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WO1993010626A1 - Adaptateur d'interface sca/vbi - Google Patents

Adaptateur d'interface sca/vbi Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993010626A1
WO1993010626A1 PCT/US1992/010123 US9210123W WO9310626A1 WO 1993010626 A1 WO1993010626 A1 WO 1993010626A1 US 9210123 W US9210123 W US 9210123W WO 9310626 A1 WO9310626 A1 WO 9310626A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vbi
data
sca
interface adapter
interface
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/010123
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David L. Tseng
Ling-Yuan Tseng
Original Assignee
Tseng David L
Tseng Ling Yuan
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tseng David L, Tseng Ling Yuan filed Critical Tseng David L
Publication of WO1993010626A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993010626A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00095—Systems or arrangements for the transmission of the picture signal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00281—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal
    • H04N1/00283—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal with a television apparatus

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to systems that use subsidiary communication authority (SCA) or television vertical blanking interval (VBI) signal formats for data broadcast and reception. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interface adapter for systems that use SCA or VBI signal formats for data reception and transmission to an external device, such as a data processor or facsimile machine.
  • SCA subsidiary communication authority
  • VBI television vertical blanking interval
  • One-way broadcasting has typically been used for broadcasting information of general interest such as weather reports, headline news, stock market prices, and so forth.
  • information of general interest such as weather reports, headline news, stock market prices, and so forth.
  • groups of users having esoteric interests and unique information distribution requirements are becoming more prevalent. If the number of users interested in a particular type of information is large enough, the use of one-way data broadcasting proves an economic and efficient method for distributing the information.
  • SCA subsidiary communication authority
  • a primary advantage of SCA radio frequency data broadcasting is that hundreds or even thousands of users can receive the same data simultaneously and without significant delay.
  • the data transmission speed for typical SCA data broadcast systems is 9,600 baud for commercial applications.
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • the present invention provides a system that employs an interface adapter for extracting data from either a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of a television signal to transmit data for reproduction on a facsimile machine and/or a data processor, or extracts data from a radio frequency, subsidiary communication authority (SCA) signal for input into a data processor.
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • SCA subsidiary communication authority
  • the present invention provides screening and searching of information transmitted by SCA data transmission by adapting a signal from an SCA radio frequency receiver for input to a data processing device.
  • the data processing device has a large enough memory capacity to store information as rapidly as it is transmitted by SCA.
  • a keyboard may be provided for indexing and text searching the received data, as well as providing sorting functions and display of the selected information.
  • a printer port may be provided for connection to a printer, preferably in the form of a facsimile machine or facsimile card in a personal computer, for producing hard copy for on ⁇ line data transmissions.
  • the present invention permits the SCA interface adapter 110 to provide a connection to a data processing device 140 as an alternative to a facsimile machine 160.
  • An alternative embodiment of the present invention uses the VBI of a television signal for carrying information to common facsimile machines.
  • One advantage of the present invention is the low investment required for enabling a TV station to modulate data onto the TV signal, and the cost of building the VBI adapter is also very low.
  • FIG. 1 is a functional schematic of a system incorporating an SCA adapter in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a detailed functional schematic of an SCA adapter in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG 3 is a functional schematic of an SCA receiver module in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 4 is a functional schematic of a system incorporating a VBI adapter in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a detailed functional schematic of a VBI adapter in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a detailed functional schematic of a system incorporating a VBI adapter in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a detailed functional schematic of a VBI adapter in accordance with the present invention.
  • a data processing device .140 and a facsimile machine 160 are provided for receiving facsimile or data signals from an antenna 122.
  • the signals are received as radio-frequency (RF) signals and are converted in an SCA adapter 110.
  • the data processing device 140 and facsimile machine 160 can receive facsimile or data signals from, or direct facsimile or data signals to, a telephone line 150 in a conventional manner.
  • facsimile machine 160 can be in the form of a facsimile card in a personal computer or a stand alone GUI and/or GIV facsimile machine.
  • the facsimile machine can operate as a printer.
  • the FM subcarrier signal 120 received by an FM antenna 122 is demodulated to extract digital data 130.
  • the digital data 130 is transferred to the data processing device 140 by the SCA adapter 110, which acts as an interface device.
