JPH04115764A - Picture line extension system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily expand the system by devising a file device storing picture and voice information to be connectable in common from plural line connectors so as to extend only a line connector. CONSTITUTION:Request information is received by a control section 15 of a line connector 1 and transferred to a main controller 4. The controller 4 selects a file device 3 in which information corresponding to the request is stored and transfers an input line number to a file input changeover device 2 via a control section 15 to connect a relevant file line and sends picture and voice information on request to a user terminal equipment 5. Thus, the file device storing the picture and sound information is connected in common from the plural line connectors. Thus, the user easily extends the system by having only to extend number of line connectors in response to the number of system accommodation terminal equipment number to be desired.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image response system, and particularly to an image line extension method for a line connection device in an image response system.

[Prior Art] In general, line connection devices for 13-image response systems, that is, image switching equipment, differ from voice switching equipment in that 100-
Since it is necessary to exchange image data at a speed close to Mb/s, expensive AD converters, DA converters, image memories, high-speed digital switches, etc. are required, making the system expensive. For this reason, when putting the line connection device into practical use, it is intended to be economical in the form of a small-scale system intended for use within an individual user group.

As a conventional technique related to this type of image response system, for example, a technique related to a practical system described in "Electronics" (published by Ohm Publishing, September 1986 issue) is known.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional technology has been put into practical use with a system configuration assuming use within an individual user group, but the number of terminals desired by the user is several dozen terminals for each user. to number 1
00 terminals, it is difficult to economically realize a system of all sizes.

That is, if the system configuration is set to several tens of terminals or less, users who need more than several tens of terminals will be required to have multiple independent systems, which will impair economic efficiency.

In addition, if the system configuration has several hundred terminals, several 1
Users with needs for zero or fewer terminals must have a system with a large amount of fixed hardware, which impairs economic efficiency.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and to provide a system with a system scale of several tens to hundreds of terminals.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image line expansion method for an image response system that can be economically and flexibly configured.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, the object is to provide a plurality of file devices that store image/audio information, and a device that can interconnect these file devices and a plurality of line connection devices. A small-scale line connection device equipped with a file input switching device,
This is achieved by allowing expansion according to the number of user terminal devices to be accommodated.

[Function] The present invention provides a file device for storing image/audio information.
Since the configuration is such that it can be shared by multiple line connection devices, it is possible to add only the line connection devices according to the number of terminals desired by the user. Therefore, an economical and rational system configuration is possible. In addition, the file input switching device that needs to be newly installed can use an inexpensive video switch LSI that is commonly used in commercially available VTRs, etc., so the system can be realized economically. .

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example of the image line extension system according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file input switching device. In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a line connection device, 2
3 is a file input switching device, 3 is a file device, 4 is a main control device, 5 is a user terminal device, 11 is an image input unit (AD
), 12 is a digital video switch section (VDSW),
13 is a video output section (DA), 14 is an audio switch section (V
ISW), 15 is a control unit (CONT).

One embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
No, O~No, n'), file device 3 that stores image/audio information (FE N00O~No.

n), a file input switching device 2 (PSE) that switches image and audio information input and connects the line connection device 1 and file device 3; a main control unit (MPU) 4 that controls the entire system; and a line connection device 1 and a user terminal device 5 housed in the terminal.

Each line connection device 1 includes a video input section (AD) 11 that converts an analog video signal into a digital signal, a digital video switch section (VDSW) 12, and a video output section (DA) 13 that converts the digital signal into an analog video signal. , an audio switch section (VISW) 14, and a control section (CONT) 15 that performs various controls within the device.

Further, the file device 3 has a storage unit (file) 31 for image/audio information, and the user terminal device 5 includes a television receiver 51 and a keypad 52 for transmitting request information.

As shown in FIG. 2, the file input switching device 2 is composed of a control unit FSCONT that receives a line number from the line connection equipment 1 (PSE) and performs switching control, and a line switching unit SWP. The section SWP is composed of an analog video switch Video SW and a terminating resistor R. This analog video switch V 1deo
The SW can be constructed using an inexpensive video switch LSI commonly used in commercially available VTRs and the like.

Note that the line switching unit SWP also includes an audio switching circuit, but since it is basically the same, illustration and explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be explained.

When a user wants to read desired image information from the image information file device 3, he/she makes a request using the keypad 52 of the user terminal device 5.

This dialed request information is transmitted to the line connection device 1.
It is received by the control unit 15 of. The control unit 15 transfers the received request information to the main control device 4. Main control device 4
selects the file device 3 that stores the information corresponding to the request, and sends the file input line number to the control unit 15.
Transfer to.

The control unit 15 transfers the input line number to the file input switching device 2, connects the corresponding file line, and controls the digital video switch unit 12 and the audio switch unit 14 to output image/audio information according to the request. It is sent to the user terminal 5.

The above-described embodiment of the present invention has been described as having a configuration in which a plurality of file devices 3 and line connection devices 1 are installed, but the present invention can also be configured in a configuration in which only one of these devices is installed, or a larger number of these devices are installed. It is also possible to do so. When multiple file devices 3 are installed and configured, separate files can be managed for each file device, so the range of information that the user can select is proportional to the number of file devices installed. It will be expanded.

As described above, in the embodiments of the present invention, the file device that stores image/audio information is configured to be commonly connectable from a plurality of line connection devices, so that the number of terminal devices that can be accommodated in the system as desired by the user can be increased. The system can be easily expanded by adding only line connection devices according to the requirements.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the file device that stores image/audio information can be connected in common from a plurality of line connection devices, so that the file device that stores image/audio information can be connected in common to the number of terminals that the user desires to accommodate. Only line connection devices can be added, and a system sized according to the number of terminals accommodated can be realized extremely economically.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file input switching device. 1...Line connection device, 2...File input switching device, 3...File device, 4...
... Main control device, 5 ... User terminal device, 1
1... Image input section (AD), 12...
Digital video switch section (VDSW), 13...
...Video output section (DA), 14...Audio switch section (v engineering SW), 15...Control section (CON
T). Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an image response system that provides image/audio information in response to a request from a user, there is at least one line connection device that accommodates a user terminal device, and a connection device that connects the line to the user terminal device in response to a request. at least one file device that stores image/audio information to be transmitted via a connection device; and a switching device that selectively switches and connects the image/audio information input line of the line connection device to the file device. An image line expansion method, characterized in that the line connection device can be expanded according to the number of user terminal devices accommodated.