KR20070082716A - Videophone capable of watching both tv and advertisement - Google Patents

Abstract

A video phone capable of allowing a user to simultaneously view TV broadcasting and advertisement broadcasting is provided to diversify services provided from a TV by providing a video phone function as well as an Internet function in one TV. A TV broadcasting receiving device includes a tuner(202), an IF(Intermediate Frequency) module(204), a microcomputer(216), a video switching unit(218), an audio switching unit(206), a chroma processing unit(220), a CRT(Cathode Ray Tube)(224), and a speaker(210). The TV broadcasting receiving device receives TV broadcasting in a TV mode according to a mode control signal, allows a user to view the received TV broadcasting, and allows the user to view video and audio received through a network in an Internet mode or a video mode. A video phone and Internet module(250) connects to the Internet through an Internet connecting unit(242) according to data inputted through a key input unit in the Internet mode, processes multimedia data inputted through the Internet according to an Internet protocol, and outputs video data and audio data. The video phone and Internet module(250) processes video data inputted through a video camera(234) and audio data inputted through a microphone(236) in the video phone mode according to a video phone protocol, and outputs the processed data to a network through the Internet connecting unit(242). The video phone and Internet module(250) processes video data and audio data of an object received from the network through the Internet connecting unit(242) according to the video phone protocol, and outputs video and audio data. A video encoder(230) converts the video data outputted from the video phone and Internet module(250) into a composite video signal of certain broadcasting signal standard, and outputs the converted composite video signal to the TV broadcasting receiving device. A DAC(Digital to Analog Converter)(232) converts the audio data outputted from the video phone and Internet module(250) into an analog signal, and outputs the converted analog signal to the TV broadcasting receiving device.

Description

Videophone capable of watching both TV and advertisement

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional Internet television;

2 is a video phone that can simultaneously watch the television and the advertisement according to the present invention,

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the video phone and the Internet module shown in FIG.

4 is a software configuration diagram of the video phone and the Internet module shown in FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

202 tuner 204 IF module

206: audio switching unit 208: sound module

210: speaker 212: remote control

214: preamplifier 216: micom

218: video switching unit 220: chroma processing unit

222: video amplifier 224: CRT

226: keyboard 228: mouse

230: Video encoder 232: DAC

234: video camera 236: microphone

238: amplifier 240: ADC

250: video phone and Internet module 242: Internet connection

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone, and more particularly, to a videophone capable of simultaneously watching television and commercials, which enables a television receiver to watch a caller's face, a television, and an advertisement.

Combining technological advances and communication in the computer field has led to the emergence of new service areas such as the Internet, and the breakthrough development of video compression technologies such as MPEG. have.

In the field of television technology, various efforts are being made to create demand by newly added functions in response to changes in society, and in particular, as the Internet is widely used in various fields of society, Internet TV that can be connected to the Internet has emerged. Was done.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the Internet television is connected to the Internet module 16 which provides a communication function for connecting to the Internet through the modem 14 and the existing television reception section 12 to receive a television broadcast. In addition to being able to do so, it is easy to access the Internet. The technology related to such Internet television is introduced in pages 958 to 965 of Korean Electronic Engineering Publication No. 24 No. 8 (August 1997). According to the disclosure of the Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers, the Internet module is implemented using a CPU for performing Internet-related protocols and a commercial chip provided with a single chip for processing video and audio functions.

On the other hand, in the communication field, a video phone is being researched by combining a video communication technology that enables a voice-oriented phone to view a call counterpart. However, since a conventional video phone is generally intended to talk while watching a very small image implemented as an LCD screen on a telephone, a video phone for providing a larger image screen has been required, and as a research direction to satisfy such a demand. Video phones using video screens of televisions have emerged.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a video phone that enables the viewer to watch the face of the callers, television, and advertisements on the television receiver in the call using the video phone according to the above-described technology development.

Now, with reference to the drawings of FIG. 2 will be described in detail with respect to a video phone that can simultaneously watch a television and an advertisement in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the video phone of the present invention is largely divided into a video phone, an internet part, and a TV part so that a user can watch a TV broadcast by receiving a wireless broadcast signal through an antenna in a TV mode, and the user can access the Internet. If desired, Internet access is provided through the Internet network in the Internet mode (particularly, in connection with the present invention, the advertisement can be watched), and if the user wants to make a phone call with the other party, the video phone function can be performed.

