JP2000278666A - Bi-directional broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bi-directional broadcasting system where the number of accesses to server terminals can more surely be distributed by taking preference of viewers into account. SOLUTION: A receiver 2 that receives a broadcast stream sent from a transmitter 1 and can receive a prescribed service through communication with a server terminal 4 on the basis of bi-directional service data multiplexed on the broadcast stream, is provided with a remote controller 37 that sets information relating to preference of viewers for each genre of the bi-directional service data to a preference data memory 34, with a communication time setting section 32 that sets a communication time for communication with the server terminal 4 on the basis of the preference data set in the preference data memory 34, and with a modem 31 that makes communication with the server terminal 4 on the basis of the communication time set by the communication time setting section 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast stream transmitted from a broadcasting station, and communicating between the receiving apparatus and a server apparatus based on interactive service data multiplexed on the broadcast stream. The present invention relates to an interactive broadcast system capable of providing a predetermined service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a receiving apparatus receives a broadcast stream transmitted from a broadcasting station, and communicates with a server apparatus via a telephone line based on bidirectional service data multiplexed on the broadcast stream. There is an interactive broadcasting system that can receive the provision of the service. For example, services provided by the interactive service data include horse race voting and concert ticket reservation.

However, when a service is provided by such interactive service data, communication is concentrated in a specific time zone, such as immediately after the start of the service or immediately before the end of the service, so that a part of the line network is stopped or the peripheral There is a possibility that adverse effects such as difficulty in connecting the telephone may be caused.

On the other hand, when the receiving device accesses the server device, the receiving device ID information, telephone number,
By shifting the access time based on random numbers, etc.,
An interactive broadcast system that distributes the number of accesses to a server device has been proposed.

[0005]

However, in such an interactive broadcast system, a voting for horse racing is frequently performed, but a viewer who does not reserve a concert ticket at all, or conversely, a voting for horse racing is not performed. Although not performed at all, concert ticket reservations are not taken into account by viewers' preferences, such as those who make frequent bookings, and there is a possibility that access may be concentrated depending on the viewer's preferences.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has been made in consideration of a viewer's preference, and is capable of more reliably dispersing the number of accesses to a server device. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

A two-way broadcast receiving system according to the present invention receives a broadcast stream transmitted from a broadcast station at a receiving device and receives the broadcast stream based on two-way service data multiplexed on the broadcast stream. An interactive broadcast system capable of providing a predetermined service by communicating between the device and the server device, wherein the receiving device is:
Preference information setting means for setting information about the preference of the viewer for each type of interactive service data, and communication for setting a communication time for performing communication with the server device based on the preference information set by the preference information setting means The communication device includes time setting means and communication means for communicating with the server device based on the communication time set by the communication time setting means.

With such a configuration, the communication time setting means sets the communication time between the receiving device and the server device based on the viewer preference information set by the preference information setting means.

[0009] For example, the preference information setting means of the receiving device sets the preference information of the viewer based on the number of times the viewer has viewed a broadcast program of the same type as the type of interactive service data. Is also good.

Further, the interactive service data includes communication time distribution data including a relationship between the preference for the type of the interactive service data and the communication time, and the communication time setting means of the receiving apparatus stores the communication time setting information and the viewer preference information. The communication time is set based on the communication time distribution data.

[0011] With this configuration, the communication time setting means of the receiving device selects the communication time distribution corresponding to the viewer's preference information from the communication time distribution data transmitted from the broadcast station, The communication time is set based on this.

[0012] Further, when communicating with the server device by the communication means of the receiving device based on the interactive service data, the preference information of the viewer is transmitted to the server device.

[0013] With this configuration, the server device stores the preference information of the viewer together with the type of interactive service data used by the viewer.

More specifically, the communication time distribution data is determined based on the ratio of the number of receivers that previously communicated with the server device for the same type of interactive service data for each type of preference information. It is.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a two-way broadcasting system to which a receiving device of the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire interactive broadcasting system, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a transmitting device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a receiving device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication time setting unit in the receiving device of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (a) for explaining a configuration of a broadcast stream transmitted from the transmitting device and a configuration of interactive service data. FIG. 6B illustrates an example of ticket purchase history total data stored in the server device, and FIG. 6 illustrates an example of communication time distribution data included in the interactive service data. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of viewer preference data set in the receiving device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a two-way broadcasting system according to the present embodiment is installed in a broadcasting station and transmits a broadcast stream, and receives a broadcast stream transmitted from the transmitting apparatus 1. It comprises a receiving device 2 and a server device 6 which is connected to the transmitting device 1 via a line and which is connected to the receiving device 2 via a telephone line.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting device 1 includes a video encoding unit 11 for compressing and encoding digitized video information and an audio encoding unit for compressing and encoding digitized audio data. 12 and an additional information encoding unit 13 for encoding the additional information data. The additional information data includes an operation screen for performing a winning voting, a display screen for notifying the result, an interactive service data for displaying an operation screen for purchasing a ticket, and the like, a broadcast program title and broadcast time. Although electronic program data (EPG) for displaying a program scheduling screen is included, the case of interactive service data will be described here.

