JPH0879728A - Video subscribers, station equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve operation by providing a function switching part in a slave unit and providing a specified function in a CATV converter. CONSTITUTION: RF signals from a CATV signal input terminal 2 are converted into a low frequency through a tuner part 4. Video/audio signals are processed, separated, passed through a processing part 7 and connected to a TV receiver 12. In the meantime, separated outgoing direction data are inputted to a data processing control part. When a subscriber selects a service channel prepared by a CATV station side, that is a pay-per-view service channel which is pay CATV broadcast, by using this video customer station equipment, after switching the function changeover control part 19 of a telephone function/converter control equipped in a slave unit part 17 to the converter control, a key pad part 16 for which a partial key function is newly added to a key pad for the slave unit is operated. Signals obtained by the operation are passed through a processing part 13 and transmitted to the master unit signal processing part 9 of the CATV converter 10 by RF radio. In such a manner, the telephone function and video distribution service are received by the same equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video home device for enjoying a video distribution service or a telephone service via a CATV system or a public telephone line network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a basic block diagram of a video home device using a conventional CATV converter and a cordless telephone, and is a pay-per-view service which is one of the conventional video distribution services in the CATV system. 1 shows an example of the basic configuration of a system for realizing the in-house device in the subscriber's house and the communication (information transmission) from the subscriber to the CATV station in order to use the pay CATV system generally called.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a terminal for a general telephone line,
2 is a CATV signal input terminal. 4 is the tuner section,
7 is a video / audio signal processing unit, 8 is an infrared light receiving processing unit, 5
Is a data processing control unit, which constitutes a CATV converter 24. Reference numeral 11 is an infrared remote control unit, and 12 is a TV receiver.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. When using the pay-per-view service in a general CATV system, the CA that provides this service
The subscriber selects a desired program with the infrared remote control unit 11 which controls the CATV converter 24 while watching a menu screen introducing a video database prepared by the TV station, such as a list of popular movies and news, etc. C that manages the system using the line network
They have received a desired video distribution service by informing the ATV station of a subscriber's request, that is, a desired program, using a telephone (coded or cordless telephone, etc.).

That is, the signal from the CATV signal input terminal 2 installed in the subscriber's house in FIG. 3 is converted into an image signal and an audio signal by the tuner section 4 of the CATV converter 24, and then an image / audio signal. The desired program is output to the TV receiver 12 in the subscriber's house through the processing unit 7. Next, when the subscriber wants to use the pay-per-view service, he or she operates the infrared remote control unit 11 to move to a channel introducing a program list of the corresponding service and select a desired program service. .
After that, using a telephone line network, a cordless telephone slave unit 27 and a cordless telephone master unit 25, which are cordless telephones in this case, are used, and a CATV station serving as a system administrator assigns a desired program number and a subscriber's unique number. The desired service is obtained by transmitting the ID number and the like by voice signal. That is,
Information from the subscriber to the CATV station (hereinafter referred to as "uplink") is firstly input to the keypad unit 2 of the cordless telephone slave unit 27.
6, the telephone number of the CATV station is designated, the telephone number data is processed by the handset signal processing unit 13, the data is wirelessly transmitted to the cordless telephone base unit 25, and the ordinary telephone line is passed through the base unit signal processing unit 9. It is transmitted to the CATV station via the terminal 1 for.

[0006] Next, information transmission from the CATV station to the subscriber's house (hereinafter referred to as "downstream") is carried out from the CATV station to the subscriber's house on a downlink control data dedicated channel separately frequency-multiplexed on the coaxial cable from the video channel. CAT in the subscriber's house
By transmitting the data to the V converter 24 and descrambling the data in the data processing control unit 5 to release the scramble signal for preventing unauthorized viewing, it is possible to view the desired video distribution service.

