Media signal broadcasting method, media signal broadcasting system, host device and peripheral device

A media signal broadcasting method, a media signal broadcasting system, a host device and a peripheral device are provided. The media signal broadcasting method is provided. The media signal broadcasting method includes the following steps. A host device and a peripheral device are provided. A first radio signal is received by the peripheral device. The first radio signal is converted to be a second radio signal by the peripheral device. The second radio signal is transmitted to the host device by the peripheral device. The second radio signal is received and is converted to be a media signal by the host device. A third radio signal is received and converted to be the media signal by the host device. The media signal converted from the third radio signal or the second radio signal is played by the host device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates in general to a broadcasting method, a broadcasting system, a host device and a peripheral device, and more particularly to a media signal broadcasting method, a media signal broadcasting system, a host device and a peripheral device.

BACKGROUND

Accompanying advancements in technologies, various electronic devices are constantly progressing. For example, some media devices can broadcast a radio signal received from a radio tower or a network server.

However, in some case, the media device cannot receive the radio signal very well due to the location. The user must move to a new location to try again. It is inconvenient for the user to use the media device.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is directed to a media signal broadcasting method, a media signal broadcasting system, a host device and a peripheral device.

According to one embodiment, a media signal broadcasting method is provided. The media signal broadcasting method includes the following steps. A host device and a peripheral device are provided. A first radio signal is received by the peripheral device. The first radio signal is converted to be a second radio signal by the peripheral device. The second radio signal is transmitted to the host device by the peripheral device. The second radio signal is received and converted to be a media signal by the host device. A third radio signal is received and converted to be the media signal by the host device. The media signal converted from the third radio signal or the second radio signal is played by the host device.

According to another embodiment, a media signal broadcasting system is provided. The media signal broadcasting system includes a host device and a peripheral device. The host device includes a first transceiver, a first processing unit and an outputting unit. The first transceiver is used for receiving a third radio signal. The first processing unit is used for converting the third radio signal to be a media signal. The peripheral device includes a second transceiver and a second processing unit. The second transceiver is used for receiving a first radio signal. The second processing unit is used for converting the first radio signal to be a second radio signal. The first transceiver is used for receiving the second radio signal transmitted from the second transceiver. The first processing unit is further used for converting the second radio signal to be the media signal. The outputting unit is used for playing the media signal converted from the third radio signal or the second radio signal.

According to an alternative embodiment, a peripheral device is provided. The peripheral device includes a transceiver and a processing unit. The transceiver is used for receiving a first radio signal. The processing unit is used for converting the first radio signal to be a second radio signal. A host device is used for receiving the second radio signal and a third radio signal. The second radio signal is transmitted from the transceiver of the peripheral device. The host device is further used for playing a media signal converted from the third radio signal or the second radio signal.

According to another embodiment, a host device is provided. The host device includes a transceiver, a processing unit and an outputting unit. The transceiver is used for receiving a third radio signal and a second radio signal. The second radio signal is converted from a first radio signal received by a peripheral device. The processing unit is used for converting the third radio signal or the second signal radio signal to be a media signal. The outputting unit is for playing the media signal converted from the third radio signal or the second radio signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a media signal broadcasting system1000is shown. The media signal broadcasting system1000includes a host device100and a peripheral device200. The host device100can be a notebook computer, a media player, a smart phone, a tablet computer or a television. The peripheral device200can be an earphone module, a horn module, an antenna module, a remote controller, a computer mouse or a keyboard. The peripheral device200expands the host device100but does not form part of the core architecture. The peripheral device200is often, but not always, partially or completely dependent on the host device100.

The host device100includes, but not limited to, a transceiver110, an outputting unit120, a processing unit130, an inputting unit140and a codec150. The peripheral device200includes, but not limited to, a transceiver210, an outputting unit220, a processing unit230, an inputting unit240and a codec250.

The transceiver110and the transceiver210are respectively used for receiving or transmitting a radio signal. For example, the transceiver110and the transceiver210can be composed of an antenna, a radio frequency module, an amplifier or a modulator.

