JPH08205123A - Communication controller and teletext receiver using same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To effectively utilize limited public telephone line resources by realizing the decentralization of the time of calling from terminals to a host computer. CONSTITUTION: A computer program is transmitted from a station 12 to a TV image receiver 11 by utilizing a teletext channel for a television broadcasting signal, and executed by the CPU of the TV image receiver 11. In this computer program, advance procedures for a hot line program and a telephone shopping program are described and according to the program, the TV image receiver 11 automatically calls a response server 14. In this case, a calling wait time is calculated by utilizing the characteristic number and random number function that the TV image receiver 11 has, and the calling is performed after the calling wait time elapses. Therefore, the time of calling from respective TV image receivers to the response server 14 can be decentralized and the limited public telephone line resources can effectively be utilized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication control device connected to a host computer via a public telephone line network and having an automatic dialing function for public telephone lines, and a teletext receiving device using the communication control device. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a network system in which a host computer and a terminal device are connected via a public line, the terminal device is regularly connected to the host computer by working from home or searching a database. In this case, operation is performed such that automatic dialing is performed at a predetermined time such as night when the charge is low, and predetermined data is transmitted or received.

For this reason, calls may be concentrated on public lines at a certain time and the number of calls may exceed the number of line contracts on the host computer side. In this case,
Since the terminal is busy, the terminal disconnects the line once and then performs the automatic dialing again. Such an operation is repeatedly executed until the line is connected.

Therefore, a situation in which an unnecessary load is applied to the public line, the interoffice line of the telephone station on the host computer side is occupied by the invalid call in some cases, and other telephone connections to and from the telephone station are blocked. Occurs.

To alleviate this, it is conceivable to set a slightly different calling time to the terminal in advance, but it is a kind of service that cannot predict the calling time in advance such as online shopping and ticket reservation which have been increasing in recent years. It has been difficult to distribute calling times because the number of calls is increasing.

[0006]

Conventionally, when a plurality of subscribers of an online service or the like perform automatic dialing / automatic data transmission / reception from a terminal side, calls to the host computer are concentrated at a certain time. It was difficult to prevent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and calculates the call waiting time for each terminal by utilizing the unique number and the random number function of the terminal, and thereby the calling time is calculated. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control device and a teletext receiving device using the communication control device that can be distributed and can effectively utilize limited public line resources.

[0008]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems
Means for randomizing a random number function using a first numerical value for defining a random number starting point in a communication control device connected to a host computer via a public telephone line network and having an automatic dialing function for the public telephone line And a means for obtaining a random number value by substituting its own telephone number or device number into a randomized random number function as a variable, and obtaining a product of the second numerical value for defining the variance and the random number value, Means for controlling the calling time by using the product as a waiting time at the time of calling.

In this communication control device, the first numerical value given by the date or the host computer is used as the numerical value for randomizing the random number function, and the subscriber telephone number of the user is used as the variable value of the random number function. By using the device number and the device number, a random number value evenly distributed between 0 and 1 can be obtained among a plurality of communication terminal devices. Also, the second numerical value given from the host computer defines the size of the dispersion time for distributing the outgoing calls, and when the product of this second numerical value and the above-mentioned random number value is obtained, a plurality of terminals are obtained. The call waiting time between the machines is probabilistically evenly distributed from 0 to the second numerical value, so that the calling time can be distributed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an interactive TV system using a teletext receiving device with a built-in communication control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the principle of this interactive TV system will be described.

The bidirectional TV system shown in FIG. 1 is for realizing the bidirectional effect of a program by utilizing the existing character multiplex broadcasting function and telephone communication function. Machine 11, broadcasting station 12, telephone network 1
3, and a network including the response server 14.

The broadcasting station 12 uses a teletext channel to broadcast a computer program (script) for realizing bidirectionality in synchronization with an ordinary program. This script is a kind of application program that describes the progress procedure of the interactive teletext program, and is transmitted while being superimposed on the vertical blanking period of the TV broadcast signal.

