JP2004282482A - Head end apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head end apparatus provided with a digital tuner having a mail notice function, converting a video and audio signal outputted from the digital tuner into an analog television broadcast signal, and distributing the broadcast signal to terminals and using the mail notice function of the tuner to prevent the video signal with a mail notice image superimposed thereon from being distributed to the terminals. <P>SOLUTION: The head end apparatus 10 is provided with a demodulator-modulator section 20 provided with a BS digital tuner 30 and a modulator 50 for generating an analog television broadcast signal from the demodulated video and audio signal demodulated by the tuner 30. Further, the tuner 30 includes the mail notice function for superimposing a mail notice image on the demodulated video signal when the tuner 30 creates a mail to a user on the basis of information distributed from a broadcasting station and the demodulator-modulator section 20 is provided with a control unit 60 for outputting a command to the tuner 30 to stop mail notice when the tuner 30 creates the mail. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention selects a digital television broadcast of a predetermined broadcast channel from a received signal input from a receiving antenna, demodulates a video and audio signal, and uses the demodulated video and audio signal to transmit an analog television broadcast signal for transmission. And a head-end device for generating the same on a transmission line of a CATV system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as television broadcasting, terrestrial broadcasting using a ground station, BS broadcasting using a broadcasting satellite (BS), CS broadcasting using a communication satellite (CS), and the like have been known. In a CATV system for retransmitting these television broadcasts, the headend device receives each broadcast radio wave and frequency-converts the received signal as it is, or individually converts the television broadcast signal included in the received signal. Thus, a plurality of television broadcast signals are stored in a frequency band that can be transmitted by a CATV system, and transmitted over a transmission line.
[0003]
In recent years, BS digital broadcasting has been started in BS broadcasting in addition to conventional BS analog broadcasting. Then, in the existing CATV system, if the received signal of the BS digital broadcast is to be transmitted to the transmission line as it is (or simply by frequency conversion) in the same manner as in the related art, the transmittable band in the CATV system is narrow. Other received signals such as BS analog broadcasting may not be able to be transmitted. Further, if the BS digital broadcast is transmitted as it is in the form of a signal received by a receiving antenna, a receiver dedicated to the BS digital broadcast is required when viewing the BS digital broadcast on the terminal side.
[0004]
In recent years, as a method of retransmitting such a BS digital broadcast together with other received signals in an existing CATV system, a head-end device uses a BS digital tuner capable of receiving the BS digital broadcast to transmit a predetermined broadcast channel. And demodulation of a BS digital broadcast, and further uses a modulator for analog TV broadcast signal generation to convert the demodulated video signal and audio signal into an analog TV broadcast signal of a predetermined transmission channel (NTSC in Japan). For example, a method has been considered in which a television broadcast signal of a system is generated and the generated analog television broadcast signal is transmitted to a terminal (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
That is, in this way, in the CATV system, the video and audio signals of the broadcast channel provided by the BS digital broadcast can be transmitted as an analog television broadcast signal in the same frequency band (VHF or UHF band) as the terrestrial broadcast. In addition, on the terminal side, BS digital broadcasting can be viewed using a general television receiver.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-247546 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in BS digital broadcasting, various information such as program information representing a broadcast program and download information for improving the function of a BS digital tuner are distributed separately from a television broadcast signal composed of video and audio signals. , The BS digital tuner generates a message to be notified to the user as a so-called mail based on the information, and superimposes the notification image of the mail on the demodulated video signal, thereby providing the receiver with a message. It reports that there is an e-mail.
[0008]
That is, for example, when receiving the download information distributed from the broadcasting station, the BS digital tuner determines whether the version of its operation program is the latest from the download information, and determines whether the version of the operation program is the latest. If it is not, it generates an e-mail to prompt the user to upgrade the operation program, and superimposes the notification image of the e-mail on the video signal to inform the user of the presence of the e-mail. Be notified.
[0009]
Therefore, when the user of the BS digital tuner receives the mail notification, the BS digital tuner operates the BS digital tuner to read out the mail, thereby being able to know various information such as version upgrade of the operation program.
