JPH10304091A - Internet connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save telephone line use quantity by interrupting a timer which counts time and a communication line that is connected to an internet after a prescribed time passes from a state in which data communication is not performed due to the timer. SOLUTION: A data broadcast processing and internet connecting device 18 inputs a data signal which is extracted from a video signal in a data multiple decoder device 19 and stores it as a character string. The character string is stores as a URL, and if a user designates the URL, he connects to an internet. Also, the internet connecting device 18 reads data from a server that is a connection destination, converts it into an image signal and outputs it to a video signal processor 20. It is undergone various signal processing and outputted through a video signal amplifier 11. Here, a timer function of a CPU that controls the entire device 18 starts to count after packet communication is finished, and a telephone line connection is interrupted when it passes a prescribed time or more.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet connection apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving data on the Internet, and more particularly to an Internet connection apparatus having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving data broadcast.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a system block diagram of a conventional computer for connecting to the Internet. In the figure, 1 is a CRT, 2 is a CPU, 3 is a hard disk, 4 is a graphic controller, 5 is a video memory, 6 is a work RAM used as a work RAM and a video memory for program operation, and 7 is a character for storing a character font. Font memory, 8 a serial controller for transferring data to and from a modem, 9 an input device such as a keyboard, 10 a modem device, 11 a video signal amplifying device, 13
Is a deflection high voltage generator.

In this case, the computer has an OS of W
Equipped with a general-purpose OS such as INDWS, and as application software @PP (Point-to-Point Protocol)
, And browser software for developing images and the like on the Internet on a screen. Also, a modem device 10 for performing data communication through a telephone line is provided as hardware.

Next, the operation will be described. User is $ S
After launching the browser, which is the application software, first launch the communication program at the same time,
Confirm the password with the provider company and establish the protocol. Thereafter, browser software is developed, and communication is started when a user inputs an address of a homepage or the like with which communication is desired, and data communication is performed via the modem device 10. HTML described on the homepage
(Hyper Text Markup Language) and TEXT data are interpreted by the browser software and displayed on the browser. During communication, the computer is in a waiting state until a display indicating that communication is in progress and connection is established with the other party or during data transfer.

[0005]

However, using such a data broadcast, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is used.
ator: a description format for uniquely expressing the position of information on the Internet) and the Internet connection device in the system for transmitting the homepage is configured as described above, so that the same procedure as that for watching data broadcasting is used. If you select a link URL and connect to a telephone line and connect through a link homepage via the Internet network, and once connected, if the user continues to browse only data broadcast information, not information on the Internet, There is a problem that the telephone line is continuously connected and the telephone line usage is increased. In addition, in the case of a user interface in which the operability of data broadcasting and the Internet connection can be operated without a sense of incongruity, the above problem is further promoted.

Further, in the case of such a data broadcast, a page linked in a data broadcast program and a page which reads and displays data of a home page through a telephone line are designed so as to be difficult for a user to understand. In this case, there is a problem in that the telephone line is connected without the user's knowledge, and the telephone line usage or the like occurs in an unexpected state of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has been developed in accordance with the link UR through data broadcasting.
It is an object of the present invention to obtain an Internet connection device that can be applied to a device that receives an Internet homepage from L and saves telephone line usage.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet connection apparatus having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast.
It is characterized by comprising a timer for counting time, and means for cutting off a communication line connected to the Internet after a lapse of a predetermined time from a state in which data communication is not performed by the timer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet connection apparatus having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast, wherein a timer for counting a time and a state in which data communication is stopped by the timer. Means for displaying on a screen that the communication line is connected to the Internet after a predetermined time has elapsed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet connection device having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast, wherein a communication line may be connected to the Internet when an instruction to connect to the Internet is given. Means for displaying on the screen whether or not the connection is established, and connecting the communication line to the Internet when the connection is confirmed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the instruction to connect to the Internet is an instruction to connect to a URL transmitted by data broadcasting.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
The present invention will be specifically described.

