Television signal transmission and reception system with multi-screen display for tuning operation

Abstract

Television signal transmission and reception system includes a broadcasting center, a transmission network and many reception terminals. In the broadcasting center, plural television signals corresponding to individual channels are modulated into transmittable form, and a synthesis circuit synthesizes the television signals to produce a synthesis image signal for a multi-screen display comprising plural small screens. Both the ordinary television signal and the synthesis image signal is transmitted with control information to the reception terminals through the transmission network. In the reception terminal, for selecting a desired channel out of the individual channels, the synthesis image signal is used for displaying a multi-screen, a moveable cursor image is superimposed on the multi-screen for designating one small screen corresponding to the desired channel. The channel designated by the cursor image is detected based on the control information, and the television signal of the designated channel is demodulated.

I claim: 
     
       1. System for transmitting television signals corresponding to a plurality of channels from a program supplier to a program receiver, said system comprising: first transmission means in said program supplier for modulating said television signals and transmitting modulated television signals to said program receiver;   second transmission means in said program supplier for synthesizing said television signals to produce at least one synthesis television signal for a multi-screen display, for modulating said at least one synthesis television signal and transmitting a modulated synthesis television signal to said program receiver, said multi-screen display comprising a plurality of sub-screens corresponding to said plurality of channels;   reception means in said program receiver for receiving both said modulated television signals and said modulated synthesis television signal and selectively demodulating one of the received signals;   third transmission means in said program supplier for generating and modulating control information which indicates a correspondence between each of said sub-screens and said plurality of channels and for transmitting the modulated control information to said program receiver; and   selecting means in said program receiver for receiving and demodulating said modulated control information, and for selecting one of said channels corresponding to said sub-screens in said multi-screen display based on said control information when said modulated synthesis television signal is demodulated by said reception means, wherein said selecting means includes,   cursor display means for superimposing a cursor image selectively on one of said sub-screens when said modulated synthesis television signal is demodulated by said reception means;   input means for generating an operation signal in response to an external operation comprising one of a shifting operation and a deciding operation; and   control means for receiving said operation signal from said input means and causing said cursor display means to superimpose said cursor image on another sub-screen when said operation signal corresponds to said shifting operation, and said control means detecting a selected channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which said cursor image is superimposed when receiving said operation signal corresponding to said deciding operation based on said control information, and causing said reception means to demodulate said received signal of said selected channel.   
     
     
       2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means causes said reception means to demodulate an audio signal associated with said received signal of the channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which said cursor image is superimposed. 
     
     
       3. System for transmitting television signals corresponding to a plurality of channels from a program supplier to a program receiver, said system comprising: first transmission means in said program supplier for modulating said television signals and transmitting modulated television signals to said program receiver;   second transmission means in said program supplier for synthesizing said television signals to produce at least one synthesis television signal for a multi-screen display, for modulating said at least one synthesis television signal and transmitting a modulated synthesis television signal to said program receiver, said multi-screen display comprising a plurality of sub-screens corresponding to said plurality of channels;   reception means in said program receiver for receiving both said modulated television signals and said modulated synthesis television signal and selectively demodulating one of the received signals;   third transmission means in said program supplier for generating and modulating control information which indicates a correspondence between each of said sub-screens in said multi-screen display and said plurality of channels and for transmitting the modulated control information to said program receiver;   fourth transmission means in said program supplier for generating and modulating a notification signal which is provided for displaying a notification program for at least one of said channels, and transmitting the modulated notification signal as one of said modulated television signals to said program receiver, wherein said control information further indicates a correspondence between said notification signal and said channel;   selecting means in said program receiver for receiving and demodulating said modulated control information, and for selecting one of said channels corresponding to said sub-screens in said multi-screen display based on said control information when said modulated synthesis television signal is demodulated by said reception means; and   determining means in said program receiver for detecting a correspondence between said notification signal and the channel selected by said selecting means, and for determining whether one of said modulated television signals corresponding to said channel selected by said selecting means and said modulated notification signal is demodulated by said reception means in order to be displayed.   
     
