JP3537982B2 - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to, for example, DAB
(Digital Audio Broadcasti
ng: digital audio broadcast), ie, an ensemble is transmitted including a plurality of services simultaneously, and the transmission signal includes program data as well as audio data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a broadcast receiver capable of streamlining program selection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art DAB has attracted attention as a radio broadcast format capable of coping with deterioration of sound quality due to interference due to multi-station of FM broadcasts and difficulty in receiving good quality in a mobile body. DA
B is being developed by EUREKA (European Advanced Technology Development Plan), and its specifications have already been defined. As a modulation method, π / 4 shift DQPSK-OFDM is used.
(Differential Quadrature
Phase Shift Keying-Orthog
onal Frequency DivisionMu
ltiplex (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), which is characterized by being less susceptible to fading and multipath.
Using PEG layer II, a large number of stereo broadcasts and data broadcasts are enabled with a transmission bandwidth of 1.5 MHz.

[0003] In the DAB broadcast format, a program type indicating the type of program being broadcast (the program type is, for example, music, news, sports, etc., and is further subdivided into, for example, classical, jazz, popular, The program type data is currently undecided.) As the course code (coarse code) and the fine code (fine code) following it, there are 6 bits and 8 bits, respectively, for a total of 2 $. 14 ($ 14
Means 14th power. ), Ie, 16384,
A huge number of program types can be set.

[0004]

In DAB, a service plays various programs (programs) according to time, a plurality of services are included in a single ensemble, and each ensemble is formed by a respective transmission signal. Wireless, wired,
And transmitted via an optical fiber or the like. Thus, the user can listen to a large number of programs at each point in time, and, like a conventional radio,
It is inefficient to select broadcasting stations one by one and search for a program that the user wants to listen to. Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has previously proposed a broadcast receiver in which a user can specify a program type desired to be listened to and automatically select a program having the same program type as the specified program type so that the program can be selected. It is disclosed in the application.

[0005] When there are a large number of programs having the same program type as the program type specified by the user, it is inefficient to randomly output the program found as a result of the search from a speaker. This is because it takes time (eg, up to 5 to 6 seconds) to switch from a tuned ensemble to another ensemble on a DAB radio. It takes a lot of time to listen and examine all the programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of a user searching for a program desired to be listened to in a broadcast receiver that receives a transmitted signal in which the ensemble includes a plurality of services simultaneously and is transmitted.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a broadcast receiver (1).
(0) indicates that multiple services are included in a single ensemble.
Each ensemble is programmed with audio data.
Transmitted by a transmission signal containing RAM type data,
Receive the signal. And this broadcast receiver (10)Is the next
(A) to (c). (A) The user specifies the program type desired for listening
Program type designation means (30) (B) Designated by the program type designation means (30)
Of the same program type as the program type
Search means (l4) to search for the service broadcasting the ram (C) Synchronizing services searched by search means (l4)
Audio output from the ensemble of
Audio output means

In this specification, the term "transmission signal" includes not only a radio wave but also a wired electric signal, an optical fiber optical signal, and the like.

The "transmission signal in which a plurality of services are included in a single ensemble, and each ensemble includes audio data and program type data" is, for example, a DAB transmission signal.

In outputting a program of the same program type as the program type specified by the program type specifying means (30) from the audio output means, the program of the audio output means of the ensemble currently being tuned has priority. Therefore, in the program selection mode, the switching of the tuning ensemble in the broadcast receiver (10) is suppressed, and the switching time of the program of the program type designated by the program type designation means (30) is reduced.

For example, in DAB, the service switching time is 400 ms in the same ensemble, while the switching time to another ensemble is about 5 to 6 seconds at the maximum.

[0012] In the broadcast receiver (10) of the present invention, a plurality of services are included in a single ensemble, and each ensemble is transmitted as a transmission signal including program type data together with audio data, and receives the transmission signal. . The broadcast receiver (10) has the following elements (a) to (e). (A) Program type designating means (30) for designating a program type desired by the user to listen to (b) Ensemble tuning means (18) for controlling an ensemble to be tuned (c) Designated by program type designating means (30) Ensemble tuning means for services broadcasting programs of the same program type as the program type
Search means (14) for searching from the ensemble synchronized with (18) (d) Audio output means (e) for outputting the service searched by the search means (14) as audio (e) Search means (14) Ensemble switching means (14) for switching the tuning ensemble of the ensemble tuning means (18) to another ensemble when the service cannot be found and when the search means (14) has completely output the desired service as audio.

