JPH11313302A - Two-way catv device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a CATV device to conduct Internet communication at each terminal at a low cost by utilizing the equipment of a two-way CATV device. SOLUTION: A center side is provided with a two-way CATV center device 1 having a management computer 10 and a hotel CATV head end device 11 and with a center device 3 provided with a distributor 30 that classifies an Internet control signal by frequencies (channels) different for every various terminals, an Internet receiver 33 that converts the Internet operation signal of the distributor into a computer input signal, an Internet computer 33 that inputs the Internet operation signal for the Internet receiver to conduct the Internet communication, a modulator 34 that modulates the image and audio signals of the Internet computer 33 and a mixer 35 that mixes various frequency signals modulated by the modulator 34. A terminal side is provided with a hotel CATV terminal device 20, a television receiver 23, an Internet transmitter 24 and a remote controller 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a bidirectional CATV device for delivering image / audio data of a channel selected by each terminal to each terminal, thereby enabling Internet communication on the terminal side. The present invention relates to a CATV communication device. Particularly, in a hotel, guests can perform Internet communication in individual guest rooms.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a hotel, a dedicated terminal is installed in a corner of a lobby or the like, and a guest or the like visits or uses the terminal, or in a small number of rooms (some rooms). A method of installing and using a personal computer and a computer dedicated to the Internet has been adopted. With the spread of the Internet, we would like to introduce the Internet service in guest rooms even in hotels. However, in order to introduce computer computers or network computers (collectively referred to as Internet computers in the specification) capable of current Internet communication into each guest room. Is expensive, which is a major obstacle to the introduction. There has been a demand for a low-cost and easy-to-use Internet use system. On the other hand, in hotels, the TV receivers in each guest room have images /
An audio signal can be distributed by a two-way communication CATV device, and a guest can select a television program or video by operating a remote controller in a guest room and enjoy it. However, in conventional two-way CATV devices,
The TV program / video image / audio signal generated by the center is sent out via a communication cable, but the operation signal / request signal is used for normal polling and request polling at intervals of about 1 second. It is communicated by the method. Therefore, the Internet communication that requires a high-speed simultaneous signal cannot be performed by the polling type operation signal transmission / reception method of the bidirectional CATV device, and the Internet communication cannot be used immediately.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve these conventional problems and to provide a bidirectional C.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-way CATV device in which each terminal can perform Internet communication at low cost by using the facilities of the ATV device.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems The configuration of the present invention which has solved the above problems is as follows: 1) A CATV which generates a management computer and a television program / video image / audio signal at a center and sends it to a communication cable at a predetermined carrier frequency. A system is installed, and a CATV terminal, a TV receiver and an operation remote controller are provided on a plurality of terminals, respectively.
It connects to the V terminal via a communication cable of a coaxial line, transmits and receives a request signal by a polling method, sends video / audio data of the CATV system to the CATV terminal of the required terminal, In a two-way CATV device for reproducing video and audio on a TV receiver, a plurality of Internet computers connected to an Internet communication line and image / audio signals of each Internet computer are modulated at different frequencies. Modulator, a mixer that mixes Internet signals modulated by the modulator, a mixer / demultiplexer that sends the modulated signal mixed by the mixer to a communication cable, and a CATV terminal side using the communication cable. The Internet operation signal sent from the terminal to the Internet receiver assigned to the terminal A distributor and a plurality of receivers for converting an Internet operation signal from the distributor into an input signal of an Internet computer are provided at a center, and a CATV terminal of each terminal receives an Internet operation signal for operating the Internet from an operation remote controller. Then, there is a built-in circuit that outputs the signal to the Internet transmitter,
An Internet transmitter, which receives an Internet operation signal from the CATV terminal, modulates the signal with the terminal's own frequency, and sends it to the communication cable via a mixing / demultiplexer, is provided on the terminal side. Upon receiving the Internet selection signal from the terminal, the terminal sends out the carrier frequency channel of the image and voice of the Internet and the carrier frequency channel of the Internet operation signal to the terminal, and from the center to the CATV terminal of the terminal via the communication cable. In addition to distributing images and voices of the Internet, Internet operation signals from the terminals are sent to the center using channels of different carrier frequencies assigned to the terminals, so that each terminal can freely perform Internet communication. Bidirectional CATV device characterized by the following: 2) Center from your operation - device interface - Internet computer its interface - in the 1) bi-directional CATV system according to the time until it receives a net signal was within the 100 msec.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a request for a video game or the like, such as the Internet, on the terminal side is communicated with a management computer by a request polling method at an interval of about one second as in the prior art. An image / audio signal of a game or the like is modulated at a carrier frequency of a unique downstream band and transmitted to a CATV terminal. In addition, the Internet allows external computers to communicate with each other via an Internet communication line. When the Internet communication of the operation remote controller is selected on the terminal side, the management computer is notified by request polling, and the management computer activates the Internet computer via a vacant Internet receiver and connects to the browser. In addition, the management computer simultaneously transmits carrier frequency data for transmitting operation signals of the Internet to the CATV terminal and Internet image data.
