JP2007259243A - Mobile information terminal device with tv tuner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile information terminal device with TV tuner in which a broadcast is smoothly received by automatically switching terrestrial broadcast reception to high-speed radio data reception via an IP network in a radio wave situation where broadcast reception is difficult. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile information terminal device comprises a mobile information terminal demodulation module for receiving broadcast data via a high-speed mobile radio communication network, a one-segment demodulation module, a switching unit for switching a demodulation signal outputted from the module and a demodulation signal outputted from the mobile information terminal demodulation module, and a control unit for controlling the entire device, wherein when a frame error rate of TS data as a demodulation signal outputted from the one-segment demodulation module is reduced lower than a predetermined value, the switching unit automatically switches to an output signal of the mobile information terminal demodulation module, thereby viewing a program of the same channel without interruption. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner that automatically switches between reception of a digital terrestrial broadcast wave and reception of a broadcast distributed from a high-speed IP network according to the reception state of the broadcast wave.

  In recent years, with the abolition of the current analog broadcasting in 2011, terrestrial digital broadcasting has been started in some areas since 2003. As a transmission method of this terrestrial digital broadcasting, the frequency use is strong in multipath. An efficient Japanese original BST-OFDM (Band Segmented Transmission-Othonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method is adopted.

  Terrestrial digital broadcasts broadcast by this method are broadly classified into simple video broadcasts for mobile terminals (strong hierarchy) and HDTV broadcasts for fixed reception (weak hierarchy) according to image quality, and a band of about 6 MHz per channel is divided into 13 bands. Broadcast in segments. Broadcasting for mobile terminals (cell phones, PDAs, etc.) is called “1 segment broadcasting” because it is broadcast using one of the 13 segments, while broadcasting using 12 segments. The HDTV broadcast is called “12-segment broadcast”.

  Conventionally, portable information terminals (mobile phones) that can watch analog TV broadcasts are already in use, but the “1 segment broadcast” is scheduled to start broadcasting in April 2006. Compared to 12-segment broadcasting, it can be expected to receive a smooth TV image that is more resistant to multipath and the like, and is promising.

  However, even in portable information terminals capable of receiving “1 segment broadcasting”, it is expected that there are areas where radio waves cannot reach, and due to a decrease in received C / N due to noise and an increase in required C / N due to interference interference When the reception environment state deteriorates such that normal reception cannot be performed, viewing may be abandoned. As described above, when it is difficult to receive broadcast radio waves, as is done with the in-vehicle information terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is automatically switched to another external source such as a music CD device. ing.

  In addition, a television broadcast receiving function unit for receiving a television broadcast wave broadcast from a television broadcast station disclosed in Patent Document 2 and communication data including normal telephone, mail, and image information are transmitted to a communication carrier, the Internet, etc. An information terminal device having a mobile communication function unit that communicates with other information terminal devices via a network can receive the TV broadcast radio wave when the reception environment state deteriorates during broadcast wave reception and the user cannot view it. TV broadcast program recording start instruction is transmitted to a recording apparatus including a recording server connected to a network such as the communication carrier or the Internet, which records broadcast program information, and the reception environment is improved. When returning, a recording stop command is transmitted.

Thereafter, the information terminal device can receive and view a broadcast program that could not be viewed due to radio interference or the like recorded in the recording server of the recording device.
JP 2000-228644 A JP 2004-112076 A

  However, in the in-vehicle information terminal that receives the terrestrial digital broadcast described above, when the reception quality is extremely deteriorated while receiving the 12-segment broadcast, the 1-segment broadcast that is more resistant to multipaths than the 12-segment broadcast is received. There is an example of trying to switch to, but originally, in the portable information terminal that receives 1-segment broadcasting strong against multipath, etc., switch to another broadcasting system in the radio waves sent from the same broadcasting equipment I can't do that either.

