JP2008092245A - Terminal device for catv system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a broadcasting function for an emergency broadcast by using a terminal unit 10 that makes only an independent broadcast as a viewing/listening target. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal device for a CATV system is provided with: a television receiver TV which allows a user to view/listen to a general broadcast distributed via a coaxial-cable network N; the terminal unit 10 which selects an independent broadcast distributed via the network N so as to output it to the television receiver TV while converting it to an AV signal S; and a relay 17 that is built in the terminal unit 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal apparatus of a CATV system capable of viewing independent broadcasting including pay programs in addition to general broadcasting including high-definition broadcasting such as terrestrial digital broadcasting.

  CATV systems that are widely used in facilities such as hotels and inns use a terminal device that is a combination of a television receiver and a terminal unit, in addition to general broadcasts distributed over a network. The self-broadcast program distributed can be viewed.

  The terminal unit has a built-in tuner that can select all channels of general broadcast and independent broadcast, and the AV signal of the selected channel (the video signal and the audio signal are generically referred to below, the same shall apply hereinafter) of the specific channel. It converts into a television broadcast signal and outputs to a television receiver (for example, patent document 1). Therefore, the viewer can view the programs of all channels via the television receiver by selecting and operating the tuner of the terminal unit. Note that independent broadcast programs include both free broadcasts and pay broadcasts.

However, in such a system, the tuner built in the terminal unit must be able to cope with high-definition broadcasting such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, so the cost of the terminal unit tends to be excessive. In view of this, a method has been proposed in which a general broadcast including a high-definition broadcast is viewed using a tuner built in the television receiver, and the terminal unit is limited to the independent broadcast (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-223511 JP 2006-148212 A

  According to such a conventional technique, the terminal unit does not have an emergency broadcast broadcast function necessary in the event of an emergency such as a fire or an earthquake, and thus has a problem that it cannot meet the emergency broadcast broadcast needs.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a CATV system terminal device that can easily realize an emergency broadcast broadcasting function using a terminal unit that is intended for viewing only independent broadcasts, in view of the problems of the prior art. It is to provide.

  In order to achieve this object, the configuration of the first invention according to this application (referring to the invention according to claim 1, hereinafter the same) is used for viewing general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts distributed via a coaxial cable network. A television set capable of selecting a self-broadcast distributed via a network, converting the AV signal into an AV signal, and outputting it to the first external input terminal of the television receiver; And a relay that turns on and off the main power supply of the receiver. When the terminal unit receives an emergency broadcast start signal via the network, the terminal unit selects an emergency channel for emergency broadcast and is turned off via the relay. The gist of the present invention is to turn on the main power of the TV receiver or turn on the main power of the TV receiver being turned on.

  When the terminal unit receives the emergency broadcast end signal via the network, the terminal unit can restore the main power of the television receiver to the state before receiving the emergency broadcast start signal via the relay. Prior to restoring the main power of the machine, the end channel for the end image broadcast can be selected for a predetermined time.

  The configuration of the second invention (referring to the invention according to claim 4, the same applies hereinafter) includes a television receiver capable of viewing general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts distributed via a coaxial cable network, and a LAN cable network. A terminal unit that converts the independent broadcast data distributed upon request to an AV signal and outputs the AV signal to the first external input terminal of the television receiver, and the main power supply of the television receiver incorporated in the terminal unit. When the terminal unit receives the emergency broadcast start signal via the LAN cable network, the terminal unit requests the emergency broadcast image data, and the image data distributed in response to the request is AV. The signal is converted into a signal and output, and the main power of the TV receiver that is turned off is turned on or the main power of the TV receiver that is turned off is turned off via the relay. And the gist of the invention to be.

  When the terminal unit receives the emergency broadcast end signal via the LAN cable network, the terminal unit can restore the main power supply of the television receiver to the state before receiving the emergency broadcast start signal via the relay. Prior to restoring the main power supply of the television receiver, it is possible to request end image data, convert the image data distributed in response to the request into an AV signal, and output it for a predetermined time.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the television receiver can view all channels of general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts such as terrestrial digital broadcasts by selecting and operating a tuner incorporated therein. On the other hand, the terminal unit is intended only for independent broadcasts other than general broadcasts. When the independent broadcast is selected via a remote controller-type controller common to the television receiver, the terminal unit receives the AV signal of the selected channel. Since it is output to the first external input terminal of the device, it is possible to view the program of the independent broadcast channel selected by the terminal unit via the television receiver. However, the television receiver selects the external input mode by sending each code of the channel selection of the general broadcast and the external input selection in this order from the remote controller type controller at the same time as the independent broadcast is selected, It is assumed that the first external input terminal is set to be automatically selected.

