JPH0744684B2 - CATV system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a CATV system adapted to transmit and display image information of an individual message from a center device to a specific terminal device by using a coaxial transmission line. .

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a CATV system having a bidirectional transmission function, a large number of terminal devices are sequentially and repeatedly polled from a center device, and the terminal device is preset with a calling address and address switch by center polling. When it is determined that the address matches the own address, the terminal side is controlled based on the reception control data, or the response information that combines the desired address data with the own address is returned and the center device decodes the terminal response data. Necessary processing is performed.

Such a CATV system is installed in, for example, an apartment house, and in response to polling from the center device, it returns information indicating the state of the terminal device, for example, response information such as power on / off state and reception level. , Remote system monitoring. It is also used to transmit security information such as fire detectors and gas leak detectors installed in dwelling units.

Furthermore, in this type of CATV system, the center device side is equipped with a voluntary broadcasting facility to provide notices necessary for daily life,
An announcement is made to broadcast image information such as bus timetables and maps to all dwelling units using a dedicated channel.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] By the way, in the management work of apartments, etc., in addition to the announcement broadcast for all dwelling units, private only for a specific dwelling unit, for example, when Takkyubin arrives. There is a case where it is desired to convey various information as image information, and further, a system capable of surely transmitting the information when returning home even when absent is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a CATV system capable of easily and reliably transmitting private information as image information to a specific dwelling unit.

[Means for Solving the Problem] First, according to the present invention, a plurality of terminal devices 14 are connected to the coaxial transmission line 12 drawn out from the center device 10, and the plurality of terminal devices 14 are sequentially and repeatedly polled from the center device 10. In response to the polling, when the terminal device 14 determines that the received address (polling address) and its own set address match,
The target is a CATV system that controls a terminal device based on the received control data or returns desired data to the center device 10. Incidentally, the reference numerals in the drawings of the examples are also shown.

According to claim 1 of the present invention for such a CATV system, when the center device 10 is instructed to control reception of an individual message to a specific terminal device 14, an individual image is transmitted using a dedicated transmission channel. An individual message transmitting unit 22 for transmitting information is provided. Further, in each of the terminal devices 14, when a command for individual message reception control from the center device 10 is discriminated, a reception channel dedicated to an individual message is selected and the image information demodulated by the channel selection is stored in the image memory 84.
Receiving and storing means (66,68,70,72,74,76,80,82)
And an information display means 102 for externally displaying that the image information is stored in the image memory 84, and when a reproducing operation is performed in the display state of the information display means 102, the content stored in the image memory 84 is read out to display the information on the television. Memory read-out means (8
6,98) and are provided.

Further, according to claim 2 of the present invention, the image memory 46-1 to 46-3 storing the image information of the individual message transmitted to the specific terminal device 14 in the center device 10, and the image information of the image memory. Is transmitted to the specific terminal device 14, and when the terminal receives a transmission request for the individual message, the individual message transmission is performed by using the dedicated transmission channel to transmit the image information of the image memory. A section 22 is provided. Further, in each of the terminal devices 14, when the stored notification of the individual message from the center device 10 is discriminated, the information display means 102 for displaying the received notification to the outside, and the display state of the information display means 102 Individual message receiving means for requesting transmission of the individual message to the center device and displaying the image information sent from the center device in response to the transmission request on the television receiver when the individual message request operation is performed. (64, 72, 74, 76, 98) and are provided.

[Operation] According to the CATV system of the present invention having such a configuration, it is possible to specify a specific terminal device and transmit a private individual message as image information, which facilitates management work in an apartment house or the like. And it can be done efficiently.

In addition, by storing the image of the individual message in the image memory of the terminal device or the center device and displaying this state on the terminal side, the image information can be viewed on the terminal subscriber side as necessary, Confidentiality and ease of use are achieved.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment on the side of a center device in a CATV system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a center device 10 receives a normal television broadcast and outputs it to a coaxial transmission line 12, a head end 16, an independent broadcast device 18 that performs independent broadcast, and a bidirectional data transmission between a terminal device. The data transmission / reception unit 20 for performing the above and the individual message transmission unit 22 for transmitting the image information of the individual message to a specific dwelling unit.

