JPH0998164A - Information providing system and output terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more improve convenience for users by simultaneously enjoying plural request services by simultaneously outputting information for external output corresponding to plural requests with one output terminal. SOLUTION: Concerning an information providing system 1, terminal equipment 19 has plural output systems composed of tuners 23a and 23b and monitors 29a and 29b or the like. This output system possesses information outputted from an information center while using a channel selected by the tuners 23a and 23b and based on that information, the monitors 29a and 29b or the like output the information. Thus, since the plural output systems are provided, the terminal equipment 19 can simultaneously output plural kinds of information. Although there is one piece of terminal equipment 19, for example, audio/video signals for KARAOKE can be outputted from one output system and video/audio signals for video can be outputted from the other output system, for example.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises an information center capable of outputting a plurality of types of external output information such as karaoke service and video service from independent information output means, and responds to a request from an output terminal. The present invention relates to an information providing system for providing external output information and an output terminal having a request function used in the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a karaoke system called a centralized management type has been provided which includes an information center equipped with a karaoke performance device and an output terminal for receiving and outputting karaoke performance data which is played and transmitted at the information center. Are known.
In this centralized control type karaoke system, the request input is accepted by each output terminal and transferred to the information center side. The information center causes the karaoke performance device to perform a performance in response to the request, and transmits the karaoke performance data to the output terminal. The output terminal receives the karaoke performance.

According to this centralized control type karaoke system, each output terminal basically only needs to output the transmitted karaoke performance data, so that the karaoke performance function is not necessary and the karaoke performance data is transmitted. There is an advantage that maintenance can be done only on the information center side. for that reason,
For example, place an output terminal in each room of the hotel,
Centralized management has been realized at the information center provided in the room.

There is also a centralized karaoke system that can provide services other than karaoke such as video broadcasting, games, fortune telling, and quizzes. In this case, the output terminal is connected to the information center via a transmission line, and the output terminal transmits video / audio data from a modem or an information center that sends a request number to the information center. It has a tuner for switching to a channel. The display control device and the television monitor for displaying the video data received from the channel switched by the tuner, the amplifier and the speaker for outputting the received audio data, and the like are provided.

For example, when a karaoke request is made from the output terminal to the information center, karaoke voice / video data is transmitted through the transmission path and taken in through the tuner, karaoke voice is output from the speaker, and karaoke video is output from the television monitor. Will be output. Therefore, the user can enjoy karaoke with the karaoke voice as an accompaniment while watching the karaoke video.

When a video request is made, video / audio data of the video is transmitted via the transmission path via the tuner. Therefore, the user can enjoy the video by the video image output from the television monitor and the video sound output from the speaker.

[0007]

As described above, it is possible to enjoy a plurality of services such as karaoke and video with one output terminal. However, any one of the plurality of services can be selected. Will be enjoyed. Thus, for example, when used by a group of multiple people, one person wants to enjoy karaoke and another person wants to watch a video, which cannot be achieved at the same time. Therefore, one of the services is first enjoyed, and after that, another service is enjoyed, and the desired service cannot be enjoyed in real time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one output terminal can simultaneously output external output information corresponding to a plurality of requests to enjoy a plurality of request services at the same time. To allow
It is intended for the convenience of users.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 made in order to solve the above-mentioned object, an information center having a plurality of information output means capable of outputting information for external output; Of the external output information output from the information output means, the multi-channel carrying means for allocating and carrying each one channel, the request receiving means for receiving various requests regarding information provision, and the received request are sent to the information center. External transmission is executed based on the request transmission means, the channel selection means connected to the carrier device to select one channel from the multi-channels, and the external output information acquired from the channel selected by the channel selection means. To an information providing system including an output terminal with a request function including a data output unit that In addition, the output terminal includes a plurality of output systems including the channel selection unit and a data output unit that performs external output based on the external output information acquired from the channel selected by the channel selection unit. It is an information provision system that

According to the information providing system of the present invention, the output terminal is provided with a plurality of output systems including the channel selecting means and the data output means. This output system acquires the external output information output from the information output means of the information center on the channel selected by the channel selection means, and the data output means outputs the external output based on the external output information. To do. Therefore, since a plurality of output systems are provided, the output terminal can simultaneously output a plurality of pieces of external output information.

