JP3516615B2 - Information receiving system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information receiving system, and more particularly to a set top box (STB) information receiving system for receiving digital satellite broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to the recent development of satellite broadcasting technology, general viewers can collect and enjoy a wider variety of information and program programs.

However, in order to receive satellite broadcasting, MP
When using a set-top box having an EG decoder, a descramble, or the like, or a television receiver having the same built-in, a program may not be received correctly due to bad weather, poor antenna installation, or the like. The current situation is that there is no means other than visually checking the reception status of the program on the television receiver. For this reason, if the channel is not always tuned to the program, the program reserved for video recording may fail to be recorded.

Another factor is a sudden change in program broadcast time from an information provider using digital satellite broadcasting or the like. This is dealt with by receiving an incoming notification such as notification of some program information by operating the remote controller or the like to confirm the incoming screen information of the television receiver.

Therefore, unless the information provider regularly confirms whether or not the information is received on the screen of the television receiver, the information may be missed.

As an example of such a technique, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
"Information-added broadcasting system" described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 164524
It has been known.

This publication describes a technique in which information is added to a video signal and transmitted, and the information received by the viewer as necessary is output to a television monitor.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional information receiving system, the reception state suddenly deteriorates due to bad weather, poor wiring connection, etc., failing to record a program reserved for video recording. Or sudden change, cancellation, postponement of program broadcast time from information provider by digital satellite broadcasting,
It has the drawback of missing notifications such as changes in program broadcast contents.

An object of the present invention is to suddenly change, cancel, or postpone the program broadcasting time when the program reception state suddenly deteriorates due to bad weather, poor wiring connection, or the like, or from an information provider using digital satellite broadcasting. An object of the present invention is to provide an information receiving system that can more promptly recognize that there has been a notification such as.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems] information receiving system of the present invention
The system includes a set top box (STB) that controls information of a video signal input from an antenna, a facsimile device connected to the set top box (STB), and a television receiver. The set top box receives the video signal from the antenna. A receiver for receiving and outputting to the television receiver and its own system; connected to this receiver, the reception condition is bad and the program is correct
If the antenna reception level is low,
Output the reception level detection signal and receive it at the receiving section.
A data signal in which a data signal is superimposed on the video signal
STB control unit for extracting the data signal in case of signal reception
A storage unit for storing the retrieved data signal;
By connecting to the STB control unit,
Message from information provider included in the data signal
An STB information transmission unit for transmitting incoming call information; the reception level
An incoming call detection signal and the message incoming information , switching control between the external telephone interface and the line interface is performed, and the message incoming information is output as an STB information signal via the external telephone interface. And a STB information receiving unit for inputting the STB information signal from the set top box and outputting the STB information signal as STB information.
STB message data for the STB information is previously stored.
Stored STB message storage unit; receiving STB information
The ST corresponding to the STB information output from the receiver
A control unit for retrieving and extracting B message data from the STB message storage unit;
And a recording section for outputting the B message data as a message data on a recording sheet.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

A set top box (STB) for controlling information of a video signal input from an antenna, a facsimile apparatus connected to the STB, and a television receiver are provided, and the set top box receives the video signal from the antenna. receiving, the receiving unit to output to the television receiver and the own system and; connected to the receiving unit, reception state is bad program
If the antenna reception level is low
And a reception level detection signal is output, and the reception section
A data signal is superimposed on the received video signal.
STB for receiving the data signal when receiving the data signal
A control unit; a memory for storing the retrieved data signal
Section; connected to the STB control section to receive the antenna
Status and messages from the information provider that the data signal has
STB information transmission unit and for transmitting the message reception information; said receiving
Input the signal level detection signal and the message arrival information
Then, switching control between the external telephone interface and the line interface is performed, and the message incoming information is sent to the STB information signal via the external telephone interface.
Has the facsimile apparatus receives the STB information signal from the set top box, STB information receiving unit and outputting the STB information; and NCU output as previously storing STB message data for the STB information and the STB message memory; the ST
A control unit that retrieves and retrieves the STB message data corresponding to the STB information output from the B information receiving unit from the STB message storage unit; and outputs the retrieved STB message data to a recording sheet as message data. A recording unit for controlling ; by the STB control unit
The NCU again and the facsimile machine
Switch to the path that connects the line via the line interface
As a result, it is characterized by having a telephone number registration unit in which a contact for automatically transmitting the message data is registered.