  Further, when the terminal unit receives an emergency broadcast start signal from the center device via the network, the terminal unit automatically selects an emergency channel for emergency broadcast and drives and controls a built-in relay, thereby turning off the television receiver. Forcibly turn on the main power of the TV receiver, or temporarily turn off the main power of the TV receiver that is turned on and turn it on again so that the emergency broadcast program can be viewed via the TV receiver. The broadcasting function can be realized. However, it is assumed that the television receiver is set so that when the main power is turned on, the external input mode is selected and the first external input terminal is automatically selected. Note that the emergency broadcast content may be either a still image or a moving image, or a combination thereof. Moreover, voice information may be accompanied.

  Upon receiving the emergency broadcast end signal, the terminal unit restores the main power supply of the television receiver to the state before receiving the emergency broadcast start signal via the relay. That is, the television receiver can be automatically restored to the state depending on whether the main power supply was turned on or the main power supply was turned off before reception. Prior to restoring the main power supply of the television receiver, the terminal unit selects an ending channel for ending image broadcasting, so that, for example, an ending image for displaying an emergency release message is received from the television receiver. It can be aired to provide more advanced services. However, the end image may be either a still image or a moving image, and may be accompanied by audio information.

  According to the configuration of the second invention, general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts are distributed via a coaxial cable network, and independent broadcasts are requested from a server device installed in the center via a LAN cable network. In response, it is distributed as data. Therefore, when the terminal unit at this time receives the emergency broadcast start signal, it requests the server device for the emergency broadcast image data, converts the data distributed in response to the request into an AV signal, and outputs it. It is possible to view through a television receiver and realize an emergency broadcasting function. The contents of the on / off control of the main power of the television receiver by the built-in relay and the setting operation of the television receiver itself when the independent broadcast is selected or when the main power is turned on are exactly the same as in the first invention.

  As with the first invention, the terminal unit restores the main power of the television receiver when receiving the emergency broadcast end signal, and displays the end image before restoring the main power. Can be realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The terminal device of the CATV system includes a television receiver TV, a terminal unit 10 and a remote controller type operation device 20 (FIG. 1), and is connected to a network N of coaxial cables constituting the CATV system.

  The television receiver TV has a built-in tuner (not shown) and can watch all channels of general broadcasts distributed via the network N. The network N distributes a general broadcast including a high-definition broadcast such as a terrestrial digital broadcast from a center device (not shown), as well as an independent broadcast specific to the network N. Broadcast shall be included. The RF input terminal of the television receiver TV is connected to the network N via a distributor N1. Further, the television receiver TV includes a light receiving unit TVa that receives the optical signal Lt from the operation device 20, and can perform any necessary operation by the operation device 20.

  The terminal unit 10 is connected to the network N via a distributor N1. The output of the terminal unit 10 is input as an AV signal S to a first external input terminal among a plurality of external input terminals of the television receiver TV. The terminal unit 10 includes a light receiving unit 11 that receives the optical signal L from the operation device 20, and can perform any necessary operation using the operation device 20.

  An outlet TVb for main power of the television receiver TV is connected to a receptacle 18 attached to the terminal unit 10. The terminal unit 10 incorporates a relay 17 (FIGS. 1 and 2), and the receptacle 18 is connected to an external commercial power supply AC via a contact 17a of the relay 17. The commercial power source AC is also used as a power source for the terminal unit 10.

  The terminal unit 10 includes a tuner 13. The input side of the tuner 13 is connected to the distributor N1 through the distributor 16, and the output side is output to the outside as the AV signal S through the video processing unit 14. The output of the light receiving unit 11 is individually connected to the tuner 13 and the video processing unit 14 via the control unit 12. The control unit 12 is bidirectionally connected to the distributor 16 via the modem 15, and the relay 17 is connected to the control unit 12.

  A power key K1 is provided on the surface of the operation unit 20 (FIG. 3), a key group K2 for data broadcasting, a key group K3 for selecting a general broadcast channel of terrestrial analog broadcasting, digital terrestrial broadcasting, BS broadcasting. A key group K4 for channel selection for high-definition broadcasting and a key group K5 for channel selection for independent broadcasting including pay broadcasting are arranged. The key group K3 includes volume keys. When each key on the operation device 20 is operated, the corresponding optical signals L and Lt are sent out from the light emitting unit 21, and the television receiver TV and the terminal unit 10 can be made to perform necessary operations, respectively.

