JP2014027453A - Receiver and reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve quality of signals which are simultaneously received from a plurality of channels.SOLUTION: A broadcast reception module includes a plurality of tuners. The respective tuners select different channels and receive signals of the selected channels on the basis of control of a tuner controller. A tuner with higher reception performance receives the signal of a channel with a lower input signal level. Namely, a tuner with the highest reception performance receives the signal of a channel with the lowest input signal level. On the other hand, a tuner with the lowest reception performance receives the signal of a channel with the highest input signal level.

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus and a receiving system, and more particularly to a technique for assigning a channel to each of a plurality of tuners.

  Recorders that can record programs of multiple channels are on the market. Such a recorder has a plurality of tuners. Each tuner is mounted at a different position on the substrate. Therefore, for example, due to the layout of the signal input unit, the high frequency characteristics may be different for each tuner. Also, the degree of degradation in reception performance due to radiation from the digital processing circuit can be influenced by the position of the tuner. Therefore, reception performance may differ between tuners.

  Further, the deterioration state of the received signal of each channel may differ due to loss in the transmission cable, jamming radio waves, radiation in the recorder, and the like.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-278195 (Patent Document 1), in the 18th paragraph, the reception state obtained by each tuner at the time of initial channel scan is monitored, and a tuner having a better reception state is selected, and each channel is selected. In the subsequent channel selection, channel selection is performed in accordance with the channel selection.

JP 2008-278195 A

  However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-278195 is not always effective when simultaneously recording programs of a plurality of channels. When the reception state of a specific tuner is the best for a plurality of channels, a tuner to be used when simultaneously receiving signals of the plurality of channels is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-278195. Absent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a receiving apparatus and a receiving system suitable for simultaneously receiving signals of a plurality of channels.

  In one embodiment, a receiving apparatus that receives signals of a plurality of channels includes a plurality of tuners each receiving a signal of a different channel. A tuner having higher reception performance receives a signal of a channel in which the deterioration of the received signal is larger.

  A tuner having higher reception performance receives a signal of a channel in which the deterioration of the received signal is larger. For this reason, the tuner having the highest reception performance receives the signal of the channel with the greatest deterioration of the reception signal. Conversely, the tuner with the lowest reception performance receives the signal of the channel with the least degradation of the received signal. Thereby, the quality of the signal obtained can be leveled. Therefore, when receiving signals of a plurality of channels using a plurality of tuners at the same time, it is possible to avoid that the reception result of a signal of a specific channel becomes extremely worse than the reception results of signals of other channels. . Therefore, the overall reception result when receiving signals of a plurality of channels simultaneously can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the video recording system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the receiving module for broadcasting. It is a figure which shows the combination of the tuner and channel in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which a video recording system performs in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the video recording system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the tuner mounted in each module for broadcast reception. It is a figure which shows the combination of the tuner and channel in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the video recording system provided with the module for two broadcast reception installed in the distant place.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

First Embodiment A recording system 10 having a broadcast receiving module 12 as a receiving apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. As an example, the recording system 10 simultaneously records programs of all channels of One Seg (registered trademark). The signal to be received is not limited to a one-segment signal, and a digital terrestrial broadcast signal also called a full-segment signal may be received.

  The recording system 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 14 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 16 in addition to the broadcast receiving module 12. The broadcast receiving module 12, the CPU 14, and the HDD 16 may be housed in the same housing, or may be housed individually in separate housings.

  The broadcast receiving module 12 includes a distributor 20, a plurality of tuners 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and a tuner controller 40. A signal input to the recording system 10 via the antenna 50 is distributed to the tuners 31 to 38 by the distributor 20. Note that the number of tuners is not limited to eight, and may be any number as long as it is plural.

  Each of the tuners 31 to 38 selects a different channel based on the control from the tuner controller 40 and receives a signal of the selected channel. Each tuner 31-38 demodulates the signal of the selected channel. Each tuner 31 to 38 outputs a TS (Transport Stream) signal corresponding to each digital video signal.

  TS signals for a plurality of video signals output from each of the tuners 31 to 38 are integrated into one system signal in the tuner controller 40. The integrated TS signal is converted into an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) -I / F (Inter Face) signal. An SRAM-I / F signal is output from the tuner controller 40. The SRAM-I / F signal is further converted into a USB (Universal Serial Bus) (registered trademark) -I / F signal by a bridge IC (Integrated Circuit) 42 in the subsequent stage.

  In the recording system 10, the USB-I / F signal output from the broadcast receiving module 12 is input to a main board on which an external recording medium such as the CPU 14 and the HDD 16 is mounted. The CPU 14 processes the signal, and the processed signal is stored in an external storage device such as the HDD 16. In this way, video signals of a plurality of different channels are received simultaneously using the plurality of tuners 31 to 38 and stored in the HDD 16.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 14 has a LAN (Local Aria Network) function. The CPU 14 extracts the video signal of each channel stored in the HDD 16 from the HDD 16 and distributes the desired video signal desired by the user to the mobile terminal 80 owned by the user via the network 60 such as the Internet and the external server 70. can do.

