KR100433236B1 - Complicated medium processing system, especially in relation to watching analog and digital catv broadcast programs, and performing data communication such as the internet through tv - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A complicated medium processing system is provided to configure various types of terminal devices into one complicated device, and to unify each of overlapped blocks, thereby reducing a material cost and integrating each function through an effective interface. CONSTITUTION: An NIU(Network Interface Unit)(41) comprises as follows. An analog/digital CATV tuner(411) receives an RF signal. An RF switch(412) is combined with the analog/digital CATV tuner(411). A descrambler/analog CATV demodulator(413) receives an output from the RF switch(412). An IF-digital converter(414) receives another output from the RF switch(412). A QAM demodulator/FEC(415) is combined with the converter(414). The descrambler/analog CATV demodulator(413) outputs demodulated video and audio signals, while the QAM demodulator/FEC(415) outputs demodulated digital signals. An audio/video processor(44) receives an output of the NIU(41) to process the received output. In case of analog CATV, analog video and audio signals outputted from the NIU(41) are inputted to an analog audio/video switch(446), respectively.

Description

Composite media processing system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite media processing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a composite media processing system in which analog CATV broadcasting and digital CATV broadcasting can be watched and data communication such as the Internet can be performed through a TV.

Conventional analog CATV, which is currently in widespread use, has many channels and provides a variety of programs to subscribers, unlike over-the-air television. At the same time the subscriber subscribes, the subscriber sets up a so-called set top box to watch the program by selecting many channels from the central station and connects with the central station by wire. Video and audio signals are extracted through a tuner, a demodulator, and the like, which are configured in a set top box through which a broadcast signal is input through a wire, and a program according to the extracted signals is displayed through a television connected to the set top box. In the conventional analog CATV converter, a process of extracting a video and audio signal from a broadcast signal input through a wire is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 1.

Conventional analog CATV converters generally include a multiplexer (11) for receiving broadcast signals coming in through a wire, an analog CATV tuner (12) for receiving its output, and the tuner (12), as shown in FIG. A descrambler 13 receiving the output, an analog demodulator 16 connected thereto to output a video and audio signal, and an RF modulator configured to receive outputs of the broadcast signal and the analog demodulator 16 and output an RF signal ( 17) a frequency shift keying (FSK) modem 14 in communication with the deplexer 11 and a microcomputer 15 coupled thereto. In the conventional analog CATV converter having such a configuration, a broadcast signal having a frequency band of 54 to 450 MHz and a signal of an RF data transmission band allocated to a band of 54 MHz or less are input through a wire. The deplexer 11 which receives these signals then operates to divide the broadcast frequency band and the RF data transmission band from each other. The broadcast signal divided from the deplexer 11 is applied to the analog CATV tuner 12, which tunes a specific channel according to a user's selection and outputs an intermediate frequency signal. Since the broadcast signal is usually scrambled and sent in various ways for encryption, the signal of the intermediate frequency selected and output through the tuner 12 is reduced to the original signal through the descrambler 13. Then, when restored to the original signal, the analog audio / video signals are output through the analog demodulator 16, and these signals are modulated into RF signals for output to, for example, channel 3 or 4 of the television. An RF signal is sent to the RF modulator 17 suitable for display there.

In addition, the deplexer 11 provides the divided broadcast signal to the analog CATV tuner 12 and separates and communicates with the FSK modem 14 for transmission of all RF data. The installed microcomputer 15 is, for example, for controlling the wireless remote controller using infrared rays or the like and controlling the FSK modem.

In contrast to the analog method, a digital set-top box is provided. The schematic configuration of the set-top box employing this digital method is shown in block diagram in FIG.

