JPH08249312A - Information providing system and information providing terminal used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To optionally set process contents corresponding to key input by an application on the side of an information center by processing a key code inputted at the information providing terminal by the terminal itself or sending it out through the terminal as it is. CONSTITUTION: When there is key input to the information providing terminal 19, whether the key code is to be outputted to a central control unit 9 through the terminal or to be processed by the information providing terminal 19 itself is selected. For example, the key codes of a stop key and a resinging key in KARAOKE mode and even a ten-key, a determination key, etc., in information service mode are sent out to the central control unit 9 through the terminal. Consequently, different processes differing with applications such as a process wherein the ten-key is regarded as the specification of its number as it is and a process wherein the code of the ten-key is processed as a selection number when a specific selection candidate is selected out of plural candidates can be coped with by modifying the program only on the central control unit side 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is an information providing system capable of providing information by outputting information distributed from an information center side to an information providing terminal, and particularly, a request from the information providing terminal. The present invention relates to a system capable of sending to a center side and an information providing terminal used in the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information center for storing karaoke performance data and a plurality of karaoke devices for performing karaoke performance based on the karaoke performance data distributed from this information center are included. A karaoke system called a centralized management type is known. In this centralized control type karaoke system, the request input is accepted by each karaoke device, is transferred from the karaoke device to the information center, the information center transmits the karaoke performance data according to the request, and the karaoke device receives it. Then, the karaoke performance was performed. Further, in this centralized management type karaoke system, there are some which can provide services other than karaoke, such as video games, fortune telling, quizzes, video broadcasting.

By the way, each karaoke apparatus is provided with an input device for a user or the like to input a predetermined instruction. For example, a ten-key pad for inputting a request number, a confirmation key, or a pitch is changed. There are up key and down key for key control. These are pre-allocated for predetermined commands for using karaoke. Therefore, for example, when requesting a song by designating a four-digit number, the four-digit number input using the numeric keypad is given a meaning as a request number in the karaoke device and sent to the information center. Become.

On the other hand, in this karaoke apparatus, it is conceivable that not only karaoke performance but also other additional information services such as weather forecast, fortune-telling information or simple games (bingo games, etc.) can be performed. Some have been executed. In this case, if a dedicated key corresponding to each information service is newly provided, the number of keys increases and the structure becomes complicated. Therefore, the key used for the above karaoke service can be used for other purposes. Can also be used. For example, to enter the date of birth by fortune-telling or select the destination area in the weather forecast,
It is intended to use a numeric keypad or an up key / down key for key control.

In this case, since the inputted number is not the request number of the karaoke piece but represents, for example, the year, month, day, or the number designated from the selection candidates, it is different for each. It is necessary to give a corresponding meaning. Therefore, for example, when each mode is set to be switchable and set to a certain mode, the karaoke device itself processes the command so that it becomes a predetermined command assigned in advance in that mode, or by that process. The content is sent to the information center after the content of the predetermined instruction is set.

However, in order to give a plurality of meanings to the same key in this way, it is necessary to perform processing so as to give a predetermined command corresponding to each case. For example, let's add a new information service. In such a case, it is necessary to process each key input so that the command corresponds to the information service and then send it to the information center.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to directly process a key code input by an input means of an information providing terminal, in addition to processing the key code by the terminal itself. The contents can be sent to the information center, and the processing contents corresponding to the key input can be arbitrarily set by the application on the information center side.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems, Actions and Effects of the Invention] The information providing system according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above problems, stores information and can distribute the information. And information providing means including request sending means for sending a request based on a key input made through the input means, and information output means for executing an external output based on the information distributed from the information center in response to the request. In the information providing system including a terminal, when the information providing terminal receives a key input through the input means, the key code is directly output to the information center side or processed by the information providing terminal itself. Before selecting the request sending means, the request sending means outputs the key code through to the information center side by the selecting means. In the key input, without treatment with the information providing terminal, and wherein the sending the information center in the through.

According to the information providing system having the above structure, when the request based on the key input made via the input means of the information providing terminal is sent by the request sending means, the information center requests the request. The acquisition unit acquires the request and executes the distribution of information according to the request acquired by the command unit. Then, in the information providing terminal, the information output means performs external output based on the distributed information.

Here, the selection setting means of the information providing terminal is
When there is a key input through the input means, it is selected whether the key code is directly output to the information center side or processed by the information providing terminal itself. Then, the request sending means sends through the information center without processing the key input selected by the selecting means to output the key code to the information center side through, without processing at the information providing terminal side. , Sends a request based on the key input.

In this case, for example, as shown in claim 2,
Whether the processing method storage means outputs the input key code through to the information center side for each key code that can be input via the input means in correspondence with the processing mode that can be set on the information providing terminal side, or Alternatively, the information providing terminal itself processes or stores the distinction of the processing method, and the selection means
It may be possible to select a processing method corresponding to the processing mode set at that time.