The outputting unit120and the outputting unit220are used for outputting text data, image data, video data or audio data. For example, the outputting unit120and the outputting unit220can be a display, a speaker or a printer.

The processing unit130and the processing unit230are used for performing varied processing, calculating, or converting, or analyzing procedures. For example, the processing unit130and the processing unit230can be a chip, a circuit firmware, or a storage medium storing a plurality of program codes.

The inputting unit140and the inputting unit240are used for inputting commands or setup data. For example, the inputting unit140and the inputting unit240can be a display having a user interface, a press-button or a scroll button.

InFIG. 2, the elements of the host device100and the peripheral device200are similar. However, in one example, the elements of the host device100and the peripheral device200can be different. For example, the outputting unit220, the inputting unit240and the codec250can be omitted.

InFIG. 2, the transceiver110includes a first circuit111and a second circuit112, and the transceiver210includes a first circuit211and a second circuit212. The first circuits111and the first circuit211are used for receiving a radio signal from a radio tower or a network server. For example, the first circuit111and the first circuit211can be a radio receiving module, a TV receiving module, a wireless network receiving module, or a cell phone receiving module.

The second circuit112and the second circuit212are used for transmitting text data, image data, video data or audio data between the host device100and the peripheral device200. For example, the second circuit112and the second circuit212can be a Bluetooth transmitting module, a wireless network transmitting module.

In one embodiment, the frequency bandwidth corresponding the first circuit111and that corresponding the first circuit211are the same, and the frequency bandwidth corresponding the second circuit112and that corresponding the second circuit212are the same.

In one embodiment, the frequency bandwidth corresponding the first circuit211and that corresponding the second circuit212can be the same, such that the first circuit211and the second circuit212can be integrated into one piece. For example, please referring toFIG. 3A, a peripheral device200′ is shown. InFIG. 3A, the transceiver210′ can serve with the function of first circuit211and the function of the second circuit212.

In one embodiment, the frequency bandwidth corresponding the first circuit111and that corresponding the second circuit112can be the same, such that the first circuit111and the second circuit112can be integrated into one piece. For example, please referring toFIG. 3B, a host device100′ is shown. InFIG. 3A, the transceiver110′ can serve with the function of first circuit111and the function of the second circuit112.

The media signal broadcasting system1000described above can receive a radio signal by the host device100or the peripheral device200selectively. In some case, the host device100cannot receive the radio signal very well due to the location. In that case, the peripheral device200can receive the radio signal and then transmits the content of the radio signal to the host device100. Therefore, the host device100can play the radio signal very well, even if the location is not suitable for receiving the radio signal.

Please referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, a flowchart of a media signal broadcasting method is shown. The operations of the elements of the host device100and the peripheral device200are illustrated by the exemplary flowchart.

In the step S110, the host device100and the peripheral device200are provided.

In the step S120, the operation mode is determined. The operation mode includes a static mode and a dynamic mode. In the static mode, the signal source of the media signal broadcasting system1000is fixed at the host device100or the peripheral device200. In the dynamic mode, the signal source of the media signal broadcasting system1000can be dynamically changed between the host device100and the peripheral device200. If the operation mode is the static mode, then the process proceeds to the step S130; if the operation mode is the dynamic mode, then the process proceeds to the step S160(shown in theFIG. 4B).

In the step S130, the choice of the signal source is determined. The signal source can be preset by the user. If the choice of the signal source is the host device100, then the process proceeds to the step S140; if the choice of the signal source is the peripheral device200, then the process proceeds to the step S150.

In the step S140, a first receiving channel of the host device100is set. For example, the first receiving channel can be a radio channel or a TV channel.

In the step S141, a third radio signal RS3 is received through the first receiving channel by the transceiver110of the host device100. For example, the third radio signal RS3 can be a frequency modulation (FM) signal or a television signal.

In the step S142, the third radio signal RS3 is converted to be a media signal MS by the processing unit130of the host device100.