In FIG. 2, the TV portion includes a tuner 202, an IF module 204, an audio switching unit 206, a sound module 208, a speaker 210, a remote controller 212, a preamplifier 214, and a microcomputer 216. , The video switching unit 218, the chroma processing unit 220, the video amplifier 222, the CRT 224, and the like, receive and demodulate a designated television broadcast according to a user's key operation input through the remote controller 212. The video signal is then output to the CRT 224, and the audio signal is output to the speaker SP. The tuner 202 adjusts an internal local oscillation frequency according to a tuning signal input from the microcomputer 216 to output an intermediate frequency signal of a specific broadcast signal, and the IF module 204 amplifies and demodulates the intermediate frequency signal. Outputs composite video signal and audio signal.

The audio switching unit 206 selects an audio signal output from the IF module 204 of the TV section in accordance with the mode control signal of the microcomputer 216 to output a broadcast signal, and in the video phone mode or the Internet mode. By selecting the output of the video phone and the Internet module 250, the audio signal received from the Internet or the video phone counterpart is selected. The video switching unit 218 selects a video signal output from the IF module 204 of the TV unit in the TV mode according to the mode control signal of the microcomputer 216 to output the broadcast signal, and in the video phone mode or the Internet mode. By selecting the output of the video phone and the Internet module 250, the video signal received from the Internet or the video phone counterpart is selected.

The sound module 208 amplifies and outputs the audio signal of the broadcast selected by the audio switching unit 206 or the audio signal of the Internet and the video module 250 to the speaker SP 210, and the chroma processing unit 220 switches the video. In step 218, the video signal of the broadcast selected or the video signal of the Internet or a video phone is processed and output to the CRT 224 via the video amplifier 222.

The microcomputer 216 outputs a mode control signal for selecting a broadcast or operating in a TV mode, a video phone mode, or an Internet mode according to an operation signal input from the remote controller 212, and provides various control signals for screen adjustment. do.

The videophone and internet portion includes keyboard and mouse 226 and 228, video encoder 230, digital-to-analog converter (DAC: 232), video camera 234, microphone 236, amplifier 238, analog-to-digital converter. (ADC: 240), the Internet connection unit 242, the video phone and the Internet module 250, if the user requests the Internet connection is connected to the Internet 100 using the Internet connection unit 242, and the video phone function If requested, it connects to the other party through the Internet network 100. At this time, during the video phone operation, the speaker's face captured by the video camera 234 and the speaker's voice input through the microphone 236 are transmitted to the other party through the Internet connection unit 242 and the internet network 100. The video and audio signals received from the side are output to the CRT 224 and the speaker 210 of the TV portion. At this time, instead of the microphone 236 and the speaker 210, the handset of the telephone may be used to communicate, and only the image may be displayed using the television. In addition, when operating as a video phone, the dialing operation may be performed using a telephone connected to a television, or may be implemented to perform dialing operation using a remote controller or a keyboard.

The video signal captured by the video camera 234 is converted into RGB digital data and input to the video phone and the Internet module 250. The analog audio signal output by the microphone 236 is amplified by the amplifier 238, and then the analog signal is output. It is converted into digital data by the digital converter 240 and input to the video phone and the Internet module 250.

The internet access unit 242 outputs digital data input through the video phone and the internet module 250 to the Internet 100, and outputs the Internet information signal received from the internet network 100 to the video phone and the Internet module 250. Output

The digital-to-analog converter 232 receives audio data from the output of the video phone and the internet module 250 and converts the audio data into an analog signal. The video encoder 230 receives a video related signal processed by the video phone and the internet module. Converts NTSC composite video signals for display in the TV section.

The videophone and internet module 250 is a CPU 302, an SRAM interface 304, an SRAM 306, a ROM 308, a register 310, a Huffman encoder 312, a Huffman, as shown in FIG. Decoder 314, H.221 / BCH decoder 316, BCH / H.221 encoder 318, portal 320, SRAM DMA 334, DRAM DMA 336, DRAM interface 322, Vision processor 324, ROM and RAM 326, video input 328, video output 330, and bus interface 332.

