JPH06188690A - Automatic tracking method for fm broadcasting station - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute automatic tracking of FM broadcasting stations of a same genre through the use of an ID logic memory. CONSTITUTION:In the automatic tracking method of an FM broadcasting station using a prescribed data code included in additional data, when a reception electric field strength of a broadcast station during reception is weak, a broadcasting frequency of a same genre in the same zone or its vicinity zone as the broadcast station during reception is read from a table 11a of an ID logic data memory 11, automatic tracking is applied to each of broadcasting stations of the broadcasting frequency and when a new broadcasting station whose electric field strength is superior and whose code is coincident with a prescribed data code is received, the frequency and additional data of the preceding broadcasting station stored in a memory 14 are revised into a frequency and additional data of the new broadcasting station and the automatic tracking of the FM broadcasting station of the same genre is attained by receiving the new broadcasting station based on the revised frequency and additional data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an FM broadcasting station automatic tracking method for automatically tracking an FM broadcasting station by using a predetermined data code included in additional data, and more particularly to a program of the same genre using a database. The present invention relates to an automatic follow-up method of an FM broadcast station that automatically follows a broadcast station that is broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a car radio is usually operated by a driver, and when a car travels a long distance and goes out of the service area of a receiving station, re-tuning is required each time. , The sophistication of the tuning function has been demanded. Especially in Europe, where FM broadcasting, which has a relatively small service area, is the main body of radio broadcasting services and the ratio of car radio reception is high, this requirement was strong. A digital data multiplexing system standardized by the European Broadcasting Union to meet this demand is RDS (Radio Data System). On the other hand, in the US as well as in Europe, it has been strongly desired to provide additional information for facilitating channel selection and differentiating broadcasting stations due to radio wave conditions. Therefore, NRSC
RBDS (Radio Broadcast Data System), which is a digital data multiplexing system similar to RDS, was standardized mainly by (International Radio System Committee).

This RBDS is a system for superimposing various digital data on an FM radio broadcast signal, and as a message, (1) program (broadcast program) identification data (PI) (2) broadcast station name (PS) (3) ) Broadcasting station frequency list (AF list) broadcasting the same program (4) Program content identification data (PTY data) (5) Transmission status identification data (DI) (6) Music or conversation identification data (M / S) And (7) identification information (TP) of the traffic information broadcasting station and (8) identification data (TA) during the traffic information broadcasting. The above (1) to (6) are information regarding the channel selection function, and (7) and (8) are traffic information. As described above, in the RBDS, the message relating to the FM broadcasting station being received is transmitted in a multiplexed manner, so that the use of the message enables a special tuning operation that has never been possible.

For example, by demodulating a broadcasting station frequency list (AF list) and program content identification data (PTY data) during the same program broadcasting, the received electric field strength of the current receiving station falls below a set level based on these data. If it becomes
The AF field on the F list is sequentially tuned to check the received electric field strength (referred to as AF search), and when the AF station having the maximum received electric field strength is received, the PTY data of the AF station is the same as that of the original receiving station. Determine if it matches the PTY data,
If they match, the AF station is received, and if they do not match, the next maximum AF station is received.

Further, in the past, in the United States, a so-called ID logic type data-carrying radio receiver has been used for simple correspondence. In other words, divide the whole country into multiple blocks,
For each area block, store the transmission frequency data of the receivable broadcasting station and the broadcasting station data in which the data such as the broadcasting station name corresponding to the transmission frequency data is stored in advance in the memory in the radio receiver. In other words, it is an on-vehicle radio receiver that obtains a reception signal of a desired broadcasting station by utilizing the stored contents of the memory at the time of tuning. In particular, in countries such as the United States, where the country is vast, many broadcasting stations are located in the country, and only those broadcasting contents of a specific broadcasting genre are broadcast throughout the day. There are also things that are doing. Here, the specific genre means a music program, a news program, etc., for example,
There are also stations that specialize in classical music, country music, rock music, etc.

An on-vehicle radio receiver used in a rural area having such a regional block usually stores various data relating to a broadcasting station in each area, such as a broadcasting station name, a broadcasting frequency, contents of a broadcasting program and the like. The above-mentioned ID logic type data stored in each is installed, and among the various selection keys provided in the in-vehicle radio receiver, a station for directly broadcasting a program of a specific genre is selected. Selection keys for each genre are also provided, and a configuration is adopted in which one of a large number of broadcasting stations can be selected with the least number of operations.