This script is stored in the memory of the TV receiver 11 that receives the TV broadcast signal, and is executed by the CPU of the teletext receiver (script decoder) incorporated in the TV receiver 11. This CPU displays on the screen a symbol mark "i" indicating that the current program is a two-way teletext program and notifies the viewer of it.
In response to the selection command from the viewer, the script execution is started and a response such as displaying the program supplement information is performed.

The response may end on its own in the TV receiver 11, but the result of the response is sent to the computer system (response server 14) provided in various places via the telephone line 13, and depending on the case. Can also be reflected in real time on the program content provided by the broadcasting station 12.

This system can be realized by expanding the function of the existing character multiplex broadcasting system by software. The response from the viewer is sent via the telephone line.
Therefore, there is no need to prepare a new infrastructure. Further, even if the script is added to the character multiplex broadcasting and is broadcast, the current TV broadcasting, character broadcasting, and TV receiver are not affected at all.

The TV receiver 11 is equipped with an ordinary TV broadcast receiving circuit including a character multiplex decoder, and a script decoder and a modem as shown in the figure in order to realize a bidirectional program. The script decoder is the broadcasting station 12
The interactive teletext program is displayed on the screen by extracting a script from the TV broadcast from and executing it.

In this case, the viewer responds to the screen of the interactive teletext program by using the remote controller for TV operation. When sending data to the response server 14, the modem connected to the TV receiver 11 automatically dials and connects to the response server 14. The calling time in this case is determined by using the unique number and the random number function of the TV receiver 11, and the data is transmitted immediately or after a certain time.

Since the modem added to the TV receiver 11 has a function of automatically dialing, the operation by the viewer is not necessary for the data transmission itself. The telephone number of the automatic dial destination is embedded in a script from the broadcasting station 12 side for each bidirectional teletext program and transmitted.

The script decoder can be realized by a processor that executes a program. However, since the character multiplex decoder also usually has a built-in processor,
Actually, the script decoder can be realized by expanding the function of the character multiplex decoder by software. Therefore, the script decoder comprises a character multiplex decoder and a program ROM.

The broadcasting station 12 inserts a script into a broadcasting signal containing normal video and audio and transmits it when broadcasting a program of a viewer participation system such as reflecting the response of the viewer in the program. . A program production system for script reproduction and insertion can be composed of a personal computer and a multiplexer.

The broadcasting station 12 broadcasts by inserting a script into the broadcast wave in addition to a normal program. The information programs to be added are roughly classified into those produced by the broadcasting station itself and those produced by third parties such as advertising companies and mail order companies. In addition, some broadcast station productions can be prepared in advance, while others can be inserted live, such as during live sports.

Here, the structure of the script will be described. The script is created by the production system of the broadcasting station 12, and is sent together with normal images and sounds. The script is realized as a set of objects as follows.

(1) Background / display material (2) Operation button (3) Character string (4) Image etc. Each object can have a complementary procedure (procedure), and this procedure is an extended BASIC language. Described by etc. This language is a normal BASIC with control commands for bidirectional teletext.

When the script is executed, first, screen backgrounds and screen constituent elements such as operation buttons are displayed. When the viewer selects the operation button, the program corresponding to the button is activated.

A response data processing method is registered in advance in the response server 14, and the collected content is redistributed to a broadcasting station, an advertising company, a sponsor, a mail order company, etc. in accordance with the method.

The forms of interactive programs that can be realized by this interactive TV system can be broadly classified into the following three types. (1) Complementary information program-Selective display of additional information about advertising products.

Data for live broadcasting of sports is selectively displayed.・ Display program contents.・ Remember the cooking resappy and display it later.

Respond to answers to questions in early childhood education programs.・ Respond to viewers' answers in quiz programs. (2) Response feedback program (using a response server) -Collect questionnaires on politics, economics, and social reporting.