The ensemble switching means (14) is tuned by the ensemble tuning means (18) to a service broadcasting a program of the same program type as the program type designated by the program type designating means (30). If not in the ensemble but in another ensemble, the tuning ensemble of the ensemble tuning means (18) is switched to the other ensemble. Then, the audio output means, from among the ensemble tuned by the ensemble tuning means (18), a service broadcasting a program of the same program type as the program type designated by the program type designation means (30). Select and output audio. Thus, in the program selection mode, the switching of the tuning ensemble in the broadcast receiver (10) is suppressed, and the switching time of the program of the program type designated by the program type designation means (30) is reduced.

According to another broadcast receiver (10) of the present invention,
During program selection mode, program type designation means
When there are a plurality of programs of the same program type as the program type specified in (30), the programs are cyclically output as audio from the audio output means so that the programs can be selected.

In the program selection mode, the program output from the audio output means is switched cyclically , so that even if there is a program which has not been heard yet, the program which has already been heard is output as audio. Is prevented,
After one cycle, the program returns to the first program. Thus, selection of a desired program can be streamlined.

According to another broadcast receiver (10) of the present invention,
A single transmission signal includes, in a broadcast of another transmission method including audio data and program type data relating to a single broadcast program, the same program as the program type designated by the program type designation means (30). When there is a broadcast being broadcast, in the program selection mode, it is switched to the broadcast of the other transmission method so that the audio output can be freely performed.

The "broadcast of another transmission system in which a single transmission signal includes audio data and program type data related to a single broadcast program" is, for example, RDS (R
audio Data System). In this way, if there is a program of the same program type in, for example, RDS, which is a transmission method different from that of DAB, the program can be heard.

In the broadcast receiver (10) of the present invention, a plurality of services are included in a single ensemble, and each ensemble is transmitted as a transmission signal including program data and audio data, and receives the transmission signal. . The broadcast receiver (10) has the following (a) to (d). (A) Program type designating means (30) for designating a program type desired by a user to listen to (b) Ensemble tuning means (18) for controlling an ensemble to be tuned (c) Locking a tuning ensemble of ensemble tuning means (18) While searching for a service broadcasting a program of the same program type as the program type specified by the program type specifying means (30) from the ensemble tuned by the ensemble tuning means (18). l4) (d) audio output means for outputting the service found by the search means (14) as audio

Since switching to an ensemble program that is not currently tuned in the broadcast receiver 10 takes time, some users do not want such switching. The broadcast receiver (10) can perform program selection according to such a request.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 2 shows a D for car mounting.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an AB radio 10. The DAB radio 10 includes a main body 12, a DAB control microcomputer 26 separate from the main body 12, and the like. In the main body 12, DAB
The system microcomputer 14 has a memory 16 and a plurality of ensembles (each ensemble is transmitted by radio broadcast waves modulated by DQPSK-OFDM, and one ensemble has a bandwidth of about 1.5 MHz. One ensemble is designated from among the six services.) And the designated information is sent to the RF block 18. The RF block 18 is an ensemble RF (Radio Frequency) designated by the DAB system microcomputer 14.
y) is extracted and sent to the demodulation block 20. Demodulation block 20
Then, the RF signal from the RF block 18 is demodulated, and the channel decoding block 22 decodes the demodulated signal from the demodulation block 20. In this way, the DAB system microcomputer 14
An ensemble of all digital signals designated to the F block 18 is obtained in the channel decoding block 22. Of the digital signals decoded in the channel decoding block 22, audio data is sent from the channel decoding block 22 to the audio decoding block 24, and data such as program type data other than audio data is sent from the channel decoding block 22 to the DAB system microcomputer 14. Sent.
The audio decoding block 24 comprises a channel decoding block 22
The audio data of the sub-channel designated by the DAB system microcomputer 14 out of the audio data input from is decoded and sent to left and right speakers (not shown).
The DAB control microcomputer 26 includes a memory 28, and exchanges data with the DAB system microcomputer 14 of the main body 12. The DAB control microcomputer 26 receives instructions from the user via the key 30 and outputs predetermined data to the display 32 to display information and inform the user.

In FIGS. 3 to 7, communication protocols of various elements of DAB such as a transmission frame will be described as appropriate. For details, see the European Telecommunications Standards Association (European Telecommunications).
ications Standards Instiu
te) Published by the European Telecommunications Standard
ionics Standard).