However, when the BS digital tuner having such a mail report function is provided in the head end device of the above-mentioned CATV system, an analog television broadcast signal including a video signal on which a mail report image is superimposed is distributed to the terminal side. As a result, there is a problem that the subscriber who selects and watches the broadcast signal is uncomfortable.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and includes a digital tuner having a mail notification function, and converts a video and audio signal output from the digital tuner into an analog television broadcast signal and distributes the signal to a terminal. In a head end device for a system, an object is to prevent a video signal on which a notification image of a mail is superimposed from being delivered to a terminal by a mail notification function of a digital tuner.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The head end device according to claim 1, which has been made in order to achieve the object,
A tuning unit for selecting a digital television broadcast signal of a predetermined broadcast channel from a reception signal input from a reception antenna, and a demodulation for demodulating a video signal and an audio signal from the broadcast signal of the predetermined broadcast channel selected by the tuning unit A distribution information receiving unit that receives distribution information transmitted from a broadcasting station together with the digital television broadcast signal; a mail generation unit that generates a notification image of a mail representing a message to be notified to a recipient; A superimposing unit for superimposing the notification image generated by the mail generation unit on the video signal demodulated by the unit, an external input unit for inputting a read command of the mail from outside, and the mail generation unit An external output unit that outputs a notification signal indicating that the signal is being generated to the outside, and outputs a channel selection command of the broadcast signal of the predetermined broadcast channel to the channel selection unit, When the distribution information receiving unit receives the distribution information, the mail generation unit generates a notification image of a mail based on the distribution information, outputs the notification signal from the external output unit, and outputs the notification signal to the external input unit. When a read command is input, the control unit causes the mail generation unit to stop generating a notification image and output the notification signal from the external output unit. A digital tuner that outputs a video signal on which a notification image is superimposed and an audio signal that is demodulated by the demodulation unit,
A modulator for generating an analog television broadcast signal of a predetermined transmission channel from a video signal and an audio signal output from the digital tuner;
A control device connected to the digital tuner,
A head-end device for transmitting an analog television broadcast signal generated by the modulator to a transmission line of a CATV system,
The control device monitors a generation state of the mail by the mail generation unit based on an output state of the notification signal from the external output unit, and when the mail generation unit generates the mail, the external input unit A mail report canceling unit for outputting a read command of the mail is provided.
[0012]
As described above, the head end device of the present invention is provided with the digital tuner having the mail notification function, and the video and audio signals selected and demodulated by the digital tuner are converted into analog signals of a predetermined transmission channel by the modulator. The signal is converted into a television broadcast signal and output to the terminal.
[0013]
Then, when the mail generation unit generates the notification image of the mail on the digital tuner side, the mail notification stop unit of the control device detects that based on the notification signal from the external output unit of the digital tuner, and By outputting the read instruction of the mail to the external input unit, the control unit of the digital tuner is controlled to stop the generation of the notification image of the mail by the mail generation unit.
[0014]
Therefore, according to the head-end device of the present invention, the mail signal function of the digital tuner can prevent the video signal on which the notification image of the mail is superimposed from being distributed to the terminal side.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the head-end device for retransmitting BS digital broadcasts described in the section of the prior art, but also receives digital TV broadcasts from broadcast stations that distribute various information and receives analog TV broadcast signals. It can be applied to any head-end device that converts the data to a retransmitted data. In other words, a digital tuner (for example, a terrestrial digital broadcast tuner) that receives a digital television broadcast from a broadcasting station that distributes various information is provided with the same mail notification function as the above-described BS digital tuner. . When a digital tuner having this mail notification function is provided in the head-end device, there is a possibility that the video signal on which the notification image of the mail is superimposed may be delivered to the terminal side, but if the present invention is applied, This problem can be prevented.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire CATV system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the CATV system according to the present embodiment includes a VHF antenna 2 for receiving a broadcast wave from a ground station for VHF television broadcast (analog), and a broadcast wave from a ground station for UHF television broadcast (analog broadcast). A UHF antenna 4 for receiving, a CS antenna 6 for receiving a broadcast wave from a CS broadcasting communication satellite (CS), frequency-converting the received signal into a CS reception signal in a predetermined intermediate frequency band, and outputting the CS signal; A head-end device 10 including a BS antenna 8 for receiving a broadcast wave from a broadcast satellite (BS) for performing digital broadcast, frequency-converting the received signal into a BS reception signal in a predetermined intermediate frequency band, and outputting the signal; A transmission line (coaxial cable) L for transmitting a large number of television broadcast signals transmitted from the end device 10 to the terminal side, and the transmission line L provided on the transmission line L An amplifier 14 and 16 for amplifying the transmission signal (headend television signals sent from the 10, etc.), and is configured from the various transmission devices for branch or distribution (not shown).
