JP3407919B2 - Digital video exchange system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital video exchange system, and in particular, a digital video exchange control device comprehensively manages information provided by each video providing station, and provides video to general subscribers of each video terminal device. The present invention relates to a digital video exchange system capable of comprehensively providing various information such as service information from stations or billing information for each subscriber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional digital video exchange system of this type, there is, for example, the one described in the 1991 Spring National Convention of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers B-922 or JP-A-1-7786.

First, a digital video exchange system described in the 1991 IEICE Spring National Convention magazine B-922 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 . Note that the figure
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional digital video exchange system. Also, FIG. 6, the subscriber line shown in FIG. 5 1
5 is a diagram for explaining a frame structure (STM-4) of a frame conforming to SDH in the downlink of FIG.

In FIG. 5 , the conventional digital video exchange system comprises a video terminal device (subscriber home device) 1, a digital video exchange control device 2, and a video providing station (video center) 3. Then, the video terminal device 1
Is composed of a control terminal 10, a monitor 11, a video decoding device (DECODER) 12, a home control device 13, and a line termination interface unit 14, and is connected to the digital video exchange control device 2 by a subscriber line 15. Has been done. Also,
The digital video exchange control device 2 includes a control unit 20, a subscriber interface unit 21, a switch unit 22, a control signal interface unit 23 with the video providing station 3, and a video signal interface unit 24 with the video providing station 3. And is connected to the image providing station 3 by a control signal line 25 and an image signal line 26. Further, the video providing station 3 includes a video center device 30, a control signal interface unit 31 with the digital video exchange control device 2, and a video signal interface unit 32 with the digital video exchange control device 2.

In FIG. 6 , the frame on the down line of the subscriber line 15 is the monitoring alarm information 50 to 54 on the transmission line.
, Fixed stuffs 55 and 56 for mapping various kinds of information into frames, coded video information 57, a video control channel 58 for video control signals, and low speed system information 59.

Next, the operation of the conventional digital video exchange system configured as described above will be described. First, the processing of the video signal will be described. The digital video signal encoded by the video center device 30 of the video providing station 3 is processed by the video signal interface unit 32 into a frame structure (S
TM-4) digital video exchange control device 2
Transferred to. In the digital video exchange control device 2, the video signal interface unit 24 separates the digital video signal transmitted from the video providing station 3 into each video signal, and the control unit 2
0 performs control of the switch unit 22 based on the video channel selection request of a subscriber, multiplexes the video information 57 of the frame on the subscriber interface of the subscriber line 15 shown in FIG. 6,
Transfer from the subscriber interface unit 21 to each subscriber via the subscriber line 15. In the video terminal device 1, the line termination interface unit 14 receives this frame (STM-4), separates it into each information type, and transfers the video information 57 and the video control channel 58 of the frame to the home control device 13.
In the home control device 13, the video signal is distributed to the plurality of video decoding devices 12, and the signal decoded by the video decoding device 12 is displayed on the monitor 11.

Next, the process of selecting a video channel will be described. Video terminal user (user or subscriber)
Inputs a desired channel from the control terminal 10. The video control channel is mapped to the video control signal on the upstream frame by the in-home control device 13 and the subscriber line 15 is transmitted from the line terminating interface unit 14, and the video control signal is transmitted by the subscriber interface unit 21 of the digital video exchange control device 2. Are separated and passed to the control unit 20. The control unit 20
When a channel selection request is received from a subscriber, the subscriber attribute table is referred to check the subscriber's attributes, and if the subscriber is qualified to view the requested channel, the switch unit 22
Control is performed to provide video services to subscribers.

Next, VRS (Video Response System)
A process when the video terminal device 1 directly communicates with the video providing station 3 such as em) will be described. The video terminal user (user) inputs a command to the video providing station 3 from the control terminal 10. The control terminal 10 determines which video providing station the input command is addressed to, sets the address of the video providing station as the destination address, and transmits it as a command on the video control signal. Digital video exchange control device 2
When the control unit 20 receives a command whose destination address is various video providing stations, the control signal interface unit 23
Transmits a command to the corresponding video providing station 3. Upon receiving the command from the subscriber, the video providing station 3 processes the command in the video center device 30. If it is necessary to send a response to the subscriber, the video providing station 3 and the digital video exchange control device 2 return the response to the video terminal device 1 in the reverse procedure of the above process.