The functions performed by the videophone and the internet module 250 are protocols related to the videophone and the internet, as shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the functions performed by the video phone and the Internet module 250 include video input / output 402, audio input / output 404, user data application 406, system control 408, video codec 410, Audio codec 412, data protocol 414, H.264 control protocol and SRP / LAPM procedure 416, graphics data 418, text generation 420, audio codec 422, video codec 424, HTML 426, HTTP 428, TCP / IP 430, mux / demux 434, Internet connection and Internet connection control 436 functions, and the like. Note that in Fig. 4, the Internet connection function is expressed in the video phone and the Internet module. The video codec 424 may be combined with the video codec 410 and implemented as one, as indicated by a dotted line.

Subsequently, the operation of the television equipped with the Internet and video phone functions of the present invention configured as described above will be described by dividing into TV reception, Internet access, and video phone operation.

1. When receiving TV broadcast (TV mode)

When receiving a television broadcast using the television of the present invention, the tuner 202 selects the corresponding broadcast signal according to a key input operated by the user through the remote controller 212, and then demodulates it in the IF module 204 to composite video signal and audio. Output the signal. When receiving a TV broadcast, the microcomputer 216 outputs a mode control signal in a TV mode, so the audio switching unit 206 and the video switching unit 218 select broadcast signals, respectively. Thus, the CRT 224 and the speaker 210 enable the user to watch television broadcasts. Since the operation in the television broadcast mode is similar to that of a conventional television, further description is omitted.

2. Internet connection (Internet mode)

In order to provide an 'interface easier than a PC' for the Internet service of the present invention, the television's CRT 224 and the speaker 210 output multimedia information on the Internet when the Internet is connected. ) And mouse 228. That is, in the Internet mode, the user needs to select a menu or input data, and thus, a keyboard and a mouse are required.

As shown in FIG. 4, the protocols required for accessing the Internet include the data processing protocol 414, the graphic and text processing functions 418 and 420, the audio codec 422 and 412, the video codec 424, the HTML 426, and the like. HTTP 428, TCP / IP 480, and the like, data transmitted from the Internet via an Internet connection 436 and decoded with the protocol and codec is displayed on the CRT 224 via video encoder 230 as well as audio. Is output to the speaker. At this time, the Internet provides not only text data but also multimedia such as video and audio.

3 and 4, in the Internet mode, a program executed by the CPU 302 is performed by a system management layer, a network protocol layer, and an application program layer on a real-time operating system. The system management layer includes various devices in the Internet module. There is a device driver for driving. For example, an Internet connection unit, a program for input signal processing, a program for A / V output driving, and the like are in the system management layer. The network protocol layer includes protocols such as PPP, TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, HTTP, HTML, and MIME for connecting to the Internet and sending and receiving data.The application layer includes a web browser related to the user interface, E-mail and the like.

Here, the web browser is a client program running on the web, such as Netscape or MS Explorer, and supports reading the data or connecting the user. HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used by a WWW server for transmitting and receiving hypertext, and HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a language used for creating a homepage on the Internet. MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is an extension of the conventional Internet e-mail that only ASCII characters can be used. Multimedia that enables the transmission and reception of binary data such as extended character sets, GIF image data, voice, and digital video, etc. E-mail standard. Post Office Protocol (POP) is a protocol for receiving mail from an e-mail mail server. TCP / IP, as is widely known, is a communication protocol that forms the basis of the Internet. Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) is a telephone. It is a protocol that allows a computer (PC) to use TCP / IP using a line and a high-speed Internet connection.

Referring back to FIG. 4, data input by a user through the keyboard and mouse 226, 228 is processed according to a data protocol through the user data application 412, input into the mux / demux 434, and received via the Internet. The multimedia data is processed in TCP / IP 430, HTTP 428, HTML 426, graphics 418, text 420, audio codec 422, video codec 424, and the like. The encoder 230 is transmitted to the TV portion, and the audio data is transmitted to the TV portion through the digital-to-analog converter 232.

3. Video Phone Operation (Video Phone Mode)

When operating as a videophone function using the television of the present invention, the CRT 224 and the speaker 210 can watch the voice and face of the other party connected through dialing, and the user's appearance and voice are the video camera. Input through the 234 and the microphone 236 is transmitted to the other side through the Internet network (100).