The transmitting device 1 includes a multiplexing unit 14 and a modulating unit 15. The data encoded by each of the encoding units 11 to 13 according to the respective data type is converted into a transport stream (hereinafter, referred to as a TS packet) packet in the multiplexing unit 14 in accordance with the MPEG standard. Multiplexed to form a plurality of transport streams. Then, these transport streams are modulated by the carrier frequency assigned to each transport stream by the modulator 15 and transmitted as a broadcast stream from the transmission antenna 16, and then transmitted via a communication satellite (not shown). , Receiving device 2.

The broadcast stream provided is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
, And each transport stream is composed of data of a plurality of broadcast channels. The data of each broadcast channel is TS
A packet identification code corresponding to the type of data included is given to each packet. For example, in the transport stream TS1, 0103 is assigned to the bidirectional service data of channel 1 as packet identification information (PID).

As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving device 2
The receiving unit 22 is provided, and a broadcast stream received by the receiving antenna 21 is first input to the receiving unit 22. In the receiving unit 22, a broadcast stream of a carrier frequency corresponding to the broadcast channel, that is, a transport stream including the broadcast stream of the broadcast channel is demodulated based on the broadcast channel set by the user, and supplied to the separation unit 23. You.

The separation unit 23 extracts a TS packet of a broadcast channel set by a user based on a packet identification code assigned to each TS packet in the demodulated transport stream, and extracts video data, It is separated into voice data and interactive service data.

The central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 35 of the receiving device 2 has a packet identification information obtained based on a broadcast stream transmitted from the transmitting device 1 in a built-in memory (not shown). And the relationship between the broadcast channel and the type of data in the broadcast channel are stored.
The extraction and separation processing of the TS packet is performed.

The bidirectional service data separated by the separation unit 23 is stored in the service data memory 32. This interactive service data is composed of communication time distribution data P1 and data body P2, as shown in FIG. The communication time distribution data P1 includes a group for classifying each receiving device 2 based on the preference of the viewer and its contents, and communication for each group calculated based on past access history stored in the server device 4. Time distribution.

When the interactive service is executed, a screen component such as a video, a character string, or an operation button is configured with the execution, and the OSD processing unit 26 is used for the screen configuration.
Is input to

Further, the video data separated by the separation unit 23 is decoded by a video decoding unit 25 and then decoded by the OSD processing unit 2.
6 and is combined with the screen component of the interactive service data. The synthesized video is input from the video input terminal of the display 5 and displayed on the display screen of the display 5.

On the other hand, the audio data is decoded by the audio decoding section 26 and then input from the audio input terminal of the display 5 and output from the speaker 51 of the display 5.

The receiving device 2 includes a preference data memory 3
4, and the preference data memory 34 can set up to four genres of programs preferred by viewers. The setting is performed by displaying all the genres on the display 5 and then operating the remote controller 37 to select a favorite genre. And
The selected genre is set in the preference data memory 34.

The remote controller 37 is provided with a light emitting diode (not shown) for outputting an infrared signal corresponding to the operation. After the infrared signal is received by the light receiving section 36, the infrared signal is photoelectrically converted. It is executed in.

Further, the receiving device 2 includes a communication time setting unit 32
The communication of the modem 31 is performed based on the communication time set by the communication time setting unit 32. The communication time setting unit 32 includes, as shown in FIG.
21, a communication request unit 322, and a clock unit 323.

The selection unit 321 receives the communication time distribution data from the service data memory 33, the viewer's preference data from the preference data memory 34, and the preference set by the viewer based on these data. The group to which the data belongs is determined. Then, the communication time corresponding to this group is supplied to the communication request unit 322.

The communication requesting unit 322, having received the communication time, determines whether or not the communication time has come with reference to the current time of the clock unit 323. When the communication time comes, a call request signal is output to the modem 31 and the modem 31
Communication is started. Here, the time of the timer 323 is
Since the time is corrected at regular intervals based on the time information transmitted from the transmitting device 1, the time is consistent with the time of the transmitting device 1.

A series of processes executed by the communication time setting section 32 can be performed by software in the CPU 35 of FIG.

In the interactive broadcasting system having such a configuration, for example, the soccer ticket purchase history total data shown in FIG.
A process for purchasing a soccer ticket in a situation where the preference data shown in FIG. 6C is set in the receiving device 2 will be described.

First, when the viewer executes interactive service data for purchasing a soccer ticket, the communication time setting unit 32 transmits the communication time distribution data (FIG. 6) included in the interactive service data from the service data memory 33. (B)) is read, and the viewer's preference data (FIG. 6 (c)) is read from the preference data memory 34.

Then, it is determined whether or not there is a soccer item in the viewer's preference data. Here, since there is a soccer item, the viewer is classified into the group 1 who likes soccer.

