JPH08222996A - Automatic channel selection method for radio broadcast - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow a receiver to receive a station with a highest electric field strength in an AF list at all times and to ensure a best reception state efficiently in the mode where the electric field strength is detected from each broadcast station, a broadcast of a broadcast station whose electric field strength is highest and replacing a broadcast program of a broadcast station having been received with a specific broadcast program forcibly. CONSTITUTION: An on-vehicle radio receiver 1 uses a detection circuit 4 to receive a signal received by an antenna 2 via a front end circuit 3 and the circuit 4 demodulates an audio signal and a data signal. The audio signal is given to a speaker 6 via a low frequency amplifier 5, where the signal is sounded. On the other hand, th signal demodulated by the detection circuit 4 is given to an RDS decoder 11, various data signals decoded therein are given to a microcomputer 14, where arithmetic processing is executed. The microcomputer 14 reads prescribed data from a storage circuit 17 according to an arithmetic processing instruction, conducts prescribed arithmetic processing based on the data and various data received from the decoder 11 and the circuit 3 selects a channel based on the result of the arithmetic processing. The microcomputer 14 compares the electric field strength of broadcast stations to be received measured by an electric field strength measurement circuit 15 and selects a broadcast station with a highest electric field strength.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically selecting radio broadcasts, and more specifically, for audio signals,
The present invention relates to an efficient automatic channel selection receiving method in a receiving method of a radio broadcast in which a data signal representing information regarding broadcast contents is superimposed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a predetermined information is radio-broadcast from a broadcasting station, the predetermined information, that is, broadcast-related information related to the content of a predetermined program is transmitted as data by multiplex modulation, and the receiving side transmits this. 2. Description of the Related Art A radio data system (RDS) is known in which the content of a desired program can be selected based on the demodulated data and the service is provided to a radio listener.

In such an RDS system, data (PTY code) indicating the type of a specific program such as music, traffic information, news, etc., a nationality of a broadcasting station, etc.
Data (PI code) indicating whether it is a service area, a key station, a net station, or the like, and other stations broadcasting the same or similar broadcast content as the content of the program broadcast by that broadcast station. Data indicating the frequency (AF code)
Alternatively, data such as data (PS code) represented by an ASCII code for a specific broadcasting station is superimposed to perform frequency modulation broadcasting, and the receiver side receiving such RDS broadcasting. If the reception status of the currently received radio broadcast of the specified frequency deteriorates, or if the reception status becomes unreachable, and if the reception status deteriorates or the disabling period is relatively short, Based on various data superimposed on the audio signal, another broadcasting station that is broadcasting the same as or similar to the currently received broadcasting content is tuned in and received, or the reception status deteriorates. Alternatively, if the unavailable period is relatively long, all broadcast stations currently transmitting are sequentially swept and selected based on the various data described above, and the broadcast of the broadcast station with the highest received electric field strength is received. That it is intended to station automatic selection as.

Regarding such a conventional RDS system, for example, JP-A-4-79423 and JP-A-1-204 are available.
No. 529 and JP-A-1-149527.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned RDS system, for example, when the power of the receiver is turned on, when the ACC key is turned on, when the mode is switched, or when the preset is performed. In the case of calling, it is provided in association with a PI list that stores a plurality of PI codes indicating the frequencies of a plurality of broadcasting stations in the same network as described above. A plurality of A's indicating the frequencies of other broadcasting stations broadcasting the same or similar programs
The AF list that stores the F code is searched. At that time, the electric field strength of each broadcasting station in the AF list is compared, and the broadcasting station having the highest electric field strength is set as the highest station. It is configured to determine and receive the broadcast station of.

When a place selects a particular broadcast program, for example, when a user wants to receive a broadcast program related to traffic information, that is, a so-called user who forcibly switches to a broadcast program related to traffic information, the user presses a TP mode switch to select TP. When the mode is switched (at the time of EON), even if the broadcasting station currently receiving is not broadcasting the traffic information, when the other stations start broadcasting the traffic information, the If the system receives the same frequency as the broadcasting station and switches to the frequency of the original broadcasting station when the traffic information broadcasting ends and switches to a system that receives the original broadcasting, it is set in advance in the AF list above. It is configured so that the selected first place station is selected.