  • the data processing device 140 provides for further processing such as text searching, editing, storage, display, formatting, and so forth.
  • the physical connection between the SCA adapter 110 and the data processing device 140 can be an RS-232 connector, an RJ-11 connector or other commercially available I/O port connector.
  • the data processing device 140 is a notebook personal computer, a lap-top personal computer, a portable personal computer or any such device with I/O and processing capabilities. In practice, the data processing device 140 operates a software controlled operating system to handle data input, output, storage and processing.
  • the data processing device 140 When the data processing device 140 has a fixed location, communication with the outside world is normally accomplished through a telephone line, i.e., wired services for sending and receiving messages and data.
  • a telephone line i.e., wired services for sending and receiving messages and data.
  • an SCA interface adapter 110 provides an efficient and valuable option. This is partially due to the fact that two-way communication is not always desired or necessary.
  • the raw data can be received for studying, but it is not typical that action need be taken immediately.
  • the analysis time will.permit accessing some other form of communication device, and therefore one-way data broadcasting is sensible and attractive.
  • the ability of the data processing device 140 to receive only radio frequency data might not justify its expense, so the system also has the ability to communicate with the outside world through telephone lines 150.
  • the system also permits, in some embodiments, wireless SCA data receiving and wired data transmission to be handled simultaneously through the two communication channels 120 and 150.
  • the operating system of the data processing device 140 is relatively powerful. If it is not desirable to use a data processing device 140 with this degree of power, then the data processing device 140 is provided with the capability to handle one channel at a time through operation of a switch (not shown) associated with the SCA adapter 110 to allow users to choose the priority of the communication channels.
  • the SCA interface adapter 110 is also coupled to a power supply 170.
  • Figure 2 discloses the operational and peripheral components of the system.
  • an antenna 122 receives and sends SCA signals over a data channel 120.
  • the SCA signals are input to an SCA receiver module 211.
  • the SCA receiver module 211 outputs a signal to a microprocessor 213.
  • the microprocessor 213 is associated with the memory 212 for selectively storing and retrieving information and programs.
  • the memory 212 stores, for example, the SCA interface adapter system program, system parameters, error messages and also serves as a data buffer.
  • the microprocessor 213 is also connected by a two- way communication link to a channel controller 218.
  • the channel controller 218 also can receive data directly from memory 212.
  • the channel controller 218 is connected by a two-way communication link to an I/O driver 243.
  • the channel controller 218 is a module which can involve a simple 4-bit computer and serves to arrange the wireless and wired data channel set up and to handle physical data transmission to and from a data processing device via I/O port 242.
  • the I/O driver 243 can be conventional hardwired driver circuitry.
  • the I/O driver 243 establishes two- way communication with a facsimile machine 160 or, alternatively or simultaneously, with one of two or more I/O ports 241 and 242 of a data processing apparatus 140.
  • the first I/O port 241 is a port for I/O transmission of SCA data.
  • the first I/O port 241 is an RS-232 port.
  • the second I/O port 242 is a port for data files and facsimile file transmissions. This port can be another RS-232 port or can alternatively be an RJ-11 port.
  • the microprocessor 213 also receives information from and sends information to an I/O switches and displays unit 219.
  • the I/O switches and display unit 219 can include the keys, switches, LCD displays, LED displays, and so forth, for inputting parameters and displaying messages.
  • the microprocessor 213 is also connected to a data modem 216 and a facsimile modem 217 by two-way communication links.
  • the data modem 216 can be a conventional 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 or 14400 baud rate data modem for modulation and demodulation functions.
  • the facsimile modem 217 can be a standard CCITT facsimile modem for Gil, GUI, GIV or newer version modem with built-in communication protocol.
  • the microprocessor 213 also controls and receives the signals corresponding to a switch 215.
  • the switch 215 is connected to a telephone line interface 214 which, in turn, is connected to a telephone line 150.
  • the switch 215 is a module which will be able to detect whether an incoming file is a data file or a facsimile file. Normally, it would be verified by detecting the facsimile carrier frequency. If the transmitted file is a data file, then the switch 215 switches the data flow to the data modem 216. Otherwise, the switch 215 is set to send the file to the facsimile modem 217.
