JP3116956B2 - CATV terminal for character image transmission - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CATV terminal for character image transmission that provides a character image service by controlling a CATV terminal device by select polling.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, the spread of CATV has increased, and a variety of services have been desired. In particular, hotels have become unable to support advanced information services with conventional systems that only provide automatic charging for pay broadcasting. Therefore, recently, a character service such as an accounting information system (building check), message information, etc., which has been consumed so far, is provided to guests.

The above system will be described with reference to FIG. General broadcasting, hotel independent broadcasting, and pay broadcasting as television signals from the antenna 10 and VTR 20; downlink data signals through the CATV terminal control modem 18 from the center CPU 17 for CATV terminal device control; and character image data from the center CPU 17 The character image data signal to be superimposed on the video signal is sent to the TV signal vacant channel through the transmission device 19, and furthermore, the general broadcast transmitter 12, the independent broadcast modulator 13, the pay broadcast modulator 14, and the text Image data modulator
The data is input to the mixer 16 via the mixer 15 or directly, mixed, and transmitted to each terminal device.

The CATV terminal device receives the downlink data signal for control by the terminal device control data receiving circuit 1, and can receive various video viewing services under the management of the center by the downlink data signal. If the user wants to receive the character image service, the CATV terminal device temporarily gives up the current viewing to receive the character image data signal, and quits the TV signal tuning tuner 2 in the device.
Is set to the character image data signal receiving channel, the character image service can be received for the first time.

As described above, the viewing of the character image service in the CATV system is usually performed by requesting the center from a CATV terminal device to the center using an up-link and using a remote controller or the like.
The TV signal tuning tuner 2 in the TV terminal device sets the frequency from the general viewing channel to the character image data channel, receives personal information (for example, a message) transmitted from the center, receives a video detection circuit 3, and a data video conversion circuit. 4
This is achieved by setting the video switcher 5 to the terminal b via the.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Since such a CATV terminal device configuration is adopted, the first problem is that the select polling cycle becomes longer due to an increase in the number of CATV terminal devices installed as the system expands. Therefore, the time (access time) from when a request is made to when the character image service is received becomes longer.

The second problem is that if personal information occurs,
The TV terminal device is forced to receive the character data channel to view the character data, or the TV terminal is notified by some means (lamp or buzzer) to the CATV terminal, and the viewer receives the character data signal channel. Must be taken. Therefore, the viewer temporarily interrupts the program being viewed. Especially in hotels,
The system is very difficult to use for guests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and can shorten the access time, and furthermore, it is convenient for a character image transmission that does not require a viewer to take an action of receiving a character image data signal channel.
It is intended to provide a CATV terminal device.

Means for Solving the Problems A CATV terminal device for character image transmission according to the present invention comprises a television signal mixed at a center, a first data signal for managing and controlling the CATV terminal device, and a character image data signal. A character data transmission CATV terminal device that receives the second data signal and has its ID code assigned thereto, and transmits a desired TV signal by a TV signal tuning tuner that is tuned to a TV signal desired by the user. A first means for sending to the superimpose circuit, a receiving circuit for exclusive use of character image data for receiving the second data signal, and one of the received second data signals corresponding to the own ID code. And a storage circuit for storing the received second data signal if the two match, and the user wants to receive the character image service. A second means for reading a required second data signal from the storage circuit based on the first data signal and sending the read second data signal to the superimpose circuit, A circuit combines the transmitted desired television signal and the selected second data signal for display on a television receiver.

Also, the CATV terminal device for character image transmission of the present invention comprises: a first means for transmitting a desired television signal to a superimpose circuit by a television signal tuning tuner adapted to a television signal desired by a user; and (2) a receiving circuit for exclusive use of character image data for receiving the data signal, and determining whether or not there is any of the received second data signals corresponding to the own ID code. And a storage circuit for storing the second data signal. When there is a request from the user to receive the character image service, a predetermined channel is transmitted to a television signal tuning tuner based on the first data signal. And a second means for forcibly selecting a channel, reading a required second data signal from the storage circuit, and sending it to the superimposing circuit. The superimpose circuit, and displaying the television receiver and the second data signal the selection and the sent the desired television signal combining to.

Operation According to this configuration, if any of the received second data signals matches the ID code of the user, the received second data signal should be stored in the storage circuit in advance, and the character image service should be received. Is read from the storage circuit based on the first data signal from the center side, and the superimpose circuit is read by the first means. And the desired television signal and the selected second data signal are combined and displayed on the television receiver.

In addition, when there is a request from the user to receive the character image service, the television signal tuning tuner is forcibly selected on a predetermined channel based on the first data signal, and the superimpose circuit includes: The transmitted desired television signal and the selected second data signal are combined and displayed on a television receiver.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a CATV terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a CATV system, in which the same parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. First
In the figure, a CATV terminal device includes a TV signal tuning tuner 21 connected to a line, a terminal device control data receiving circuit 24,
And a receiving circuit 25 for exclusive use of text and image data, and the TV signal tuning tuner 21 comprises a video detecting circuit 22, a superimposing circuit.
23, is connected to a television receiver 30, and a receiving circuit 25 for exclusive use of character image data includes a video detection circuit 26, a CPU 27 for character image communication,
Superimpose circuit via data video conversion circuit 28
The storage circuit 29 is connected to the character / picture communication CPU 27 and is connected to the CPU 23 for storing the transmitted data signal.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. From the center, general broadcasts, hotel independent broadcasts, and pay broadcasts are transmitted as TV signals, downlink data signals are used to control CATV terminal equipment, and text data signals are input to the TV signal available channels and input to the head end 11 for mixing. And
It is transmitted to each CATV terminal device through a line. When the CATV terminal device does not receive the character image service, the TV signal tuning tuner 21 is combined with the desired TV signal, the video signal is detected by the video detection circuit 22, and the video signal is transmitted to the TV receiver 30. The first data signal for managing and controlling the CATV terminal device is input to the CATV terminal device control data receiving circuit 24. This terminal device control data receiving circuit 24 determines whether there is any data signal that is consistent with its own ID code among the data signals always sent from the center CPU 17 independently of the video service, and In the case, the status indicating the state of the terminal is returned to the center CPU 17.