Next, a teletext receiver which is a kind of the conventional digital video exchange system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-7786 will be described. A teletext receiver is a device for separating and receiving a teletext signal multiplexed in a vertical blanking period of a video signal in a normal analog television broadcast basically using a VHF / UHF band. One-sided reception of information broadcast from the TV, service information provided for each television station is stored in a memory according to a subscriber's request or as set in advance, and displayed on a monitor.

[0010]

Since the conventional digital video exchange system is configured as described above, for example, the 1991 Spring National Conference of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers B-9.
Regarding the digital video exchange system described in No. 22, the line control rate is not available because the video control channel remains unused for a long time when the subscriber watches the same channel for a long time such as watching a movie. There was a problem that was low. Further, when the subscriber desires to refer to the service information, it is necessary to refer to a program guide such as a newspaper or request each video providing station to transfer the service information. In particular, when requesting the transfer of service information to the video providing station, when there are many video providing stations in the system, the subscriber uses a large number of commands to collect the data collected for each video providing station for each terminal. There was a problem that the serviceability was not good, such as having to put together.

In the teletext receiver described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-7786, only the service information of the station corresponding to the receiving channel can be received, and the service information of other stations cannot be received. When it is necessary to refer to the service information of a channel, it is necessary to receive service information for all channels and collect desired service information for each terminal, which is a problem in serviceability.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a highly convenient digital image capable of providing subscribers with comprehensive service information as a system without using a new line. The purpose is to get a switching system.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, in the digital video exchange system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the digital video exchange control device allows each video providing station to join each video terminal device. The subscriber is provided with means for centrally managing various information provided to the subscriber as a service information table for each subscriber, and the subscriber is continuously watching one of the video channels transmitting a video signal. The video control channel provided for transmission of the control signal for controlling the channel is stored in the service information table at the subscriber terminal using the video control channel during a time period when the video control channel is not used for transmission of the control signal. The above-mentioned various information of the subscriber is provided.

In the digital video exchange system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the video terminal device includes a terminal side service information table storing various information provided from the digital video exchange control device and the terminal side service information table. Means for presenting to a video terminal user, the digital video exchange control device transmitting and receiving a video control channel from the video terminal device for each subscriber, and a service information table for each subscriber. Of the terminal side service information table and the version of the service information table for each subscriber terminal during communication with the version management means for performing version management of the video terminal device. In this case, the version update storage means for storing the inconsistency and the video control channel are used for a predetermined time or longer. If the mismatch is stored in the channel vacant time detecting means for detecting that the video control channel is vacant and the version vacant time detecting means detects vacancy in the video control channel, the video control is performed. And means for updating the terminal side service information table by using a channel.

Further, in the digital video exchange system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the video terminal device includes a terminal side service information table storing various information provided from the digital video exchange control device, and the terminal side service information table. Version management means for performing version management, channel idle time detection means for detecting that a video control channel has not been used for a predetermined time or longer during communication with the digital video exchange control device, and the digital video exchange control device stores The digital video exchange control device for the version of the service information table to be stored, and if the version of the service information table and the version of the terminal side service information table managed by the version management means do not match, the mismatch is stored. , The inconsistency is stored, A means for receiving the various information of the video terminal device stored in the latest service information table from the digital video exchange control device when the channel idle time detecting means detects the video control channel free space; And a means for displaying the terminal side service information table to the video terminal user.

[0016]

Therefore, according to the digital video exchange system of the present invention, the service information provided by the digital video exchange control device from each video providing station to the subscriber of each video terminal device, the billing information for each subscriber, and the like. Centrally manages various information as a service information table, and provides various information of the service information table to the subscriber terminal while the subscriber continuously views one video channel and does not use the video control channel. As a result, it is possible to provide subscribers with the latest comprehensive service information as a system.