     
       4. Broadcasting system for providing programs corresponding to a plurality of channels as television signals for a transmission network, said broadcasting system comprising: first modulating means for modulating image and audio signals of said programs corresponding to individual channels of said plurality of channels into television signals;   synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of said image signals and producing at least one synthesis image signal by which a multi-screen display having a plurality of sub-screens in one screen is provided;   second modulating means for modulating said at least one synthesis image signal into a television signal;   control information generating means for generating control information which indicates a correspondence between each of said sub-screens and said plurality of channels;   third modulating means for modulating said control information;   transmitting means for receiving output signals of said first, second, and third modulating means, mixing said output signals and supplying a mixed signal to said transmission network;   notification signal generating means for generating a notification signal which is provided for displaying a notification program on at least one of said channels; and   fourth modulating means for modulating said notification signal into a television signal,   wherein said control information further comprises a correspondence between said notification signal and said plurality of channels, and   wherein said transmitting means mixes an output signal of said fourth modulating means with said mixed signal.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus for receiving a plurality of television signals which are transmitted from a broadcasting center with control information and which include a majority of standard television signals corresponding to individual channels and at least one synthesis television signal corresponding to a guide channel by which a multi-screen display having a plurality of sub-screens in one screen is provided, each of said sub-screens being allocated to one of said individual channels, said apparatus comprising: tuning means for receiving said television signals transmitted from said broadcasting center, and for tuning and demodulating one of said television signals;   control information demodulating means for receiving and demodulating said control information transmitted from said broadcasting center;   input means for generating an operation signal according to an external operation;   control means for receiving said operation signal from said input means and said control information from said control information demodulating means, causing said tuning means to tune in said guide channel and to demodulate said at least one synthesis television signal when said operation signal indicates a selection of said guide channel, for detecting a tuning frequency of a selected channel in accordance with said control information when said operation signal indicates a selection of said selected channel out of said individual channels corresponding to said sub-screens in said multi-screen display and for causing said tuning means to tune in said selected channel and to demodulate said standard television signal of said selected channel;   output means for outputting a demodulated television signal supplied from said tuning means; and   cursor display means for superimposing a cursor image selectively on one of said sub-screens when said at least one synthesis television signal is demodulated by said tuning means,   wherein said control means causes said cursor display means to shift said cursor image onto another sub-screen according to said operation signal and detects said tuning frequency of a selected channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which said cursor image is superimposed when receiving said operation signal indicating a decision of said selected channel.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control means causes said tuning means to tune in and demodulate an audio signal of the channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which said cursor image is superimposed. 
     
     
       7. Method for transmitting television signals corresponding to a plurality of channels from a program supplier to a program receiver, said method comprising the steps of: modulating said television signals into transmittable television signals in said program supplier;   synthesizing said television signals to produce a synthesis television signal for a multi-screen display comprising a plurality of sub-screens corresponding to said channels in said program supplier;   modulating said synthesis television signal into a transmittable synthesis television signal in said program supplier;   generating a mixed television signal by mixing said transmittable television signals and said transmittable synthesis television signal in said program supplier;   transmitting said mixed television signal to said program receiver;   receiving said mixed television signal in said program receiver;   selectively demodulating one of said transmittable television signals and said transmittable synthesis television signal in said program receiver;   generating control information for indicating a correspondence between each of said sub-screens and said channels in said program supplier;   modulating said control information into transmittable control information in said program supplier;   adding said transmittable control information to said mixed television signal in said program supplier;   demodulating said transmittable control information in said program supplier; and   selecting one of said channels corresponding to said screens is selected sub-screens based on said control information when said transmittable synthesis television signal is demodulated in said program supplier, wherein said selecting includes the steps of: superimposing a cursor image selectively on one of said sub-screens when said transmittable synthesis television signal is demodulated;   generating an operation signal according to an external operation corresponding to one of a shifting operation and a deciding operation;   shifting said cursor image onto another sub-screen when receiving said operation signal corresponding to said shifting operation;   detecting a decision channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which said cursor image is superimposed based on said control information when receiving said operation signal corresponding to said deciding operation; and   demodulating said transmittable television signal of said decision channel.     
     
     
       8. Method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of: demodulating an audio signal associated with said transmittable television signal of the channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which said cursor image is superimposed.   
     
