MXPA00002713A - Adapter device and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

A network system (1) which is capable of promoting the use of networks and making the use of a console (3) valuable has an adapter device (4) that comprises an interface (41) for electrically connecting to a console (3) having a controller, a transmitter (42) for processing a signal representative of information from the console (3) which has been entered via the interface (41), and an antenna (43) for transmitting an analog signal generated by the transmitter (42).

Description

ADAPTER DEVICE AND NETWORK SYSTEM Technical Field The present invention relates to an adapter device for transmitting an analog signal emitted from an electronic device to a network, and to a network system incorporating said adapter device. BACKGROUND ART Console-type CPU systems including personal computers for home use, machines for television games, and control boxes, available in recent years, can be employed while in communication with remote locations over telephone lines. It is a general practice to connect a console of this type to a network such as the Internet or the like with a cable through an analog telephone line or a digital communication network. For example, the console is connected through a modular cable to an internal modular socket connected to a network. Recently, mobile telephone services that include a portable telephone and PHS (Personal Portable Telephone System) as a radiotelephone have had wide use. When the aforementioned console is connected to a radiotelephone, the console can be connected to a network such as the Internet or the like. In this case, the console is directly connected to the network through a radiotelephone with an adapter such as a dedicated modem, a connection adapter, or the like. The adapters for use between radiotelephones and consoles include an adapter that incorporate a mobile phone function, as well as the dedicated modem and the connection adapter. These adapters are usually available as options. To date, the connection of a console to a network has posed the following problems: Since the console requires its installation and use near the modular socket, the console suffers from a limitation as to its location. It is tedious and time-consuming to connect the console to the socket as a modular cable is required to interconnect the console and the modular socket.

A television game machine or a control box is normally used in a certain fixed position, for example, it is connected to a television in a living room. Therefore, a modular socket must be installed near a television game machine or a control box. Portable telephones or PHS suffer from other problems insofar as they cover only limited geographical regions, can not take sufficiently strong radio waves in general residential areas other than municipal areas as well as external environments, and can not be used inside buildings and condominiums. The above problems have presented an obstacle to the efforts of users in the sense of connecting consoles for use at home to public networks. Due to this obstacle, applications that use networks have not been able to spread. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter device capable of promoting the use of networks and of making use of a valuable console, and a network system incorporating said adapter device. Presentation of the invention The adapter device according to the present invention can transmit an analog signal representative of information coming from the console, which has been processed by the transmission signal processing device, to the first telephone, and the first telephone can emit the information coming from the console, which is obtained based on the analog signal received, to the public telephone line. Accordingly, the adapter device can employ an existing analog communication system that has generally been in wide use, making use of the valuable communication system. The adapter device allows the console to be connected to the public telephone line regardless of where the modular socket is located, without worrying about cables, to the extent that the console is located in an address. The adapter device can be manufactured easily. In the network system according to the present invention, an adapter device can transmit an analog signal representative of information coming from the console, which has been processed by the transmission signal processing device of the adapter device, to the first telephone , and the first telephone can emit the information coming from the console, which is obtained based on the received analog signal, towards the public telephone line. Accordingly, the network system can employ an existing analog communication system that has been generally in widespread use, making use of the valuable communication system. In addition, the network system allows the console to be connected to the public telephone line regardless of where the modular socket is located, without concern for cables, as long as the console is located in the home. The adapter device can be easily manufactured. In the adapter device according to the present invention, a transmission device can transmit an analog signal representative of the information coming from the console, which has been processed by the transmission signal processing device, towards the reception device, and the receiving device can emit the information coming from the console that is obtained based on the received analog signal, towards the public telephone line. In addition, the adapter device allows the console to be connected to the public telephone line regardless of where the modular socket is located without worrying about cables, insofar as the console is located in the home. The adapter device can be easily manufactured. Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The aforementioned objects, features and advantages as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a network system according to the present invention showing how signals are sent and signals are received between a master device and an adapter device; Figure 2 is a block diagram of an analog wireless telephone system constructed based on the network system illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a blog diagram of a video entertainment system in the form of a console connected to the adapter device and a master device, constructed based on the network system illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the video entertainment system and the master device illustrated in Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 are a flow chart of a processing sequence of the network system; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a video entertainment system in the form of a console and an adapter device formed to correspond to the video entertainment system. PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVENTION As shown in Figure 1, a network system 1 according to the present invention comprises a first telephone (master device) 2 connected to a public telephone line (public telephone network) 11 through a cable, for transmitting and receiving an analog radio signal representing a desired information to a second telephone and from a second telephone (dependent device) 21 (see figure 2) with transmission / reception devices 13, 14, 15, a console 3 having a control device, and an adapter device 4 electrically connected to the console 3. The components of the network system will be described in detail below. The first telephone 2 is connected to the public telephone network 11 by a cable with a modular jack or the like, and serves as a master device. The second telephone 21 can transmit and receive desired information in the form of a radio signal to the master device 2 and from the master device 2, and serves as the dependent device. The master device 2 comprises a NCU (Network Control Unit) 12, a transmitter 13, an antenna 14, a receiver 15, a microcomputer 16, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 17. The transmitter 13, the antenna 14 , and the receiver 15 together constitute a transmission / reception device. The NCU 12 serves as a controller for connection to the public telephone line 11, and controls the signals as they are entered from the public telephone line 11 and emitted towards the public telephone line 11. The transmitter 13 processes a signal that has been input to Starting from a remote subscriber starting from the NCU 12. The transmitter 13 has a high frequency transmission circuit, and modulates a signal from a transmitter in accordance with an analog modulation process. The antenna 14 transmits and receives a radio signal to the adapter device 4 or to the dependent device 21 and from the adapter device 4 or the dependent device 21. For example, the antenna 14 transmits a signal processed by the transmitter 13 to the adapter device 4 or towards the dependent device 21, and receives a signal transmitted from the adapter device 4 or dependent device 21. The receiver 15 processes a signal received by the antenna 14, that is, a signal transmitted from the device adapter 4 or dependent device 21. Receiver 15 has a high frequency reception circuit, and demodulates a signal received by antenna 14. For example, receiver 15 receives a modulated signal representing information from console 3 to through an antenna 43 of the adapter device 4 and the antenna 14 of the master device 12, and demodulates the received signal to obtain the ormation. The signal (information) processed by the receiver 15 is sent by the NCU 12 to the public telephone line 11. The microcomputer 16 serves to control the components of the master device 2, ie the NCU 12, the transmitter 13, and the receiver 15. ROM 17 serves as a memory device for storing various information elements. For example, the ROM 17 stores programs for the microcomputer 16. The ROM 17 also stores a dependent device ID (identification) to identify the dependent device 21 that is located in the second telephone apparatus 21. Specifically, the dependent device ID is employed by the master device 2 to check the dependent device 21 that has sent a communication request to the master device 2. The master device 2 of the previous structure can transmit and receive analog signals to and from the dependent device 21 and also to and from of the adapter device 4 through wireless links. The master device 2 is constructed as the master device of an analog wireless telephone system for use at home or an equivalent device. Only the microcomputer 16 and the ROM 17 are in the form of digital circuits, while the other components of the master device 2 are in the form of analog circuits. The master device 2 and the dependent device 21 transmit and receive analog information signals between them in accordance with a given protocol. The adapter device 4 has a plurality of protocols, and transmits and receives signals to and from a master device 2 in accordance with a protocol selected among these protocols corresponding to the master device 2. Since the adapter device 4 has several protocols , it is not limited to its use with the master device 2, but is compatible with a plurality of master devices having different protocols. The dependent device 21 which is the second telephone apparatus 21 is constructed as shown in Figure 2, for example. As shown in Figure 2, the dependent device 21 comprises a keyboard (operating part) 22, a microphone 23, a speaker 24, a display unit 25, a battery 26, a CPU 27, a signal processor / transmission reception 28, and an antenna 29. The keyboard 22, which the user operates manually to enter various control signals, has buttons "0" to "9", "*", "#" as ten keys. When the user operates the keyboard 22, the CPU 27 controls several components of the dependent device 21 according to the control signals input by the user through the keyboard 22. The microphone 23 detects a voice signal coming from the user. A voice signal detected by the microphone 23 is processed, for example, modulated in an analog manner, and then transmitted to the dependent device 2.