  In addition, in the example of the information terminal device disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to take in and watch a broadcast program in a period until the reception environment condition becomes good after the reception environment state deteriorates, but view it after the program ends. Therefore, the broadcast program cannot be watched smoothly without interruption.

  In addition, when the reception state is repeatedly deteriorated and good, it becomes difficult to understand the contents of the program.

  In this way, if you give up watching a broadcast program that you have been watching or if the viewing is discontinuously interrupted, even if you can watch the program during that time, of course, You can't just watch it.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention has transitioned from the 3rd generation to the 3.5th generation, which can be expected to greatly improve the performance of mobile communication systems that receive moving images under radio wave conditions where it is difficult to receive 1-segment broadcasting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner that automatically switches to data reception by a mobile wireless communication system via a high-speed wireless IP network and receives a broadcast program smoothly.

  In order to achieve the above object, a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention has the following features.

  That is, the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention is a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner including a television tuner demodulation module that receives and demodulates a terrestrial television broadcast wave, and directly transmits the terrestrial television broadcast wave. Switching for switching between a portable information terminal demodulation module that receives via a high-speed wireless communication network instead of radio wave reception, a demodulated signal output from the TV tuner demodulation module, and a demodulated signal output from the portable information terminal demodulation module And a control unit that performs overall control of the entire apparatus, and the switching unit is configured such that when the data error rate of the demodulated signal output from the TV tuner demodulation module exceeds a predetermined value or the reception intensity is When the value falls below a predetermined value, the portable information terminal is automatically restored so that a program with the same channel number can be viewed. Characterized in that to switch to the demodulated signal of the module.

  Further, in the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, the switching unit automatically activates when the data error rate falls below a predetermined value or when the reception strength becomes a predetermined value or more. The original terrestrial television broadcast wave is switched to the demodulated signal of the television tuner demodulating module that directly receives the radio wave, and the same program is viewed.

  In the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, the high-speed wireless signal input to the portable information terminal demodulation module is further delayed in time from the broadcast wave signal input to the television tuner demodulation module. A signal delay unit for delaying the demodulated signal output from the TV tuner demodulator module in advance by a predetermined time when the demodulated signal output from the portable information terminal demodulator module is switched by the switching unit; The signal delay unit includes broadcast service information extraction means for extracting broadcast service information from demodulated signals output from the TV tuner demodulation module and the portable information terminal demodulation module, and the broadcast service information extraction means converts the broadcast service information into broadcast service information. Delay time is calculated based on frame information that is included time information , Characterized in that so as to view a substantially same program.

  In the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, the TV tuner of the TV tuner demodulation module is a TV tuner that receives 1-segment broadcasting.

  Since the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

  That is, according to the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, when the reception environment of the radio wave deteriorates while receiving the TV broadcast radio wave, it is transmitted via the Internet or a communication carrier (broadband mobile radio communication network). Thus, it is possible to automatically switch to high-speed data communication and continuously receive television broadcasts without interruption or interruption of reception.

  In addition, according to the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, when the reception environment of the television broadcast radio wave is restored, the television broadcast radio wave can be automatically received, and broadband mobile radio communication is possible. It is possible to keep the communication connection fee through the network low.

  In addition, according to the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, when switching from reception of a television broadcast wave to reception from a high-speed mobile wireless communication network, the delay time difference of the video to be distributed is eliminated, and You can watch smoothly without any discomfort.

  In addition, according to the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, it is possible to receive a 1-segment broadcast that is strong in reception by a mobile body, and therefore, a high-quality television broadcast is received compared to a conventional analog broadcast. Is possible.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, prior to the description of the configuration and operation of the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention, the usage pattern of this device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing a usage pattern of a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the usage form of this apparatus is roughly divided into a system for receiving a broadcast wave such as “1 segment broadcast” broadcast from the antenna 11 of the digital terrestrial broadcasting station 10 by the broadcast wave receiving antenna 20. Broadcast content from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10 connected to the high-speed Internet network 12 or content providers connected to the high-speed Internet network 12 acting as an intermediary with the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10 (for example, various broadcasting stations A base where high-speed wireless communication is performed via a high-speed Internet IF (14) and a high-speed portable mobile communication network (communication carrier) 15 The system consists of a system that broadcasts from the station's antenna 16 and receives the broadcast radio wave by the mobile phone receiving antenna 22.

