JPH09205497A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a rich expression by sending prescribed message data consisting of a prescribed numeral string through a public line in a form of DTMF signals and giving a message decoded at a receiver side to a television receiver so as to effectively utilize existing media. SOLUTION: A ten-key or the like of a pushphone at a transmitter side uses to enter a desired message to a telephone set 3 as a DTMF tone and it is sent via a public line 12. An NCU 50 of a receiver side information display device 11a identifies the signal not to be a usual voice signal and gives it to a CPU 54 via a modem 51. The CPU 54 references a decoding code table in a ROM 53 to convert the signal into a message, which is stored in a RAM 52. Based on a user command from an operation entry section 57a, the message read from the RAM 52 is sent to a television receiver as an RF signal 100 from an antenna 59 via an NTSC encoder 55 and an RF modulator 56, in which the signal is outputted as an image and an audio signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display device, and more particularly to an information display device which can easily realize transmission of a message having rich expressive power by using a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, telephones, fax machines, etc. are used as means for sending messages from homes and offices to general households such as homes.
There are personal computer communications, etc., and these means can be used even when you are away from home (in the case of a telephone, you need to use one that has an answering machine). As for the method of expressing the message to be transmitted, voice is mainly used for telephones, characters and figures are used for FAX, and characters are mainly used for personal computer communication. Also, the phone is the easiest from the viewpoint of ease of sending messages,
Moreover, the number of installed units is large, and it is easy to find even on the go. However, from the viewpoint of expressiveness, only voice can be sent by telephone. On the other hand, FAX and personal computer communication are superior in terms of expressiveness because they can send text and graphics, but they are less popular than telephones, and the FAX and personal computer communication can be done on the go. It is difficult to find equipment that can As mentioned above, telephone and FA
There are advantages and disadvantages to X and personal computer communication. Therefore, there is a demand for a communication means that can easily send a message, is rich in expressiveness, and can be easily used on the go.

At present, simple communication having a function of correlating a DTMF signal with a character or the like and transmitting the same using a public telephone line (PSTN) and displaying the character or the like on the display of the receiver of the other party. There are also devices, but this is not very advantageous considering the diffusion rate because both the transmitting side and the receiving side must have the same dedicated communication device.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information display device capable of easily realizing transmission of a message having rich expressive power.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a DTMF signal corresponding to a numerical sequence indicating predetermined message data, which is transmitted using a public telephone line. An information display device for receiving the DTMF signal, decoding the numeric sequence to reproduce the predetermined message data, and converting the reproduced predetermined message data into a television signal. And a television signal output means for outputting the television signal to a television receiver.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information display apparatus according to the first aspect, the television signal output means outputs the television signal as an RF signal. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information display apparatus according to the first aspect, the television signal output means outputs the television signal as a video signal. .

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the information display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a use state of an information display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a general television receiver, 11a is an information display device according to the present invention, and a telephone. The DTMF signal transmitted from 13 through the public line (PSTN) 12 is decoded into message data such as characters, images and voices, the decoded message data is converted into an NTSC signal, and the NTSC signal is received by the television receiver. RF (radio frequency)
)Send. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information display device 11a shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, reference numeral 50 is an NCU (Network Control Unit) unit for connecting the telephone line 12 by switching between a modem 51 and a telephone (not shown). .
The ROM 53 stores data that the CPU 54 refers to when decoding the input DTMF signal into message data. The decoded message data is stored in the RAM 52. Further, 55 is an NTSC encoder for converting the decoded message data into an NTSC signal, and 56 is an RF modulator for outputting the output signal of the NTSC encoder 55 as an RF signal 100 via an antenna 59. Further, 57a is an operation input section 57 for permitting reception of a DTMF signal input through the public telephone line 12, an instruction for reproducing a message stored in the RAM 52, an instruction order for reproduction at that time, and the like.
b is the interface part. In addition, 58
a is an incoming message data or the operation input unit 57.
Reference numeral 58b denotes a display interface, which is a status display unit that displays the instruction content and the like input from a using an LED element or the like.

Next, the operation will be described. On the sending side, the message to be sent is a numeric keypad of a touch-tone phone or a PDA (Pe
rsonal Digital Assistant: A message to be sent is input to the telephone 13 as a DTMF sound using a portable information terminal. As a message representation method, in the case of characters,
Frequently used words (fixed sentences) can be defined as fixed values, and Kanji, numbers, alphabets, katakana, and hiragana (free words) can be freely entered. In the case of images, still images, simple videos, backgrounds can be used. Define images such as images (fixed images) as fixed values, or allow handwritten images (free images) to be input freely. In the case of sounds, fixed sounds such as BGM and onomatopoeia (explosive sound, whistle, etc.) are defined as fixed values, and note information is set to MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Inte
rface) is used to create something (free sound) or the voice itself (live sound).

