JP2008271282A - Optical communications equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unconditionally transmit notification broadcast to all the users without an instruction whether this is a notification broadcast and without preparation procedures prior to broadcasting. <P>SOLUTION: This optical communications equipment is provided with a conversion part 12 which receives an optical signal for transmitting a broadcasting signal to convert it into an electrical signal; an output terminal 14 which outputs the electronic signal to the user side; an output stop control part 16 which accepts a user stop instruction of the broadcasting signal; a switch 20 which changes the state from an ON-mode to an OFF-mode, when the output stop control part 16 accepts the user stop instruction and when the state is restored from the OFF-mode to the ON-mode, when the user stop instruction is released; and a filter 22 which selects the signal frequency of the notification broadcast uncoditionally broadcast to the user and makes it transmit, and the switch 20 transmits the electrical signal output by the conversion part 12 in the ON-mode and transmits the electrical signal output by the conversion part 12, to an output terminal 14 via the filter 22 in the OFF-mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical communication device having a notification broadcast function for a system that receives and uses FM broadcast or television broadcast by an optical communication device.

In the CATV system, FM broadcasting and television broadcasting are provided to the user's home using a coaxial cable or an optical cable. This system is provided with a function of transmitting an announcement broadcast for service information from the broadcast provider side and emergency broadcast in the event of a disaster (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-115100 A

The known prior art has the following problems to be solved.
In a CATV system that has become widespread in recent years, a broadcast signal is transmitted to a user's house using an optical cable, and converted into an electric signal using an optical communication device at the user's house. In a CATV system that provides a service for a fee, when the service fee is overdue, the function of the optical communication device is stopped by remote control until payment is made. However, if the function of the optical communication device is stopped, the user cannot receive the notification broadcast.
In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication device that can always receive a highly public announcement broadcast such as an emergency broadcast.

The following configurations are means for solving the above-described problems.
<Configuration 1>
A conversion unit that receives an optical signal that transmits a broadcast signal and converts it into an electrical signal, an output terminal that outputs the electrical signal to a user side, an output stop control unit that receives an instruction to stop using the broadcast signal, and When the output stop control unit receives the use stop command, the state is changed from the on mode to the off mode, and when the use stop command is canceled, the switch for returning from the off mode to the on mode and the user A filter for selecting and passing a signal frequency of an announcement broadcast broadcast unconditionally, and the switch transmits an electrical signal output from the conversion unit directly to the output terminal in the on mode, In the off mode, the optical signal output from the converter is transmitted to the output terminal through the filter.

  The conversion unit and the output stop control unit are the same as those in the existing CATV system and the like, and a system that can always distribute the notification broadcast is realized by simply replacing the switch and adding a filter. An announcement broadcast can be sent unconditionally to all users at any time without an indication of whether the broadcast is an announcement broadcast or preparation procedures before the broadcast.

<Configuration 2>
The optical communication device according to Configuration 1, wherein the broadcast signal is received through a CATV communication network.

  Existing equipment and standards for CATV systems can be used as they are.

<Configuration 3>
The optical communication device according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the notification broadcast converted into an electric signal is based on an FM broadcast signal.

  The simplest and most convenient broadcast receiver can be installed at the user's home as a dedicated broadcast broadcaster. In addition, broadcast waves can be easily selected by a filter. In addition, the analog type filter does not consume standby power, and is optimal for circuits that are rarely used.

<Configuration 4>
4. The optical communication device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the filter has a characteristic of selecting and passing an audio broadcast and blocking an image broadcast.

  Audio broadcasting is always free broadcasting, and only image broadcasting can be provided as pay broadcasting.

<Configuration 5>
5. The optical communication apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the notification broadcast signal is a signal for driving a receiver that can be driven at all times dedicated to reception of notification broadcasts on a user side. .

  This configuration is suitable because an emergency signal or the like is transmitted regardless of the intention of the user.

<Configuration 6>
In the optical communication device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, the electrical signal output from the conversion unit is distributed to an output stop control unit and a switch, and a control signal of the output stop control unit is input to a control terminal of the switch. The switch is provided with an input terminal for receiving an electrical signal, a first selection terminal, and a second selection terminal. In the on mode, the switch electrically connects the input terminal and the second selection terminal. In the off mode, the switch connects the input terminal and the first selection terminal, the first selection terminal of the switch is connected to the input terminal of the filter, and the second selection terminal is mixed. Connected to the second input terminal of the machine, the output terminal of the filter is connected to the first input terminal of the mixer, and broadcast signals for users are output from the output terminal of the mixer. Light Shin machine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail for each example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an optical communication apparatus according to the first embodiment.
The figure shows the overall configuration of the CATV system, and shows a state in which an optical signal is transmitted from the station side and a broadcast signal is provided to one user optical communication device 10. In fact, it goes without saying that broadcast signals are provided to a large number of optical communication devices 10 for users. On the station side, a station facility 24, a mixer 26, a computer 28, a remote stop control device 30, and an optical transmitter 34 are provided. The station facility 24 is a facility having a function of distributing radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, or various music and video contents. This apparatus is provided in a known CATV system. In the system of the present embodiment, the station facility 24 generates and outputs a notification broadcast signal by FM broadcast.

