KR20080022421A - Tuning method using position information and terminal thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and a terminal for performing a frequency tuning using position information are provided to improve user convenience by decreasing a mute period during the frequency tuning process. A frequency tuning terminal includes a position information extractor, a detector(130), a memory(150), and a controller(160). The detector detects a reception sensitivity of a broadcasting frequency. The memory stores at least one substitute frequency corresponding to the position information. The controller searches for the alternative frequency from the memory based on the position information according to the reception sensitivity and performs a frequency tuning using the alternative frequencies. The memory is an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

Description

Frequency tuning method using position information and its terminal device

1 is a block diagram of a tuning terminal using position information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning method using position information according to the present invention.

<< Explanation of symbols for main part of drawing >>

110: tuner unit 120: decoder unit

130: detection unit 140: GPS module

150: memory unit 160: control unit

The present invention relates to a frequency tuning method, and more particularly, to a frequency tuning method using a location information for automatically tuning to an optimal frequency using the location information of the vehicle obtained from the GPS module and a terminal device thereof. .

Radio Data System (RDS) is a method to provide services such as traffic information, stock information, radio call, station name, and auto-tuning by using subcarriers in FM radio broadcasting that transmits stereo-multiple signals. . A radio terminal equipped with a general GPS module, that is, an audio video navigator (AVN), a navigator, and telematics receives the RDS data and displays the service information in a liquid crystal display. Display through output means such as.

Here, the RDS data may be identified as an alternative frequency list (AF), decoder information (DI), frequency of a broadcasting station, nationality of a broadcasting station, transmission location, etc., which are frequency information of a broadcasting station broadcasting the same program. It includes a program identifier (PI), a program type (PTY), a traffic announcement (TA), and a traffic program (TP).

In the conventional radio terminal capable of receiving the RDS data, the automatic tuning function performs a tuning process by selecting an alternative frequency having the largest reception sensitivity using the alternative frequency list. In other words, the receiver automatically checks the reception sensitivity and searches for and sets the best frequency without having to find and change the frequency every time in order to listen to the optimal radio broadcast. At this time, the radio station loads and transmits a plurality of alternative frequencies corresponding to the currently transmitted frequency. That is, when the reception sensitivity is weakened, the radio receiver checks the reception sensitivity of all alternative frequencies in the alternative frequency list included in the RDS data and selects and tunes an alternative frequency having the largest reception sensitivity. At this time, the radio terminal tests the reception sensitivity of all the alternative frequencies in the alternative frequency list in the mute state so that the listener does not hear the noise generated during tuning. Thus, the listener can continuously listen to the broadcast having a good reception sensitivity.

However, the above-described prior art has the following problems.

When tuning, it checks the reception sensitivity of all alternative frequencies in the alternative frequency list and selects the alternative frequency with the best reception sensitivity. And, since the sound is muted during tuning, the broadcast cannot be heard during that time, causing inconvenience to the listener.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, position information that is quickly tuned to a frequency having the optimal reception sensitivity using the current position information of the vehicle without checking the reception sensitivity of all alternative frequencies An object of the present invention is to provide a tuning method and a terminal apparatus using the same.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above object, the present invention comprises: an extraction unit for extracting location information; A detector for detecting a reception sensitivity of a broadcast frequency; A memory storing one or more alternative frequencies corresponding to the location information; And a control unit controlling to search for and tune an alternative frequency from the memory based on the position information according to the reception sensitivity.

The memory stores a broadcasting station code, an alternative frequency, location information, and tuning success times.

The memory uses EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory).

When a tuning request is generated, the controller performs a selective tuning operation by comparing reception sensitivity of the alternative frequency with the broadcast frequency when an alternative frequency corresponding to the position information is found.

The control unit performs a tuning operation to the substitute frequency and updates the tuning success count in the memory if the substitute frequency has a better reception sensitivity than the broadcast frequency.

The control unit checks the number of tuning successes of the alternative frequency when the substitute frequency has a lower reception sensitivity than the broadcast frequency, and maintains / delete the substitute frequency according to the check result.