On the other hand, a regional block is designated in the above-mentioned ID logic type data, the unit of which is a state (state) and a city (city), and the state (state) and the city (where the vehicle is currently traveling) are specified. (City) is displayed on the display device of the in-vehicle radio receiver, the audible broadcast stations in that state / city can be received, and the stations that are broadcasting programs of a specific genre are also automatically selected. Have the ability to This is usually 6 as a genre scan.
Each genre is assigned to this key,
The broadcasting station of the genre is searched by the corresponding key input.

[0008]

However, in Europe, since the AF stations included in the AF list included in the RDS data are networked and broadcast the same program, the RDS using the conventional RDS data is used. Although it is possible to automatically follow the broadcast program of the same genre by the receiver for broadcasting, unlike the European countries, the AF station is not networked in the United States, and if it deviates from the broadcast program area of the same genre, the RBDS receiver automatically It is necessary to manually tune again to find a broadcasting station that cannot follow and broadcast the same program.

In addition, even in the above-mentioned ID logic type data-mounted radio receiver, the function does not operate normally unless the current vehicle position is set as the state (state) and the city (city) in advance. . This setting is made manually by the user, but it takes time to set because there are many cities in each state, and whether or not there is a broadcasting station of the desired genre in the current area is as described above. It was something I could not understand unless I actually searched for a broadcasting station of that genre. This means that you have to repeat the search every time you drive a car and enjoy music of your favorite genre, or while listening to the news, each time the driving area changes and you enter another area. There was a problem that it was very annoying to the driver.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically select broadcast programs of the same genre by the user only by first selecting and setting a genre and a favorite genre broadcasting station from a plurality of broadcasting stations broadcasting the genre. FM that can be followed so as to eliminate the hassle of having to set again each time it moves to another broadcast area
It is to provide an automatic tracking method for broadcasting stations.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the above-mentioned object is to provide an FM broadcast in which a desired broadcast station is received by using a predetermined data code included in additional data superposed on an FM broadcast signal and sent. In the automatic tracking method of stations, a data memory storing a table of broadcast frequencies for each genre of broadcast stations broadcast for the corresponding regions corresponding to region names of a plurality of regions previously divided, and a broadcast being received. A station frequency and storage means for storing additional data, and when the receiving electric field strength of the receiving broadcasting station becomes weak, the broadcasting frequency of the same genre in the same area as the receiving broadcasting station or in the suburb area is It reads from the data memory, automatically follows each broadcasting station of that broadcasting frequency, receives a new broadcasting station that has a good electric field strength and matches the above-mentioned predetermined data code. In addition, the frequency and the additional data of the broadcasting station stored in the storage means are updated to the frequency and the additional data of the new broadcasting station, and the new broadcasting station is received based on the updated frequency and the additional data. To be done.

[0012]

In the automatic tracking method of the FM broadcasting station using a predetermined data code included in the additional data, when the receiving electric field strength of the receiving broadcasting station becomes weak, the same area as the receiving broadcasting station or a suburb area. When the broadcasting frequency of the same genre is read from the data memory, the broadcasting station of the broadcasting frequency is automatically followed, and when a new broadcasting station that has a good electric field strength and matches the specified data code is received. The same by updating the frequency and additional data of the previous broadcasting station stored in the storage means to the frequency and additional data of the new broadcasting station, and receiving the new broadcasting station based on the updated frequency and additional data. F of the genre
It is possible to automatically follow M broadcasting stations.

[0013]

1 is a block diagram of an essential part of an RBDS receiver that realizes an automatic tracking method according to the present invention. 1 is PLL
It is a circuit that outputs a predetermined voltage signal according to the station to be received.
Output to M front end 2. FM front end 2
Receives a broadcast station input from the antenna ANT based on the voltage signal and generates a predetermined intermediate frequency signal (IF). An intermediate frequency detection amplifier 3 amplifies and detects the intermediate frequency signal converted by the FM front end 2 to a predetermined level.

An MPX circuit 4 demodulates the detection signal input from the intermediate frequency detection amplifier 3 into a stereo signal. An amplifier (AMP) 5 amplifies a stereo signal according to a volume setting value (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a speaker, which is driven by the amplifier 5 and outputs an audio signal. An RBDS decoder circuit 7 demodulates the RBDS data (AF list, PTY data, etc.) sent at a predetermined transmission timing. An error correction circuit 8 is an RBDS demodulated by the RBDS decoder circuit 7.
A data error is detected in synchronization with each group and the error is corrected.