  • the telephone line interface 214 can be a conventional digital access arrangement (DAA) interface.
  • DAA digital access arrangement
  • the microprocessor 213 is used to determine and handle several tasks including the following.
  • the microprocessor 213 establishes a communication channel based on the configuration set up and the channel switching sequence which is programmed in the microprocessor 213.
  • the microprocessor 213 also tests the line, i.e., whether calls are currently being processed on the line 150. In absence of such a communication, or in the event that signals from the SCA adaptor 110 are assigned a higher priority, the signals received by the microprocessor 213 are applied to the facsimile machine 160 or the data processing device 140.
  • the microprocessor 213 also establishes priority between the wireless channel involving the receiver module 211 and the wired channel 150 involving the telephone line interface 214.
  • the program of the microprocessor 213 is responsive to the absence of the reception of signals from the SCA receiver to control the switch 215 to enable normal communication between the facsimile machine 160 or data processing machine 140 and the telephone line 150.
  • the SCA interface adapter 110 will proceed with a handshaking procedure with the data processing device 140 or facsimile machine 160 to establish the communication channel therebetween.
  • the microprocessor 213 separates and stores, if necessary, the wireless data and the wired data.
  • the conversion of the facsimile file received from a facsimile modem 217 into a data file for input into the data processing device 140, or vice versa, is also controlled by the microprocessor 213.
  • the microprocessor 213 communicates with the data processing device 140 and coordinates operations through operating system software.
  • FIG 3 is a functional schematic of the SCA receiver module 110.
  • the SCA receiver module 110 includes an RF amplifier 310 which receives the FM subcarrier signal over communication channel 120 from the antenna 122.
  • the RF amplifier 310 inputs the amplified radio frequency signal to a mixer 320 for mixing the received RF signals with the oscillations from a local oscillator 330 to produce intermediate frequency oscillations.
  • the intermediate frequency signal is output from the mixer 320 and input to an IF (intermediate frequency) amplifier 340.
  • the intermediate frequency signal is input to an SCA detector 350 to detect intermediate frequency transmissions for SCA transmissions. Once detected, the intermediate frequency signal is input to an SCA decoder 360 to extract digital data from the received signal whereupon the SCA data is output to the microprocessor 213.
  • various communication channels can be set up, as shown in Table 1.
  • Lined Data File ⁇ — > ⁇ — > Data processing device For instance, data received via SCA (SCA file) can be transmitted to the SCA interface adapter 110 and directly to a facsimile machine 160, or can be transmitted to the data processing device 140 for further data processing.
  • the data stored and/or processed in the data processing device 140 can be transmitted through the SCA interface adapter 110 to the facsimile machine 160 and vice versa, and/or be re ⁇ transmitted to a remove device which could be a fax machine or another data processing unit via the telephone line.
  • a facsimile file transmitted over the telephone line 150 can be transferred through the SCA interface adapter 110 to the data processing device 140 for further processing or directly to the facsimile device 160.
  • Data communication over the telephone line 150 can be two-way. Data transmitted over the telephone line 150 can be transmitted through the SCA interface device 110 to the data processing device 160 and vice versa. Various other combinations of this data transfer are shown in Table 1.
  • the SCA interface adapter 110 When the telephone line 150 is not in use (i.e., when the wired communication channel is not initiated) , the SCA interface adapter 110 is placed in a standby status for receiving frequency modulated SCA data. Once an SCA signal has been received and identified as valid data, then the wireless communication channel is set up. When there is no radio frequency modulated SCA signal, then the telephone line 150 is connected so that the SCA interface adapter 110 will be prepared to receive and/or transmit data from the data processing device 140.
  • a priority between the channels is determined.
  • the communication channel with a higher priority will interrupt the lower priority channel and reestablish the channel in due course.
  • the interrupted communication channel can generate an error message to alert the parties or delay the presentation of this message for later communication.
  • a data processing device 140 that can handle two communication channels simultaneously will possess multi-tasking capabilities so that the microprocessor 213 is capable of handling two I/O channels.
  • Multi ⁇ tasking operating systems for personal computers are conventional.
  • a dedicated driver program is preferred. This driver program would be loaded into the data processing device 140 to ensure that jobs raised or responded to by the data processing device 140 will be properly processed by the SCA interface adapter 110.
  • the data received from the SCA could be stored in a memory 212 (either primary or secondary) for later use. Later uses would include search, query, sorting, editing, and so forth.
  • the file created in the data processing device 140 could be transferred to other parties via wired communication channels in addition to the telephone line 150.
  • the need to print out on a real time basis would be fulfilled by the GUI facsimile machine, or other conventional printing device, by directing the SCA file thereto in order to have the file printed out.
  • the wireless channel will have the higher priority due to the nature of one-way communication.
  • An error message can be generated for transmission over the telephone line 150 to inform the sender of the disruption and to instruct him to re-establish the communication link at a later time. If wired communications are given priority and an SCA transmission is disrupted, then a message can be transmitted over the telephone line 150 to the SCA operator to request re-transmission of the SCA signal, if desired. Of course, if the operating system is capable of handling two channels at the same time, such prioritization is unnecessary.
  • the SCA uses the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of a television signal.
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • a television picture is formed by having an electronic gun bombard a phosphorus screen cathode ray tube (CRT) .
  • CRT cathode ray tube
  • the electron beam is scanned.
  • the scanning starts from the upper left corner of the screen and proceeds across the screen from the left to the right and slightly downward in most conventional televisions.
  • the scanning spot retraces rapidly to the position below its starting position and repeats the scanning motion. This scanning motion proceeds until the electron beam ultimately reaches the bottom of the screen. At that point, the spot returns to the top left corner and repeats the process, except that the line of the second scanning field falls between the lines of the first scanning field.
  • successive fields are interlaced, one on top of the other. This arrangement permits two picture fields for each frame, thus greatly reducing the tendency of flicker to appear on the screen.
  • NTSC National Television System Committee
  • a blanking technique is used. In a horizontal direction, the portion of the screen on the right-hand side will be blanked out. In a vertical direction, a portion of the bottom will be blanked out.
  • the vertical blanking area is about 21 horizontal scan lines. However, of these 21 lines, the first 12 lines and the last three lines are reserved for dedicated purposes. This leaves six lines for data transmission such as proposed herein.
  • the digital data is modulated onto the TV signal during the vacant vertical blanking interval.
  • Patent No. 4,991,201 can be replaced with a vertical blanking interval (VBI) adapter 410, thus offering another vehicle for carrying information to common facsimile machines.
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • the VBI adapter 410 as shown in Figure 4 is adapted to receive radio frequency signals from an antenna 422 via communication channel 420 for transmission to a conventional GUI or GIV facsimile machine 460.
  • the facsimile machine 460 can be any conventional facsimile machine including the Gil, the GUI, or the GIV facsimile machines, or a facsimile card in a personal computer.
  • the VBI adapter 410 is also coupled to a power supply 470.
  • the facsimile machine 460 can receive facsimile signals from, and direct facsimile signals to, the telephone line 450 in a conventional manner. In addition, the facsimile machine 460 can receive facsimile signals that have been received from antenna 422 as radio frequency signals and converted in the VBI interface adapter 410.
  • the FCC has assigned 82 television channels for commercial use, each channel occupying a 6 megahertz bandwidth.
  • the 82 channels are divided into two groups, i.e., VHF (very high frequency) channels 2 through 13 with a frequency spectrum from 54 megahertz to 216 megahertz and UHF (ultra high frequency) channels 14 through 82 with a frequency spectrum of 470 megahertz to 890 megahertz.
  • VHF very high frequency
  • UHF ultra high frequency
  • a TV tuner For receiving a television signal, a TV tuner is required.
  • the TV tuner locks onto a frequency which the TV signal has broadcast.
  • VHF and UHF separate tuners are often required, but a full range tuner can cover both VHF and UHF.
  • a video synchronous separator circuit 517 is phased in to match and lock onto the vertical blanking line pulses. After locking onto the VBI signal, the signal of the 13th line through the 18th line, i.e, the vacant vertical blanking interval, will be demodulated. The digital data is thus extracted through demodulation.
  • the antenna 422 receives data which is input to a radio frequency amplifier 511.
  • the amplified radio frequency signal is then input to a mixer 512 which also receives a signal from a local oscillator 513.