The control unit maintains the replacement frequency as it is if the number of tuning successes of the replacement frequency is more than a predetermined number of times, and deletes the replacement frequency if less than the predetermined number of times.

The predetermined number of times may be a measure for determining the reliability of the substitute frequency and may have any value.

The control unit performs a basic tuning operation if the alternative frequency has a lower reception sensitivity than the broadcast frequency or if an alternative frequency corresponding to the position information is not found.

The controller stores the new substitute frequency and the location information tuned through the basic tuning operation in the memory.

According to another feature of the invention the step of detecting the reception sensitivity of the broadcast frequency; Generating a tuning request signal according to the detection result; Searching for an alternative frequency based on current position information according to the tuning request signal; Confirming reception sensitivity of the found substitute frequency as a result of the search; And automatically tuning to the alternative frequency according to the reception sensitivity check.

If the alternative frequency is not found, the basic tuning operation is performed to tune to the new alternative frequency and the new alternative frequency and position information are stored.

The present invention includes the steps of checking the tuning success frequency of the alternative frequency if the alternative frequency is worse than the broadcast frequency reception sensitivity; The method may further include maintaining / deleting the substitute frequency from a memory according to the tuning success frequency of the substitute frequency.

If the number of successful tunings of the replacement frequency is equal to or more than a predetermined number of times, the replacement frequency is kept in the memory, and if less than the predetermined number of times, the replacement frequency is deleted from the memory.

The predetermined number of times may be a measure for determining the reliability of the substitute frequency and may have any value.

The present invention comprises the steps of performing a basic tuning operation with a new alternative frequency; And storing the new substitute frequency together with the location information.

According to the present invention having such a configuration it is possible to quickly perform the frequency tuning operation using the position information.

Hereinafter, a frequency tuning method using a location information according to the present invention and a terminal device thereof will be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a frequency tuning terminal apparatus using position information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the frequency tuning terminal device will be described using an AVN terminal as an example.

According to the above figure, the tuning terminal apparatus extracts and decodes RDS data from the tuner 110 receiving the broadcast signal through the antenna ANT1 and the broadcast signal received from the tuner 110. The decoder 120 is provided. The RDS data includes a broadcasting station code (PI) for identifying a broadcasting station and an alternative frequency (AF) for a broadcasting frequency for receiving the broadcasting signal. The alternative frequency AF includes a plurality of alternative frequencies corresponding to the one broadcast station code PI. In addition, a detection unit 130 for detecting a reception sensitivity of the broadcast signal received through the tuner unit 110, for example, an electric field strength, is provided.

The tuning terminal device is provided with a GPS module 140 for receiving position information such as longitude and latitude from a GPS satellite to calculate and output the current position of the vehicle. The GPS module 140 includes a GPS receiver 142 for receiving the position information through the antenna ANT2 and a speed sensor 144 for detecting the speed of the vehicle. In addition, a position calculator 146 for calculating a current position based on the position information and the vehicle speed is provided.

After the tuning operation of the tuning terminal device is performed, a memory 150 for storing the result of the database is provided. The memory 150 includes a broadcasting station code and an alternative frequency, the current location information of the vehicle provided from the GPS module 140, and the number of tuning successes. Here, the memory 150 may use a storage device that can be written / deleted, such as EEPROM.

When the reception sensitivity sensed by the sensing unit 130 is weakened, a plurality of positions corresponding to the current position information are received by receiving the current position information from the position calculating unit 146 of the GPS module 140 and searching the memory 150. The controller 160 controls to tune to the alternative frequency having the best reception sensitivity among the two alternative frequencies. The alternative frequency is composed of frequencies normally tuned in a previously performed tuning operation. If the broadcast frequency for receiving the broadcast signal after tuning is a new substitute frequency, the controller 160 adds and updates the current position information of the vehicle and the substitute frequency to the memory 150. That is, the result of performing the tuning operation is recorded in the tuning history to be used later.

