JP2012119743A - Coaxial line communication apparatus and coaxial line communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coaxial line communication apparatus in which home construction for installing a booster becomes unnecessary and bidirectional data communication by coaxial line communication can be performed.SOLUTION: A coaxial line communication apparatus 13 performing communication of a broadcast signal and data by the coaxial line communication includes: terminals 71 to 73; a signal processing portion 74 between the terminal 71 and the terminal 72; and a signal processing portion 75 between the terminal 72 and the terminal 73. The signal processing portion 74 has a booster portion 77 amplifying the broadcast signal input to the terminal 71 from an upstream device and transmits the broadcast signal amplified by the booster portion 77 from the terminal 72 to a downstream device via a coaxial line 51. The signal processing portion 75 transmits data input from the upstream device to the terminal 73 to the downstream device from the terminal 72 via the coaxial line 51 and transmits data input to the terminal 72 from the downstream device via the coaxial line 51 to the upstream device from the terminal 73.

Description

  The present invention relates to a coaxial line communication device and a coaxial line communication system including the same.

  With recent advances in communication technology, there are broadcast services that transmit broadcast signals such as terrestrial digital broadcasts and BS and CS digital broadcasts transmitted from broadcasters to users' homes via wired communication lines such as optical fibers. It is becoming popular. In the user's house, the broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcaster is received by the optical line terminator, and the received broadcast signal is distributed to each room via a coaxial line laid in the house. A broadcast program can be viewed on a television in each room without installing an antenna (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 below).

“FLET'S TV FLET'S Hikari Video Service Connection Image / Introduction Example”, [online], [searched on November 4, 2010], Internet <URL: http://www.isdn-info.co.jp/ftv /line.html>

  When the received broadcast signal is distributed to each room in the house via the coaxial line, the signal level of the broadcast signal may be reduced due to loss in the coaxial line itself or attenuation when passing through the distributor. . In such a case, it is necessary to amplify the broadcast signal by performing in-house construction and arranging a booster in the middle of the coaxial line. Therefore, for the user, there is a problem that the home construction for installing the booster is complicated and the introduction cost increases along with the home construction.

  In addition, when a booster equipped with a so-called unidirectional amplifier is installed, a broadcast signal in the direction from the optical line terminating device to the television (downward) can be amplified and transmitted. However, a signal cannot be transmitted in the direction from the television toward the optical line termination device (upward direction). Even when IP (Internet Protocol) -based data communication is performed by coaxial line communication while being superimposed on a broadcast signal, uplink data communication is blocked by a one-way amplifier. Therefore, when a booster equipped with a unidirectional amplifier is installed, it is not possible to provide services such as VOD (Video On Demand) that require not only downlink communication but also uplink data communication. is there.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and does not require in-house work for installing a booster, and can perform bidirectional data communication by coaxial line communication. An object of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus and a coaxial line communication system including the apparatus.

  A coaxial line communication apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a coaxial line communication apparatus that performs communication of a broadcast signal and data by coaxial line communication, and includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, A first signal processing unit between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a second signal processing unit between the second terminal and the third terminal, the first signal processing unit, A booster unit for amplifying the broadcast signal input from the upstream device to the first terminal, and transmitting the broadcast signal amplified by the booster unit from the second terminal to the downstream device via a coaxial line; The second signal processing unit transmits data input from the upstream device to the third terminal toward the downstream device via the coaxial line from the second terminal, and transmits the data from the downstream device via the coaxial line. Data input to the second terminal is directed from the third terminal to the upstream device It is characterized in that the transmission.

  According to the coaxial line communication device according to the first aspect, the first signal processing unit has a booster unit that amplifies the broadcast signal input from the upstream device to the first terminal, and the broadcast amplified by the booster unit. The signal is transmitted from the second terminal toward the downstream device via the coaxial line. Therefore, even if the signal level of the broadcast signal is reduced due to loss in the coaxial line itself or attenuation when passing through the distributor, the broadcast signal having a sufficient signal level can be obtained by amplifying the broadcast signal by the booster unit. Can be obtained. As a result, in-house work for installing a booster in the middle of the coaxial line is not required, so that complicated in-house work can be omitted and increase in introduction cost associated with in-house work can be avoided.

