JPH06351017A - Picture signal transmitter and receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a tuning work, to simplify constitution, and to make a device compact by generating and transmitting control data including data for instructing the tuning frequency of each picture signal corresponding to plural channels or the like. CONSTITUTION:A broadcasting center 11 being a program supplier is equipped with a control part 14 which generates control information to be added to a picture signal transmitted from a broadcasting equipment 13, and a data communication modulator 15 which modulates the control information generated by the control part 14 into the control data in a configuration corresponding to a cable broadcasting system, and outputs the control data. Then, at a transmission side, first data for instructing the overlap and display of a cursor on one of each screen displayed by a multi-picture signal, second data for instructing the channel of each screen displayed by the multi-picture signal, and third data for instructing the tuning frequency of each picture signal corresponding to the plural channels are transmitted. Therefore, at a reception side, the turning operation is executed by controlling the display or movement of the cursor based on those data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image signal transmitting apparatus and an image signal receiving apparatus suitable for use in, for example, a multi-channel broadcasting system such as CATV (cable television) broadcasting, and more particularly to a channel selecting function thereof. Regarding the improved one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in recent years, for example, CAT
A multi-channel broadcasting system, such as V broadcasting, in which an image signal transmitted from the broadcasting center side which is a program supplier is branched to a plurality of cables and transmitted to each subscriber terminal which is a program viewer. It has become widespread.

By the way, in such a multi-channel broadcasting system, when a desired program is selected from a plurality of programs transmitted from the broadcasting center, each channel is individually set in the subscriber terminal on the receiving side. Since the programs to be watched are selected by sequentially displaying the screens, the channel selection work becomes complicated as the number of channels increases, which causes inconvenience to the program viewers in handling.

Therefore, recently, a so-called multi-screen display in which one screen of a television receiver of a subscriber terminal is divided into a plurality of small screens, and programs of different channels are simultaneously displayed on each of the divided small screens. By doing so, it is considered that the user can watch the contents of a plurality of programs at the same time and arbitrarily select a desired program from them, thereby facilitating the work of selecting a program.

However, such a multi-screen display channel selection means is still in the development stage, and there is a lot of room for improvement in various points. For example, when performing multi-screen display, since it is necessary to record all the image signals corresponding to a plurality of programs to be displayed using a memory having a large storage capacity, there is a problem that the configuration is complicated and tends to increase in size. Has occurred. In particular, in the case of multi-screen display, it is not possible to output audio, so the user
There is also an inconvenience that the program to be watched must be selected only from the displayed screen contents.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional multi-channel broadcasting system, the tuning function for tuning a desired program from many programs can be put to practical use sufficiently. However, there is a strong demand for further improvement in terms of workability and configuration in tuning.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and can facilitate the channel selection work on multiple channels, has a simple configuration and is suitable for downsizing, and thus can achieve a multifunctional channel selection operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an extremely good image signal transmitting device and image signal receiving device.

[0008]

An image signal transmitting apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to a first transmitting means for modulating and transmitting each image signal and audio signal corresponding to a plurality of channels and a plurality of channels. A second sending means for generating, modulating and sending a multi-image signal for multi-screen display by synthesizing the respective image signals, and displaying a cursor on each screen displayed by the multi-image signal. The control data including the data to be designated, the data to instruct the channel of each screen displayed by the multi-image signal, and the data to instruct the tuning frequency of each image signal corresponding to a plurality of channels is generated and transmitted. The third sending means is provided.

Further, the image signal receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes an image signal and an audio signal corresponding to a plurality of channels, and a multi-image signal for multi-screen display generated by synthesizing the plurality of image signals. , A first data designating that the cursor is to be superimposed and displayed on any of the screens displayed by the multi-image signal, and a second data designating a channel of each screen displayed by the multi-image signal.
Data and third data for instructing the tuning frequency of each image signal and audio signal corresponding to a plurality of channels are input, and each of the multiple image signals displayed based on the first data is input. Display means for displaying the cursor over any one of the screens, operation means for moving the cursor by designating the position of each screen displayed by the multi-image signal, and designation by the cursor based on the second data. And a sound reproduction means for detecting the channel selection frequency of the sound signal of the detected channel based on the third data and reproducing the sound signal. Is.