[Collect questionnaires for sports programs.・ View stats and answer tournaments in the viewer participation quiz program. (3) Program with transaction (use response server) -The server accepts orders for TV shopping.

A catalog request is accepted by the server as an advertisement with a request such as information. -For audience rating survey, send the viewing program data to the server with the consent of the viewer. FIG. 2 shows a specific circuit configuration of the TV broadcast receiving circuit and the script decoder provided in the TV receiver 11.

The TV broadcast receiving circuit includes an antenna 110, a tuning circuit 111, a local oscillation circuit 112, and a video detection circuit 11.
3, a voice detection circuit 114, a video signal processing circuit 115, and an RGB switching circuit 116. The script decoder is a CPU 201, a multiplex data demodulation circuit 202, and a computer instruction code separation circuit 20.
3, RAM 204, ROM 205, modem 206, display control circuit 207, video memory (VRAM) 208, additional sound generation circuit 209, and remote control reception unit 21.
It consists of zero.

In the ROM 205 of the script decoder,
In addition to the character font data and the conventional teletext reception program, a script processing program for controlling the execution of a script describing the bidirectional teletext progress procedure is stored. This script processing program is 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the OS is a kind of OS, and includes a BASIC interpreter (application engine) 301 for interpreting and executing a script, a communication library 302, a user interface library 303, and a drawing library 304. .

The communication library 302 receives a script from a script decoder (text broadcast receiving device), transmits / receives to / from the response server 14 (telephone line), a printer or a VTR.
It has a function to communicate with devices such as. This communication library 302 has a function of controlling the calling time.

User interface library 303
Is the operation such as selecting buttons on the screen and the TV receiver 1
This is to connect the operations of one remote controller 211, and can correspond to the functions of the remote controller 211 such as a channel selection button, a cross cursor key, and a mouse.

The drawing library 304 provides a function of actually drawing based on a script. Next, FIG.
The operation of the TV broadcast receiving circuit and the script decoder will be described.

Radio waves sent from the broadcasting station 12 are guided to the tuning circuit 111 via the antenna 110 (or an antenna input terminal to which a distribution cable is connected). The tuning circuit 111, together with the local oscillation circuit 112, operates at a local oscillation frequency that is deviated by a certain frequency value from the tuning frequency corresponding to the channel or frequency set by the receiver, whereby the radio wave becomes a certain frequency value, that is, an intermediate frequency. It is converted and sent to the detection circuits 113 and 114.

In the detection circuits 113 and 114, after the intermediate frequency signal is amplified, the signal modulated into the carrier wave is detected, and the video signal is processed by the video signal processing circuit 115 and R.
The audio signal is displayed on the CRT via the GB switching circuit 116 and is output from the speaker. The video signal is also sent to the multiplex data demodulation circuit 202.

The multiplex data demodulation circuit 202 is for demodulating the teletext data superimposed on the vertical blanking period of the video signal. Here, demodulation processing corresponding to the hybrid telephony teletext signal is performed. .

In the TV teletext broadcast signal of the hybrid transmission system, as shown in FIG. 4, the teletext data is transmitted from the 14th H (the 277H) to the 1st in the vertical blanking period.
6H (279H) and 21H (284H) are superimposed.

It is also possible to transmit teletext data by carrying it on an FM broadcast signal. In this case, an FM receiver with a display is provided with a script decoder, and the multiplex data demodulation circuit 202 uses the DARC FM. Demodulation processing corresponding to the character multiplex broadcast signal is performed.

In the DARC type FM teletext signal, the teletext data is superimposed on the subcarrier as shown in FIG. The teletext data demodulated by the multiplex data demodulation circuit 202 is sequentially input to the computer command code separation circuit 203 in the form of code information.