  The second signal processing unit transmits the data input from the upstream device to the third terminal to the downstream device via the coaxial line from the second terminal, and from the downstream device to the second terminal via the coaxial line. Is transmitted from the third terminal to the upstream device. Therefore, even when a unidirectional amplifier is used as a booster unit included in the first signal processing unit, by providing the second signal processing unit separately from the first signal processing unit, both of them can be performed by the second signal processing unit. Data communication can be performed. As a result, it becomes possible to provide services such as VOD that require not only downlink communication but also uplink data communication.

  The coaxial line communication apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is the coaxial line communication apparatus according to the first aspect, in particular, the first terminal is provided with a line termination apparatus via a communication line from a broadcast signal transmitting station. The received broadcast signal is input from the line terminating device.

  According to the coaxial line communication device according to the second aspect, the broadcast signal received by the line termination device from the broadcast signal transmitting station via the communication line is input to the first terminal from the line termination device. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to install an antenna for receiving a broadcast signal, a user can easily and inexpensively introduce a coaxial line communication system using the coaxial line communication apparatus.

  The coaxial line communication device according to the third aspect of the present invention is the data transmitted from the upstream device to the downstream device via the second signal processing unit, particularly in the coaxial line communication device according to the first or second aspect. Includes content data in a VOD (Video On Demand) service.

  According to the coaxial line communication device according to the third aspect, the data transmitted from the upstream device to the downstream device via the second signal processing unit includes content data in the VOD service. Therefore, since the user can view not only broadcast programs such as terrestrial digital broadcasts and BS and CS digital broadcasts but also contents of the VOD service, user convenience can be improved.

  A coaxial line communication system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a line termination device that receives a broadcast signal from a broadcast signal transmission station via a communication line, and a coaxial line that performs communication of a broadcast signal and data by coaxial line communication. The coaxial line communication device includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, a first signal processing unit between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the first terminal A second signal processing unit between the second terminal and the third terminal, wherein the first signal processing unit amplifies the broadcast signal input to the first terminal from the line terminating device. The broadcast signal amplified by the booster unit is transmitted from the second terminal to a downstream device via a coaxial line, and the second signal processing unit is input from the upstream device to the third terminal. The downstream data from the second terminal via a coaxial line Transmitting towards, the input data to the second terminal via the coaxial line from the downstream device, is characterized in that the transmission towards the upstream device from the third terminal.

  According to the coaxial line communication system according to the fourth aspect, the first signal processing unit has the booster unit that amplifies the broadcast signal input from the upstream device to the first terminal, and the broadcast amplified by the booster unit. The signal is transmitted from the second terminal toward the downstream device via the coaxial line. Therefore, even if the signal level of the broadcast signal is reduced due to loss in the coaxial line itself or attenuation when passing through the distributor, the broadcast signal having a sufficient signal level can be obtained by amplifying the broadcast signal by the booster unit. Can be obtained. As a result, in-house work for installing a booster in the middle of the coaxial line is not required, so that complicated in-house work can be omitted and increase in introduction cost associated with in-house work can be avoided.

  The second signal processing unit transmits the data input from the upstream device to the third terminal to the downstream device via the coaxial line from the second terminal, and from the downstream device to the second terminal via the coaxial line. Is transmitted from the third terminal to the upstream device. Therefore, even when a unidirectional amplifier is used as a booster unit included in the first signal processing unit, by providing the second signal processing unit separately from the first signal processing unit, both of them can be performed by the second signal processing unit. Data communication can be performed. As a result, it becomes possible to provide services such as VOD that require not only downlink communication but also uplink data communication.

  According to the present invention, home construction for installing a booster becomes unnecessary, and bidirectional data communication by coaxial line communication can be performed.

It is a figure which shows the example of application of the coaxial line communication system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a coaxial line communication device 13. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the element which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in different drawing shall show the same or corresponding element.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an application example of a coaxial line communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the room 2 of the user's house 1, a line terminating device 11, a distributor 12, a coaxial line communication device 13, and a television 14 are installed. A coaxial line communication device 21 and a television 22 are installed in the room 3 of the house 1.