[0017]
Here, in the head-end device 10, the reception signals from the VHF antenna 2, the UHF antenna 4, and the CS antenna 6 are transmitted as they are, or after being frequency-converted to a transmission frequency band, from the transmission device 12 to the transmission line. L.
[0018]
In addition, for a BS reception signal from the BS antenna 8, a plurality of demodulators 20 corresponding to the number of broadcast channels of the BS digital broadcast are used to select and demodulate BS digital broadcasts for each broadcast channel. And reproduces the audio signal and re-modulates the reproduced video and audio signals into the NTSC system to generate an analog television broadcast signal of a predetermined transmission channel in the same manner as VHF / UHF terrestrial broadcast, and generates the analog television broadcast signal. The television broadcast signal is transmitted from the transmission device 12 onto the transmission line L together with other television broadcast signals.
[0019]
That is, the head-end device 10 is provided with a distributor 11 for distributing the BS reception signal from the BS antenna 8, and the BS reception signal distributed by the distributor 11 is transmitted to each of the demodulators 20. Is input to the reception signal input terminal 20a.
[0020]
Further, each of the demodulators 20 selects a television broadcast signal (digital television broadcast signal) of a preset broadcast channel from among the BS reception signals input to the reception signal input terminal 20a, and A BS digital tuner 30 for demodulating video and audio signals included in the signal, and a video and audio signal demodulated by the BS digital tuner 30 are converted into a television broadcast signal (NTSC analog television broadcast) of a predetermined transmission channel. A modulator 50 is provided.
[0021]
The television broadcast signal generated by the modulator 50 is output from the broadcast signal output terminal 20b to the transmission device 12, where the television signal is mixed with another television broadcast signal and transmitted over the transmission line L. Is done.
Here, the BS digital tuner 30 provided in each of the demodulation units 20 is not exclusively for CATV systems (so-called business use), but is for general use so-called consumer use, and has a well-known mail notification function.
[0022]
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the BS digital tuner 30 selects a digital TV broadcast signal of a predetermined broadcast channel from among the BS received signals input from the BS antenna, and A demodulation unit 34 for demodulating a video signal and an audio signal from a broadcast signal of a specified broadcast channel, a distribution information receiving unit 36 for receiving distribution information transmitted from a broadcasting station together with a digital television broadcast signal, and notifying a receiver. A mail generation unit 38 for generating a notification image of a mail representing a message to be transmitted; a superimposition unit 40 for superimposing a notification image generated by the mail generation unit 38 on a video signal demodulated by the demodulation unit 34; An external input unit 42 for inputting a command, and an external output unit 4 for outputting a notification signal indicating that the mail generation unit 38 is generating a notification image to the outside. When the distribution information receiving unit 36 receives the distribution information, the mail generation unit 38 generates a mail notification image based on the distribution information. Then, a notification signal indicating that fact is output from the external output unit 44, and when a read instruction of the mail is input to the external input unit 42, a notification image is generated by the mail generation unit 38 and a notification is output from the external output unit 44. When the distribution information receiving unit 36 receives the distribution information, the mail generation unit 38 generates an e-mail notification image based on the distribution information, and the superimposition unit 40 However, the generated notification image is superimposed on the video signal demodulated by the demodulation unit 34 and output. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining the function of the BS digital tuner 30 in an easily understood manner, and does not represent an actual hardware configuration.