In addition, as a message input method (rule), a code for identification is provided so that these types can be distinguished for a character, an image, and a sound message, and the character is a fixed sentence. As with pagers, etc., it is possible to associate a number string in a certain character, and in the case of a free word, change the number of digits from the case of the above fixed sentence so as to correspond to a number string in a character. . As for images, in the case of a fixed image, a number string in a certain image pattern is made to correspond, and in the case of a free image, a code system unique to image data is used for an image created using a drawing function such as PDA. Correspond to the numeric string. For sounds, in the case of fixed sounds, it corresponds to a number string in a certain fixed sound, in the case of free sounds, it corresponds to a number string with its own code system, and for voice, it is a code system unique to voice. To correspond by inputting the voice signal itself after inputting a certain voice input code.

The message coded as described above is displayed on the information display device 11a via the public telephone line 12 by the DTM.
It is input as an F signal, the NCU section 50 determines that this is not a normal voice signal, and the telephone line 1 is connected to the modem 51.
2 is connected. The modem 51 converts the received signal into a digital signal and outputs it, and the CPU 54 converts the digital signal into a message based on the decoding code table stored in the ROM 53. The converted message is temporarily stored in the RAM 52, and is read by receiving an instruction from the user via the operation input unit 57a. The read message is sent to the NTSC encoder 55 at the subsequent stage and is sent to NTSC.
The signal is converted into a signal, input to the RF modulator 56, output as an RF signal 100 of a predetermined frequency via the antenna 59, and received by the television receiver 10. The television receiver 10 displays the received message signal on the screen, and if there is a sound message, sounds it from the built-in speaker or the like. Information display device 1 at this time
The operation state of 1a is displayed by the state display unit 58a so that the recipient can understand it. In addition, the status display section 58
The a has a message notification function or the like in which the LED is turned on or blinks when a message arrives and is turned off when reading is completed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the DTMF signal corresponding to the numerical value sequence indicating the predetermined message data transmitted using the public telephone line is received, and the numerical value sequence is decoded. Decoding means for reproducing the predetermined message data, an NTSC encoder 55 for converting the reproduced predetermined message data into an NTSC signal, and an RF modulator 56 for outputting the NTSC signal as an RF signal to a television receiver.
With the configuration that includes and, the public telephone line 1
2, the DTMF signal corresponding to the numerical value sequence indicating the predetermined message data such as characters and images transmitted using 2 can be reproduced by the television receiver 10 as characters and images, and a message with rich expressiveness can be transmitted. Can be easily implemented using public telephone lines with a high penetration rate. Further, since the configuration is such that the telephone line is connected in the form of an adapter, there is an advantage that existing media can be effectively used.

Embodiment 2 FIG. Next, an information display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
2 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of an information display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a general television receiver, 11b is an information display device according to the present invention, and a telephone. 13 to public line (PSTN) 1
The DTMF signal transmitted via 2 is decoded into message data of characters, images, voices, etc., and the decoded message data is converted into an NTSC signal.
The signal is output as a video signal to the television receiver 10. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information display device 11b shown in FIG. 2. In the figure, the same symbols as those in FIG. 5 are the same or corresponding parts. Reference numeral 55a is a video signal output terminal for outputting the output of the NTSC encoder 55 as a video signal, and the video signal output terminal and the video signal input terminal of the television receiver are wire-connected.