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The Internet connection device according to the first embodiment is applied to an Internet television receiver having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast. In the description of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment, the same components as those of the Internet system shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 14 is a tuner for selecting and amplifying a received television signal, 15 is a video changeover switch for switching between an inputted television signal and an external video signal,
16 is a TV system microcomputer for controlling the entire TV system, 17 is a YC separation circuit for separating a luminance signal and a chrominance signal,
Reference numeral 18 denotes an Internet signal processing device (Internet connection terminal unit) for performing data broadcast processing and Internet connection, and 19 denotes a vertical blanking period (VBI) from the composite video signal.
A data multiplexing decoder (data multiplexing signal decoding unit) for extracting the data signal of (i) and performing error correction and decoding the data; 20 is a video signal processing device for adjusting brightness, sharpness, black level, hue, and color density; Is the power supply.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a data multiplexed signal decoder (data multiplex decoder 19) and an Internet connection terminal (Internet signal processor 18). The same components as those of the Internet connection terminal shown in FIG. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping portions will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes a clamp sync separation circuit for synchronizing and separating video input, 31 a waveform equivalent circuit for performing waveform equalization, 32 a data signal extraction error correction circuit for extracting data from a video signal and performing error correction, and 33 a reference numeral. A data register for storing data, 34 is user data or UR
A flash ROM for storing L and the like;
Is a main memory used as a work RAM and a video memory for a program operation; 37 is a program ROM for storing a program; 38 is a character font ROM for storing a character font; 39 is a graphic processor for creating RGB signals at a predetermined timing; Reference numeral 40 denotes a serial controller that performs data transfer with a modem. The graphic processor 39 includes a controller 41 and a FIFO.
(First In First Out) memory 42, timing generator (synchronization generation) 43, pallet 44 having various color information, and D / A converter (not shown).

The CPU 35 controls the entire apparatus, has a timer function, and performs control to cut off the telephone line connection when a set time or more has elapsed without data communication.

The flash ROM 34 is a flash ROM for storing user data, URLs and the like, and may be any device as long as it is rewritable and has a storage function.

The program ROM 37 has a basic OS and communication protocol software such as TC @ / IP (Transm.
ission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and Ρ
Equipped with PP (Point-to-Point Protocol),
On top of that, a browser and mail software are installed as application software.

The main memory 36 is used as a work RAM and a video memory for the program operation.

Hereinafter, the operation of the Internet television receiver configured as described above will be described.

As shown in the system configuration of FIG. 1, a TV signal received from an antenna is tuned and amplified by a tuner 14, and the tuned and amplified signal is input to a video changeover switch 15. The input television signal is switched by the video changeover switch 15 according to the external video 1, video 2 and video 3 signals and the command of the TV system microcomputer 16, and is output to the YC separation circuit 17.

The YC separation circuit 17 separates the composite video signal into a luminance signal Y and a chrominance signal C,
Is input to

The video signal from the video changeover switch 15 is also input to the data multiplex decoding device 19, where the data signal is extracted.
The data signal is captured by the Internet signal processing device 18 as data and stored as a character string.

The Internet signal processor 18 connects to the Internet via a public telephone line via a modem, reads data from a connection destination server, and converts the data into an image signal. The captured character string is stored as a URL.

When the user designates the stored URL, the connection is established without inputting characters.

This image signal is input to a video signal processing device 20, which adjusts brightness, sharpness, black level, hue, and color density, and outputs it to a video signal amplifying device 11.

The video signal amplifier 11 amplifies the adjusted video signal and displays it on the CRT 1.

The TV system microcomputer 16 controls the entire TV system such as channel selection except for the control of the Internet signal processing device 18. The communication with the Internet signal processing device 18 is performed by C
By communicating data serially with the PU 35 (FIG. 2), a signal from an input device such as a TV remote control is transmitted to the CPU 3.
5 to control the Internet signal processing device 18. In addition, the Internet signal processing device 18 returns a status indicating that communication by a modem is in progress.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, information on the Internet is obtained from a public line via a modem, read out by a data line from a serial controller 40 to a CPU 35, and a program or text written in a language such as HTML or JAVA is written. Is deciphered by the CPU 35 and is developed on the browser of the main memory (work RAM) 36 also serving as a video memory using the character font ROM 38.