The computer instruction code separation circuit 203 is
A computer command code, that is, a script is separated from the demodulated teletext data and stored in the RAM 204 in 1-byte units. In actuality, the computer instruction code separation circuit 20 is provided in order to support ordinary teletext.
3 identifies whether the demodulated teletext data is a character code, an image, or a script.

If it is a character code, it is the ROM 205.
After being converted into an image using the font data of, the data is written in the video memory 208. If it ’s an image,
It is written in the video memory 208 as it is. In the case of a script, the RAM 20 is used as described above.
4 is once stored in the video memory 20 and is executed by the CPU 201.
Written in 8.

The character code, the image and the script are identified by using the identification code added to the head of the data. That is, the character code, the image, and the script are transmitted with different identification codes added. FIG. 6 shows an example of the transmission data format of the script.

In the example of FIG. 6, the ESC code (000110
11) is used as the identification code of the script, and the total data length (unit is bytes) of the script is indicated by 2 bytes following the ESC code. In this example, the total data length is 8 bytes, and the following data string (here, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 3 in hexadecimal display)
6, 37, FF) is a computer instruction code forming a script.

In this way, when all the scripts consisting of a series of computer command codes are stored in the RAM 204, the symbol mark "i" indicating the bidirectional teletext program is made by the CPU 201 to the video memory 208.
, And the symbol mark is displayed on the screen of the program currently being reproduced.

After that, when the viewer operates the computer command activation switch of the remote controller 211, the remote controller receiving unit 210 receives it and notifies the CPU 201 of it.

The CPU 201 sequentially reads out the computer instruction code in the RAM 204 and executes it. This allows
The interactive teletext program is started to be broadcast in synchronization with the main program of the television broadcast signal. In interactive teletext programs, first, the menu display screen is opened in the display screen of the main program,
Information corresponding to the selected operation button, for example, if the main program is a sports program, player data or the like is displayed as a two-way teletext program.

If the main program is a quiz program, a plurality of answer branches corresponding to the problem are displayed as bidirectional teletext programs. When the viewer selects an operation button corresponding to one of the answers, the CPU 201 instructs the modem 206 to perform auto dialing using the telephone number embedded in the script. The modem 206 secures the telephone line (off-hook) and starts auto dialing. Then, the code data indicating the selected answer is transmission data of a predetermined data format (telephone number of the viewer, program ID embedded in the script,
(Including the machine ID of the TV receiver, etc.) and sent to the response server 14 or the station 12.

In this case, the actual calling time by the modem 206 is controlled by using the number unique to the TV receiver 11 and the random function. Details of the procedure for controlling the calling time will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the operation procedure by the script will be described for each type of interactive program provided by the interactive TV system. First, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The complementary information program will be described.

The complementary information program provides a main program, that is, a plurality of additional pieces of information related to broadcast contents which are not displayed on the main broadcast screen, and a menu screen for selecting those pieces of information. Is not done. A sports program is a typical example of the complementary information program.

When the script is received while the main broadcast screen of the sports program is displayed, the symbol mark "i" (interactive mark) indicating the interactive teletext program is displayed on the screen (step S101). ).

When the symbol mark "i" is selected by the viewer operating the remote controller 211 or the like (step S102), the program execution by the CPU 201 is started, and first, a menu screen showing the type of provided information is displayed. Is performed (step S103). In the menu screen, a plurality of selectors corresponding to the types of provided information are assigned as operation buttons, and when the operation button is selected by operating the remote controller 211 (step S10).
4) Then, the information corresponding to the selected action button is displayed (step S105).

In this way, various kinds of complementary information are provided in synchronization with the main broadcast program, and the display switching of the complementary information can be individually performed for each viewer according to the script.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG.
The response feedback program will be described. The auto-feedback program provides information related to the viewer-participating main broadcast program (for example, a selector of answers to questions inquired by the program by the program), and the program is selected by the viewer. It reflects it in the content. A typical example of the auto feedback program is a quiz program.