The terminal receives the audio reception channel data. Therefore, the operation signal of the Internet by the remote controller on the terminal side is modulated and output at the unique frequency of the Internet transmitter via the CATV terminal. The operation signal is input to an Internet computer via an Internet receiver assigned to a terminal at the center, and Internet communication can be performed. The image / audio signal of the Internet communication is modulated at the carrier frequency of the downstream band, mixed with other television channels, sent to the coaxial transmission line, received by the CATV terminal, and output by the TV receiver. Thus, the Internet operation signal is transmitted on the channel of the carrier frequency assigned to each terminal. As a result, the terminal can perform Internet communication without feeling uncomfortable.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The carrier frequency of an image / audio signal such as a television program / video of CATV and the image / audio signal of Internet communication use a down band of a frequency of about 90 to 770 MHz. 75
A frequency of about MHz is used, and a frequency of an upstream band of 30 to 50 MHz is selected and used by the number of terminals as a frequency of a channel of the Internet operation signal. Also CAT
As for the V request signal, a system in which a normal polling for about one second and a request polling is inserted during the normal polling is widely used. The time required for the request signal to be received by the management computer from the CATV terminal may be about one second, and it is preferable that the time from the operation of the remote controller to the input of the Internet computer be within 100 msec because the Internet communication can be performed quickly.

[0007]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The present embodiment is an example applied to a two-way hotel CATV device between a hotel center (front and broadcasting center, etc.) and a guest room. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment. FIG.
1 is a block diagram of a hotel CATV terminal according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the Internet transmitter of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the Internet receiver according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing channel allocation according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the Internet operation channel allocation. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing request boring of two-way communication. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the Internet operation according to the present embodiment. In the interactive hotel CATV equipment,
The center device is connected to a plurality of cabin terminal devices by a coaxial cable. The configuration of the two-way CATV center apparatus 1 and the guest room terminal apparatus 2 (except for the Internet transmitter 24) in FIG. 1 is almost the same as that of the conventional two-way hotel CATV system, and the management computer 10 for controlling the entire system and a unique identification code. (Hereinafter referred to as an address) with the hotel CATV terminal 20 in order to promptly respond to requests (requests) from a plurality of hotel CATV terminals 20 by polling type bidirectional data communication. Management computer 10 in between
Sends a simultaneous request signal to a plurality of hotel CATV terminals 20 at a predetermined rate, and the plurality of hotel CATV terminals 20 having a request randomly generate a delay time with a random number, and the hotel CATV terminal having the shortest delay time The terminal 20 adds a response signal to the address and transmits it to the management computer 10. The management computer 10 is connected to another hotel C
Starting a communication function of instructing the ATV terminal 20 to wait in the answer back of the same response and performing the request processing of the hotel CATV terminal 20 which has returned the response in a short time (within 1 second as real time), The hotel CATV head-end device 11 sends out video and audio TV signals of general broadcasts, pay movies, games, etc., and sends them to the cabin terminal device 2 through the main coaxial line C1. This is a two-way hotel CATV device in which a hotel CATV terminal 20 can select a channel by operating a wireless remote controller 21, and a television receiver 23 can reproduce and view video and audio. Next, the Internet transmitter 24 and the center device 3 of the cabin terminal device 2 of FIG. 1 which are the main parts of the present invention will be described. The internet operation transmitter 24 of the cabin terminal device 2 has a variable oscillation function of 30 MHz to 50 MHz and can generate up to 32 arbitrary carrier waves (hereinafter referred to as internet operation channels) (up to 32 guest rooms can be used simultaneously). The wireless remote control 21 is a conventional wireless remote control having keys used for general broadcast, pay broadcast, game operation, and the like, which are required for Internet operation. The Internet transmitter 24 has a function of modulating serial data of a key information array input via the hotel CATV terminal 20 with an Internet operation signal generated by the wireless remote controller 21 and transmitting the modulated signal to the center. On the other hand, the center device 3 on the center side has a function of receiving operation signals from the Internet transmitters 24 of a plurality of cabin terminals and accessing the Internet. Among them, 30 is a distributor that separates different carriers from a plurality of passenger rooms and connects to a predetermined Internet receiver.