Further, the STB control unit judges the antenna reception level in the reception unit, and when it detects that the antenna reception level is low, the STB control unit causes the NCU to communicate with the facsimile apparatus via the line interface during normal standby. The path connected to the line is switched to the path connected to the facsimile apparatus via the STB information transmission unit and the external telephone interface, and the S
The STB information signal notifying the deterioration of the antenna reception state is transmitted from the TB information transmission unit to the facsimile device.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the information receiving system of the present invention.

In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a set top box 2 (hereinafter referred to as STB: Set Top Box) for accumulating information of a video signal 25 input from an antenna 9 and a facsimile machine 10 connected thereto. And a television receiver 1.

The STB 2 receives the video signal 25 from the antenna 9.
A receiving unit 4 for receiving and outputting to the television receiver 1 and the STB control unit 5, an STB information transmitting unit 8 for transmitting the reception state of the antenna 9 and message arrival information 26 from an information provider, and a storage for storing information. Section 6, STB control section 5 which detects that the antenna reception level is low and outputs the reception level detection signal 21 to the NCU 7 when the reception condition is bad and the program cannot be received correctly, the external telephone interface 3 and the line interface 20 switching control,
The NCU 7 (Network Control) that outputs the STB information signal 23 through the external telephone interface 3
and a roll unit).

Further, the facsimile apparatus 10 receives the STB information signal 23 from the STB 2 and outputs the STB information 27, the STB information receiving section 11, the STB message storage section 13 that stores the STB message data 24 for the STB information 27, The STB message data 24 corresponding to the STB information 27 is provided with a control unit 12 for extracting from the STB message storage unit 13, and a recording unit 14 for outputting the extracted STB message data 24 as message data 22 onto recording paper. .

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the information receiving system of FIG.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the STB 2 sends an STB information signal 23 to the facsimile apparatus 10, and the STB information receiving section 11
The STB message data 24 corresponding to the STB information 27 output by is stored in the STB message storage unit 13 in advance (step 1).

For example, in message 1, when the reception condition of the antenna or the like is bad and the program cannot be correctly received, the message "program cannot be received" and message 2
In case of receiving message data such as program announcements from information providers, stores as many messages as "message has arrived" as necessary.

Next, for example, when the reception condition of the antenna 9 is bad and the program cannot be received correctly, the STB control unit 5 determines the antenna reception level by the reception unit 4 and detects that the antenna reception level is low ( Step 2),
Line interface 2 during normal standby by NCU7
The path connecting the line side and the facsimile device 10 via the line 0 (disconnected from the STB information receiving unit 8) is S
The path is switched to the path connecting the facsimile device 10 through the TB information transmitting unit 8 and the external telephone interface 3 (disconnected from the line side) (step 3). Then, the STB information transmission unit 8 transmits an STB information signal 23 indicating that the antenna reception state has deteriorated to the facsimile apparatus 10 (step 4).

In the facsimile apparatus 10, the STB information receiving section 11 judges whether or not the STB information signal 23 has been received, and outputs STB information 27 if received, and maintains a standby state if not received (step 5). The control unit 12 sends the STB message data 24 corresponding to the STB information 27 to the STB.
The STB message data 24 is retrieved from the message storage unit 13 (step 6) and sent out to the recording unit 14 as the message data 22 (step 7). Finally, the recording unit 14 prints out the message data 22 on recording paper (step 8).

