JPH11313262A - Television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television receiver having an Internet connection function capable of using an operation use remote controller also as a telephone set. SOLUTION: This television receiver is provided with a tuner 19 that receives a television signal, an Internet processing circuit 14 that accesses a uniform resource locator URL of a computer network connected through a telephone line 2, a transmission microphone and a reception speaker. A voice picked up by the transmission microphone is sent to the telephone line 2 and a voice signal received through the telephone line 2 is sounded from the reception speaker. The transmission microphone and the reception speaker are provided in a remote controller 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a UR for a computer network such as the Internet and an intranet.
L (Uniform Resource Locator)
The present invention relates to a television receiver having an Internet connection function capable of taking in data from an L, converting the data into a video signal, displaying the video signal on a screen, and connecting to the Internet via a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet is a network in which a large number of computers are connected on a worldwide scale, and each computer stores various information that can be read. This information includes e-mails, various programs, homepages, etc., and can be communicated in both directions.

[0003] As a device for connecting to such a network, a personal computer is generally used, but the operation of the personal computer is poor or troublesome, and a personal computer is purchased only for the Internet. For those who cannot do so, television receivers having a function of connecting to the Internet (hereinafter referred to as Internet television) have been developed and are already on the market.

A television receiver having such an Internet connection function is connected to an Internet provider through a telephone line and connected to computers all over the world in the same manner as a general personal computer at least as far as the Internet is concerned. Not only can various types of information be obtained and displayed on a television receiver, but also transmission and reception of e-mail can be performed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of connection between such a conventional Internet television and the Internet.

In this connection example, an Internet television 1 remotely operated by a remote control device 7 is connected to a telephone line 2. Although not shown, the Internet television 1 has a built-in modem. The telephone line 2 is connected to a modem (or terminal adapter) 3 of a provider which is a connection service company, and the modem 3 is connected to a server 4 which is a computer of the provider. The server 4 is connected to the Internet 6 for 24 hours via a router 5 for setting a relay route.

The Internet television 1 has a so-called dial-up connection function of automatically performing a telephone call operation when the remote control device 7 is operated by a user and connecting to the Internet 6 via the server 4 of the provider. I have.

[0008]

As described above, in a conventional television receiver having an Internet connection function, it is possible to display and enjoy an Internet screen. Despite having an up connection function, it does not have a function as a telephone.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is characterized in that a conventional television receiver having an Internet connection function is connected to a telephone line and has a dial-up connection function. Focusing on the object, it is an object of the present invention to provide a television receiver having an Internet connection function in which a remote control device for operation can be used as a telephone.

In realizing the above-described television receiver having the Internet connection function, when a telephone call is received while watching the television broadcast, the volume of the television broadcast is automatically reduced. It is another object of the present invention to make it easier to hear the telephone call sound.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A television receiver according to the present invention accesses television signal receiving means for receiving a television signal and a URL of a computer network connected through a telephone line, and receives data from the URL. And a network connection means for taking in the video signal and converting the video signal into a video signal, comprising a voice input means and a voice output means, transmitting the voice input from the voice input means to a telephone line, The audio signal received from the audio output means is reproduced and output from the audio output means.

In such a television receiver of the present invention, the sound input from the sound input means is transmitted to the telephone line, and the sound signal received from the telephone line is reproduced and output from the sound output means, so that the television receiver receives the sound. In addition to being able to enjoy John Broadcasting or the Internet, it is also possible to make a telephone call using a normal telephone line.

Further, the television receiver according to the present invention, in the above invention, further comprises remote control means for remotely controlling the television signal receiving means and the network connection means, wherein the audio input means and the audio output means are remote control means. It is characterized by being provided in.

In such a television receiver of the present invention, since the remote control means is provided with the voice input means and the voice output means, it can be used as a telephone.

Further, the television receiver according to the present invention according to the above two inventions further comprises a speaker for reproducing an audio signal output from the television signal receiving means, and a volume adjusting means for adjusting a reproduction volume of the speaker. The volume control means is characterized in that, when there is an incoming call from a telephone line, the reproduction volume of the speaker is reduced, and the reproduction volume of the speaker is restored when the call is completed.

In such a television receiver of the present invention, the volume of the speaker is reduced by the volume adjusting means when there is an incoming call from the telephone line. Returned.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of connection between a television receiver (hereinafter referred to as Internet television) 1 having an Internet connection function according to the present invention and the Internet.