In this way, when a key input is made, it is possible to select whether to output the key code through or to process the information by the information providing terminal itself, so that the following effects can be obtained. First, simply confirming the inconveniences of the related art, while providing services related to, for example, karaoke performances, it is also possible to provide other additional information services such as weather forecasts, fortune-telling information or simple games. Considering the information providing terminal, if a dedicated key corresponding to each service is newly provided, the number of keys increases and the structure becomes complicated. Therefore, it is possible to use the key used for the above karaoke service for other information services as well, for example, to enter the date of birth by fortune-telling or select the destination region in the weather forecast. However,
It is intended to use a numeric keypad or an up key / down key for key control.

In this case, since the input number is not the request number of the karaoke piece but represents, for example, the year, month, or day, or is the number designating the destination region in the weather forecast, it depends on each. It is necessary to give a meaning. Therefore, for example, if each mode is set to be switchable and set to a certain mode, the karaoke device side must perform a predetermined process so that the predetermined command is assigned in advance in that mode. , Sending it to the information center side does not make sense. Then, the program of the information providing terminal must be set so that a predetermined process is performed in each mode. Also, if a new information service is to be added, the processing program for each key input that becomes a command corresponding to the information service must be set again, which is very troublesome. .

On the other hand, in the information providing terminal of the information providing system of the present invention, when there is a key input, it is also possible to select the through output of the key code. Therefore, for example, in the main karaoke service mode, when the ten-key pad used for requesting karaoke is operated, it is processed as a request number on the terminal side and then sent to the information center. After entering the karaoke service mode, for example, an up key or down key for key control that changes the pitch, or an up key or down key for volume control is not sent to the information center side, but the information providing terminal itself. Then, the corresponding process may be performed. And for other information services, for example, for the numeric keypad and the up and down keys for key control,
It is conceivable to send the key code as it is to the information center.

In this way, the numeric keypad is treated as if only the numbers were specified, and the information center processes it as a number input to specify the date of birth in the case of fortune telling, for example. When selecting a designated one from the candidates, it is possible to deal with different processing depending on the application, such as processing as a selection number, by changing the program only on the information center side. Therefore,
Even if you try to add a new information service, if you set the application corresponding to the information service on the information center side, you can simply send the key code through from the information providing terminal. Can be handled easily.

For example, in the case where the main process is a karaoke performance, in the karaoke mode, the request sent from the request sending means of the information providing terminal is a karaoke piece input through the input means. In addition to the music request according to the request input, there is, for example, a request to instruct to stop the performance or to sing again. In this case, the instruction to stop the performance or re-sing is a request content that can be generalized, such as "stop processing" or "restart processing", regardless of the type of information. Therefore, in these cases, the key code may be directly transmitted to the information center as it is, and this is also preferable when other information processing services other than karaoke are added.

Therefore, it is a general purpose as an information providing system that it is possible to selectively set these two types of processing methods even in one processing mode, and also to be able to selectively set the processing methods depending on the difference in the processing modes. It can be said that it is more preferable when it becomes

Further, an information providing terminal effective for use in these information providing systems can be configured as follows. For example, the information providing terminal according to claim 3,
A request sending means for sending to the information center a request based on a key input made via the input means, and an information output means for executing an external output based on the information distributed from the information center in response to the request. In the information providing terminal, when there is a key input through the input means, the key code is directly output to the information center side, or
Alternatively, the key input is selected by the information providing terminal itself, and the request sending means selects the key input selected by the selecting means to directly output the key code to the information center side. With respect to the above, the information providing terminal side does not process the information and directly sends it to the information center.

The information providing terminal according to claim 4 is the output providing terminal according to claim 3, wherein the information providing terminal can be input via the input means in correspondence with a processing mode that can be set on the information providing terminal side. For each key code, a processing method storage means is provided for storing a distinction of the processing method, whether the input key code is directly output to the information center side or is processed by the information providing terminal itself. The selecting means is characterized by selecting the processing method corresponding to the processing mode set at that time based on the processing method storage means.

Of course, in realizing the information providing system of the present invention, it is not limited to these information providing terminals, and the terminals of the above-mentioned two examples as long as they have the same purpose, action and effect. Needless to say, it includes one using a terminal different from.

According to the information providing system and the information providing terminal of the present invention as described above, the key code input by the input means of the information providing terminal is directly transmitted to the information center without being processed by the terminal itself. As a result, it is possible to set the processing content corresponding to the key input arbitrarily by the application on the information center side, which is a remarkable effect.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the information providing system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 referred to is a block diagram of a schematic configuration of the present information communication system,
2 is a block diagram of an information providing apparatus in an information center which is a component of the information communication system, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information providing terminal which is a component of the information communication system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system 1 of this embodiment is constructed by connecting a large number of information providing terminals 19 to an information center 2 via a trunk line 17. First, the structure of the information center 2 will be described.
Is a communication server 3 that stores a large amount of data in a hard disk (HDD) 33 as a storage means,
A plurality of data providing devices 5 for creating and outputting external output data based on the data read from the HDD 33 of the communication server 3, a compact disc (C
D), a plurality of image devices 7 capable of reproducing moving image images recorded on an image record carrier (not shown) such as a laser disk (LD) and outputting them to the data providing device 5 as image information, a communication server 3, and data. A central controller 9 is provided to control the providing device 5 and the video device 7 to give various instructions. The central control device 9, the communication server 3, and the data providing device 5 are connected to each other by a LAN (local area network) 11.

