JP3249724B2 - Information supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for supplying external output information to an information output terminal from an information supply device storing external output information including image information and audio information. The present invention relates to a technology in a case where an information supply device includes a plurality of information supply systems for supplying information for external output to an information output terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video-on-demand (V) system that allows a user to watch a desired movie or the like when he / she wants it has been conventionally used.
OD) Services are being studied. For example, when a desired video broadcast is requested from a set-top box (STB) provided on the user side serving as an information output side, the VOD service is transmitted from an information supply device called a video server provided on the service provider side. Then, the video / audio corresponding to the request is transmitted to the user.

[0003] When a user requests a video broadcast, a video server transmits the requested video information to the STB of the user. Therefore, the video server is provided with an information storage device, and this information storage device stores movie information including video and audio. In this case, when considered as an information supply system, a large number of information output terminals are generally connected to one information supply device. In order to respond to requests from such a large number of information output terminals, It has multiple information supply systems.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of an information supply device having such a plurality of information supply systems. The information supply device 110 in FIG. 5 includes four information supply systems,
An information storage device 103, a reading device 104, a decoder 105, and a modulator 106 are provided for each system. The information storage device 103 stores the information output terminal 1 from the information supply device 110.
External output information that can be supplied to the 02 side is stored as digital data. And the information output terminal 1
When a reproduction request is issued from 20, the reproduction request is transmitted to the information supply control device 101 through the head amplifier 107 and the modem 102.

[0005] An information supply control device 101 determines an information supply system to be used, and a readout device 104 of the information supply system.
To read the external output information according to the request from the information storage device 103. The external output information converted into analog data by the decoder 105 is output to the modulator 1.
06 to a predetermined frequency, and the head amplifier 1
07 to the information output terminal 120. In this way, the desired external output information is supplied to the information output terminal 120 that has made the request. If there is a request from another information output terminal 120 while the external output information is being supplied, another information supply system is determined, and the external output information according to the request is supplied in the same manner as described above. .

As described above, in the case of this example, information can be individually supplied from four information supply systems. For this purpose, an information storage device 103 is required for each information supply system. Then, in order to be able to supply arbitrary external output information from any information supply system, each information storage device 103 needs to store all the external output information that can be supplied. It is not preferable in terms of miniaturization and cost reduction. For example, as the number of types of external output information that can be supplied to meet the needs of consumers, such as movies with 500 titles and 1000 titles, increases, the amount of information stored in each information storage device 103 increases. This leads to larger equipment and higher costs. Also,
In FIG. 5, four information supply systems are provided.
As the number of information storage devices 103 increases, the number of information supply systems also needs to increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for providing an information storage device for each information supply system.
The purpose is to reduce the number of information storage devices as a whole and to reduce the total amount of information storage on the information supply device side.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage for storing external output information including image information, audio information, and the like. Means for supplying the information for external output to an information output terminal side for executing external output, the information supply device for supplying the information for external output to the information output terminal side. A plurality of information supply systems, and the information for external output from the information storage means ,
Pair to the supply speed of the outer portion output information to the information output terminal
Wherein the sequentially reading the read means with the information several times the first speed of the supply system, the external output information sequentially read from the information memory means by said read out means, predetermined by
Respectively distributing means for distributing by time division with respect to separate the information supply system according to the sequence was the partial by the distribution means
Buffer memory for temporarily storing the arranged external output information.
And providing the external output information temporarily stored in the buffer memory with respect to the first speed by the number of the information supply systems.
An information supply device characterized in that it can be supplied to the information output terminal at the first second speed .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012] According to the information supply apparatus of the present invention, the information storage means stores external output information composed of image information, audio information, and the like. External output information can be supplied. And since it has a plurality of information supply systems for supplying information for external output to the information output terminal side,
External output information can be supplied to a plurality of information output terminals from a plurality of information supply systems at a time.

The supply of the external output information is performed as follows. That is, the reading means outputs the information for external output from the information storage means to the external output terminal to the information output terminal side.
Of the information supply system several times the supply speed of
The external output information is sequentially read out at the speed of 1, and the sequentially read out information for external output is time-divisionally distributed to separate information supply systems in accordance with a predetermined order . So
External output information distributed by the distribution means.
Temporarily stored in the buffer memory.
The data is supplied to the information output terminal at the speed of 2.

Therefore, conventionally, information storage means is required for each of a plurality of information supply systems, and a situation has occurred in which redundant external output information is stored. if there is a minimum one of the information storage means
In addition, it is not necessary to store duplicate information.

Of course, the number of information storage means is not necessarily limited to one. For example, when the number of information supply systems increases, they are divided into two or more groups and distributed to the information storage means for each group. Means may be provided. Even in that case, in each group, information storage means while being one, it can provide a plurality of information supply system by Risoto unit output information.

