JP3495526B2 - Internet television - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet television which displays a video signal in a video signal on a screen, takes in data from the Internet through a telephone line, converts it into a video signal and displays it on the screen. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet is a network to which a large number of computers are connected on a global scale, and various kinds of readable information are stored in each computer. This information includes e-mail, various programs, homepages, etc., and two-way communication is possible. The home page corresponds to the cover and table of contents of one piece of information, and necessary information can be searched by selecting a picture (icon) and word on the home page.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of connection between each computer and the Internet. In this connection example, the personal computer 7 is connected to the modem 8
Alternatively, it is connected to the telephone line 2 via a terminal adapter, and the telephone line 2 connects to the modem 3 or the terminal adapter of the provider which is the connection service company. The modem 3 is connected to the server 4 which is a computer of the provider.

The server 4 is connected to the Internet 6 for 24 hours, and is also connected to the Internet 6 via a router 5 for setting a relay route.

The personal computer 7 makes a call when necessary and connects to the Internet 6 via the server 4 of the provider (dial-up connection).

Recently, there has been proposed an Internet television which can connect to the Internet 6 instead of the personal computer 7 and display various information of the Internet on the screen.

By the way, on the Internet, it may take time to connect to a desired information source depending on the congestion of the line.
It may happen that one wants to watch a television broadcast program and the Internet screen at the same time. Therefore, an internet television that can simultaneously display a television program and the screen of the internet until the desired information source can be connected, and can simultaneously display the television program and the screen of the internet at any time during the connection operation. Has been desired.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the applicant of the present application has proposed Japanese Patent Application No. 8-206222 as an internet television having a simple structure capable of simultaneously displaying a television program and an internet screen. The Internet television proposed by the applicant will be described below.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of connection between the Internet television according to the present invention and the Internet. In this connection example, the Internet television 1 remotely operated by the remote control device 20a is connected to the telephone line 2. The Internet television 1 has a built-in modem. The telephone line 2 is a modem 3 of a provider who is a connection service company.
Alternatively, the modem 3 is connected to a terminal adapter, and the modem 3 is connected to a server 4 which is a computer of the provider.

The server 4 is connected to the Internet 6 for 24 hours, and is connected to the Internet 6 via a router 5 for setting a relay route.

When the remote control device 20a is operated from the Internet television 1, a telephone call operation is automatically performed, and the server 4 of the provider is operated.
Connect to Internet 6 via (dial-up connection).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the embodiment of the Internet television according to the present invention (audio-related is omitted). In this Internet television 1, a television radio wave received by an antenna 10a is selected by a tuner 10, and a video signal of the selected television radio wave is detected by an image intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11. The detected video signal is processed by the video chroma processor 12 to obtain a luminance signal Y and color difference signals BY, R.
-Y is extracted.

Extracted luminance signal Y and color difference signal B-
The Y and R-Y are converted into red, green and blue color signals R, G and B by the video signal processing unit 13. The respective color signals R, G, B are given to the RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 14 and output to the CRT 17 for each color.

The video signal detected by the video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11 is also given to the sync separation / deflection processing section 16 to extract the vertical sync signal and the horizontal sync signal. The extracted vertical sync signal and horizontal sync signal are CR
It is given to T17 and used as a synchronizing signal for screen scanning.

The color signals R, G, B converted by the video signal processing unit 13 are also supplied to the TV image horizontal compression unit 18 which is a video horizontal direction compression unit via the switching unit 14. The TV video horizontal compression unit 18 has a line memory for storing a video signal for each scanning line, and is 4fsc (fsc = frequency of color subcarrier) which is a multiplication frequency of the horizontal sync signal given from the sync separation deflection processing unit 16. ) Write clock and write the video signal. When reading the video signal, the frequency is 8 fsc, which is twice the write clock frequency.
The read clock is generated, read by this, and given to the image left / right synthesizing unit 19 which is the image synthesizing means.

On the other hand, the internet processing unit 22 connected to the communication line 24 uses the data given via the communication line 24 to generate red, green and blue color signals R, G and B of the video signal.
And each color signal R, G, B is given to the RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 23, and CR is supplied for each color.
It is output at T17. When displaying only the Internet screen, the Internet processing unit 22 independently creates a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal, and the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal are given to the CRT 17 and used as a synchronizing signal for screen scanning. used.

If there is an instruction from the remote control device 20a, the internet processing unit 22 executes the DMA.
The video signal, which is a line memory to be described later,
Write to IFO29 (Figure 3). In this case, the internet processing unit 22 writes the video signal at the timing created by the writing control unit 27, reads the video signal from the timing of the midpoint of the scanning line by the read clock having a frequency of 8 fsc, and outputs the left and right images via the switching unit 23. It is given to the synthesis unit 19.