The conventional digital set-top box shown in FIG. 2 can be purchased from Hitachi, Japan, for example. Looking at this configuration, the RF demodulator 21, the system control unit 22, and the transport unit 23 are described. ), A moving picture expert group (MPEG) decoding unit 24, and a video encoder / DAC unit 25. The RF signal input from the cable is applied to the RF demodulator 21. The RF demodulator 21 of the system is composed of a tuner 211 receiving an RF signal, a quadrature phase keying / quadrature amplitude modulation (QPSK / QAM) 212, and a forward error correction (213), as shown. It is. The tuner 211 tunes a specific channel from the input broadcast signal, and the signal selected therefrom is digitized for digital processing and then modulated by QPSK or QAM through the QPSK / QAM 212. After demodulation, forward error correction or the like is performed to correct an error that occurs when the digital signal is transmitted through the FEC 213. In this way, the signal from the RF demodulator 21 is separated into data of MPEG video and audio via the transport unit 23. The transport unit is composed of a demultiplexer 231, a 4M DRAM 232, and a disk scrambler 233 to decode transmission data input from the RF demodulator 21 to output MPEG video and audio data. do. Since the MPEG video audio data is data compressed in accordance with the MPEG standard, the MPEG video decoding unit 24 restores the original signal to the original signal. The reconstructed signal is converted into an analog signal of the TV by the video encoder / DAC 25 and output. The overall operation is controlled by the system control unit 22 provided with a central processing unit or the like.

On the other hand, in recent years, the use of internet is increasing, and in order to make it easier for the general public to access the Internet, a device for accessing the Internet through a TV has been provided. As such a so-called TV Internet terminal, currently provided is a Web Internet TV terminal which can be purchased from Diva of USA. The schematic configuration thereof is as shown in FIG. The configuration is briefly described, the CPU 31 for the control of the overall system and the interface of the input and output devices, the memory unit 32 for storing various programs and storing new information, the graphics screen and audio signals of the Internet TV B) a multimedia module unit 33 for outputting to a PC monitor, a modem module 34 for modem communication using a telephone line, a communication interface 35 for interfacing with various communication lines, and a data transmission between a wireless remote controller and a PC. It consists of the IR / serial interface unit 36.

As mentioned above, even if you purchase an analog CATV set-top box in order to use analog type CATV, which is spreading recently, if you want to access the Internet through a TV connected to it, Equipment must be purchased. In addition, if you want to use a more advanced type of digital CATV, analog set-top boxes can not work, so you need to buy another set-top box for digital CATV, such as 2nd degree. Even connecting to a single TV is not easy for the user.

As such advanced equipments are developed and developed individually, users are inevitably burdened and become a factor that hinders their dissemination.

The present invention has been made under such a background. In the present invention, a cable transmission line and a terminal having a display device, for example, a TV, are present in each system, and the analog or digital CATV is used by integrating them into one or the like. It is an object of the invention to provide an integrated composite terminal system which allows access to the Internet via a connected display device, ie a TV.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is a composite media processing system configured to process an analog or digital signal coming in through a wire and a data communication signal through a line and output a signal that is selectively processed. Wired signal selecting means for selecting a signal of a scheme and outputting it to a first and second different signal processing paths; First signal processing means for extracting a video and audio signal suitable for display from an analog signal in the first signal processing path; Second signal processing means for extracting a video and audio signal suitable for a display from the digital signal in the second signal processing path; Third signal processing means for processing a signal for data communication over the line to extract a video and audio signal suitable for a display; Audio / video switching means for receiving respective outputs of the first to third signal processing means and selectively outputting one of them; And control means adapted to send control signals to said means to activate or deactivate each means.

The user can watch the broadcast signal input through the cable only by selecting a channel, without having to provide separate equipment for the digital or analog method. In addition, since this system is capable of processing digital signals, it can be used for processing for data communication, which is basically digital, without changing or adding additional equipment. In addition, since the system is equipped with a central processing unit so that a program can be executed, adding a separate computer peripheral device may additionally operate a computer program through a TV.

Such a present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention.

4 is a schematic block diagram of an analog / digital CATV receiving and data communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The composite terminal of the present invention is a TV which is almost widely used as a display device, but it is natural that a corresponding advanced display device can be connected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hybrid terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a network interface unit (NIU) 41, a control unit 42, a modem unit 43, and an audio / video processing unit. At 44, it includes four functional blocks.

The network interface unit 41 includes an analog / digital CATV tuner 411 that receives an externally applied RF signal, an RF switch 412 coupled thereto, and a descrambler / analog CATV demodulator 413 that receives an output of the switch 412. ), An IF-to-digital converter 414 that receives the other output of the switch 412, and a QAM demodulation / FEC 415 superimposed on the converter 414, wherein the descrambler / analog CATV demodulator 413 is demodulated. And the QAM demodulation / FEC 415 outputs the demodulated digital signal.