When the script is received while the main broadcast screen of the quiz program is displayed, the symbol mark "i" (interactive mark) indicating that the program is a two-way teletext program is displayed on the screen (step S201). ).

When the symbol mark "i" is selected by the viewer operating the remote controller 211 or the like (step S202), the program execution by the CPU 201 is started, and first, the information indicating the selector of the answer to the question, etc. Is displayed (step S203). Remote control 2
When a predetermined selector is selected by the viewer by the operation of 11, the automatic call (dialing) process is started by using the telephone number embedded in the script, and the automatic call is made after the predetermined call waiting time has elapsed. A call is made, and predetermined transmission data including the selector is sent to the broadcasting station 12 via the response server 14.
(Step S204). In this case, the response server 14 aggregates the data of the selector, and the aggregated result is sent to the broadcasting station 12 and reflected in the program content (step S205).

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A program with a transaction will be described. The transaction-added program is a program form in which an order from a viewer is received and data is transmitted to the response server 14 in, for example, TV shopping, and when a script is received while the main broadcast screen of the TV shopping program is flowing. A symbol mark "i" (interactive mark) indicating that the program is a two-way teletext program is displayed on the screen (step S301).

When the symbol mark "i" is selected by the viewer operating the remote controller 211 or the like (step S302), the program execution by the CPU 201 is started and first, the product information and the like are displayed (step S303). ). When the viewer specifies that a predetermined product should be purchased by operating the remote control 211, an automatic call (dialing) process is started using the telephone number embedded in the script, and a predetermined call waiting time is set. After a lapse of time, automatic call is made, and predetermined transmission data including a selector indicating a product is sent via the response server 14 to the advertising company,
Sent to mail order companies (steps S404, S30)
5).

As described above, the TV receiver 1 of this embodiment
In No. 1, a computer program transmitted using a teletext channel of a television broadcast signal is received and executed. This computer program describes the progress procedure for realizing the interactive teletext program, and the reproduction procedure of the interactive teletext program is controlled according to the program. Therefore, under the program control, various operations and services such as display selection according to a predetermined input operation by the viewer can be realized.

Further, since the necessary information can be automatically transmitted through the telephone line by the auto dialing, for example, the interactive teletext is reproduced in synchronization with the viewer participation type program and the shopping information program. As a result, the interactivity of the teletext program can be further enhanced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the loss of the response opportunity due to the failure to take the memo and the erroneous dialing as in the conventional case.

Furthermore, a virtual channel can be realized by using the telephone line. The virtual channel does not use the transmission channel of the television broadcasting, but requests the information service from the TV receiver 11 to the response server 14 and receives the information from the response server 14 so that the content is similar to the interactive program. This is a form for realizing the service form of.

Next, the calling time control operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The random number function function provided by the communication library 302 of the script decoder is a starting point that indicates from which part of the numerical sequence the numerical sequence itself always has the same value, as in the generally known “random number table”. First, randomization of the random number function is performed (step S401). As the numerical value indicating the starting point, for example, the first numerical value embedded in the script and transmitted, or the date is used.

Then, the subscriber's own telephone number or device number is substituted into the randomized random number function as a variable to obtain a random number value between 0 and 1 (step S4).
02).

Then, the product of the second numerical value for defining the amount of dispersion and the above-mentioned random number value is obtained, and the product is obtained as the waiting time at the time of calling (step S403). The second numerical value is a dispersion coefficient determined in advance from the number of lines on the response server 14 side, the service target subscribers, the number of accesses to similar services in the past, etc.
The time dispersion amount of 2 hours is shown. This second numerical value is embedded in the script and transmitted, or given from the response server 14. Of course, it is possible to perform an operation in which the initial value of the second numerical value is set to 0 and the numerical value given from the response server 14 is used from the second time. Further, the second numerical value may be a fixed value as long as it is based on a service that is fixed to some extent.

