JPH1084511A - Internet television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize the connecting state on the screen of the television receiver through a telephone line even when a television signal is received by the reference voltage having an Internet reception function. SOLUTION: In order to obtain Internet information, a modem 16 is controlled to connect a telephone line to a provider so as to set the modem 16 to send/ receive data. Based on the data received by the modem 16, information is sent from an Internet circuit 18 to a microcomputer 14 as to whether or not the telephone line is connected to the provider, the connection is finished, the connection is not made or the channel is in congestion or the like. Then the microcomputer 14 controls an on-screen display(OSD) circuit 15 to provide an output of a character signal in response to each state onto a screen of the television receiver based on the information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet television receiver capable of receiving information via the Internet, capturing the information, converting the information into a video signal, and displaying the video signal on a television receiver. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers), information has been actively transmitted and received using the Internet. Conventionally, information collection through the Internet has been transmitted from electronic mail such as characters to image and sound information.

[0003] Accordingly, recently, the number of users who view the Internet as a place for providing information has increased. WWW (World Wide Web) is in the spotlight as a server that provides the information.

As a factor that has attracted the attention of the WWW server, the spread of client software capable of searching for information using a graphical menu has a great influence. Since this software makes it easier to search for network information, traffic to the WWW server has rapidly increased, and as a result, each user has paid attention as an advertising medium, and many users have used it.

[0005] By the way, in order to view information in the WWW server, client software is required as described above. For example, this client software is available in the Nikkei Communication Supplement issued by Nikkei BP: Internet Handbook for Corporate Users (Issued November 30, 1994) Nos. 164 to 167.
Some are described on the page.

On the other hand, such Internet-based W
The only way to view information on the WW server was for a user with a personal computer to view it using client software.
However, it is also true that many people who do not have a personal computer want to see it but do not need a personal computer. And it is considered that such people want to simply view information on the Internet.

Therefore, as a method that can be easily viewed, it is conceivable to display information on the Internet by using a television receiver in an ordinary household instead of a display. According to this, there is no need to buy a personal computer,
Only a device for receiving and displaying information on the Internet can be built in or externally attached to the television receiver. When the information on the Internet is not viewed, the device functions as a television receiver as described above. It is very convenient for a simple user.

[0008] However, when the information of the WWW server on the Internet is viewed by the television receiver as described above, it is necessary to temporarily connect to the provider via a telephone line. By connecting this telephone line to the provider, various information can be obtained for the first time.

The connection via the telephone line is made via a modem. For those communicating with a personal computer or the like, whether or not the connection is established is determined as follows. That is, since the modem transmits data by sound, the sound determines whether data is being communicated or the telephone is connected.

By the way, if the television receiver has a built-in function for receiving the Internet, it is possible to wait while watching a television broadcast while connecting to the provider. Such features are usually desired to avoid boring.

However, when a television broadcast is being received by a television receiver, the sound of the television broadcast is usually played through speakers of the television receiver, and when a telephone line is connected. In addition, as described above, it is not possible to determine whether or not the connection is established based on the sound output from the modem, since the sound of the television broadcast is output from the speaker because the sound from the modem cannot be heard.

[0012] Furthermore, since a user watches a television broadcast on a television receiver, the user may be engrossed in the broadcast and forget that the telephone line is connected.
In particular, when the provider is crowded and information is not transmitted, there is a problem that the telephone line remains connected and the usage fee of the telephone line becomes high without knowing it.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. Even when a television receiver having an Internet reception function is receiving a television signal, it is possible to establish a connection via a telephone line. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to recognize a state on a screen of a television receiver.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a television signal receiving means for receiving a television signal, and a video signal output for extracting and outputting a video signal from the television signal received by the television signal receiving means. Means, display means for displaying a video output by the video signal output means, audio signal output means for extracting and outputting an audio signal from a television signal received by the television signal receiving means, and the audio signal A speaker that outputs sound from the output unit, and a modem unit that converts digital data into a carrier signal by sound when transmitting, and demodulates a carrier signal by sound into digital data when receiving, for transmitting and receiving digital data from a telephone line. The digital data is transmitted to the modem and the digital data is received from the modem. A data conversion unit for converting the received digital data into a video signal; a video signal output unit for outputting an output from the data conversion unit to the display unit; and generating a character signal and outputting the character signal to the display unit Character signal generating means, and character signal generation control means for detecting the state of transmission / reception of digital data of the modulation / demodulation means and controlling the character signal generation means to generate a character signal indicating the transmission / reception state. An Internet television receiver characterized by the following.

