JPH0564193A - Timer setting device for catv system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the operation of timer reservation setting and to set it properly. CONSTITUTION:A control section 1a controls a mixer 1d to mix a TV signal A and an information data signal C from a broadcast installation section 1b and a data communication signal modulator 1c respectively thereby forming a frequency division multiplex signal C, which is fed to a terminal equipment 3 through a coaxial cable 2. An on-air schedule data of the information data signal B is demodulated by a data communication signal demodulator 3e via a branching device 3b and data of a control section 3f are stored in a RAM. At the setting of timer reservation, a key word from an input section 3h is fed to a CPU of the control section 3f. An on-air schedule data desiring timer reservation are retrieved from the data RAM based on the key word and stored in the reservation RAM. When a reservation time comes, the CPU reads the on-air schedule data from the reservation RAM to activate a TV signal channel selection section 3C and a power supply control signal is fed to a power supply section of the television receiver via a control signal output terminal 3j from a power supply control section 3i.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timer setting device for a CATV system in which a center device has a data communication function and a subscriber terminal device has a timer function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art CATV (Cable Television), which was born mainly for the purpose of preventing television from being difficult to view, is expected as a means for simultaneously sending a large amount of image information and giving the recipient more choice. For example, in the CATV system, program contract information including data for operating a descrambler (decoder) according to the address of the terminal device and the contract content is stored in a memory of a computer provided in the center device. Then, these information data are frequency-division multiplexed with various video / audio signals, that is, TV signals by a mixer, and are transmitted to a terminal device of each subscriber through a transmission path such as a coaxial cable.

On the other hand, the terminal device judges whether the address of the terminal device belongs to the terminal device or not by the CPU and the address generator provided therein, and if this is the terminal device, The information data is received. Then, the descrambler is operated in accordance with the program contract information to decode the TV signal and watch the contracted program.
In addition, for convenience of the viewer to select a program to watch or make a timer reservation, for example, a program table in which the program contents and broadcasting hours for each channel are summarized in a list for one month. It is distributed to each subscriber. When setting the timer reservation, select the broadcast program desired to be reserved from the distributed program list, and set each item such as broadcast day, start time, end time, broadcast channel, etc. of the terminal device such as a keypad. It was sequentially input by the external input means.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure for setting the timer reservation. First, an instruction signal for setting a timer reservation is supplied from the external input means to the CPU to enter the timer setting mode (step S1), and the day of the week and the start time of the program desired to be reserved are set (step S2).
Next, the end time is set (step S3), and the channel on which the desired program is broadcast is set (step S3).
4). Finally, each item set in the above steps S2 to S4 is confirmed and stored in the memory, and this program ends (step S5). After that, the CPU counts the time, and at the set time, the reserved program information is read from the memory and the channel of the set number is received.

As described above, when the timer is reserved, there are many items to be set, the operation is troublesome, and if there are a plurality of programs starting at the same time, there is a drawback that a channel input error is likely to occur. Further, when the videotape recorder is simultaneously recorded, it is necessary to set the timer reservation of the videotape recorder in addition to the terminal device. From this point, the operation of the timer reservation is easy and good.

[0006]

As described above, the conventional timer setting device of the CATV system has many setting items when the timer reservation setting operation is performed, and the operation is troublesome, and the program starts at the same time. When there are a plurality of channels, there is a disadvantage that a channel input error is likely to occur. The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a timer setting device for a CATV system which has few setting items for timer reservation and can be set accurately.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a center device for accumulating various video information and transmitting the information together with an information data signal of a computer is a terminal device of a subscriber via a transmission line. In a timer setting device of a CATV system which is connected to a group and distributes a video service and a communication service, program contract information from a subscriber in a computer and program identification for a predetermined number of days which is currently being broadcast or is scheduled to be broadcast in the future. Information data including broadcasting schedule data having a code is stored, together with various video information,
A center device for transmitting this information data, and the information data together with the various video information are received, and the various video information and information data are respectively used as a video signal and a character signal on a TV.
The broadcast schedule data is sent to a receiver, and the broadcasting schedule data is stored in the first storage means, and when the timer reservation is set, the program identification code is supplied from the external input means so that the timer is stored in the first storage means. A terminal device having a control means for retrieving the broadcast schedule data desired to be reserved and storing it in the second storage means, and reading the broadcast schedule data from the second storage means at the reserved time to operate the channel selection means. It is equipped with and.