[0010]

According to the above-described structure, first, the transmitting side synthesizes and outputs the multi-image signals for multi-screen display. Therefore, the receiving side is provided with a memory having a large storage capacity. Since it is possible to display the contents of each channel on a multi-screen display without recording all the image signals corresponding to the program, it is possible to facilitate the tuning operation with a very simple configuration. Also, on the transmitting side, the first data designating that the cursor is to be superimposed and displayed on any of the screens displayed by the multi-image signal, and the first data designating the channel of each screen displayed by the multi-image signal. Since the second data and the third data for instructing the tuning frequency of each image signal corresponding to a plurality of channels are transmitted, the receiving side can display or move the cursor based on these data. It suffices to control and perform the channel selection operation, and in this respect as well, it is possible to facilitate the simplification of the configuration and facilitate the program channel selection operation. In addition, since the audio of the channel displayed on the screen designated by the cursor is also output, it becomes possible to select multiple channels by screen and audio, and work for selecting channels on multiple channels. Can be facilitated with a simple configuration.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a CATV broadcasting system will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a broadcast center 11 which is a program supplier, which demodulates various program information received via respective antennas 12 for satellite broadcasting and terrestrial broadcasting to support a cable broadcasting system. Broadcasting equipment 13 that modulates and outputs the image signal, a control unit 14 that generates control information to be added to the image signal sent from the broadcasting equipment 13, and control information generated by the control unit 14 by wire. It is composed of a data communication modulator 15 which modulates and outputs control data in a form corresponding to a broadcasting system.

Then, the image signal sent from the broadcasting equipment 13 and the control data outputted from the data communication modulator 15 are added by the mixing circuit 16 and sent to the cable broadcasting transmission line network 17. This cable broadcasting transmission line network 17
Is a plurality of transmission line amplifiers 19, 19, ... Compensating the transmission loss of the signal at a predetermined position of the cable 18 for transmitting the signal.
, And a plurality of branch circuits 20, 20, ... For branching a signal to a plurality of cables 18, 18, ... Are arranged, and the cable 18 branched by the branch circuit 20 is Receiving terminal 22 of subscriber's home 21 which is a program viewer
It is designed to be connected to. In addition, this subscriber's house 2
1, the receiving terminal 22 is a television receiver 23.
And a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 24,
Image display and recording / playback of image signals can be performed.

Here, FIG. 2 shows the details of the broadcasting facility 13. That is, various program information received by the antenna 12 includes 32 demodulators 25 _{1 to} 25 ₁₆ and 25.
By supplying _{17 to} 25 ₃₂ respectively, a maximum of 3
Two different pieces of program information are demodulated and converted into an image signal and an audio signal. In this case, the demodulators 25 ₁ to 2
The outputs of 5 ₁₆ and 25 _{17 to} 25 ₃₂ correspond to the channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ and C _{17 to} C ₃₂ , respectively. The image signals and audio signals output from the demodulators 25 _{1 to} 25 ₁₆ and 25 _{17 to} 25 ₃₂ are respectively modulators 26 ₁ to 2
6 ₁₆ and 26 _{17 to} 26 _32, and after being modulated to a form that can be sent to the cable broadcasting transmission line network 17, the data is output from the data communication modulator 15 at a cross point 27 which becomes the mixing circuit 16. The control data is added together with the control data to be transmitted to the cable broadcasting transmission line network 17.

The demodulators 25 _{1 to} 25 ₁₆ and 25 _{17 are also provided.}
Each image signal output from ˜25 ₃₂ is supplied to the multi-screen combining circuit 28. The multi-screen combining circuit 28 has a function of generating a multi-image signal composed of 16 image signals corresponding to the channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ output from the demodulators 25 _{1 to} 25 ₁₆ for multi-screen display. And the channel C output from the demodulators 25 _{17 to} 25 _32
And a function of generating a multi-image signal obtained by synthesizing 16 image signals corresponding to _{17 to} C ₃₂ for multi-screen display, and two multi-image signals based on the control of the control unit 14 described above. Are periodically switched and output.