For example, if it is possible to output an audio / video signal for karaoke from one information output means of the information center and an audio / video signal for video from another information output means, 1 Although it is a single output terminal, an audio / video signal for karaoke can be output from a certain output system and a video / audio signal for video can be output from another output system. Thus, for example, when used in groups of multiple people, some can enjoy karaoke while others can enjoy the video. Of course, the number of output systems is not limited to two and may be three or more.
And, for example, karaoke with three output systems,
You can enjoy different types of services such as video and games, or you can enjoy different titles of video with each of the three output systems.

Further, in the information center according to the present invention, when the information output means outputs the external output information in response to the request from the output terminal, the information center outputs the channel on which the external output information is carried. It has a channel notification function that notifies the output terminal that sent the request. Since the output terminal has a function of controlling the channel selection means so as to automatically switch to the channel notified from the information center, the output terminal automatically selects the appropriate channel without switching the channel. It's convenient because it switches to different channels.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the output terminal is vacant among the plurality of output systems when the request accepted by the request accepting means is a request for providing new external output information. If there is an available output system, the request sending means sends a request to the information center. In other words, as an output terminal, multiple pieces of external output information can be acquired at the same time, so even if an external output process based on external output information has already been executed using a certain output system, other output systems may be available. If
A request for providing new external output information received by the request receiving means may be requested to the information center. However, it is meaningless to make a request if the available output system is not available, and therefore it is not sent to the information center as a request.

In this case, it is preferable that the user who made the request can know the fact.
As shown in, when there is no available output system, the output terminal may be provided with a function of notifying the fact. This notification is made, for example, by display or voice. If the data output means has a video display function and an audio output function, this may be used to make this notification.

On the other hand, the output terminal used in such a system can be constructed as follows. For example, the output terminal according to claim 5 sends a request to a request receiving unit that receives various requests related to information provision, and a request sending unit that sends the received request to a plurality of information output units capable of outputting external output information. Means and, in order to obtain the external output information that is output from the information output means in response to the request and is assigned to one channel of the multi-channel transport means and transported, the multi-channel transport means is connected to the multi-channel transport means. In an output terminal with a request function, comprising: a channel selection means for selecting one channel from the channels; and a data output means for executing an external output based on the external output information acquired from the channel selected by the channel selection means. , The channel selection means and the channel selected by the channel selection means. Characterized in that it comprises a plurality of output lines and a data output means for performing an external output based on the external output information obtained from the tunnel.

According to the output terminal of claim 6, in the output terminal of claim 5, the information center notifies the channel to which the external output information according to the request sent by the request sending means is carried. In the case of being notified, it is characterized by having a function of controlling the channel selecting means so as to automatically switch to the notified channel.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the output terminal according to the fifth or sixth aspect, when the request accepted by the request accepting means is a request for providing new external output information, It is characterized in that it is configured to judge whether or not there is a vacant one, and to send the request to the information center by the request sending means only when there is a vacant output system.

An output terminal according to an eighth aspect is characterized in that, in the output terminal according to the seventh aspect, when there is no available output system, a function of notifying the fact is provided.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment in which the information providing system of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 referred to is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire information providing system. 2 to 6 are block diagrams showing in detail components of the information providing system,
2 is a block diagram of the karaoke service system KS, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the video service system VS, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the system controller 9, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11, and FIG.
It is a block diagram of.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment includes an information center including a karaoke service system KS, a video service system VS, a system controller 9 and a high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11, and the information center and the main line. A plurality of terminal devices 1 connected via 17
9 and 9. The system controller 9 sends a request from the terminal device 19 to the high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11
Through the above, and efficiently controls the above two service systems KS and VS according to the content of the request, thereby functioning as one system for the request from the terminal device 19.

First, the karaoke service system K
S will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the karaoke service system KS has a built-in hard disk (HD
D) A communication server 3 for storing karaoke song data in 33, a plurality of karaoke playing devices 5 for creating and outputting karaoke voice signals and karaoke video signals based on the karaoke song data read from the communication server 3, compact discs A plurality of background image devices 6 for reproducing moving image images recorded on an image record carrier (not shown) such as the above and outputting them to the karaoke performance device 5 as background image information.

The system controller 9 (FIG. 1, FIG. 1) controls the communication server 3, the karaoke playing device 5, and the background image device 6 by giving various instructions.
4), and the system controller 9, the communication server 3, and the karaoke playing device 5 are LANs.
They are mutually connected by (local area network) 11.

The communication server 3 includes a CPU 32 as a control means and a hard disk (HDD) 3
3, R that stores the operating program of the CPU 32, etc.
An OM 34, a RAM 35 for temporarily storing data and the like for arithmetic processing in the CPU 32, an input / output interface (input / output I / F) 36, a communication control device 37 as a communication unit, and the like are provided.