In other words, it is often the case that a broadcasting station that is not necessarily the broadcasting station having the highest electric field strength (uppermost station) at the present time is selected, and therefore the reception state is not always the best state. There was a problem. In addition, in the above-described conventional RDS system, for example, when the number of receivable broadcasting stations is extremely reduced at the same time when the reception condition deteriorates when entering a long tunnel, first, For example, for one minute, a normal network follow operation (NF operation), that is, the currently received broadcasting station and the P
Perform an operation such that the electric field strength is compared by sequentially sweeping with other broadcasting stations in the I list, and the broadcasting station with the highest electric field strength is selected and received. , A so-called full-frequency search is executed (referred to as PI search), but in such a PI search, for at least one minute, a state in which reception is impossible at all despite the presence of other receivable broadcasting stations continues. There was also the problem of saying that.

Further, in such a conventional RDS system, when a specific broadcast program is designated and received, for example,
When only the traffic information is desired to be received (set to the TP mode), if a predetermined key is pressed to set the TP mode, if the currently received broadcasting station does not broadcast the traffic information, It is configured to return to the original broadcasting station when another station broadcasts the traffic information, and when the broadcasting station receives the broadcasting information and the other station broadcasts the traffic information. In the conventional RDS system, for example, in the TP mode, if a broadcasting station broadcasting appropriate traffic information cannot be found as a result of the search for 20 seconds (that is, if there is no TP data), a full frequency search is performed, Performing an operation to select a broadcasting station that is broadcasting traffic information (TP search), but when you are under the elevated road, in the shadow of a building, or when you are stopped, or when waiting for a signal at a multipath location Above T
If the P data collapses or changes, it is possible to move to another Internet station to receive traffic information, but when the reception of the traffic information ends, it is not possible to return to the original Internet station. There was also a problem to say.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to always switch to a mode for forcibly switching to a specific broadcast program, for example, a TP mode (at the time of EON), always in the AF list. In addition to being configured to receive the highest-level station, it shortens the unreceivable state in a long tunnel, etc., and even if the received data is corrupted or changed, it was temporarily switched to another broadcasting station by the tuning search. The present invention provides an automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting, which is configured so as to eliminate the adverse effect that the original receiving station cannot be easily returned to later.

[0010]

The present invention employs the following technical configuration to achieve the above object. That is, as a first mode of the automatic radio broadcasting channel selection method according to the present invention, a predetermined broadcasting station in radio broadcasting in which a data signal representing a plurality of types of information is transmitted together with an audio signal is selected. In this case, when wanting to listen to a radio broadcast related to information including predetermined specific contents or information similar thereto, each of a plurality of broadcasting stations that broadcast only information including the predetermined specific contents Access the data list that stores the code, and detect the electric field strength at that time for each broadcasting station corresponding to the code stored in the data list. , The radio station automatic selection method that recognizes the station with the highest electric field strength as the highest station and receives the broadcast of the station recognized at the highest level. According to a second aspect, when selecting a predetermined broadcasting station in a radio broadcast in which a data signal representing a plurality of types of information is transmitted together with an audio signal, a predetermined specific content is included. When a user wants to listen to a radio broadcast relating to information or information similar thereto, when the state in which the radio broadcast that has been received until now cannot be received at all continues for a predetermined first period, the predetermined Access the data list that stores each code for multiple broadcasting stations that broadcast only information containing specific contents, search among the codes stored in the data list, and receive the highest station. If a receivable broadcasting station cannot receive even if the search is continuously executed for a predetermined second period, the search for all frequencies is executed. In a third aspect, when selecting a predetermined broadcasting station in a radio broadcasting in which a data signal representing a plurality of types of information is transmitted together with an audio signal, If you want to listen to a radio broadcast related to information that includes predetermined specific contents or information similar to it, a radio broadcast related to the information that includes the predetermined specific contents or information similar thereto,
In the case of traffic information, if the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information cannot receive even after the lapse of a predetermined third time after the search is started, first, all the frequencies are searched. If the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information cannot be received even after shifting to the search, the predetermined fourth
Is an automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting in which a full frequency search is performed after a predetermined period of.