  In the reception system described above, the mobile phone terminal device 17 moves, for example, when the mobile phone terminal device 17 is receiving from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10 in a state where the radio wave reception environment is good. However, when it is determined that the radio wave reception environment has deteriorated and the radio wave intensity indicating the reception status and the error rate of the transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as “TS”) are below a predetermined value, In other words, the base station 19 that performs the nearest high-speed wireless communication is accessed, and the 1-segment broadcast received from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station is switched to the received wave from the base station that performs the high-speed wireless communication. The same program as the broadcast channel is received without interruption.

  On the contrary, when it is determined that the reception state of the 1-segment broadcast is good, the base station of high-speed wireless communication is immediately switched to the reception of the 1-segment broadcast.

  In selecting a base station 19 that performs appropriate nearby high-speed wireless communication, for example, a base station having the strongest radio wave intensity of a received wave may be selected.

  Here, since the broadcast content broadcast through the high-speed Internet network 12 → the high-speed Internet IF (14) → the mobile mobile communication network (communication carrier) 15 is transmitted through various communication lines, terrestrial digital broadcasting Since the broadcast content broadcast directly from the station is received later, a signal delay unit for delaying the broadcast signal from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station in time is provided in order to smoothly switch.

  Broadcast radio waves broadcast from the terrestrial digital broadcast station 10 are constantly broadcast, while the broadcast content distributed from the high-speed Internet network is started by the terrestrial digital broadcast station 10 or the content provider 13 using a mobile phone. It is assumed that the program starts when a broadcast reception start request is received from the terminal device 17. In this case, the distribution start request timing may be a point in time when reception of a direct broadcast wave from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10 is started, or may be a point in time when the reception environment state of the direct broadcast wave deteriorates and the communication method is switched.

  Currently, various examinations are being conducted by broadcasters and other related companies regarding broadcast content distribution forms.

  In the above description, terrestrial digital broadcasting, particularly “1 segment broadcasting” has been mainly described. For example, when receiving terrestrial analog television broadcasting, BS (Broadcast Satellite) broadcasting, CS (Communication Satellite) broadcasting, or the like. Alternatively, the music broadcast may be analog FM / AM broadcast or digital music broadcast.

  As a high-speed communication method used for the portable mobile communication network (communication carrier) 15, a third generation (3G) (for example, a method such as W-CDMA or cdma2000) that has been widely used, and a future 3.5G (for example, , HSDPA, etc.) 3.9 generation (Super 3G), 4th generation, and the development is proceeding to realize high-speed communication transmission.

  In this way, high-quality digital broadcasting can be watched at all times, and as much as possible, the time for connecting to a base station connected to a high-speed mobile wireless communication network is reduced, and the cost of high-speed data communication charges is reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

The outline of the system has been described above. Hereinafter, the configuration of the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In the following, a mobile phone device with a TV tuner will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone device with a TV tuner according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a mobile phone device with a TV tuner 17 according to the present invention includes an antenna 20 that receives a 1-segment broadcast from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10, and a TV tuner demodulation module (hereinafter referred to as a TV tuner demodulation module) that demodulates the 1-segment broadcast. (Referred to as “1-segment broadcast demodulation module”) 23, an antenna 20 for receiving broadcasts from a base station connected to a high-speed mobile radio communication network, a mobile phone demodulation module 21 for demodulating the received signal, A switching unit 24 including switching means for switching between a PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) generated from a TS frame demodulated by the segment broadcasting demodulation module 23 and a bit stream generated from the mobile phone demodulation module 23; Switching is performed by the control unit 25 that controls the control and the switching unit 24. A video / audio control unit that converts the stream data including the obtained video / audio into a video / audio signal; a display unit that displays the video signal; and an audio output unit that outputs the audio signal. Configured.

