be 800 MHz or giga or more. Communication may be performed by compressing a signal into an audio signal band of a telephone. If a new communication standard such as IMT-2000 is established, the usable band of the standard may be fully used.
In addition to any one of the first to seventh features, in the case of having the eighth feature, in which a signal to be superimposed is displayed on the front with the received broadcast as a background, it corresponds to the superimposed signal. Pixels can be realized by switching so that only a superimposed signal is carried as a video signal without using a broadcast signal. When text information is superimposed, a signal corresponding to a saturation level such as white or black is superimposed without switching, and clipping is performed. As a result, text information can be displayed like a telop. In the case of having a ninth feature in which sound is superimposed on the television screen in addition to any one of the first to eighth features, output can be performed by using a signal corresponding to the audio signal of the television receiver. . In addition to any of the first to seventh or ninth features, the broadcast screen is interrupted, superimposition information is output to the screen during this interruption period, and after the superimposition information is output, the content after the interruption of the broadcast screen again Is provided, the superimposed signal can be displayed on the screen without any processing on the broadcast itself. Audio is also superimposed without being processed into a broadcast. This operation is considered to be the same as the operation of switching the television program by the viewer. In other words, this is equivalent to occasionally switching and watching the back program while watching one program. In the case where the superimposed information has a tenth first feature characterized by being English conversation learning software in addition to any one of the first to tenth features, an English word or a short sentence is transmitted between general broadcasts. You can learn English conversation by watching. In addition to any of the first to eleventh features, if the unit is provided with a twelfth feature, which must be operated with a personal key, a supermarket viewed between television broadcasts It becomes clear that the imposed image is for personal use. If you do not have the key, you cannot operate the unit, so you must operate it at your own discretion. To operate the unit with the key, use a document to declare that it is completely private use, and be sure to display a screen confirming personal use every time you operate the key That will make it more certain.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This is an example in which a television broadcast is received by a superimpose unit 1 and superimposed information contained in the unit itself is superimposed and projected on a television screen 2. It is output from the superimpose unit 1 to the television screen via the superimposed signal output cable 3. The television broadcast is received by the antenna 4. Superimposed signal is CD built into the unit
-English words stored in ROM. Each time the viewer presses a remote control button (not shown) for unit operation, the spelling of the word is displayed in the form of a banner in the upper quarter area of the TV screen, and the word is pronounced simultaneously by voice. Subsequently, the meaning of the word is displayed in the area, and the meaning is read out at the same time. As you press the buttons, different words appear one after the other in this manner. Various display modes can be selected, such as alphabetical order, the most frequently used in English newspapers, or completely random extraction. Conversely, the display of English words and their meanings is displayed from the meaning, and then the display is switched to English words. Instead of pressing the button manually, it can be set to be displayed automatically at regular intervals. In another example, we developed a quiz format in which English words are displayed and their meaning is selected from the five displayed words and the answer is indicated by a button on the remote control. The personal name can be registered before starting the quiz so that the correct answer rate can be totaled for each individual. There are short English conversation quizzes instead of English words. We have also developed superimpose software that learns economic terms in a quiz format. Normally, when watching a TV broadcast and getting tired of the TV a little, it is easy to enjoy this superimpose software with one button and return to the TV broadcast immediately. We have also developed software that superimposes and reproduces the player directory of the team playing the game on a DVD while watching the baseball broadcast. You can enjoy detailed information of players at the same time as broadcasting baseball.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that the superimposition information to the superimpose unit 1 is taken in from the personal computer 5. The MPEG2 format data stored on the hard disk of the personal computer is transmitted to the unit via the digital cable 6. The broadcast is received by the antenna 4. The video signal superimposed on the television broadcast is displayed on the television screen 2. The method of superimposition here will be described in detail. TV broadcast and MPEG2 format signals are switched and displayed in a time-division manner. There are various cases for the time division time. Switching from one field at a time of 1/60 second causes both of them to be blurred from the human eyes. On the other hand, if it is every 1 second or every 10 seconds, the operation is equivalent to switching the channel at high speed by the viewer himself.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a case where a television broadcast is received by an antenna 4 provided in the superimpose unit 1 and a superimposed signal input from a telephone line 8 by a modem unit 7 is transmitted to a digital cable 6.
This is an example in which the unit receives the data via the. The digital cable widely includes the RS232 standard, USB, and parallel signals. Strictly speaking, the output from the modem unit may not be a digital signal, but in this specification, the connection cable from the modem to the personal computer is also called digital. The superimposed signal is transmitted from a remote place connected by a telephone line. Since it is transmitted via telephone line, it can be transmitted from anywhere in the world. As for English conversation, if you select a course that memorizes the latest English affairs 10 times a day, you will be sent the latest English words and short English conversations over the telephone line every day. Since quizzes such as English word quizzes can be asked and answered by remote control, it can be managed at a remote workstation and awarded with excellence award for the month, etc. did.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The television broadcast is received by the antenna 4 of the device provided with the television screen 2, and the video signal is transmitted to the superimpose unit 1 via the video output cable 9. As the superimposed data, data stored inside the unit is used.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This is an example of a case where a TV receiver placed in a waiting room of an airport or a bullet train is used as a tool for distributing local advertisements and information to an unspecified small number of viewers. This is an example in which the superimpose unit of the present invention is connected to a TV broadcast receiver installed at an airport, and guides for hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops around the airport are played by telop. In some cases, an image is parsed instead of a telop. This superimposed information is directly displayed at each shop or store, for example, transmitted via a mobile phone. Airport users look at the TV screen tickers and if there is any information they like, call the phone specified at the airport with their own mobile phone at that moment and the contact information of the shop that is displaying the advertisement will be their own. It is designed to be entered into a mobile phone.