[0023]
Also, in the BS digital tuner 30 shown by the functional block in FIG. 2, when the mail generation unit 38 generates the notification image (in other words, when the notification image is superimposed on the video signal by the superimposition unit 40), this is indicated. The notification signal is output from the external output unit 44. The external output unit 44 is generally configured by a light emitting element (LED 30b shown in FIG. 1) for e-mail notification, and turns on the light emitting element (LED 30b). This informs the recipient of the presence of the mail.
[0024]
Further, the BS digital tuner 30 is usually provided with a remote control device (remote control device 48 shown in FIG. 1) for remote operation, and serves as an external input unit 42 for inputting a read instruction of a mail. A remote controller 48 can be used. In this case, a remote control receiver 30a (see FIG. 1) for receiving a transmission signal from the remote controller 48 is provided on the main body side of the BS digital tuner 30.
[0025]
By the way, when the BS digital tuner 30 outputs a video signal superimposed with a mail notification image by the mail notification function of the BS digital tuner 30, the modulator 50 converts the video signal into an analog television broadcast signal. It is distributed to the terminal side.
[0026]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a control device 60 is provided in each of the demodulation units 20, and when the BS digital tuner 30 (more specifically, the mail generation unit 38) generates mail by the operation of the control device 60, the BS digital tuner 30 30 is stopped by e-mail notification (specifically, superimposition of a notification image on a video signal). The control device 60 is configured by a microcomputer or a dedicated logic circuit.
[0027]
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 60 reads the drive voltage applied to the light emitting element (LED 30b) for mail notification provided in the BS digital tuner 30 via a buffer as a mail notification signal Sm. (S110, S represent steps), it is determined whether or not the mail notification signal Sm is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, thereby determining whether or not the mail generation unit 38 of the BS digital tuner 30 has generated a mail (S120). ), If it is determined that the BS digital tuner 30 has generated a mail (S120: YES), a control signal for stopping mail notification is output to the remote control device 48 attached to the BS digital tuner 30 as the external input unit 42. Sends a read instruction of the mail from the remote control device 48 to the remote control receiving unit 30a of the BS digital tuner 30. Make (S130).
[0028]
That is, in this embodiment, the remote control device 48 is arranged at a position where a command signal can be transmitted to the remote control receiving unit 30a of the BS digital tuner 30, and the control device 60 detects the generation of mail on the BS digital tuner 30 side. In this case, by outputting a control signal for transmitting a read command of the mail to the remote control device 48, the read command of the mail is transmitted from the remote control device 48.
[0029]
When the read instruction of the mail is input to the BS digital tuner 30 in this way, in the BS digital tuner 30, the control unit 46 causes the mail generation unit 38 to generate a notification image of the mail and to output the mail to the external output unit. The output of the notification signal from 44 (specifically, the output of the light signal by the lighting of the mail notification LED 30b) is stopped.
[0030]
Therefore, according to the CATV system of the present embodiment, not only can a digital TV broadcast signal distributed by BS digital broadcast be converted into an analog TV broadcast signal for each broadcast channel and retransmitted to the terminal side, The mail report function of the BS digital tuner 30 provided on the head-end device 10 for retransmission prevents analog TV broadcast signals including video signals on which the mail report images are superimposed from being distributed to the terminals. it can.
[0031]
In this embodiment, the function as the mail report canceling unit of the present invention is realized by the control processing shown in FIG. 3 executed by the control device 60.
As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said Example, You can take various aspects.
[0032]
For example, in the above embodiment, the control device 60 captures the drive voltage applied to the email notification light-emitting element (LED 30b) provided on the display unit 30b of the BS digital tuner 30 as the email notification signal Sm, and reads the captured email. Although it has been described that it is determined whether or not the BS digital tuner 30 has generated a mail based on the voltage of the notification signal Sm, the determination of the generation of the mail may be performed by, for example, emitting a mail notification provided in the BS digital tuner 30. A light receiving element may be provided to face the element (LED 30b), and the determination may be made based on whether or not this light receiving element has received an optical signal that is a notification signal.