  As an example, the user can designate an arbitrary program from among recorded programs of a plurality of channels using a portable terminal 80 such as a media player, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). . By using the portable terminal 80 to access the recording signal, the user can view a program recorded at a location away from the recording system 10.

  The broadcast receiving module 12 will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of tuners 31 to 38 are arranged at different locations on the substrate 44. As a result, the reception performance of each of the tuners 31 to 38 can be different due to the difference in high frequency characteristics caused by the layout of the signal input unit. Further, although it is expected that the reception performance is deteriorated due to radiation from the tuner controller 40 or the like, the degree of influence of radiation may vary depending on the positions of the tuners 31 to 38. As a result, the signal reception performance may differ between the tuners 31 to 38.

  In addition, the state of deterioration of the received signal of each channel (input signal level, S / N (Signal to Noise ratio), the degree of interference due to spurious, etc.), loss in transmission cable, jamming radio wave, radiation, etc. Can vary under the influence of. As a result, for example, the input signal level of a specific channel can be inferior to the input signal levels of other channels. Therefore, when a signal of a channel having a low input signal level is received by a tuner having the lowest reception performance, the quality of the obtained video signal can be extremely deteriorated.

  In order to cope with this, as shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, a tuner having a higher reception performance (reception sensitivity performance) receives a signal of a channel in which the deterioration of the received signal is larger. As an example, in the example shown below, a tuner with higher reception performance receives a signal of a channel with a lower input signal level.

  Note that a tuner having higher reception performance may receive a signal of a channel having a smaller S / N (more noise). A tuner having higher reception performance may receive a signal of a channel that is more disturbed by spurious. That is, in the following description, “input signal level” may be replaced with “S / N” or “degree of spurious interference” and applied to the present invention. What shows the state of deterioration of the received signal is not limited to the level of interference due to the input signal level, S / N, and spurious.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, for the sake of explanation, it is assumed that the reception performance is good in the order of tuner H, tuner G, tuner F, tuner E, tuner D, tuner C, tuner B, and tuner A. Also, it is assumed that the input signal level is low in the order of the first channel, the second channel, the third channel, the fourth channel, the fifth channel, the sixth channel, the seventh channel, and the eighth channel (the degradation of the received signal is large). To do.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the tuner H receives the signal of the first channel. The tuner G receives the second channel signal. Tuner F receives the third channel signal. Tuner E receives the fourth channel signal. Tuner D receives the fifth channel signal. Tuner C receives the sixth channel signal. Tuner B receives the seventh channel signal. Tuner A receives the signal of the eighth channel. That is, the tuner with the highest reception performance receives the signal of the channel with the lowest input signal level (the deterioration of the received signal is the greatest). Conversely, the tuner with the lowest reception performance receives the signal of the channel with the highest input signal level (the least degradation of the received signal).

  As an example, it is assumed that the input signal level of the first channel is −90 dBm and the input signal level of the first channel is below the reception limit (lower limit value) of the tuners A to G. Further, it is assumed that the reception limit of the tuner H is lower than the input signal level of the first channel. In this case, the tuners A to G cannot receive the first channel signal. However, even in such a case, tuner H can receive the first channel signal because the reception limit of tuner H is lower than -90 dBm.

  Generally, the reception performance of a tuner can be monitored by a digital demodulator (for example, OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulation) mounted in each tuner. The reception performance may be evaluated using BER (Bit Error Rate) or the like.

  As an example, the reception performances of the tuners 31 to 38 in a state where the tuners 31 to 38 receive signals of arbitrary same channels are compared. Thereby, the reception performance difference between tuners can be verified.

  Further, by sequentially receiving signals of the respective channels using any one of the plurality of tuners 31 to 38, the input signal level (the state of the received signal) of each channel is measured. Thereby, the input signal level difference between channels can be verified. The reception performance and the input signal level are obtained by processing executed by the tuner controller 40, for example.

  The reception performance of each tuner 31 to 38 and the input signal level of each channel are stored in the memory of the CPU 14 shown in FIG. The reception performance of each tuner 31 to 38 and the input signal level of each channel are connected to the recording system 10 via the network 60 in addition to the storage device in the recording system 10, and as a result, connected to the broadcast receiving module 12. Stored in the external server 70. That is, the external server 70 has a function as an external storage device.

  The reception performance of each tuner 31 to 38 and the input signal level of each channel are transmitted using the LAN communication function of the CPU 14. Therefore, the CPU 14 can function as a communication unit of the recording system 10. Therefore, the broadcast receiving module 12 communicates with the external server 70 via the CPU 14.

  The tuner controller 40 assigns channels to be selected to the tuners 31 to 38 based on the reception performance and the input signal level stored inside or outside the recording system 10.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the process which CPU14 of the video recording system 10 performs in this Embodiment is demonstrated. The processing described below may be realized by software, may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware.

