JPH04311181A - Vtr service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily increase the number of terminals and to improve the flexibility of the whole system by connecting plural terminal equipments to a host computer through a local area network(LAN) and generating an output from a video deck through a head end. CONSTITUTION:Request terminals (user terminals) 3-1 to 3-n are connected to the host computer 1 in a center through the LAN. A moving image (VTR) reproducing request from the request terminal 3 is sent to the host computer 1, which transmits a start command to a VTR operation robot 2. The robot 2 extracts a specified tape, sets up the tape on a VTR deck and starts reproducing. Reproduced contents from the VTR deck are converted into an RF signal through the head end 4 and an image is outputted by a TV monitor on the request terminal (3) side.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a VTR service system, that is, a system that allows VTRs constituting a communication system or an image response system to be displayed immediately in response to a customer's request. This invention relates to a VTR service system that makes it possible to

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system of this type, a system as shown in FIG. 15, for example, has been known. This system includes a plurality of user terminals equipped with a TV (television) monitor and a request keyboard, a keyboard controller that receives VTR request information input from the request keyboard, and instructs the robot controller to receive the VTR request information, and the robot controller. A VTR operating robot that operates a picking arm to take out the instructed VTR tape from the tape storage shelf and set it on the VTR deck, and a video and audio selector that selects the video of the tape sent from the VTR deck where the tape is set. and a video controller that sends the video to the TV monitor mentioned above. Regarding this, for example, edited by the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, published by Ohmsha (1.
988) "Electronic Information and Communication Handbook" Volume 34, No. 5
You can refer to the department description or the catalog related to "Videotheque" (1987) published by Itoki Co., Ltd.

0003

In the prior art described above, the keyboard controller receives request information input by the system user from the request keyboard of the user terminal, and instructs the robot controller. The robot controller operates the VTR operating robot to take out the instructed VTR tape from the tape storage shelf and set it on the VTR deck. The VTR deck is
The video on the tape is sent from the video controller to the video/audio selector and displayed on the TV monitor. In the conventional system configured as described above, when adding more user terminals, it is necessary to rebuild the entire system including the hardware. For example, even if it becomes necessary to add one user terminal, it is necessary to modify the robot controller, add a VTR deck, modify the video controller, etc., and maintenance becomes complicated. In addition, since the user terminal and VTR deck are connected on a one-to-one basis,
If the VTR deck malfunctions, the user terminal
The problem is that the deck cannot be used until repairs are completed. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technology, to make it possible to easily increase the number of request terminals, and to improve the flexibility of the entire system. Improved VTR
The goal is to provide a service system.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device that performs dialogue between a center having various image/audio information files and the center and outputs image/audio information from the center. and a VTR service system having a broadband transmission path connecting the center and terminal devices, the terminal devices are connected to a LAN (Local Area
The VTR search device is connected to a host computer in the center via a network) and is configured to output outputs from a plurality of video decks in a VTR search device that searches for information files in the center via a head end. This is achieved by a VTR service system characterized by:

[0005]

[Operation] In the VTR service system according to the present invention, by connecting a center and a plurality of terminal devices via a LAN, a VTR search device is controlled based on information sent from the terminal devices to the center via the LAN. Then, the output is sent to the terminal device in the form of a TV channel, which increases the amount of information required for request operation on the terminal device side, eliminates fixation with the VTR deck, and improves system expandability. It is possible to obtain large effects such as increase in the amount of water.

[0006]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a VTR service system that is an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a host computer that controls the entire system, 2 is a VTR operating robot, 3-1 to 3-n are request terminals (user terminals) consisting of a request keyboard and a TV monitor, and 4 is a head described later. It shows the end. The structural features of this embodiment include that the request terminals (user terminals) 3-1 to 3-n are connected to the host computer 1 via LAN, and that the request terminals (user terminals) 3-1 to 3-n are connected to the host computer 1 via LAN, and that the The output is sent to RF (Radio Freque
ncy) signal. Note that the control of the LAN is performed by the host computer 1. It also controls the VTR operating robot 2 via the RS422 interface. The details will be described later. The outline of the operation of this embodiment and its characteristics are as follows. First, regarding the video transmission method, in the past, the video signal output from the video deck of the VTR operating robot was directly input to the TV monitor to output the video, but in this embodiment, the video signal is output from the video deck. The video signal output from the head end 4
The signal is converted into an RF signal through a TV monitor, and the video is output on the TV monitor according to the corresponding channel. In this way, by converting the video signal into an RF signal,
It becomes possible to output the same video to all terminals connected to the system. Next is the VTR request method, but conventionally, VT
Whereas the R request number was input and the request information was sent to the robot controller via the RS422 interface, in this embodiment, the request information registered in the request terminal 3-i (i=1 to n) is A menu is displayed on the screen, and a VTR request number input from the keyboard is transmitted to the host computer 1 via the LAN. The host computer 1 checks the current usage status of the VTR deck, and if it is free, sends the above-mentioned request to the robot controller, and if there is no space, returns unusable information to the request terminal 3-i. By displaying the registered menus on the screen in this way, the selection operation becomes easier. Also, when changing menu contents, all request terminals 3 connected to the system are connected to the host computer 1 via LAN.
-1 to 3-n can be changed.