The input / output I / F 36 is connected to the LAN 11, and the CPU 32 can send data to the karaoke playing device 5 or acquire data from the LAN 11 through the input / output I / F 36. The communication control device 37 is a device for executing communication with the host H via a communication line such as a public telephone line, and the CPU 32 transmits data or the like to the host H via the communication control device 37. The data and the like transmitted from the host H can be received.

The karaoke song data for several thousand to 10,000 songs are already stored in the HDD 33 with data numbers for identifying each, and as described above, the karaoke song data is stored in the host by the communication between the CPU 32 and the host H. It is possible to store karaoke song data of new songs transmitted from H. Further, a part of these data can be deleted according to the instruction of the CPU 32. The karaoke piece data is composed of piece number data (corresponding to the above-mentioned data number), which is identification information for identifying pieces of music, and actual data for karaoke performance. The substantial data in this is MIDI (Musical Instrument
nt Digital Interface) performance data and lyrics data that is converted to lyrics.

The karaoke playing device 5 is a LAN 11
An input / output interface (input / output I / F) 51 as a communication means for communicating with the communication server 3 and the system controller 9 by the C, and a C as a control means
A PU 52, a well-known ROM 53 and RAM 54, a video synthesizing device 55, a sound source device 56, etc. are provided.

The CPU 52 can read the karaoke piece data from the communication server 3, and can transfer the performance data of the karaoke piece data to the tone generator 56 and the lyrics data to the image synthesizer 55, respectively. Sound source device 5
6 can convert the digital performance data into an analog karaoke voice signal and output it to the modulator 15 (see FIG. 5) of the high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11;
Reference numeral 5 sends an analog karaoke video signal to the modulator 15 (see FIG. 5) by synthesizing (superimposing) the lyrics data and the background video signal output from the background video device 6 and input to the karaoke playing device 5. can do. In this embodiment, two karaoke playing devices 5 are provided, and signals output from each karaoke playing device 5 are karaoke audio signal 1 and karaoke video signal 1, karaoke audio signal 2 and karaoke video signal, respectively. It will be distinguished as 2.

Next, the video service system VS will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the video service system VS includes a plurality of video reproducing devices VTR (eight in this embodiment) as video reproducing devices, and video reproduction monitoring for monitoring the reproduction state of each video reproducing device VTR. The device 77 and the like are provided.

The video audio signals 1 to 8 output from the eight video playback devices VTR are respectively corresponding modulators 15.
(See FIG. 5). Similarly, the video image signals 1 to 8 output from the video playback device VTR are respectively transmitted via the video playback monitoring device 77 to the corresponding modulators 15.
(See FIG. 5). The video playback monitoring device 77
The video signal is checked and the reproduction state is monitored.

From the video reproduction monitoring device 77, the reproduction status data of the video reproduction device VTR can be transmitted to the system controller 9 through the external I / F 3. Next, the system controller 9 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the system controller 9 includes a CPU 91, a RAM 92 and an R as control means.
A microcomputer including an OM 93 is connected to an external device by an input / output interface (input / output I / F) 94. Specifically, it is connected to the background image device 6 of the karaoke service system KS by an external I / F1, and the karaoke service system K is connected by an external I / F2.
It is connected to the communication server 3 and the karaoke performance device 5 of S, is connected to the video reproduction monitoring device 77 by the external I / F 3, and is connected to the RF modem 14 (see FIG. 5) of the high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11 by the external I / F 4. ing. Further, the CPU 91 has a display 7
5 and a keyboard 76 are connected.

Next, the high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the high frequency modulation / demodulation system 11 of the present embodiment includes a head amplifier 13, an RF modem 14 connected to the head amplifier 13, and ten modulators 15. The RF modem 14 is capable of high frequency modulating a digital signal and demodulating the high frequency signal into a digital signal. Two of the ten modulators 15 are for performing predetermined high frequency modulation on the analog karaoke voice signal and karaoke video signal from the two karaoke playing devices 5, and the remaining eight are A predetermined high frequency modulation is applied to the analog video audio signal and video image signal from the eight video reproduction devices VTR.