According to the digital video exchange system of the present invention, the video terminal device receives and stores the latest service information table from the video exchange control device every time it is connected to the digital video exchange control device. Even if the terminal device is not connected to the digital video exchange control device, it is possible to display comprehensive new service information as a system to the subscriber.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, the same or corresponding parts as those of the conventional digital video exchange system are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[First Embodiment] A digital video exchange system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, Fig. 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital video exchange system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sequence flowchart showing a communication sequence in the first digital video exchange system shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the digital video exchange system of the first embodiment comprises a video terminal device 1, a digital video exchange control device 2 and a video providing station 3, and the video terminal device 1 is a subscriber line. The digital video exchange control device 2 is connected by 15 and the digital video exchange control device 2 is connected by the video signal line 26 and the control signal line 25 to the video providing station 3. The video terminal device 1 has the memory 40.
The digital video exchange control device 2 constitutes a memory 41.

The memory 40 of the video terminal apparatus 1 is a memory for storing the service information table received by the video terminal apparatus 1 from the digital video exchange control apparatus 2 as a service information table on the terminal side. The second memory 41 is a memory for storing the latest service information table.

Next, the operation of the first digital video exchange system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The digital video exchange control device 2 receives the digital video signal transmitted from the video providing station 3 at the video signal interface section 24, and requests the video using the video control channel multiplexed on the subscriber line 15. The switch unit 22 is controlled based on the control signal, the video signal is connected to the video channel on the subscriber line 15, and the video providing service is realized for the subscriber.

When the service information to be provided to the subscriber is generated, each video providing station 3 uses the control signal line 25 to provide the service information to a pre-allocated area of the memory 41 of the digital video exchange control device 2. Write. When the control unit 20 of the digital video exchange control device 2 recognizes that the service information table has been updated by the video providing station 3,
The version information in the service information table is updated and is also written in the memory 41.

The digital video exchange control device 2 reads the version of the service information table held in the memory 40 of the video terminal device 1 every time the video terminal device 1 is connected, and the version and the digital video exchange control device 2 are read. The versions of the service information table stored in the memory 41 are compared, and if the two versions are different, this is stored. When the service information table of the memory 40 and the service information table of the memory 41 are the same, the service information table is not updated by the digital video exchange control device 2.

When the subscriber enjoys the video providing service, the video terminal device 1 is connected to the digital video exchange control device 2 and the video channel desired to be viewed is controlled by the digital video exchange control device 2 using the video control channel. Request to section 20. If the versions of the service information tables held in the memory 40 and the memory 41 do not match, the time during which the subscriber is watching the same video channel for a long time (that is, the video control channel remains unused for a certain period of time or more). Timer) for detecting the idle time of the video control channel shown in the sequence flowchart of FIG.
When it is detected by the timeout, the service information table of the memory 40 is updated to the latest version and the version is rewritten. When there is a request for service information from the subscriber, the control terminal 10 refers to the service information table held in the memory 40 and displays it on the monitor.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second digital video exchange system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The configuration of the second digital video exchange system is similar to that of the first digital video exchange system shown in FIG. 1, but the memory 41 of the digital video exchange control device 2 is provided from the video providing station 3. The latest version of service information such as billing information for each subscriber, a monthly information table, a weekly information table, and a current day information table is stored according to the information.

FIG. 3 is a sequence flowchart showing a communication sequence in the second digital video exchange system.

The video terminal user (subscriber) is the control terminal 10
When the desired video channel is designated from the control terminal 10
Performs call control to the digital video exchange control device 2,
Requests the setting of the video channel requested by the subscriber. Upon receiving the video channel setting request from the subscriber, the control unit 20 of the digital video exchange control device 2 checks the attributes of the subscriber, and if there is no problem, controls the switch unit 22 to display the video on the subscriber line 15. A video signal is connected to the channel to provide a video providing service to subscribers. These operations are repeated every time the subscriber designates a desired video channel from the control terminal 10.