  In addition, as described above, the arrival time of the broadcast data of the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10 or the content provider 13 finally transmitted from the base station 16 via the broadband Internet 12 and the high-speed mobile communication network 15 is It is longer than the arrival time of the broadcast data directly from the terrestrial digital broadcasting station 10, and this delay time also varies depending on the communication environment state.

  Therefore, the mobile phone 17 with a TV tuner according to the present invention is connected to the base station 16 in order to smoothly shift to reception from the base station 16 connected to the high-speed mobile radio communication network without a sense of incongruity when the user views. When the communication is established, the demodulated signal output from the 1-segment broadcast demodulation module 23 is calculated by the delay time calculating means for calculating the arrival delay time between the broadcast signal from the terrestrial digital broadcast station 10 and the broadcast signal from the base station 16. A signal delay unit 29 for delaying by the calculated delay time is provided.

  Here, the delay time calculation means is, for example, management information (time, frame number) other than video / audio data included in the stream data packet output from the 1-segment broadcast demodulation module 23 and the mobile phone demodulation module 21. Etc.) and the delay time may be calculated.

  The stream data output from the 1-segment broadcast demodulation module 23 needs to be stored in a storage device or the like at least for the calculated delay time. The storage device may be a FIFO storage system.

  As described above, after receiving by the 1-segment tuner 23a, after demodulating by the demodulator (which is an OFDM demodulator in FIG. 2) and receiving the broadcast signal by the RF unit 21a via the high-speed mobile network, It consists of two demodulating systems that demodulate a demodulator (in FIG. 2, a CDMA demodulator). The reception status of 1-segment broadcasting is constantly monitored, and 1-segment broadcasting is received via a high-speed mobile communication network. It is configured to always receive a good and high quality broadcast while appropriately switching the reception of the broadcast signal.

  Note that the switching unit 24 detects the error rate and reception level (radio wave intensity) of the frame signal of 1-segment broadcasting, detects a decrease in the error rate and reception level, and is connected to the high-speed mobile radio communication network. When it is determined that the broadcast from the station 16 needs to be received, the stream data of the 1-segment broadcast demodulation module 23 is switched to the stream data of the mobile phone demodulation module 21. Further, when the error rate or the reception level returns to a predetermined level again, it is quickly switched to reception of 1-segment broadcasting.

  When switching to broadcast reception from the base station 16 connected to the high-speed mobile radio communication network, each time a suitable base station is selected, a connection request is transmitted to the base station. A reception route from the base station is established by receiving the connection permission signal from the station. However, the transmission system for establishing this reception route is not shown in the configuration diagram of FIG.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, a configuration including a 1-segment TV tuner has been described, but the same configuration can be implemented even with a radio broadcast tuner.

  Next, the operation of this apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention.

  First, reception of 1-segment broadcasting is started (step S10). In this case, the description starts from the state in which the 1-segment broadcast is already well received. However, since the generality is not lost, the description will be continued below.

  Extracts and stores information such as the channel number of the program being viewed from the currently received TS data, and starts transmission to an IP network (high-speed mobile radio communication network) for terrestrial digital broadcasting stations or content providers A request is made (step S11). Based on the stored channel information, the access right of the optimum base station is acquired from the IP network, and the content of the same broadcast channel number is received (step S12).

  Then, a delay time (difference time) between the reception arrival time of the 1-segment broadcast signal and the reception arrival time of the broadcast signal via the IP network is obtained and stored (step S13).

  Next, the broadcast reception from the IP network is once ended (step S14), and the reception is delayed by the delay time obtained in step S13 (step S15). As a result, it is possible to smoothly switch to the received signal from the base station of the IP network and to provide the user with a video without any sense of incongruity.

