Facsimile broadcasting receiver

Abstract: A facsimile broadcasting receiver comprising an index program detector and a recording means, the detector detecting an index program number from a facsimile signal. The detected index program number is recorded into the recording means so that the corresponding index program will be automatically recorded.

Description: The present invention relates to a TV facsimile broadcasting receiver for receiving broadcast facsimile signal transmissions. In the near future, what is known as facsimile broadcasting is expected to commence. This broadcast involves having the TV broadcast audio signal multiplexed in frequency with a facsimile signal. TV facsimile broadcasting has been proposed for some time. For instance it was proposed in "NHK Laboratories Note - No. 187, July 1975, JP, Pages 1-17". A transmitter multiplexed a facsimile signal with sound signals and transmitted it. A receiver then decoded it and printed it out or displayed it. In the expected system the facsimile broadcast is to be basically received by reservation. That is, the TV facsimile broadcasting receiver has a program reservation function for receiving broadcast facsimile signals of previously reserved programs. To reserve a desired program requires at least having the receiver input the number representing that program. That in turn necessitates preparation of an index listing the names and numbers of programs that may be received. Thus it is envisaged that an index program will be broadcast every one or two hours. Recording this index program is convenient for TV viewers who may wish to record any of the programs listed in the index. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a facsimile broadcasting receiver capable of automatically recording index programs. In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided a facsimile broadcasting receiver for recording index programs which list the names and numbers of facsimile programs to be broadcast and to be received, said receiver comprising: receiving means for receiving a broadcast facsimile signal multiplexed with a television audio signal and extracting the facsimile signal therefrom; decoding means for decoding said extracted facsimile signal; and a plurality of recording means for recording said decoded facsimile signal; characterised by further comprising an index program detector for detecting and identifying an index program within said decoded facsimile signal; and a user operable recording means selector for selecting one or more of said recording means to record said decoded facsimile signal in response to the detection and identification of an index program by said index program detector. The recording means may include a printer for printing the index program and/or a memory for memorizing it. Preferably the receiver further comprises a controller connected to the output of the selector and the inputs of the plurality of recording means to control operation of said plurality of recording means. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of receiving and recording facsimile broadcast index programs which list the names and numbers of programs to be broadcast, and to be received, comprising the steps of: receiving a broadcast facsimile signal multiplexed with a television audio signal; extracting the facsimile signal from the multiplexed signal; decoding said extracted facsimile signal; and recording said decoded facsimile signal by means of a plurality of recording means; characterised by the further step of: detecting and identifying an index program within said decoded facsimile signal and selecting by a user a desired recording means out of said plurality of recording means; and in that said recording step occurs in response to said detection and identification of said index program in said detecting step and in response to said user selecting step. The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a TV facsimile broadcasting receiver as a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a flowchart of steps to be carried out by the embodiment in index program reservation mode. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate how the embodiment is constructed and how it works. The typical time sequence of facsimile broadcast is depicted in the table below. Page control data contain information such as a program number, page numbers and a total page count. Page end data designates the end of the picture data for one page when that page is found inside a program; the page end data acts as program end data if attached to the last page of the program. Referring to Fig. 1, the output of an antenna 1 is introduced into a receiver 2. On receiving a TV signal, the receiver 2 extracts therefrom a facsimile signal that was multiplexed with the audio signal of the TV signal, and forwards the facsimile signal to a decoder 3. In turn, the decoder 3 decodes the facsimile signal that was coded in four phases. The decoded facsimile signal is output to a G3 facsimile decoder 4 as well as to an index program detector 5. The G3 facsimile decoder 4 expands the facsimile signal that was compressed according to G3 standards. The expanded facsimile signal is output both to a printer 6 and to a memory 7. After detecting an index program number in the facsimile signal, the index program detector 5 outputs an index program start signal to a controller 8; upon detection of a page end data of the last page, the detector 5 sends a program end data to the controller 8. The printer performs its printing operation from the time it receives a print start data from the controller 8 until the time a print stop data is received therefrom. Write and read control data from the controller 8 control write and read operations to and from the memory 7. The read data is output to the printer 6. The controller 8 controls the receiver 2, G3 facsimile decoder 4, printer 6 and memory 7 in accordance with various modes selected at a key panel 9. When index program reservation mode is selected, the steps in the flowchart of Fig. 2 are carried out. The key panel 9 has a number of control keys including an index reservation key, a recording means selection key and a memory reading key. The index reservation key is used to enter or leave index reservation mode. The recording means selection key allows either or both of the printer 6 and memory 7 to be selected as the recording means. The memory reading key reads out contents of the memory 7 when operated. Referring to Fig. 2, pushing the index reservation key on the key panel 9 in the above setup selects index program reservation mode. Then the recording means selection key is used to select either or both of the printer 6 and memory 7 as the recording means. When the index program detector 5 detects an index program number from the facsimile signal output by the decoder 3, an index program start data is output to the controller 8. In response, the controller 8 sends a write control data to the memory 7 if the memory has been selected as the recording means. In this case, the facsimile signal is stored in the memory 7. If the printer 6 has been selected as the recording means, the controller 8 outputs a print start data to the printer 6 so that the printer 6 will print out the facsimile signal contents. When the index program detector 5 detects a page end data of the last page from the facsimile signal, a program end data is output to the controller 8. In turn, the controller 8 stops the write control signal destined to the memory 7 if the memory 7 has been selected as the recording means. This stops the writing of the facsimile signal to the memory 7. If the printer 6 has been selected as the recording means, a print stop data is output to the printer 6, and the printer 6 stops its printing operation accordingly. In this manner, the index program is stored into the memory 7 if the memory 7 has been selected as the recording means. Alternatively, the index program is printed out on printing paper by the printer if the printer 6 has been selected as the recording means. If necessary, the index program stored in the memory 7 is printed out by the printer 6 when the memory reading key is pushed. Because a list of index programs is readily acquired as described, viewers can reserve desired programs with ease by taking a quick look at the list. With this embodiment, the printer 6 and memory 7 are provided as the recording means. One alternative to this configuration is that only one of these two devices is provided as the recording means. Another alternative is the use of any other suitable apparatus as the recording means. As described, the index program detector detects index program numbers from the facsimile signal. On detecting an index program number, the index program detector records the number using the recording means. The apparatus embodying this scheme provides its users with a benefit, among others, of having index programs automatically recorded.