  The computer 28 is used by a station operator to operate the station facility 24 and the like. In the broadcast service stop process, the computer 28 is operated to activate the remote stop control device 30, and the broadcast receiving function of the optical communication device 10 of the corresponding user is stopped by remote control. V-ONU refers to an optical network connection unit having an image receiving function, and in this embodiment refers to the optical communication device 10. Each optical communication device 10 in the user's home is assigned an identification code 18 (address) for individually identifying all the optical communication devices 10. The computer 28 designates an identification code of the optical communication device that stops broadcasting or the optical communication device that restarts broadcasting. The remote stop control device 30 has a function of FM-modulating a stop command or a broadcast resumption command and an identification code and transmitting them to the optical communication device 10. The mixer 26 has a function of mixing a signal output from the station equipment 24 and a signal output from the remote stop control device 30 and sending the mixed signal to the optical transmitter 34. The optical transmitter 34 has a function of converting the electrical signal output from the mixer 26 into an optical signal and sending it to the optical transmission line 36.

  The optical transmission line 36 is laid on an outdoor utility pole or the like. This optical transmission line 36 is branched on a pillar by an optical branching coupler 38 and drawn into the optical communication device 10 at the user's home. The optical communication device 10 is a device having a function of converting an optical signal into an electric signal. The input side may be wired or wireless, but the output side is wired. That is, the broadcast receiver on the output side (user side) uses an electrical signal. The broadcast receiver is an image broadcast receiver such as a television receiver or an audio broadcast receiver such as an FM receiver. These broadcast receivers may be analog or digital.

  The illustrated optical communication device 10 includes a conversion unit 12, an output stop control unit 16, a switch 20, and a filter 22. The conversion unit 12 has a function of receiving an optical signal for transmitting a broadcast signal and converting it into an electrical signal. The output stop control unit 16 has a function of receiving a broadcast signal use stop command and controlling the switch 20. The switch 20 has a function of changing the state from the on mode to the off mode when the use stop command is received and returning from the off mode to the on mode when the use stop command is canceled. The state shown in the figure is an off mode. The switch 20 may be configured by an RF (radio frequency) switch that uses a TTL level signal to turn the switch ON / OFF using, for example, a transistor, a diode, a relay, or the like. Since the RF switch has a passing signal frequency characteristic suitable for switching of a broadcast signal, it is optimal for an optical communication device.

  The filter 22 has a function of selecting and passing a signal frequency of an announcement broadcast broadcast unconditionally to the user. This is constituted by, for example, a band-pass filter widely used in analog circuits. In this embodiment, for example, the signal frequency of the notification broadcast is set in the vicinity of 75 MHz, and the filter 22 has a characteristic of passing an FM signal of 70 to 90 MHz. The mixer 39 has a function of mixing the output of the filter 22 and the output of the switch 20 and outputting them through the output terminal 14. The output terminal 14 has a function of outputting an electric signal output from the mixer 39 to the user side.

  A coaxial cable is laid in the user's home. A distributor 40 is connected to the coaxial cable, and broadcast signals are distributed to the notification broadcast receiver 42 and the television receiver 44. In this embodiment, a normal FM broadcast receiver can be used as the notification broadcast receiver 42. However, it is preferable to provide an apparatus dedicated to receiving notification broadcasts, which is managed so that it can always be received. When the broadcast service is stopped, the use stop command with the identification code already described is received. The output stop control unit 16 has an identification code 18 (address). When a use stop command with the corresponding identification code 18 is received, the output stop control unit 16 receives this and controls the switch 20.

  That is, the switch 20 changes the state from the on mode to the off mode when the output stop control unit 16 receives a use stop command. The remote control procedure for stopping and starting use is the same as that used in the CATV system, so the communication procedure itself may be existing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optical communication device of a known CATV system.
As shown in the figure, in the known CATV system, the switch 50 is inserted in the path for transmitting the electrical signal output from the converter 12 to the output terminal 14. The switch 50 blocks the corresponding route when the output stop control unit 16 receives a broadcast use stop command. Accordingly, all broadcast signals supplied to the radio receiver 52 and the television receiver 44 are stopped. In the present embodiment, the system is realized simply by replacing the switch 50 with the switch 20 and adding the filter 22 while leaving the conversion unit 12 and the output stop control unit 16 of the existing optical communication device 10 as they are.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the circuit in each mode.
In the figure, the electrical signal output from the converter 12 is distributed to the output stop controller 16 and the switch 20. The control signal of the output stop control unit 16 is input to the control terminal 61 of the switch 20. The switch 20 is provided with an input terminal 62 for receiving an electrical signal, a first selection terminal 63, and a second selection terminal 64. In the on mode shown in (b), the switch 20 electrically connects the input terminal 62 and the second selection terminal 64. In the off mode shown in (a), the switch 20 connects the input terminal 62 and the first selection terminal 63. The first selection terminal 63 of the switch 20 is connected to the input terminal of the filter 22, and the second selection terminal 64 is connected to the second input terminal 66 of the mixer. The output terminal of the filter 22 is connected to the first input terminal 65 of the mixer. Thus, a broadcast signal for the user is output from the output terminal 67 of the mixer 39.