In this connection example, an Internet television 1 remotely operated by a remote control device 7 is connected to a telephone line 2. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the Internet television 1 has a built-in modem. The telephone line 2 is connected to a modem (or terminal adapter) 3 of a provider, which is a connection service company, and also to an ordinary telephone 8.

The modem 3 is connected to a server 4 which is a provider computer. The server 4 is connected to the Internet 6 for 24 hours via a router 5 for setting a relay route.

The Internet television 1 has a so-called dial-up connection function of automatically calling the telephone when the remote control device 7 is operated by the user and connecting to the Internet 6 via the server 4 of the provider. I have.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the Internet television shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the whole of the Internet television. The microcomputer 11 transmits an infrared pulse code transmitted from a remote control device (hereinafter referred to as a remote control device) 7 operated by a user. The infrared transmission / reception circuit 13 receives the light and decodes the light to receive the user's instruction.

The microcomputer 11 has, for example, an EEPROM.
A non-volatile memory 2 such as an OM or a flash memory is connected, and is used for storing various settings by a user, a telephone number of a provider, a telephone number of an acquaintance, and the like.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an Internet processing circuit functioning as a network connection means.
It is connected to the telephone line 2 via an NCU (Network Control Unit) 31. When the microcomputer 11 activates the browser software, the microcomputer 11 supplies the control signal S1 to the modem 15 and the control signal S5 to the NCU 31 to control each of them, thereby controlling the provider via the telephone line 2. 4 and the Internet processing circuit 14 connects to the Internet.

When the Internet processing circuit 14 is connected to the Internet, the user specifies a URL, so that the browser software can take in various contents from the URL, and can use an e-mail transmission / reception function. Become. The video signal and the audio signal obtained from the Internet by the Internet processing circuit 14 are input to the switching circuit 16.

Reference numeral 32 denotes an audio signal processing circuit, which processes an audio signal when the remote control device 7 of the television receiver of the present invention is used as a telephone, specifically, an infrared pulse code from the remote control device 7. Is converted and transmitted, and the audio signal input from the infrared transmission / reception circuit 13 is converted into an analog audio signal and output to the NCU 31.
The analog audio signal input from U31 is converted into a pulse code and output to the infrared transmitting / receiving circuit 13. In addition, reference symbols
S6 is a control signal output from the microcomputer 11 to cause the audio signal processing circuit 32 to perform the above-described processing.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a tuner. The microcomputer 11 selects a signal of a channel designated by the control signal S3 from a television signal (TV signal) received by an antenna (not shown). Output to the audio signal processing circuit 21. The TV video signal processing circuit 20 processes the video signal of the signal supplied from the tuner 19 and supplies the processed signal to the switching circuit 16. The TV audio signal processing circuit 21
The audio signal among the signals supplied from the tuner 19 is processed and supplied to the switching circuit 16. Reference numeral S4 is a control signal for instructing the TV audio signal processing circuit 21 to adjust the volume from the microcomputer 11, and the control signal S4 allows the microcomputer 11 to adjust the output volume from the speaker 18. Is possible.

As described above, the switching circuit 16 receives signals from the Internet processing circuit 14, the TV video signal processing circuit 20, and the TV audio signal processing circuit 21, but receives control signals from the microcomputer 1. According to S2, the input signal from the Internet processing circuit 14 is output to the CRT display 17 and the speaker 18 or the input signals from the TV video signal processing circuit 20 and the TV audio signal processing circuit 21 are
Switching between output to the RT display 17 and the speaker 18 is performed, and the video signal and the audio signal are reproduced.

[0030] Such an Internet television 1
The switching circuit 16 is normally controlled by the control signal S2 output from the microcomputer 11 so that the TV video signal processing circuit
20 and the video signal and audio signal output from the TV audio signal processing circuit 21 to select the CRT display 17 and speaker.
18 and the user is ready to view the television broadcast.

Also, under the control of the control signal S2 output from the microcomputer 11, the switching circuit 16 selects the video signal and the audio signal output from the Internet processing circuit 14 and outputs them to the CRT display 8 and the speaker 18. In this case, the user can view various contents selected from the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a remote control device 7 that characterizes a television receiver having an Internet connection function according to the present invention.