Reference numeral 31 denotes an Internet receiver which has a function of synchronizing with the Internet operation channel transmitted by the Internet transmitter 24, converting the demodulated serial data into a signal form readable by the Internet computer 33, and outputting the converted signal. Reference numeral 33 denotes an Internet computer for accessing a WWW server including an automatic line connection of a provider. Reference numeral 34 denotes a modulator for converting Internet images and sounds into television signals. The number of installed Internet receivers 31, Internet computers 33, and modulators 34 is determined by the number of hotel rooms and the occupancy rate. 36 is a multi-board used in 10BASE-T
The hub of the repeater is connected to the Internet computer 33 by a network cable 37. 39 is NT
T is an OCN line of an Internet connection service provided by T. Reference numeral 38 denotes a router necessary for connecting a hub 36 to an OCN line 39. Hotel CATV terminal 20
And wireless remote control 21, Internet transmitter 2
2 and FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show block diagrams of the Internet receiver 31 and the Internet receiver 31 in order to clarify the details.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the hotel CATV terminal 20.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a two-way communication data and television signal input terminal.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an electronic tuner, which is a hotel CATV headend device 11 transmitted from the bidirectional CATV center device 1.
Then, a TV signal of an Internet image is selected, and an AV (video, audio) signal is extracted by demodulation. Reference numeral 203 denotes an on-screen circuit, which synthesizes a video from the electronic tuner 202 with channel display, character display, and the like, or performs telop display. An RF modulator 204 converts an on-screen processed video signal and audio signal into a television (1CH or 2CH) signal again, and outputs the signal from an output terminal 205. Reference numeral 206 denotes an FSK modem (downstream data signal 75 MH) for performing bidirectional communication with the management computer 1.
z, an uplink data signal of 45 MHz), 207 is a CPU for controlling the entire cabin terminal device 2, and 208 is an AV for making the video signal and the audio signal subjected to the on-screen processing to appropriate levels in the television receiver 23. In the amplifier circuit, the video is output from an output terminal 209 to the L level of the audio signal,
R is output from output terminals 210 and 212. 213 is a remote control light receiving sensor,
The operation switch information is received. Reference numeral 214 denotes an operation switch and an LED display on the main body. The keys (up / down / left / right arrows, confirm, cancel, and return to the front) necessary for the Internet browser operation of the hotel CATV terminal 21 are converted into 2-byte serial data of the key arrangement by the CPU 207 to speed up the operation response. Terminal 21 through / F215
6 to the Internet transmitter 24. 217 turns on AC 100V which is a commercial power supply to the TV receiver 23;
A relay circuit for turning off the receptacle 218
Supply from A ROM 219 stores data such as a program and telop display created on the on-screen 203.
Where 220 is a RAM for temporary storage and 229 is EE
The PROM is electrically readable and writable, and data such as addresses is stored here. A power supply 222 supplies DC power to each unit of the cabin terminal device 2.
(This block diagram has been deleted except for parts related to the use of the Internet.) Next, FIG. 3 will be described. Reference numeral 24 in FIG. 3 denotes an Internet transmitter, which creates an Internet operation channel (an arbitrary wave of up to 32 channels) from frequency data transmitted from the hotel CATV terminal 20 and operates a remote control of an Internet browser. Has the function of modulating with serial data according to (1) and sending out to the common listening path.
The frequency data of the channel is stored in the management computer 10.