  • the mixer 512 mixes the received signal with the locally generated oscillations to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which is input in a picture IF amplifier 514.
  • the picture IF amplifier 514 separates a sound signal and a picture signal.
  • the picture signal is passed to a picture band pass filter 515, then through a video amplifier 516 to a video synchronous separator 517.
  • the adapter 410 of Figure 5 further includes a microprocessor 530 connected to receive the output of the video synchronous separator 517.
  • the program of the microprocessor 530 stored in a memory 531, controls the operation of the changeover switch 532 for connecting either the telephone line 450 or the telephone line interface 540 to the facsimile machine connected to port 541 of the adapter 410.
  • a program of the microprocessor 530 tests the signals received from the VBI for presence of a signal header corresponding to the received facsimile signal.
  • the microprocessor 530 also tests the line 541 to determine the present status of the line, i.e., whether calls are currently being processed thereon via telephone line 450.
  • signals received by the microprocessor 530 (after error checking, if desired) are applied to the facsimile modem 550 for application to changeover switch 532 via the telephone line interface 540.
  • the changeover switch 532 is controlled to connect the interface 540 to the communication line 541 to the facsimile machine.
  • the microprocessor 530 controls the interface 540 to apply a ring current from the generator 551 to the telephone line interface 540 for application to the facsimile machine 460.
  • the signals fed back on line 541 are sensed by the microprocessor 530 to disconnect the ringing current generator 551.
  • the microprocessor 530 is also connected to control an LCD display 560 and to receive and control programming instructions from a keyboard 561.
  • the program of the microprocessor 530 is responsive to an absence of reception of facsimile signals from the VBI receiver to control the changeover switch 532 to enable normal communications between the facsimile machine 460 and the telephone line 450.
  • the adapter 410 will proceed with a handshaking procedure with the facsimile machine 460 to establish a communication channel from the VBI adapter 410 to the facsimile machine 460 via the changeover switch 532. In this instance, there is sufficient time remaining to establish the communication link for receiving the VBI file after the file header of the television broadcast facsimile message has been detected by the VBI adapters 410.
  • the VBI facsimile file has a header at the start of the file, as well as a coded message at the end of the file, which includes the sender's telephone nximber (voice number and/or facsimile number) , ID, file serial number, and so forth, for example.
  • a feedback to the sender via the wired telephone line 450 can be activated to form a closed communication loop with a feedback.
  • an error message can be resent to the information operator for transmission via the TV VBI again, or wired lines via a telephone facsimile.
  • the display 560 can display any desired messages, for example, messages concerning miscalls, calls to be resent, and so forth.
  • the program can be configured to control which of the communication channels has higher priority. If the higher priority has been given to the VBI reception (which is appropriate considering the lack of ready two-way communication) , the adapter will interrupt the communication link of the facsimile machine via the telephone line 582 and establish a communication channel with the VBI adapter 410 to resolve the conflict. In this case, the interrupted file can generate a feedback message to the other party so that the file can be either resent later or the other party may be asked to try again later.
  • the adapter 410 can be set to do nothing upon reception of a VBI signal when the facsimile machine is currently . in use.
  • a skip in the serial number of the message due to the loss of the previous message will be noted, thereby providing the user of the facsimile machine with a prompt to request that the earlier message be resent.
  • the sender's information in the header of the received file can be stored to effect the generation and sending of a feedback message to the sender via a wired telephone line 450 when the telephone line is released.
  • sufficient memory can be provided to store the entire VBI message.
  • the VBI adapter 410 can stand alone or be integral with the facsimile machine 460, or circuit board/module mounted inside a facsimile machine 460 or a personal computer.
  • the PC/facsimile machine 460 receives a VBI signal, it will affect protocol conversion directly and apply the signal to the output of the computer.
  • the switch control returns the message back to the sender, he uses the facsimile modem 550 to do the communication set up.
  • a facsimile wired communication network can be used in a PSTN (public switch telephone network) or on a leased line.
  • PSTN public switch telephone network
  • the system in Figure 6 is yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the VBI interface adapter is also capable of inputting data into a data processing device 640 in addition to a facsimile machine 660.