Claims: A facsimile broadcasting receiver for recording index programs which list the names and numbers of facsimile programs to be broadcast and to be received, said receiver comprising: receiving means (2) for receiving a broadcast facsimile signal multiplexed with a television audio signal and extracting the facsimile signal therefrom; decoding means (3) for decoding said extracted facsimile signal; and a plurality of recording means (6,7) for recording said decoded facsimile signal; characterised by further comprising an index program detector (5) for detecting and identifying an index program within said decoded facsimile signal; and a user operable recording means selector (9) for selecting one or more of said recording means (6,7) to record said decoded facsimile signal in response to the detection and identification of an index program by said index program detector (5). A receiver according to claim 1, wherein said decoding means (3) comprise a G3 format facsimile decoder. A receiver according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising a controller (8) connected to the output of the selector (9) and the inputs of the plurality of recording means to control operation of said plurality of recording means (6, 7). A receiver according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said recording means comprise a memory (7). A receiver according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said recording means comprise a printer (6). A method of receiving and recording facsimile broadcast index programs which list the names and numbers of programs to be broadcast, and to be received, comprising the steps of: receiving a broadcast facsimile signal multiplexed with a television audio signal; extracting the facsimile signal from the multiplexed signal; decoding said extracted facsimile signal; and recording said decoded facsimile signal by means of a plurality of recording means (6,7); characterised by the further step of: detecting and identifying an index program within said decoded facsimile signal and selecting by a user a desired recording means (6 and/or 7) out of said plurality of recording means; and in that said recording step occurs in response to said detection and identification of said index program in said detecting step and in response to said user selecting step. A method according to claim 6, wherein said recording step comprises printing said decoded facsimile signal and/or storing it in memory. A method according to claim 7, wherein said printing is controlled to stop when a program end signal is detected.

Inventors: ENDO MITSUNORI, NOHARA SATOSHI, TOFT ROLF, ENDO, MITSUNORI, NOHARA, SATOSHI, TOFT, ROLF
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04N1