The head amplifier 13 can multiplex the signals from the RF modem 14 and the modulators 15 on the channels assigned to the respective signals, and send them to the trunk line 17 of the coaxial cable. The main line 17 has a plurality of terminal devices 19
Are connected, and each terminal device 19 can receive a signal carried by the trunk line 17. The terminal device 19 corresponds to the output terminal of the present invention, and each terminal device 19 is
For example, one unit is installed in each room of a hotel or a restaurant. Further, the head amplifier 13 can also relay the signal transmitted from each terminal device 19 to the RF modem 14. As is clear from this, head amplifier 1
3 and the trunk line 17 constitute the carrying means of the present invention.

Next, the terminal device 19 will be described. Figure 6
As shown in, the terminal device 19 of this embodiment includes a terminal control device 21 as a control means. The terminal control device 21 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and can control the operation of each unit of the terminal device 19.

An operation panel 24 is connected to the terminal control device 21, and a user operates a ten-key (not shown) of the operation panel 24 to input a request for a karaoke piece or to give an instruction to stop playing. Can be entered. Note that this input operation can also be performed using the attached remote controller 25. Further, an input such as a request or a performance stop instruction from the operation panel 24 or the remote controller 25 is received by the terminal control device 21 and then sent to the system controller 9 through the first RF modem 22a or the second RF modem 22b. That is, the terminal control device 21 and the first RF
The modem 22a and the second RF modem 22b constitute the request sending means of the present invention.

The terminal device 19 of this embodiment is provided with two output systems. The first output system is the first RF modem 22a, the first tuner 23a, the first amplifier 26a, the first speaker 27a, and the first speaker 27a. It is composed of one display control device 28a and a first monitor 29a. On the other hand, the second output system is
Second RF modem 22b, second tuner 23b, second amplifier 26b, second speaker 27b, second display control device 28.
b, the second monitor 29b. Since these two output systems have the same function, the description of the function is given in the first section.
Only the constituent elements of the output system of.

The first RF modem 22a is a communication means capable of high-frequency modulating a digital signal and demodulating the high-frequency signal into a digital signal. The terminal control device 21 is connected to the trunk line 17 via the first RF modem 22a. Therefore,
Each terminal device 19 is capable of bidirectional communication with the system controller 9 through the trunk line 17. Also, the terminal control device 21 uses the tuner control signal to send the first tuner 23a.
The channel to be selected can be designated and selected. The first tuner 23a has a main line 1 for the channel.
7 demodulates the transmitted high frequency signal and first amplifier 26
a and the first display control device 28a. That is, the first tuner 23a (and the second tuner 2
3b) corresponds to the channel selecting means of the present invention.

A first speaker 27a is connected to a first amplifier 26 for volume amplification which is connected to the terminal control device 21, and the first speaker 27a outputs a sound based on an electric signal from the first amplifier 26a. Is possible. The first tuner 23a can transfer an audio signal obtained by demodulating the received high frequency signal to the first amplifier 26a, and the first amplifier 26a receives the audio signal transferred from the first tuner 23a and a singing input from the first microphone 30a. The audio signal can be mixed, amplified, and output to the first speaker 27a. Therefore, the user can enjoy karaoke.

Further, a first display control device 28a is connected to the terminal control device 21. Further, the first tuner 23a is connected to the first display control device 28a, and the video signal received by the first tuner 23a and demodulated is transferred to the first display control device 28a. A first monitor 29a is connected to the first display control device 28a, and the first display control device 28a corresponds to the terminal control device 21.
An image based on the instruction from the first tuner 23a and the video signal transferred from the first tuner 23a can be displayed on the first monitor 29a.

As described above, the second RF modem 22b, the second tuner 23b, which are the components of the second output system,
The second amplifier 26b, the second speaker 27b, the second display control device 28b, and the second monitor 29b also exhibit similar functions. The second amplifier 26b can also mix and amplify the audio signal transferred from the second tuner 23b and the singing sound signal input from the second microphone 30b and output the mixed signal to the second speaker 27b. Therefore, this second output You can enjoy karaoke even if you use the system.

Next, the operation of the information providing system 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, the operation of the terminal device 19 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 showing the main processing executed by the terminal control device 21 of the terminal device 19. In the first step S10, the terminal control device 21 of the terminal device 19 waits for a request to be input by operating the operation panel 24 or the remote controller 25. If no request is input, the process proceeds to S40, and it is determined whether there is an end notification from the system controller 9 (this process will be described later), but if a request is input, the process proceeds to S15.