The communication server 3 includes a CPU 32 as a control means and a hard disk (HDD) 3
3, R that stores the operating program of the CPU 32, etc.
An OM 34, a RAM 35 for temporarily storing data and the like for arithmetic processing in the CPU 32, an input / output interface (input / output I / F) 36, a communication control device 37 as a communication unit, and the like are provided. Input / output I / F 36 is LA
It is connected to N11, and the CPU 32 uses an input / output I / F.
Data is sent to LAN11 through 36 or LAN1
Data can be obtained from 1. Communication control device 3
7 is a host H via a communication line such as a public telephone line
The CPU 32 is a device for executing communication with
It is possible to transmit data and the like to the host H and receive data and the like transmitted from the host H via the communication control device 37.

A large number of karaoke song data, weather forecast data, fortune-telling programs, bingo game programs, etc. are already stored in the HDD 33 with data numbers for identifying each, and as described above, the CPU 32 and the host are stored. By communicating with H, the karaoke song data of the new song transmitted from the host H can be stored. Also,
It is also possible to delete a part of these data according to an instruction from the CPU 32.

The HDD 33 stores data for several thousand to 10,000 songs as karaoke song data.
The karaoke song data for the songs is song number data (corresponding to the above-mentioned data number) that is identification information for identifying the songs.
And actual data for karaoke performance. The substantive data in this is MI which is the information of the accompaniment music.
It includes performance data of the DI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard and lyrics data in which lyrics are converted into data. Although not so configured in the present embodiment, the substantive data may include background video data in which video information corresponding to each song is encoded.

The central controller 9 is a CP as a control means.
A microcomputer equipped with a U91, a well-known ROM 92, and a RAM 93.
F) 94 is connected to the LAN 11 and the video device 7, and is also connected to the head amplifier 13 by the center modem 95 which is a communication means and a request acquisition means. The center modem 95 is capable of high-frequency modulating a digital signal and demodulating the high-frequency signal into a digital signal.

Each data providing device 5 is connected to the head amplifier 13 via a modulator 15 that applies a predetermined high frequency modulation to an analog signal. Also, a video deck 18 is connected to the head amplifier 13 via a modulator 15. The head amplifier 13 can multiplex the signal from each modulator 15 and the signal from the center modem 95 in a channel assigned to each signal and send the multiplexed signal to the trunk line 17 of the coaxial cable. A larger number of information providing terminals 19 than the data providing apparatus 5 are connected to the main line 17, and each information providing terminal 19 can receive a signal carried by the main line 17. In addition, each information providing terminal 19
Is installed in each room such as a hotel or a restaurant. Further, the head amplifier 13 can also relay the signal transmitted from each information providing terminal 19 to the center modem 95. As is clear from this, the head amplifier 13 and the trunk line 17 constitute the carrier device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data providing device 5 is
A LAN interface (LAN I / F) 51 as a communication means for communicating with the communication server 3 and the central control device 9 via the LAN 11, a CPU 52 as a control means, a well-known RAM 53 and ROM 54, a video synthesizing device 55, a sound source 56 and the like. I have it.

The CPU 52 reads the data from the communication server 3 and stores the data in the RAM 53, and all or part of the data is stored in the sound source 56 and the image synthesizing device 55.
Can be transferred to and respectively. If the read data is a program such as a video game program, the processing is executed according to the program.

The sound source 56 can synthesize an analog performance signal based on digital performance data included in, for example, karaoke piece data, and output the performance signal to the modulator 15.
Synthesis and output of analog signals for voice based on various digital data such as synthesis of analog voice signals based on voice digital data sent from the PU 52 or RAM 53 and output to the modulator 15. Is possible.

The image synthesizing device 55 modulates an analog signal obtained by synthesizing (superimposing) the lyrics data included in, for example, karaoke song data and the background image signal output from the image device 7 and input to the data providing device 5. Bowl 15
To the CPU5, for example according to the fortune-telling program
2 or synthesizes an analog video signal based on digital video data sent from the RAM 53,
By outputting it to the modulator 15, it is possible to synthesize and output analog signals for video based on various digital data.

As shown in FIG. 3, the information providing terminal 19
A terminal control device 21 is provided as control means. The terminal control device 21 includes a CPU, ROM, RA (not shown).
It is configured as a microcomputer including M and the like, and can control the operation of each unit of the information providing terminal 19.

The terminal control device 21 is connected to the main line 17 through a modem 22 as a communication means capable of high-frequency modulating a digital signal and demodulating the high-frequency signal into a digital signal. Bidirectional communication with the central control unit 9 is possible through the main line 17. In addition, the terminal control device 21 uses the tuner 23 to connect the trunk line 1
Connected to 7. The terminal control device 21 can instruct the tuner 23 to select and select a channel to be selected by the tuner control signal, and can receive the signal transmitted from the trunk line 17 on the channel. That is, the tuner 23 constitutes the channel selection means. The tuner 23 can demodulate the high frequency signal received from the main line 17 and output the audio signal and the video signal to different paths.