The display information developed in the main storage device 36 is as follows:
Using a DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer function, the FIFO memory 4 on the graphic processor 39 is used.
2 The data transferred to the FIFO memory 42 is output as, for example, RGB signals appropriately colored by a palette 44 or the like in accordance with a timing generator 43 of VGA.

The data broadcast decoding unit first performs synchronization separation from the video signal by the clamp synchronization separation circuit 30, clamps the signal, and inputs the same to the waveform equivalent circuit 31. The waveform equalization circuit 31 uses a transversal filter and a DC offset circuit to equalize the waveform. Is done.

The video signal whose waveform is equivalent is subjected to data signal sampling error correction by a data signal sampling error correction circuit 32, and the data after error correction is temporarily stored in a data register 33.

FIG. 3 is an example of data broadcast reception display in an Internet television receiver. As shown in the figure, a data broadcast screen and an anchor for Internet connection are displayed. In the figure, the portion enclosed by a rectangle is an anchor for the user to connect the telephone line to the link URL and to connect to the Internet network. If the user specifies this URL, the connection is made without inputting each character. You.

The CPU 35 reads the data stored in the data register 33 via the data bus, converts the data into character data using the character font ROM 38, and writes the bitmap data directly to the video memory area of the main storage device 36. To expand the image data. The subsequent conversion to the video signal is the same as that of the above-described Internet processing unit.

Here, the CPU 35 starts counting by the timer function after the end of the packet communication, and cuts off the telephone line connection when a predetermined time or more elapses.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of interrupting the telephone line connection by the timer function. In the drawing, ST indicates each step of the flow.

First, when packet communication is completed in step ST1, a timer count is started in step ST2.

In step ST3, it is determined whether or not the count value of the timer is larger than a set value corresponding to a predetermined time set in advance. If the count value of the timer is larger than the set value, it is determined that the set predetermined time has elapsed. Step ST
In step 4, the telephone line connection is cut off, and the flow ends.

As described above, the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment is a device capable of receiving a homepage of the Internet from a link URL through data broadcasting. Is started, and the connection to the modem's telephone line is cut off when the Internet connection is not required for a predetermined period of time or more. The amount can be saved.

Embodiment 2 The system configuration of the Internet connection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment. Since the basic operation of the apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a telephone line connection display process by the timer function. The same reference numerals are given to the same processing steps as those in FIG.

First, when packet communication is completed in step ST1, a timer count is started in step ST2.

In step ST3, it is determined whether or not the count value of the timer is larger than a set value corresponding to a predetermined time set in advance. If the count value of the timer is larger than the set value, it is determined that the set predetermined time has elapsed. Step ST
In step 5, a message indicating that the telephone line is connected is displayed on the screen. As the message displayed on the screen, for example, a message such as “The telephone line is still connected.” “Do you want to disconnect the line? Yes, no” is displayed.

In step ST6, when the user determines that the line disconnection is possible (yes), the telephone line connection is cut off, and when the user determines that the line disconnection is not possible (no), the screen display is erased and the present flow is terminated. I do.

As described above, the Internet connection device according to the second embodiment is a device capable of receiving a home page of the Internet from a link URL through data broadcasting, and measures the time by a timer from the time when the device is connected to the Internet and data communication is completed. The system is configured to display on the screen that the telephone line is connected to the Internet when the state that does not require an Internet connection continues for a predetermined time or more, so that the useless telephone line connection state is displayed. It is possible to prompt the user and save the telephone line usage.

Embodiment 3 The system configuration of the Internet connection device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment. Since the basic operation of the apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a telephone line connection confirmation process. The same reference numerals are given to the same processing steps as those in FIG.

First, in step ST11, it is determined whether or not a data communication program such as a data broadcast is being displayed. If the data communication program is being displayed, in step ST12, the user goes to the link URL sent from the data communication program. It is determined whether or not the telephone line has been connected to the Internet network.
This determination is made, for example, by the user selecting the Internet connection anchor shown in FIG.

When the user connects to the Internet network, a message for confirming whether or not the user can connect to the telephone line is displayed on the screen in step ST13. The message displayed on the screen is, for example, "Do you want to connect to a telephone line?
"yes, no" is displayed.