  According to the optical communication device 10 having the above configuration, an announcement broadcast can be transmitted unconditionally to all users at any time without an instruction as to whether the broadcast is an announcement broadcast or a preparation procedure before the broadcast. The notification broadcast may include, for example, service information from the broadcast provider side, guidance to be notified to all users, emergency broadcast in the event of a disaster, and the like.

  Hereinafter, various modifications of the above optical communication device will be described. The optical communication device of the present invention described above is used in at least a system for transmitting a broadcast signal. The broadcast signal may include not only a signal transmitted from the broadcast station but also an output signal of a music distribution device or the like managed uniquely on the station side. Further, the system of the present invention can be used in a CATV system, an FTTH system, or the like. However, when it is adopted in the CATV system, there is an effect that a new announcement broadcasting service can be started using the existing equipment and the existing communication procedure as they are. Further, the above optical communication device can be installed in an arbitrary place such as a utility pole, an outer wall of a user's house, a cable modem, or a broadcast receiver. By downsizing the circuit, the circuit can be appropriately stored in an optimal place. In the above embodiment, the notification broadcast converted into the electric signal is based on the FM broadcast signal. The simplest and most convenient broadcast receiver can be installed at the user's home as a dedicated broadcast broadcaster. In addition, broadcast waves can be easily selected by a filter. In addition, the analog type filter does not consume standby power, and is optimal for circuits that are rarely used.

  Note that the filter 22 may have a characteristic of selecting and allowing the audio broadcast to pass and blocking the image broadcast. As a result, the audio broadcast is always free broadcast, and only the image broadcast can be provided as a pay broadcast. That is, a variety of services can be provided by distinguishing the services that can be provided by the CATV system or the like into paid and free services. Further, the notification broadcast signal may be a signal for driving a receiver that can always be driven exclusively for reception of the notification broadcast on the user side. This configuration is suitable because an emergency signal or the like is transmitted regardless of the intention of the user.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an optical communication device according to a first embodiment. It is an optical communication apparatus block diagram of a known CATV system. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the circuit in each mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Optical communication apparatus 12 Conversion part 14 Output terminal 16 Output stop control part 18 Identification code 20 Switch 22 Filter 24 Station equipment 26 Mixer 28 Computer 30 Remote stop control apparatus 34 Optical transmitter 36 Optical transmission path 38 Optical branching coupler 39 Mixing 40 Distributor 42 Announcement broadcast receiver 44 Television receiver

Claims (6)

A conversion unit that receives an optical signal for transmitting a broadcast signal and converts it into an electrical signal;
An output terminal for outputting the electric signal to the user side;
An output stop control unit for receiving a use stop command of the broadcast signal;
When the output stop control unit receives the use stop command, the state is changed from the on mode to the off mode, and when the use stop command is released, the switch to return from the off mode to the on mode,
A filter for selecting and passing a signal frequency of an announcement broadcast broadcast unconditionally to the user,
The switch transmits an electric signal output from the conversion unit directly to the output terminal in the on mode, and transmits an electric signal output from the conversion unit to the output terminal via the filter in the off mode. An optical communication device characterized by that. The optical communication device according to claim 1,
The optical communication apparatus, wherein the broadcast signal is received through a CATV communication network. The optical communication device according to claim 1 or 2,
An optical communication device characterized in that the notification broadcast converted into an electrical signal is based on an FM broadcast signal. The optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An optical communication device characterized in that the filter has a characteristic of selecting and allowing an audio broadcast to pass and blocking an image broadcast. The optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The optical communication device characterized in that the notification broadcast signal is a signal for driving a receiver capable of always driving dedicated to reception of notification broadcasts on the user side. The optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The electrical signal output from the conversion unit is distributed to the output stop control unit and the switch, the control signal of the output stop control unit is input to the control terminal of the switch, and the switch has an input terminal for receiving the electrical signal and the first terminal. In the on mode, the switch electrically connects the input terminal and the second selection terminal, and in the off mode, the switch includes the input terminal and the first selection terminal. The first selection terminal of the switch is connected to the input terminal of the filter, the second selection terminal is connected to the second input terminal of the mixer, and the output terminal of the filter is An optical communication device connected to a first input terminal of the mixer and outputting a broadcast signal for a user from an output terminal of the mixer.

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