In the step S143, the media signal MS converted from the third radio signal RS3 is played by the outputting unit120of the host device100.

In the step S150, the first receiving channel of the host device100is set.

In the step S151, a second receiving channel of the peripheral device200corresponding to the first receiving channel is set by the host device100. For example, the second receiving channel can be a radio channel or a TV channel. In this step, the host device100can transmit a command to the peripheral device200for controlling the peripheral device200to set the second receiving channel by the transceiver110and the transceiver210.

In the step S152, a first radio signal RS1 is received through the second receiving channel by the transceiver210of the peripheral device200. For example, the first radio signal RS1 can be a frequency modulation (FM) signal or a television signal.

In the step S153, the first radio signal RS1 is converted to be a second radio signal RS2 by the processing unit230. For example, the second radio signal RS2 can be a Bluetooth signal or a wireless network signal.

In the step S154, the second radio signal RS2 is transmitted to the transceiver110of the host device100by the transceiver210of the peripheral device200.

In the step S155, the second radio signal RS2 is received by the transceiver110of the host device100and converted to be the media signal MS by processing unit130of the host device100.

In the step S156, the media signal MS converted from the second radio signal RS2 which is transmitted from the peripheral device200is played by the outputting unit120of the host device100.

Please referring toFIG. 4B, if the operation mode is the dynamic mode, then the process proceeds to the step S160. In the step S160, the first receiving channel of the host device100is set.

In the step S161, the second receiving channel of the peripheral device200corresponding to the first receiving channel is set by the host device100.

In the step S162, the third radio signal RS3 is received through the first receiving channel by the transceiver110of the host device100.

In the step S163, the quality of the third radio signal RS3 which is received through the first receiving channel of the host device100is read. For example, the quality of the third radio signal RS3 can be determined via a received signal strength indication (RSSI) or a signal to noise ratio (SNR).

In the step S164, whether the quality of the third radio signal RS3 is lower than a predetermined level is determined by the processing unit130. If the quality of the third radio signal RS3 is lower than the predetermined level, then the process proceeds to the step S170; if the quality of the third radio signal RS3 is not lower than the predetermined level, then the process proceeds to the step S180.

In the step S180, the third radio signal RS3 is converted to be the media signal MS by the processing unit130of the host device100.

In the step S181, the media signal MS converted from the third radio signal RS3 is played by the outputting unit120of the host device100.

In the step S170, the first radio signal RS1 is received through the second receiving channel by the transceiver210of the peripheral device200.

In the step S171, the quality of the first radio signal RS1 received through the second receiving channel of the peripheral device200is read by the host device100. In this step, the quality of the first radio signal RS1 can be transmitted from the peripheral device200to the host device100by the transceiver210.

In the step S172, whether the quality of the third radio signal RS3 which is received through the first receiving channel is lower than that of the first radio signal RS1 which is received through the second receiving channel is determined by the processing unit130. If the quality of the third radio signal RS3 is lower than that of the first radio signal RS1, then the process proceeds to the step S190; if the quality of the third radio signal RS3 is not lower than that of the first radio signal RS1, then the process proceeds to the step S180.

In the step S190, the first radio signal RS1 is converted to be the second radio signal RS2 by the processing unit230of the peripheral device200.

In the step S191, the second radio signal RS2 is transmitted to the transceiver110of the host device100by the transceiver210of the peripheral device200.

In the step S192, the second radio signal RS2 is received by the transceiver110of the host device100and converted to be the media signal MS by processing unit130of the host device100.

In the step S193, the media signal MS converted from the second radio signal RS2 which is transmitted from the peripheral device200is played by the outputting unit120of the host device100.

The media signal broadcasting method described above can receive a radio signal by the host device100or the peripheral device200selectively. In some case, the host device100cannot receive the radio signal very well due to the location. In that case, the peripheral device200can receive the radio signal and then transmits the content the radio signal to the host device100. Therefore, the host device100can broadcast the radio signal very well, even if the location is not suitable for receiving the radio signal.