[0007] The detailed configuration of each part will be explained in sequence below. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a request terminal. The request terminal is constituted by a personal computer 30 having a CPU and memory, and is connected to the host computer 1 from an IO port via a LAN board. In addition, an external disk device (DK) that stores VTR search library information, and a floppy disk drive (FDD) that is used for backing up the DK, etc.
, a CRT 31 for display, a keyboard 32, and the like. Furthermore, the above-mentioned personal computer 30 and CR
A monitor switch 33 controlled by an RS232 interface is provided between the T31 and the monitor switch 33. Characteristic operations of the request terminal shown in this embodiment include the fact that request information and completion notifications are exchanged with the host computer 1 by communicating via LAN, and the VTR library information is updated. , and the ability to receive RF signals and switch monitors as described below. The monitor switching device 33 described above switches the TV monitor (CR) according to an instruction from the request terminal.
T) It has a function of instructing 31 to switch between RGB, video, and RF (channels 1 to 12). Note that the initial state of the TV monitor 31 is RGB display. Thereafter, as described above, the display changes as instructed by the monitor switch 33. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a host computer. The host computer shown in this embodiment is a CP
It consists of a main memory and a disk (D) that stores search information for searching VTR search devices.
K) 11, main console 12, printer (PR) 1
It is equipped with 3rd class. Furthermore, it is connected to the robot controller via the RS422 interface, and the L
It is connected to multiple request terminals via an AN controller and a LAN HUB unit. Figure 4 shows the VTR
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an operating robot. The VTR operating robot shown in this embodiment basically has the same configuration as the conventional one, but the connection between the VTR deck and the request terminal is not fixed, and the robot controller 2
1 is configured to be controllable with an RS422 interface, and the video signal that is the output of this VTR operating robot (output of the video deck) is connected to the head end that converts it into an RF signal. This is different from conventional methods.

The operation of the VTR service system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be explained below, but before that, an example of the configuration of a message etc. used for operation control will be explained. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a video request data message sent from the request terminal 3-i to the host computer 1. The video request data message shown in this embodiment consists of a control part of 4 bytes, a data part of 4 bytes,
Its contents consist of commands, types, etc., which will be described later. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a video request confirmation message sent from the host computer 1 to the request terminal 3-i in response to the above-described request. The video request confirmation message shown in this embodiment consists of a control part of 4 bytes and a data part of 7 bytes, and its contents include commands, types, etc., which will be described later. The above commands and types include:
There are types as shown in FIG. In the case of a video request data message, the VTR number field in the data section specifies the specific VTR.
Set "1" to designate Deck 1, which is designated as the deck, and "2" to designate any other vacant deck. Further, in the case of a video request confirmation message, the number of the operated VTR is set in the VTR number column of the data section. Next, a request number input from a menu screen to be described later is set in the VTR source number column of the data portion of the video request data message. The number of the terminal that issued the request is set in the terminal number field. Further, in the VTR status column of the video request confirmation message, "4" indicating tape loading, play, etc. is set when the request is accepted, and "5" is set when tape play is finished. As will be described later, when an error occurs due to various causes, the corresponding error information (see FIG. 8) is set in the error information column of the video request confirmation message described above.

FIGS. 9 to 14 are diagrams showing the control operation of the VTR service system shown in this embodiment. First, Figure 9
This shows the initialization (return to origin) operation of the VTR operating robot 2. In the diagram, the left end is the request terminal (“LA
The right end is a VTR operating robot (displayed as "VT terminal").
R robot"), and the middle three positions are
Represents a program in a host computer. Furthermore, (IDLE) and (initial state) indicate the state of the program. When starting up the VTR service system shown in this embodiment, first, the initialization (return to origin) operation of the VTR operating robot 2 shown in FIG. 9 is performed. In this operation, when the VTR robot is powered on, the VT
A VTR robot initialization command (wake-up command) is sent from the R robot to the host computer.
In response, a cold start command is returned from the host computer to the VTR robot. If it starts without any problems, a completion command is sent from the VTR robot to the host computer, and the VTR information is updated.
It becomes available for use. Next, the operation during actual use will be explained based on FIG. 10. Video from the requesting terminal (that is, V
TR) When a playback request is received, this request is sent to the host computer as the above-mentioned video request data message, and the host computer checks whether the VTR is in use, and if it is available, updates the VTR usage information.
A start command is sent to the VTR robot. The VTR operating robot takes out the specified tape,
Insert it into the deck and start playing. After starting playback, VT
The R operating robot sends a completion command to the host computer, and based on this, the host computer sends a message to the requesting terminal that it has started normally. The playback content started in this way is recorded on the VTR as described above.
is converted into an RF signal from the deck through the headend,
The TV monitor of the requesting terminal, which has been switched from the menu screen to RF signal reception via the monitor switch, outputs video in accordance with the corresponding channel. At the end of playback (completion), the VTR operating robot sends a play end command to the host computer, and based on this, the host computer sends a notification that the play has ended normally to the requesting terminal. Thereafter, the VTR operating robot performs post-processing such as returning the hoop, while the display on the TV monitor on the request terminal side is switched to a menu screen.