, And frequency data of an idle operation channel at the time of an Internet request is allocated to the hotel CATV terminal 20 from the main coaxial line C1. Reference numeral 240 in FIG. 3 denotes a serial data input terminal from the hotel CATV terminal 20, and reference numeral 241 denotes a control circuit, which determines whether the data is frequency data or remote control operation data on the Internet based on the serial data input from the serial data input terminal 240. The signal is passed to the oscillation and modulation circuit 242. Reference numeral 242 denotes an oscillation and modulation circuit which creates an Internet operation channel from frequency data, modulates it with serial data by remote control operation of an Internet browser, amplifies it to a predetermined level by an RF AMP circuit 243, and outputs it from a terminal 244. Next, FIG. 4 will be described. Reference numeral 31 in FIG. 4 denotes an Internet receiver, which tunes to an Internet operation channel emitted from the Internet transmitters 24 in a plurality of guest rooms, performs demodulation, and performs signal conversion readable by the Internet computer 32. R with the management computer 10
It has a communication function in S485. Reference numeral 310 denotes an input terminal of an Internet operation channel, and 311 denotes an L.P. P. F (low-pass filter). A tuning and demodulation circuit 312 tunes to a predetermined wave from a plurality of Internet operation channels,
Demodulation is performed to restore TTL level serial data. A signal conversion circuit 313 converts the signal into a signal format that can be read by the Internet computer 32 connected from the output terminal 314. An oscillation circuit 315 oscillates a local frequency of an Internet channel to be tuned by the tuning and demodulation circuit 312. Reference numeral 316 denotes a CPU.
And the Internet receiver 31 managed by the management computer 10 synchronizes with the Internet operation channel, the Internet start request and the end request signal from the cabin terminal device, and the Internet receiver 31 communicates operation information (RS) -485) function and oscillation circuit 3
15 and recognition address 3 for communicating with RS-485
19 input control is performed. Reference numeral 318 denotes a ROM,
A program for performing the operation of U316 is stored. Reference numeral 320 denotes the ON / OFF state of the commercial power supply AC100V of the Internet computer of the Internet computer 33.
A relay circuit that starts and ends the Internet when turned off, and supplies AC 100 V to the receptacle 321. 322 is a DC power supply for operating the Internet receiver 31. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. The management computer 10 always manages the operation status of the Internet computer 33 through the Internet receiver 31, and the hotel C
The ATV terminal 20 is notified. When a guest or the like uses the Internet in the guest room, the hotel CATV terminal 2 is operated by using the wireless remote control 21 and operating the power key.
0 relay circuit 217 is turned on, and the television receiver 2
3 is supplied with AC100V, and a selection menu screen for the Internet, games, VOD (video on demand), karaoke, etc. is displayed through the AV cable 22. When the Internet is selected and determined by the up and down arrow keys, the start signal of the Internet is received by the remote controller. The light is received by the sensor 213, processed by the CPU 207, modulated by the FSK modem 206, and transmitted from the terminal 201 to C3, C2,
The notification is sent to the management computer 10 via the transmission paths C1, B3, and B1. The management computer 10 is RS-48
A plurality of Internet receivers 3 through 5 communication lines 32
1 and a terminal 317, and notifies the CPU 316 of the start signal. Therefore, the relay circuit 320 is turned on, and the terminal 3
The power of the Internet computer 33 connected to the Internet computer 21 is turned on, and the connection between the OCN line 39 of the router 38 and the NTT Internet is connected to the NTT Internet registered in the Internet computer 33 in advance through the network cable 37 connected to the hub 36. Do it automatically. Also, the Internet computer 33 outputs a rising image and a sound signal on a screen of a preset homepage. This signal is connected to a modulator 34, modulated into a high-frequency television signal of 90 to 770 MHz, mixed with a plurality of television signals by a mixer 35, and transmitted through a coaxial line A and a data coaxial line B2 (downstream television signal line). The signal is mixed and demultiplexed by the mixing / demultiplexing device D2 and transmitted to the main coaxial line C1. On the other hand, the management computer 10 mixes and demultiplexes the bidirectional communication coaxial line B1 with the hotel CATV terminal 20 and the Internet data channel coaxial line B2 with the mixing / demultiplexer D1, and performs B3, D2, C1,.
Hotel CATV terminal 2 through a series unit of D3, coaxial cable C2, mixing / demultiplexer D4, and coaxial cable C3
0 is notified of the frequency data of the Internet operation channel and passed to the Internet transmitter 24. Hotel CA
The TV terminal 20 selects a TV signal of the Internet transmitted from the modulator 34 by the tuner 202, and outputs a video output 2.
09, the TV receiver 23 from the audio output terminals 210 and 212
And the home page screen is provided. From here, guests can access various WWW servers using the Internet browser function. The operation is performed by the up / down / left / right arrow keys, the enter / cancel / return key, and the key signal operated by the wireless remote control 21 is received by the remote control light-receiving sensor 213 of the hotel CATV terminal 20.
