JPS58201480A - Receiver of television character multiplex broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the average queuing time to all progams and to eliminate the need for the reservation, by providing a multi-page memory storing a suitable number of programs and switching the program to be stored automatically. CONSTITUTION:A character signal of a television character multiplex broadcast is connected to a buffer memory 5 via an extracting circuit 4, stored in a multi- page memory 17 at a CPU6, transferred and outputted to a pattern memory 7 and a color memory 8 when a program selecting device 10 is selected. In the operation of the CPU, when a program index packet (PIP) transmitting the program number of a character broadcast program during the transmission is detected, the storage of the program number and the switching time are set at a timer RAM 21 for the initial set of ther eserved program, and the character signal is stored in the multi-page memory 17. The content of storage is switched automatically for each prescribed time with the timer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention is a method for transmitting video signals of television broadcasting waves up to 91 meters vertically! The present invention relates to a television teletext receiving device that is broadcast overlapping the erasure period, and particularly relates to a television teletext receiving device equipped with a multi-page memory.

According to the report of the Radio Technology Council in March 1982, television teletext broadcasting is carried out using the method described below.

On the teletext screen, this section is a small section (color block) based on the full-page fixed display page (full display section).
divided into The number of color blocks that make up the entire display section is
The result is a combination of 527 blocks of 31 blocks horizontally and 17 stages vertically. The number of pixels constituting a color block is 8 dots horizontally x 12 dots vertically, and the entire display section is composed of 248 dots horizontally x 204 dots vertically, for a total of 50,592 dots. A horizontal row of pixels is called a pattern line, and the entire display section is composed of 204 pattern lines.

All digital data signals (character signals) for teletext broadcasting, such as dot information and control signals obtained by scanning characters and graphic patterns horizontally and decomposing the image into 248 dots per pattern line, are divided into data packets as a unit. 1st ot-+ (273rd in even field)-1 of the scanning line number in the vertical blanking period of the television video signal
to the 21st H (the 284th H) in a time-division manner for each data packet. Data packets include page control packets (PCP) that transmit control signals related to the entire page, such as program numbers and page numbers.
), color code packets (CC) that transmit color signals specifying coloring, flickering, concealment, etc. for each color block
P), a pattern data packet (
PDP) (the aforementioned one pattern line is included in one PDP packet), a horizontal scroll data packet (HDP) that transmits a signal for horizontal scrolling, and a program index packet (PIP) that transmits the program number of the teletext program that is being transmitted.
), and dummy packets (DMP) that are sent when broadcast data packets cannot be transmitted in the superimposed section. A data packet consists of a header section and an information data section that follows it. The header section contains a clock run-in signal (CR) for synchronization, a framing code signal (FC) for frame synchronization, and information indicating the type of broadcasting service. The information data section consists of a service identification/interrupt signal (SI/UN) indicating the type of data packet, and a data identification signal (DI) indicating the type of data packet. The information data portion consists of 248 bits, and the entire data packet consists of 296 bits.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional television teletext receiving apparatus. In the configuration, the components of an ordinary television receiver include a tuner 2 to which an antenna 1 is connected, and a cathode ray tube 1 via an intermediate frequency amplification circuit 3, a video amplification circuit 16, and an output interface circuit 12.
3 and configured. In the character signal receiving section, an intermediate frequency amplification circuit 3 is connected to a buffer 7 memory 5 via a sampling circuit 4, and a central processing unit (CPU') 6 such as a microprocessor and a pattern memory 7 are connected to each other.
and color memory 8, program selection device 10, ROM 14 and R
AM15 are respectively connected through the path line 9,
A readout control circuit 11 is connected to the pattern memory 7 and color memory 8.
are connected to the output interface circuit 12.