On the other hand, the second data signal which is character image data superimposed on the television image signal is received by the character image data dedicated receiving circuit 25 in the CATV terminal device. The data signal reproduced by the video detection circuit 26 is input to the character image communication CPU 27. Here, it is determined whether or not there is a data signal sent from the center CPU 17 that matches the ID code. If the ID signal matches, the own data is taken into the storage circuit 29 and stored.

When the user wants to receive a character image service, the user makes a character image service request using an input device such as a remote controller attached to the CATV terminal device. The CATV terminal device selects the character image data already extracted by the character image data dedicated receiver circuit 25 from the storage circuit 29 based on the contents of the character image service request, and sends the character image data to the superimpose circuit 23. The signal is transmitted and displayed on the television receiver 30.

Further, when a guide broadcast is performed through video at a hotel or the like, the center CPU 17 includes, for example, information for forcibly selecting a TV signal tuning tuner 21 in the CATV terminal device as a first data signal for managing and controlling the CATV terminal device. , Memory circuit
The addressing information of the character image data stored in 29 is added and transmitted. The CATV terminal device forcibly selects a designated TV signal based on the first data signal, and performs a video detection circuit 22.
To the superimpose circuit 23 via At the same time, the character image communication CPU 27 reads the designated data of the character image data stored in the storage circuit 29, and transfers the character image data to the other input terminal of the superimpose circuit 23 through the data / video conversion circuit 28. Send out. Then, the character image is synthesized on the background screen suitable for the guide broadcast and displayed on the television screen. FIG. 2 shows an example of the frequency sequence of the character image data and the background screen when the above-mentioned guide broadcast is performed.
In the figure, background image channels 1, 2, and 3 indicate channels corresponding to the background image contents.

As described above, the CATV terminal device transmits the character image extraction page information and the TV receiving tuner channel selection destination channel information from the center CPU 17 via the first data signal for terminal control. Unlike the method of creating an image screen and transmitting it uniformly to each CATV terminal device, for example, the background screen in the case of Christmas party character guidance, one room is a Santa Claus video screen, another room is As a still image of a night view full of mood, it is possible to project a background screen suitable for the viewer.

Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, character image data necessary for a character image service is fetched into a storage circuit inside a CATV terminal device, and when a character image service request occurs, the terminal device downloaded by polling , It is possible to instruct the terminal device to extract the character image data having the content according to the status flag, and to always refresh the new information. In addition, it is possible to project the character image data on a background screen suitable for the viewer.

Regarding the problem of access time, it is not necessary to transmit a large amount of character data every time a character image service request goes to the center, so that the access time can be shortened and the line can be effectively used.

Further, when notifying the CATV terminal device when personal information is generated, it is possible to check a character image indicating a change in an event even in the current viewing channel state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a CATV having a CATV terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the frequency relationship between character image data and a background screen, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a terminal device in a conventional CATV system. 11 ... Head end, 16 ... Mixer, 17 ... Center CP
U, 21 ... TV signal tuning tuner, 23 ... superimpose circuit, 24 ... terminal device control data receiving circuit,
25 ... Characteristic data dedicated receiving circuit, 27 ... Characteristic communication
CPU, 28: Data / video conversion circuit, 29: Storage circuit, 30
…… TV receiver.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A television signal mixed at a center and a CA
Receives a first data signal for managing and controlling the TV terminal device and a second data signal including a character image data signal, and transmits a character image transmitted with its own ID code.
A CATV terminal device, comprising: first means for transmitting a television signal desired by a television signal tuning tuner adapted to a television signal desired by a user to a superimpose circuit; and a character for receiving the second data signal. An image data dedicated receiving circuit, and the own ID included in the received second data signal.
Determine if there is a match for the code,
A storage circuit for storing the received second data signal when the two data match, and when the user requests to receive the character image service, the storage is performed based on the first data signal. Second means for reading a required second data signal from a circuit and sending it to the superimposing circuit, wherein the superimposing circuit transmits the desired television signal and the selected second data. A CATV terminal for character image transmission that combines a signal and displays it on a television receiver. 2. A television signal mixed at a center and a CA signal.
Receives a first data signal for managing and controlling the TV terminal device and a second data signal including a character image data signal, and transmits a character image transmitted with its own ID code.
A CATV terminal device, comprising: first means for transmitting a television signal desired by a television signal tuning tuner adapted to a television signal desired by a user to a superimpose circuit; and a character for receiving the second data signal. An image data dedicated receiving circuit, and the own ID included in the received second data signal.
Determine if there is a match for the code,
And a storage circuit for storing the received second data signal when they match, and when there is a request from the user to receive the character image service, a television signal is generated based on the first data signal. A second means for forcibly selecting a predetermined channel by a tuning tuner, reading out a required second data signal from the storage circuit, and sending the read second data signal to the superimposing circuit; And a CATV terminal device for character image transmission for combining the transmitted desired television signal and the selected second data signal and displaying the combined signal on a television receiver.