The multi-image signals for multi-screen display corresponding to the channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ selectively output from the multi-screen synthesizing circuit 28 and the channels C ₁₇ to C.
The multi-image signal for multi-screen display corresponding to ₃₂ is supplied to the modulator 29, modulated into a form that can be sent to the wired broadcast transmission line network 17, and then the modulators are crossed at the cross point 27. The image signals and the audio signals output from 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₆ and 26 _{17 to} 26 ₃₂ and the control data output from the data communication modulator 15 are added together and sent to the cable broadcast transmission line network 17.

In addition, the broadcasting equipment 13 has a VTR 30.
Is installed. The VTR 30 serves as a notification channel C _K for transmitting, for example, an advertisement program to a channel for which the subscriber has not yet subscribed, or a notification program to a person who is delinquent in the contract fee. And VTR30
The image signal and the audio signal output from each of the modulators 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₆ are supplied to the modulator 31 and modulated into a form that can be sent to the wired broadcast transmission line network 17, and then the modulators 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₆ at the cross point 27. , 26 _{17 to} 26 _32, and the multi-image signal output from the modulator 29 and the control data output from the data communication modulator 15 are added together, and the wired broadcast transmission line network 17 Sent to.

Here, the multi-image signals for multi-screen display corresponding to the channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ modulated by the modulator 29 are demodulated by the receiving terminal 22 of the subscriber's house 21 and are received by the television receiver 23. When an image is displayed, screen A is shown in Fig. 2.
As shown by, the multi-screen synthesizing circuit 28 synthesizes the programs of channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ simultaneously on each small screen obtained by dividing one screen into 16 screens. Also, the channels C ₁₇ to C modulated by the modulator 29
The multi-image signal for multi-screen display corresponding to ₃₂ is demodulated by the receiving terminal 22 of the subscriber's house 21 and is received by the television receiver 2
3 is displayed as an image, as shown in screen B in FIG.
In order to display the programs of channels C _{17 to} C ₃₂ simultaneously on each of the small screens obtained by dividing one screen into 16 parts,
They are combined by the multi-screen combining circuit 28. in this case,
It goes without saying that the images of the small screens divided into 16 on both screens A and B are moving images.

That is, if the output of the modulator 29 is called a menu channel C _X , this broadcasting center 11
Are the 32 channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ and C _{17 to} C described above.
_The total of ₃₂ , the menu channel C _X and the notification channel C _K has 34 channels.
And, as will be described later in detail, this menu channel C
_The 16 split screens displayed as images in _X are
In the above, the viewer of the program can arbitrarily specify by the cursor displayed on the screen of the television receiver 23.

In this case, when the viewer of the program designates a desired split screen with the cursor, the receiving terminal 22 outputs a sound corresponding to the designated split screen. Therefore, in the receiving terminal 22, by switching the image display of the menu channel C _X to the screens A and B and designating a desired split screen with the cursor,
The 32 channels C _{1 to} C ₃₂ can be selected by the screen and voice. However, which of the channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ and C _{17 on} each of the 16 divided small screens.
~ C ₃₂ image is displayed depends on the multi-screen composition circuit 2
It can be set arbitrarily by controlling the composition operation of 8.
Channel C as always shown on screens A and B in FIG.
_{1 to} C ₁₆ and C _{17 to} C ₃₂ are not arranged in order.

Further, the channel of the split screen selected by the viewer of the program with the cursor may be, for example, a channel for which the subscriber has not yet subscribed, or a channel for which the subscriber is delinquent in the contract fee. In such a case, the receiving terminal 22 automatically selects the notification channel C _K to provide a program for recommending the contract to the subscriber or urging the subscriber to pay the contract fee.

Here, FIG. 3 shows the details of the receiving terminal 22. That is, the image signal and the audio signal (only the image signal for the menu channel C _X ) supplied to the subscriber's home 21 through the cable broadcasting transmission line network 17 are transmitted through the input terminal 32 of the receiving terminal 22, It is input to the channel selection circuit 33 and the audio channel selection circuit 34, and the image signal and the audio signal of the desired channel are selected, respectively.

The image signal selected by the image channel selection circuit 33 is supplied to the image demodulation circuit 35 to be demodulated and then supplied to the on-screen display circuit 36. In the on-screen display circuit 36, when the menu channel C _X is selected by the image selection circuit 33, the cursor is overlapped on any one of the divided screens. Then, the image signal output from the on-screen display circuit 36 is taken out from the output terminal 37 and provided for image display by the television receiver 23.