The color signals R, G, B output by the Internet processing unit 22 are also passed through the switching unit 23.
It is given to the image left-right composition unit 19.

The video left / right synthesizing unit 19 horizontally synthesizes the video signals supplied from the TV video horizontal compressing unit 18 and the Internet processing unit 22, and the synthesized video signals are supplied to the RGB matrix 15 for each color. Every C
Output to RT17.

The tuning CPU 20 outputs a tuning instruction signal to the tuner 10 and sends and receives a signal to and from the internet processing section 22 in accordance with an instruction from the remote control device 20a based on an optical signal, a radio wave signal, etc. Operate and control John 1. Further, if necessary, an instruction signal is also output to the on-screen display control unit 21 to cause the on-screen display control unit 21 to give a video signal to the RGB matrix 15.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the internet processing unit 22. This internet processing unit 2
2, the modem 41 connected to the communication line 24 is the CPU 3
8 and the CPU 38 is connected to the RA via the bus 40.
It is connected to the M37, the ROM 39, the clock generator 26, the I / O port 3 (34a) and the gate array 36.

The RAM 37 stores an image signal of data obtained via the modem 41 and the like, and the ROM 39 stores a processing program of the Internet processing unit 22 and an image signal of a screen unique to the Internet television 1.

The synchronization signal generating section 25 includes a clock generator 2
A vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal unique to the internet processing unit 22 are created based on the clock output from the control unit 6 and are given to the gate array 36. The clock generator 26 is 8f
The clock of sc is created and given to the gate array 36.

The I / O port 3 (34a) outputs a switching signal between a mode for displaying the Internet screen on the full display screen and a mode for simultaneously displaying the television program and the Internet screen.

The gate array 36 is given a vertical sync signal and a horizontal sync signal from the video FIFO 29, which is a line memory, and the TV video horizontal compression section 18 or the sync signal creation section 25, and is supplied to the TV video horizontal compression section 18 or the clock generator. 26, a write control unit 27 that controls writing of the video FIFO 29 and a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal from the TV image horizontal compression unit 18 or the synchronization signal creation unit 25, and the TV image horizontal compression unit. 18 or a read clock from the clock generator 26,
Read control unit 2 for controlling read of the video FIFO 29
8 and.

The gate array 36 also has a channel selection CPU 2
I / O port 1 (31) that sends and receives signals to and from
/ O port 1 (31) signal and vertical sync signal
Interrupt control unit 30 for outputting as an interrupt signal of PU38
And an EEPROM 33 for storing a telephone number, an ID, a password, a communication history, and the like, and an I / O port 2 (32) for exchanging signals.

The read control unit 28 determines whether the next field to be displayed is Odd or Even from the relationship between the given vertical synchronizing signal and horizontal synchronizing signal,
The determination result is given to the CPU 38 by the interrupt control unit 30 at the interrupt timing of the vertical synchronization signal.

The color signals R, G and B read out from the video FIFO 29 are respectively supplied by the color palette 35.
Finely colored and output to the switching unit 23.

The operation of the Internet television 1 having such a configuration will be described below.

Internet television 1 is a channel selection C
When the mode for operating as a normal television is designated by the PU 20, the television radio wave received by the antenna 10a is selected by the tuner 10 according to an instruction from the channel selection CPU 20. A video signal of the selected television radio wave is detected by the video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11, and from the detected video signal, a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal B-Y are detected by a video chroma processor 12.
RY is extracted.

Extracted luminance signal Y and color difference signal B-
The Y and R-Y are converted into red, green and blue color signals R, G and B by the video signal processing unit 13. The respective color signals R, G, B are given to the RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 14 and output to the CRT 17 for each color.

From the video signal detected by the video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11, the vertical separation signal and the horizontal synchronization signal are extracted by the synchronization separation / deflection processing unit 16. The extracted vertical synchronizing signal and horizontal synchronizing signal are given to the CRT 17 and used as a synchronizing signal when screen-scanning each color signal R, G, B.

Internet television 1 is a channel selection C
When the PU 20 specifies the mode of operating as the Internet television, the CPU 38 is interrupted by the interrupt control unit 30. When interrupted, the CPU 38 reads an image signal for one screen of the initial screen from the ROM 39 and sets it in the RAM 37. Further, the clock generator 26 outputs a clock and supplies it to the write controller 27 and the read controller 28.

Further, the CPU 38 uses the I / O port 3 (3
4a) outputs the switching signal, stops the output from the switching unit 14, and switches the input to the RGB matrix 15 to the switching unit 23.
And the on-screen display control unit 21 only.