[0007]

As described above, the conventional in-home device has the following problems when the telephone line network is used to realize the upstream information transmission. That is, first, in order to transmit information in the up direction, since the ordinary telephone is used, it is necessary to operate the infrared remote control unit 11 and then contact the CATV station by telephone each time. In order to bother the user and contact the desired program to the CATV station, both the video home device and the telephone must be close to the place where the subscriber watches, and the program desired by the subscriber himself. Since it is necessary to store the code number (or menu number) and the ID number peculiar to the subscriber and make a telephone contact, there is a problem that the subscriber is very difficult to operate when using.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and improves the operability when the subscriber uses the pay-per-view service and the same device for the telephone service as well as the video distribution service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video in-home device that realizes a new service that improves the serviceability so that it can be enjoyed by users and combines the telephone function and video. Also, by providing CATV converter operation and telephone service by the cordless telephone slave unit, a low-priced video home device that realizes a new service in which the operability of the subscriber is improved and the telephone function and video are combined is provided. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

For this reason, the present invention is directed to a CATV which is a video home device in addition to a slave unit signal processing unit for controlling the entire functional unit of the cordless telephone slave unit, a microphone, a speaker, and a keypad. Keypad with additional key functions required for converter control, telephone function and CATV
A cordless telephone handset unit having a function switching control unit for switching a converter control function is provided, a general telephone line terminal, a CATV signal input terminal, and an RF signal as a video signal in synchronization with an RF signal which is a CATV signal. A tuner section for converting into a voice signal, a video / audio signal processing section for processing both of these converted signals, a cordless telephone master signal processing section, and voice data from a cordless telephone slave section,
CATV as dial data and video home device
A data selection processing unit for selecting and determining converter control data; an infrared remote control unit for controlling a CATV converter which is a video home device;
An infrared light reception processing unit that receives and processes the data from the CATV converter control data from the functional unit of the cordless telephone slave unit, data from the CATV station, and data from the infrared remote control unit, and data processing that determines each data. A control unit, a modem unit connected to a general telephone line network which is a data modulator for transmitting data from a subscriber to a CATV station, and a signal for selecting / switching voice data and data from this modem unit. And a switching control unit.

Further, the infrared remote control unit and the infrared light receiving processing section are removed from the above structure.

[0011]

According to the present invention, with the above-described structure, when the pay-per-view service is used by using the in-home device that uses the telephone line network to realize the upstream information transmission,
The operability is improved, and the telephone service as well as the video service can be used in the same device.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a video home device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a video home device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same parts as those in the conventional example of FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 1, the CATV converter 10 includes a signal switching control unit 3,
A data processing control unit 5 and a modem unit 6 are provided. Further, the cordless telephone slave unit 17 is provided with a function switching control unit 19.

R input from the CATV signal input terminal 2
The F signal is converted into a low frequency intermediate frequency through the tuner unit 4 and separated into a video / audio signal and downlink data from the CATV station. The video / audio signal is passed through a video / audio signal processing unit 7. TV receiver 12 that subscribers watch
Connected to. The downlink data is input to the data processing control unit 5. Subscriber CATs using video home equipment
Service channel prepared by V station, that is, pay CAT
When selecting the pay-per-view service channel for V broadcasting, after switching the telephone function / converter control function switching control unit 19 equipped in the cordless telephone slave unit 17 to the converter control side, the CATV For the converter control, the keypad unit 16 in which some key functions are newly added to the keypad for the cordless telephone handset is operated. The signal obtained from this operation passes through the slave unit signal processing unit 13,
It is transmitted to the master signal processing unit 9 which realizes the function of the cordless telephone master unit of the CATV converter 10 by RF radio.
The data selection processing unit 21 determines whether this data is voice data, dial control data, or CATV converter control data.

This judgment can be easily realized as follows. For example, if only the conventional telephone function has a 7-bit data structure, the data structure according to the present invention has an 8-bit structure, and 1 bit of the data corresponds to an information bit of a telephone function or a CATV converter control function. . In addition, when the number of data bits cannot be increased due to restrictions on the circuit configuration, it is easy to achieve the purpose of data discrimination by performing time division transmission.

When the CATV service channel is selected, the CATV converter control data is transmitted from the cordless telephone slave unit 17, so that the data input to the data processing control unit 5 is the data processing control unit 5. Then, the data is converted into data for controlling the CATV converter 10 and is switched to the service channel desired by the subscriber. Therefore, the cordless telephone slave unit 17 can control the CATV converter 10 by the above operation.

Next, when the pay-per-view service, which is a pay service, is used by the subscriber, the following operations and device operations are possible. That is, the subscriber selects a desired program while looking at the menu screen introducing the video database and the like prepared by the CATV station providing the service.
Next, the pay program such as the program and ID number that the subscriber desires
When the telephone line is used as the method of transmitting information in the upstream direction to notify the CATV station that manages the view service,
After switching to the telephone function side by the function switching control unit 19 for switching the telephone function / converter control function provided in the cordless telephone slave unit 17, the keypad unit 16 dials the telephone number of the CATV station to select the desired program. The code number (or menu number) and ID number can be communicated by voice (data).