The horn 24 sends a voice signal. Specifically, the horn 24 emits a voice signal that has been input by a subscriber making a call or receiving a call to which the dependent device 21 has been connected, and transmitted from the public telephone line 11 through the device master 2. The display unit 25 serves to display various information elements. For example, the display unit 25 displays information elements that depend on control signals entered by the user through the keyboard 22, for example, a telephone number. The battery 26 supplies electrical power to the dependent device 21. The transmit / receive signal processor 28 processes signals to be transmitted to the master device 2 through the antenna 29, and also processes signals received from the master device 2 through the antenna 29. The transmit / receive signal processor 28 has a high frequency transmission / reception circuit, and modulates and demodulates signals in an analogical manner. The CPU 27 serves to control the components of the dependent device 21. For example, the CPU 27 controls the components of the dependent device 21, for example, the display unit 25, according to the control signals input by the user through the keyboard 22 .

The dependent device 21 of the above structure can transmit and receive analog modulated signals to the master device 2 and from the master device 2 according to a given protocol. The master device 2 may consist of a power source 31, a CPU 32, and a transmit / receive signal processor 33, as shown in Figure 2. The transmit / receive signal processor has the transmitter 13 and the receiver 15 illustrated in Figure 1, as for example. The master device 2 is generally connected to the public telephone line 11 through a cable with a modular jack 34. The master device 2 and the dependent device 21 together form what is known as an analogue wireless telephone system. The adapter device 4 illustrated in Figure 1 is added to and forms part of the analogue wireless telephone system constructed in this way. The adapter device 4 which allows the master device 2 and the console 3 to transmit and receive analog signals representing the desired information will be described below. As shown in Figure 1, the adapter device 4 has an interface 41 as a connection device for making an electrical connection with the console 3 having a control device that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), not illustrated , a transmitter 42 as transmission signal processing devices for processing a signal representative of the information entered from the console 3 through the interface 41, and an antenna 43 as a transmission element for transmitting an analog signal generated by the transmitter 42. The adapter device 4 also has a receiver 44 for processing a signal transmitted from the master device 2 and received by the antenna 43, a microcomputer 45 for controlling various components of the adapter device 4, and a single memory. 46 reading as a memory device for storing various data. The interface 41 is electrically connected to the console 3 and transfers various information elements between the console 3 and the adapter device 4. The transmitter 42 processes a signal from the console 3 and transmits the processed signal through the antenna 43. Specifically, the transmitter 42 has a high frequency transmission circuit, and modulates a signal from the console 3 in accordance with an analog modulation process, and transmits the modulated signal through the antenna 43. The transmitter 42 21. It can be of a construction substantially similar to the transmit / receive signal processor 28 of the dependent device 21. Accordingly, the adapter device 4 can be assembled using the transmit / receive signal processor 28 as the transmitter 42. The antenna 43 serves to transmit signals to the master device 2 and to receive signals from the master device 2. The receiver 44 processes a signal received by the antenna 43 and obtains information from the master device 2 based on the processed signal. The receiver 44 has a high frequency reception circuit, and demodulates a signal received by the antenna 43 and obtains information from the master device 2 based on the demodulated signal. The receiver 44 can also be substantially of the same construction as the transmit / receive signal processor 28 of the dependent device 21. Thus, the adapter device 4 can be assembled using the transmit / receive signal processor 28 as the receiver 44. The microcomputer 45 serves to control the components of the adapter device 4, ie, the transmitter 42 and the receiver 44. The read-only memory 46 serves as a memory device for storing various information elements. For example, read-only memory 46 stores programs for the microcomputer 45.