[0033]
By doing so, it is not necessary to incorporate a detection circuit (a buffer or the like) for taking in the drive voltage from the light emitting element for mail notification into the BS digital tuner 30. For this reason, the generation of mail by the BS digital tuner 30 can be more easily monitored.
[0034]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control device 60 has been described as transmitting a control signal to the remote control device 48 so as to cause the remote control device 48 to transmit an instruction to stop the mail report. An actuator for pressing the operation button may be provided, and the control device 60 may cause the remote control device 48 to transmit an instruction to stop the mail notification by driving the actuator.
[0035]
With this configuration, the remote controller 48 does not need to be modified to operate in accordance with the control signal output from the controller 60, and the remote controller 48 attached to the BS digital tuner 30 can be used as it is. .
In the above embodiment, the head end device 10 is described as being provided with the BS digital tuner 30 having a mail report function. However, the present invention is provided with the head end device 10 provided with a digital tuner having a mail report function. If the CATV system converts the video and audio signals demodulated by the digital tuner into analog television broadcast signals and retransmits them, the same effects can be obtained by applying the same as in the above embodiment. In addition to the BS digital tuner, as a digital tuner having a mail report function, for example, a digital tuner for receiving terrestrial digital broadcasting can be considered.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a CATV system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a BS digital tuner provided in a demodulation unit of the head-end device.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control device provided in a demodulation unit of the head end device.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... VHF antenna, 4 ... UHF antenna, 6 ... CS antenna, 8 ... BS antenna, 10 ... Head end device, 11 ... Distributor, 12 ... Sending device, 14, 16 ... Amplifier, 20 ... Demodulation unit, 30 ... BS digital tuner, 32 channel selection unit, 34 demodulation unit, 36 distribution information reception unit, 38 mail generation unit, 40 superimposition unit, 42 external input unit, 44 external output unit, 46 control unit, 48 ... remote control device, 50 ... modulator, 60 ... control device, L ... transmission line.

Claims (1)

A tuner for selecting a digital television broadcast signal of a predetermined broadcast channel from among the received signals input from the receiving antenna,
A demodulation unit for demodulating a video signal and an audio signal from a broadcast signal of a predetermined broadcast channel selected by the tuning unit;
A distribution information receiving unit that receives distribution information transmitted from a broadcasting station together with the digital television broadcast signal,
An e-mail generating unit that generates an e-mail notification image representing a message to be notified to a recipient;
A superimposition unit that superimposes the notification image generated by the mail generation unit on the video signal demodulated by the demodulation unit;
An external input unit for inputting a read command of the mail from outside,
An external output unit that externally outputs a notification signal indicating that the mail generation unit is generating the notification image,
Outputting a channel selection command of the broadcast signal of the predetermined broadcast channel to the channel selection unit, and when the distribution information receiving unit receives the distribution information, causes the mail generation unit to generate a notification image of a mail based on the distribution information. The notification signal is output from the external output unit, and when a read instruction of the mail is input to the external input unit, the generation of the notification image by the mail generation unit and the output of the notification signal from the external output unit are performed. A control unit to cancel,
A digital tuner that outputs a video signal demodulated by the demodulation unit and a video signal on which the notification image is superimposed by the superimposition unit and an audio signal demodulated by the demodulation unit,
A modulator for generating an analog television broadcast signal of a predetermined transmission channel from a video signal and an audio signal output from the digital tuner;
A control device connected to the digital tuner,
A head-end device for transmitting an analog television broadcast signal generated by the modulator to a transmission line of a CATV system,
The control device monitors a generation state of the mail by the mail generation unit based on an output state of the notification signal from the external output unit, and when the mail generation unit generates the mail, the external input unit A headend device comprising: a mail report canceling unit that outputs a read command of a mail.

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