The system according to the invention is connected to the outside by cable. The cable is for delivering a broadcast signal from a central station to a loaded system, which may be an analog broadcast signal or a broadcast signal in digital format. The operation of the network interference unit 41 will be described below with respect to the analog CATV reception function.

An analog / digital CATV tuner 411 installed inside the system according to the invention connected to the cable is applied an RF signal applied via the cable, where the RF signal is converted into a signal of intermediate frequency. After being converted to the intermediate frequency by the tuner 411, one channel is tuned among the frequencies of 54-450 MHz corresponding to the analog CATV channel and applied to the RF switch 412.

The RF switch 412 separates the analog CATV channel and the digital CATV channel and outputs each to a different signal path. For this purpose, RF_SWT is used as the control signal Cntl, which will be described later. In the case of digital CATV, analog CATV is selected in the present case by the control signal of 1. Accordingly, the RF switch 412 applies a signal having an intermediate frequency within the 54-450 MHz range for the tuned analog channel input thereto to the descrambler and analog CATV demodulator 413.

If the broadcast signal applied to the descrambler and analog CATV demodulator 413 is encrypted, i.e., scrambled, then the signal decoded by the descrambling function block in the descrambler and analog CATV demodulator 413 and applied to the demodulator and not encrypted is The demodulator converts the intermediate frequencies into video and audio signals without bypassing them. The converted analog video audio signal is sent to a two channel switch 446 in the audio / video processor 44 described below.

Next, the operation of the network interface unit 41 will be described with respect to the digital CATV receiving function.

As shown, the RF signal input via the cable is frequency shifted to an intermediate frequency by the analog / digital CATV tuner 411 as in the case of analog. Then, one channel is tuned to the RF switch 412 in a signal having a frequency of 450-750 MHz corresponding to the digital CATV channel.

Since RF_SWT is 1 as the control signal applied to the RF switch 412, the RF switch 412 outputs the tuned IF signal for the digital CATV channel to a signal path different from that of the analog case by a switch function. . That is, the signal output is connected to an IF-to-digital converter 414 where the IF signal is converted into a digital signal.

In this way, the IF signal converted into the digital signal is signal processed by the QAM demodulation / FEC 415 to demodulate the original signal. As a result, the signal is demodulated into a compressed original signal, corrected for error, and transmitted to the audio / video processor 144 described in detail below. At this time, the control of the QAM demodulation / FEC 415 is controlled by the serial communication type l2C bus output from the transport demultiplexer unit 441 in the audio / video processor 44 described below.

Next, the configuration and operation of the audio / video processor 44 will be described in detail.

The audio / video processor 44 receives the output of the aforementioned NIU 41 and processes it, and also performs data communication. In the case of the analog CATV method, the analog video output from the NIU 41 is performed. And audio signals A_VID and A_AUD are input to the analog audio / video switch 446, respectively. This switch 446 is a processing block which is commonly used as the same process for the signal resulting from the reception operation for the digital CATV.

This switch 446 is used to connect the programmer described with reference to FIG. 5 to the analog CATV according to the AV_SEL control signal of 0 in the case of the analog CATV according to the state of the control signal AV_SEL output from the logic device (PLD) 45. A_AUD (2) and A_VID are selected and output. Note that this switch appropriately routes the input signal according to the control signal.

Again, in the case of the digital CATV scheme, the error processed demodulated digital signal output from the NIU 41 is applied to the transport demultiplexer 441 in the audio / video processor 44. The audio / video processor 44 receives the above-described transport demultiplexer 441, the MPEG-2 video / audio decoder 442 connected thereto, and the analog audio / video switch for processing the digital CATV. Graphics to output the audio signal to the analog audio / video switch 446 by processing the video signal output to the audio digital to analog converter (449) and the MPEG-2 video / audio decoder 442 to send an audio signal to the (446) A processor 444 and a video encoder 445.

Data taking the form of transmission input to the transport demultiplexer 441 is divided into video, audio, and system bit streams, respectively, and is input to the MPEG-2 video / audio decoder 442, which is compressed according to the MPEG standard. After restoring the data, the video data is input to the graphics processor 444 having a video overlay function, and the video data is processed into analog RGB (Red, Green, Blue) signals. These analog video signals are input to the video encoder 445 and converted into a video signal of a TV and then to the analog audio / video switch 446. Then, as mentioned, the audio data is input to the audio DAC 449, converted into an analog signal, and applied to the analog audio / video switch 446 as D_AUD 2. At this time, the control signal for the analog audio / video switch 446 selects and outputs the D_AUD (2) and D_VID input signals as the AV_SEL signal of one level from the PLD 45.