As described above, according to the information supply device of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide an information storage device for each information supply system. The total amount can be reduced. This is advantageous in miniaturization or cost reduction.

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

In the case of the present invention, the distribution means
Temporarily store the distributed external output information in the buffer memory
The information output terminal from the buffer memory at the second speed.
If the reading means is configured to have a function of reading information from the information storage means at a high speed in order to supply the information to the side, there is substantially no problem even if the number of objects to be distributed in a time-division manner increases.
For example, when the data is read out from the information storage means at a quadruple speed and supplied to the information output terminal side, if the data is supplied at a normal speed, the data is distributed to the four information supply systems in a time-division manner. there is no problem.

[0021]

[0022]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information supply system including an information supply device 10 according to the present embodiment. The information supply system is configured such that an information supply device 10 and a plurality of information output terminals 20 are connected via a transmission line 90 formed of a coaxial cable or the like. It should be noted that the transmission path 90 may be of any type regardless of whether it is wired or wireless.

First, the configuration of the information supply device 10 will be described. The information supply device 10 includes an information supply control device 1 that performs overall control, a modem 2, an information storage device 3 as “information storage device”, a read device 4 as “read device”, a decoder 5, a modulator 6, and a head. Amplifier 7, buffer memory 12,
It includes a time slot switch 11 and a time slot switch control unit 13 that constitute "distribution means".

The reading device 4 is controlled by the information supply control device 1 so that it can read information for external output from the information storage device 3 and send it to the time slot switch 11 side. The reading speed is at least four times faster than the transmission speed of the information supply system described later.

The time slot switch 11 is controlled by the time slot switch
4 is switched so as to be a route to any one of the four. The time slot switch control unit 13 performs control to switch to a path instructed by the information supply control device 1.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the information storage device 3 and the reading device 4 are each constituted by a number smaller than the total number of the information output terminals 20 described later, specifically, each device. The information supply device 10 of the present embodiment includes four information supply systems, and a first information supply system is configured by the buffer memory 12, the decoder 5, and the modulator 6 connected to the TS1. Similarly, the buffer memory 12, the decoder 5, and the modulator 6 connected to TS2 to TS4 respectively
To a fourth information supply system.

Each of the modulators 6 of the first to fourth information supply systems is connected to a head amplifier 7, and the head amplifier 7 outputs external output information sent from each information supply system. The signal can be transmitted to the transmission line 90 through the channel assigned to each modulator 6. The head amplifier 7 can transmit a signal transmitted from the modem 2 through a channel for bidirectional communication, and can transfer a signal input from the transmission line 90 through a channel for bidirectional communication to the modem 2. .

The modem 2 is connected to an information supply control device 1 as control means via a bus 8, and the information supply control device 1 is connected via a transmission line 90 via the modem 2 and the head amplifier 7. The data can be transmitted to the information output terminal 20 or the data can be received from the information output terminal 20 via the reverse route. Further, the information supply control device 1 can control the operation of each unit of the information supply device 10 described above.

Next, the configuration of the information output terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the information output terminal 20 includes a central control device 41 as control means for controlling the operation of each unit of the information output terminal 20.
The central control device 41 includes a well-known CPU 61 and a ROM 6
3, a RAM 65, etc., via a bus line 67,
Input device 43, input / output interface (I / O) 69
And so on.

By operating the input device 43, various data and instructions can be input to the central control device 41. The central control device 41 is connected to the transmission line 90 via the modem 57 connected to the I / O 69, and uses the above-described channel for bidirectional communication to control the information supply control device of the information supply device 10. 1 can be communicated with.

Further, a tuner 59 as a receiving means is connected to the transmission line 90. The tuner 59 can select a channel in accordance with an instruction from the central control device 41, and can receive information for external output transmitted on the selected channel. Among the external output information received by the tuner 59, the audio signal is
The amplifier 47 amplifies the audio signal and sends the amplified signal to the speaker 49 for audio output. On the other hand, the video signal can be output to the monitor television 53 as a display means. The monitor television 53 displays an image based on the video signal.

An input / output interface (I / O)
The modem 57 is connected to 69 so that a reproduction request can be transmitted to the information supply device 10 via the transmission line 90. In FIG. 2, the information output terminal 2
0 has been described to also include the amplifier 47, the speaker 49, and the monitor television 53. However, if the information output terminal has a function of outputting an audio signal or a video signal to an external amplifier / speaker unit or a monitor television unit, an information output terminal is provided. The function as 20 can be performed, and for example, it can be used by connecting to a normal television system.