  Here, when the 1-segment viewing is finished (step S16; YES), this processing is finished, and when the reception is not finished (step S16; NO), the reception environment state of the currently viewed 1-segment broadcasting is It is determined whether or not it has deteriorated (by the switching unit 24, it is determined whether or not the frame signal error rate or the reception level has decreased below a predetermined value) (step S17). NO), the process returns to step S15.

  If it is determined that it has deteriorated (step S17; YES), the viewing of the 1-segment broadcasting is terminated (step S18), the broadcast reception is resumed from the base station that acquired the access right in step S12, and the CH stored in step S11 is stored. A program with the same channel number as the information is viewed (step S19).

  Further, when viewing is terminated from the mobile communication network (step S20; YES), this processing is terminated. When viewing is not terminated (step S20; NO), the reception environment state of the 1-segment broadcasting is restored. If it determines with having become favorable (step S21; YES), it will return to step S12 and in order to confirm that it is a suitable base station, the selection process of a base station is performed again.

  As explained above, even when the radio wave condition is difficult to receive by terrestrial waves, it is automatically switched to receiving broadcasts from the base station connected to the IP network, and high quality broadcasts without interruption. Can be received.

  In addition, when switching from terrestrial to distribution from a base station connected to the IP network, it is possible to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling at the time of switching, which is caused by delay in distribution from the base station.

  In addition, the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a system block diagram which shows the usage condition of the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner concerning this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows schematic operation | movement of the portable information terminal device with a TV tuner concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Station 11 Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Station Antenna 12 Internet 13 Content Provider 14 Internet IF
15 Mobile phone network 16 Wireless base station 17 Mobile phone terminal device 18 Content provider receiving antenna 20 Broadcast receiving antenna 21 Mobile phone demodulation module 21a RF unit 21b CDMA demodulator 22 Mobile phone receiving antenna 23 1 segment broadcast demodulation module 23a 1 segment tuner 23b OFDM demodulator 24 switching unit 25 control unit 26 video / audio control unit 27 display unit 28 audio output unit 29 signal delay unit

Claims (4)

A portable information terminal device with a TV tuner equipped with a TV tuner demodulation module that receives and demodulates terrestrial TV broadcast waves,
Instead of directly receiving the terrestrial television broadcast wave, the portable information terminal demodulation module that receives the signal via a high-speed wireless communication network, the demodulated signal output from the TV tuner demodulation module, and the portable information terminal demodulation module A switching unit that switches between demodulated signals and a control unit that performs overall control of the entire device,
When the data error rate of the demodulated signal output from the TV tuner demodulation module is equal to or higher than a predetermined value or when the reception intensity is lower than a predetermined value, the switching unit views a program with the same channel number. Thus, a portable information terminal device with a TV tuner, wherein the demodulated signal of the portable information terminal demodulation module is automatically switched.   The switching unit automatically receives the original terrestrial television broadcast wave directly when the data error rate falls below a predetermined value or when the reception intensity becomes a predetermined value or more. The portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to claim 1, wherein the same program is viewed by switching to the demodulated signal of the tuner demodulation module. Furthermore, since the high-speed wireless signal input to the portable information terminal demodulation module arrives later than the broadcast wave signal input to the television tuner demodulation module, the switching unit causes the portable information terminal demodulation module to A signal delay unit that delays the demodulated signal output from the television tuner demodulation module in advance for a predetermined time when switching to the demodulated signal output from
The signal delay unit includes broadcast service information extraction means for extracting broadcast service information from demodulated signals output from the TV tuner demodulation module and the portable information terminal demodulation module, and the broadcast service information extraction means converts the broadcast service information into broadcast service information. 3. The portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to claim 1, wherein a delay time is calculated based on frame information that is included in the time information, and substantially the same program is viewed. .   4. The portable information terminal device with a TV tuner according to claim 1, wherein the TV tuner of the TV tuner demodulation module is a TV tuner that receives 1-segment broadcasting. 5.

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