Next, the operation will be described. The operation on the transmitting side is exactly the same as that in the first embodiment, and therefore its explanation is omitted here. The DTMF signal input to the information display device 11b is determined by the NCU unit 50 that it is not a normal voice signal and is connected to the modem 51. The modem 51 converts the received signal into a digital signal and outputs it, and the CPU 54 converts the digital signal into a message based on the decoding code table stored in the ROM 53. The converted message is temporarily stored in the RAM 52, and is read by receiving an instruction from the user via the operation input unit 57a. The read message is converted into an NTSC signal by the NTSC encoder 55 in the subsequent stage, is output as a video signal from the video signal output terminal 55a, and is input via a video signal line 101 to a video signal input terminal (not shown) of the television receiver 10. Is input to the television receiver 10. In the television receiver 10, the message signal input from the video signal input terminal is displayed on the screen, and if there is a sound message, it is output from the built-in speaker or the like. The operating state of the information display device 11b at this time is displayed by the state display section 58a so that the recipient can understand it. In addition, this status display unit 5
The LED 8a has a message notification function or the like in which the LED is turned on or blinks when a message arrives and is turned off when reading is completed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the DTMF signal corresponding to the numerical value sequence indicating the predetermined message data transmitted using the public telephone line is received and the numerical value sequence is decoded. Decoding means for reproducing the predetermined message data, an NTSC encoder 55 for converting the reproduced predetermined message data into an NTSC signal, and a video signal output for outputting the NTSC signal as a video signal to a television receiver. Since the terminal 55a is provided, the transmission is performed using the public telephone line 12 from the outside as in the first embodiment.
A DTMF signal corresponding to a numerical value string indicating a predetermined message data such as characters and images can be reproduced as characters and images by the television receiver 10, and transmission of expressive messages can be performed easily and at a high penetration rate. It can be realized using expensive public telephone lines. Further, since the configuration is such that the telephone line is connected in the form of an adapter, there is an advantage that existing media can be effectively used.

Although the information display devices of the above-described first and second embodiments are configured to include either the RF modulator or the video signal output terminal, this is the same as the modification shown in FIG. , An RF modulator, and a video signal output terminal may be provided. With this configuration, when the information display device 11c can be installed close to the television receiver, the information display device and the television receiver are connected by wire using the video signal output terminal 55a. When the device 11c is installed separately from the television receiver, the RF modulator 56 is used to wirelessly transmit the message data to the television receiver. Can be used.

Embodiment 3 Next, an information display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of the information display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the first and second embodiments, the information display device is an adapter type, but in the third embodiment, the information display device is incorporated in the television receiver. In FIG.
Reference numeral 14 is a television receiver having a built-in information display device 11d. The information display device 11d decodes the DTMF signal transmitted from the telephone set 13 through the public line (PSTN) 12 into message data such as characters, images and voices,
The decoded message data is converted into an NTSC signal and output to a television signal processing unit (not shown) of the television receiver. FIG. 8 shows the information display device 11 shown in FIG.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of d, In the figure, the code | symbol same as FIG. That is, the configuration of the information display device according to the third embodiment is similar to that of the information display device according to the second embodiment described above except that the NTSC encoder 55 has
The message data converted into the TSC signal is output as a video signal from the video signal output terminal 55a, and the video signal output from the video signal output terminal 55a is sent to a television signal processing unit (not shown) in the television receiver. It will be input and played.

In such an information display device according to the third embodiment, since the information display device is a built-in type incorporated in the television receiver, for example, the operation input part 57a and the status display part 58a are provided in the television. The existing circuit of the receiver, the display panel, and the like can be used as well, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Embodiment 4 Next, an information display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
4 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of an information display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 15 is a master unit of a cordless telephone connected to a public line 12, and 16 is a slave unit of a cordless telephone. Thus, it is possible to communicate with the parent device 15 via the electromagnetic wave 102 having a predetermined frequency. Further, the slave unit 16 is mounted on a stand 17 arranged near the television receiver 10, and this stand 17 is connected to the television receiver 10 by a wiring 103, and message data is sent to the television receiver 10. Is output. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the information display device is built in the base unit 15, the handset 16, and the stand 17 of the handset of the cordless telephone. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the base unit 15, the handset 16, and the stand 17 of the handset of the cordless telephone shown in FIG. For simplification of explanation, FIG. 9 shows the elements that make up the information display device, and does not show the elements that realize the functions of a normal telephone. In FIG. 9, 150
Is an NCU (Network Control Unit) that connects the telephone line 12 by switching it between a modem 151 and a telephone unit (not shown)
Department. Reference numerals 152, 153, and 154 denote RAM, ROM, and CPU provided in the base unit 15, and 155, 156, an RF modulator for exchanging information with the slave unit 16 by an RF signal, and an RF device. It is a modulator. In addition, 160, 161, and 162 are cordless handsets 1
CPU, ROM, and RAM provided in 6
Reference numerals 3 and 164 denote RF demodulators and RF modulators for exchanging information with the master unit 15 using RF signals, and 165 denotes a slave unit for exchanging signals with the stand 17 of the slave unit. Interface. Reference numeral 170 denotes a slave unit interface for exchanging signals with the slave unit 16, 171, 172, and
And 173 are RAs provided in the stand 17 of the slave unit.
M, ROM, CPU, and 174 are NTSC encoders that convert message data into NTSC signals. Further, 175a is an operation input unit for permitting reception of a DTMF signal input through the public telephone line 12, an instruction for reproducing a message, an instruction for reproducing at that time, and the like.
75b is the interface part. Also, 176
a is an incoming message data or the operation input unit 175.
Reference numeral 176b is a display interface for displaying the instruction content and the like input from a using an LED element or the like.