As described above, the CATV reception operation according to the analog or digital method is processed and transmitted from the analog audio / video switch 446 to the TV by the RF modulator 447 to be modulated into a signal suitable for display.

Next, the data communication function will be described. Data communication, including the Internet, is usually done through a modem connected to a dedicated line or a telephone line. Since the signal coming through the modem is similar to the data according to the digital CATV reception, as shown, many blocks can be shared and used.

In FIG. 4, the modem unit 43 includes a modem data access arrangement (DAA) 431 for interfacing with a telephone line or line, and a data modem 432 connected to the modem DAA 431 for processing data by modem transmission. When the system of the present invention is connected to a TV as a display device, for example, and connected to the Internet network while receiving this, the Internet-related data is received through a telephone line, and this data is inputted to the modem DAA 431. The data modem unit 432 is input by the transmission method and the compressed data is restored. These data are processed into graphic data with the help of a central processing unit (CPU) 421 in the control unit 42 and input to the video overlay graphics processor 444 in the audio / video processing unit 44, and the video overlay graphics processor 444. Is overlaid on the video data reconstructed by the MPEG-2 video / audio decoder 442 and input to the encoder 445.

The system of the present invention includes a plurality of functions in combination, and a PLD 45 as shown in FIG. 5 is provided to enable each of these functions to operate properly. As shown schematically in FIG. 5 as a block, the PLD 45 provides a control signal Cntl to the blocks in FIG. 4, so that each block can change its operation state. For example, in FIG. 4, the analog audio / video switch 446 included in the audio / video processor 44 receives the control signal AV_SEL (see FIG. 5) from the PLD 45. It selectively operates to select and output a signal.

As shown in FIG. 5, the PLD 45 is for interface and control between the CPU 421 and a device having respective functions, and is composed of seven blocks according to the present embodiment. By listing these blocks, the host interface 51, clock interface 52, NIU control 53, transport demultiplex control 54, MPEG A / V decoder control 55, graphics processor control 56 ), Modem control 57, and A / V switch control 58. The following table lists the input and output signals of each block and whether they are input signals or output signals and their functions.

1) host interface

2) clock interface

3) NIU control

4) Transport Demultiplex Control

5) MPEG A / V Decoder Control

6) Graphics Processor Control

7) modem control

8) A / V switch control

As such, each block may be implemented in accordance with logic operations using logic circuits to generate respective control signals that it outputs to perform its assigned function. Those skilled in the art can be physically implemented with reference to the logic equation provided in the present invention to achieve the above-described function, and various other changes, modifications, etc. are possible within the scope of the present invention. Be careful.

The following shows the logic equation for the output signal of the PLD to achieve the function defined above according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those involved in this field will see and realize it, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

IOCS16 * =! AEN & (address match of 16-bit data I / O);

IORDY * = (! RDY of I / O Device) & PLD_RESST &

(! IORD # IOWR);

Data bit 0 value when RF_SWT = (Control Register Address Match);

AS * =! AEN & (! IORD #! IOWR) & (TP Dmux I / O Address Match);

DIR =! AEN & (TP Dmux I / O Address Match) &! IOWR;

LDS * =! AS &! SA0;

UDS * =! AS &! SBHE;

TP_CS * =! AEN & (! IORD #! IOWR) & (TP Dmux Address Match)

Data bit 1 value when VOE * = (Control Register Address Match);

GP_CS * =! AEN & (! IORD #! IOWR) & (Graphics Processor Address Match);

Data bit 2 value when VID_SEL = (Control Register Address Match);

MD_CS * =! AEN & (! IORD #! IOWR) & (Modem Address Match);

RD / WR * =! AEN &! IOWR;

Data bit 3 value when AV_SEL = (Control Register Address Match);

As described above, according to the present invention, by configuring various types of terminal devices using a TV as a display device as a single composite device, material blocks for the configuration can be reduced by unifying overlapping blocks, and each interface can be efficiently Integrating through this makes it easier for users to use.