An operation panel 24 as an input means of the present invention is connected to the terminal control device 21, so that the user can
A ten-key (not shown) on the operation panel 24 can be operated to input a request for a karaoke piece, and the number of a channel to be selected by the tuner 23 can be input. Note that this input operation can also be performed using the attached remote controller 25.

The operation panel 24 or the remote controller 25
Inputs of requests and the like by the operation unit and commands and the like by the operation unit 31 are temporarily accepted by the terminal control device 21, but need to be sent to the central control device 9 or the data providing device 5 via the central control device 9. Has a modem 2
2 to the central controller 9. In other words, the terminal control device 21 and the modem 22 constitute the request sending means of the present invention.

The volume amplification amplifier 26 connected to the terminal control device 21 is also connected to the tuner 23, and electrically amplifies the audio signal transferred from the tuner 23 to form a pair of left and right speakers 27L. , Speaker 27R
Can be output to. The speakers 27L and 27R can output audio based on the electric signal from the amplifier 26.
That is, the amplifier 26 and the speakers 27L and 27R form a mechanism corresponding to the information output means of the present invention.

Further, the amplifier 26 can mix and amplify the audio signal from the tuner 23 and the audio input signal input from the microphone 30, and output the amplified signals to the speakers 27L and 27R. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy karaoke using the information providing terminal 19.

Further, a display control device 28 is connected to the terminal control device 21. The display control device 28 is also connected to the tuner 23, and the display control device 28 can display an image based on the image signal transferred from the tuner 23 on the monitor 29 according to an instruction from the terminal control device 21. it can. In other words, the display control device 28 and the monitor 29 constitute a mechanism corresponding to the information output means of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the information providing system 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 referred to here is a flowchart of a main process executed by the terminal control device 21 of the information providing terminal 19, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a karaoke service process executed by the terminal control device 21 of the information providing terminal 19, and FIG. Is a flow chart of the main processing executed by the CPU 91 of the central control unit 9, FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the polling control processing executed by the CPU 91 of the central control unit 9, and FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the processing executed by the CPU 52 of the data providing unit 5. Although it is a flow chart, since these processes are closely related to each other, these figures will be referred to in the following description from time to time. Further, FIG. 9 shows R of the terminal control device 21 of each information providing terminal 19.
Explanatory drawing of the key code processing table memorize | stored in OM, FIG. 10 shows an example of the information service displayed on the monitor 29 of the information provision terminal 19, (A) is explanatory drawing in the case of weather forecast information. , (B) are explanatory views in the case of birthday fortune-telling.

First, the description starts with the processing in the information providing terminal 19. As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal control device 21 of the information providing terminal 19 includes the operation panel 24 or the remote controller 2.
Wait for key input by operation 5 (S10
1). In this key input waiting state, acceptance processing for all keys is performed. If this key is pressed (S
101: YES), number input by the numeric keypad, clearing of the numeric keypad buffer by the cancel key, and confirmation of the request by the confirmation key are recognized (S102 to S10).
4).

That is, if the key input is by the ten-key pad (S102: YES), the key code is put in the buffer (S105), and the enter key is pressed (S10).
3: YES), and proceeds to S107. On the other hand, if the cancel key is pressed (S104: YES), the buffer is cleared (S106) and the process returns to S101 to wait for key input.

In S107, it is judged whether or not the buffer contents are related to the karaoke request, and if the contents are related to the karaoke request (S107: YE
S) After setting the karaoke mode (S108), the karaoke service process is executed (S109). On the other hand, if it is not related to the karaoke request (S107: N
O), after setting to the information service mode (S110),
The information service process is executed (S111). In the present embodiment, it is determined from the key code itself input by the ten-key pad whether or not the key code is related to the karaoke request (that is, the song request number, etc.). The mode may be selected by operating the ten keys, and the request number or the like may be input after entering the karaoke service mode, for example.

Next, the karaoke service processing of S109 will be described with reference to FIG. The information service processing of S111 is basically the same as this karaoke service processing, but the substantial processing after S209 described later differs due to the difference in the modes set in S108 and S110. With this point in mind, the following description will proceed.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the karaoke service process, the terminal control unit 21 waits for polling by the central control unit 9 (S201), and if polling is found (S201: YES), requests the central control unit 9 to make a request. Is transmitted (S202). If it is determined in S107 of FIG. 4 that the contents of the buffer are related to the karaoke request, for example, the song request number has already been input, so in S202, the song number of the request is sent through the modem 22. The data is transmitted to the central control unit 9 to request the provision of data for karaoke performance.

After that, the terminal control unit 21 waits for the preparation completion / channel notification from the central control unit 9 (S20).
3) If the notification is received (S203: YES), the tuner 23 is instructed to switch the notified channel (S2).
04), the start instruction is transmitted to the central controller 9 (S20).
5). As a result, the main line 17 is transmitted on the channel switched by the tuner 23, and the sound based on the performance signal demodulated by the tuner 23 is output to the speakers 27L and 2L.
An image in which the lyrics and the background moving image are combined based on the image signal output from the 7R, transmitted through the main line 17, and demodulated by the tuner 23 is displayed on the monitor 29. At the same time, when the user inputs a singing voice from the microphone 30, the voice signal is mixed with the performance signal in the amplifier 26 and the speakers 27L and 27R are mixed.
Output from

Next, the terminal control unit 21 operates the operation panel 2
It is determined whether or not there is a key input via the 4 (S20
6) If there is no key input, it is judged whether or not there is a notification of performance end from the central controller 9 (S207).
In this way, waiting for key input or end notification, and when the end notification is received (S207: YES), after instructing to switch the channel to the default (S20).
8), S101 of FIG.
Return to.