Next, the operation will be described. The DTMF signal input via the public telephone line 12 is determined by the NCU 150 not to be a voice signal, and is connected to the modem 151. The base unit 15 uses the CPU 154 and the ROM 153 to decode the message and stores it in the RAM 152. When a reproduction request is transmitted from the child device 16 via the RF modulator 164, the RF demodulator 1 of the parent device
56 receives the message, reads the message from the RAM 152, and transmits the message to the child device 16 via the RF modulator 155. The child device 16 receives the RF demodulator 163.
This is received via the slave unit I / F165-slave unit I / F1
The message is transmitted to the handset stand 17 via 70,
The NTSC encoder 174 converts into an NTSC signal and outputs it to the video output terminal 174a. In addition, the operation status and the incoming message status as described above indicate the handset unit 1
No. 7 status display section 176a.

The slave unit 16 has a CPU 160 and a ROM.
A CPU 173, a ROM 172, and a RAM 171 for decoding are provided in the slave unit stand 17, respectively.
7 mainly controls the exchange of signals, etc., but is configured to decode the DTMF signal input from the public telephone line 12 by the handset 16 or the handset stand 17 using these CPU, ROM and RAM. Is also possible.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the message by the DTMF signal inputted from the public telephone line 12 is decoded by the cordless telephone and transmitted to the television receiver. It is not necessary to use wiring between the outlet of the line 12 and the television receiver 10, and the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the television receiver 10 can be increased.

In each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to provide a function of notifying an answer from an inquiry from the sender side, for example, confirmation of whether the recipient has read the message. For example, enter a code (for example, # 00) inquiring whether or not the recipient has read the transmitted message using the numeric keypad of the telephone or the like, and depending on the 16-bit flag (“0” OR “1”) in the device. , Voice information from the voice RAM or unique sound is played. This flag may be linked to the confirmation operation that the recipient has received the message. If there are a plurality of messages at this time, the information display device returns a code indicating that a plurality of messages have been received in response to the inquiry code, and the sender who receives this message returns at the time of transmission. In order to distinguish the message you sent from other messages, send a code that instructs you to check the authentication code etc. embedded in advance, and receive the check result from the information display device so that the message you sent You can know whether it has been read.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the reproduced message data is stored in the RAM, but it may be stored in a recording medium such as a memory card or a tape instead of the RAM.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the message display is displayed on the status display section as a method of notifying the message arrival. However, instead of displaying on the status display section, or in addition to the display on the status display section. Alternatively, a wristband having a vibration function or the like may be separately prepared, and the information display device main body may be provided with a means for transmitting a signal for vibrating the wristband or the like when a message arrives.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of an information display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of the information display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of an information display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of an information display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the information display device according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing configurations of a master unit, a slave unit, and a stand of the slave unit of a cordless telephone constituting an information display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 14 ... Television receivers, 11a, 11b, 1
1c, 11d ... Information display device, 12 ... Public telephone line, 1
3 ... Telephone, 15 cordless telephone master unit, 16 ... Cordless telephone slave unit, 17 ... Cordless telephone slave unit stand, 50, 150 ... NCU, 51, 151 ... Modem, 52, 152, 162, 171 ... RAM , 53, 1
53, 161, 172 ... ROM, 54, 154, 16
0,173 ... CPU, 55, 174 ... NTSC encoder, 55a, 174a ... Video output terminals, 56, 15
5, 164 ... RF modulator, 57a, 175a ... Operation input section, 57b, 175b ... Operation input I / F, 58
a, 176a ... Status display section, 18b, 176b ... Display I
/ F, 59 ... Antenna, 100 ... RF signal, 156, 1
63 ... RF demodulator, 165, 170 ... Handset I /
F.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information display device for receiving a DTMF signal corresponding to a numerical sequence indicating predetermined message data, which is transmitted using a public telephone line, wherein the DTMF signal is received and the numerical sequence is decoded. A decoding means for reproducing the predetermined message data, a signal converting means for converting the reproduced predetermined message data into a television signal, and a television signal for outputting the television signal to a television receiver. An information display device comprising: an output unit. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the television signal output means outputs the television signal as an RF signal. 3. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the television signal output means outputs the television signal as a video output.