Further, the present invention is the Internet television receiver, wherein the display of the transmission / reception state by the character signal generation control means is performed when the television receiver is in a television reception screen state.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, after the transmission / reception state is displayed by the character signal generation control means, the screen automatically displays a video signal converted by the data conversion means. It is an Internet television receiver.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a tuner, 2 is a VIF (video intermediate frequency) circuit, 3 is a video detection circuit, 4 is a video amplifier, 5
Is a first switch circuit for switching video signals, and 6 is a CR
T (cathode ray tube), 7 is SIF (sound intermediate frequency) circuit,
8 is an audio detection circuit, 9 is an audio amplifier, 10 is a second switch circuit for switching audio signals, 11 is a mixing circuit, 12 is a speaker, 13 is a remote control (not shown) and an operation unit on the front panel of a television receiver, 14 is A microcomputer for performing various controls of the television receiver, an on-screen display (hereinafter referred to as O) for generating an on-screen character signal;
SD) circuit, 16 is a modem, 17 is a carrier amplifier that amplifies a carrier sound from the modem 16, and 18 is an Internet circuit that receives Internet information data from the modem 16, converts it into a video signal, and outputs an audio signal. , 19 are video output amplifiers for outputting video signals from the Internet circuit 18, and 20 is an audio output amplifier for outputting audio signals.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. First, when watching a television broadcast, when a desired channel is selected by the operation unit 13, a tuning voltage corresponding to the selected channel is supplied from the microcomputer 14 to the tuner 1. Then, the television signal of the selected channel is input to the VIF circuit 2, the video signal is extracted by the video detection circuit 3, and the video signal is input to the video amplifier 4. On the other hand, an SIF signal is detected from the VIF circuit 2 by the SIF circuit 7, an audio signal is extracted by the audio detection circuit 8, and supplied to the audio amplifier 9.

When the television receiver is watching a television broadcast, the microcomputer 14 connects the first switch 5 to the video amplifier 4 and outputs a video signal to the CRT 6. Further, the microcomputer 14 connects the second switch 10 to the audio amplifier 9 and converts the audio signal through the mixing circuit 11.
It is supplied to the speaker 12. The volume of the audio signal is changed by controlling the audio amplifier 9. This can be realized by controlling the audio amplifier 9 from the microcomputer 14 under the control of the operation unit 13.

On the other hand, when a channel is selected, the microcomputer 14
Controls the OSD circuit 15 so as to generate a character signal indicating the channel number, and supplies a character signal from the OSD circuit 15 to the first switch 5. At this time, the microcomputer 14 controls the first switch 5 so as to switch to the character signal from the OSD circuit 15. This OSD circuit 15
Can display not only channel characters, but also various displays such as a volume adjustment display and various adjustment mode displays.

Next, the operation of receiving Internet information will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, when the Internet connection mode (S1) is selected on the operation unit 13, the microcomputer 14 changes the screen for receiving a television broadcast to an Internet menu screen and switches the OSD circuit 15 to display a menu screen as shown in FIG. Control. On this menu screen, predetermined information categories (shop information, travel / sightseeing, news, learning, entertainment, local and corporate information, original, search, e-mail) are broadly divided. The appearance of the remote controller 42 as the operation unit 13 is displayed at the bottom of the screen, and the functions of the keys of the remote controller 42 are displayed. For example, a determination key 44 for determining a cursor key 43 for selection and a key 45 for performing various controls of the television receiver are displayed.

When desired information is selected from this menu screen, a menu screen of a lower hierarchy is displayed. For example, if you select travel / sightseeing on the menu screen of FIG.
A selection menu screen for each region as shown in FIG. 7 appears. Then, when desired information is selected from among them, it is connected to a provider which provides the information. At this time, the user can freely switch to the television broadcast screen.
Further, the screen may be automatically switched to the television broadcast screen.

Then, when desired information is further selected from the menu screen by the operation unit 13 (S3), the microcomputer 14 transfers the data to the Internet circuit 18, and the Internet circuit 18 connects the telephone line to the modem 16. An operation is performed to connect to the provider (S4).
If the mode is not the Internet connection mode, the screen for receiving the television broadcast remains as it is (S10).

When the modem 16 connects the telephone line (calls the provider), the modem 16 outputs a carrier sound (S4). Modem 1 as well
The information on the start of connection of the telephone line from 6 is transmitted to the Internet circuit 18 and the information is also supplied to the microcomputer 14. The microcomputer 14 receives the signal and controls the audio amplifier 9 for amplifying the audio signal of the television broadcast so as to lower the volume to a predetermined level. The audio signal and the carrier sound from the modem are mixed in the mixing circuit 11, and the 12 (S5). As a result, even when watching a television broadcast, the volume is automatically lowered and the carrier sound of the modem can be heard.

At this time, if the screen for receiving the Internet information is left as it is without watching the television broadcast, a comment display (including a toolbar or the like) 47 is displayed at the top as shown in FIG. An Internet reception screen 49 in which the Internet is displayed at the bottom is shown. In this state, various tools can be selected and operated with a cursor 46 displayed on the screen, and desired information (provider) can also be selected.

A television receiver can display a television broadcast and an Internet screen as shown in FIG. 5E. That is, the screen is divided into two, a television broadcast is displayed 48 on the left, and Internet information is displayed on the right 4.
9 can be done.