The audio signal selected by the audio channel selection circuit 34 has an R (right) channel component and an L (left) channel component, which are supplied to the audio demodulation circuit 38 and demodulated. After that, it is taken out from the output terminals 39 and 40 and is used for sound reproduction by a speaker (not shown) built in the television receiver 23.

The operations of the image tuning circuit 33, the audio tuning circuit 34, and the on-screen display circuit 36 are controlled by a control circuit 41 having a microcomputer (not shown) incorporated therein. That is,
The control circuit 41, based on a program viewer's request that has been operationally set via the operation unit 42 or remote control (remote control) reception unit 43, an image channel selection circuit 33, an audio channel selection circuit 34, and an on-screen display circuit 36. Control the behavior of.

Further, the control circuit 41 drives a display device 44 for displaying the contents of the operation, the operating condition of the receiving terminal 22 and the like to the viewer of the program. Further, the control data supplied to the input terminal 32 together with the image signal and the audio signal are demodulated by the control data demodulator 45 and supplied to the control circuit 41. In this case, the control circuit 41 operates so as to write the contents of the demodulated control data in the memory 46 in association with each channel.

When the program viewer operates the operation unit 42 to tune the menu channel C _X , the control circuit 31 issues a command to the image tuning circuit 33 to tune the menu channel C _X. . As a result, the multi-image signal of the menu channel C _X selected by the image channel selection circuit 33 is demodulated by the image demodulation circuit 35 and a cursor is added by the on-screen display circuit 36.
The television receiver 23 is taken out from the output terminal 37.
Multi-screen display by.

In this case, the control circuit 31 instructs the audio channel selection circuit 34 to output the audio of the channel of the screen designated by the cursor among the 16 split screens displayed on the screen of the television receiver 23. Generates a command to select a signal. As a result, the audio signal of the channel of the screen designated by the cursor is demodulated by the audio demodulation circuit 38 and played by the speaker of the television receiver 23.

When the viewer of the program operates the operation section 42 to move the cursor, the control circuit 31 issues a command to the on-screen display circuit 36 to change the display position of the cursor. In this case as well, the control circuit 31 issues a command to the audio tuning circuit 34 to select the audio signal of the channel of the screen designated by the cursor, and the audio of the channel of the screen designated by the cursor is always output. Is designed to be obtained.

Here, FIG. 4 shows the details of the control data generated by the control unit 14 of the broadcasting center 11. That is, the control data includes an address for designating a unique ID (identification number) assigned to each receiving terminal 22, a command for designating an area in the memory 46 of the receiving terminal 22 for writing data, It is composed of data to be written in the area designated by this command and a checksum for checking errors of these addresses, commands and data.

The above-mentioned data are the frequency data indicating the tuning frequency of each channel, the superimpose data for instructing whether or not to display the above-mentioned cursor on the screen of that channel, and the above-mentioned data for that channel. Attribute data indicating which one of the screens A and B belongs and the channel C ₁ to C ₁ displayed on the screen designated by the cursor among the split screens displayed on the menu channel C _X.
The frequency data of C _32, the frequency data of the notification channel C _K , and the viewing control data are included.

In the memory 46 of the receiving terminal 22, as shown in FIG. 5A, 33 channel information areas 47 _{1 to} 47 ₃₂ corresponding to the channels C _{1 to} C ₃₂ and the menu channel C _X , respectively. 47 _X is set. Each channel information area 47 _{1 to} 47 ₃₂ ,
In 47 _X , a tuning frequency area in which the frequency data is written, a superimpose area in which superimpose data is written, and an attribute area in which attribute data is written are set.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the screen position numbers (1) to (1) to the small screens divided into 16 parts, respectively.
(16) is attached to the attribute area of the channel information area 47 _X corresponding to the menu channel C _X.
As shown in FIG. 5B, each screen position number (1) to (1
A pair of channel areas are set corresponding to 6).