In operation, a television signal received by the antenna 11 and superimposed with a character signal is channel-selected by the tuner 2 and converted into a video intermediate frequency, and further amplified and detected by the video intermediate frequency amplification circuit 3 and converted into a video signal. Ru. When receiving normal television broadcasting, this video signal is amplified by a video amplification circuit 16 and driven to a cathode ray tube 13 via an output interface circuit 12. On the other hand, in the case of receiving teletext broadcasting, the handling circuit 4 separates the character signal superimposed on the video signal from the video signal, and this character signal is temporarily stored in the -H buffer memory 5.

The buffer 7 memory 5 stores one packet worth of character signals, and then waits for the next character signal to arrive, since the rate of character signals sent out is much faster than the data processing speed of the CPt and I6. In the meantime, the CPU 6 is used to emit information as necessary. Among the stored character signals, the signal of the teletext program selected by the program selection device 10 is read out from the buffer memory 5 by the CPU 6 and subjected to data processing, and the character pattern data is sent to the pattern memory 7 and the color data is sent to the color memory 8. Each is transferred and stored via the pass line 9. The procedure for the CPU 6 to process character signals is stored in the ROM 14, and
The AM 15 is used to temporarily store and store data during the processing. When one page of data is stored in the pattern memory 7 and color memory 8, the readout control circuit 11 sequentially outputs the stored data and displays the character screen on the cathode ray tube 13 via the output interface circuit 12. Display is performed.

Since television teletext broadcasting utilizes the vertical blanking period of the video signal of the television broadcast radio wave, it takes approximately 3 seconds to transmit one page of data. Therefore, 1
Assuming that all programs are composed of one page and 10 teletext programs are being transmitted, it takes a maximum of 30 seconds and an average of 15 seconds of waiting time from when a program is selected until it is actually displayed on the screen. If one program consists of multiple pages or if the number of broadcast programs increases, the amount of time available will further increase. In order to eliminate this waiting time, a receiving device equipped with a multi-page memory that can reserve and store several programs in advance has been proposed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a television teletext receiving apparatus equipped with a multi-page memory. The difference in configuration from the device shown in FIG. 1 is that a multi-page memory 17 having a capacity for a plurality of pages is connected to the pass line 9. In operation, the character signals of the programs reserved by the viewer using the program selection device 10 are always transferred from the buffer memory 5 to the multi-page memory 17 by the CP[J6, and the latest character signals of the reserved programs are always transferred to the multi-page memory 17. Memorized and preset.

When a viewer selects a reserved program using the program selection device 10, the CPU 6 transfers the character signal stored in the multi-page memory 17 to the pattern memory 7 and color memory 8, so that the selected teletext is immediately displayed on the screen. will be displayed. Therefore, if a multi-page memory capable of storing all pages of all programs being broadcast is provided, all programs will be displayed without waiting time.

However, it is uneconomical to increase the capacity of the multi-page memory unnecessarily. Furthermore, if a certain limit is placed on the capacity of the multi-page memory, the number of programs that can be stored will be limited, and thus the viewer will be required to select and reserve a program in advance.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a television teletext receiving device equipped with a multi-page memory that covers all programs with a multi-page memory of an appropriate capacity and does not require reservation operations by the viewer. .

To summarize, the present invention provides a multi-page memory capable of storing an appropriate number of programs, and automatically switches reserved programs stored in the multi-page memory at regular intervals.

The above objects and other objects and effects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a television teletext receiving apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

The difference in configuration from the device shown in FIG. 2 is that it includes a program number RAM 20 for storing an index signal (PIP in the radio technology council report system) for transmitting the program number of the teletext broadcast being transmitted; The pass line 9 is provided with a timer RAM 21 for defining a fixed time for switching reserved programs.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of the operating procedure of the CPU 6 when the reserved program is selectively switched in the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.
It is a team. The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be explained using FIG. 4.