  In step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 100, the reception performance of each of the tuners 31 to 38 is evaluated. In S102, the input signal level of each channel is evaluated. After obtaining the reception performance and the input signal level, in S104, the tuner with the higher reception performance selects a channel with the lower input signal level. In S106, information indicating the reception performance and the input signal level is sent to the external server 70.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a tuner with higher reception performance receives a signal of a channel with a lower input signal level. Therefore, the tuner with the highest reception performance receives the signal of the channel with the lowest input signal level. Conversely, the tuner with the lowest reception performance receives the signal of the channel with the highest input signal level. Thereby, the quality of the signal obtained can be leveled. Therefore, when receiving signals of a plurality of channels using a plurality of tuners at the same time, it is possible to avoid that the reception result of a signal of a specific channel becomes extremely worse than the reception results of signals of other channels. . Therefore, the overall reception result when receiving signals of a plurality of channels simultaneously can be improved.

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the recording system 10 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that it includes two broadcast receiving modules 12X and a broadcast receiving module 12Y. Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, including the internal structure of the broadcast receiving module. The components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated here. The number of broadcast receiving modules is not limited to two, and may be any number as long as it is plural.

  In the present embodiment, reception performance is compared between tuners of a plurality of broadcast receiving modules 12X and 12Y. Further, a tuner capable of receiving the signal of each channel is selected from the tuners of the plurality of broadcast receiving modules 12X and 12Y.

  For the sake of explanation, as shown in FIG. 6, the broadcast receiving module 12X and the broadcast receiving module 12Y are distinguished from each other by identification numbers “X” and “Y”, and the tuner included in the broadcast receiving module 12X. Are described as tuner XA, tuner XB, tuner XC, tuner XD, tuner XE, tuner XF, tuner XG, tuner XH.

  Similarly, tuners included in the broadcast receiving module 12Y are described as tuner YA, tuner YB, tuner YC, tuner YD, tuner YE, tuner YF, tuner YG, and tuner YH.

  Further, in the present embodiment, tuner YH, tuner XH, tuner YG, tuner XG, tuner YF, tuner XF, tuner YE, tuner XE, tuner YD, tuner XD, tuner YC, tuner XC, tuner YB, tuner XB It is assumed that the reception performance is higher in the order of tuner YA and tuner XA.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the input signal level is low in the order of the first channel, the second channel, the third channel, the fourth channel, the fifth channel, the sixth channel, the seventh channel, and the eighth channel. .

  In this case, the tuner YH receives the first channel signal. The tuner XH receives the signal of the second channel. Tuner YG receives the third channel signal. The tuner XG receives the fourth channel signal. The tuner YF receives the fifth channel signal. The tuner XF receives the sixth channel signal. The tuner YE receives the seventh channel signal. The tuner XE receives the eighth channel signal.

  That is, the tuners with the highest reception performance are selected by the number of channels without distinguishing the broadcast receiving modules, and the video signals are received using the selected tuners.

  The reception performance of each tuner and the input signal level of each channel are transmitted to the external server 70 as in the first embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, the identification number “X” of the broadcast receiving module 12X and the identification number “Y” of the broadcast receiving module 12Y are sent to the external server 70 together with the reception performance and the input signal level.

  By sending various information to the external server 70, the combination of the broadcast receiving modules 12X and 12Y and the channel can be managed on the cloud.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the broadcast receiving module 12X and the broadcast receiving module 12Y may be grounded at a location away from each other.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10 recording system, 12, 12X, 12X broadcast receiving module, 14 CPU, 16 HDD, 18 main board, 20 distributor, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 tuner, 40 tuner controller, 42 Bridge IC, 44 substrate, 50 antenna, 60 network, 70 external server, 80 portable terminal.

Claims (6)

A receiving device for receiving signals of a plurality of channels,
A plurality of tuners each receiving a signal of a different channel;
A receiving apparatus in which a tuner having higher reception performance receives a signal of a channel in which deterioration of a received signal is larger.   The reception performance of each of the plurality of tuners and the state of a reception signal of each of the plurality of channels are transmitted to an external storage device connected to the reception device via a network. Receiver device.   The receiving device determines a channel for the tuner to receive a signal based on the reception performance of each of the plurality of tuners and the state of the reception signal of each of the plurality of channels stored in the external storage device. The receiving device according to claim 2. A plurality of receiving devices according to claim 1 are provided,
The reception performance is compared between tuners of the plurality of reception devices,
A receiving system in which a tuner having higher reception performance receives a signal of a channel in which the deterioration of the received signal is larger.   The reception performance of each of the plurality of tuners and the state of the reception signal of each of the plurality of channels are transmitted to an external storage device connected to the plurality of reception devices via a network. The receiving system described.   The receiving system according to claim 5, wherein an identification number of the receiving device is transmitted to the external storage device.

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