On the other hand, if there is a key input before the end notification is given (S206: YES), a key code determination process is performed in S209. This determination processing is performed by referring to the key code processing table shown in FIG. This key code processing table is set in advance for each key provided on the operation panel 24, whether it is processed by the terminal or sent through to the center 2 in advance. It functions as a processing method storage means in the invention and is stored in the ROM of the terminal control device 21. To explain the case of the karaoke mode, a power key, a karaoke key, an information service key, and a numeric keypad (0 to
9), the enter key, the key-con up key and the key-con down key for increasing / decreasing the pitch, and the volume-up key and the volume-down key for increasing / decreasing the volume are set to be processed by the terminal, and are set as the stop key. Two of the re-singing keys are set to be sent through to the center 2 side (specifically to the central control unit 9). In the case of this embodiment, since the karaoke service is the main, the key name is determined for various commands for karaoke.

Returning to FIG. 5, if the key code of the input key is sent through to the center side through the determination processing in S209 (S210: YES), the key code is passed through to the center side. If it is sent (S211) or not (S210: NO), a predetermined process corresponding to each key is performed (S212), and the process returns to S206.

This is the karaoke service processing, but the case of the information service processing will also be described. The flowchart is the same as that of FIG. 5, and S209 to S21.
The substantial contents of the processing in 2 are different from the case of karaoke. As shown in FIG. 9, in the karaoke service mode, only two of the stop key and the re-sing key were set to be sent through to the center side, but in the information service mode, Numeric keys (0 to 9), an enter key, a key-con up key, and a key-con down key are also set to be sent through to the center side. Therefore, in the case of inputting with these keys, S2 in FIG.
An affirmative decision is made in 10, and the terminal is not processed by the terminal and is sent to the center side through, as in S211.

FIG. 1 shows how the key input sent through to the center side is used in service processing.
This will be described with reference to 0. FIG. 10A shows a service screen of weather forecast information as an example of the information service, and this screen is displayed on the monitor 29. In this case, as an initial screen of the weather forecast information service, that fact and the regions of the selection candidates are displayed so as to prompt the user to select the region of interest. The user operates the key-con up key and the key-con down key to select a desired region and presses the confirm key to instruct to transmit the weather forecast information of the region. These key inputs are sent to the center side through, and in the information center 2, the screen information of the local weather forecast information corresponding to this instruction is sent.

Further, FIG. 10B shows a birthday fortune telling service screen as an example of the information service. In this case, as the initial screen of the birthday fortune telling service, a display prompting the user to enter the birthday by using the ten keys and the enter key is displayed. The user inputs a number with the ten-key pad and confirms the input number with the enter key. These key inputs are sent to the center side through, and in the center 2, the screen information showing the fortune-telling result according to the input birthday is flown.

In the key code processing table of FIG. 9,
Although the standby state was not explained, it is set so that all keys are processed by the terminal because it is in the standby state. Therefore, S101 to S1 in FIG.
Of course, the processing of 06 is processed by the information providing terminal 19 itself without sending it to the center side.

As described above, in the central control unit 9, the processing for each key is not fixedly decided, but is processed by the terminal depending on the mode (standby, karaoke mode, information service mode) or the center side. It is set whether or not to send the data through, and processing is performed according to the setting.

Next, the processing executed by the central control unit 9 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S301, it is determined whether or not there is a request. If there is a request (S301: YES), it is determined whether or not the request is a karaoke request (S30).
2). If the request is for karaoke (S3
02: YES), and instructs the predetermined data providing device 5 to prepare to play the requested song (S30).
3). Then, when a notification of preparation completion is received from the data providing device 5 (S304), the channel number assigned to the data providing device 5 is notified to the information providing terminal 19 that has transmitted the request (S305). As a result, an affirmative judgment is made in S203 of the processing of FIG. 5 described above, and the information providing terminal 19 switches to the notified channel, thereby outputting the video signal corresponding to the requested song output from the data providing apparatus 5. It becomes possible to receive a high frequency signal of the voice signal.

After notifying the channel number in S305, it is determined in S306 whether there is a start instruction from the information providing terminal 19. If there is a start instruction (S
306: YES), and instructs the data providing device 5 that has completed the preparation to start playing (S307). In response to this performance start instruction, the video signal and the audio signal corresponding to the requested song are output from the data providing device 5. After that, it is determined whether or not there is a key input from the information providing terminal 19 ( If there is no key input (S308), it is determined whether there is a performance end notification from the data providing device 5 (S309). In this way, waiting for key input or end notification, and when the end notification is received (S309: YES), the information providing terminal 19 is instructed to end the performance (S310), and the process returns to S301.