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a DAB transmission frame. Transmission frame (Transmission fra
me) are the synchronization channel and FIC (Fast)
Information Channel) and M
It has SC (Main Service Channel). The FIC further includes a plurality of FIBs (Fast
Information Block), MS
C is a plurality of CIFs (Common Inter)
(Leaved Frame). The specifications of DAB are determined from mode 1 to mode 3, and the transmission frame time (duration) and the number of FIBs and CIFs in one transmission frame are different for each mode. For example, in mode 1, the time of one transmission frame is 9
The number of FIBs and CIFs in 6 ms and one transmission frame is 12 and 4, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of the DAB service structure. Ensemble label is DAB Ensemble 1 (DA
B ENSEMBLE ONE) is an ensemble (Ensemble) whose service label is alpha1.
Radio (ALPHA1 RADIO), Beta Radio (BETA RADIO), Alpha 2 Radio (ALP)
HA2 RADIO) and other services (Servi
ce). The user hears the selected service from the DAB radio 10.

The alpha 1 radio has one main service component (Service components) and two sub service components. The primary service component is audio, and the secondary service component is a traffic message channel: TMC (Traf).
fic Message Channel and service information: SI (Service Information)
It is. The audio component and the SI are transmitted on separate sub-channels (SubCh) in the MSC, and the TMC is transmitted in the FIDC (Fast Information Da) in the FIC.
ta Channel).

Beta radio has two service components.
Audio and secondary audio (secondary a
audio component), both of which are MS
On the C subchannel.

The alpha 2 radio has the same TMC and SI as the alpha 1 radio, and the audio may be the same as the alpha 1 radio depending on the switch.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of the FIB. FIB,
The entire key consists of 256 bits and the front key 30 bytes F
An IB data field (FIB data field) and a rear 16-bit CRC (Cyclic Redundant)
ancick Check word). The FIB data area further includes a plurality of FIG (Fa)
st Information Group), one end marker (Endmarker), and one padding (filling the remaining bits with 0s to fit the FIB data area to bytes). The part of FIG is a useful data area (useful data fi
eld). Each FIG
Type, Length (length: represents the bit length of the following FIG data area), FIG data area (FIG
data field). Fig type and L
The length constitutes a FIG header.

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of the FIG data area of FIG. 5 in which the FIG type is 0 (000 in 3-bit binary notation). The FIG data area further stores C / N
(Current / Next), OE (Other E)
nsemble), P / D (Programme / Da)
ta), Extension, Type 0 area (Type
0 field). Extension is 1 to 4
And 7, when C / N = 0, it means the current multiplex structure, and when C / N = 1, it means the next multiplex structure. Also, C / N =
When it is 1, it means that the type 0 area is related to the following arrangement. Extension is 6, 9, 11, 1
In the case of 8, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, and 30, C / N indicates the version number of the type 0 area.
OE is Extension = 12, 16, 17, 21,
24, 30 are used, and OE = 0 indicates this type 0
The information of the area means that it relates to this ensemble, and OE = 1 means that it belongs to another ensemble. P / D = 1 is the SId of the type 0 area
Is the 16-bit SId used for program services
And P / D = 0 indicates that S in the type 0 area
Id is the 32-bit Sid used for data service
It means that This P / D is Extension
Are 2, 9, 23 and 24, and when not used, SId is in 16-bit format.

FIG. 7 shows the extension of FIG.
on is 17 (FIG type and Extension,
It is represented as FIG0 / 17. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a type 0 area. The type 0 area is divided into a plurality of program type sections. Each program type is set in order from the front in the order of SId (Service Identifier).
r), S / D (Static / Dynamic, P / S
(Primary / Secondary), L (Lan
gage) flag, NCC (Numberof C)
oarse Codes), Rfa (Reserved)
for future additions), NFC
(Number of Fine Codes), La
nguage, Rfa (Reserved for f
ture additions), Rfu (Rese
rved for future uses), Int
(International) code, Rfa
(Reserved for future addi
ties), Coarsecode, Fine co
de is arranged. SId identifies the service. S /
D = 0 means that the program type code does not represent the contents of the current program, and S / D = 1 means that the program type code represents the contents of the current program. P / S = 0 means that the language is a primary service component, and P / S = 1 is
It means that the language is a secondary service component. Lflag = 0 means that the Language area does not exist, and Lflag = 1 means that the Language area does not exist.
It means that the e region exists. NCC is Corse
Indicates whether the byte number n of the code is 0 or 1. NFC is F
The byte number m of the inecode indicates one of 0 to 2. Language indicates the language of the audio. Rf
a is prepared for future addition. Rfu is reserved for future use. Int code indicates the type of program type (hereinafter, referred to as “PTy”). Coarse code indicates a rough PTy. Fine code indicates fine PTy. Thus, according to FIG0 / 17, the current PTy (= Coarse code + Fin) of each service (SId) included in the currently tuned ensemble (when OE = 0)
e code) and each service (SI) included in another ensemble that is not currently synchronized
d) Current Pty (= Coarse code +
Finecode) can be detected.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a program selection routine by a program. In S40, it is determined whether the mode is the PTy mode, that is, the program selection mode. If YES, the process proceeds to S42, and if NO, the routine ends. The user designates a PTy desired to listen to news, pops and the like (hereinafter, referred to as "target PTy") (S42), and then inputs a PTy search start key (S44). As an example of the search result, the service of the PTy that matches the target PTy, more specifically, the service that broadcasts the program of the PTy that matches the target PTy is sorted in a predetermined order for each ensemble. Then, (a) the services in the ensemble tuned in the RF block 18 are output to the speakers in the order after sorting (the audio output to the speakers is referred to as the speaker output) (S48 → S50 →). (S56 → S58 → S48) When this is completed, (b) the tuning ensemble of the RF block 18 is switched to another ensemble that has not yet output the speaker, and the process returns to (a) again (S52 → S54 → S4).
8). In S48, in the ensemble tuned in the RF block 18, the target PT which has not yet been output from the speaker is output.
It is determined whether or not there is a service y, and if YES,
Proceeding to S50, speaker output is performed, and if NO, S5
Proceed to 2. In S52, it is determined whether or not there is a service of the target PTy in another ensemble that has not been switched to be synchronized. If YES, the process proceeds to S54, where the RF block is transmitted to another ensemble in S52. Switch the tuning ensemble at 18, and from there,
Proceed to 48, and if NO, proceed to S56. In S56, it is determined whether or not the PTy mode has been completed. If YES, the routine ends. If NO, the process proceeds to S58. The PTy mode ends when the user operates a predetermined end key or when a predetermined time elapses from the start of the PTy mode. In S58, it is determined whether or not the user changes the target PTy. If YES, the process proceeds to S42, and if NO, the process proceeds to S44.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a program selection routine by a program.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a DAB radio mounted on a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a DAB transmission frame.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a DAB service structure;