In S15, it is determined whether the first output system is in use. If it is in use, the process proceeds to S55 to determine whether the second output system is in use. Whether the first or second output system is in use is determined by the status flag. The terminal control device 21 stores status flags corresponding to the first and second output systems,
It can be set to "in use" in the processing of S20 and S60 described later, or set to "not in use" in the processing of S50 and S80. The result of this processing is updated and stored as a status flag, and S15 and S55 are based on it.
Is executed.

If the determination in S15 is negative, that is, if the first output system is not in use, the process proceeds to S20. In S20, since data output is performed using this first output system in the following processing, first, the status flag of the first output system is set to "in use". Then, in subsequent S25, the request number is transmitted to the system controller 9. In this case, it is conceivable that the request number information is added to the response signal as a response to the polling from the system controller 9 and the signal is transmitted to the system controller 9 through the first RF modem 22a. Of course, the transmission method is not limited to the polling method.

The request number is also classified into service types by the number itself. In this embodiment, when a karaoke service is requested, the song number, that is, 0 to 39,999 is selected, and when a video service is requested, the number with the fifth digit being "7", that is, It is designed to select from 70,000 to 79,999. Of course, a format in which a desired number is selected after first selecting karaoke or video may be used.

Thus, after transmitting the request number in S25, the system controller 9 waits for a notification of the channel (CH) from the system controller 9 in S30, and if a CH notification is received (S30: YES), the process proceeds to S35. In this case, since the first output system is used, in S35, the first tuner 23a is instructed to select the notified channel, and the first amplifier 26a and the first display control device 28a are operated.

When the karaoke service is selected, for example, the karaoke voice signal and the karaoke video signal are transmitted through the trunk line 17. Therefore, by the channel selection in S35, the karaoke voice signal and the karaoke video signal are transmitted by the first tuner 23a. A video that is demodulated and output based on the karaoke audio signal is output from the first speaker 27a, and an image in which lyrics and a background video are combined based on the karaoke video signal is displayed on the first monitor 29a.
Is displayed in. In addition, when the user inputs a singing voice from the first microphone 30a, the voice signal is mixed with the karaoke voice signal in the first amplifier 26a and is output from the first speaker 27a. Similarly, when the video service is selected, the video based on the video video signal is displayed on the first monitor 29a, and the audio based on the video audio signal is output from the first speaker 27a.

After the process of S35 is completed, the process proceeds to S40. In S40, the system controller 9 waits for an end notification (karaoke performance end notification or video reproduction end notification). If the end notice is received (S40: YE
S) Go to S45, but if there is no end notification (S4
0: NO) The process returns to S10.

In the process of S10 returned in this way, if an affirmative judgment is made, that is, if there is a request, the process proceeds to S15, in which case the first output system is in use.
The process moves to S55. In S55, it is determined whether the second output system is in use, and if the second output system is also in use (S55: YES), the process proceeds to S85. in this case,
Since both the first and second output systems are in use, S
At 85, the user is notified that the request cannot be made. For example, if the operation panel 24 has a display unit, it may be possible to display "Currently cannot be requested" there. After the notification in S85, the process proceeds to S40.

On the other hand, in S55, a negative determination is made, that is, if the second output system is not in use, the process proceeds to S60. In S60, data output is performed using this second output system in the following processing, so the status flag of the second output system is first set to "in use". Then, the same processing as S25 to S35 is executed in S65 to S75.

That is, the request number is transmitted to the system controller 9 in S65. Incidentally. In this case, for example, it is not affected by the type of service outputting the data in the first output system. For example, the same karaoke service may be requested when the karaoke service is being performed on the first output system, or the video service may be requested. That is, there is no restriction that a service different from the service type of the first output system must be requested.

In the subsequent S70, the channel (CH) notification from the system controller 9 is waited, and if the CH notification is received (S70: YES), the process proceeds to S75. In this case, since the second output system is used, in S75,
The second tuner 23b is instructed to select the notified channel, and the second amplifier 26b and the second display control device 28b are selected.
Activate For example, when the karaoke service is selected, the karaoke voice signal and the karaoke video signal are transmitted, so that the channel selection in S75 demodulates them in the second tuner 23b, and the voice based on the karaoke voice signal is generated. Output from the second speaker 27b,
An image in which the lyrics and the background moving image are combined based on the karaoke image signal is displayed on the second monitor 29b. At the same time, if the user inputs a singing voice from the second microphone 30b, the voice signal is mixed with the karaoke voice signal in the second amplifier 26b and the second speaker 2 is operated.
It is output from 7b. Similarly, when the video service is selected, the video based on the video signal for video is displayed on the second monitor 2 as well.
9b, the second audio based on the audio signal for video is displayed.
It is output from the speaker 27b.