In addition, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, this invention should be defined only by the matter described in the following claims.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional analog CATV converter.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional digital set-top box system structure.

3 is a block diagram of a device for using the Internet using a conventional TV as a display device.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hybrid media processing system according to the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the programmable logic device of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

41: network interface unit 42: control unit

43: modem unit 44: audio / video processing unit

412: RF switch 432: data modem

444 Graphics Processor 446 Analog / Audio Switch

Claims (10)

Wired signal selection means for selecting an analog or digital signal coming in through the wire and outputting the signal to the first and second different signal processing paths; First signal processing means for extracting a video and audio signal from an analog signal of the first signal processing path; Second signal processing means for extracting a video and audio signal from digital signals and data over a line of the second signal processing path; Third signal processing means for performing communication of data over the line; Audio / video switching means for receiving respective outputs of the first to second signal processing means and selectively outputting one of them; And A control means configured to send a control signal to said wired signal selection means, first, second and third signal processing means and said audio / video switching means to activate or deactivate each of said means, And said second signal processing means overlays data over said line on a digital signal in a second signal processing path. The method of claim 1, And said first signal processing means comprises a descrambler / analog wired signal demodulator for receiving the first signal through said wired signal selection means and converting it into a video and audio signal. The method of claim 1, And said wired signal selection means comprises an analog / digital wired signal tuner and an RF switch which selects and outputs a signal selected and outputted therefrom as a first or second signal path. The method of claim 1, The second signal processing means includes: a QAM demodulation / FEC processing unit for demodulating and error correcting the digital signal of the second signal processing path into a compressed original signal; A transport demultiplexer for dividing video, audio, and bit streams from the output of the QAM demodulation / FEC processing unit; A video / audio decoder for restoring the output of the transport demultiplexer to video / audio data compressed according to the MPEG standard; An audio digital-to-analog converter for converting audio data of the audio / video decoder into an analog audio signal and outputting the same to the audio / video switching means; And a graphics processor for overlaying the video data of the video / audio decoder and the data over the line, and a video encoder for encoding and outputting the output of the graphics processor to the audio / video switching means. , The method of claim 1, The system further comprises a central processing unit (CPU), wherein the third signal processing means comprises a data access device (DAA) for interfacing with the circuit and a data modem for processing data by modem transmission connected thereto. Wherein the data transmitted via the modem is recovered by the central processing unit, and the restored data is provided to the second signal processing means. The method of claim 1, And an RF modulator for converting the output of said audio / video processing switching means into a display signal. A network interface unit for selecting an analog or digital signal coming in through a wire and outputting the analog video audio signal processed with the analog signal and the digital signal as a demodulated signal in a compressed state; A modem unit for processing a signal for data communication through a line; An audio / video processor extracting an analog audio signal and a video signal from the digital signal of the network interface unit and overlaying the extracted video signal and data from the modem unit; An audio / video switching unit for selectively outputting an analog video audio signal of the network interface unit and an output of the audio / video processing unit, And a control unit configured to send a control signal to each unit to activate or deactivate each processing function. The method of claim 8, The network interface unit is an analog / digital CATV tuner for converting an analog or digital RF signal through the wire to an IF signal, an RF switch for separating the IF signal into an analog IF signal and a digital IF signal, the separated A descrambler / analog CATV demodulator that demodulates an analog IF signal into an analog video and audio signal, an IF-to-digital converter that converts the digital IF signal into a compressed digital signal, and demodulates and corrects the compressed digital signal into an original digital signal And a QAM demodulation / FEC. The method of claim 7, wherein A transport demultiplexer for dividing video, audio, and bit streams from the output of the QAM demodulation / FEC; A video / audio decoder for restoring the video, audio, and bit streams into digital video and audio signals; An audio digital-to-analog converter for converting audio data of the video / audio decoder into an analog audio signal and outputting the same to the audio / video switching means; A graphics processor for overlaying the line data with the video data of the video / audio decoder; And a video encoder for encoding the output of said graphics processor and outputting it to said audio / video switching means. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system further comprises a central processing unit (CPU), wherein the modem unit is connected to a data access device (DAA) for interfacing with a line and is connected to the data for processing of data by modem transmission. And a modem, wherein data transmitted through the modem is restored by the central processing unit, and the restored data is provided to the audio / video processing unit.