The independent broadcasting device 18 has a TV camera 24 and a video modulator 26, and
Announcement broadcasts for all terminals using specific free channels of F or UHF, such as notifications, bus timetables,
Send video and audio signals such as maps. Of course, independent broadcasting equipment
The independent broadcasting channel by 18 is provided with a channel for each type of information as needed. CPU3 for data transceiver 20
0 is provided, and to the CPU 30, a CRT display 34, a keyboard 36, a transmission switch 38 for transmitting an individual message are connected via an I / O 32, and a ROM 40 and a RAM 42 are further connected. A data modem 4 on the coaxial transmission line 12 side of the CPU 30
Four are provided. The data modem 44 has a modulation function of, for example, FSK-modulating bits 1 and 0 of transmission data from the CPU 30 to specific frequencies f1 and f2, and then FM-modulating the carrier frequency with an FSK signal and transmitting the result to the coaxial transmission line 12. . Further, the data modem 44 receives the data bit 1 from the received signal from the coaxial transmission line 12.
It has a demodulation function of extracting 0 by FM modulation and FSK demodulation and giving it to the CPU 30.

Further, the individual message transmitting unit 22 is provided with, for example, three image memories 46-1 to 46-3, and stores image information of the individual message captured by the TV camera 48, for example. The individual message transmitting unit 22 is provided with an image scanner 50, and uses the image scanner 50 instead of the TV camera 48 to transmit image data shot by a word processor or the like. Since the image scanner 50 has an image memory in the apparatus itself, it is not necessary to attach the image memories 46-1 to 46-3 to the outside unlike the TV camera 48. The image information of the individual message from the image memories 46-1 to 46-3 or the image scanner 50 is modulated by the video modulator 52 into a specific empty channel and sent to the coaxial transmission line 12.

The independent broadcasting device 18 is connected to the coaxial transmission line 12 by a mixer 28, the data transmitting / receiving unit 20 is connected by a mixer 54, and the individual message transmitting unit 22 is connected by a mixer 56.

The downlink transmission band of the coaxial transmission line 12 is assigned 70 to 450 MHz, while the uplink transmission band is assigned 10 to 50 MHz. Therefore, the independent broadcasting device 18 and the individual message transmitting unit 22 receive the allocation of any free channel in the downlink 70 to 450 MHz for each television channel. The data transmitter / receiver 20 is assigned a specific frequency channel as a transmission channel for each of the downlink and the uplink. The individual message transmitter 22 is controlled by the CPU 30 provided in the data transmitter / receiver 20. This individual message transmitter 2
The operation of sending an individual message by 2 is as follows.

The image of the individual message is captured by, for example, the TV camera 48 and stored in the image memory 46-1.

The address of the terminal device to which the individual message is sent is set by operating the keyboard 36.

When the sending switch 38 is turned on, a control code for instructing the reception control of the individual message is created at the address set by the keyboard 36, and is sent to the terminal as polling data by the data modem 44 at the polling timing.

It is checked by the response data from the terminal whether or not the preparation for receiving the individual message is completed.

At the next polling timing, the control information of the image memory is sent out together with the terminal address. At the same time, the video modulator 52 is activated to send the image information read from the image memory 46-1 to the terminal.

Upon receiving the confirmation of the image reception from the terminal, the operation of transmitting the individual message is terminated and the initial state is restored.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the terminal device in the CATV system of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the terminal device 14 is connected to a branch line from the tap-off 58 provided in the coaxial transmission line 12 via a protector 60 and a terminal.
Connected by 62. A mixer 64 is provided following the terminal 62, and the data modem 66, the CPU 68, and the I / O 70 are provided at one of the output terminals.
The data transmission / reception unit consisting of is connected. Further, the other output terminal of the mixer 64 is a tuner 72, an intermediate frequency amplifier 74,
The video demodulator 76 and the audio demodulator 78 are connected.

The video demodulator 76 is followed by a changeover circuit 80 including changeover switches SW1 and SW2, and a changeover terminal b of the changeover switch SW1.
Is connected to the input of the A / D converter 82. A / D converter 82
Subsequently, an image memory 84 for storing the image information of the individual message sent from the center device is provided. As the image memory 84, for example, a memory including a backup power supply 88 is used. A D / A converter 86 is provided following the image memory 84, and the output of the D / A converter 86 is a switching circuit 80.
Is connected to the changeover terminal b side of the changeover switch S2. The changeover switches SW1 and SW2 are directly connected by changing over to the changeover terminal a side, and by changing over to the changeover terminal b side, a writing / reading state to the image memory 84 is formed as shown in FIG.
When switched to the side, the separated state of the image memory 84 is created. The output of the switching circuit 80 is connected to the video output terminal 90. The output of the audio demodulator 78 is connected to the audio output terminal 92. The video output terminal 90 and the audio output terminal 92 are connected to corresponding terminals of a television receiver (not shown).