On the other hand, if there is a key input before the end notification is given (S308: YES), it is judged whether the key code is a stop key (S311), and if it is a stop key (S311: YES). ), And instructs the corresponding data providing apparatus 5 currently playing to stop (S31
2) and returns to S308. If the key code is not the stop key (S311: NO), it is determined whether or not it is the re-sing key (S313). If it is the re-sending key (S313: YES), the data providing device 5 is sung. The processing for repair is instructed (S314), and the process returns to S308. Otherwise, do nothing and return to S308.

That is, in S209 to S211 of FIG. 5 described above, since the key codes sent through to the center side are only the stop key and the re-sing key, the processes corresponding to these are executed in S311 and thereafter. Of.
If the request is not karaoke in S302, the process proceeds to S315 to execute the information service providing process. This information service providing process is basically the same as the process from S303 onward, but in this case, the process shown in FIG.
In addition to the case where the key code sent through to the center side in 209 to S211 is the stop key / re-send key, the ten keys (0 to 9), enter key, key-con up key and key-con down key are also sent to the center side. It is sent through. Therefore, these keys are also distinguished and the corresponding processing is executed. For example, in the case of the service of weather forecast information or birthday fortune-telling shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, an instruction is made by inputting a key-con up key, a key-con down key, a ten-key or an enter key. For example, the data providing device 5 transmits the local weather forecast information corresponding to this instruction.
Or instruct the data providing device 5 to transmit the screen information indicating the fortune-telling result according to the input birthday.

Note that the request is accepted in S301, the channel number is notified in S305, and S in FIG.
Each process of accepting a start instruction in 305, accepting a key input in S308, and notifying of performance end in S310 is a polling transmitted by a polling control process executed by the central controller 9 to each information providing terminal 19. Predetermined information is added to the signal, or based on the information added to the response signal as a response. This polling control process will be described with reference to FIG. In this polling control process, first, the terminal number n is set to 1 (S401), and a polling signal is transmitted to the n-th (first after the execution of S401) information providing terminal 19 (S402). That is, the polling signal is added with an address code indicating the n-th terminal and transmitted, and the information providing terminal 19 side refers to this address code to determine whether or not it is the polling of its own terminal. The polling signal is added with information such as "channel notification" in S305 and "performance end notification" in S310 described above and transmitted to the information providing terminal 19.

Next, in response to this polling signal, a response signal transmitted from the n-th information providing terminal 19 side through a predetermined channel is received (S403), and it is determined whether or not there is a song request or the like (S403). S404). If it is determined that there is a request or the like, the request data including information such as the number of the requested song, a performance start instruction, or the key code sent through in S211 of FIG. 5 is notified by interrupt processing (S405). , Next step (S40
Proceed to 6). On the other hand, if it is determined in S404 that there is no request, the process directly proceeds to S406 without performing the process of S405.

Subsequently, in S406, 1 is added to the terminal number n.
Is added (n = n + 1). The terminal number n is the maximum terminal number N (that is, all connected information providing terminals 1
It is determined whether or not it is larger than the maximum terminal number of 9 (S407), and if a negative determination is made, the process returns to S402 again, and for the (n + 1) th information providing terminal 19, S140
The processes of 2 to S406 are repeated. Also, in S407, n
If it is determined that> N, the process returns to S401 and the terminal number n
Is set to 1, and the processes of S402 to S405 are performed again for the first information providing terminal 19. That is, when polling is sequentially performed on all terminals having terminal numbers 1 to N, and when polling is completed for all terminals,
Polling is performed again from the first terminal.

The process shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a process executed by the central control unit 9.
A process executed by the CPU 52 of the data providing apparatus 5 which receives a command from the information providing terminal 19 and transmits data to the information providing terminal 19 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, C of the data providing device 5
The PU 52 (see FIG. 2) waits for a function instruction from the central control unit 9 (S501), and if there is a function instruction (YES in S501), the function to be executed from the central control unit 9 and the data number of the data used for it. Is acquired (S502).
As a specific example, the function instruction in S501 is a karaoke performance, a video composition process of weather forecast information or fortune-telling information, and in S502, if the function instruction is a karaoke performance, the song number of the karaoke song data is the data number. If it is weather forecast information or fortune-telling information, the data number of the corresponding information will be obtained.

Next, the CPU 52 sends the S5 to the communication server 3 through the LAN interface 51.
The data number (song number) acquired in 02 is transmitted, the transmission of the data of that data number (song number) is requested, and when the data is transmitted, this is received and stored in the RAM 53 (S503), The controller 9 is notified of the completion of preparation (S504). As a result, the central controller 9 notifies the information providing terminal 19 of the channel number. Therefore, when there is a start instruction from the information providing terminal 19 (S306 in FIG. 6), the central controller 9 instructs the data providing apparatus 5 to start. In order to give an instruction (S307 in FIG. 6), when the data providing apparatus 5 receives this start instruction (S505: YES), the RAM 5
The data is read from the data No. 3 and the processing for synthesizing the karaoke performance, weather forecast information, and fortune-telling information is executed (S5
06).