[0008]

The program contract information stored in the computer of the center device and information data such as broadcasting schedule data having a program identification number for a predetermined number of days are sent to the terminal device group together with various video information. Then, each control means of the terminal device group stores the broadcast schedule data in the first storage means, and when setting the timer reservation, by supplying the program identification code to the control means by the external input means, Broadcast schedule data for which timer reservation is desired is retrieved from the first storage means and stored in the second storage means. Then, when the reserved time comes, the control means reads out the broadcasting schedule data from the second storage means, operates the channel selecting means, and supplies the timer reserved video signal to the TV receiver.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a timer setting device of a CATV system according to the present invention. The center device 1 includes a computer that stores information data such as program contract information including addresses of terminal devices 3 to be described later for each subscriber, broadcasting schedule data, and data for operating a descrambler according to contract contents. A control unit 1a,
It is composed of a broadcasting equipment section 1b controlled by the control section 1a, a data communication signal modulator 1c, and a mixer 1d.

The broadcasting facility 1b is a terrestrial retransmit facility,
Various video and audio signals are AM-VSB (amplitude modulation residual sideband) signals and FM signals, respectively, with a TV modulator provided in the broadcasting equipment section 1b, which is composed of satellite broadcasting re-transmission equipment, independent broadcasting transmission equipment, etc. The converted signal is a TV signal (a) of a predetermined channel. On the other hand, the data communication signal modulator 1c receives the information data from the computer by FS.
It is K (frequency shift) modulated and converted into an analog signal. Then, the mixer 1d mixes the information data signal (b) converted into an analog signal and the TV signal (a) into a frequency division multiplexed signal (c). The frequency division multiplexed signal (C) from the mixer 1d is supplied to the input terminal 3a of the terminal device 3 via the transmission line 2 which is a coaxial cable.

Of the frequency division multiplexed signals (c) supplied to the input terminal 3a, the TV signal (a) is the demultiplexer 3b.
Is supplied to the TV signal channel selection unit 3c via the, and is converted into a signal of a predetermined frequency band, and is supplied to the TV receiver 5 not shown via the video output terminal 3d. On the other hand, the information data signal (b) is supplied to the data communication signal demodulator 3e, converted into a digital signal again, and supplied to the control section 3f.

The control unit 3f is a CP (not shown).
U, ROM, RAM for storing the broadcast schedule data and the reserved data, and an address generator, etc., and the address generator generates an address of the terminal device 3, whereby the CPU causes the data communication signal demodulator. Three
It is determined whether or not the digital signal from e is for the terminal device 3. Then, when the digital signal is that of the terminal device 3, the CPU controls the TV signal tuning unit 3c to receive the TV signal (a), and activates a descrambler (not shown) according to the program contract information. Then, the TV signal (a) is decoded. This enables viewing of the contract program.

Also, the control unit 3f is supplied with broadcasting schedule data from the center unit 1, and displays a display unit 3g formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display for displaying the data, and data such as keywords to be described later when setting timer reservation. Supply, for example, an input unit 3h which is a keypad
Are connected. Further, the power supply control unit 3i is connected to the control unit 3f, and under the control of the control unit 3f, at the start time of the broadcasting schedule data set by the timer reservation, a TV receiver (not shown) is output via the control signal output terminal 3j. A power supply control signal is sent to the power supply unit.

2 and 3 are explanatory views showing a program table distributed to each subscriber and the broadcasting schedule data. As shown in FIG. 2, the program table is a table in which program contents and broadcasting time zones are summarized for one month, for example, and a keyword, that is, a three-digit numerical value is assigned to each program. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the broadcasting schedule data is composed of keywords, broadcasting days, start time, ending time, and broadcasting channel items. Like the program table, one month's worth of data is previously set as described above. The data is sent from the center station 1 to the terminal device 3 and stored in the data RAM of the control section 3f. Then, the keyword is supplied to the control unit 3f by the input unit 3h, which is a keypad, for example, and the broadcasting schedule data stored in the data RAM is searched to display the display unit 3g.
The timer reservation can be set by reading and confirming the data and storing this data in the reservation RAM.

Next, the operation of the timer setting device of the CATV system thus constructed will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The computer in the control section 1a generates information data such as program contract information including broadcasting schedule data and data for operating the descrambler according to the contract content, together with the address of the terminal device 3, and the data communication signal modulator 1c. After being converted into an information data signal (b) of an analog signal and frequency-division-multiplexed with the video / audio signal (a) from the antenna by the mixer 1d, this frequency-division-multiplexed signal is transmitted via the coaxial cable 2 to the terminal device 3 Input terminal 3
is supplied to a.