The operation starts when a power switch (not shown) is turned on.The program number RAM 20 and timer RAM 21 are cleared.First, in step S1, wait for a character signal to be received and stored in the buffer memory 5, and then If so, the process moves to step S2 and it is determined whether or not it is PIP.The operation until the character signal is stored in the buffer 7 memory 5 is the same as in the above case.Step S2
If it is determined that it is not PfP, the process moves to step S8, and it is determined that the timer RAM is not set (at this stage, the timer RAM is in a clear state).
, it is determined that the process will proceed to step 81.3 and that the process will continue unless the power switch is turned off, and the process returns to step S1 again. The above operations are repeated until I'IP is received.

When the PIP is received, the process moves from step S2 to step $3, where it is stored in the PrPIfi address number RAM, and then, at step $4, the timer value of the timer RAM2'l is set.

This timer value defines a certain period of time for switching reserved programs. A timer value of 1 means one cycle of the operations shown in flowcharts 1 to . The timer value is the time required for one round of operation: <The timer value is converted into time. An example of a desirable timer value is the total number of pages of all programs x 3 seconds (3 seconds is the time required to transmit character signals for one page as described above, and this value is the number of pages of all programs x 3 seconds). This means the time it takes for the teletext program to be sent out.A value corresponding to the number can be considered.If this is done, the reserved program will be changed every time the teletext program is sent out repeatedly.

Subsequently, the process moves to step S5, where it is determined that it is the first PIF, and the process moves to step $6.

In step S6, the initial setting of reserved programs, which will be explained below, is performed. This operation is performed by filling the contents of PIP already stored in the program number RAM 20 in step $3. For example, if 1 page T of all programs: 10 programs (programs 1 to 10) are being transmitted and the storage capacity of the multi-page memory 17 is one page of 4 pages, then the first four programs (programs 1 to 10) are being transmitted. 4 programs) are first set as reserved programs. The multi-page memory 17 stores the character signal of the set reserved program.

The storage operation is similar to the case where the viewer performs the reservation operation described above.

Subsequently, in step S7, the timer RAM 21 is set to the above-mentioned timer value. Next, in step S8, timer RA
It is determined that M21 is set, and step S
The process moves to step 9, where it is determined that the timer value count described below has not finished (the timer RAM 21 has just been set), and the process moves to step 312.

In step 812, the timer value of the timer RAM 21 set in step S7 is counted. Specifically, the timer value set in the timer RAM 21 is decreased by 1. Thereafter, each time the operations shown in the flowchart complete one cycle, the number is decreased by one in step S7. When the set timer value becomes ○, counting of the timer value ends.

Next, the process moves to step S13, and unless the power switch is turned off, the process moves to step S1 again to wait for the arrival of the next character signal. According to the report of the above-mentioned radio wave technology IF&IL association, PIF is transmitted approximately every 5 seconds, so during that time, PIF
This will result in receiving character signals other than . Therefore, until the next PIP is received, steps S1 → S2 → S8 → S
The operation of 9→S12→S13→S1 will be repeated.

That is, it is determined in step S2 that it is not PrP, and the process moves to step S8, and it is determined that the timer RAM 21 is set, and the process moves to step S9. In step S9, it is determined that the counting has not ended (it takes several minutes to complete the counting under normal settings as described above), and the process moves to step S12, where the timer value is counted. The process then moves to step 813, and returns to step S1 again unless the power switch is turned off.

When the next PDP is received, it is determined at step $2 that it is a PIF, and the process moves to step S3, where a new PIP is stored in the program number RAM 20.

Subsequently, in step $4, the timer value of the timer RAM 21 is set based on the newly stored PrPl. As will be described later, this operation has a practical meaning when changing the reserved program.The LA determines in step S5 that it is not the first PIF, moves to step S8, and sets the timer RAM 21. It is determined that there is, and the process moves to step S9. As mentioned above, the count ends
Since it takes several minutes, it is determined in step S9 that the counting is not completed, and the process moves to step 312, where the timer value is counted. Unless the power switch is turned off, it is determined in step 813 to continue, and the process returns to step S1/\.