[0011]

Since the automatic radio broadcasting channel selection method according to the present invention employs the above-described technical configurations, the mode is forcibly switched to a specific broadcast program, for example, the TP mode for receiving traffic information. When switching (when EON),
Since it can be configured to always receive the highest station in the AF list, it is possible to greatly reduce the tuning time, and shorten the unreceivable state that occurs in a long tunnel, etc. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of
In the past, even if the received data was corrupted or changed, there was an adverse effect that it was not possible to easily return to the original receiving station after shifting to another broadcasting station by the channel selection search. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting, which is configured so as not to cause harmful effects.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific example of a radio broadcasting automatic channel selection method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of a radio receiver for executing the automatic radio broadcast channel selection method according to the present invention. In the figure, the vehicle-mounted radio receiver 1 is
The reception signal received by the antenna 2 is input to the detection circuit 4 via the front end circuit 3 and demodulated into a voice signal and a data signal.

The demodulated audio signal is a low frequency amplifier 5
Is transmitted to the speaker 6 to be sonicated. on the other hand,
The data signal demodulated by the detection circuit 4 is R including a decoder such as a PI code, an AF code, a PTY code or the like.
The RDS decoder 11 is input to the DS decoder 11
The various data signals decoded in (4) are input to the arithmetic processing circuit 14 including a microcomputer and the arithmetic processing is executed according to a predetermined algorithm.

The microcomputer 14 is provided with a key matrix 18 for inputting a predetermined operation, and the PI code list and the AF code list are generated in accordance with arithmetic processing instructions input through the key matrix 18. , P
Predetermined data is read from the storage means 17 containing a TY code list, a PS code list, etc., and predetermined arithmetic processing is performed from various data input from the RDS decoder. As a result, in the front end circuit 3, This is to execute a predetermined tuning operation.

Further, the front-end circuit 3 is connected to an electric field strength measuring circuit 15 for measuring the electric field strength of the received radio wave of the broadcasting station.
It is configured to input the result of measurement in the microcomputer 14, and the microcomputer 14 compares the electric field strength with the electric field strength of the broadcasting station currently being received, and Comparing with the electric field strength of the broadcasting station, the arithmetic processing is performed so as to select the broadcasting station which is outputting the radio wave having the strongest electric field strength.

The calculation result can be displayed on an appropriate display means 19 as required. In the figure, 7 is a bandpass filter that removes the sound modulation signal and noise signal included in the composite signal output from the detection circuit 4 and extracts only the modulation signal around 57 KHz.
Is a decoder that converts the demodulated data into 8-bit serial data.

Further, 16 is a PLL circuit normally provided in a conventional radio receiver. FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an operating procedure when executing each aspect of the automatic radio broadcast channel selection method according to the present invention. First, in the conventional radio broadcast automatic channel selection method in a general RDS system, as described above, in the electric field strength measuring circuit 15, the state of the radio wave in the currently receiving broadcast station. However, if the normal network follow operation (NF operation) starts when the reception becomes weak or the reception becomes impossible, in step (1), the same or similar broadcast program as the broadcast program currently being received. The frequencies of the other broadcasting stations broadcasting the program are sequentially selected from the above-mentioned AF code list in the order of the preset code list, and in step (2), the radio waves of the respective broadcasting stations are selected. When the broadcasting station which is outputting the radio wave with the highest electric field strength is selected by comparing the electric field strength in the electric field strength with the electric field strength of the broadcasting station currently receiving, the process proceeds to step (3), Detected It is determined whether or not the frequency of the broadcasting station having the maximum electric field strength matches the above-mentioned PI code list, and if the matching is confirmed, the process proceeds to step (4) to receive the radio broadcast of the frequency. To do so.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the automatic radio broadcast channel selection method by the RDS system, the traffic information is received after the NF operation of FIG. 2 is started. At the time of EON to shift to the forced TP search, the conventional method is configured to automatically receive the first station on the data in the AF code list, that is, the operator preliminarily sets the first station. Since the broadcasting station decided in the order is selected, it is often different from the actual top station at that time, so there was a drawback that a proper reception state could not be obtained. On the other hand, in the first aspect of the present invention, at the time of the above EON operation, in the step (5), the normal mode is changed to the TP mode,
In step (6), the AF code lists arranged side by side in the PI code list are exhaustively searched to find the one having the maximum electric field strength, and in step (7), the maximum value of the electric field strength. Is configured to be selected as the highest station, and it is possible to receive the traffic information program in the optimum reception state in a short time.