The control unit 20 of the digital video exchange control device 2
Detects that the video control channel is not being used because the subscriber is watching a video program,
That is, when it is detected that the video control channel is in the unused state for a certain time or more due to the timeout of the timer A for detecting the free time of the video control channel shown in the sequence flowchart of FIG. 3, the control unit 20 controls. The terminal 10 is requested to present the version of the service information table in the memory 40. In the sequence flowchart shown in FIG. 3, since the versions of the current day information table do not match, the control unit 20 transfers the current day information table of the memory 41 to the subscriber of the video terminal device 1. On the other hand, if both versions match, the control unit 20
Does not update the service information table. The control terminal 10 saves the transferred new current-day information table in the memory 40 and updates the version. When there is a display request from the subscriber, it is read from the memory 40 and displayed on the control terminal 10 each time.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third digital video exchange system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. The configuration of the third digital video exchange system is similar to that of the first digital video exchange system shown in FIG. 1, except that the memory 41 of the digital video exchange control device 2 is provided by the video providing station 3. The latest version of service information such as billing information for each subscriber, a monthly information table, a weekly information table, and a current day information table is stored according to the information.

FIG. 4 is a sequence flowchart showing a communication sequence in the third digital video exchange system.

The video terminal user (subscriber) is the control terminal 10
When the desired video channel is designated from the control terminal 10
Performs call control to the digital video exchange control device 2,
Requests the setting of the video channel requested by the subscriber. Upon receiving the video channel setting request from the subscriber, the control unit 20 of the digital video exchange control device 2 checks the attributes of the subscriber, and if there is no problem, controls the switch unit 22 to display the video on the subscriber line 15. A video signal is connected to the channel to provide a video providing service to subscribers. These operations are repeated every time the subscriber designates a desired video channel from the control terminal 10.

When the control unit 10 of the video terminal device 1 detects that the video control channel is not used because the subscriber is watching the video program, that is, FIG.
When it is detected that the video control channel is in the unused state for a certain time or more due to the timeout of the timer A for detecting the free time of the video control channel shown in the sequence flowchart of FIG. The controller 20 of the device 2 is requested to present the version of the service information table of the memory 41. In the sequence flowchart shown in FIG. 4, since the versions of the current day information table do not match, the control unit 10 controls the control unit 20.
Request the transfer of the current day information table in the memory 41. On the other hand, when the two versions match, the service information table is not updated by the video terminal device 1. The control terminal 10 saves the transferred new current-day information table in the memory 40 and updates the version. Then, if there is a request from the subscriber, the service information is read from the memory 40 and displayed on the control terminal 10.

In the first embodiment, the control signal line 25
Although the method of writing the service information table in the memory 41 of the digital video exchange control apparatus 2 by the video providing station 3 via the above has been described, for example, in the memory 41 of the digital video exchange control apparatus 2 using a secondary recording medium or the like. The service information table may be recorded.

In the second and third embodiments, the method of comparing the versions of the service information table by detecting that the video control channel has been unused for a certain time or longer due to the timeout of the timer A is detected. However, version comparison may be performed when performing call control. Further, although the service information table is described as being displayed on the control terminal 10, it may be the monitor 11 or another display device.

In each of the above embodiments, the contents of the service information table are the same for all subscribers. However, the contents of the service information table may be different for each subscriber depending on the contract status with the subscriber. It may be different depending on the person.

[0037]

As described above, according to the digital video exchange system of the present invention, the service information provided by the digital video exchange control device from each video providing station to the subscriber of each video terminal device or each subscriber. Centralized management of various information such as billing information as a service information table, and the service information table in the subscriber terminal during the time when the subscriber continuously views one video channel and does not use the video control channel. Since it is configured to provide various kinds of information, there is an effect that the subscriber can be provided with the latest comprehensive service information as a system.

Further, according to the digital video exchange system of the present invention, the video terminal device is configured to receive and store the latest service information table from the video exchange control device each time it is connected to the digital video exchange control device. Therefore, even if the video terminal device is not connected to the digital video exchange control device, it is possible to display the comprehensive new service information of the system to the subscriber.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital video exchange system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence flowchart showing a communication sequence in the first digital video exchange system.

FIG. 3 is a sequence flowchart showing a communication sequence in the second digital video exchange system.

FIG. 4 is a sequence flowchart showing a communication sequence in a third digital video exchange system.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a conventional digital video exchange system.
It is a block diagram.