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of an FIB.

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a FIG data area of FIG. 5 whose FIG type is 0 (000 in 3-bit binary notation).

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a type 0 region of FIG0 / 17.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 DAB radio (broadcast receiver) 14 DAB system microcomputer (search means, ensemble switching means) 18 RF block (ensemble tuning means) 30 key (program type designation means)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-15392 (JP, A) JP-A-8-56205 (JP, A) JP-A-6-181461 (JP, A) JP-A-4-257124 (JP) JP-A-7-297734 (JP, A) JP-A-6-13926 (JP, A) JP-A-8-330911 (JP, A) JP-A-10-126293 (JP, A) 9-232981 (JP, A) JP 11-510971 (JP, A) US Patent 5,558,051 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04H 1/00 H04B 1 / 16

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of services are included in a single ensemble, each ensemble being transmitted in a transmission signal containing program type data along with audio data, and a broadcast receiver (10) receiving the transmission signal, comprising: A program type designating means (30) for designating a program type desired to be listened to, and the program type designation from the currently tuned ensemble
The same program as the program type specified by the
Search means for searching for the service broadcasting the program, and audio search for the service found by the search means (14).
(E) there are a plurality of audio output means for outputting and a plurality of services found by the search means (14)
If these services are cycled one after the other,
Return to the first service, the audio format
E. Means for outputting audio from the output means . 2. Ensemble switching means for switching from an ensemble being tuned to another ensemble, wherein when the same service as the program type designated by the program type designation means cannot be found in the ensemble being tuned, The ensemble is switched to another ensemble by the switching means.
The broadcast receiver as described. 3. When the search means searches for a service broadcasting a program of the program type designated by the program type designation means, an audio output means for outputting the service as audio, and an ensemble being tuned. Ensemble switching means for switching to another ensemble, and when all the services designated by the program type designation means in the currently tuned ensemble have been audio-output, the ensemble switching means switches the ensemble to another ensemble. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast receiver is switched to an ensemble. 4. A program for detecting a program type of a service included in another ensemble from an ensemble being tuned, wherein the detection means is specified by the program type specifying means for a service included in another ensemble. When there is the same program as the program,
4. The broadcast receiver according to claim 2, wherein said ensemble switching means switches an ensemble to another ensemble. 5. A plurality of services are included in a single ensemble, each ensemble being transmitted in a transmission signal including program type data together with audio data, and a broadcast receiver (10) receiving the transmission signal comprising: And a program type designating means (30) for designating the program type desired by the user while locking the tuning ensemble to the one currently being tuned.
From the key ensemble by the program type designating means.
Release the same program as the specified program type.
Search means for searching for the service being transmitted, and audio search for the service found by the search means (14).
(E) there are a plurality of audio output means for outputting and a plurality of services found by the search means (14)
If these services are cycled one after the other,
Return to the first service, the audio format
E. Means for outputting audio from the output means .