A signal meter circuit 9 detects the level of the receiving state of the receiving station by monitoring the signal strength (eg, electric field strength) of the intermediate frequency signal output from the intermediate frequency detection amplifier 3. Reference numeral 10 is a display unit for displaying the frequency and the like, 11 is an ID logic memory as a data memory including a ROM, and 11a is an ID logic memory 11
It is a table that is a part of the database stored in, and in which the frequencies of the receivable broadcasting stations in each region are written according to genres corresponding to the region names.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the table 11a of the ID logic memory 11. Explaining in detail according to this explanatory diagram, a region name is a name given to a region divided into a plurality of regions. The genre refers to music fields such as classical music and jazz, and in the table 11a, 25 kinds of genres are classified into six genres 1 to 6. In the figure, for example, in region E, genre 1 has two broadcasting frequencies of f7 and f8, genres 2 and 3 are zero, and genre 4 are f44 and f45.
Station, 1 station of f57 for genre 5, f6 for genre 6
It can be seen that there are 6 stations in total, 1 station of 3.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an operation unit, and among the many operation functions provided therein, those not related to the present invention will be omitted from illustration and description. Reference numeral 12a is a genre selection key to which the six genre classifications are respectively assigned as described above. For example, key number 1 is classical music, jazz, etc., key number 2 is country / western, key number 3 is rock,
It is assigned as a classic rock. 1
2b shows the area corresponding to the current position of the car 1
1a is a state / city selection key, and 12c is a desired broadcasting station selected from the genre broadcasting stations assigned to the key number 1 displayed on the display unit 10 when the key number 1 of the genre selection key 12a is selected. This is a frequency selection key for selecting the frequency of.

Reference numeral 13 is a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the RBDS receiver, which corresponds to the key number 1 of the genre selection key 12a from the ID logic memory 11 when the signal strength of the current genre receiving station becomes weak. Table 11a
The genre frequencies of the area to which the current receiving station registered in genre 1 belongs and the suburbs thereof are read out, and the signal strength of the current receiving station and the signal strength of each genre station of genre 1 are successively read by the signal meter 9 When the maximum genre station is received and the PTY data of the maximum genre station is received, an AF search operation for searching for the same genre station having the maximum signal strength (maximum genre station) is performed. It is determined whether or not it matches the PTY data of No. 1, and if it matches, the genre station is received, and if it does not match, the next maximum genre station is received, and automatic follow-up is performed.
Reference numeral 14 is a memory for storing the frequency of the current receiving station, PTY data and the like.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of processing of the automatic follow-up operation according to the present invention. Following this flow chart, the RBDS of FIG.
The operation of the receiver will be described. First, the state / city selection key 12b on the operation unit 12 is used to select a state (state) and a city (city) indicating the current location of the vehicle displayed on the display unit 10 to limit the region. Next, when a favorite genre number is selected from the genres 1 to 6 of the genre selection key 12a in the selected area, the genre frequency registered in the area is displayed on the display unit 10.

For example, when the area A and the genre number 1 are selected, the genre frequency is displayed by referring to the table 11a of FIG. 2 and three stations of f1, f2 and f3 are displayed. However, as described above, since the genre broadcasting contents are classified into 6 genres of 25 kinds, it is necessary to select the frequency of the broadcasting station broadcasting the desired genre from the 3 stations. There is. The genre frequency is selected with the frequency selection key 12c of the operation unit 12.
If the broadcasting station of the selected genre frequency is a broadcasting station that broadcasts jazz, for example, the broadcasting station that broadcasts this jazz is the target of automatic tracking.

The automatic follow-up operation of the RBDS receiver of FIG. 1 for the broadcasting station broadcasting the jazz will be described below with reference to this flow chart. In FIG. 4, the signal strength of the current receiving station (RBDS station) broadcasting jazz is monitored by the signal meter circuit 9 for the purpose of maintaining a good receiving state (step 101). When the signal strength falls below a predetermined level, the control unit 13 determines from the table 11a of the ID logic data memory 11 that the genre to which the broadcasting frequency of the current receiving station belongs, that is, genre station frequencies of genre 1 in which jazz is classified. The local station and the suburban station to which the current receiving station belongs are read (step 102).