After the processing of S75 is completed, the process proceeds to S40. Since the processing in S40 has been described above, it is omitted here, and the processing in S45 executed when the end notification is given will be described. In S45, it is determined whether or not the end notification is the end notification regarding the data output on the first output system side. If it is the end notification regarding the data output on the first output system side, the process proceeds to S50, sets the status flag corresponding to the first output system to "not used", and then returns to S10. On the other hand, if it is not the end notification regarding the data output on the first output system side, the process proceeds to S80, sets the status flag corresponding to the second output system to "not used", and then returns to S10.

In this embodiment, data can be output simultaneously from the two output systems, but since the end notification for the output system of the one that requested first does not necessarily come first, either output system is selected in S45. It is determined whether or not Thus, according to the terminal device 19 of the present embodiment, the two output systems are provided, and the two output systems can simultaneously output data. Therefore, when both are free, data output using the first output system is performed, but there may be a case where a new request is made while data output is being performed by the first output system. Also, if the second output system is vacant, data output using the second output system can be performed. Of course, if there is a request while only the second output system is being used, naturally the data output using the first output system can be performed.

The above is the description of the operation of the terminal device 19. Next, on the side of the information center 1 which receives the request from the terminal device 19 and transmits the audio / video information for karaoke or the video / audio information for video. The operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 to 10 showing the processing in the system controller 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, the system controller 9 sends a service request from the terminal device 19 to the main line 17 → head amplifier 13 → RF modem 14 → external I / F.
Waiting for input via route 4 (see FIGS. 4, 5 etc.) (S110, S120), and if there is a request, S130
Go to and determine the type of request.

If the request is for a video, the flow proceeds to S140 to determine the channel to be allocated, and in S150, the "request reception screen" is displayed on the display 75. This screen shows the preset I
The D number (room number), the video software number, and the device number of the video playback device VTR are displayed.

After that, the system controller 9 waits for a video set for determining the system status of the video service system VS. Here, the operator selects the video software corresponding to the video software number displayed on the display 75 as the video playback device VTR of the displayed device number.
Video playback monitoring device 77
Since (FIG. 3) constantly checks the video signal, it can be understood that the external I / F 3 is reproducing. A video audio signal and a video image signal are output from the video playback device VTR, high frequency modulated by the modulator 15 (FIG. 5), combined by the head amplifier 13, and output to the trunk line 17. Then, the system controller 9 immediately sends the channel number data to the terminal device 19 and the external I / F 4
→ RF modem 14 → head amplifier 13 → main line 17 → terminal device 19 is transmitted through the route.

Returning to FIG. 8, in S160, the system state is determined based on the data from the video reproduction monitoring device 77, and when the video reproduction is confirmed (S170: YES), S is determined.
In step 180, the channel number data is transmitted to the terminal device 19. Thus, the video service is started. During the video service, it is monitored whether there is a request from the terminal device 19 (S190 in FIG. 9), and if there is no request, the system state is determined in S200. S21
At 0, it is determined whether the system state is video end, and if not, the process returns to S190, but if it is completed, S220.
Move to.

In S220, a "service end screen" is displayed on the display 75. On this screen, a preset ID number (room number), video software number, and device number of the video playback device VTR are displayed. If the reproduction is surely completed, the operator extracts the video software from the video reproducing device VTR and presses the confirmation key of the keyboard 76. When the video playback device VTR is stopped due to an operator's erroneous operation or the like, the video playback device VTR is made to play the video and then a predetermined key on the keyboard 76 is pressed to notify the restart. ing.

In S230, the system state is determined, and S2
At 40, the video stop is confirmed from the system state.
When it is confirmed that the video has stopped (S240: YES),
In S250, the terminal device 19 side is notified of the end, and S of FIG.
Return to 110. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in S190, that is, if there is a request from the terminal device 19, the process proceeds to S280, and the process for a request from another terminal device 19 is performed.

The above is the processing when it is judged in S130 that the request type is video. Next, in S13
A process when it is determined that the request type is 0 and the request type is karaoke will be described. In this case, S29 of FIG.
After shifting to 0, the terminal device 19 is first replied to the performance request. This is to reply whether the request response is possible or not. Then, in subsequent S300, the karaoke performance device 5 which is not currently used is requested to play the requested song number.