For example, for karaoke performance, the CPU 51
Transfers the performance data included in the karaoke piece data to the sound source 56, converts the digital performance data into an analog performance voice signal, and outputs it to the modulator 15. At the same time, the CPU 51 transfers the lyrics data to the video synthesizing device 55 in synchronism with the performance data, and synthesizes (superimposes) the lyrics data and the background video signal output from the video device 7 to generate an analog signal. The signal is sent to the modulator 15 as a display signal. The modulator 15 performs a predetermined high frequency modulation on the performance audio signal and the display signal to apply the high frequency modulation to the head amplifier 13
Send to. Further, in the head amplifier 13, the modulator 15
The high frequency signal input from the device is sent to the trunk line 17 through the channel assigned to the data providing device 5.

As described in the description of FIG. 4, the performance signal transmitted via the trunk line 17 is demodulated by the tuner 23 of the information providing terminal 19, transferred to the amplifier 26, and output as voice from the speakers 27L and 27R. To be done. The video signal transmitted via the trunk line 17 is demodulated by the tuner 23, transferred to the display control device 28, and displayed on the monitor 29 as a video in which the lyrics and the background moving image are combined. In addition, when the user inputs a singing voice from the microphone 30, the voice signal is mixed with the performance signal in the amplifier 26 and output from the speakers 27L and 27R.

In the case of weather forecast information or fortune telling information, the CPU 51 transfers digital data for video, which is created according to a display program for each information or read from the RAM 53, to the video synthesizing device 55 for analog video. The signals are combined and output to the modulator 15. The modulator 15 applies a predetermined high frequency modulation to the video signal and sends it to the head amplifier 13. Further, in the head amplifier 13, the high frequency signal input from the modulator 15 is
The data is sent to the trunk line 17 through the channel assigned to the data providing device 5. Similar to the above, the video signal is displayed on the monitor 29 as a video. Note that a voice signal may also be sent together, and in this case, the voice is output from the speakers 27L and 27R of the information providing terminal 19.

After S506, the CPU 51 receives a command or the like from the central control unit 9 (S
507: YES) The processing corresponding to the instruction such as the command is executed (S508). Instructions such as this command are the stop instruction in S312 of FIG. 6 and the re-sing instruction in S314 corresponding to the one obtained from the information providing terminal 19 by the central control device 9 at the time of the above-mentioned polling. Therefore, if it is a stop instruction, the karaoke performance is stopped, and if it is a re-sing instruction, the performance is restarted from the beginning.

On the other hand, if no command or the like is received within the predetermined time in S507, the CPU 52 determines whether or not the processing such as the karaoke performance executed by the data providing device 5 is completed (S509), and the determination is negative. If judged, S5
Return to 07. If the determination in S509 is affirmative, CP
U52 informs the central controller 9 that the provision of information such as karaoke performance has ended (S510), and returns to S501.

When executing the information service providing process, in addition to the case where the key code sent through to the center side in S209 to S211 of FIG. 5 is the stop key / re-send key, the ten key ( 0-9), the enter key, the key-con up key, and the key-con down key are also sent to the center side through, so that an instruction based on these is also issued from the central control unit 9 to the data providing unit 5. Therefore, the processing corresponding to these instructions is executed in S508. For example, in the case of the service of weather forecast information or birthday fortune telling shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the birth indicated by the input of the key-con up key, the key-con down key, the ten-key or the enter key. An image of the fortune-telling result of the day is created and sent, or an image of weather forecast information of a designated region is created and sent.

As described above, in the information providing system 1 of this embodiment, the operation panel 24 is provided in the information providing terminal 19.
When there is a key input via the key, it is selected whether the key code is directly output to the information center 2 side, more specifically, the central control unit 9 or processed by the information providing terminal 19.

As described above, when there is a key input, it is possible to select whether to output the key code through or to process it at the information providing terminal 19, so that the following effects can be obtained. First, simply confirming the inconveniences of the related art, while providing services related to, for example, karaoke performances, it is also possible to provide other additional information services such as weather forecasts, fortune-telling information or simple games. Considering the information providing terminal, if a dedicated key corresponding to each service is newly provided, the number of keys increases and the structure becomes complicated. Therefore, it is possible to use the key used for the above karaoke service for other information services as well, for example, to enter the date of birth by fortune-telling or select the destination region in the weather forecast. However, it is intended to use the numeric keypad or the up key / down key for key control.

In this case, since the input number is not the request number of the karaoke piece but represents, for example, the year, month, or day, or is a number designating the destination region in the weather forecast, it depends on each. It is necessary to give a meaning. Therefore, for example, each mode can be set to be switchable, and when a certain mode is set, a predetermined process can be executed on the karaoke machine side so as to correspond to a predetermined command assigned in advance in the mode. Need to be kept. Then, the information providing terminal 19 is configured to perform a predetermined process in each mode.
The program of the terminal control device 21 must be set. Also, if a new information service is to be added, the processing program for each key input that becomes a command corresponding to the information service must be set again, which is very troublesome. .

On the other hand, in the information providing terminal 19 of the information providing system 1, when there is a key input, it is also possible to select the through output of the key code. Therefore, for example, in the main karaoke service mode, the stop key and the re-sing key are directly transmitted to the central control unit 9 with the key codes thereof unchanged. In the information service mode,
The ten-key pad, the enter key, the key-con up key and the down key are also sent through to the central control unit 9.