Next, the operation of the information supply system of this embodiment will be described. First, when the user of the information output terminal 20 operates the input device 43 to request the supply of desired external output information, the central control device 41 sends the information transmission request through the modem 57 and transmits the transmission line 90 through the transmission line 90. To the information supply apparatus 10 via For example, the input device 43 is operated to input a movie identification number, and a request for information supply is transmitted.

On the other hand, in the information supply device 10, the information supply control device 1 receives this request through the head amplifier 7 and the modem 2. Next, the information supply control device 1 reads the designated external output information from the information storage device 3 and transfers the read information to the time slot switch 11 side.
To instruct. Then, for example, when the information for external output is supplied via the first information supply system, the information supply device 10 adjusts the path by the time slot switch control unit 13. That is, the reading device 4 reads the corresponding external output information (that is, the information output terminal 2 that has requested the information).
0 is read out from the information storage device 3, the time slot switch control unit 1 controls the time slot switch control unit 1 so that it is distributed to a predetermined information supply system.
3 to the destination of the time slot switch 11
It switches to 1.

In order to make this control clearer, supply control when external output information A to D are requested from four separate information output terminals 20, for example, will be described. The information supply control device 1 determines, for example, to supply the information A to D via the first to fourth information supply systems, respectively, and sends an instruction to the reading device 4 and the time slot switch control unit 13. That is, the reading device 4
Reads and transfers external output information in a predetermined unit in the order of A → B → C → D. On the other hand, the time slot switch control unit 13
Control is performed so that the route is switched cyclically from TS1 to TS2 to TS3 to TS4 at predetermined time intervals. If these two timings are not taken, the read information is not supplied to an appropriate information supply system, so that the address control is performed on the reading device 4 from the time slot switch control unit 13. By this address control, the information storage device 3
The information read from is supplied appropriately to the information supply system to be supplied.

The result of this control is shown in the time chart of FIG. Note that “T” in FIG. 3A indicates one predetermined period, and does not indicate an absolute time. The time slot switch control unit 13 controls the time slot switch 11 for TS1 → TS2 →
Control is performed so that the path is switched cyclically from TS3 to TS4. In a period of 0 to (1/4) T, a predetermined unit of information A1 to A1 constituting the external output information A read from the information storage device 3 by the reading device 4 is used.
4 is supplied to the TS 1 and is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 12 of the first information supply system. The following (1/4) T ~ (2 /
4) In the period T, B constituting the external output information B read from the information storage device 3 by the reading device 4
1 to B4 are supplied to TS2. Similarly, (2/4) T
During the period from to (3/4) T, C1 to C4 constituting the information C for external output are supplied to the TS3, and (3/4) T
During the period from T to T, D constituting the external output information D
1 to D4 are supplied to TS4.

In the next period from T to (5/4) T,
Further, since the path is switched to the TS1, the information A5 to A8 of the predetermined unit next to the external output information A is transmitted during this period.
1 is supplied. Similarly, information B5 to B8 in a predetermined unit next to information B for external output is in TS2, information C5 to C8 in a predetermined unit next to information C for external output is in TS3, and information next to information D for external output is predetermined. Unit information D5 to D8 is stored in TS4,
It is sequentially supplied every (1/4) T.

The information for external output supplied to each of the first to fourth information supply systems is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 12 and thereafter read and decoded by the decoder 5 at a predetermined read speed. The signal is transmitted to the transmission line 90 via the modulator 6 and the head amplifier 7. In this way, the external output information is supplied to the information output terminal 20 which has made the request.
The speed of reading information from the information storage device 3 is high, which is four times faster in this example. Therefore, information is supplied to the buffer memory 12 only for (1/4) T in one cycle [T], but the speed at which the decoder 5 reads data is normal, and as a result, it is continuously output. The information for external output will be supplied.

As described above, according to the information supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the reading device 4 sequentially reads the external output information A to D from the information storage device 3 and outputs the sequentially read external output information A to D. Since the information is distributed to the first to fourth information supply systems in a time-division manner, only one information storage device 3 is provided, and four types of external output information A to D are parallelized from the four information supply systems. Can be supplied to the information output terminal 20 side.

Here, a comparison with the conventional information supply apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 5 will be made. In the conventional case, the information storage device 103 is required for each of the four information supply systems, and it has been necessary to store redundant external output information. That is, the four information storage devices 103 need to store all of the external output information A to D. An example of reading and supplying the information will be further described with reference to a time chart of FIG. Note that FIG.
“T” in (B) also indicates one predetermined cycle, and does not indicate absolute time. In addition, the same cycle [T] is used to facilitate comparison with FIG. 3A, which is a control result in the present embodiment, and what kind of information is read in one cycle is shown. Was.