As a result, in the present set top box information receiving system, the information from the STB 2 can be confirmed more quickly even when the television receiver 1 is not watching the program. It is possible to prevent the video recording from failing and the oversight of the notification from the information provider by digital satellite broadcasting to be missed because the program is not correctly received and the condition is bad.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the information receiving system of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the components corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals or symbols, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the information receiving system of FIG.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The difference from the configuration of FIG. 1 is that a telephone number registration unit 15 is newly installed in the facsimile device 10.

Next, the operation of FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the telephone number registration unit 15 is preliminarily stored in the STB.
When some information is sent from 2, the telephone number of the contact who wants to send a message for that information is registered (step 1). Next, the STB information signal 23 is sent from the STB 2 to the facsimile apparatus 10, and the STB information 27 corresponding to the STB information 27 output from the STB information receiving unit 11 is sent.
The B message data 24 is stored in the STB message storage unit 13 in advance (step 2). For example, in message 1, when the reception condition of the antenna etc. is poor and the program cannot be received correctly, the message "The program cannot be received" is given, and in message 2, the message data such as program notification from the information provider is received. In the case of, a message such as "A message has arrived" is accumulated as needed.

Then, the video signal 28 received by the receiving unit 4
In the case of data signal reception in which the data signal is superposed on (STEP 3), the STB control unit 5 extracts the data signal and stores it in the storage unit 6 (STEP 4). Next, if the data signal contains message data such as a notice from the information provider regarding a program, the STB control unit 5 causes the NCU 7 to make the line interface 2 during normal standby.
The path connecting the line side and the facsimile device 10 via 0 (disconnected from the STB information transmitting unit 8) is S
The path is switched to the path connecting the facsimile device 10 through the TB information transmitting unit 8 and the external telephone interface 3 (connection to the line side is disconnected) (step 5). Then, the STB information transmitter 23 transmits to the facsimile apparatus 10 the STB information signal 23 which notifies that the message data of the announcement regarding the program has arrived (step 6). Then, the STB information receiving section 11 of the facsimile apparatus 10 judges whether the STB information signal 23 is received, and if received, outputs the STB information 27 (step 7). The control unit 12 retrieves the STB message data 24 corresponding to the STB information 27 from the STB message storage unit 13 (step 8) and fetches the retrieved message data 22 to the recording unit 14 (step 9).

Then, the recording section 14 prints out the message data 22 on a recording sheet (step 1
0). When the signal transmission / reception is completed, the STB control unit 5
The CU 7 switches again to the path for line connection with the facsimile device 10 via the line interface 20 (step 11).

Finally, the message is automatically transmitted as voice data or image data to the contact information registered in advance in the telephone number registration section 15 (step 12).

As a result, even if the user is away from the place where the STB 2 and the television receiver 1 are installed, the reception condition of the program suddenly deteriorates due to the deterioration of the weather, poor wiring connection, and the like. It is possible to recognize more quickly that there has been a failure or that an information provider using digital satellite broadcasting has suddenly notified that the program broadcasting time has been changed, canceled, postponed, or the like.

As described above, in order to receive the digital satellite broadcasting, the MPEG decoder, the STB 2 in which the descramble and the like are built in, or the television receiver in which the STB 2 is built in and the external telephone interface 3 is provided, From the external telephone interface 3, it is possible to transmit information such as the reception state of the antenna and the message arrival from the information provider to the external facsimile device 10 (FAX) or the like.

Then, by receiving the information sent from the STB 2 and pre-storing the message data for transmitting what kind of information the information is, the transmission data or the message corresponding to the information is stored. It is possible to provide the facsimile device or the telephone with a function of automatically transmitting the voice data or the image data corresponding to.

It is also possible to provide a telephone number registration section for storing the telephone number of the other party for automatic transmission.

[0042]

As described above, the information receiving system of the present invention outputs a message corresponding to the information transmitted from the STB to the recording paper to watch the program on the television receiver. It has the effect that the information can be quickly known even without it.