That is, in the automatic radio broadcasting channel selection method according to the present invention, the respective codes of a plurality of broadcasting stations that broadcast only information including the predetermined specific contents are stored. The electric field strength at that time is detected for each broadcasting station corresponding to the code stored in the data list, and the electric field strength is the highest among the detected broadcasting stations. The broadcasting station with the highest number is recognized as the highest station, and the broadcasting of the broadcasting station recognized with the highest degree is received.

In the AF search according to the present invention, for example, three beep sounds are generated and muted for a predetermined period, and the AF search is instantaneously executed within the mute period. There is no discomfort when switching to traffic information. Next, during the processing steps (1) to (3) of the above-described conventional automatic radio broadcasting channel selection method, for example, when a long tunnel is entered, the reception condition deteriorates and at the same time reception is possible. When the number of broadcasting stations is extremely reduced, first, the operations of step (1) and step (2) are repeatedly executed, and in step (8), the above operation is repeated for a predetermined period, for example, 1 minute. If there is no receivable broadcasting station, the process proceeds to step (9) to execute a so-called full frequency search (referred to as PI search), and in step (10), a receivable broadcasting station is selected. If there is a frequency, it is configured to receive it, but as mentioned above, if at least one minute, there will always be a state in which no reception is possible despite the presence of other receivable broadcasting stations. There was a problem to say.

Therefore, in the second aspect of the automatic radio broadcasting channel selection method according to the present invention, in order to prevent and improve such a defect, information containing predetermined specific contents or the information When it is desired to listen to a radio broadcast relating to similar information, in the step (11) after the step (2), a state in which the radio broadcast that has been received up to now cannot be received at all for a predetermined first period, for example, 5 seconds. , It is judged whether or not it is continuously continued, and if YES, step (12)
Proceed to step (13), and access the data list AF code list that stores the respective codes of a plurality of broadcasting stations that broadcast only the information containing the predetermined specific content, and in step (13), The code stored in the data list is searched to find the broadcasting station showing the maximum value of the electric field strength at that time, and step (1
In 4), it is judged whether or not the frequency of the broadcasting station showing the maximum value of the detected electric field strength matches the data included in the PI code list. In (15), the broadcasting station is configured to receive the highest station, and in step (13), the broadcasting station showing the maximum value of the electric field strength at that time is not detected. To step (16), if the broadcasting station showing the maximum value of the electric field strength is not detected for a predetermined second period, for example, 30 seconds, the process returns to step (9) and all It is configured to perform a frequency PI search.

Therefore, in the present invention, as in the conventional case,
The problem that an unreceivable state occurs for a long time despite the existence of another receivable broadcasting station is solved. Further, in such a conventional RDS system, when a specific broadcast program is designated and received, for example, when only traffic information is desired to be received (set to the TP mode), a predetermined key is pressed and the TP is pressed. The mode is set, but in the past, in the TP mode, if a broadcasting station that broadcasts appropriate traffic information cannot be found as a result of the search for 20 seconds (that is, if there is no TP data), a full frequency search is performed. , The operation of selecting the broadcasting station that is broadcasting the traffic information is executed (TP search), but if you are under the overpass of the road or in the shadow of a building, or if you stop, you may have to wait for a signal at the place where the multipath occurs. In this case, if the TP data collapses or changes, there is a problem that it is impossible to return to the original net station after moving to another net station and receiving traffic information. LA in the present invention In the third aspect of the automatic broadcasting selection method, in the case where the radio broadcast relating to the information including the predetermined specific content or information similar thereto is traffic information, the step ( 1) In the case where the TP mode is set after the subsequent search is started, the traffic information is broadcast even if a predetermined third time, for example, 1 minute (60 seconds) has elapsed. If the broadcasting station you are using cannot receive, go to step (1
In 8), first, the above-mentioned full-frequency PI code search is performed, and in step (19), it is judged whether or not there is TP code data regarding a broadcasting station broadcasting receivable traffic information. If YES in step (19), the process proceeds to step (20) to receive the broadcasting station. However, if NO in step (19), the process proceeds to step (21) to proceed to the fourth step. A predetermined period, for example 20
It is determined whether or not seconds have passed, and if YES, the process proceeds to step (22) to execute the compulsory full frequency TP code search, and in step (23), This is to select and receive the broadcast of a broadcasting station having the maximum electric field strength in different stations broadcasting traffic information.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the full frequency search is first performed and the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information still cannot receive the predetermined frequency, it is determined in advance. After the elapse of the fourth predetermined period, the full frequency TP
Since the process shifts to the search, there is no need to return to the original receiving station, and the conventional problem can be solved.