In this way, the numeric keypad is treated as if only the numbers were specified, and the central control unit 9 uses, for example, the birthday fortune telling shown in FIG.
In the case of the weather forecast information of FIG. 10 (A), when selecting a designated region from a plurality of selection candidates, it is processed as a selection number, etc. Different processing depending on the application can be dealt with by changing the program only on the side of the central controller 9. Therefore, even if a new information service is to be added, if an application corresponding to the information service is set on the side of the central control device 9, the information providing terminal 19 simply sends the key code through. So you can easily handle any case.

In the case of the present embodiment, since the configuration in which channels are assigned to each data providing device 5 is adopted, the following effects are also obtained. That is, even if the information providing terminals 19 of the same number as the data providing apparatus 5 can independently enjoy karaoke, games, etc. You can shorten the waiting time because you just have to wait for one of them to become available. Further, it is possible to enjoy television or video during a waiting time or the like when the data providing device 5 has no vacancy.
Therefore, in the information providing system, for example, in an accommodation facility such as a hotel or a restaurant having a large number of private rooms, an information providing terminal 19 is installed in each room or the like, and a central control device 9 or a data providing device is provided in a management room or the like. 5. If the communication server 3 and the like are installed, various information services can be enjoyed in each room. At this time, all of the installed information providing terminals 19 rarely request the karaoke performance and the execution of the game all at once, and the data providing devices 5 less than the information providing terminals 19 can sufficiently cope with the situation. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy karaoke, games, etc. in each room without installing the data providing device 5 and the information providing terminal 19 in a one-to-one manner, which is also excellent in cost effectiveness. Moreover, since both audio and video can be output externally, it is suitable for services such as karaoke, video games, and video broadcasting in which audio and video are paired.

Although the present invention has been described above according to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the data providing device 5
The explanation has been made on the assumption that the number of information providing terminals 19 is larger than the number of data providing devices 5 by adopting a configuration in which channels are assigned for each. However, such a magnitude relationship of the numbers is a main point of the present invention. Is not directly related to. For example, the number of the data providing devices 5 and the number of the information providing terminals 19 may be the same, and they can be applied even in the minimum configuration of one each, and the application on the information center 2 side corresponds to the key input. The action and effect that the processing content can be arbitrarily set can be similarly obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data providing apparatus that is a component of the information center of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information providing terminal that is a component of the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by an information providing terminal in the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a karaoke service process executed by the information providing terminal in the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by the central controller in the information providing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a polling control process executed by the central controller in the information providing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the data providing device in the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a key code processing table stored in the terminal control device of the information providing terminal in the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an information service displayed on the monitor of the information providing terminal in the information providing system of the embodiment, (A) is an explanatory diagram in the case of weather forecast information,
(B) is an explanatory view in the case of birthday fortune-telling.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Information providing system 2 ... Information center 3 ... Communication server 5 ... Data providing device 7 ... Video device 9 ... Central control device 13 ... Head amplifier 15 ... Modulator 17 ... Main line 19 ... Information providing terminal 21 ... Terminal control device 22 ... Modem 23 ... Tuner 24 ... Operation panel 25 ... Remote control 26 ... Amplifier 27L, 27R ... Speaker 28 ... Display control device 29 ... Monitor 33 ... Hard disk 52 ... CPU 55 ... Video synthesizer 56 ... Sound source 91 ... CPU 93 ... RAM 95 ... Center modem

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical indication location H04N 7/16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information center capable of storing information and distributing the information, request sending means for sending a request based on a key input made through an input means, and the information center in response to the request. In an information providing system including an information providing terminal that includes an information output unit that performs external output based on information distributed from, the information providing terminal, when there is a key input through the input unit, the key The request transmission means is provided with a selection means for selecting whether to output the code to the information center side through or to process it at the information providing terminal itself. The request transmission means through the key code by the selection means to the information center side. The key input selected to be output is sent through to the information center without being processed by the information providing terminal side. Information providing system that. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing terminal corresponds to a processing mode that can be set on the information providing terminal side, for each key code that can be input via the input means. To
The input means is provided with processing method storage means for storing the distinction of the processing method, whether to output the input key code to the information center side through, or to process by the information providing terminal itself, and the selection means is the processing method storage. An information providing system characterized by selecting a processing method corresponding to a processing mode set at that time based on the means. 3. Request transmission means for transmitting to the information center a request based on a key input made through the input means, and information for executing external output based on the information distributed from the information center in response to the request. In an information providing terminal including output means, when a key is input through the input means, it is selected whether the key code is directly output to the information center side or is processed by the information providing terminal itself. The request sending means includes a selecting means, and the request sending means does not process the key input selected by the selecting means to directly output the key code to the information center side on the information providing terminal side. An information providing terminal, which sends the information to the information center through. 4. The output providing terminal according to claim 3, wherein each key code that can be input via the input means corresponds to a processing mode that can be set on the information providing terminal side.
Whether to output the input key code to the information center side through or to process it by the information providing terminal itself,
It is characterized by comprising processing method storage means for storing the distinction of the processing method, wherein the selection means selects a processing method corresponding to the processing mode set at that time based on the processing method storage means. Information provision terminal.