Further, since the message can be automatically transmitted as voice data or image data to the contact information registered in advance in the telephone number registration section, it is possible to detect a sudden reception state due to bad weather or poor wiring connection. Due to the deterioration, recording of the program reserved for video recording may fail, or information providers using digital satellite broadcasting may suddenly change, cancel, postpone, or change the content of the program broadcast. It has an effect that it is possible to prevent overlooking.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information receiving system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information receiving system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the information receiving system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the information receiving system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 TV receiver 2 STB 3 External telephone interface 4 Receiver 5 STB controller 6 memory 7 NCU 8 STB information transmitter 9 antenna 10 Facsimile machine 11 STB information receiver 12 Control unit 13 STB message storage 14 Recording section 15 Telephone number registration section 20 line interface 21 Reception level detection signal 22 Message data 23 STB information signal 24 STB message data 25 video signals 26 Message incoming information 27 STB information 28 video signals

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 7/16-7 / 173,7 / 20 H04N 5/38-5/46

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A set top box (STB) for controlling information of a video signal input from an antenna, a facsimile device connected to the set top box (STB), and a television receiver, wherein the set top box receives the video from the antenna. A receiving unit that receives a signal and outputs it to the television receiver and its own system; connected to this receiving unit, the reception condition is poor, and the program is correctly received
When it cannot, it detects that the antenna reception level is low.
Before the reception level detection signal is output and received by the receiving unit
Data signal reception in which the data signal is superimposed on the video signal
In the case of communication, an STB control unit for extracting the data signal; a storage unit for storing the extracted data signal; a connection with the STB control unit, a reception state of the antenna,
Message from information provider included in the data signal
An STB information transmitting unit for transmitting incoming information; the reception level detection signal and the message incoming information
Input and control the switching between the external telephone interface and the line interface, and the message incoming information through the external telephone interface to the STB information.
And NCU which outputs it as the signal; have, the facsimile apparatus receives the STB information signal from the set top box, STB information receiving unit and outputting the STB information; advance the STB message data for the STB information
An accumulated STB message storage unit; a control unit that retrieves and extracts the STB message data corresponding to the STB information output from the STB information receiving unit from the STB message storage unit; and the retrieved STB message data And a recording unit for outputting as a message data on recording paper; 2. A set-top box (STB) for controlling information of a video signal input from an antenna, a facsimile device connected to the set-top box (STB), and a television receiver, wherein the set-top box receives the image from the antenna. A receiving unit that receives a signal and outputs it to the television receiver and its own system; connected to this receiving unit, the reception condition is poor, and the program is correctly received
When it cannot, it detects that the antenna reception level is low.
Before the reception level detection signal is output and received by the receiving unit
Data signal reception in which the data signal is superimposed on the video signal
In the case of communication, an STB control unit for extracting the data signal; a storage unit for storing the extracted data signal; a connection with the STB control unit, a reception state of the antenna,
Message from information provider included in the data signal
An STB information transmitting unit for transmitting incoming information; the reception level detection signal and the message incoming information
Input and control the switching between the external telephone interface and the line interface, and the message incoming information through the external telephone interface to the STB information.
An NCU that outputs as a signal ; and a STB information receiving unit that inputs the STB information signal from the set top box and outputs as STB information, the STB message data for the STB information in advance.
An accumulated STB message storage unit; a control unit that retrieves and extracts the STB message data corresponding to the STB information output from the STB information receiving unit from the STB message storage unit; and the retrieved STB message data And a recording unit for outputting as message data to a recording sheet; the STB control unit causes the NCU to again output the file.
Line through the Xumimil device and the line interface
An information receiving system, comprising: a telephone number registration unit that registers a contact for automatically transmitting the message data by switching to a path for connection . 3. The STB control unit judges the antenna reception level at the reception unit, and when it detects that the antenna reception level is low, the NCU causes the facsimile apparatus to communicate with the facsimile apparatus via the line interface during normal standby. The path connected to the line is
The STB information transmission unit and the external telephone interface are used to switch to a path connected to the facsimile device, and the STB information transmission unit notifies the STB information signal of the deterioration of the antenna reception state to the facsimile device. The information receiving system according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that.