JP2773137B2 - Support system for computer games - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support system for a computer game or the like in a passenger cabin or the like, in which an audio / video system is incorporated as a terminal device for each seat.

[Summary of the Invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention enables a portable microcomputer to be attached to and detached from a terminal installed in each seat in a passenger room or the like in which an audio / video system is installed as a terminal in each seat. By doing so, when there is a request from the passenger, the microcomputer unit is mounted only on the seat of the desired passenger so that the computer game or the like can be enjoyed.

[Conventional technology]

Audio / video systems are provided on international airliners and the like so that passengers are not bored as much as possible even on long flights. Or,
Further, in addition to such an audio / video system, a system in which a microcomputer is provided for each seat so that a game or the like can be enjoyed by the microcomputer has been considered.

Documents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,980, etc. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as described above, if a microcomputer is incorporated in each seat, the cost of the microcomputer and the cost of installing the You need to invest as many as you need. However, some passengers do not show interest in computer games and the like, and thus even if microcomputers are incorporated in all seats in the passenger compartment, the service effect for the passengers cannot be exhibited in all seats. Even if the use of a microcomputer is paid for and the investment is recovered, if the occupancy rate of all seats does not reach 100%, the recovery of these capital investment costs will be prolonged, and for passenger aircraft operators, There's a problem. Furthermore, if the microcomputer is installed in the seat, it is necessary to suspend the operation of the passenger aircraft during the repair and inspection of the microcomputer, which reduces the operational efficiency of the passenger aircraft. This is a problem for the passenger aircraft operator.

The present invention seeks to eliminate these problems.

[Means for solving the problem]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a microcomputer unit is provided with a connector (41) for each seat in which an audio / video system is incorporated as a terminal device, which is configured in a portable shape and can be rented out in a guest room. The (70) can be detachably attached to the audio / video system incorporated in each seat as a terminal device through the connector (41).

[Action]

It is only necessary to lend the microcomputer unit (70) to passengers who request the use of computer games, so it is sufficient to prepare the predicted number of microcomputer units (70), and the capital investment cost of these microcomputer units (70) is reduced. Saving money,
In addition, since these microcomputer units (70) are configured in a portable shape, lending and collection work of these microcomputer units (70) can be easily performed.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, (1) shows a sending device for providing various kinds of software, and this device (1) is provided in a crew room or the like, and from now on, a bus line (2)-
(4) is drawn out and travels between each seat (not shown) of the passenger.

In this case, the bus line (2) is for an audio signal, and a plurality of channels of a stereo audio signal are frequency-multiplexed and supplied from the device (1) in the same manner as, for example, a cable broadcast. Further, the bus line (3) is for a television signal, and for example, by the same method as CATV,
Television signals (video signals and audio signals) of a plurality of channels are frequency-multiplexed and supplied from the device (1). Further, the bus line (4) is for digital data, and for example, seven types of computer game programs and menu program programs from the device (1) are repeated one bit for each program and in program order. The data is taken out as serial data, and this serial data is supplied to the bus line (4).

(10) indicates a terminal device provided for each seat. That is, (21) indicates a tuner circuit for the audio signal, to which a plurality of frequency-multiplexed audio signals are supplied from the bus line (2) and the plurality of channels are supplied according to the operation of the passenger. The audio signal of one of the channels is selected, demodulated and extracted, and this is a switch circuit (22).
Supplied to

Further, (31) shows a tuner circuit for a television signal, which is supplied with a frequency-multiplexed television signal of a plurality of channels from a bus line (3), and which is operated by a passenger and therefore of the plurality of channels. A video signal and an audio signal of one channel are selected and demodulated and taken out, and the video signal and the audio signal are supplied to the switch circuits (32) and (22), respectively.

Reference numeral (41) denotes a connector jack. Serial data is supplied to the jack (41) from the bus line (4), and a video signal and an audio signal are supplied from a microcomputer unit (70) to be described later. Is supplied to the switch circuits (32) and (22).

Then, the audio signal from the switch circuit (22) is supplied to the stereo headphones (25) through the amplifier (23) and further through the connector jack and the plug (24). Further, the video signal from the switch circuit (32) is supplied to the video circuit (33) and subjected to necessary signal processing, and then supplied to display means, for example, an LCD (34).

(51) indicates a control circuit, (52) indicates an operation key,
The output of this key (52) is decoded by the control circuit (51) and supplied to the tuner circuits (21) and (31) as a control signal for selecting a channel, and is also supplied to the switch circuits (22) and (32). Is supplied as a control signal.
Further, the key output is also supplied to the jack (41).

The terminal device (10) is configured as described above, is embedded in each seat of the passenger, and for example, as shown in the perspective view of FIG.
Operation keys (52), on the surface of the armrest (61)
Connector jacks (24) and (41) and an LCD (34) are provided. However, when the LCD (34) is not used, it can be folded and stored inside the armrest (61).