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This is an example of using superimposition while watching a video camera image taken in real time. This is an example in which a superimpose unit is inserted in the middle of a system for displaying information from a video camera on a receiver by wire or wirelessly, and the superimpose unit is inserted into this unit. It is used for the purpose of keeping the security guard checking the security surveillance camera. The employer who employs the observer displays the telop on the monitor screen at any time. This telop information is input to the unit using the route of the private LAN. If the watchman does not look seriously at the surveillance camera, he or she will miss this telop, so he can monitor with a sense of tension. It can be used not only for checking but also for assisting information such as playing a telop to notify that a call has been received. It is especially effective in a loud noise site. For on-site monitoring that is susceptible to weather, a local weather forecast can be displayed on the monitoring screen in a telop or inset screen. In addition, it is possible to display the presence / absence of a situation that the observer is worried about, for example, whether or not an e-mail to himself / herself has arrived, and the text when the e-mail has arrived. The unit captures the image of the surveillance camera as a still image with high definition, integrates a certain number of frames and reduces noise to increase sensitivity, and extracts only moving frames out of certain frames It has a function so that the observer can check the static screen or the like as a superimposed screen as needed.
One minute so that you can play back with the buffer function provided in the unit and reconfirm the situation that occurred immediately before, or store the image of the time you were watching the still image in the buffer and reconfirm it later A buffer capacity capable of storing the above image data is provided. In some cases, message content can be displayed on the screen as if by a short mail or post-it. In this case, the unit has a function of receiving and transmitting a mobile phone, and displays the mail content on the monitor screen in the same manner as displayed on the screen of the mobile phone. Watchmen can reply using the keyboard on the watch stand. In this case as well, the typed character is displayed on the monitoring screen so as to keep an eye on the monitoring. The background of the characters is made transparent to minimize the obstruction of the monitoring screen, and consideration is given to displaying the text other than the currently input text in a thin color so that the monitoring screen can be seen through. The superimpose screen may fade out when displayed for a certain period of time in the same way as the after dark, and only the monitoring screen may be provided. The faded-out superimpose information is made to come out with one button.

According to the superimpose unit of the present invention, if there is a moment when the television broadcast is slightly tired, the user can effectively spend time at that moment, for example, to memorize English words and get used to English conversation phrases. Watching it occasionally as supplementary data in baseball broadcasts or Olympic broadcasts will enhance the watching.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Sign]

1 is a superimpose unit, 2 is a television screen, 3 is a superimposed signal output cable, 4 is an antenna, 5 is a personal computer, 6 is a digital cable, 7 is a modem unit,
8 is a telephone line, and 9 is a video output cable.

Claims (12)

[Claims] An input terminal for receiving a television broadcast and a signal superimposing function for superimposing another information on the input signal, and an output terminal for displaying the superimposed signal on a television screen. Superimpose unit characterized by the following. 2. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein said input terminal is a radio broadcast receiving antenna. 3. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein said input terminal is connected to a cable for receiving a cable television broadcast. 4. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein said input terminal is connected to a video output terminal of a television receiver. 5. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein a signal to be superimposed is read from a storage medium incorporated in said unit. 6. A superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein a signal to be superimposed is obtained by reading an output signal from a personal computer and converting the signal. 7. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein the signal to be superimposed is a signal transmitted directly to the superimpose unit from a remote place via a telephone line or a communication line for a personal computer. Superimpose unit characterized by the fact that there is. 8. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein a signal to be superimposed is displayed on a front side with the received broadcast as a background. 9. A superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein a sound is superimposed on the television screen in addition to the television screen. 10. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast screen is interrupted, superimposition information is output to the screen during the interruption period, and the broadcast screen is output again after the superimposition information is output. A superimpose unit, which outputs the contents after the interruption of. 11. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein the superimposition information is English conversation learning software. 12. The superimpose unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit must be operated with a personal key.