FIG. 11 shows the operation when an instruction to interrupt playback is input from the requesting terminal. In this case, a video interruption command is sent from the request terminal to the host computer, and based on this, the host computer sends an end command to the VTR robot. VTR
When the playback interruption operation is normally performed on the robot side, a notification to that effect is sent to the host computer, and a confirmation message indicating that the process has been successfully completed is sent from the host computer to the request terminal side. Thereafter, the VTR operating robot performs post-processing such as returning the hoop, while the display on the TV monitor on the requesting terminal side is switched to the menu screen in the same manner as above. FIG. 12 shows a process performed when a request is received from the request terminal but the deck is in use and the request cannot be accepted. In this case, a video playback request is sent from the request terminal to the host computer, and the host computer checks whether the VTR is in use, but since all decks are in use and cannot be used, the error information column of the confirmation message (see Figure 6) is written as "I", that is, "VTR in use", and returns it to the requesting terminal side. The TV monitor on the requesting terminal side displays a corresponding message. Figure 13
indicates processing for other error conditions, and indicates a case where the request specifies a tape number that does not exist. In this case, the above request is sent as a video request data message to the host computer, and the host computer checks whether the VTR is in use and updates the VTR usage information if it is usable, as described above.
Send a start command to the VTR robot. However, the VTR operating robot is unable to take out the designated tape and returns a command to the host computer indicating completion without the tape. Based on this, the host computer sets error information in the confirmation message error information column and sends it back to the requesting terminal. The TV monitor on the requesting terminal side displays a corresponding message. FIG. 14 shows the processing when a failure occurs in the VTR robot. In this case, the VTR
The robot sends a message to the host computer that an error that makes it impossible to continue has occurred, and based on this, the host computer displays this on the main console 12 and waits for operator intervention.

Next, the operation for adding a request terminal to the VTR service system shown in this embodiment will be explained. What is required in this case is to install a request terminal configured as described above and to wire a LAN cable there. In this case, there is no need to modify existing equipment. Furthermore, it is necessary to install the same VTR library information that is provided in other terminals into the newly installed request terminal. The above VTR
When changing the contents of the library information, the VTR library information in the DK belonging to each requesting terminal is rewritten from the host computer via the LAN described above. This ensures that the menu screen of each request terminal is always kept up to date. According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) It is easy to add request terminals. LAN
All you need to do is wire the cables, and there is no need to modify existing equipment. Furthermore, in terms of software, it is sufficient to simply install the VTR library information provided in each terminal to the newly installed terminal. (2) Even if some VTR decks are out of order, the system will not stop. VTR for failure information, usage information, etc.
Deck information is controlled by the host computer, so
The system will not stop unless all VTR decks fail. (3) It is possible to output the same video to all requesting terminals. Similar to wired TV, it is possible to select separate channels for each terminal, or to output the same channel to multiple terminals. (4) The system is expandable. Various other services can be provided. In summary, according to the VTR service system shown in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to easily increase the number of request terminals and to realize a VTR service system in which the flexibility of the entire system is improved. It should be noted that the VTR service system shown in the above embodiment is one embodiment of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways.

0012

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, there is a remarkable effect that it is possible to easily increase the number of request terminals and to realize a VTR service system in which the flexibility of the entire system is improved. It is something that plays.

[0013]

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a VTR service system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a request terminal according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a host computer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a VTR operating robot according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a video request data message according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video request confirmation message according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of commands and types in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of error information set in the error information field of the video request confirmation message according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a return-to-origin operation of the VTR operating robot of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the system according to the embodiment when it is actually used.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the operation in the case of reproduction interruption in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the operation when the deck of the embodiment is in use.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating operation in another error state of the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the operation when a failure occurs in the VTR robot of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: host computer, 2: VTR operating robot, 3
-1 to 3-n: request request terminal (user terminal), 4: head end.

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claim 1: A center having various image/audio information files, a terminal device that communicates with the center and outputs the image/audio information from the center, and a broadband device that connects the center and the terminal device. In a VTR service system having a transmission path, the terminal device is connected to a LAN (Lo
It is configured to connect to a host computer in the center via a cal Area Network) and to output outputs from a plurality of video decks in a VTR search device that searches for information files in the center via a head end. A VTR service system characterized by the following. 2. The VTR service system according to claim 1, wherein library information of information files in the center is outputted to the terminal device via a LAN to enable a user to make a selection. 3. The host computer receives user selection information sent from the terminal device via the LAN,
The RS is converted into an operation instruction for the VTR search device.
2. The VTR search device according to claim 1, wherein the VTR search device is configured to send the search device to the VTR search device via a V.422 interface.
TR service system. 4. The VTR service system according to claim 1, wherein outputs from a plurality of video decks in said VTR search device are output as RF signals via a head end. 5. When the terminal device receives the end of output from the video deck outputted as an RF signal via the head end from the host computer via the LAN, the terminal device downloads the library of information files in the center. 2. The VTR service system according to claim 1, wherein the VTR service system is configured to receive and output information via a LAN.