JPH05219504A - Catv converter compatible with emergency broadcast - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display emergency information onto a screen how a viewer enjoys a TV program by devising the converter such that a power supply output section for TV is controlled from a center equipment. CONSTITUTION:A center equipment side receiving emergency information sends an emergent broadcast to each terminal equipment through a CATV line 6. A CATV converter 1 receives the broadcast and a CPU 17 discriminates the arrival of the emergent broadcast. Then a changeover switch section 16 and a power supply output section 13 are controlled. That is, a switch of a television receiver 2 is turned on. Then the switch section 16 is operated to be thrown to the position of an intermediate frequency amplifier section 12. Thus, the line 6 and a television output terminal 14 are connected. Thus, the emergent information is sent to the receiver 2 even when any program is watched or the receiver 2 is not in operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CATV converter connected to a terminal side in a CATV system, and more particularly to a CATV converter for emergency broadcasting which reliably transmits emergency information to each home when an emergency broadcast is sent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of converter has not been provided with a video input terminal, and it has not been possible to connect a video or laser disk to the converter. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 2, the viewer connected the CATV converter 1, the video (VTR) 3, and the laser disk (LD) 4 to the video input terminal 5 of the television receiver 2, respectively. That is,
For example, the CATV converter 1 is connected to the video input terminal 1,
I enjoyed these by connecting video 3 to video input terminals 2 and 4 and connecting laser disk 4 to video input terminal 3.

[0003] On the other hand, the CATV system also plays a major role in promptly and accurately transmitting such emergency information to local residents when an earthquake warning or the like is issued. In this case, the transmission is performed by giving a command from the center device side to the CATV converter 1 of each terminal, turning on the power of the television receiver 2 connected thereto, and forcibly switching to the channel in which the emergency information is flowing. We are trying to convey information.

[0004]

However, in the conventional CATV converter as described above, when the emergency information is transmitted, the television receiver is forcibly turned on and the channel is switched to the channel in which the information is passed. Even if it does, if the viewer is watching a video or a laser disc, there is a problem in that it has no effect and the emergency information cannot be transmitted.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and enables a CATV converter capable of transmitting emergency information without fail even when the viewer is watching something other than CATV such as video. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object and solve the conventional problems, the present invention transmits a television signal received by an antenna from a center device side through a communication line,
In a CATV converter connected to the terminal side of a CATV system that distributes and supplies to each terminal, a tuner that selects a TV signal sent from the center device to a predetermined channel and a TV signal that is converted to an intermediate frequency for amplification and detection. An intermediate frequency amplifier (VIF), a television output terminal for connecting a television receiver, a video input terminal for connecting a video deck, etc., and the intermediate frequency amplifier and the video input terminal provided after the intermediate frequency amplifier. Is selectively connected to the television output terminal, a power supply output portion for supplying power to the television receiver, a changeover of the changeover switch and a power supply output portion of the power supply output portion in response to a command from the center device side. Central processing unit that controls power output
(CPU).

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a CATV according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a converter. In the figure, reference numeral 1 shows a CATV converter for emergency broadcasting according to the present invention.

The CATV converter 1 is connected to the center device side (not shown) via the CATV line 6, and is further connected to the television receiver 2. By using the converter, a CATV program consisting of about 60 channels can be enjoyed on a general television receiver.

The CATV converter 1 has a tuner 11 for selecting a television signal sent from the center device side on several tens of channels, like a normal converter.
An intermediate frequency amplifier (VIF) 12 for converting a television signal to an intermediate frequency for amplification and detection, a power output unit 13 for connecting a power source of the television receiver 2, and a television output terminal 14 for connecting the television receiver 2 Is equipped with. Here, the CATV converter 1 according to the present invention further includes a video input terminal 15 for connecting a video deck, a laser disk, etc. (not shown), the output of the video input terminal 15 and the intermediate frequency amplifier 12, and the television output. A changeover switch unit 16 for selectively changing over the connection with the power supply terminal 14 and a central processing unit 17 (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) for changing over the changeover switch unit 16 and controlling the power supply output unit 13 in response to a command from the center unit. ing. A known means such as a modem or a serial interface (not shown) is used to connect the CPU 17.