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral (70) denotes a microcomputer unit. In this example, the unit (70) includes a microcomputer (personal computer) (71) conforming to the MSX standard and operation keys (71) connected thereto. 72) to form a portable shape. In this case, the microcomputer (72) has a key (71) connected instead of a full keyboard, and a function of selectively downloading any one of serial data from the bus line (4). It has the same configuration and functions as a general MSX machine except that it has The key (72) has a joystick, a cursor key, a command key, and the like so as to be suitable for the game.

The unit (70) is connected to a connector jack (41) through a cable (73) and further through a connector plug (74), and controls serial data from a bus line (4) and control from a control circuit (51). The signal is supplied to the microcomputer (71), and the video signal and the audio signal from the microcomputer (71) are switched to the switch circuit (32),
(22).

According to such a configuration, when the passenger operates the key (52), the tuner circuit (21) or (31) is controlled based on the key output, the channel according to the key operation is selected, and the audio signal is selected. Or a video signal is extracted, and this signal is supplied to a switch circuit (22) to (32).
Through the headphone (25) or the LCD (34). Therefore, the passenger can freely enjoy his or her favorite from among a large number of audio software and video software prepared in the transmission device (1).

When the passenger selects a computer game with the key (52), the switch circuits (22) and (32) are connected as shown in the figure based on the key output. Further, the key output is also supplied to the microcomputer (71), whereby the microcomputer (71) selects the menu program data from the serial data of the program supplied to the microcomputer (71) through the bus line (4). Is taken out and downloaded to the microcomputer (71) and is executed, whereby a video signal and an audio signal for the menu screen are formed. Then, the video signal and the audio signal are supplied to the switch circuits (32) and (22).
Supplied to the LCD (34) and headphones (25)
On the CD (34), a computer game menu is displayed.

Then, when the passenger designates a favorite game from the menu with the key (52), the microcomputer (31) selects the key (52) from the serial data supplied thereto.
The data of the specified program is downloaded and executed, and its video and audio signals are
(34) and headphones (25). Therefore, the passenger can thereafter enjoy the computer game specified by the key (52) using the key (52).

Thus, according to the present invention, passengers can enjoy software such as computer games in addition to audio and video software. Moreover, in this case, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a microcomputer for each seat, so that the cost of equipment can be reduced. Also, since the microcomputer unit (70) need only be lent to passengers who want to enjoy the computer case, the operation rate can be greatly increased.

Further, repair and inspection of the unit (70) can be easily performed by the unit alone, and at this time, there is no need to rest the passenger aircraft, thereby eliminating loss.

If the audio / video service system is complete, a computer game can be executed only by adding the bus line (4) and some circuits.

In the above description, an external slot is provided in the unit (70), and when a game cartridge (ROM in which a game is written) is attached thereto, the user can enjoy the game. In that case, There is no problem such as game copyright.

In the above description, the software signals from the transmission device (1) are transmitted separately from each other through the bus lines (2) to (4). However, the signals are multiplexed and transmitted on one bus line. You can also. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 58-21
Each signal can be multiplexed and transmitted by the method shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 0356, Japanese Patent Application No. 59-170925, Japanese Patent Application No. 62-58212, and the like.

Furthermore, in the above description, a passenger aircraft has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to vehicles such as trains and buses, or theaters and hotels, as long as services are provided to a large number of partners. In addition to computer games, other information services can be executed.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, passengers can enjoy software such as computer games in addition to audio and video software. Moreover, in this case, in particular, according to the present invention, there is no need to provide a microcomputer for each seat.
Equipment costs can be reduced. Also, since the microcomputer unit (70) need only be lent to passengers who want to enjoy the computer case, the operation rate can be greatly increased.

Since the microcomputer unit (70) is configured in a portable shape, it is easy to rent, replace, and collect the microcomputer unit (70).

In addition, the repair and inspection of the microcomputer unit (70) can be performed independently by the microcomputer unit (70). For example, when the repair and inspection is performed outside the passenger aircraft, a separate microcomputer unit (70) is prepared separately. In addition, since it is only necessary to bring this to the passenger aircraft, work during the operation of the passenger aircraft can be sufficiently dealt with and does not become an obstacle to the operation of the passenger aircraft.

If the audio / video service system is complete, a computer game can be executed only by adding the bus line (4) and some circuits.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an example of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the system. (1) is a sending device, (10) is a terminal device, (21), (31)
Is a tuner circuit, (34) is a display means, and (70) is a microcomputer unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transmitting device for transmitting a signal including a video signal, an audio signal, and a program signal such as a computer game, a bus line for transmitting the signal into a cabin, and incorporated into each seat in the cabin, A terminal device provided with an audio / video system having a means for receiving the signal via the bus line and a display means for displaying the video signal, comprising a microcomputer, operation keys and a connector, and having a portable form. A connector that can be detachably connected to this connector on the configured microcomputer unit side is provided in the terminal device, and the program received by the terminal device when the microcomputer unit is connected via both the connectors. The signal is downloaded to the above microcomputer unit and this downloaded Support system such as a computer game based on such program displays on the display means the microcomputer unit side output signal when executed by the microcomputer unit side as the image supplied to the terminal device through the connector of the above both.