Each of these channel areas is divided into two areas (A) and (A), respectively, and the channel C ₁ displayed at the screen position numbers (1) to (16) in the area (A). ~ C ₃₂ frequency data is written,
Frequency data of the notification channel C _K is written in the area (a). Further, in the memory 46 of the receiving terminal 22,
As shown in FIG. 5D, each screen position number (1) to (1
6) corresponding to 6) viewing control information areas 48 ₁ to 4
8 ₁₆ is set, and the viewing control data is written. The viewing control data instructs the receiving terminal 22 to select the frequency data written in the area (A) and the frequency data written in the area (A).

In this case, the 16 channel areas arranged on the left side in FIG. 5 (b) correspond to the screen A, as shown in FIG.
The 16 channel areas arranged on the right side of (b) correspond to the screen B. Then, for example, the frequency data of the channel C ₃ is written in the area (A) of the channel area on the left side of the screen position number (1), and the frequency data of the notification channel C _K urging payment of the contract fee is written in the area (A). It is supposed to be.

In this state, if the viewing control data for selecting the region (A), that is, the frequency data of the channel C ₃ is written in the viewing control information area 48 ₁ corresponding to the screen position number (1), The control circuit 41 of the receiving terminal 22 can recognize that the channel C ₃ may be selected when the screen of the screen position number (1) in the screen A is selected. Further, if viewing control data for selecting the region (b), that is, the frequency data of the notification channel C _K is written in the viewing control information area 48 ₁ corresponding to the screen position number (1), the reception terminal 22 of the receiving terminal 22 will receive. When the screen with the screen position number (1) on the screen A is selected, the control circuit 41 is controlled to select the notification channel C _K instead of the channel C ₃ .

In this case, the viewing control data is the I
It is set so as to correspond to each subscriber based on D and is transmitted from the broadcasting center 11. For example in the above example, for subscribers paying reception contract charge for channel C _3, viewing control data indicating to select the frequency data of the channel C ₃ is sent, with respect to channel C ₃ For subscribers who have failed to pay the reception contract fee, the viewing control data is sent to the effect that the frequency data of the announcement channel C _K is selected in order to prompt payment of the contract fee.

That is, the control unit 1 of the broadcasting center 11
4, the control data having the above contents are repeatedly output corresponding to all the channels C _{1 to} C ₃₂ , C _X , and the receiving terminal 22 repeats the repeatedly input control data to the memory 46. I try to write it.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the channel selection operation in the receiving terminal 22 will be described below. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the operation unit 42 and the remote control transmitter (not shown) are provided with four direction designating buttons 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d indicating up, down, left and right directions in the figure.
A confirmation button 50 surrounded by these direction designation buttons 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d is provided. Here, an outline of the tuning operation will be described. First, when the program viewer tunes in to the menu channel C _X , as shown in FIG. 6B, the screens of the television receiver 23 are different from each other.
Programs on six channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ or C _{17 to} C ₃₂ are simultaneously displayed on a multi-screen.

Then, when the downward direction designating button 49b is operated while the cursor k is designating the screen of the screen position number (6), the cursor k moves as shown in FIG. 6 (c). Is moved downward by one small screen, and the screen with the screen position number (10) is designated. Further, when the right direction designation button 49d is operated, the cursor k moves to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in, the screen is moved to the right by one small screen, and the screen with the screen position number (11) is designated.

Then, by operating the confirmation button 50, the channel displayed on the screen of the screen position number (11) is selected as shown in FIG. 6 (e), and the image of the channel is displayed on the television. It will be normally displayed on the screen of the receiver 23. In this way, four direction specification buttons 49
By selectively operating a, 49b, 49c, 49d, the cursor k is moved to a desired screen position number (1) to (1).
The desired channel is designated by moving to the screen of 6), and then the confirmation button 50 is operated to select the channel.

FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flow charts showing the above-mentioned tuning operation functionally divided into three parts. First, in FIG. 7, when the program viewer tunes in to the menu channel C _X in step S1, the control circuit 41 controls the plurality of channel information areas 47 _{1 to} 47 ₃₂ , 47 recorded in the memory 46 in step S2.
Among the _X, look at the contents of the superimpose area of the channel information area 47 _X corresponding to the menu channel C _X, it is detected that can be displayed over the cursor k on the screen is required.

Then, in step S3, the control circuit 41 selects the screen position number Y = 16 out of the 16 divided screens.
After controlling the on-screen display circuit 36 so as to display the cursor k on the screen of (1), the next operation is waited at step S4. That is, when the menu channel C _X is selected by the viewer of the program, the cursor k is automatically controlled to be superimposed on the screen of the screen position number Y = (1).