  The line termination device 11 is connected to the transmission server 61 and the distribution server 62 via a communication line 63 such as an optical fiber. The transmission server 61 is installed in a transmission station that transmits broadcast signals, and broadcast signals such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS, and CS digital broadcasting are transmitted from the transmission server 61 to the line terminating device 11 via the communication line 63. The The distribution server 62 is installed in a distribution station that provides a VOD (Video On Demand) service. Content data such as video (IP-based communication data) provided by the VOD service is transmitted from the distribution server 62 to a communication line 63. Is transmitted to the line termination device 11 via

  The line terminating device 11 is an optical line terminating device such as an ONU integrated router in which an ONU (Optical Network Unit) and a router are integrated. The line termination device 11 may be equipped with a function as a home gateway in a coaxial line communication system built in the house 1. The line termination device 11 is connected to the input terminal of the distributor 12 via a coaxial cable 31 and is connected to the coaxial line communication device 13 via a LAN (Local Area Network) cable 34. The output terminal of the distributor 12 is connected to the television 14 via the coaxial cable 32, and the other output terminal of the distributor 12 is connected to the coaxial line communication device 13 via the coaxial cable 33. . The television 14 and the line termination device 11 may be connected via a LAN cable by using a relay device such as a switching hub.

  The coaxial line communication device 13 is a coaxial modem for performing coaxial line communication. The coaxial line communication device 13 is connected to a television terminal (F-type terminal) 15 on the wall surface of the room 2 via a coaxial cable 35. Similarly, the coaxial line communication device 21 is a coaxial modem for performing coaxial line communication, and is connected to a television terminal (F-type terminal) 23 on the wall surface of the room 3 via a coaxial cable 41. The coaxial line communication device 21 is connected to the television 22 via a coaxial cable 42 and a LAN cable 43. The television terminal 15 and the television terminal 23 are connected to each other via a coaxial line 51 laid in the house 1.

  The broadcast signal received by the line termination device 11 from the transmission server 61 is input from the line termination device 11 to the television 14 via the coaxial cable 31, the distributor 12, and the coaxial cable 32 in this order. As a result, the broadcast program can be viewed on the television 14.

  Broadcast signals received by the line termination device 11 from the transmission server 61 are transmitted from the line termination device 11 to the coaxial cable 31, the distributor 12, the coaxial cable 33, the coaxial line communication device 13, the coaxial cable 35, the coaxial line 51, and the coaxial cable. 41, the coaxial line communication device 21, and the coaxial cable 42 are input to the television 22 via this order. Thereby, it is possible to view the broadcast program on the television 22.

  In addition, when viewing the content of the VOD service on the television 22, IP-based communication data (for example, communication data for selecting a content that the user wants to view) transmitted from the television 22 to the distribution server 62 is transmitted from the television 22. The distribution server via the LAN cable 43, the coaxial line communication device 21, the coaxial cable 41, the coaxial line 51, the coaxial cable 35, the coaxial line communication device 13, the LAN cable 34, the line termination device 11, and the communication line 63 in this order. 62. The content data received by the line termination device 11 from the distribution server 62 includes the LAN cable 34, the coaxial line communication device 13, the coaxial cable 35, the coaxial line 51, the coaxial cable 41, the coaxial line communication device 21, and the LAN from the line termination device 11. The signal is input to the television 22 via the cable 43 in this order. As a result, the content of the VOD service can be viewed on the television 22. When the television 14 and the line termination device 11 are connected via a LAN cable, the television 14 can also view the content of the VOD service. The television 22 can perform access to the Internet and other IP-based communications in addition to viewing content of the VOD service. In addition, when a PC is connected to the coaxial line communication device 21 with a LAN cable, access to the Internet and other IP-based communication can be performed in addition to viewing the content of the VOD service.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the coaxial line communication device 13. The coaxial line communication device 13 includes a terminal 71 to which the coaxial cable 33 is connected, a terminal 72 to which the coaxial cable 35 is connected, and a terminal 73 to which the LAN cable 34 is connected. The coaxial line communication device 13 may include terminals other than the terminals 71 to 73.