In this embodiment, the case where the calling time control of the present invention is provided in the TV receiver 11 of the interactive TV system has been described, but the calling time control of the present invention is
For example, as shown in FIG. 11, any type of service can be applied as long as the terminal has an automatic dialing function and is connected to a host computer through a public telephone line network. .

In this embodiment, the case where the CPU 201 sends the script in the form of an executable module as it is, but the script is sent as a text data string described in a predetermined programming language, and the script is sent. It can be configured to be translated by the compiler of the ROM 205.

The script decoder of FIG. 2 can be implemented not only in the TV receiver 11 but also as an external device. Further, the configuration of the script decoder shown in FIG. 2 can be applied to a personal computer having a function of receiving a television broadcast signal, and can be used by being incorporated in or connected to the personal computer.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, the call waiting time is calculated for each terminal by utilizing the unique number and the random number function of the terminal, and the calling times are dispersed by this. As a result, it is possible to effectively use limited public line resources.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an interactive TV system using a TV receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of a TV broadcast receiving circuit and a script decoder provided in the TV receiver of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a script processing program stored in a ROM of the script decoder shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a TV character multiplex broadcast signal of a hybrid transmission system used in the interactive TV system of FIG.

5 is a DAR used in the interactive TV system of FIG. 1;
The figure for demonstrating the FM text multiplex broadcast signal of C system.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission data format of a script used in the interactive TV system of FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of progress of a complementary information program realized by the interactive TV system of FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of progress of a response feedback program realized by the interactive TV system of FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of progress of a program with a transaction realized by the interactive TV system of FIG.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a calling time control operation executed when the TV receiver of the interactive TV system of FIG. 1 makes a call.

11 is a block diagram showing a connection form of terminals to which the call origination time control of FIG. 10 is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... TV receiver, 12 ... broadcasting station, 13 ... telephone line network,
14 ... Response server, 110 ... Antenna, 111 ... Tuning circuit, 112 ... Local oscillation circuit, 113 ... Video detection circuit, 1
14 ... Audio detection circuit, 115 ... Video signal processing circuit, 11
6 ... RGB switching circuit, 201 ... CPU, 202 ... Multiplex data demodulation circuit, 203 ... Computer instruction code separation circuit, 204 ... RAM, 205 ... ROM, 206 ... Modem, 207 ... Display control circuit, 208 ... Video memory, 2
09 ... additional sound generating circuit, 210 ... remote control receiving unit, 211 ... remote control operating unit.

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication control device, which is connected to a host computer via a public telephone line network and has an automatic dialing function for the public telephone line, uses a first numerical value for defining a random number starting point, and uses a random number. A means for randomizing the function, a means for obtaining a random number value by substituting its own telephone number or device number into the randomized random number function as a variable, and a second numerical value for defining the variance and the random number value. And a means for controlling the calling time by using the product as a waiting time at the time of calling. 2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein a date is used as the first numerical value for randomizing a random number function. 3. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second numerical values are respectively given from the host computer. 4. A teletext receiving device capable of receiving and reproducing a teletext broadcast synchronized with a program of a television broadcast signal, and a modem device connected to a telephone line, and a vertical retrace line of the television broadcast signal. Separating means for demodulating teletext data superimposed on a period and separating a telephone number from the demodulated data, and in response to a predetermined input operation by a viewer executed during the program of the television broadcast signal, Use the modem device to automatically make a call to the destination specified by the telephone number,
The dialing means for transmitting response data from the viewer to the program of the television broadcast signal via a telephone line, and the calling time control means for controlling the calling time of the dialing means are provided. The call time control means is means for randomizing the random number function using the first numerical value for defining the random number starting point, and a random number function for randomizing the own telephone number or device number as a variable to A means for obtaining a numerical value and a means for obtaining a product of the second numerical value for defining the amount of variance and the random number value and using the product as a waiting time at the time of making a call to control the calling time. A teletext receiver characterized by comprising.