In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, in step S5, the viewer of the program selects the four direction designating buttons 49a, 49a.
Of the b, 49c, 49d, for example, the right direction designation button 4
When 9d is operated, the control circuit 41 adds 1 to the screen position number Y in step S6, and the screen position number Y =
After setting (2), in step S7, the contents of the attribute area of the channel information area 47 _X corresponding to the menu channel C _X are checked, and the channel displayed on the small screen designated by the cursor k is Which of A and B belongs is detected.

If it belongs to the screen A, the control circuit 41 reads the frequency data written in the channel area on the left side of the screen position number (2) in FIG. 5B in step S8, and If it belongs to the screen B, the screen position number (2) in FIG.
After the frequency data written in the channel area on the right side of is read, it is determined in step S10 whether or not this channel can be selected.

In this case, if the channel cannot be selected (NO),
In step S11, the control circuit 41 adds 1 to the screen position number Y to set the screen position number Y = (3) and returns to the process of step S7. If it is determined in step S10 that the channel can be selected (YES), the control circuit 4
In step S12, 1 controls the audio tuning circuit 34 so as to output the audio of the channel displayed on the screen of the screen position number (2), and in step S13, it waits for the next operation. .

In this state, as shown in FIG. 9, when the program viewer operates the confirmation button 50 in step S14, the control circuit 41 determines that the screen position number Y is (3) in step S15. Then, in step S16, the contents of the attribute area of the channel information area 47 _X corresponding to the menu channel C _X are checked, and the channel displayed on the small screen specified by the cursor k is , B is detected.

If it belongs to the screen A, the control circuit 41 determines in step S17 the channel area (a) on the left side of the screen position number (3) in FIG. 5B.
If the frequency data written in any of (a) is in a standby state for reading and belongs to the screen B, in step S18, the channel area on the right side of the screen position number (3) in FIG. ) And (a), the standby state for reading the frequency data written in is entered.

Thereafter, the control circuit 41, in step S19, the viewing control information area 4 shown in FIG. 5 (d).
The viewing control data of this channel is read from 8 _{1 to} 48 ₁₆ and the frequency data to be read from the channel area is selected based on the read viewing control data. Then, the control circuit 41 executes the tuning operation based on the frequency data in step S20, and then ends (step S21).

Therefore, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, first, in the broadcasting center 11, the channel C is used.
_The image signals of _{1 to} C ₁₆ are combined into a form capable of multi-screen display to generate a multi-image signal constituting the screen A, and the image signals of channels C _{17 to} C ₃₂ are made into a form capable of multi-screen display. Since the multi-image signals that compose the screen B are generated and both the multi-image signals are selectively transmitted to the subscriber side, the receiving terminal 22 is provided with a memory having a large storage capacity. Since it is possible to display the contents of each program supplied from the broadcasting center 11 on a multi-screen without recording all the image signals corresponding to
The program selection work can be facilitated with a very simple structure.

In the broadcasting center 11, the channel selection frequency data of the channels C _{1 to} C ₁₆ and C _{17 to} C ₃₂ ,
Superimpose data indicating whether or not the cursor k is displayed, attribute data indicating which of the screens A and B the channel belongs to, and channel data indicating the channels C _{1 to} C ₃₂ of the screen designated by the cursor k. Since the control data including the data is transmitted to the subscriber side, the receiving terminal 22
In this case, it is sufficient to control the display and movement of the cursor k on the basis of this control data to perform the tuning operation, and also in this respect, facilitating the simplification of the configuration and facilitating the tuning operation of the program. You can

Further, in the menu channel C _X , the audio of the channel displayed on the screen designated by the cursor k is also output, so that 32 channels C _{1 to} C ₃₂ are connected to the screen and the audio. It becomes possible to tune in with, and it is possible to facilitate the channel selection work in multiple channels with a simple configuration. In addition, when selecting a channel in the multi-screen display by the menu channel C _X, it is possible to specify whether the selected channel is selected and reproduced as it is or the notification channel C _K is selected by the viewing control data. Therefore, for example, it is possible to forcibly select the notification channel C _K that prompts the payment of the fee to the subscribers who are behind in the contract fee, and it is possible to achieve a multifunctional channel selection operation.