[0024]

In the automatic radio broadcasting channel selection method according to the present invention, since the above-described configuration is adopted, a mode for forcibly switching to a specific broadcast program, for example, a TP mode for receiving traffic information. When switching to (EON
Since it can be configured to always receive the highest station in the AF list, it is possible to greatly reduce the tuning time and shorten the unreceivable state that occurs in a long tunnel. , It is possible to prevent the occurrence of discomfort,
Furthermore, conventionally, even if the received data is corrupted or changed, after the channel is switched to another broadcasting station by the tuning search,
Although there was a bad effect that it would not be possible to easily return to the original receiving station, it will be possible to provide an automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasts configured so as not to have such a bad effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a radio receiver used in an automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of an automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting according to the present invention.

[Description of Codes] 1 ... Radio receiver 2 ... Antenna 3 ... Front end 4 ... Detection circuit 5 ... Amplification circuit 6 ... Speaker 7 ... Bandpass filter 8 ... Decoder 11 ... RDS decoder 14 ... Microcomputer 15 ... Field strength measurement circuit 16 ... PLL circuit 17 ... storage circuit 18 ... key matrix 19 ... display means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When selecting a predetermined broadcasting station in a radio broadcast in which a data signal representing a plurality of types of information is transmitted together with an audio signal, information containing predetermined specific contents or similar information. If you want to listen to a radio broadcast related to the specified information, access the data list that stores the codes of each of the multiple broadcasting stations that broadcast only the information that includes the predetermined specific content, and store it in the data list. For each broadcast station corresponding to the code being detected, the electric field strength at that time is detected, and among the detected broadcast stations, the broadcast station with the highest electric field strength is recognized as the highest station, An automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting, characterized in that the broadcasting of the broadcasting station recognized at the highest level is received. 2. The automatic radio broadcast channel selection method according to claim 1, wherein the channel selection operation is executed within a mute period. 3. When selecting a predetermined broadcasting station in a radio broadcast in which a data signal representing a plurality of types of information is transmitted together with an audio signal, information containing predetermined specific contents or similar information. If you want to listen to a radio broadcast related to the information that has been received, and if the radio broadcast that you have been receiving until now cannot be received at all for a prescribed first period, continue Configured to access the data list that stores the codes of multiple broadcasting stations that broadcast only the information that they contain, search the codes stored in the data list, and receive the highest-level station. Then, the relevant search is performed according to the specified second
The automatic tuning method for radio broadcasting, characterized in that if a receivable broadcasting station cannot be received even if the search is continuously executed for a period of, a search targeting all frequencies is executed. 4. When selecting a predetermined broadcasting station in a radio broadcast in which a data signal representing a plurality of kinds of information is transmitted together with an audio signal, information containing predetermined specific contents or similar information. If you want to listen to a radio broadcast related to the specified information, or if the radio broadcast related to the information that contains the specified specific content or information similar to it is traffic information, it is set in advance after the search is started. If the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information cannot receive even after the lapse of the predetermined third time period, first shift to the full frequency search, and the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information still An automatic channel selection method for radio broadcasting, characterized in that, when it cannot be received, a full frequency search for traffic information is performed after a lapse of a fourth predetermined period.