FIG. 3 is a key map mapping the genre 1 of the table 11a. On this key map, of the genre frequencies of the genre 1 mentioned above, those for the region to which the current receiving station belongs and those for the suburbs. Will be explained. For example, if the broadcast frequency of the current receiving station is f7 in area E, the genre frequencies of the area to which the current receiving station belongs are f7 and f8 in area E. In addition, the genre frequencies in the suburbs are the three stations f1, f2, and f3 in area A around area E and area B.
1 station in f4, 2 stations in f5 and f6 in area C, 0 in area D
Station, 1 station of f9 in area F, 2 of f10 and f11 in area G
There are three stations, f12, f13, and f14 in area H, and one station, f15 in area I.

Next, the frequency control signal for each genre station is output to the PLL circuit 1 to start the AF search for each genre station (step 103). When the genre station having the maximum signal strength is received (step 104), it is compared with the signal strength level of the original receiving station (step 105), and if it is not higher than the signal strength level of the original receiving station, it is returned to the original receiving station (step). 106). Thereafter, the process returns to step 101 and the same processing is repeated.

On the other hand, if the signal strength level of the received genre station is higher than the signal strength level of the original receiving station in step 105, the control unit 13 causes the RDS decoder circuit 7,
The RBDS data of the genre station such as the AF list and the PTY data is read through the error correction circuit 8 (step 107), and the PTY data stored in the memory 14 is checked (step 108) to confirm that the PTY data is the same. If not, the maximum genre station having the next highest signal strength is received (step 109), and thereafter the process returns to step 105 and the same processing is repeated.

If the PTY data match in step 108, the control unit 13 confirms that the genre station is the current receiving station (step 110), and the frequency of the original broadcasting station stored in the memory 14 is determined. And RBDS data are updated to those of the current receiving station (step 111), and then the process returns to step 101 and the same processing is repeated.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, an FM broadcast station automatic tracking method for receiving a desired broadcast station by using a predetermined data code included in the additional data transmitted superimposed on the FM broadcast signal. In addition, a data memory that stores a table of broadcast frequencies for each genre of broadcast stations that are being broadcast for that area, corresponding to the region names of a plurality of regions that have been divided in advance, and the frequency of the receiving broadcast station are added. A storage means for storing data is provided, and when the reception electric field strength of the receiving broadcasting station becomes weak, the broadcasting frequency of the same genre in the same area as the receiving broadcasting station or in a suburb area is read from the data memory. , Automatically follows each broadcasting station of that broadcasting frequency, when the electric field strength is good and a new broadcasting station that matches the predetermined data code is received,
The frequency and additional data of the broadcasting station stored in the storage means are updated to the frequency and additional data of the new broadcasting station, and the new broadcasting station is received based on the updated frequency and additional data. The effect of being able to automatically follow a broadcasting station broadcasting a genre similar to

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an RBDS realizing an automatic tracking method according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of a receiver for use.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a table 11a of an ID logic memory 11.

FIG. 3 is a key map that maps genre 1 of table 11a.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of processing of an automatic tracking operation according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 PLL circuit 2 FM front end 3 Intermediate frequency detection amplifier 7 RBDS decoder circuit 8 Error detection / correction circuit 9 Signal meter 10 Display section 11 ID logic data memory 12 Operation section 13 Control section 14 Memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic tracking method of an FM broadcasting station for receiving a desired broadcasting station by using a predetermined data code included in additional data sent by being superimposed on an FM broadcasting signal, comprising: A data memory that stores a table of broadcast frequencies for each genre of broadcasting stations that are broadcast to the area corresponding to the area name of the area, and a storage unit that stores the frequency and additional data of the receiving broadcasting station. When the receiving electric field strength of the receiving broadcasting station becomes weak, the broadcasting frequency of the same genre in the same area as the receiving broadcasting station or in a suburb area is read from the data memory, and the broadcasting station of the broadcasting frequency is read. When a new broadcast station that performs automatic follow-up to each of them and has a good electric field strength and that matches the predetermined data code is received, the broadcast station stored in the storage means is stored. An automatic tracking method for an FM broadcasting station, characterized in that the frequency and additional data are updated to the frequency and additional data of the new broadcasting station, and the new broadcasting station is received based on the updated frequency and additional data.