The karaoke performance device 5 which has received the performance instruction,
The karaoke piece data of the designated piece number is requested to the communication server 3. The communication server 3 extracts the requested data from the karaoke piece data stored in the HDD 33 in advance and transmits it to the karaoke playing device 5. The karaoke playing device 5 temporarily stores the received karaoke piece data in the RAM 54. This completes the performance preparation, and sends a notification of preparation completion to the system controller 9. Upon receiving the preparation completion notification of the karaoke performance service from the karaoke performance device 5 in S320, the system controller 9 transmits the channel number data to the terminal device 19 in S330. This channel number data is external I / F4 → RF modem 14 → head amplifier 13
→ Main route 17 → Sent via the route of the terminal device 19.

In subsequent S340, a service start request is issued to the karaoke playing device 5. As a result, the karaoke voice signal and the karaoke video signal are transmitted from the karaoke playing device 5 to the modulator 15, and the transmitted karaoke voice signal and the karaoke video signal are sent to the head amplifier 13 and the main line 17.
Is transmitted to the terminal device 19 side via.

Although the karaoke service is started in this way, during the karaoke service, it is monitored whether or not there is a request from the terminal device 19 (S350). If the status notifications regarding the end of karaoke are received and the notifications indicate the end of karaoke performance (S370: YES), S38.
The process shifts to 0, notifies the end to the terminal device 19 side, and returns to S110 of FIG.

On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in S350, that is, if there is a request from the terminal device 19, the process proceeds to S280 in FIG. 9 and the process for a request from another terminal device 19 is performed. In the information providing system 1 of the present embodiment that operates as described above, the terminal device 19 includes two output systems. Each output system is provided with tuners 23a and 23b for selecting a channel, and external output information (karaoke voice / video information or video image / video information for karaoke) output from the information center 1 side on the selected channel. Voice information). Then, the amplifiers 26a and 26b and the speakers 27a and 27b for audio output, the display control devices 28a and 28b and the monitor 2 for video output.
Data is output from 9a and 29b.

Since the two output systems are provided in this manner, the terminal device 19 can simultaneously output a plurality of pieces of external output information. Therefore, for example, even when the karaoke service is being enjoyed on the first output system, the video service can be enjoyed on the second output system. Therefore, for example, when using one terminal device 19 in a group of a plurality of people, some people can enjoy karaoke and at the same time another person can enjoy a video.

Further, in the terminal device 19 of the present embodiment, the terminal control device 21 sends the tuner control signal to the first tuner 23a or the second tuner 23b so as to automatically switch to the channel notified from the system controller 9. Is convenient because the user can switch to the appropriate channel automatically without having to switch the channel manually.

Furthermore, in the information providing system 1 of this embodiment, the information center 1 side can provide two types of services, a karaoke service and a video service. One of them is the video service. about,
The identification number of the record carrier (video cassette, optical disk, etc.) on which the requested video software is recorded and the identification number of the video playback device VTR that sets it are displayed on the display 75, and the operator follows the instruction. All that is required is to search for the recorded record carrier and set it in the indicated video playback device VTR. After that, the system controller 9 confirms the preparation for starting playback in the video playback device VTR, and sends the request to the terminal device 19 that sends the channel on which the video audio / video signal is carried.
Automatically notifies you, which makes the work of the operator very easy.

Therefore, for example, in the case of a system in which an operator accepts a video request from a user by telephone (listening to the title of video software), sets it in a vacant VCR, etc. and reproduces it, it is unfamiliar. The operator may not be able to fully understand the series of procedures and may not be able to understand the operation of the equipment, so it may take a long time to start the service, or a different operation may be provided due to an operation error. In that case, such inconvenience does not occur.

In particular, not only the identification number of the storage carrier but also the identification number of the video reproducing device VTR to be set is displayed. Therefore, for example, a display content such as "set video cassette number 12 to video deck 5" given that,
You only have to work according to the instructions, there are few mistakes and the working time is shortened.

Although the present invention has been described above according to the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and can be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the terminal device 19 is provided with two output systems, but the number of output systems is not limited to two and may be three or more.
Then, for example, if the information center 1 is configured to be able to provide game services in addition to the above-mentioned karaoke and video, it is possible to enjoy different types of services such as karaoke, video, and game with three output systems. . Even with the same service, for example, video software of different titles can be enjoyed with three output systems.