The adapter device 4 constructed in this way processes a signal representing the desired information that has been generated by the console 3, for example, modulates the signal in an analogical manner, and transmits the processed signal to the master device 2. The master device 2 processes a transmitted signal from the adapter device 4 in the same manner as it processes a transmitted signal from a dependent device 21. Specifically, the master device 2 receives a signal transmitted from the adapter device 4 and demodulates the received signal to obtain a generated information in console 3 based on the signal. The master device 2 sends the signal coming from the console 3 to the public telephone line 11 in the same way as it outputs a signal coming from the dependent device 21. In the adapter device 4 it can transmit signals to the master device 2 and receive signals from the master device 2, the microcomputer 45 and the read-only memory 46 are in the form of digital circuits, as in the case of the master device 2. Other components of the adapter device 4 that the microcomputer 45 and the read-only memory 46 present the shape of analog circuits. The microcomputer 45 can be scaled down to its scale by providing the console 3 with most of the functions that the adapter device 4 must perform. The console 3 comprises a system that has a CPU, such as a personal computer for its use at home, a video game machine (television game machine), as a video entertainment system, or a control box. Figures 3 and 4 show the manner in which the adapter device 4 allows the console 3 to transmit an analog signal to the master device 2 connected by a cable to the public telephone line (public telephone network) 11. The console 3 illustrated in FIGS. Figures 3 and 4 is a video entertainment system or a video game system, and comprises a main body 52 having an integrated CPU and a controller 53 as a manual control device. The console 3 receives power through a power source 54. A display monitor 55 is connected to the main room 52. The console 3 reads a program registered in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc - ROM). ), not illustrated, and run a similar video game based on the program. The program can also be read in the main body 52 of the console 3 from the public telephone line 11 through the master device 2 and the adapter device 4. The display monitor 55 comprises a television apparatus capable of receiving emissions of general television. For this reason, the display monitor 55 is frequently installed in a living room. The main body 52 serves to process data according to control signals entered through the controller 53 by the user. The controller 53 comprises several buttons and a lever, and sends control signals to the main room 52 when the buttons and the lever are manually operated by the user. The display monitor 55 serves to display video images of data that has been processed by the main body 52. When the controller 53 is operated manually by the user, the console 3 sends various information elements to the adapter device 4. For example , the user manually operates the controller 53 to generate information while viewing the video images displayed on the display monitor 55. The information generated is transmitted from the console 3 through the adapter device 4 to the master device 2. The adapter device 4 illustrated in Figure 3 has a transmit / receive signal processor 51 for processing signals transmitted and received between the adapter device 4 and the master device 2. The transmit / receive signal processor 51 comprises the transmitter 42 and the receiver 44 illustrated in FIG. 1. The network system 1 is constructed in the a described above. A process for transmitting and receiving data in the network system 1 will be described below with reference to figures 5 and 6. In the process, the dependent device 21 requests that the master device 2 establish a telephone circuit. In step SI, the dependent device 21 sends a connection request to the master device 2. In response to the connection request, the master device 2 checks the dependent device ID of the requesting dependent device 21 against a dependent device ID stored in the device. the read-only memory 17 of the master device 2 in step S2. The master device 2 checks the dependent device ID of the requesting dependent device 21 in order to decide whether the dependent device 21 can be connected to the master device 2 or not. If the dependent device ID of the requesting dependent device 21 does not correspond to the dependent device ID in the read-only memory 17, the master device 2 does not allow the connection of the dependent device 21 to the master device 2 in step S21. If the dependent device ID of the dependent device of the requestor 21 corresponds to the dependent device ID in the read-only memory 17, then the master device 2 checks whether the circuit of the analogue wireless telephone system is occupied or not in step S3. The circuit of the analogue wireless telephone system is occupied when no secure connection has been established between the dependent device and the circuit or the circuit is used by another dependent device. If the circuit of the analogue wireless telephone system is occupied in step S3, then the master device 2 performs a busy circuit process in step S31. If the circuit of the analogue wireless telephone system is not busy, that is, it can be used, then the master device 2 looks for an idle channel in step S4. Specifically, the master device 2 searches for an unoccupied channel in a frequency band assigned to the analog wireless telephone system. If no idle channel is available in step S4, then the master device 2 performs a busy channel process in step S41. If an idle channel is available in step S4, then the master device 2 sets the idle channel as an active channel in step S5. The master device 2 can now communicate with the dependent device 21 in step S6.