By repeating the above operations, counting of the timer value ends after several minutes. If PIP is received immediately after that, the process proceeds to step S9 via steps S2→S3→S4→S5→S8. If a character signal other than PIP is received, the process goes through step $2 → S8 and then step S9.
Move to.

That is, in the case of PIP reception, it is determined in step S2 that it is PIP, and the process moves to step S3 to receive a new PIP.
The IP is stored in the program specific RAM 20. Subsequently, in step S4, a timer value is set based on a new PrP, and in step S5, it is determined that it is not the first PIF, and the process moves to step S8. In step S8, timer R
It is determined that AM21 is set, and the process moves to step $9.

In addition, when receiving character signals other than PIP, step $2
At step $8, it is determined that it is not a PIF, and the process moves to step S8. At step $8, it is determined that the timer RAM 21 is set, and the process moves to step S9.

In step S9, it is determined that the timer value has finished counting, and the process moves to step S10.

In step S10, the reserved program is changed. In the above example, the next four programs (programs 5 and 11 to 8) following the first four programs are set as reserved programs. What should be noted here is that in step S3, the program number RA
The RvIT PIP is always stored in the M20. Even if there is a decrease in the number of programs on the way, reservations will always be made accordingly. For example, if six programs have finished broadcasting in the above example, programs 5, 7, and 8.9 will be set as reserved programs as the next four programs following the first four programs.

Next, in step S11, the timer value in the timer RAM 21 is reset. The timer value to be reset is the one that is always set based on the latest 1] IP in step $4. Therefore, as in the previous case,
Even if the number of programs changes during the program, the corresponding timer value is always set.

Subsequently, in step 812, a timer (direct count) is performed, and in step S13, it is determined that the process continues unless the N source switch is turned off, and the process returns to step S1.

By repeating the above operations, a different set is automatically switched and stored in the multi-page memory 17 at regular intervals. When the viewer selects a program reserved in this manner, a character screen is immediately displayed by the same operation as the apparatus shown in FIG. If there is no program selected by the viewer among the reserved programs, a waiting time is required. However, since reserved programs are automatically switched, the average waiting time will be reduced overall. For example, in the example above, 1
Since 4 out of 0 programs are automatically switched and reserved,
The average waiting time is 2.5 times less than without a reservation.
decreases to

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a multi-page memory with a certain capacity, it is possible to reduce the average waiting time for all programs, and it is also possible to reduce the need for viewers to select and reserve programs. This has the effect of eliminating

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional TV teletext receiving device, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a TV teletext receiving device equipped with a multi-page memory,
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a TV teletext receiving device which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a CP used when automatically switching reserved programs in the device shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the operation procedure of U6. In the figure, 1 is an antenna, 2 is a tuner, 3 is an intermediate frequency amplification circuit, 4 is a character signal sampling circuit, 5 is a buffer 7 memory, 6 is a central processing unit, 7 is a pattern memory, 8 is a color memory, and 9 is a path line, 10 is a teletext program selection device, 11 is a continuous control circuit, 12 is an output interface circuit, 13 is a cathode ray tube, 14 (≠RO~1.15
16 is a video amplification circuit, 17 is a multi-page memory, 20 is a program number RAM, and 21 is a timer RAM. Representative Kuzuno 1 word - (1 outsider)
Name〉Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A device for receiving character signals for television text multiplex broadcasting having a plurality of programs, which is broadcast superimposed on the vertical blanking period of the video signal of television broadcast waves, and which is the above-mentioned revised A television text multiplexing system comprising: a multi-page memory for pre-storing the text signal of at least one of the programs as a reserved program; and means for automatically switching the reserved program at predetermined fixed time intervals. Broadcast receiving device!
. (2) The character signal includes an index signal for transmitting the program number of the teletext broadcast that is being transmitted, and the index signal is periodically transmitted, and the switching means always operates based on the latest index signal. 2. The television teletext multiplexing receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switching means is a means for performing said switching.