The interrupt control unit 30 activates the DMA controller incorporated in the CPU 38 each time the horizontal synchronization signal is given from the read control unit 28, and the RAM is operated by the DMA.
Each color signal R, G, B of the video signal for one scanning line is read out from 37 and given to the video FIFO 29. Video FIF
In O29, each color signal R, G, B is written at the timing created by the write control unit 27, and the read control unit 28 reads each with a read clock of 4 fsc, and the read color signals R, G, B are switched. It is given to the RGB matrix 15 via the unit 23, and C is given for each color.
Output to RT17.

The sync signal creating section 25 gives a vertical sync signal and a horizontal sync signal to the CRT 17 when displaying one screen, and these are used as sync signals when screen scanning each color signal R, G, B. .

At this time, the DMA controller starts the display on the display screen of the CRT 17 as shown in FIG.
From the front of the line (upper right of FIG. 4), each color signal R, G, B of the video signal is read from the RAM 37 by the DMA, and the CRT is displayed.
During the period (horizontal blanking period) of the invalid display area B which is not displayed on the display screen of 17, the writing to the video FIFO 29 is completed, and the read control is performed during the period of the effective display area A displayed on the display screen of the CRT 17. Part 28 is a video FIFO
Read from 29.

Further, the read control unit 28 sets the field to be displayed next to O at the interrupt timing of the vertical synchronizing signal.
The determination result 1 of whether it is dd or Even is given to the DMA controller of the CPU 38 via the interrupt control unit 30. According to this result, the DMA controller sets the address in the RAM 37 of the video signal to be read.

As a result of the above operation, the initial screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 17. The operator can select the pictures (icons) of "shop information", "travel / sightseeing", "news", "learning", "entertainment", "area and company information", "original", "search", and "email" on this initial screen. When the remote control device 20a is operated from the inside and, for example, the picture of “travel / sightseeing” is selected and determined, the internet processing unit 22 performs the same operation as in the initial screen,
A "travel / sightseeing" selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. In the same manner, each time a selection screen is selected and determined, a similar sub-selection screen in which the options are arranged in a tree is displayed.

The remote control device 20a has a selection button (43) at the right end of the top surface, a decision button (44) at the left end, and various types of buttons at the center, like a picture 42 displayed at the bottom of the initial screen (FIG. 5). An operation button (45) is provided. The selection button is
It is possible to freely move the position of the "pointing hand" pointer or cursor in 8 directions, and a picture (including a button-shaped picture) or character that overlaps with the pointer or cursor when the enter button is operated. Items displayed in columns are selected and determined.

When the selection is determined on the selection screen and the search proceeds, the pictures related to the searched item are displayed in the ROM 39 and E.
It is read from the EPROM 33 and displayed on the display screen. The operator operates the remote control device 20a,
When the CPU 38 selects and decides from this picture, the CPU 38
The telephone number of the server 4 of the provider is read from the ROM 33, the telephone call operation is performed, and the server 4 of the provider and the internet processing unit 22 are connected. When connected to the server 4 of the provider, the URL corresponding to the picture selected and decided is called and connected.

When the home page data of the connected URL is sent via the communication line 24 and the modem 41,
The CPU 38 converts this data into an image signal and RAM3
Set to 7. The image signal set in the RAM 37 is displayed on the display screen as in the case of the initial screen.

When calling an unregistered URL,
Select and confirm "URL input" on the menu screen of the browser, which will be described later, and input the URL.

During the call operation of the telephone and URL, FIG.
The menu screen of the browser as shown in (a) is displayed in the center of the basic diagram displayed at the upper end, "Reading data"
Is displayed.

Here, for example, when the initial screen (FIG. 5) is displayed and the tuning CPU 20 specifies a mode for simultaneously displaying a normal television program and the Internet screen, the Internet TV In John 1, the CPU 38 is interrupted by the interrupt controller 30. When the CPU 38 is interrupted, the I
A switching signal is output from the / O port 3 (34a), and the output from the switching unit 14 and the output from the switching unit 23 are respectively T
The video image horizontal compression unit 18 is switched to.

The Internet television 1 uses the video signal processing unit 13 to output red, green and blue color signals R, G,
The color signals R, G, B converted into B are given to the TV image horizontal compression unit 18 via the switching unit 14.

The TV video horizontal compression unit 18 creates a write clock of 4 fsc which is the multiplication frequency of the horizontal sync signal supplied from the sync separation / deflection processing unit 16, and thereby each color signal R, G, B of the video signal is generated. Write. When each color signal R, G, B of the video signal is read, a read clock having a frequency of 8 fsc, which is twice the write clock, is created, and each color signal R, G, B is read from the start end of the scanning line. , To the video left / right composition unit 19.