In step ST14, when the user determines that the line connection is possible (yes), the user connects to the telephone line to connect to the Internet network, and when the user determines that the line connection is not possible (no), the user establishes the line connection. First, the above-mentioned screen display is erased, and this flow ends.

As described above, the Internet connection apparatus according to the third embodiment is an apparatus capable of receiving an Internet homepage from a link URL through data broadcasting, and instructs to select an anchor of the link URL and connect to the Internet. When the connection is confirmed, whether the telephone line can be connected to the Internet is displayed on the screen, and when the connection is confirmed, the telephone line is connected to the Internet. Unexpected useless connection of the telephone line can be prevented beforehand, and the telephone line usage can be reduced.

Although the timer function is realized by the CPU in the first and second embodiments, a timer device may be provided separately. Also,
Needless to say, the setting time of the timer may be made variable by the user.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the completion of packet communication is defined as the start of the state in which data communication is not performed. Any mode may be used as long as the time is measured. For example, the connection state of the Internet may be automatically checked at predetermined intervals during data broadcasting, and the control of the first or second embodiment may be executed when a predetermined time has elapsed.

In each of the above embodiments, the Internet connection device is applied to an Internet television receiver having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast. It goes without saying that the present invention can be used for any device connected to the Internet.

Further, it goes without saying that the type of circuit, connection state, etc. of the Internet signal processing apparatus constituting the Internet television receiver are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0057]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet connection apparatus comprising: a timer for counting time; and means for interrupting a communication line connected to the Internet after a predetermined time has elapsed from a state in which data communication is not performed by the timer. With such a configuration, useless telephone line connection can be prevented, and the effect of saving the telephone line usage can be achieved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a timer for counting time and a message indicating that the communication line is connected to the Internet after a predetermined time has elapsed from a state in which data communication is not performed by the timer. Since the configuration is provided with the means for performing the above, it is possible to prompt the user to uselessly connect the telephone line, and it is possible to reduce the amount of telephone line used.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an instruction to connect to the Internet is given, whether or not the communication line can be connected to the Internet is displayed on a screen, and when the connection is confirmed, the communication is started. Since the system is provided with means for connecting the line to the Internet, it is possible to prevent unexpected and unnecessary telephone line connection due to an erroneous user operation or the like, and to achieve the effect of saving the telephone line usage. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the instruction to connect to the Internet is an instruction to connect to the URL transmitted by the data broadcast, the page linked in the data broadcast program includes: The one that reads and displays the data of the homepage through the telephone line is designed so that it is difficult for the user to understand,
Even if the user instructs the Internet connection unintentionally, the user can be made to confirm once whether or not the line connection is possible, thereby preventing unexpected and unnecessary telephone line connection from occurring. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an Internet connection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a data multiplex signal decoding unit and an Internet connection terminal unit of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data broadcast reception display example of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a line blocking process of the Internet connection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a line cutoff display process of the Internet connection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a line connection confirmation process of the Internet connection device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional Internet connection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 CPUs, 10 modems, 14 tuners, 1
6 TV system microcomputer, 18 Internet signal processing device (Internet connection device), 19 Data multiplex decoder device, 20 Video signal processing device, 3
9 Graphic controller.

Claims (4)

[Claims] An Internet connection device having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast, a timer for counting time, and connecting to the Internet after a lapse of a predetermined time from a state in which data communication is not performed by the timer. Means for interrupting a communication line. 2. An Internet connection device having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast, comprising: a timer for counting a time; and a communication line being connected to the Internet after a predetermined time has elapsed from a state in which data communication is not performed by the timer. Means for displaying on a screen that the user is connected to the Internet. 3. An Internet connection device having a data broadcast receiving function capable of receiving a data broadcast, wherein when an instruction to connect to the Internet is given, whether or not a communication line may be connected to the Internet is displayed on a screen. Means for connecting the communication line to the Internet when the connection is confirmed. 4. The instruction to connect to the Internet is:
The URL (Uniform) transmitted by the data broadcast
4. The Internet connection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the instruction is a connection instruction to a resource locator.