In this embodiment, as described above, the VCR, the laser disk, etc. are not directly connected to the video input terminal of the television receiver 2, but the converter 1 concerned.
Connected to the video input terminal 15. Then, the converter 1 is connected to the video input terminal of the television receiver 2, for example, the video 1. Therefore, the viewer selects whether to watch a CATV program or to use a VCR, a laser disk, or the like by switching the changeover switch unit 16 of the CATV converter 1. This selection is made by operating a switch (not shown) provided on the housing of the CATV converter 1 with a remote controller or manually. Further, the switch of the main body of the television receiver 2 is always turned on, and the ON / OFF thereof is turned on / off by the power output unit 1 on the CATV converter 1 side.
It is performed by turning ON / OFF of 3.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. As described above, the viewer usually enjoys various programs by switching the changeover switch unit 16 according to his or her preference.

Now, assume an emergency situation such as when an earthquake warning is issued. In this case, it is necessary to promptly and accurately transmit this emergency information to the local residents, and in such a situation, the CATV system plays a large role. Therefore, in order to transmit the information to each home through the television, the following method is adopted in this embodiment.

First, the center device side receiving such information sends out an emergency broadcast to each terminal via the CATV line 6. The CATV converter 1 receiving this receives the CPU 1
The information is judged at 7. When it is confirmed that the information is emergency information, the changeover switch unit 16 and the power supply output unit 13 are controlled. That is, when the switch of the television receiver 2 is not turned on, the switch is first turned on. Next, the change-over switch unit 16 is actuated, and when the switch is on the video input terminal 15 side, it is switched to the intermediate frequency amplifier 12 side, that is, the CATV side. Of course, when the switch of the television receiver 2 is turned on and the changeover switch unit 16 is already on the intermediate frequency amplifier 12 side, the state is maintained as it is.

By the above operation, the intermediate frequency amplifier 12 side,
That is, the CATV line 6 and the television output terminal 14 are connected. Therefore, no matter which program the viewer enjoys,
Even when the television is not being watched, the emergency information input to the CATV converter 1 via the CATV line 6 is transmitted to the television receiver 2 and the emergency information flows from the television. In addition, although the case where the emergency information is transmitted has been described in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that other information can be transmitted using the converter. It can also be used in applications other than the local CATV system, such as information transmission in a company or a building or a wireless system. Furthermore, the means for transmitting information to the end user is not limited to the television receiver.

[0016]

As described above, according to the CATV converter for emergency broadcasting according to the present invention, the CATV converter is provided with the video input terminal to which a video deck, a laser disk or the like can be connected, and further, the CATV side and the video input terminal side are provided. Even if the viewer is not watching the TV or watching the video, etc., by providing the changeover switch section for switching between and the power output section for the TV from the center device side. It is possible to switch on the television from the side of the center device and forcibly switch to the side of CATV. Therefore, there is an effect that the emergency information can be displayed on the screen regardless of how the viewer enjoys the television, and the emergency information can be accurately, promptly and surely transmitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a CATV converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection method of a conventional CATV converter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CATV Converter 11 Tuner 12 Intermediate Frequency Amplifier 13 Power Supply Output Section 14 Television Output Terminal 15 Video Input Terminal 16 Changeover Switch Section 17 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A CATV connected to a terminal side of a CATV system in which a television signal received by an antenna is transmitted from a center device side through a communication line and distributed and supplied to each terminal.
In the converter, a tuner that selects the TV signal sent from the center unit side to a predetermined channel, an intermediate frequency amplifier that converts the TV signal to an intermediate frequency, amplifies and detects it, and a TV output terminal that connects the TV receiver. A video input terminal for connecting a video deck and the like, a changeover switch portion provided at a stage subsequent to the intermediate frequency amplifier for selectively connecting the intermediate frequency amplifier and the video input terminal to the television output terminal, and a television image receiving terminal. An emergency broadcast characterized by comprising a power output unit for supplying power to the machine, and a central processing unit for switching the changeover switch and controlling the power output of the power output unit in response to a command from the center unit side. Compatible CATV converter.