In the conventional case shown in FIG. 5, in each information supply system, the reading device 104 transmits information from the information storage device 103 to the information output terminal 120 at a speed at which the external output information is supplied to the requested information output terminal 120. Is read. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the reading device of the first information supply system (hereinafter, simply referred to as the first reading device) 103 is (1/1 /
4) A1 → A2 → A3 → A4 → A5 → A6 →
... Are read continuously. Similarly, the second reading device 104 sequentially switches B1 → B2 → B3 → B every (1/4) T.
4 → B5 → B6 →...

As described above, for example, in order to supply external output information A to D from four information supply systems in parallel,
As can be seen from FIG. 3B, the four information storage devices 10
It is necessary to read the information individually from 3. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 3A, it is not necessary to read out a plurality of pieces of information in parallel. A predetermined amount of external output information A to D can be supplied from the information supply system. Therefore, even one information storage device 3 and one reading device 4 can be dealt with.

Of course, in the above embodiment, four information supply systems have been described. However, if the number of information supply systems becomes very large, they are divided into two or more groups and the information storage device is provided for each group. 3, a reading device 4, a time slot switch 11 as a distribution unit, and a time slot switch control unit 13 may be provided. Even in that case, considering each group, the information storage device 3
, But the information for external output can be supplied in parallel from a plurality of information supply systems.

As described above, the information supply device 10 of the present embodiment
According to this, it is not necessary to provide the information storage device 3 for each information supply system, and the number of information storage devices 3 can be reduced as a whole, and the total information storage amount in the information supply device 10 can be reduced. This is also advantageous in terms of miniaturization or cost reduction.

In FIG. 3A, the information for external output supplied from the four information supply systems has been described as separate A to D, but they may overlap. This is because, for example, the same external output information A may be supplied via a plurality of information supply systems. In reality, the same movie may be requested from a plurality of information output terminals 20. In addition to supplying the information at the same time, the supply of the movie information to a certain information output terminal 20 is started,
While the supply is still continuing, the supply of the same movie information to another information output terminal 20 may be started.
That is, the same information may be supplied at different times.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG.
It is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an information supply system provided with information supply device 10a of another example. The same components as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG.
Each information supply system includes the buffer memory 12, the decoder 5, and the modulator 6. However, in the case of this alternative embodiment, only the network interface (I / F) 15 is provided.

On the other hand, the information output terminal 21
3, a decoder 24, and a user I / F 25. The external output information supplied from each network I / F 15 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 23 of the information output terminal 21. Also in this case, when the reading device 4 reads the information for external output from the information storage device 3 and distributes the information to each information supply system, the operation is performed as shown in FIG. Is not provided with a buffer memory, and is supplied from the network I / F to the information output terminal 21 at the read timing. Instead, since the information output terminal 21 includes the buffer memory 23, the information is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 23, decoded at a predetermined reading speed in the information output terminal 21, and used. Therefore, the reproduction on the information output terminal 21 is executed without any problem. Thus, if the information output terminal 21 is provided with the buffer memory 23, the information supply terminal 10a shown in FIG.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information supply system including an information supply device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information supply terminal according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of a distribution method to a plurality of information supply systems in an information supply device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of a distribution method to a plurality of information supply systems in a conventional information supply device. It is.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information supply system including an information supply device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional information supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information supply control device 2 ... Modem 3 ... Information storage device 4 ... Reading device 5 ... Decoder 6 ... Modulator 7 ... Head amplifier 8 ... Bus 10, 10a ... Information supply device 11 ... Time slot switch 12 ... Buffer memory 13 ... Time slot switch controller 20, 21 Information output terminal 23 Buffer memory 24 Decoder 41 Central controller 43 Input device 47 Amplifier 49 Speaker 53 Monitor TV 57 Modem 59 Tuner 90 Transmission path

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-269087 (JP, A) JP-A-8-46949 (JP, A) JP-A-8-317368 (JP, A) 60541 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/91-5/956 H04N 7/16 G10K 15/04 302 G11B 20/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An information storage means for storing external output information composed of image information, audio information, and the like, for supplying the external output information to an information output terminal that executes external output. An information supply device, comprising: a plurality of information supply systems for supplying the external output information to the information output terminal side; and the external output information from the information storage means ,
For the supply speed of the information for external output to the output terminal side
Reading means for sequentially reading out at a first speed several times that of the information supply system; and reading out the external output information sequentially read from the information storage means by the reading means in a predetermined order. Distribution means for distributing the information supply system in a time-division manner , and temporarily storing the external output information distributed by the distribution means.
And a buffer memory for憶, before the external output information stored temporarily in the buffer memory
For a first speed, a fraction of the information supply system
2. An information supply apparatus characterized in that the information supply terminal can be supplied to the information output terminal at a speed of 2 .