On the other hand, the Internet processing unit 22 is designated to display a normal television program and the Internet screen at the same time, and when the CPU 38 is interrupted, an image signal for one screen of the initial screen is output from the ROM 39. Is set to the RAM 37, and the clock generator 26 is stopped.

Then, the internet processing unit 22 sets the T
A vertical synchronizing signal, a horizontal synchronizing signal, and a clock of 8 fsc are given from the V video horizontal compression unit 18.

The interrupt control unit 30 activates the DMA controller incorporated in the CPU 38 each time the horizontal synchronization signal is given from the read control unit 28, and the RAM is operated by the DMA.
Each color signal R, G, B of the video signal for one scanning line is read out from 37 and given to the video FIFO 29. Video FIF
In O29, each of the color signals R, G, and B is written at the timing created by the write control unit 27, and the read control unit 28 reads the video signal from the timing of the midpoint of the scanning line by the read clock of 8 fsc. The color signals R, G, and B read out and read out are supplied to the switching unit 23.
Is given to the image left-right synthesizing unit 19 via.

The image left / right synthesizing unit 19 horizontally synthesizes the image signals provided from the TV image horizontal compression unit 18 and the Internet processing unit 22, and the synthesized image signals are provided to the RGB matrix 15 for each color. Every C
Output to RT17. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, a normal television program is displayed on the left half of the display screen, and an internet screen is displayed on the right half. This is possible not only for the initial screen of the Internet but for any screen of the Internet.

When the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal are not given from the read control unit 28, the interrupt control unit 30 determines that the television program is turned off, and notifies the CPU 38 of this by an interrupt. In response to this notification, the CPU 38 activates the clock generator 26 to supply the vertical synchronizing signal, the horizontal synchronizing signal, and the clock of 8 fsc to the writing control unit 27 and the reading control unit 28, and then to the Internet on the right half of the display screen. Display the screen of.

The other operations of the Internet television 1 are the same as those in the above-described mode of operating as a normal television and the mode of displaying the Internet screen on the full display screen, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0054]

By the way, in such an Internet television, as described above, the display of the Internet screen is turned off during the time during which the text or image data of the Internet is downloaded, and the television screen is displayed. It can be used by turning it on and enjoying a television program.

In this case, the display of the Internet screen is off, but the Internet circuit is in operation because it is downloading. Therefore, since the internet circuit is operating even though the internet screen is not displayed, the DMA for performing the display operation is performed.
The function remains operational.

For this reason, the bus operating with the DMA function is occupied, so that there is a disadvantage that the time for the CPU to use the bus is reduced and the data download is delayed. In addition, when the DMA function operates, the RAM
Current is consumed for reading the data. In particular,
The current consumption for accessing the RAM is large. Furthermore,
Interference on the television screen occurs due to unnecessary radiation due to the reading of the data in the RAM and unnecessary radiation due to the video signal output from the Internet circuit. In particular, television broadcasting is greatly affected by a weak electric field.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and when the television screen is being watched while the internet circuit receives the internet data, the unwanted interference of the internet circuit is prevented. It is an object of the present invention to provide an internet television which eliminates the current consumption, reduces the current consumption, and speeds up the downloading of data.

[0058]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an internet television for displaying a video signal in a video signal on a screen, and taking in data from the internet through a telephone line, converting it into a video signal and displaying it on the screen. A memory means for taking in and storing data from the Internet; a video FIFO means for storing the data as video signal data for one line; and a video FIFO means for storing the data from the memory means as video signal data. Writing means for writing to the computer, DMA means for controlling the writing means, discrimination output means for discriminating and outputting a period during which the video signal data of the Internet is not displayed on the screen, and DMA operation from the writing means. DMA request signal output for outputting a request DMA request signal to the DMA means Stage and said the discrimination output of the display is not the period from discrimination output means controls the output the DMA request signal output means, an Internet television, characterized by comprising a control means for stopping the DMA unit.

Further, according to the present invention, the data stored in the video FIFO means is set to 0 so that the stored video signal output levels are all the same when the display of the Internet screen is turned off. It is an internet television characterized in that

Further, according to the present invention, the data stored by the video FIFO means is set so that when the display of the Internet screen is turned off, the stored video signal output levels are all the same. This is an internet television characterized in that all lines have the same value.

[0061]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In this block diagram, the same parts as those in the block diagram of FIG. 3 have the same functions, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

First, the functions added to FIG. 3 in FIG. 8 are the I / O port 4 (50) and the AND circuit 51,
The operation will be described below.