To the viewers classified into group 1, a communication time of 0 to 6.9 seconds is assigned as a communication time every 10 seconds.

Then, if the time of the timer 323 is 0 to 6.9 seconds, the modem 31 immediately starts communication, and 6.9.
If it is 0 seconds, it is in a standby state and the time of the timer 323 is 0.
Communication is started after waiting for 〜6.9 seconds.

This communication time is calculated based on the past three soccer ticket purchase history total data shown in FIG. 6A. When using the soccer ticket purchase service, the soccer ticket purchase history total data is calculated based on viewer preference data transmitted from the modem 31 of each receiving device 2 in addition to the data for ticket purchase. It is a thing. Here, in the past three soccer ticket purchases, viewers who like soccer access an average of 1280 server devices 4, and viewers who do not like soccer access an average of 572 server devices 4.

Then, the broadcast station calculates the distribution of the communication time using the following equation 1 based on the soccer ticket purchase history total data stored in the server device 4, and includes the distribution in the interactive service data. Sending.

[0041]

(Equation 1) As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the communication time between each receiving device 2 and server device 4 is set based on the viewer's preference data, the number of accesses to server device 4 can be more reliably dispersed. Becomes possible.

Since the distribution of the communication time between each receiving apparatus 2 and the server apparatus 4 according to the viewer's preference data is included in the interactive service data and transmitted from the transmitting apparatus 1, all the receiving apparatuses 2 are transmitted. The control can be performed in a unified manner, and the distribution of the number of accesses to the server device 4 can be easily controlled.

Further, the distribution of the communication time is calculated based on the past history total data accumulated in the server device 4, so that the number of accesses to the server device 4 which has been promoted in a more actual state can be dispersed. Become.

In this embodiment, when a soccer ticket is purchased, the audience is divided into two groups depending on whether or not the audience likes soccer. Divided into groups,
Further, as the preference information of the viewer, the grouping may be performed based on the presence or absence and the number of past purchases of soccer tickets, or may be performed based on the number of times the soccer program is viewed.

In this embodiment, the case where a soccer ticket is purchased has been described. However, the present invention may be used for purchasing a concert ticket, answering a quiz program, applying for a prize, and the like.

[0046]

According to the present invention, since the communication time between each receiving device and the server device is set based on the viewer's preference data, the number of accesses to the server device can be more reliably dispersed. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entire interactive broadcast system to which a receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a transmission device in the interactive broadcast system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a receiving device in the interactive broadcast system of FIG. 1;

4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication time setting unit in the receiving device of FIG.

5A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a broadcast stream transmitted from a transmitting device, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of interactive service data.

6A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of ticket purchase history total data stored in a server device, FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of communication time distribution data included in interactive service data, and FIG. FIG. 9C is an explanatory diagram (c) illustrating an example of viewer preference data set in the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: transmitting device 2: receiving device 21: receiving antenna 22: receiving unit 23: separating unit 24: audio decoding unit 25: video decoding unit 26: OSD processing unit 31: modem 32: communication time setting unit 33: service data Memory 34: Preference data memory 35: CPU 4: Server device 5: Display

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04J 3/00 H04J 3/00 M H04L 5/00 H04L 5/00 // H04N 17/00 H04N 17/00 M (72) Inventor Makoto Okada 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Atsushi Nishigaki 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric In-house F-term (reference) 2F002 AA00 BB04 GA06 GC15 GC22 5C061 BB06 CC05 CC07 5C064 BA01 BA07 BB05 BB07 BC06 BC10 BC16 BC18 BC20 BC23 BC25 BD01 BD03 BD07 BD08 BD09 5K022 FF03 5K028 AA11 BB04 CC02 CC03 DD03 KK03 NN03 KK

Claims (5)

[Claims] A receiving device receives a broadcast stream transmitted from a broadcasting station at a receiving device, and communicates between the receiving device and a server device based on interactive service data multiplexed on the broadcast stream to provide a predetermined service. A preference information setting means for setting information about a preference of a viewer for each type of the interactive service data; and a preference information setting means. Communication time setting means for setting a communication time for performing communication with the server device based on the preference information set in the communication, and communication for communicating with the server device based on the communication time set by the communication time setting means And an interactive broadcasting system. 2. The preference information setting means of the receiving device,
2. The interactive broadcast system according to claim 1, wherein the preference information of the viewer is set based on the number of times the viewer has viewed the same type of broadcast program as the type of the interactive service data. 3. The interactive service data includes communication time distribution data including a relationship between a preference for a type of the interactive service data and the communication time. 3. The interactive broadcast system according to claim 1, wherein the communication time is set based on the preference information and the communication time distribution data. 4. When the communication means of the receiving device communicates with the server device based on the two-way service data, the preference information of the viewer is transmitted to the server device. 4. The interactive broadcast system according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The communication time distribution data is determined based on a ratio of the number of the receiving devices that have communicated with the server device with respect to the same type of interactive service data in the past for each type of preference information. 4. The interactive broadcasting system according to claim 3, wherein: