Local information broadcast system, and broadcast device and broadcast method thereof

• US 20070283386A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hatayama, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,640,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

In a local information broadcast system according to the present invention, a content distribution center distributes broadcast contents of local information to broadcast devices arranged in a service area via a master station. Each of the broadcast devices receives the distributed contents by a communication unit, stores the contents in a storage unit and cyclically outputs the stored contents by an output unit, converts the contents into broadcast signals in a transmission system of a digital broadcast and broadcasts the broadcast signals to the service area by a transmission unit, and provides a receiving terminal capable of receiving digital broadcast in the service area of the local information.

Claims

1. A local information broadcast system, comprising:

a content distribution center which distributes broadcast content by arbitrary local information;

a master station which transmits the broadcast content distributed from the content distribution center to an arbitrary service area;

a broadcast device which is disposed in the arbitrary service area to be connected to the master station via a communication path, and converts the broadcast content distributed from the content distribution center into a broadcast signal in a transmission system of a digital broadcast operated in the service area to broadcast it into the service area; and

a receiving terminal which receives the broadcast signal to be transmitted from the broadcast device when the receiving terminal enters the service area, wherein

the broadcast device comprises a communication unit which receives the broadcast content distributed from the content distribution center;

an storage unit which stores the broadcast content received by the communication unit;

an output unit which cyclically outputs the broadcast content stored in the storage unit; and

a transmitting unit which converts the cyclically output broadcast content into a broadcast signal with a pre-assigned frequency in the transmission system of the digital broadcast to transmit it.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the receiving terminal is a cellular phone terminal which has a reception function to receive the broadcast signal of the digital broadcast.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the communication path is any one of an optical fiber or a coaxial cable, a subscriber system communication network of a cable system of an exclusive line, a subscriber system communication network of a radio system by fixed wireless access or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, a cellular phone line, or a subscriber system communication network using the cellular phone line.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the digital broadcast is a terrestrial digital broadcast.

5. A broadcast device of a local information broadcast system which is disposed in a service area in which broadcast content by arbitrary local information is broadcast, comprising:

a communication unit which receives the broadcast content by the local information transmitted via a communication path;

an storage unit which stores broadcast content received by the communication unit;

an output unit which cyclically outputs the broadcast content stored in the storage unit; and

a transmitting unit which converts the cyclically output broadcast content into a broadcast signal in a transmission system of a digital broadcast operated in the service area to transmit it.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein

the communication path is any one of an optical fiber or a coaxial cable, a subscriber system communication network of a cable system of an exclusive line, a subscriber system communication network of a radio system by fixed wireless access or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, a cellular phone line, or a subscriber system communication network using the cellular phone line.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein

the digital broadcast is a terrestrial digital broadcast, and

the transmitting unit converts the broadcast content into a broadcast signal in a transmission system of the terrestrial digital broadcast to transmit it.

8. A broadcast method of a local information broadcast system which is disposed in a service area in which broadcast content by arbitrary local information is broadcast, comprising:

receiving the broadcast content by the local information transmitted via a communication path;

storing the received broadcast content;

cyclically outputting the stored broadcast content; and

converting the cyclically output broadcast content into a broadcast signal in a transmission system of a digital broadcast operated in the service area to transmit it.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the digital broadcast is a terrestrial digital broadcast, and converts the broadcast content into a broadcast signal in a transmission system of the terrestrial digital broadcast to transmit it.