In step S7, a telephone number entered into the dependent device 21 by the user is transmitted to the master device 2. The master device 2 then dials the telephone number transmitted in step S8, and then carries out a connection revision in the Step S9. If the dialed telephone number is busy in the connection check, then the master device 2 performs a busy process in step S91. If the master device 2 is connected to the subscriber of the telephone number dialed in the connection revision, then the master device 2 establishes a link with the subscriber dialed through the public telephone line 11 in the SIO step. Then, the information coming from the console 3 is transmitted to the master device 2 by the adapter device 4. Information coming from the console 3 is then transmitted from the master device 2 to the subscriber marked through the established link. For example, if the dialed subscriber has a device with a display unit, then the information coming from the console 3 is displayed in the display unit. To suspend communication, the dependent device 21 sends a disconnect request to the master device 2 in step S12, and the link is disconnected in response to the disconnect request in step S13. The network system 1 incorporating the adapter device 4 has been described above. With the adapter device 4 added to the analog wireless telephone system, the network system 1 offers a communication system for communication with the console 3. Accordingly, if the adapter device 4 is added to an existing analog wireless telephone system, then a communication system is provided for communication with the console 3. A system including the console 3 can be easily constructed since an existing infrastructure is used. The network system 1 allows the console 3 to be connected to the public telephone line 11 through the adapter device 4 and the master device 2 regardless of where the modular socket 34 is located, without worrying about cables, as far as possible. that console 3 is located at home. The components of the adapter device 4, other than the microcomputer 45 and the read only memory 46, are in the form of analog circuits, and the microcomputer 45 can be reduced in scale since most of the functions can be Accordingly, the adapter device 4 can be constructed in the form of a simple analog circuit, and does not require a complex control circuit and an error correction circuit that can be found in telephone systems digital wireless As a result, the adapter device 4 makes it possible to provide an economical communication system. For the reasons described above, network system 1 allows a network to be built at a low cost since it does not require a modem. The network system 1 will easily find widespread use due to the fact that the public telephone line 11 has already been widely employed. The adapter device 4 can be easily manufactured since it is made from existing units and components that are already present in large quantities. Even if the user does not have an analogue wireless telephone device, that is, even if the user does not have the master device 2, the user can build a communication system connected to the console 3 by using a connected receiving adapter device. to the public telephone line 11. Specifically, a receiving adapter device for receiving a signal from an adapter device 4 is provided, and the receiving adapter device comprises a receiving element for receiving the signal from the adapter device 4 through a wireless link, a reception signal processing device for processing an analog signal received by the receiver in order to obtain information from the console 3, and a connection device connected to the public telephone line 11 for emitting the information, obtained by the receiving signal processing device, from the console 3 to the public telephone line 11- The receiving element comprises an antenna, for example. The receiving signal processing device comprises the transmit / receive signal processor 33 of the master device 2 illustrated in FIG. 2, for example. The connection device comprises the NCU 12 of the master device 2 illustrated in figure 1, for example. Specifically, the receiving adapter device may be identical in structure to a receiving device, provided in the master device 2 connected to the public telephone line 11, to transmit and receive an analog signal representative of information to and from the dependent device 21 through a wireless link. In the aforementioned modification, the receiving adapter and the adapter device 4 transfer analog signals from the console 3 in accordance with a simple protocol. Accordingly, it is possible to transfer information from the console 3 to the public telephone line 11 without using the master device 2. A communication network can be constructed easily and economically by using the receiver of the existing master device 2 as an adapter device. reception. The adapter device 4 may have a suitable shape to correspond to the console 3. For example, if the adapter device 4 is incorporated in the video entertainment system illustrated in figure 4, then, as shown in figure 7 , the adapter device 4 can be constructed in such a way that it can be mounted on the back of the main body 52 of the video entertainment system in a substantially unitary configuration. Since the adapter device 4 is mounted on the back of the main body 52, the user no longer cares about the fact that the adapter device 4 is mounted on the main body 52, and may feel that the console 3, in Yes, it transmits information through the master device 2 to the public telephone line 11.