     
       9. Method for transmitting television signals corresponding to a plurality of channels from a program supplier to a program receiver, said method comprising the steps of: modulating said television signals into transmittable television signals in said program supplier;   synthesizing said television signals to produce a synthesis television signal for a multi-screen display comprising a plurality of sub-screens corresponding to said channels in said program supplier;   modulating said synthesis television signal into a transmittable synthesis television signal in said program supplier;   generating a mixed television signal by mixing said transmittable television signals and said transmittable synthesis television signal in said program supplier;   transmitting said mixed television signal to said program receiver;   receiving said mixed television signal in said program receiver;   selectively demodulating one of said transmittable television signals and said transmittable synthesis television signal in said program receiver;   generating control information for indicating a correspondence between each of said sub-screens and said channels in said program supplier;   modulating said control information into transmittable control information in said program supplier;   adding said transmittable control information to said mixed television signal in said program supplier;   demodulating said transmittable control information in said program supplier;   selecting one of said channels corresponding to said screens is selected sub-screens based on said control information when said transmittable synthesis television signal is demodulated in said program supplier;   generating a notification signal which is provided for displaying a notification program to at least one of said channels in said program supplier;   modulating said notification signal into a transmittable, notification signal in said program supplier;   adding said transmittable notification signal to said mixed television signal in said program supplier;   detecting a correspondence between said notification and the channel selected in said program receiver, wherein said control information further comprises a correspondence between said notification signal and said channel; and   determining whether one of said transmittable television signals corresponding to said channel selected and said transmittable notification signal is demodulated. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  A method for transmitting image signals corresponding to a plurality of channels to a receiver having a display, said method comprising the steps of: synthesizing the image signals to produce a multi-image signal having a plurality of sub-screens corresponding to the channels for the display;   generating a control signal having information for configuring attributes related to displaying the multi-image signal on the display including location of each sub-screen on the display and the channels corresponding to each of the sub-screens;   generating a mixed signal by mixing the image signals, the multi-image signal, and the control signal;   transmitting the mixed signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the control signal further includes information for superimposing a cursor on one of the sub-screens. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the control signal further includes information for displaying a predetermined channel with priority to information for displaying a channel corresponding to one of the sub-screens. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of modulating the image signals, the multi-image signal, and the control signal, prior to said step of transmitting. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the multi-image signal includes image information for displaying a group of the plurality of sub-screens in the multi-image signal on the display, and the control signal includes control information for determining whether a predetermined sub-screen is in the group. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. An apparatus for transmitting image signals corresponding to a plurality of channels to a receiver having a display, said apparatus comprising:   means for synthesizing image signals to produce a multi-image signal having a plurality of sub-screens corresponding to the channels for the display;   means for generating a control signal having information for configuring attributes related to displaying the multi-image signal on the display including information for superimposing a cursor on one of the sub-screens of the multi-image signal when the multi-image signal is displayed and displaying a channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed;   means for generating a mixed signal by mixing the image signals, the multi-image signal, and the control signal; and   transmitting means for transmitting the mixed signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control signal further includes information for displaying a predetermined channel with priority to information for displaying a channel corresponding to one of the sub-screens. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said transmitting means modulates, the image signals, the multi-image signal, and the control signal prior to transmitting. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the multi-image signal includes image information for displaying a group of the plurality of sub-screens in the multi-image signal on the display, and the control signal includes control information for determining whether a predetermined sub-screen is in the group. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A method for receiving image signals at a receiver having a display, said method comprising the steps of:   (1) receiving and demodulating image signals corresponding to a plurality of channels and a multi-image signal for the display, the multi-image signal including a plurality of sub-screens, each sub-screen corresponding to one of the image signals;   (2) receiving and demodulating a control signal having information for configuring attributes related to displaying the multi-image signal on the display including information for superimposing a cursor on one of the sub-screens of the multi-image signal when the multi-image signal is displayed and displaying a channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed;   (3) selecting a sub-screen when the multi-image signal is displayed using the cursor in response to the control signal; and   (4) selecting one channel corresponding to the sub-screen selected in said   
     
     
        step (3) in response to the control signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.20.  The method according to claim 19, wherein the multi-image signal includes image information for displaying a group of the plurality of sub-screens in the multi-image signal on the display, and the control signal includes control information for determining whether a predetermined sub-screen is in the group. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the control signal further includes information for displaying a predetermined channel with priority to information for displaying a channel corresponding to one of the sub-screens. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the multi-image signal and the control signal are generated on a transmission side. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A method for receiving image signals, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving and demodulating both image signals and audio signals corresponding to a plurality of channels and a multi-image signal for the display, the multi-image signal including a plurality of sub-screens, each sub-screen corresponding to one of the image signals;   (2) receiving and demodulating a control signal having information for configuring attributes related to displaying the multi-image signal on the display including information for superimposing a cursor on one of the sub-screens of the multi-image signal when the multi-image signal is displayed and displaying a channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed; and   (3) selecting a channel according to the control signal and reproducing an audio signal of the selected channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed when the multi-image signal is displayed. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An apparatus for receiving image signals having a display, comprising:   receiving means for receiving and demodulating image signals corresponding to a plurality of channels and a multi-image signal for the display, the multi-image signal including a plurality of sub-screens, each sub-screen corresponding to one of the image signals;   control signal demodulating means for receiving and demodulating a control signal having information for configuring attributes related to displaying the multi-image signal on the display including information for superimposing a cursor on one of the sub-screens of the multi-image signal when the multi-image signal is displayed and displaying a channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed;   first selecting means for selecting a sub-screen when the multi-image signal is displayed using the cursor in response to the control signal; and   second selecting means for selecting one channel corresponding to the sub-screen selected by said first selecting means, in response to the   
     
     
        control signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.25.  The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the control signal further includes information for displaying a predetermined channel with priority to information for displaying a channel corresponding to one of the sub-screens. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the multi-image signal includes image information for displaying a group of the plurality of sub-screens in the multi-image signal on the display, and the control signal includes control information for determining whether a predetermined sub-screen is in the group. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An apparatus for receiving image signals, comprising: receiving means for receiving and demodulating both image signals and audio signals corresponding to a plurality of channels and a multi-image signal for the display, the multi-image signal including a plurality of sub-screens, each sub-screen corresponding to one of the image signals;   control signal demodulating means for receiving and demodulating a control signal having information for configuring attributes related to displaying the multi-image signal on the display including information for superimposing a cursor on one of the sub-screens of the multi-image signal when the multi-image signal is displayed and displaying a channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed; and   means for selecting a channel according to the control signal and reproducing an audio signal of the selected channel corresponding to the sub-screen on which the cursor is superimposed when the multi-image signal is displayed. .Iaddend.