  • the data processing device 640 and a facsimile machine 660 are provided for receiving facsimile or data signals from a TV antenna 622.
  • the signals are received as radio-frequency television signals and are converted in a VBI interface adapter 610.
  • the data processing device 640 and facsimile machine 660 can receive facsimile or data signals from, or direct facsimile or data signals to, a telephone line 650 in a conventional manner.
  • facsimile machine 660 can be in the form of a facsimile card in a personal computer or a stand alone GUI and/or GIV facsimile machine.
  • the facsimile machine can operate as a printer.
  • the TV signal 620 received by a TV antenna 622 is demodulated to extract digital data 630.
  • the digital data 630 is transferred to the data processing device 640 by the VBI adapter 610, which acts as an interface device.
  • the data processing device 640 provides for further processing such as text searching, editing, storage, display, formatting, and so forth.
  • the physical connection between the VBI adapter 610 and the data processing device 640 can be an RS-232 connector, an RJ-11 connector or other commercially available I/O port connector.
  • the data processing device 640 is a notebook personal computer, a lap-top personal computer, a portable personal computer or any such device with I/O and processing capabilities. In practice, the data processing device 640 operates a software controlled operating system to handle data input, output, storage and processing.
  • VBI interface adapter 610 When the data processing device 640 has a fixed location, communication with the outside world is normally accomplished through a telephone line, i.e., wired services for sending and receiving messages and data. However, when mobility is required or accessibility to a power line socket and/or telephone lines is not readily available, then the use of a VBI interface adapter 610 provides an efficient and valuable option. This is partially due to the fact that two-way communication is not always desired or necessary. The raw data can be received for studying, but it is not typical that action need be taken immediately. Usually the analysis time will permit accessing some other form of communication device, and therefore one-way data broadcasting is sensible and attractive. However, the ability of the data processing device 640 to receive data only from the VBI signal might not justify its expense, so the system also has the ability to communicate with the outside world through telephone lines 650.
  • the system also permits, in some embodiments, wireless VBI data receiving and wired data transmission to be handled simultaneously through two communication channels 620 and 650.
  • the operating system of the data processing device 640 is relatively powerful. If it is not desirable to use a data processing device 640 with this degree of power, then the data processing device 640 is provided with the capability to handle one channel at a time through operation of a switch (not shown) associated with the VBI adapter 610 to allow users to choose the priority of the communication channels.
  • the VBI interface adapter 610 is also coupled to a power supply 670.
  • Figure 7 discloses the operational and peripheral components of the system.
  • the TV antenna 622 receives and sends signals over a data channel 620.
  • the VBI signals are input to a VBI receiver module 711.
  • the VBI receiver module 711 outputs a signal to a microprocessor 713.
  • the microprocessor 713 is associated with the memory 712 for selectively storing and retrieving information and programs.
  • the memory 712 stores, for example, the VBI interface adapter system program, system parameters, error messages and also serves as a data buffer.
  • the microprocessor 713 is also connected by a two- way communication link to a channel controller 718.
  • the channel controller 718 also can receive data directly from memory 712.
  • the channel controller 718 is connected by a two-way communication link to an I/O driver 743.
  • the channel controller 718 is a module which can involve a simple 4-bit computer and serves to arrange the wireless and wired data channel set up and to handle physical data transmission to and from a data processing device via I/O port 742.
  • the I/O driver 743 can be conventional hardwired driver circuitry.
  • the I/O driver 743 establishes two- way communication with a facsimile machine 660 or, alternatively or simultaneously, with one of two or more I/O ports 741 and 742 of a data processing apparatus 140.
  • the first I/O port 741 is a port for I/O transmission of VBI data.
  • the first I/O port 741 is an RS-232 port.
  • the second I/O port 742 is a port for data files and facsimile file transmissions. This port can be another RS-232 port or can alternatively be an RJ-11 port.
  • the microprocessor 713 also receives information from and sends information to an I/O switches and displays unit 719.
  • the I/O switches and displays unit 719 can include the keys, switches, LCD displays, LED displays, and so forth, for inputting parameters and displaying messages.
  • the microprocessor 713 is also connected to a data modem 716 and a facsimile modem 717 by two-way communication links.