For the I / O 70 on the CPU68 side, TV channel selection switch 9
4, a voluntary broadcast channel selection switch 96 and an individual information display switch 98 are provided. By operating these switches 94, 96, 98, it is possible to select normal television broadcast, independent broadcast or individual message. An information indicator lamp 102 is connected to the I / O 70, and the information indicator lamp 102 is turned on when the image information of the individual message sent from the center device 10 is stored in the image memory 84, and the storage state is set to the outside. indicate. Further, a channel selection signal is given to the tuner 72 from the I / O 70, and when the channel selection switches 94 and 96 are operated, the tuner 72 is controlled so that the local oscillation frequency corresponding to each channel is selected. .

Further, the A / O 70 is provided with a power control switch 100 and a power circuit 104 for controlling the power. Terminal device 14
The power supply to each circuit part of is realized by supplying commercial AC 100V to the power supply circuit 104. Through the power supply circuit 104, a power outlet 10 for a television receiver (not shown) is provided.
The supply of 100 VAC to 6 can be controlled by the signal from I / O70. This power control can be controlled by the power control switch 100 (including a relay contact or the like) connected via the I / O 70 in addition to the control by the CPU 68.

Furthermore, the power amplifier 108 for emergency broadcast and the speaker 110 are connected to the output of the voice demodulator 78, and the CPU 68 causes the I / O 70 to be controlled by a control command from the center device when an abnormality such as a fire occurs.
The power amplifier 108 is brought into an operating state via the, and the emergency broadcast demodulated by the audio demodulator 78 at that time can be played from the speaker 110.

The reception display of the individual message in the terminal device 14 shown in FIG. 2 is as follows.

When it is determined that the polling addresses from the center device match, the center device is notified of the operating state of the terminal device, for example, power on / off, free state of the image memory, and the like.

When the command for controlling the reception of the individual message is determined from the center device, the channel of the tuner 72 is switched to the channel of the individual message, the changeover switch SW1 of the changeover circuit 80 is changed over to the changeover terminal b, and at the same time, the image memory 84 is made writable. At that time, the video signal obtained from the video demodulator 76 is stored in the image memory after A / D conversion.

When the storage of the image data in the image memory 84 is completed, the information indicator lamp 102 is turned on, the completion of storage is notified to the center device, and the changeover switch SW1 of the changeover circuit 80 is returned to the original state.

When the individual information channel selection switch 98 is turned on while the information indicator lamp 102 is lit, the changeover switch of the changeover circuit 80 is changed.
SW2 is switched to the switching terminal b side, and at the same time, the image memory 84 is in a read operation state, the image data stored in the image memory 84 is read, converted into an analog video signal by the D / A converter 86, and is output to the video output terminal 90. Output.

At the subsequent polling timing of the terminal device, the center device is notified that the image information of the individual message has been viewed.

Next, the overall transmission display operation of the individual message according to the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS.

When a request for transmission of an individual message to a specific terminal device is made on the side of the center device 10, the TV camera 48 or the image scanner 50 is used to store the image information of the individual message in an image memory, for example, the image memory 46-1. To do. The creation and storage of the image information of the individual message in the image memory 46-1 can be performed by operating the keyboard 36 with respect to the CPU 30 provided in the data transceiver 20. next,
The keyboard 36 is used to input the address of the terminal device to which the individual message is to be sent, and the sending switch 38 is turned on. In response to this address input, the CPU 30 creates polling data with a format configuration in which the command message for receiving control of individual message is added to the set address,
The data is sequentially output to the data modem 44 according to a predetermined polling order. The data modem 44 modulates the polling data from the CPU 30 into FSK-FM and sends it to the coaxial transmission line 12. Alternatively, the data may be output by an interrupt operation during polling.

In this state, in the terminal device 14 of FIG. 2, the address included in the received data demodulated by the data modem 66 is collated by the CPU 68 as to whether or not the address matches the self-set address. When the polling address matches the self address, the received data following the address data is decoded. If the command for controlling the reception of individual messages from the center device is determined by decoding the received data,
Information necessary for reception and storage is sent to the center device 10 via the data modem 66 in individual messages such as power-on / off state and the state of the image memory 84 at that time.

