KR20020066100A - The internet television - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An Internet television is provided to interwork a cable modem performing an Internet service through mixed networks with a set top through a wireless communication module, thereby supplying an interactive service for IP network access. CONSTITUTION: A cable modem(34) is connected to the mixed networks of an optical and a coaxial cable. A wireless communication module(36) wirelessly connects the cable modem with the other party's terminal. A set top box(38) converts program information supplied through the wireless communication module from the cable modem into a broadcasting signal, and supplies the converted broadcasting signal to a preset television. A wireless keyboard(46) transmits a signal corresponding to a user's key operation to the set top box, and informs a program supplier of the user's specific program selection through the mixed networks.

Description

Internet television {THE INTERNET TELEVISION}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the internet television and, more particularly, to high speed internet television using a cable modem and a digital set-top box.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a set-top box operation according to the prior art, a program supply unit 10, a transmission unit 12, a hybrid fiber and coaxial (HFC) network 14, aerial A Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 16, first and second set top boxes 18 and 22, and first and second televisions 20 and 24.

In the figure, the program supply unit 10 provides various contents or programs, such as a movie, home shopping, and home banking, to the transmission unit 12 at the request of the transmission unit 12.

The transmission unit 12 receives various contents provided by the program supply unit 10 and broadcasts them through a mixed optical and coaxial cable network 14 to a plurality of set top boxes, for example, first and second set top boxes 18 and 22. do. The optical and coaxial cable mixing network 14 is used for cable television broadcasting and satellite broadcasting.

The first and second set-top boxes 18 and 22 receive cable television broadcasts or satellite broadcasts through the optical and coaxial cable mixing network 14, and then convert them into television signals to convert the first and second televisions 20, 24) respectively.

For example, the transmitter 12 downloads a menu through the optical and coaxial cable mixing network 14 to the first and second set top boxes 18 and 22.

The first and second set top boxes 18 and 22 display the downloaded menu through the first and second televisions 20 and 24.

The first and second set top boxes 18 and 22 provide uplink data corresponding to a user's menu selection to the transmitter 12 through the public switched telephone network 16.

The transmission unit 12 downloads the contents corresponding to the selected menu through the optical and coaxial cable mixing network 14 to the first and second set-top boxes 18 and 22.

The first and second set top boxes 18 and 22 display the contents of the downloaded menu through the first and second televisions 20 and 24.

Therefore, the above-described conventional set-top box mainly provides only the functions of receiving cable television or satellite broadcasting broadcasted by a service provider, and thus lacks interactive data service and internet connection. When a network interface card (cable modem) such as a cable modem is mounted in the set-top box to implement the interactive service, the terminal manufacturing cost and installation cost increase. In the mixed optical and coaxial cable connection, when the set-top box is installed in the house, the coaxial cable connection work is required in the living space and the movement is inconvenient.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, by connecting the cable modem and the set-top box that performs the Internet service through a mixed optical and coaxial cable network through a wireless communication module IP network (Internet Protocol) An object of the present invention is to provide an Internet television that provides an interactive service accessible to a network.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an Internet television connected to the Internet through a mixed network of optical and coaxial cables and receives a program from a program supply means connected to the Internet. Cable modem; Wireless communication means for wirelessly connecting the cable modem and the other end; A set top box converting program information provided from the cable modem through the wireless communication means into a broadcast signal and providing the same to a preset television; Key input means for transmitting a signal corresponding to a user's key operation to the set-top box to inform the program supply means of the user's specific program selection through the wireless communication means, a cable modem, and an optical and coaxial cable mixed network; Characterized in that.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a set-top box operation according to the prior art;

2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an internet television according to the present invention;

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

30: mixed optical and coaxial cable

32: computer body 34: cable modem

36, 40: wireless communication module 38: set-top box

42: television 44: remote control

46: wireless keyboard

Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the Internet television according to the present invention, an optical and coaxial cable mixing network 30, computer body 32, set-top box 38, television 42, remote controller 44 , And a wireless keyboard 46. The computer body 32 includes a cable modem 34 and a wireless communication module 36 for wireless communication with the other party through an antenna. The set top box 38 includes a wireless communication module 40 for wirelessly communicating with an opponent through an antenna.

In the figure, the built-in cable modem 34 in the computer main body 32 is connected to the optical and coaxial cable mixing network 30 to connect to the IP network. The cable modem 34 does not have a central processing unit (CPU) but utilizes a central processing unit and memory resources in the computer main body 32 to perform various protocols and data processing and control in a form of cost reduction. Have gain. The cable modem 34 performs wireless data communication with an external device through the wireless communication module 36 together with providing a Internet service to a personal computer (PC) user. The cable modem 34 and the wireless communication module 36 are mounted to a PCI slot of a main board and driven by an application of a personal computer. A keyboard and a monitor are respectively connected to the computer body 32.

The wireless communication module 36 wirelessly transmits IP data accessed through the cable modem 34 through an antenna to an RF channel. For example, the wireless communication module 36 filters the IP data forwarded from the cable modem 34 into a form required by an application, and reconfigures the data packet format into a form suitable for wireless transmission. To transmit wirelessly. The wireless communication module 36 demodulates an RF signal received from an external device equipped with a wireless communication module and transmits the demodulated RF signal to the IP network through the cable modem 34.

The wireless communication module 40 in the set top box 38 forwards the IP data obtained by demodulating the received RF signal to the set top box 38. The set-top box 38 extracts application data from the IP data received from the wireless communication module 40, converts the application data into a television signal, and provides the television 42 with a voice / video / data service. 46 and the remote controller 44 receives the input and wirelessly transmits to the cable modem 34 to provide two-way service.

In this example of the present invention, the user transmits a predetermined command to the set top box 38 using the remote controller 44 or the wireless keyboard 46.

The set top box 38 transmits a user's command to a predetermined information provider connected to the mixed optical and coaxial cable network 30 via the two wireless communication modules 40 and 36 and the cable modem 34.

The information provider provides information corresponding to the user's command to the set top box 38 through the cable modem 34 and the two wireless communication modules 36 and 40.

The set top box 38 converts the provided information into a television broadcast signal and transmits it to the television 42 so that the television 42 reproduces the video and audio corresponding to the information.

As described above, the present invention forms a wireless network using wireless communication between a computer body incorporating a cable modem which is a network interface terminal device for IP network connection and a set-top box. Therefore, the mobility of the set-top box in the home is guaranteed and no additional wiring work is required. Various types of services can be expected using the IP network data communication function of the set-top box. Examples of equipments equipped with wireless communication modules, including set-top boxes, can form networks between personal computers and notebook computers. Video and audio information of a set-top box wirelessly networked with a personal computer can be accessed by a personal computer. Therefore, it is possible to create a variety of application services utilizing the file storage, editing functions, etc. of the personal computer.

Claims (2)

In an Internet television connected to the Internet through a mixed network of optical and coaxial cables, the program is supplied from a program supply means connected to the Internet. A cable modem connected to the optical and coaxial mixed network; Wireless communication means for wirelessly connecting the cable modem and the other end; A set top box converting program information provided from the cable modem through the wireless communication means into a broadcast signal and providing the same to a preset television; Key input means for transmitting a signal corresponding to a user's key operation to the set-top box to inform the program supply means of the user's specific program selection through the wireless communication means, a cable modem, and an optical and coaxial cable mixed network; Internet television. The method of claim 1, The cable modem side of the wireless communication means and the cable modem are each mounted in a slot of a motherboard in a preset personal computer, Internet television, characterized in that driven by the application of the personal computer.