Conventionally, this remote control device 7 is provided with a selection button 43 at the right end of the upper surface, a decision button 44 at the left end, and various operation buttons 45 including at least 0 to 9 numeric keys at the center. It is similar to that of The selection button 43 is capable of freely moving the position of the pointer or cursor of the "pointing hand" in eight directions on the screen of the CRT display 17, and when the enter button 44 is operated, the CRT display 17 An item displayed as a picture (including a button-shaped picture) or a character string that overlaps with a pointer, a cursor, or the like displayed on the screen is instructed as a user's selection decision.

By the way, the conventional remote control device 7 of this type of television receiver has the above-described configuration, but in the present invention, the remote control device 7 is provided with the receiving speaker 46 and the transmitting microphone 47. Further, a button (hereinafter referred to as a call button) 48 for making a telephone call with a normal telephone and a call disconnection button 49 for terminating the talkable state are provided. Further, reference numeral 50 denotes an incoming call notification lamp designed for a telephone for notifying the incoming call through the telephone line 2.

When the user presses the talk button 48, the remote controller 7 is ready for use as a normal telephone, and a predetermined pulse code is transmitted from the remote controller 7 to the infrared transmitting / receiving circuit.
Sent to 13. As a result, the microcomputer 11 outputs the control signals S5 and S6, and the NCU 31 can be connected to the line, and the audio signal processing circuit 32 can process the audio signal.

Such a remote control device 7 has a function similar to that of a general cordless telephone, and the remote control device 7 itself can perform outgoing / incoming operations. Specifically, when making a call, the NCU 31 connects the line by pressing the talk button 48 of the remote control device 7 and then pressing the numeric key of the operation button 45 and inputting the telephone number. Connected to telephone with telephone number.

In this state, since the microcomputer 11 has already given the control signal S6 to the audio signal processing circuit 32, the voice of the user is input from the transmission microphone 47 of the remote control device 7 after the line connection, and It is converted into a pulse code and transmitted. The infrared transmission / reception circuit 13 receives the pulse code and supplies it to the audio signal processing circuit 32. The audio signal processing circuit 32 converts the input pulse code into an analog audio signal and outputs it to the telephone line 2 via the NCU 31.

On the other hand, an analog audio signal sent from the other party via the telephone line 2 is input from the NCU 31 to the audio signal processing circuit 32, converted into a pulse code, and transmitted from the infrared transmission / reception circuit 13 to the remote controller 7. Is done. The remote control device 7 converts the received pulse code into an analog audio signal and reproduces and outputs the signal from the transmission microphone 47. Note that, at the end of the call, the user presses the call disconnect button 49 so that the NC
U31 disconnects telephone line 2.

As described above, the remote control device 7 of the television receiver according to the present invention enables a normal telephone call using the telephone line 2.

When an incoming call is received, the incoming call notification lamp 50 of the remote controller 7 is turned on and the receiving speaker is turned on.
An appropriate ringtone is generated from 46. In this case, when the user presses the call button 48, a call can be made. At this time, on the Internet television 1 side, the playback volume from the speaker 18 is reduced to make it easier for the user to hear the ring tone. However, at the end of the call, the playback volume from the speaker 18 of the Internet television 1 is restored.

As described above, the remote controller 7 of the Internet television 1 which is the television receiver of the present invention.
A normal telephone call using the telephone line 2 is possible, but an operation procedure of the Internet television 1 as a whole will be described below with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
However, it is assumed that the Internet television 1 operates as a telephone mode in which the remote controller 7 is used as a telephone, an Internet mode in which the remote controller 7 is connected to the Internet, and a normal television which is neither of them. It operates in one of the three operation modes of the standby mode, which is the standby state.

First, at the time when the power of the Internet television 1 is turned on, the microcomputer 11 sets the speaker 18 when there is an incoming call in the standby mode.
A flag F indicating whether or not the control for lowering the playback volume has been performed is initialized to "0" (step S10), and the operation mode is set to the standby mode (step S11).

When the flag F is "0", it indicates that the control for lowering the volume has not been performed, and when it is "1", it indicates that the control for lowering the volume has been performed. I have.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 11 checks whether or not the remote control device 7 is being used as a telephone (step S12), and if "YES", that is, the remote control device 7
If the telephone line 2 is being used as a telephone and the telephone line 2 is being used for a normal call, the operation mode is set to the telephone mode (step S20).

If "NO" in the step S12, that is, if the remote controller 7 is not being used as a telephone, the microcomputer 11 checks whether or not it is connected to the Internet (step S13). ", That is, when the telephone is connected to the Internet and the telephone line 2 is connected to the provider, the operation mode is set to the Internet mode (step S22).