In the center device 10 of FIG. 1 which has received the data indicating the state of the terminal device, the standby state for receiving and storing the individual message of the terminal device 14 is discriminated from the response data, and the terminal address is stored in the image memory. Polling data to which a control command is added is created and sent out to the terminal device from the data modem at the next polling timing. At the same time, the CPU 30 sets the image memory 46-1 to the reading operation state via the I / O 32 and the image modulator 52 to the operation state, and at the same time the image memory 46-is instructed to the terminal by the data modem 44. The image information of the individual message stored in 1 is sent out as a video signal.

Therefore, in the terminal device 14 of FIG. 2, the CPU 68 determines the storage control command of the image memory from the received data obtained from the data modem 66, and the tuner 72 receives the individual message via the I / O 70. Channel selection and switching circuit
The 80 changeover switch SW1 is switched to the b side, and the image memory 8
Set 4 to the write operation state. Therefore, tuner 7 at the same time
2. The video signal of the individual message obtained by the intermediate frequency amplifier 74 and the video demodulator 76 is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 82 and then stored in the image memory 84.
When the storage in the image memory 84 is completed, the CPU 68 causes the I / O
The information indicator lamp 102 is turned on via 70, and after the storage is finished,
The center device 10 side is notified via the data modem 66. Upon receiving the storage end notification from the terminal device 14, the center device 10 stops the reading operation of the image memory 46-1 and the modulation operation of the video modulator 52 to restore the initial state.

After that, in the terminal device 14 of FIG.
When the terminal subscriber turns on the individual information display switch 98 by seeing that is turned on, the changeover switch SW2 of the changeover circuit 80 is switched to the b side by the control of the CPU 68, and at the same time, the image memory 84 performs the reading operation. , The image information of the individual message stored in the image memory 84 is read out and D / A
It is converted into an analog video signal by the converter 86 and is given to the television receiver from the video output terminal 90 for display. When the image information of the individual message stored in the image memory 84 is displayed, the CPU 68 notifies, via the data modem 66, the center device 10 at the self-polling timing that the individual message display operation has been performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the terminal device in the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment of the present invention in which the terminal device 14 of FIG. 3 is used, an image memory for storing the image information of the individual message in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used as the terminal device. 14
All the components provided on the side are provided on the side of the center device 10, and since the terminal device 14 does not have an image memory, the device configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

The terminal device 14 of FIG. 3 does not include the switching circuit 80, the A / D converter 82, the image memory 84, the D / A converter 86, and the backup power supply 88 provided on the output side of the video demodulator 76 of FIG. Therefore, the circuit configuration is greatly simplified.

As shown in the terminal device 14 of FIG. 3, when the image memory on the terminal device side is removed and provided on the side of the center device 10, the configuration of the center device is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. However, since the terminal device 14 does not have an image memory, the operation of transmitting the image information of the individual message is different.

Therefore, the transfer display of the individual message to the terminal in the second embodiment will be described as follows.

First, the operation of the center device 10 will be described.

The image information of the individual message is stored in the image memory by the TV camera 18 or the image scanner 50.

The keyboard 36 is used to input the address of the terminal to which the individual message is sent, and the sending switch 38 is turned on.

From the response data obtained by polling the terminal address input from the keyboard 36, it is confirmed that the terminal is ready to receive the individual message.

At the next polling timing, it is notified that the image information of the individual message is stored in the image memory on the center side.

After that, when the transmission request of the individual message from the terminal device is determined, the image information stored in the image memory is read and transmitted to the terminal.

When the display confirmation of the individual message is received from the terminal, the termination process is performed.

Next, the operation of the terminal device 14 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

When the polling address is matched from the center device 10, the terminal data necessary for determining the enabled / disabled state of receiving / displaying an individual message such as power on / off is sent back.

When the notification indicating that the image information of the individual message is stored in the center-side image memory is determined from the received data obtained by matching the polling addresses, the information indicator lamp 102 is turned on.

Individual information display switch 98 when the information indicator lamp 102 is lit
When is turned on, the center device 10 is requested to transmit an individual message.

The individual message reception control command from the center device is discriminated, and the tuner 72 is switched to the individual message reception channel to cause the television receiver to display an image of the individual message.

The center device 10 is notified of the end of the reception display of the individual message.

In the above embodiment, the information indicator lamp of the terminal device 14
Based on the lighting state of 102, when the individual message is displayed on the television receiver, the individual information display switch 98 is operated after turning on the power of the television receiver. When the information display lamp 102 is turned on when returning home when is turned off, the power of the television receiver may be automatically turned on to display the image of the individual message.