The information data signal (b) is demultiplexed by the demultiplexer 3b, demodulated into a digital signal by the data communication signal demodulator 3e, and then supplied to the control section 3f. Then, the CPU in the control unit 3f receives the information data signal (b) demodulated into the digital signal from the data communication signal demodulator 3e based on the address data of the terminal device (3) from the address generator. It is determined whether it is for the terminal device 3.

If the information data signal (b) is for the terminal device 3, the CPU receives the TV signal by controlling the TV signal tuning section 3c,
Activating the descrambler according to the program contract information
Decode the V signal (a) and send it to the TV via the video output terminal 3d.
Supply to the receiver. In addition, the CPU selects one of the broadcasting schedule data shown in FIG. 3 from the information data signal (b).
Stored in the data RAM for months.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a timer reservation. Next, a method of setting the timer reservation of the program will be described with reference to FIG. First, from the program guide that is distributed to each subscriber in advance as shown in FIG.
Find the keyword, which is the 3-digit number, described in the program you want to reserve. Then, an instruction signal for setting a timer reservation is supplied from the keypad input section 3h to the control section 3f to enter the timer setting mode (step S1), and then the keyword of the program desired to be reserved is supplied to the control section 3f. Then, the control unit 3f causes the data RAM to be based on the supplied keyword.
The broadcasting schedule data stored in is searched sequentially, and the corresponding data is automatically displayed on the display unit 3g which is, for example, a liquid crystal display (step S2).

Then, the viewer confirms that the broadcast schedule data displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display is the data of the program desired to be reserved, and stores the data in the reservation RAM to execute this program. It ends (step S3). After that, C in the control section 3f
The PU counts the time, and when the designated start time of the reserved broadcasting schedule data is reached, the reservation RAM
The reserved data is read from and the TV signal tuning section 3c is controlled based on this data to receive the channel of the designated number. At the same time, the CPU sends a power supply control signal from the power supply control unit 3i to the power supply unit of the TV receiver via the control signal output terminal 3j at the start time to turn on the power supply. As a result, the timer reserved program can be viewed. In this way, the timer reservation can be set with only one keyword without inputting a lot of items as in the conventional reservation operation. Therefore, the operation is extremely easy and there are a plurality of programs at the same time. However, the desired program can be reserved accurately.

[0020]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a center device for transmitting various video information and information data including a program identification code including broadcasting schedule data for several days and a center device for receiving the information data are received. In each terminal device, a first storage means for storing the broadcast schedule data and a timer reservation from the first storage means by supplying the program identification code from an external input means at the time of timer reservation setting. Search for the broadcast schedule data that you want to
Stored in the storage means, and when the reserved time comes, the second
By providing the terminal device with the control means for reading the broadcast schedule data from the storage means and operating the channel selection means, the timer reservation setting operation can be made extremely simple, and the channel reservation error can be made properly. There is an excellent effect that can be set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a timer setting device of a CATV system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a program guide distributed to each subscriber.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing broadcasting schedule data transmitted from the center device of FIG. 1 to a terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a timer reservation setting procedure of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a timer reservation setting procedure of a timer setting device of a conventional CATV system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Center device, 1a ... Control part, 1c ... Data communication signal modulator, 2 ... Coaxial cable, 3 ... Terminal device, 3f ... Control part, 3h ... Input part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A center device for accumulating various video information and transmitting the information together with an information data signal of a computer is connected to a terminal device group of a subscriber via a transmission line,
In a timer setting device for a CATV system that distributes video services and communication services, a program schedule information having program identification codes from subscribers in a computer and program identification codes for a predetermined number of days, which are currently or will be broadcast in the future. A center device that stores information data including data, and sends various information together with various image information, and a center device that receives the information data together with the various image information. The broadcast schedule data is sent to the TV receiver as a character signal. The broadcasting schedule data is stored in the first storage means, and when the timer reservation is set, the program identification code is supplied from the external input means to supply the program identification code. At the time of reservation, the broadcast schedule data for which timer reservation is desired is retrieved from the storage means and stored in the second storage means. Timer setting device of the CATV system, characterized by comprising a terminal device having a control means for actuating the read tuning means said broadcast schedule data becomes from said second storage means.