Hereinafter, a frequency tuning method using position information according to the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The memory 150 stores a plurality of alternative frequencies for each location information and broadcasting station code, and the AVN terminal receives a broadcast signal through the tuner unit 110 while driving. At this time, the detector 130 continuously detects the reception sensitivity of the broadcast signal, and when the signal becomes weak enough that viewing and petition is impossible, the detector 130 generates an event signal requesting frequency tuning (S100). Subsequently, the controller 160 receiving the event signal receives a broadcasting station code (PI) included in the RDS data from the decoder 120 extracting RDS data from the received broadcast signal. When the event signal is received, the controller 160 receives the current position information of the vehicle from the position calculator 146 of the GPS module 140. Based on the broadcasting station code and the current position information, the controller 160 searches for a tuning history corresponding to the broadcasting station code and the current position information among previous tuning histories stored in the memory 150 (S101). That is, the tuning history is searched based on the position information instead of all the alternative frequencies stored in the memory 150. As a result of the search, when the tuning history is found, the controller 160 confirms the reception sensitivity of the alternative frequency in the tuning history (S102). In this case, the alternative frequency having the greatest number of successes among the plurality of alternative frequencies in the tuning history has the highest priority. The reception sensitivity of the alternative frequency is checked according to the priority to select an alternative frequency having the best reception sensitivity. Here, the number of tuning successes indicates the number of times the tune has been tuned to an alternative frequency corresponding to one broadcasting station code included in the broadcasting signal received at one point. As a result of the check, if the reception sensitivity of the alternative frequency is greater than the reception sensitivity of the broadcast frequency, the controller 160 controls the tuner unit 110 to tune to the alternative frequency (S103). Then, the broadcast signal is received using the tuned substitute frequency. The tuning history stored in the memory 150 is updated with the tuning success frequency for the substitute frequency (S109).

On the other hand, if the reception sensitivity of the alternative frequency is less than the reception sensitivity of the broadcast frequency in step 102, it is checked whether the automatic tuning success frequency of the alternative frequency is a predetermined number or more (S104). Here, the predetermined number of times is determined by the user as a reference value that is a measure for determining whether the substitute frequency is reliable data when performing autotuning with one substitute frequency for the broadcast signal at one point. For example, if the user sets the predetermined number to 7, when 10 tunings are performed at the point with the alternative frequency, the tuning is determined that 7 tunings have been normally performed, so that the alternative frequency becomes reliable data. As a result of the check, the control unit 160 fails to tune to the substitute frequency when the success frequency is more than a predetermined number of times, but since the substitute frequency stored in the memory 150 is reliable data, the tuning history for the substitute frequency is determined. The record is kept as is (S105). Alternatively, if the number of successes is less than a predetermined number of times, the controller 160 determines the substitute frequency as unreliable data and deletes the tuning history for the substitute frequency from the memory 150 (S106).

Next, a basic tuning operation of searching for an alternative frequency using the alternative frequency list included in the RDS data is performed (S107). Here, the control unit 160 checks the reception sensitivity of all alternative frequencies of the alternative frequency list included in the RDS data through the detection unit 130. Select and tune an alternative frequency having the best reception sensitivity among all the alternative frequencies. Subsequently, the controller 160 records and updates the broadcasting station code for the corresponding substitute frequency, the substitute frequency which has been successfully tuned, and the current position information from the GPS module in the memory 150 (S108).

On the other hand, if the previous tuning history corresponding to the current position information and the broadcasting station code is not retrieved from the memory 150 in step 101, the basic tuning operation of step 107 is performed.

Then, the position range information that can be tuned to the substitute frequency is reflected in the tuning history of the memory unit 150 (S109). Here, the position range information means the position information of the point where the automatic tuning to the alternate frequency and the distance information from the point to the boundary point capable of receiving a broadcast signal at the alternate frequency. The distance information is determined according to the hardware performance of the terminal device and the surrounding environment receiving the broadcast signal. For example, when there are many media that interfere with the reception of broadcast signals, such as high-rise buildings, the distance information is set to a small radius within several kilometers (km).