Specifically, the power control switch 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is used as a front door switch, and the power control switch (front door switch) 100 is turned on and off when returning home to the television receiver connector 106 for commercial AC100V. To turn on the television receiver automatically. At the same time, in the first embodiment of FIG. 2, the same state as when the individual information display switch 98 is turned on by the CPU 68 is created, and the image memory
The image information read from 84 is displayed on the television receiver. Also, in the second embodiment of FIG. 3, similarly, the same state as when the individual information display switch 98 is turned on is created, and the CPU 68 requests the center device to transmit an individual message to the television receiver. Display the individual message as an image.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fact that the individual message is present is notified by turning on the information display lamp 102, but it may be notified by a voice message.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to send private individual information as image information from a center device to a specific terminal device to notify the specific terminal device, thereby more efficiently performing management work in an apartment house. And it can be done accurately.

In addition, since the indicator light indicates that the image information of the individual message is stored in the image memory of the terminal device or the image memory on the center side, even if the individual message is received while you are away, you can read and display it immediately after returning home. Further, since it is possible to confirm on the center side whether or not the reading display is performed, the individual message can be surely transmitted.

Further, by not storing the image memory on the terminal device side and storing all in the image memory on the center side, the terminal device side is notified and displayed, and the transmission request is transmitted and displayed in response to the transfer request from the terminal device. The configuration can be simplified to reduce the cost, and the utilization efficiency of the image memory can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment on the side of a center device in the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a terminal device in the first embodiment of the present invention; It is an Example block diagram of the terminal device in an Example. 10: Center device 12: Coaxial transmission line 14: Terminal device 16: Headend 18: Independent broadcasting device 20: Data transmission / reception unit 22: Individual message transmission unit 24,48: TV camera 26,52: Video modulator 28,54, 56,64: Mixer 30,68: CPU 32,70: I / O 34: CRT display 36: Keyboard 38: Send switch 40: ROM 42: RAM 44, 68: Data modem 46-1 to 46-3, 84 : Image memory 50: Image scanner 58: Tap off 60: Protector 62: Terminal 72: Tuner 74: Intermediate frequency amplifier 76: Video demodulator 78: Audio demodulator 80: Switching circuit 82: A / D converter 86: D / A Converter 88: Backup power supply 90: Video output terminal 92: Audio output terminal 94: TV channel selection switch 96: Independent broadcast channel selection switch 98: Individual information display switch 100: Power control switch 102: Information display lamp 104: Power circuit 106: TV power outlet 108: Power amplifier 110: Speaker

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of terminals are connected to a coaxial transmission line drawn out from a center device, a plurality of terminal devices are sequentially and repeatedly polled from the center device, and in response to the polling, the terminal device receives a reception address and its own set address. The terminal device is controlled based on the control data received when it is determined that the two match, or the desired terminal data is returned to the center device.
In the CATV system, the center device is provided with an individual message transmitting unit that transmits individual image information using a dedicated transmission channel when a reception control of an individual message is instructed to a specific terminal device, In each of the terminal devices, when a command for individual message reception control from the center device is discriminated, a reception channel dedicated to an individual message is selected, and image information demodulated by the channel selection is stored in an image memory. Means, an information display means for externally displaying that the image information is stored in the image memory, and a television for reading out the stored contents of the image memory when a reproduction operation is performed in the display state of the information display means. A CATV system comprising a memory reading means for displaying on a receiver. 2. A plurality of terminals are connected to a coaxial transmission line drawn out from a center device, and a plurality of terminal devices are sequentially and repeatedly polled from the center device. In response to the polling, the terminal device receives a reception address and its own set address. The terminal device is controlled based on the control data received when it is determined that the two match, or the desired terminal data is returned to the center device.
In the CATV system, the center device is notified to the specific terminal device that the image memory of the image information of the individual message transmitted to the specific terminal device and the image information of the image memory are stored. In addition, an individual message transmission unit is provided for transmitting image information of the image memory using a dedicated transmission channel when a transmission request for an individual message is received from a terminal. When the stored notification of the individual message has been discriminated, the information display means for externally displaying that the notification has been received, and the center when the individual message request operation is performed in the display state of the information display means Individual message reception requesting the device to transmit individual messages and displaying the image information sent from the center device on the television receiver in response to the transmission request CATV system according to claim provided with a stage.