In the case of the above embodiment, the terminal device 1
In FIG. 9, a status flag indicating “in use” or “not in use” is stored for each of the two output systems, and if both output systems are “in use”, no request is made. This determination may be executed on the system controller 9 side. For example, the current service provision number is stored for each terminal device 19, and the service provision number is 2
When there is a further request from the terminal device 19, which is one of the two terminals, it may be notified that the request is impossible.

In the case of the above embodiment, the terminal device 1
Although it was determined whether or not the request could not be made based on the convenience on the 9 side, that is, whether or not there is an available output system, of course, the number of karaoke playing devices 5 and video playback devices VTR on the information center 1 side and the terminal device 19 Depending on the relationship with the number, even if the terminal device 19 has an output system that can be used, the corresponding karaoke playing device 5 or video playback device VTR
It is possible that there is no vacancy. In that case, the system controller 9 may notify the terminal device 19 that the request cannot be accepted, and the terminal device 19 may display the request on the first monitor 29a or the second monitor 29b.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entire information providing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke service system which is a component of the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video service system which is a component of the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system controller which is a component of the information providing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a high frequency modulation / demodulation system which is a component of the information providing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device which is a component of the information providing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the terminal control device of the terminal device of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of processing executed by the system controller of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing executed by the system controller of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing executed by the system controller of the embodiment and mainly showing the processing relating to the karaoke service.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information providing system 3 ... Communication server 5 ... Karaoke performance device 6 ... Background image device 9 ... System controller 11 ... High frequency modulation / demodulation system 13 ... Head amplifier 14 ... RF modem 15 ... Modulator 17 ... Trunk line 19 ... Terminal device 21 ... Terminal control device 22a ... 1st RF modem 22b ... 2nd RF modem 23a ... 1st tuner 23b ... 2nd tuner 24 ... Operation panel 25 ... Remote control 26a ... 1st amplifier 26b ... 2nd amplifier 27a ... 1st speaker 27b ... 2nd speaker 28a ... 1st display control apparatus 28b ... 2nd display control apparatus 29a ... 1st monitor 29b ... 2nd monitor 30a ... 1st microphone 30b ... 2nd microphone KS ... Karaoke service system VS ... Video service system VTR ... Video reproduction apparatus

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information center comprising a plurality of information output means capable of outputting information for external output, and multi-channel conveyance for allocating and transmitting the information for external output outputted from the plurality of information output means to one channel respectively. Means, request accepting means for accepting various requests relating to information provision, request sending means for sending the accepted requests to an information center, and channel selecting means connected to the carrier to select one channel from the multi-channels. An information providing system including a request function-equipped output terminal including a data output unit that performs external output based on the external output information acquired from the channel selected by the channel selection unit, wherein the output terminal is , The channel selecting means and the channel selecting means An information providing system comprising a plurality of output systems including data output means for performing external output based on the external output information acquired from the selected channel. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein when the information center outputs external output information in response to a request from the output terminal from the information output means, the external output information is A channel notification function is provided to notify the output terminal that has sent the request of the channel to be carried, and the output terminal controls the channel selection means so as to automatically switch to the channel notified from the information center. An information providing system characterized by having a function to perform. 3. The information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the request received by the request receiving unit is a new external output information providing request,
It is configured to judge whether or not there is a vacant output system among the plurality of output systems, and to transmit a request to the information center by the request transmission means only when there is a vacant output system. Characteristic information provision system. 4. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the output terminal has a function of notifying that when there is no available output system. . 5. A request accepting means for accepting various requests relating to information provision, a request sending means for sending the accepted request to an information center having a plurality of information output means capable of outputting information for external output, and the request. In response to the external output information which is output from the information output means and is assigned to one channel of the multi-channel transport means and is transported, one channel is selected from the multi-channels by being connected to the transport means. In the output terminal with a request function, the output terminal having a channel selecting unit for performing the external output based on the external output information acquired from the channel selected by the channel selecting unit, Obtained from the channel selected by the channel selection means Output terminals, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of output lines and a data output means for performing an external output based on Kigaibu output information. 6. The output terminal according to claim 5, wherein when the information center notifies the channel to which the external output information according to the request sent by the request sending means is conveyed, the notification is given. An output terminal having a function of controlling the channel selection means so as to automatically switch to another channel. 7. The output terminal according to claim 5, wherein when the request accepted by the request accepting unit is a request for providing new external output information, the output terminal is vacant among the plurality of output systems. An output terminal configured to judge whether or not there is an available output system and to send a request to the information center by the request sending means only when there is an available output system. 8. The output terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a function of notifying that there is no vacant output system.