6 is an S of the down line of the subscriber line 15 shown in FIG .
To explain the frame structure of a DH-compliant frame
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Video terminal device 2 Digital video exchange control device 3 video provision stations 10 control terminal 11 monitors 12 Video decoding device 13 Home control device 14 Line termination interface section 15 subscriber line 20 Control unit 21 Subscriber interface section 22 Switch 23 Control signal interface section 24 Video signal interface section 25 control signal line 26 video signal lines 30 video center equipment 31 Control signal interface section 32 Video signal interface section 40, 41 memory 50-54 Monitoring alarm information 55,56 Fixed staff 57 Video information 58 Video control signal 59 Low speed information

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-60-96974 (JP, A) JP-A-60-96978 (JP, A) JP-A-62-141876 (JP, A) JP-A-56- 47182 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N ⁷ / 10,7 / 16-7/173 H04N 7/00-7/088

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of video terminal devices, and one or more video images for providing to the video terminal device a video signal and various information such as service information indicating service contents by the video signal or billing information for each subscriber. In a digital video exchange system including a providing station and one or more digital video exchange control devices, the digital video exchange control device provides the subscribers of the video terminal devices from the video providing stations. Control for centrally managing various information as a service information table for each subscriber, and controlling the video channel when the subscriber is continuously watching one of the video channels transmitting the video signal When the video control channel used for signal transmission is not used for the transmission of the control signal, the video control channel is used to notify the subscriber terminal. Digital video switching system and providing the various information of the subscriber stored in the serial service information table. 2. A plurality of video terminal devices, and one or more video images that provide the video terminal device with various information such as video signals and service information indicating the service content of the video signals or billing information for each subscriber. A subscriber station and one or more digital video exchange control devices, and the digital video exchange control device subscribes the various information provided from the video provision stations to the subscribers of the video terminal devices. Each subscriber has a centralized management as a service information table, and the subscriber is continuously watching one of the video channels for transmitting the video signal, and is provided for transmitting a control signal for controlling the video channel. The video control channel is stored in the service information table at the subscriber terminal using the video control channel during a time period when the control signal is not used for transmission of the control signal. In the digital video exchange system that provides the various information of the subscriber, the video terminal device includes a terminal side service information table that stores the various information provided from the digital video exchange control device, and the terminal side service. Means for presenting an information table to a video terminal user; and the digital video exchange control device, means for transmitting and receiving the video control channel from the video terminal device for each subscriber, and each subscription. Version management means for managing the version of the service information table for each person, and a version of the terminal side service information table and a version of the service information table for each of the subscriber terminals during communication with the video terminal device. If the two versions do not match, the version update storage means that stores the mismatch is compared. A channel free time detecting means for detecting that the video control channel has not been used for a predetermined time or more, the mismatch is stored in the version update storing means, and the channel free time detecting means is provided for the video control channel. And a means for updating the terminal side service information table using the video control channel when the vacancy is detected, the digital video exchange system. 3. A plurality of video terminal devices, and one or more video images for providing the video terminal device with various information such as video signals and service information indicating service contents by the video signals or billing information for each subscriber. A subscriber station and one or more digital video exchange control devices, and the digital video exchange control device subscribes the various information provided from the video provision stations to the subscribers of the video terminal devices. Each subscriber has a centralized management as a service information table, and the subscriber is continuously watching one of the video channels for transmitting the video signal, and is provided for transmitting a control signal for controlling the video channel. The video control channel is stored in the service information table at the subscriber terminal using the video control channel during a time period when the control signal is not used for transmission of the control signal. In the digital video exchange system that provides the various information of the subscriber, the video terminal device includes a terminal-side service information table that stores the various information provided from the digital video exchange control device, and the terminal-side service. Version management means for managing the version of the information table; channel idle time detection means for detecting that the video control channel has not been used for a predetermined time or longer during communication with the digital video exchange control device; and the digital video exchange. If the version of the service information table stored in the control device is inquired to the digital video exchange control device, and the version of the service information table and the version of the terminal side service information table managed by the version management means do not match, Remember that discrepancy If the mismatch is stored and the channel idle time detecting means detects an idle of the video control channel, the digital video exchange control device stores the latest video information of the video terminal device stored in the service information table. A digital video exchange system comprising: means for receiving various kinds of information; and means for displaying the terminal side service information table to a video terminal user.