On the other hand, if the user switches to the television broadcast screen after connecting the telephone line, the microcomputer 14 sends a character signal indicating that the telephone line is being connected to the OS.
The CRT is generated by the D circuit 15 together with the television signal.
6 is displayed (S6). As an example of this display, as shown in FIG. 4A, a message 32 "Connecting now. Wait for a while" is displayed at the bottom of the screen 30. In addition, the connection time can be displayed by displaying the timer 31 or the like in addition to the message 32. Then, when the volume is adjusted, a bar display output from the OSD circuit 15 may be performed so that a change in the signal to which the carrier sound and the audio signal are added can be seen.

Then, when the telephone line is connected to the provider, data is received from the modem 16, so that information is transmitted to the microcomputer 14 via the Internet circuit 18 indicating that the connection has been completed (S7).

Then, the microcomputer 14 restores the volume of the audio signal of the television signal so as not to output the volume of the carrier sound (S8). Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the connection time is displayed by the OSD circuit 15 by the message 34 of "connection completed" and the display of the timer 33 (S9).

When connected, the Internet circuit 18
Receives data from the modem 16 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal is supplied to the first switch 5 via the video output amplifier 19, and the audio signal is supplied to the second switch 10 via the audio output amplifier 20.

Further, even after the connection to the telephone line is completed, if the provider is congested, data is not easily transmitted. In such a case, the microcomputer 14 determines that no data is sent while counting the predetermined time, and the message "Server (or provider) is busy" as shown in FIG. 5F. 37 is displayed. Upon seeing this, the user can immediately return to the Internet screen and cut off the line or connect to another provider. This message 37 may be "busy" or the like.

If the connection of the telephone line cannot be established within the predetermined time (the telephone cannot be connected) (S11), the microcomputer 14 restores the volume of the audio signal of the television signal and outputs the volume of the carrier sound. Do not (S
8). Further, as shown in FIG.
5 and display the connection time (S9). As described above, the telephone connection status can be visually confirmed.

When the state of FIG. 4B, C or FIG. 5F is reached, the screen of the television receiver may be automatically returned to the Internet reception screen.
As shown in E, the display may be automatically changed to a two-screen display. It goes without saying that the user may arbitrarily select the operation for automatically returning to the Internet reception screen or the two screens.

Next, a case where the connection status of the telephone line is displayed on the Internet reception screen will be described with reference to FIGS.
Explanation will be made using 0. First, before the telephone line is displayed, various comment display sections and a toolbar are displayed at the upper part of the screen as shown in FIG.
9 is done. As shown in FIG. 8B, the various comment display sections and the toolbar are displayed with a telephone mark and a box display 50 on the right of the comment display section 47, and the various toolbars are displayed below the display. At this time, the picture with the hook put on the telephone mark is displayed, and the box remains white.

Then, when the telephone line is connected, as shown in FIG.
Change to 0. Thereafter, when text data is sent from the telephone line, the text data shown in FIG.
The box changes from white to red as shown in.
When the data reception is completed, the entire box turns from white to red as shown in FIG. 9B, and the user can visually recognize the completion of the data reception.

When image data is being received,
If the above-mentioned box is similarly changed from white to blue, it is easier to understand because the capture of text and the capture of image can be distinguished.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the state of connection of the telephone line can be confirmed even while watching television broadcasting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a menu screen of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a menu screen of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen display example of an Internet reception screen of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a screen display example of an Internet reception screen of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tuner 2 VIF circuit 3 Video detection circuit 4 Video amplifier 5 First switch circuit 6 Cathode ray tube 7 SIF circuit 8 Audio detection circuit 9 Audio amplifier 10 Second switch circuit 11 Mixing circuit 12 Speaker 13 Operation unit 14 Microcomputer 15 On-screen display circuit 16 Modem 17 Carrier amplifier 18 Internet circuit 19 Video output amplifier 20 Audio output amplifier

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04N 5/60 101 H04N 5/60 101

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A television signal receiving means for receiving a television signal, a video signal output means for extracting and outputting a video signal from a television signal received by the television signal receiving means, and the video signal output means Display means for displaying the video output by the above-mentioned, audio signal output means for extracting and outputting an audio signal from the television signal received by the television signal receiving means, and outputting audio from the audio signal output means In order to transmit and receive digital data from the speaker and the telephone line, the digital data is converted into a sound carrier signal during transmission,
Modulation / demodulation means for demodulating a carrier signal due to sound into digital data at the time of reception, data for transmitting digital data to the modulation / demodulation means, receiving digital data from the modulation / demodulation means, and converting the received digital data into a video signal Conversion means; video signal output means for outputting an output from the data conversion means to the display means; character signal generation means for generating a character signal to output to the display means; And a character signal generation control means for controlling the character signal generation means to generate a character signal indicating the transmission / reception state of the character signal generation means. 2. The Internet television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the display of the transmission / reception state by the character signal generation control means is performed when the television receiver is in a television reception screen state. Television receiver. 3. The Internet television receiver according to claim 2, wherein after the character signal generation control means displays the transmission / reception state, the video signal automatically converted by said data conversion means is displayed. An Internet television receiver characterized by being displayed on a screen.