First, as described in the prior art, the video FIFO 29 inside the gate array 36 performs drawing and display output to the video FIFO 29 based on the horizontal synchronizing signal, the vertical synchronizing signal, and the Odd / Even determination result. As described in the prior art, the drawing timing is set in the DMA inside the CPU 38 as shown in FIG.
The controller 38a causes the color signals R, G, B of the video signal to be read from the RAM 37 by DMA from one line before the start of display on the display screen of the CRT 17 (upper right in FIG. 4), and is not displayed on the display screen of the CRT 17 invalid. During the period of the display area B (horizontal retrace line period), the writing to the video FIFO 29 is completed, and during the period of the effective display area A displayed on the display screen of the CRT 17, the read control unit 28 reads from the video FIFO 29. I do.

Further, the read control unit 28 sets the field to be displayed next to O at the interrupt timing of the vertical synchronizing signal.
The determination result 1 of whether it is dd or Even is given to the DMA controller of the CPU 38 via the interrupt control unit 30. According to this result, the DMA controller sets the address in the RAM 37 of the video signal to be read.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the display of the Internet screen is off, the information from the tuning CPU 20 is received, and the DMA controller 38a first performs the DMA transfer for one line, and the data of all 640 pixels have the same value, For example, black (data 0) is written.

After writing the black data, an internet off signal is created inside the gate array 36,
The I / O port 4 (50) outputs a mask signal which becomes "LOW" while the Internet is off. Further, the write control unit 27 outputs a DMA request signal for operating the DMA, and the DMA controller 3 of the CPU 38.
8a.

By inputting the DMA request signal and the mask signal to the AND circuit 51, the DMA request signal is DMA.
The input is not input to the controller 38a, and the DMA controller 38a stops operating.

As a result, all the data in the video FIFO 29 remains 0, and the black output remains constant. The data of the video FIFO 29 is not written because the DMA controller 38a remains stopped until the display of the internet screen is turned on.

In the block diagram of this embodiment, a signal for stopping the DMA controller 38a is created in the AND circuit 51, but the mask signal and the DMA request signal are CP.
Directly input to U38 and DMA controller 38a DM
It can be implemented in software to ignore the A request signal.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the DMA function is stopped during the off period of the display of the Internet screen, the display output does not change from the video FIFO, the current consumption can be reduced, and unnecessary. Radiation can be prevented. Further, since the DMA function is stopped, the CPU can occupy the bus line, so that there is an effect that the time for downloading the Internet data can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a connection example between a conventional Internet television and the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an Internet television according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an internet processing unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation in which a DMA controller transfers a video signal.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an initial screen of an Internet television according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state where a normal television program is displayed on the left half of the display screen and an Internet screen is displayed on the right half.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a “travel / sightseeing” selection screen.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an Internet television according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a connection between a computer and the Internet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet Television 14,23 Switching Unit (Switching Unit) 15 RGB Matrix 17 CRT 18 TV Image Horizontal Compressing Unit (Video Horizontal Direction Compressing Unit) 19 Image Left / Right Synthesizing Unit (Image Synthesizing Unit) 20 Channel Selection CPU 20a Remote Control Device 22 Internet processing unit (data horizontal compression unit) 24 communication line (telephone line) 25 synchronization signal creating unit 26 clock generator 27 write control unit 28 read control unit 29 video FIFO 30 interrupt control unit 37 RAM 38 CPU 38a DMA controller 41 modem 50 I / O port 4 51 AND circuit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An internet television for displaying a video signal in a video signal on a screen, capturing data from the internet through a telephone line, converting the video signal into a video signal and displaying the video signal on the screen. Means for taking in and storing the data, video FIFO means for storing the data as video signal data for one line, and writing means for writing the data from the memory means as video signal data in the video FIFO means. DMA means for controlling the writing means, discrimination output means for discriminating and outputting a period during which the video signal data of the Internet is not displayed on the screen, and a DMA request signal for requesting a DMA operation from the writing means DMA request signal output means for outputting to the DMA means, and the discrimination output means The output of the DMA request signal output means is controlled by the discrimination output of the non-display period from the stage,
An internet television comprising a control means for stopping the MA means. 2. The Internet television according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the video FIFO means have the same video signal output level when the display of the Internet screen is turned off. The internet television according to claim 1, wherein the data is set to 0. 3. The Internet television according to claim 1, wherein the data stored by the video FIFO means have the same video signal output level when the display of the Internet screen is turned off. 2. The internet television according to claim 1, wherein the data has the same value for one line.