If "NO" in the step S13, that is, if the telephone line 2 is not used because it is not connected to the Internet, the microcomputer 11 determines whether or not the flag F is "1", that is, in the past, It is determined whether or not control for lowering the volume has been performed in the standby mode (step S14). If the flag F is "0", that is, if the control for lowering the sound volume has not been performed ("NO" in step S14), the microcomputer 11 proceeds directly to step S17.

However, in step S14, the flag F
Is "1", that is, when the control for lowering the volume has been performed ("YES" in step S14), the microcomputer 11 outputs the control signal S4 to the audio signal processing circuit 32.
To restore the playback volume from the speaker 18 (step S15), and reset the flag F to "0".
Processing proceeds to S17.

In step S17, the microcomputer 11 checks whether there is an incoming call, and if "YES", that is, if there is an incoming call and the telephone line 2 is to be used for a normal call, The control signal S4 is supplied to the TV audio signal processing circuit 21 to lower the reproduction volume from the speaker 18 by a predetermined amount (step S23), and the flag F is set to "1".
(Step S24) Then, the operation mode is set to the telephone mode (Step S20).

If "NO" in the step S17, that is, if there is no incoming call, the microcomputer 11 determines whether or not there is an outgoing call, that is, the talk button of the remote control device 7.
Check whether or not 48 is already pressed (step S18),
If "YES", that is, if a telephone call has been made and the telephone line 2 is to be used for a normal telephone call, the operation mode is set to the telephone mode (step S20).

If "NO" in the step S18, that is, if there is no outgoing call, the microcomputer 11 determines whether or not the connection to the Internet is going to be made, that is, the remote controller 7 operates the microcomputer 11 to connect to the Internet. Check whether connection has been instructed (step S1
9) If "YES", that is, if the remote controller 7 is operated to connect to the Internet, the Internet mode is set (step 9).
S22).

Then, regardless of whether the telephone mode is set in step S20, the standby mode is set in step S21, or the internet mode is set in step S22, the microcomputer 11 proceeds to step S12. The processing is returned and the same processing as described above is repeated.

By performing the processing by the microcomputer 11 as described above, when the standby mode is set, it is possible to preferentially use the remote control device 7 as a telephone, That is, when a telephone call is received from outside while watching a normal television broadcast, the playback volume from the speaker 18 automatically decreases, and the playback volume from the speaker 18 automatically decreases when the call ends. Return to the original.

In the above-described embodiment, when the Internet television 1 is connected to the Internet, it is impossible to receive a normal telephone call. Since it is the same as the case where it is performed, there is no particular problem. However, if you have two telephone lines,
Alternatively, by providing an ISDN line, it is possible to give priority to a normal call by the remote control device 7 in any situation.

[0054]

As described in detail above, the television receiver according to the present invention can enjoy both television broadcasting and the Internet, and performs ordinary telephone calls by connecting to a telephone line. It becomes possible.

Further, by making the remote control device for operation available as a handset, the sense of discomfort when compared with a normal telephone is reduced.

Furthermore, when a telephone call is received while watching a television broadcast, the volume of the television broadcast is automatically reduced, so that the telephone ringing tone can be easily heard.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of connection between a television receiver according to the present invention and the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a remote control device usable as a telephone of the television receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of the television receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a connection example between a conventional Internet television and the Internet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Internet television 7 Remote control device 17 CRT 14 Internet processing circuit 24 Communication line (telephone line) 46 Receiving speaker 47 Transmit microphone 48 Call button 49 Call disconnect button

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A television signal receiving means for receiving a television signal, and a network connection means for accessing a URL of a computer network connected through a telephone line, taking in data from the URL, and converting the data into a video signal. A television receiver, comprising: audio input means and audio output means; transmitting audio input from the audio input means to the telephone line, and reproducing and outputting an audio signal received from the telephone line from the audio output means. A television receiver characterized by what it does. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising remote control means for remotely controlling the television signal receiving means and the network connection means, wherein the voice input means and the voice output means are provided in the remote control means. The television receiver according to claim 1. 3. A speaker for reproducing an audio signal output from the television signal receiving unit, and a volume adjusting unit for adjusting a reproduction volume of the speaker, wherein the volume adjusting unit receives an incoming call from the telephone line. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein, when there is a call, the reproduction volume of the speaker is reduced, and the reproduction volume of the speaker is restored when a call is finished.