The above-described series of operations and operations are performed by the CATV.
It can also be realized by a configuration in which the infrared remote control unit 11 attached to the converter 10 and the infrared light reception processing unit 8 built in the CATV converter 10 are provided. Infrared from the infrared remote control unit 11 is received / processed by the infrared light reception processing unit 8 and input to the data processing control unit 5. The data processing control unit 5 performs a judgment and selection of whether the control signal is from the cordless telephone slave unit 17 or the control signal from the infrared remote control unit 11, that is, the upward direction data or the downward direction data from the CATV station. After that, if it is upstream data, the modem unit 6 which is a data modulator for transmitting data to a general telephone line
Is input to In the first embodiment, since the normal telephone function and the modem section 6 are provided at the same time, the upstream information transmission is not limited to voice information transmission using a general telephone,
A signal having a function switching control unit 19 for controlling a telephone function / CATV converter, a data selection processing unit 21, a function for switching between voice data and modem data, and an interface function for a general telephone line even in a CATV system supporting a modem function. Since the switching control unit 3 is provided, the modem unit 6 and the signal switching control unit 3 can easily cope with the difference in the system of the CATV station.

Further, as described above, the signal switching having the function switching control unit 19 for switching the telephone function / CATV converter control function, the data selection processing unit 21, the function for switching the voice data and the modem data, and the telephone line interface function. When the telephone function is not used for upstream information transmission with the CATV station due to the configuration including the control unit 3, the cordless telephone slave unit 17 and the CATV converter 10 are used, and the data selection processing unit 21 is used. By switching the signal switching control unit 3 and the signal switching control unit 3 to the voice data side, the subscriber can use the normal telephone service. By providing the telephone function and the CATV converter function in the same device, the following new services can be easily performed. For example, while watching the video distribution service, responding to the questionnaire survey by telephone with the video, In addition, services such as online voting while watching the video can be realized without requiring complicated operations by the subscriber.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a video home device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
An infrared remote control unit 11 for controlling the TV converter 10 and a C for receiving a control signal from the infrared remote control unit 11.
The infrared light reception processing unit 8 built in the ATV converter 10 is removed. The operation will be described below.

R input from the CATV signal input terminal 2
The F signal is converted into a low frequency intermediate frequency through the tuner unit 4 and separated into a video / audio signal and downstream data from the CATV station, and the video / audio signal is added via the video / audio signal processing unit 7. It is connected to the TV receiver 12 that the person views. The downlink data is input to the data processing control unit 5. Subscribers can use this video home device
Service channel prepared by TV station, that is, pay CA
When selecting a pay-per-view service channel that is a TV broadcast, the function switching control unit 19 for the telephone function / converter control equipped in the cordless telephone slave unit 20 is selected.
After switching to the converter control side, the keypad unit 16 in which some key functions are newly added to the keypad for the cordless telephone handset for CATV converter control is operated.
The signal obtained from the operation passes through the child device signal processing unit 18,
It is transmitted to the master signal processing unit 9 which realizes the function of the cordless phone master unit of the CATV converter 22 by RF radio. The data selection processing unit 21 determines whether the data is voice data, dial control data, or CATV converter control data. When the CATV service channel is selected, the CATV converter control data will be transmitted from the cordless telephone slave unit 20, so that the data input to the data processing control unit 5 will be transmitted by the data processing control unit 5 to the CATV converter control unit 5. It is converted into data for controlling the converter 22 to switch to the service channel desired by the subscriber. According to the second embodiment, the cordless telephone slave unit 20 can control the CATV converter 22 by the above operation.