  • the data modem 716 can be a conventional 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 or 14400 baud rate data modem for modulation and demodulation functions.
  • the facsimile modem 717 can be a standard CCITT facsimile modem for Gil, GUI, GIV or newer version modem with built-in communication protocol.
  • the microprocessor 713 also controls and receives the signals corresponding to a switch 715. Finally, the switch 715 is connected to a telephone line interface 714 which, in turn, is connected to a telephone line 650.
  • the switch 715 is a module which will be able to detect whether an incoming file is a data file or a facsimile file. Normally, it would be verified by detecting the facsimile carrier frequency. If the transmitted file is a data file, then the switch 715 switches the data flow to the data modem 716. Otherwise, the switch 715 is set to send the file to the facsimile modem 717.
  • the telephone line interface 714 can be a conventional digital access arrangement (DAA) interface.
  • the microprocessor 713 is used to determine and handle several tasks including the following.
  • the microprocessor 713 establishes a communication channel based on the configuration set up and the channel switching sequence which is programmed in the microprocessor 713.
  • the microprocessor 713 also tests the line, i.e., whether calls are currently being processed on the line 650. In the absence of such a communication, or in the event that signals from the VBI adaptor 610 are assigned a higher priority, the signals received by the microprocessor 713 are applied to the facsimile machine 660 or the data processing device 640.
  • the microprocessor 713 also establishes priority between the wireless channel involving the receiver module 711 and the wired channel 650 involving the telephone line interface 714.
  • the program of the microprocessor 713 is responsive to the absence of the reception of signals from the VBI receiver to control the switch 715 to enable normal communication between the facsimile machine 660 or data processing machine 640 and the telephone line 650.
  • the VBI interface adapter 610 will proceed with a handshaking procedure with the data processing device 640 or facsimile machine 660 to establish the communication channel therebetween.
  • the microprocessor 713 separates and stores, if necessary, the wireless data and the wired data.
  • the conversion of the facsimile file received from a facsimile modem 717 into a data file for input into the data processing device 640, or vice versa, is also controlled by the microprocessor 713.
  • the microprocessor 713 communicates with the data processing device 640 and coordinates operations through operating systems software.

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  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Facsimiles In General (AREA)
  • Facsimile Transmission Control (AREA)

Abstract

Des données transmises sur des signaux de format SCA (autorité de communication subsidiaire), à radiofréquence, et par système VBI (intervalle de suppression de trame) de signaux de télévision, sont adaptées à être introduites dans un dispositif externe. Celui-ci peut être un dispositif de traitement de données (140) et/ou un télécopieur (160). L'invention se rapporte à un récepteur servant à récevoir et à démoduler des données à radiofréquence SCA et VBI à partir d'une antenne (122) et d'un microprocesseur (213) afin d'établir et de contrôler la communication entre le récepteur et le dispositif externe.
PCT/US1992/010123 1991-11-22 1992-11-23 Adaptateur d'interface sca/vbi WO1993010626A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79601791A 1991-11-22 1991-11-22
US796,017 1991-11-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993010626A1 true WO1993010626A1 (fr) 1993-05-27

Family

ID=25167047

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1992/010123 WO1993010626A1 (fr) 1991-11-22 1992-11-23 Adaptateur d'interface sca/vbi

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1993010626A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4991201A (en) * 1989-06-07 1991-02-05 Tseng Ling Yuan SCA facsimile adapter
US5023934A (en) * 1988-03-02 1991-06-11 Radair, Inc. Apparatus and method for communication of visual graphic data with radio subcarrier frequencies
US5146612A (en) * 1989-04-17 1992-09-08 Spingarn James L Technique for using a subcarrier frequency of a radio station to transmit, receive and display a message together with audio reproduction of the radio program

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5023934A (en) * 1988-03-02 1991-06-11 Radair, Inc. Apparatus and method for communication of visual graphic data with radio subcarrier frequencies
US5146612A (en) * 1989-04-17 1992-09-08 Spingarn James L Technique for using a subcarrier frequency of a radio station to transmit, receive and display a message together with audio reproduction of the radio program
US4991201A (en) * 1989-06-07 1991-02-05 Tseng Ling Yuan SCA facsimile adapter

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