  The television receiver TV can select and view arbitrary channels of general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts via the built-in tuner by operating the keys belonging to the key groups K3 and K4 of the operation unit 20. it can. At this time, the power key K1, the volume key belonging to the key group K3, and the keys belonging to the key group K2 are valid, and it is possible to enjoy bidirectional data broadcasting by operating the keys belonging to the key group K2. it can. This is because the operating device 20 can send a predetermined code to the television receiver TV via the optical signal Lt by operating these keys. Note that the television receiver TV can turn on and off the main power via the relay 17 of the terminal unit 10 by the power key K1. In addition, the television receiver TV does not automatically shift to the main power-off state even when the RF input terminal becomes no signal.

  On the other hand, when each key belonging to the key group K5 is operated, the operating device 20 sends a channel selection code for independent broadcasting to the terminal unit 10 via the optical signal L. Therefore, since the control unit 12 of the terminal unit 10 decodes the code of the optical signal L and selects the designated channel via the tuner 13, the video processing unit 14 converts the TV broadcast signal of the designated channel into the AV signal S. Convert to and output. Therefore, the television receiver TV at this time can select the external input mode and reproduce the AV signal S input to the first external input terminal, so that the independent broadcast selected by the terminal unit 10 can be viewed. Become.

  On the screen of the television receiver TV, a message selected by the control unit 12 as necessary can be displayed together with an on-screen display (OSD) function of the video processing unit 14. The terminal unit 10 incorporates a bidirectional modem 15 and a distributor 16 in order to send a predetermined billing control signal to the center apparatus via the network N when pay broadcasting is selected. However, the charge processing for pay broadcast viewing may be performed by, for example, paying the charge amount only on the terminal unit 10 side using a prepaid card and sending only the payment information to the center apparatus.

  When one of the channels for independent broadcasting is selected, the operating device 20 sets the television receiver TV to the external input mode and reproduces the AV signal S from the first external input terminal, for example, the program shown in FIG. According to the flowchart, the optical signals Lt and L are sent to the television receiver TV and the terminal unit 10, respectively.

  That is, the program starts when one of the channels for independent broadcasting is selected. First, a code for channel selection for general broadcasting is transmitted to the television receiver TV via the optical signal Lt (FIG. 4). Program step (1), hereinafter simply referred to as (1)). Subsequently, the program sends a channel selection code for independent broadcasting to the terminal unit 10 via the optical signal L (2).

  Thereafter, the program sends an external input selection code to the television receiver TV via the optical signal Lt (3). Therefore, the television receiver TV receives the general broadcast channel selection code and the external input selection code in this order by the program steps (1) and (3) in FIG. While the terminal unit 10 operates to reproduce the AV signal S input to the first external input terminal, the terminal unit 10 receives the TV broadcast signal of the self-broadcast channel selected by the operation device 20 in the program step (2). The AV signal S is input to the first external input terminal of the television receiver TV. In other words, the television receiver TV at this time can view the program of the selected independent broadcast channel.

  Note that in the program steps (1) and (3) of FIG. 4, the optical signal Lt is used for a long time (for example, 0.2 to 1 second, preferably) regardless of the key operation time on the operation unit 20. Is preferably repeated for about 0.5 seconds). This is to further ensure the switching of the operation mode of the television receiver TV. Further, the program step (2) in FIG. 4 may be executed prior to the program step (1) or may be executed after the program step (3). Further, when executing the program steps (1) to (3) in FIG. 4, the optical signals Lt and L from the operating device 20 are reliably transmitted to both the television receiver TV and the light receiving portions TVa and 11 of the terminal unit 10, respectively. Shall be received. Therefore, the relative positional relationship between the television receiver TV and the terminal unit 10, the light receiving directivities of the light receiving portions TVa and 11, the light emission intensity of the light emitting portion 21 of the operation unit 20, the light emission directivity, and the like are appropriately set. .

  When receiving an emergency broadcast start signal from a center device (not shown) via the network N, the terminal unit 10 operates according to the program flowchart of FIG. However, since the emergency broadcast start signal reaches the terminal unit 10 via the distributor N1, and is input to the controller 12 via the distributor 16 and the modem 15, the controller 12 is controlled by the program flowchart of FIG. Can work according to.