Next, when a subscriber uses pay-per-view, which is a pay service, the subscriber desires while looking at a menu screen introducing a video database prepared by a CATV station providing the service. Select a program. Next, pay the subscriber's desired program and ID number.
When the telephone line is used as the upstream information transmission method for informing the CATV station that manages the per view service, according to the second embodiment, the cordless telephone slave unit 2 is used.
After switching to the telephone function side by the telephone function / converter control function switching control unit 19 provided in 0, the keypad unit 16
It is possible to dial the telephone number of the CATV station and contact the code number (or menu number) and ID number of the desired program by voice (data). Further, as in the first embodiment, since the modem unit 6 which is a data modulator for transmitting the upstream data to the ordinary telephone line is provided, the information transmission in the upward direction is voice using the ordinary telephone. CATV that supports not only information transmission by modem but also modem function
Even in the system, the function switching control unit 19 and the data selection processing unit 21 for mutual telephone function / CATV converter control, and the signal switching control unit 3 having the function of switching between voice data and modem data and the interface function with the general telephone line. Since it is equipped with, it is possible to easily cope with the difference in the system of the CATV station. As described above, the operability is improved in the second embodiment as compared with the conventional in-home device, and a telephone function and a CATV converter function can be realized by the same device to provide a subscriber with a lower cost device.

[0022]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention provides a pay-per-view service in a video home device using a general public telephone line network as a means for realizing upstream information transmission in a CATV system. The operability when using it can be improved, it can also support a CATV system that supports a modem function, and the conventional telephone service as well as the video distribution service can be used with the same device, and the telephone function and the video distribution service can be used with the same device. With the realization of the receipt of the video, it is possible to realize a video home device that can provide new services such as online voting and questionnaire survey in which video and audio are linked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a video home device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a video home device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a basic configuration diagram of a video home device using a conventional CATV converter and a cordless telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Terminal for General Telephone Line 2 CATV Signal Input Terminal 3 Signal Switching Control Section 4 Tuner Section 5 Data Processing Control Section 6 Modem Section 7 Video / Audio Signal Processing Section 8 Infrared Receiving Processing Section 9 Master Signal Processing Section 10 CATV Converter 11 Infrared Remote control unit 12 TV receiver 13 Handset signal processing unit 14 Microphone 15 Speaker 16 Keypad unit 17 Cordless telephone handset unit 18 Handset signal processing unit 19 Function switching control unit 20 Cordless telephone handset unit 22 CATV converter 28 CATV converter Side transmitting / receiving antenna 29 Cordless telephone handset unit side transmitting / receiving antenna

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cordless telephone signal processing unit for controlling the entire function unit of a cordless telephone cordless unit, a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, and a key function necessary for controlling a CATV converter which is a video home device. And a cordless telephone handset unit having a function switching control unit for switching between a telephone function and a CATV converter control function, a general telephone line terminal, a CATV signal input terminal, and a CATV signal input terminal.
A tuner unit that tunes to an RF signal that is a TV signal and converts the RF signal into a video signal and an audio signal, a video / audio signal processing unit that processes both of these converted signals, and a cordless telephone base unit signal processing unit And a data selection processing unit for selecting and determining voice data, dial data, and CATV converter control data which is a video home device from the cordless telephone slave unit, and a CATV which is a video home device.
An infrared remote control unit for controlling the converter, and CATV converter control data from the functional part of the cordless telephone slave unit, data from a CATV station, and data from the infrared remote control unit are received and processed. Infrared light receiving processing section, data processing control section for judging and processing each data, modem section connected to general telephone network which is a data modulator for sending data from subscriber to CATV station, and voice data And a signal switching control unit for selecting / switching data from the modem unit. 2. A cordless telephone signal processing unit for controlling the entire functional unit of the cordless telephone cordless unit, a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, and a key function necessary for controlling a CATV converter which is a video home device. The cordless telephone handset unit having a keypad unit and a function switching control unit for switching between a telephone function and a CATV converter control function is provided, and a general telephone line terminal, a CATV signal input terminal, and a CATV signal input terminal are provided.
A tuner unit that tunes to an RF signal that is a TV signal and converts the RF signal into a video signal and an audio signal, a video / audio signal processing unit that processes both of these converted signals, and a cordless telephone base unit signal processing unit And a data selection processing unit for selecting and determining voice data, dial data, and CATV converter control data that is a video home device from the cordless telephone slave unit, and a CATV converter control from the functional unit of the cordless telephone slave unit. A data processing control unit for determining data and each data from the CATV station, and a modem unit connected to a general telephone line network which is a data modulator for transmitting data from the subscriber to the CATV station,
A video home apparatus comprising a signal switching control for selecting / switching between voice data and data from the modem section.