3 and 4, in a mode in which a video phone function is performed (that is, a video phone mode), the video codec 410 codes image data of the video camera 234 input through the video input / output unit 402. The audio signal is transmitted to the mux / demux 434, and the audio signal of the microphone input through the audio input / output unit 404 is coded and output to the mux / demux 434 via the reception path delay unit 432. The mux / demux 434 selects and multiplexes the outputs of the video codec 410 and the audio codec 412 in the video phone mode according to the operation mode, and then transmits them to the Internet network 100 through the Internet connection 436. do. The other side image received from the other end through the internet connection unit 436 is demultiplexed by the mux / demux 434 and then decoded by the video codec 410 and output to the video encoder 230 through the video input / output unit 402. The audio received from the other party through the internet connection unit is decoded by the audio codec 412 and then output to the digital-analog converter 232 through the audio input / output unit 404.

On the other hand, in the present invention, the TV screen is divided into four, so that one side of the caller's face, two sides of the receiver's face, three sides of the television screen, and four sides of the Internet image viewing are possible.

Here, Internet video viewing can be an advertisement, and when the set-top box receives the advertisement from the advertisement providing server through the Internet, stores it in hardware, and makes a call through the videophone, the stored advertisement is stored on one side of the quad screen of the TV screen. Display on the screen. In this case, the set-top box may receive and store an advertisement periodically or at an arbitrary time from the advertisement providing server, or may receive and display the advertisement in real time.

As described above, the TV set-top box according to the present invention can provide not only the Internet function but also a video phone function in a single television, thereby enabling various services provided by the television.

In particular, in combining Internet and video phone functions, hardware having similar functions can be implemented as one to enable a compact structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Claims (7)

Television broadcast receiving means for receiving and watching television broadcast in a TV mode according to a mode control signal, and for watching video and audio received through a network in an Internet mode or a video mode; Key input means; Video camera 234; Voice input means 236; An internet connection 242; In the Internet mode, the Internet is connected to the Internet through the Internet access unit 242 according to the data input through the key input means, and multimedia data input through the Internet is processed according to the Internet protocol to output video data and audio data. In the video phone mode, the image data input through the video camera 234 and the voice data input through the voice input means 236 are processed according to the video phone protocol and output to the network through the Internet connection unit 242. A video phone and an internet module 250 for processing video and audio data of a counterpart received from the network through the internet access unit 242 according to a video phone protocol to output video and audio data; A video encoder 230 for converting video data output from the video phone and the Internet module 250 into a composite video signal having a predetermined broadcast signal standard and outputting the composite video signal to the television broadcast receiving unit; And And a digital-to-analog converter (232) for converting the audio data output from the video phone and the internet module (250) into an analog signal and outputting the analog signal to the television broadcasting receiver. The method of claim 1 The television receiving means comprises: a tuner 202; An IF module 204 for demodulating the IF broadcast signal output from the tuner and outputting a composite video signal and an audio signal; Providing a mode control signal and a screen adjustment signal in accordance with the user's operation input through the key input means, provides a broadcast tuning signal in the TV mode, processing the key input in the Internet mode to deliver to the video phone and the Internet module Input processing means for; A video switching unit 218 for selecting a video output of the IF module or an output of the video encoder according to a mode control signal; An audio switching unit 206 for selecting an audio output of the IF module or an output of the digital-analog converter according to a mode control signal; A chroma processor 220 which receives an output of the video switching unit and processes the output signal to output an RGB signal; Display means (224) for displaying the RGB signal of the chroma processing unit; And a sound processing unit (210) for processing the output of the audio switching unit and listening to the sound. The videophone according to claim 2, wherein said input processing means is implemented by a microcomputer (216).  3. Videophone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the key input means comprises a keyboard (226) and a mouse (228). The method according to claim 1 or 2, The television receiving unit divides the screen into four screens, and displays the faces of the caller and the other party on the first and second surfaces, respectively, and displays the Internet image on the four screens of the TV screen. The method of claim 5, The video on the four sides of the video phone characterized in that the advertisement. The method of claim 5, And the television receiving means receives the advertisement from the notification providing server, stores the advertisement in the memory, and automatically displays it on the screen when making a call through the videophone.

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