  The coaxial line communication device 13 includes a signal processing unit 74 disposed on a communication path between the terminal 71 and the terminal 72, and a signal processing unit 75 disposed on a communication path between the terminal 73 and the terminal 72. ing.

  The signal processing unit 74 includes a demultiplexing unit 76, a booster unit 77, a multiplexing unit 78, and a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79. The booster unit 77 is, for example, a booster amplifier 85 for amplifying a broadcast signal in a frequency band assigned to terrestrial digital broadcasting, and a booster for amplifying a broadcast signal in a frequency band assigned to BS or CS digital broadcast. And an amplifier 86. That is, the coaxial line communication device 13 is a booster built-in type coaxial modem. The booster amplifiers 85 and 86 are both unidirectional amplifiers, and in the downstream direction (that is, the direction from the terminal 71 to the terminal 72) from the line terminating device 11 that is the upstream device to the coaxial line communication device 21 that is the downstream device. On the other hand, the signal is transmitted, but the signal is not transmitted in the upstream direction (that is, the direction from the terminal 72 to the terminal 71) from the coaxial line communication device 21 that is the downstream device to the line termination device 11 that is the upstream device.

  The demultiplexing unit 76 demultiplexes the broadcast signal input from the terminal 71 into a terrestrial digital broadcast signal and a BS / CS digital broadcast signal. The booster amplifier 85 amplifies a terrestrial digital broadcast signal and inputs the amplified signal to the multiplexing unit 78. The booster amplifier 86 amplifies the BS / CS digital broadcast signal and inputs the amplified signal to the multiplexing unit 78. The multiplexing unit 78 multiplexes the terrestrial digital broadcast signal and the BS / CS digital broadcast signal and inputs them to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79. The multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79 inputs the broadcast signal input from the multiplexing unit 78 to the terminal 72.

  The signal processing unit 75 includes an external interface 80, a control unit 81, a transmission unit 82, a reception unit 83, and a switching unit 84.

  In data communication in the down direction (that is, the direction from the terminal 73 to the terminal 72), the external interface 80 inputs the content data input from the terminal 73 to the control unit 81. The control unit 81 inputs content data input from the external interface 80 to the transmission unit 82. The transmission unit 82 performs processing such as modulation on the content data input from the control unit 81 and inputs the content data to the switching unit 84. The switching unit 84 inputs the content data input from the transmission unit 82 to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79. The multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79 inputs the content data input from the switching unit 84 to the terminal 72.

  From the terminal 72, a communication signal in which the broadcast signal input from the signal processing unit 74 and the content data input from the signal processing unit 75 are superimposed is output toward the coaxial line communication device 21.

  In the data communication in the upstream direction (that is, the direction from the terminal 72 to the terminal 73), the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79 transmits the communication data (for example, data for selecting content to be viewed) input from the terminal to the switching unit 84. input. The switching unit 84 inputs the communication data input from the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 79 to the receiving unit 83. The receiving unit 83 performs a process such as demodulation on the communication data input from the switching unit 84 and inputs the communication data to the control unit 81. The control unit 81 inputs communication data input from the reception unit 83 to the external interface 80. The external interface 80 inputs communication data input from the control unit 81 to the terminal 73. From the terminal 73, communication data input from the external interface 80 is output toward the line terminating device 11. Referring to FIG. 1, line terminating apparatus 11 transmits communication data input from coaxial line communication apparatus 13 toward distribution server 62.

  Here, the signal processing unit 75 is configured to perform bidirectional data communication with the coaxial line communication device 21 by a time division communication method. The switching unit 84 is controlled by the control unit 81 to transmit a communication data transmission period toward the coaxial line communication device 21 (that is, an operation period of the transmission unit 82) and a communication data reception period from the coaxial line communication device 21. (That is, the operation period of the receiving unit 83) is repeated alternately.

  The configuration of the coaxial line communication device 21 is the same as the configuration of the coaxial line communication device 13. However, the coaxial line communication device 21 is not necessarily provided with the demultiplexing unit 76, the booster unit 77, and the multiplexing unit 78.