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS An adapter device comprising: a connection device (41) for electrical connection to a console (3) having a control device; a transmission signal processing device (42) to process a signal representative of information coming from the console that has been entered through said connection device; a transmission element (43) for transmitting an analog signal generated by said transmission signal processing device, wherein said adapter device establishes a wireless link with a first telephone apparatus (2) connected through a cable to a line public telephone (11) and having a transmission / reception device (13, 14, 15) (33) to transmit the analog signal to a second telephone device (21) and to receive the analog signal from a second device telephone (21) through a wireless link, the arrangement is such that the information coming from the console is transmitted as an analog signal from said transmission element (43) to said transmission / reception devices (13, 14, 15) (33). An adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said console comprises a video entertainment system (52, 53). An adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting / receiving device includes receiving devices (14, 15) comprising a receiving element (14) for receiving the analog signal from said transmission element (43) through a wireless link, and a signal processing device (15) to process the analog signal received by said receiving element. An adapter device according to claim 1, having a plurality of protocols, wherein one of said protocols corresponding to said first telephone apparatus (2) is selected, and said analog signal is transmitted to said first telephone apparatus ( 2) in accordance with the selected protocol. An adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said first telephone apparatus and said second telephone apparatus comprise a master device and a dependent device, respectively, of an analog wireless telephone system. A network system comprising: a first telephone device (2) connected via a cable to a public telephone line (11) and having transmission / reception devices (13, 14, 15) (33) to transmit and receiving an analog signal representing information to a second telephone device (21) and from a second telephone device (21) via a wireless link; a console (3) having a control device; and an adapter device (4) having a connection device (41) for electrical connection to said console, a transmission signal processing device (42) for processing a signal representative of information from the console that has been entered through said connection device, and a transmission element (43) to transmit an analog signal generated by said transmission signal processing device. A network system according to claim 6, wherein said console comprises a video entertainment system. A network system according to claim 6, wherein said transmitting / receiving devices include receiving devices (14, 15) comprising a receiving element (14) for receiving the analog signal from said transmitting element. (43) through a wireless link, and a signal processing device (15) for processing the analog signal received by said receiving element. A network system according to claim 6, wherein said adapter device (4) has several protocols, and where one of said protocols corresponding to said first telephone apparatus (2) is selected, and said analog signal is transmitted to said first telephone apparatus (2) in accordance with the selected protocol. A network system according to claim 6, wherein said first telephone apparatus and said second telephone apparatus comprise a master device and a dependent device, respectively, of an analog wireless telephone system. A receiving adapter device comprising: a receiving device connected by a cable to a public telephone line (11), wherein said receiving device further comprises a receiving element for receiving an analog signal through a wireless link, a receiving signal processing device for processing the analog signal received by said receiving element, and a connecting device connected to said public telephone line (11) for emitting the information that has been obtained by said receiving signal processing device to said public telephone line (11), wherein said receiving device establishes a wireless link to receive an analog signal from a transmission device (42, 43) to transmit information from a console (3) having a control device, wherein said transmission device (42, 43) further comprises a connecting device (41) for electrically connecting to said console, a transmission signal processing device (42) for processing a signal representative of information from said console that has been entered through said connection device, and a transmission element (43) for transmitting an analog signal generated by said transmission signal processing device, and wherein said receiving element receives the analog signal from said transmission element through said wireless link, said processing device The reception signal process the analog signal to obtain the information from said console, and said connection device sends the information from the console. A receiving adapter device according to claim 11, wherein said receiving device is structurally identical to a receiving device (14, 15) of a first telephone apparatus (2) connected by cable to said public telephone line (11). ), to transmit and receive an analog signal representing information to a second telephone device (21) and from a second telephone device (21) through a wireless link. A receiving adapter device according to claim 12, wherein said console comprises a video entertainment system. A receiving adapter device according to claim 12, wherein said transmission devices (42, 43) and said receiving devices transmit and receive analog signals in accordance with a single protocol. A receiving adapter device according to claim 12, wherein said first telephone apparatus and said second telephone apparatus comprise a master device and a dependent device, respectively, of an analog wireless telephone system.