  In FIG. 5, the program first checks whether or not the main power of the television receiver TV is off, that is, whether or not the relay 17 is off (program step (1) in FIG. 5; Simply write as (1)). When the main power of the television receiver TV is off (1), the relay 17 is turned on to turn on the main power of the television receiver TV (2), but the main power of the television receiver TV is already on. When there is (1), the relay 17 is once turned off and turned on to turn off and turn on the main power supply of the television receiver TV (3). Note that the television receiver TV is set to be selected to the external input mode and the first external input terminal is automatically selected by turning on the main power. Therefore, if an emergency broadcast emergency channel is selected via the tuner 13 (4), the television receiver TV broadcasts an emergency broadcast image sent from the center unit via the emergency channel via the network N. Can be viewed (FIG. 6).

  When receiving the emergency broadcast end signal from the center device via the network N, the control unit 12 of the terminal unit 10 operates according to the program flowchart of FIG.

  The program first selects an end channel for the end image broadcast via the tuner 13 (program step (1) in FIG. 7, hereinafter simply indicated as (1)). Therefore, the television receiver TV at this time can broadcast and view the end image sent from the center device through the end channel (FIG. 8). Subsequently, the program waits for an appropriate predetermined time to elapse (2), and then selects a guide channel for guide image broadcasting via the tuner 13 (3), via a television receiver TV, a hotel, etc. A guidance image that displays a guidance message from the facility is broadcast for a predetermined time and viewed ((4), FIG. 9). Thereafter, the program restores the main power supply of the television receiver TV to the state before receiving the emergency broadcast start signal by turning on or off the relay 17 (5) and ends.

  The series of operations shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 are collectively shown in FIG. 6, 8, and 9 are examples of emergency broadcast images, end images, and guide image still images, respectively, all or a part of which may be moving images with audio information. It may be a thing. Further, in FIG. 5, the program step (4) may be executed before the program step (1) is moved and the main power supply of the television receiver TV is turned on and off. For each set of program steps (1), (2) and program steps (3), (4), either one may be omitted and only the other set may be used. In FIG. 7, when the program steps (3) and (4) are omitted, the center device sends a guidance start signal to all or part of the terminal devices in the CATV system. Following the emergency broadcast image display procedure of FIG. 5 or using the OSD function of the video processing unit 14, a necessary guide image can be displayed on the television receiver TV.

Other embodiments

  The terminal device of the CATV system receives the data of the independent broadcast distributed on demand through the television receiver TV capable of viewing a general broadcast distributed via the coaxial cable network N and the LAN cable network LN. A terminal unit 10 that converts to an AV signal S and outputs it can be combined (FIGS. 11 and 12). The network N is connected to a center device (not shown), and the network LN is connected to a server device on the center side (not shown). The configuration and operation of the television receiver TV and the remote controller type operating device 20 are basically the same as those shown in FIGS.

  The terminal unit 10 includes a content decoder 13 a instead of the tuner 13, and includes a bidirectional LAN interface 15 a instead of the modem 15 and the distributor 16. The other points are the same as those shown in FIGS. The control unit 12 and the content decoder 13a may form a so-called media processor as the video composite IC.

  The television receiver TV can view all channels of general broadcasts distributed via the network N. On the other hand, when a channel for independent broadcasting is selected through the operation unit 20, the television receiver TV is selected in the external input mode according to the program steps (1) and (3) in FIG. The external input terminal is selected. Further, the control unit 12 of the terminal unit 10 requests the server device for data corresponding to the channel of the selected independent broadcast via the LAN interface 15a and the network LN in response to the program step (2) in FIG. To do.

  Therefore, when receiving the independent broadcast data distributed from the server device via the network LN in response to the request, the control unit 12 decodes the data via the content decoder 13a and converts the data into the AV signal S via the video processing unit 14. By converting and outputting to the first external input terminal of the television receiver TV, it is possible to view a program of the independent broadcast via the television receiver TV. The necessary billing process can be processed or managed in the server device in the same way as in FIGS.

  When the control unit 12 of the terminal unit 10 receives an emergency broadcast start signal from the server device via the network LN and the LAN interface 15a, the control unit 12 operates according to the program flowchart of FIG. The program first checks the on / off state of the main power supply of the television receiver TV (program step (1) in FIG. 13; hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), and the television receiver TV is connected via the relay 17. By turning on and off the main power supply ((2) and (3)), the television receiver TV is selected to be in the external input mode and the first external input terminal is selected. Subsequently, the program requests emergency broadcast image data from the server device (4), converts the image data distributed in response to the request into an AV signal, and outputs it (5). Watch emergency broadcast images via TV.