On the other hand, when tuning is performed at the same frequency more than a predetermined number of times at one point and tuning is performed at the same frequency at the same point, if the tuning operation fails, tuning is performed to a new frequency. After that, when the tuning operation is performed at the same point, the reception sensitivity is first checked with the most recently successful alternative frequency, that is, the new frequency. If the reception sensitivity of the new frequency is poor, the reception sensitivity is checked from the alternative frequency with the large number of tuning successes. Perform the action.

As described above, in the present invention, since the performance result and the position information according to the tuning operation are stored in the database, the tuning operation can be quickly performed by searching the database according to the position information of the vehicle.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many other modifications based on the present invention will be possible to those skilled in the art within the above technical scope.

In the tuning method using the position information according to the present invention as described above and the terminal device thereof, the following effects can be expected.

Since the result of the tuning operation and the location information are stored in a database, the tuning operation can be performed quickly by searching for an alternative frequency corresponding to the location information of the vehicle. Therefore, the repetition and duration of the mute state during the tuning operation can be reduced, thereby improving the inconvenience of the listener.

Claims (16)

An extraction unit for extracting location information; A detector for detecting a reception sensitivity of a broadcast frequency; A memory storing one or more alternative frequencies corresponding to the location information; And And a control unit which controls to search for and tune an alternative frequency from the memory based on the positional information according to the reception sensitivity. The method of claim 1, And a broadcasting station code, an alternative frequency, location information, and tuning success times. The method of claim 2, And the memory is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). The method of claim 1, The control unit performs a tuning operation selectively by comparing the reception sensitivity of the alternative frequency and the broadcast frequency when an alternative frequency corresponding to the position information is found when a tuning request occurs. Device. The method of claim 4, wherein And the control unit performs a tuning operation with the replacement frequency and updates the number of tuning successes in the memory if the replacement frequency has a better reception sensitivity than the broadcasting frequency. The method of claim 4, wherein The control unit checks the number of successful tunings of the replacement frequency when the replacement frequency is worse than the broadcasting frequency as a result of the comparison, and maintains / delete the replacement frequency according to the checking result. Terminal device. The method of claim 6, And the control unit maintains the substitute frequency as it is if the tuning success frequency of the substitute frequency is more than a predetermined number of times, and deletes the substitute frequency if less than the predetermined number of times. The method of claim 7, wherein And the predetermined number of times is a measure for determining the reliability of the alternative frequency and has an arbitrary value. The method according to claim 1 or 4, And the control unit performs basic tuning if the alternative frequency has a lower reception sensitivity than the broadcast frequency or if no alternative frequency corresponding to the position information is found. The method of claim 9, And the control unit stores the new substitute frequency and the location information tuned through the basic tuning operation in the memory. Detecting reception sensitivity of a broadcast frequency; Generating a tuning request signal according to the detection result; Searching for an alternative frequency based on current position information according to the tuning request signal; Confirming reception sensitivity of the found substitute frequency as a result of the search; And And automatically tuning to the alternative frequency according to the reception sensitivity check. The method of claim 11, And if the alternative frequency is not found, perform a basic tuning operation to tune to a new alternative frequency, and store the new alternative frequency and position information. The method of claim 11, Checking the number of tuning successes of the substitute frequency if the substitute frequency has a lower reception sensitivity than the broadcast frequency; And maintaining / deleting the substitute frequency from a memory according to the number of successful tuning of the substitute frequency. The method of claim 13, And if the number of successful tunings of the substitute frequency is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, maintaining the substitute frequency as it is in the memory, and if less than the predetermined number of times, the substitute frequency is deleted from the memory. The method of claim 14, The predetermined number of times is a measure of determining the reliability of the alternative frequency frequency tuning method using position information, characterized in that it has an arbitrary value. The method of claim 13, Performing a basic tuning operation with a new alternative frequency; And storing the new substitute frequency together with the location information.

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