Here, in the above-described embodiment, the frequency data of the notification channel C _K is written in the above-mentioned channel area area (a), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the frequency data of the audio signal excluding the image signal is written. Alternatively, the frequency data of the notification channel C _K may be written to the delinquent person, and the frequency data of the voice signal may be written to the other subscribers. Further, in the above embodiment, the attribute area of the channel information area 47 _X corresponding to the menu channel C _X is divided into two areas (A) and (A), and the area (A)
Although the frequency data of the channel is written to the area, and the frequency data of the notification channel C _K is written to the area (a), the attribute area is divided into three or more areas and the necessary data is written in each area, and various It can also be achieved. Also in this case, the viewing control information area 48 ₁
It is only necessary to determine in which area the data written is selected based on the viewing control data written in ˜48 ₁₆ . The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an extremely good image signal transmitting apparatus and image signal receiving apparatus that can facilitate the channel selection operation in multiple channels, have a simple configuration, and are suitable for downsizing, and that can achieve multi-functional channel selection operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image signal transmitting apparatus and an image signal receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing details of the image signal transmitting apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram showing details of an image signal receiving apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram shown for explaining control data generated from the image signal transmitting apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram shown for explaining a memory map of the image signal receiving apparatus for recording the control data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram shown for explaining an outline of a channel selection operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart shown to explain the details of a channel selection operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart shown for explaining details of a channel selection operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart shown to explain the details of the channel selection operation in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Broadcasting center, 12 ... Antenna, 13 ... Broadcasting equipment, 14 ... Control unit, 15 ... Data communication modulator, 16 ... Mixing circuit, 17 ... Cable broadcasting transmission line network, 18 ... Cable, 1
9 ... Transmission line amplifier, 20 ... Branch circuit, 21 ... Subscriber house,
22 ... Receiving terminal, 23 ... Television receiver, 24 ... V
TR, 25 _{1 to} 25 ₃₂ ... Demodulator, 26 _{1 to} 26 ₃₂ ... Modulator, 27 ... Crosspoint, 28 ... Multi-screen combining circuit, 29 ... Modulator, 30 ... VTR, 31 ... Modulator, 32
... input terminal, 33 ... image tuning circuit, 34 ... audio tuning circuit, 35 ... image demodulation circuit, 36 ... on-screen display circuit, 37 ... output terminal, 38 ... audio demodulation circuit, 39, 4
0 ... Output terminal, 41 ... Control circuit, 42 ... Operation section, 43 ... Remote control receiving section, 44 ... Display, 45 ... Control data demodulator, 46 ... Memory, 47 _{1 to} 47 ₃₂ , 47 _X
... channel information area 48 _{1-48 16} ... viewing control information area, 49a-49d ... direction designation button, 50 ... confirmation button.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-screen display for synthesizing a first sending means for respectively modulating and sending each image signal and audio signal corresponding to a plurality of channels, and synthesizing each image signal corresponding to the plurality of channels. Second transmitting means for generating, modulating and transmitting the multi-image signal, data for designating display of a cursor on each screen displayed by the multi-image signal, and data for displaying the multi-image signal. A third sending means for creating and sending control data including data indicating a channel of each screen to be displayed and data indicating a channel selection frequency of each image signal corresponding to the plurality of channels. An image signal transmitting device characterized by the following. 2. An image signal and an audio signal corresponding to a plurality of channels, a multi-image signal for multi-screen display generated by combining the plurality of image signals, and each displayed by the multi-image signal. First data designating display of the cursor over any one of the screens, second data designating a channel of each screen displayed by the multi-image signal, and each corresponding to the plurality of channels. Third data indicating a channel selection frequency of an image signal and an audio signal is input, and the cursor is placed on any of the screens displayed by the multi-image signal based on the first data. A display means for displaying the cursor, an operating means for moving the cursor by designating the position of each screen displayed by the multi-image signal, and the second The channel of the screen designated by the cursor is detected based on the data, and the third channel is detected.
An image signal receiving apparatus, comprising: an audio reproducing unit which detects a channel selection frequency of an audio signal of the detected channel based on the data of 1. and reproduces the audio signal.