In U207, the remote control signal is converted into 2-byte serial data of the key arrangement, and the frequency data of the Internet operation channel is converted into the serial data input terminal 240 of the Internet transmitter 24 and the control circuit 241 through the terminal 216 via the I / F 215. An Internet operation channel modulated with the serial data of the key arrangement by the oscillation and modulation circuit 242 is created via the output terminal 244, and a coaxial cable B4, mixing / demultiplexers D4, C2, D3,
Through the transmission paths of C1, D2, B3, D1, and B2, distribution is performed according to the required number by the distributor 30 (there is an Internet operation channel from a plurality of guest rooms) of the center device 3,
The input terminal 310 of the Internet receiver 31, L. P.
Through the F311, the tuning and demodulation circuit 312 restores the data to TTL level serial data, the signal conversion circuit 313 converts the signal into a signal readable by the Internet computer 33, and outputs the signal from the terminal 314. Hub 3
6. Access to the NTT Internet via the router 38 and the OCN line 39 is enabled each time the operation is performed. When ending the Internet, the relay 320 of the Internet receiver 31 is turned off and the power supply 322 is turned off in the same manner as the operation route for starting the Internet. The start and end of the Internet are processed by request polling of the two-way data communication function, and the actual browser operation is performed via the Internet transmitter 24 and the Internet receiver 30 in real-time processing. Internet use was made possible. (In the present embodiment, the maximum number of Internet operation channels is set to 32, but this is not a limitation.) FIG. 4 shows a procedure of Internet communication.

[0008]

As described above, the bidirectional C of the present invention is used.
In ATV equipment, the number of Internet computers that match the operating status of the number of guest rooms is installed as a center device and can be operated from each guest room, so the cost merit at the time of introduction is very large, and guests etc. It can be operated easily and easily from a remote terminal side, such as a room, so that amenities can be spent regardless of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the hotel CATV terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an Internet transmitter of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an Internet receiver according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating channel allocation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing details of Internet operation channel allocation.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing request boring of two-way communication.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an Internet operation according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 bidirectional CATV center device 2 guest room terminal device 3 center device 10 management computer 11 hotel CATV headend device 20 hotel CATV terminal device 21 wireless remote control 23 TV receiver 24 internet transmitter 30 distributor 31 internet receiver 32 RS485 33 internet computer 34 Modulator 35 Mixer 36 Hub 37 Network cable 38 Router 39 OCN line B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3 Coaxial cable D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 Mixer / demultiplexer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A management computer and a CATV system for generating an image / audio signal of a television program / video and sending it to a communication cable at a predetermined carrier frequency are installed at a center, and a CATV terminal is installed on each of a plurality of terminals. A TV receiver and its operation remote controller are provided, and the center and the CATV terminal on each terminal side are connected via a communication cable of a coaxial line, and a request signal is transmitted and received by a polling method. The audio data is sent to the required terminal CATV terminal, and the T
2. Description of the Related Art In a two-way CATV apparatus for reproducing video and audio on a V receiver, a plurality of Internet computers connected to an Internet communication line and image / audio signals of each Internet computer are modulated at different frequencies. A plurality of modulators, a mixer that mixes the Internet signal modulated by the modulator, a mixer / demultiplexer that sends the modulated signal mixed by the mixer to a communication cable,
A distributor for delivering an Internet operation signal sent from a CATV terminal side by a communication cable to an Internet receiver assigned to the terminal, and a plurality of receivers for converting the Internet operation signal from the distributor to an input signal of an Internet computer And a container at the center,
The CATV terminal of each terminal has a built-in circuit for receiving an Internet operation signal for operating the Internet from the operation remote controller and outputting the signal to an Internet transmitter, and inputting an Internet operation signal from the CATV terminal to output a terminal-specific signal. An Internet transmitter, which modulates the frequency and sends it to the communication cable via a mixer / demultiplexer, is provided on the terminal side, and the management computer receives the Internet selection signal from the terminal through bidirectional communication and receives images and voices from the Internet. The terminal transmits the carrier frequency channel information and the carrier frequency channel information of the Internet operation signal to the terminal, distributes the image and voice of the Internet from the center to the CATV terminal of the terminal via the communication cable, and transmits the interface from the terminal. Different network operation signals assigned to each terminal Inter and with the channel carrier frequency is sent to the center and - a bidirectional CATV, characterized in that the net communication and to freely performed in each terminal
apparatus. 2. The bidirectional CATV apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time from the remote control operation on the terminal side to the Internet computer of the center apparatus receiving the Internet operation signal is within 100 msec.