  Moreover, the control part 12 of the terminal unit 10 will operate | move according to the program flowchart of FIG. 14, if the end signal of the emergency broadcast from a server apparatus is received. That is, the program first requests the server device for the data of the end image of the emergency broadcast (program step (1) in FIG. 14, hereinafter simply referred to as (1)), and is distributed according to the request. By converting the end image data to the AV signal S and outputting it (2), the end image is viewed via the television receiver TV for a predetermined time (3). Thereafter, the server device is requested for guide image data (4), and the guide image data distributed in response to the request is converted into an AV signal S and output (5). After viewing through the TV (6), the main power of the TV receiver TV is restored to the state before receiving the emergency broadcast via the relay 17 (7), and the process is terminated.

  13 and 14 can be summarized as shown in FIG. Moreover, the emergency broadcast image by the program step (5) in FIG. 13, the end image by the program steps (2) and (5) in FIG. 14, and the guidance image are as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, respectively. Yes, as described for the terminal unit 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the program steps (4) and (5) in FIG. 13 may be moved before the program step (1), and the program steps (1) to (3) and program steps (4) to (4) in FIG. For each group in 6), either one of the groups may be omitted. In FIG. 14, when the set of program steps (4) to (6) is omitted, by sending a guidance start signal from the server device to all or part of the terminal devices in the CATV system, It is also possible to display a necessary guide image on the television receiver TV by following the display procedure of the emergency broadcast image of FIG. 13 or using the OSD function of the video processing unit 14.

Overall configuration block diagram Detailed block diagram Surface view of actuator Program flow chart (1) Program flow chart (2) Example of emergency broadcast image Program flow chart (3) Example of end image Guide image example Overall operation flow chart FIG. 1 equivalent view showing another embodiment FIG. 2 equivalent view showing another embodiment FIG. 4 equivalent view showing another embodiment FIG. 7 equivalent view showing another embodiment FIG. 10 equivalent view showing another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

N ... Coaxial cable network LN ... LAN cable network TV ... TV receiver S ... AV signal 10 ... Terminal unit 17 ... Relay

Patent applicant Kitahishi Electric Co., Ltd.
Attorney Tadaaki Matsuda, Attorney

Claims (6)

  A television receiver capable of viewing general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts distributed via a coaxial cable network, and an independent broadcast distributed via the networks are selected, converted into AV signals, and the television receiver A terminal unit that outputs to the first external input terminal, and a relay that is built in the terminal unit and that turns on and off the main power supply of the television receiver. The terminal unit transmits emergency broadcast via the network. When an emergency broadcast signal is received, an emergency channel for emergency broadcasting is selected, and the main power of the television receiver that is turned off is turned on or the main power of the television receiver that is turned on is turned on via the relay. A terminal device of a CATV system, which is turned off and on.   When the terminal unit receives an emergency broadcast end signal via the network, the terminal unit restores the main power of the television receiver to a state before receiving the emergency broadcast start signal via the relay. The terminal device of the CATV system according to claim 1.   3. The terminal apparatus of a CATV system according to claim 2, wherein the terminal unit selects an end channel for end image broadcasting for a predetermined time prior to restoring the main power supply of the television receiver.   TV receivers that can watch general broadcasts including high-definition broadcasts distributed over coaxial cable networks, and independent broadcast data distributed on demand via LAN cable networks are converted into AV signals A terminal unit that outputs to the first external input terminal of the television receiver, and a relay that is built in the terminal unit and that turns on and off the main power of the television receiver. When the emergency broadcast start signal is received via the cable network, the emergency broadcast image data is requested, the image data distributed in response to the request is converted into an AV signal and output, and via the relay, A CA that turns on a main power of the TV receiver that is turned off or turns on a main power of the TV receiver that is turned on. Terminal equipment of the V system.   When the terminal unit receives an emergency broadcast end signal via the LAN cable network, the terminal unit restores the main power of the television receiver to a state before receiving the emergency broadcast start signal via the relay. The terminal device of the CATV system according to claim 4.   Prior to restoring the main power supply of the television receiver, the terminal unit requests data of an end image, converts the image data distributed in response to the request into an AV signal, and outputs it for a predetermined time. The terminal device of the CATV system according to claim 5.

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