  As described above, according to the coaxial line communication device 13 according to the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 74 (first signal processing unit) is input to the terminal 71 (first terminal) from the upstream device such as the line terminating device 11. A booster unit 77 that amplifies the broadcast signal, and the broadcast signal amplified by the booster unit 77 is connected to a downstream device such as the coaxial line communication device 21 from the terminal 72 (second terminal) via the coaxial line 51 or the like. Transmit towards Therefore, even if the signal level of the broadcast signal is lowered due to loss in the coaxial line 51 or the like itself or attenuation when passing through the distributor 12, sufficient signal can be obtained by amplifying the broadcast signal by the booster unit 77. A level broadcast signal can be obtained. As a result, in-house work for installing a booster in the middle of the coaxial line 51 is not required, so that complicated in-house work can be omitted and an increase in introduction cost associated with the in-house work can be avoided.

  The signal processing unit 75 (second signal processing unit) transmits data input from the upstream device to the terminal 73 (third terminal) from the terminal 72 toward the downstream device via the coaxial line 51 or the like, Data input from the downstream device to the terminal 72 via the coaxial line 51 or the like is transmitted from the terminal 73 toward the upstream device. Therefore, even when unidirectional amplifiers are used as the booster amplifiers 85 and 86 of the booster unit 77 included in the signal processing unit 74, the signal processing unit 75 (that is, bypasses the booster unit 77) separately from the signal processing unit 74. By providing the bypass path, the signal processing unit 75 can perform bidirectional data communication. As a result, it becomes possible to provide services such as VOD that require not only downlink communication but also uplink data communication.

  Further, according to the coaxial line communication device 13 according to the present embodiment, the terminal 71 receives a broadcast signal received by the line termination device 11 from the transmission server 61 of the broadcast signal transmission station via the communication line 63. Input from the line terminating device 11 via the distributor 12. Therefore, since it is not necessary to install an antenna for receiving a broadcast signal, the user can easily and inexpensively introduce a coaxial line communication system using the coaxial line communication device 13.

  Further, according to the coaxial line communication device 13 according to the present embodiment, the data transmitted from the upstream device to the downstream device via the signal processing unit 75 includes content data in the VOD service. Therefore, since the user can view not only broadcast programs such as terrestrial digital broadcasts and BS and CS digital broadcasts but also contents of the VOD service, user convenience can be improved.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above-mentioned meaning but by the scope of claims for patent, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Line termination device 13,21 Coaxial line communication apparatus 51 Coaxial line 71-73 Terminal 74,75 Signal processing part 77 Booster part

Claims (4)

A coaxial line communication apparatus for communicating broadcast signals and data by coaxial line communication,
A first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal;
A first signal processing unit between the first terminal and the second terminal;
A second signal processing unit between the second terminal and the third terminal;
With
The first signal processing unit includes a booster unit that amplifies a broadcast signal input to the first terminal from an upstream device, and the broadcast signal amplified by the booster unit is transmitted from the second terminal via a coaxial line. To downstream equipment,
The second signal processor is
Data input from the upstream device to the third terminal is transmitted from the second terminal to the downstream device via a coaxial line,
A coaxial line communication device that transmits data input from a downstream device to the second terminal via a coaxial line from the third terminal toward an upstream device.   2. The coaxial line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a broadcast signal received by a line termination device from a broadcast signal transmitting station via a communication line is input to the first terminal from the line termination device.   The coaxial line communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein data transmitted from an upstream device to the downstream device via the second signal processing unit includes content data in a VOD (Video On Demand) service. A line terminator for receiving a broadcast signal from a broadcast signal transmitting station via a communication line;
A coaxial line communication device for communicating broadcast signals and data by coaxial line communication;
With
The coaxial line communication device is
A first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal;
A first signal processing unit between the first terminal and the second terminal;
A second signal processing unit between the second terminal and the third terminal;
Have
The first signal processing unit includes a booster unit that amplifies a broadcast signal input to the first terminal from the line terminating device, and the broadcast signal amplified by the booster unit is coaxially connected from the second terminal. To the downstream equipment via
The second signal processor is
Data input from the upstream device to the third terminal is transmitted from the second terminal to the downstream device via a coaxial line,
A coaxial line communication system that transmits data input from a downstream device to the second terminal via a coaxial line from the third terminal toward an upstream device.

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