JP2001053696A - Device and method for sending out section of digital broadcasat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a section sending-out device which can send out various section data differing in sending-out style. SOLUTION: The section sending-out device is composed of an application storage means 101 which stores an application, an application executing means 102 which executes the application, an object managing means 104 which manages an object queue holding one or more objects in certain sequence, a sent-out information managing means 103 which manages sent-out information of the objects, and an object sending-out means 106 which manages the repetitive transmission of the objects. An application matching the data which are sent out is used to send section data different in sending-out style by the same device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a section sending apparatus and a section sending method for repeatedly sending an object in a section format specified by ISO / IEC13818-1 in digital broadcasting.
The same device can transmit various section data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital broadcasting using satellite radio waves and the like is becoming widespread. In such digital broadcasting, various kinds of data and control information can be transmitted at the same time as digitizing and broadcasting video and audio.

As an example of such control information, an EPG (Electronic Program G) for realizing display of a program guide on a receiver is known.
uide) information and CA (Conditional) for conditional access
Access) information. As an example of sending data, the DSM defined in ISO / IEC13818-6 is used.
−CC (Digital Storage Media Command and Control)
l) A data broadcasting service for transmitting an MHEG script or the like has been proposed by a data carousel. These data and control information are all based on ISO / IEC138
It is encoded in a format conforming to the section format specified in 18-1, and is repeatedly transmitted at an appropriate cycle so that the receiver can acquire the data at an arbitrary timing.

As a section transmission device for transmitting such data and control information, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-289267 discloses an "electronic program guide transmission device" for transmitting EPG information.

[0005] Such data and control information are transmitted by different methods for each type of data such as EPG information, CA information, and DSM-CC data carousel. For example, E
EIT (Event Inform) for transmitting program information in PG information
ation Table) is always transmitted, and information is updated each time a program is switched. On the other hand, in data broadcasting by the DSM-CC data carousel, usually only for a certain period,
An MHEG script having a certain content is transmitted.

FIG. 31 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional section transmission device. This section transmission device includes transmission data management means 3301 for managing transmission parameters such as start and end times of data transmission and a transmission cycle and the main body of an object which is a data transmission unit, and transmission object holding means 105 for holding objects to be transmitted. And an object sending means 106 for sending an object to the receiving terminal 107.

In this apparatus, transmission data management means 3301
Transfers the object to be transmitted to the transmission object holding means 105 at the data transmission start time. The sending object holding unit 105 holds the transferred object. The sending data management means 3301 also sends the object sending means 106 according to the described transmission parameters.
Control of data transmission. The object sending means 106 repeatedly sends the object held in the sending object holding means 105 according to the transmission parameters passed from the sending data management means 3301.

Next, FIG. 32 shows data managed by the transmission data management means 3301 when transmitting EPG information.
As shown in FIG. 32, in the case of EPG information, transmission parameters such as a cycle are managed for each table. In each table, a plurality of sub-tables are managed, and in each sub-table, an object and a sending time are managed in pairs.

Next, FIG. 33 shows data managed by the transmission data management means 3301 when transmitting a data broadcasting service. As shown in FIG. 33, in the case of the data broadcasting service, a plurality of transmission frames are managed for each transmission channel. In each transmission frame, transmission parameters such as a start / end time and a cycle are managed, and a plurality of objects are managed.

[0010]

As described above, even if the data conforms to the same section format, it is necessary to manage the data in different ways depending on the difference in the sending method depending on the type of data. For this reason, a conventional section transmission device is prepared separately for each type of data, despite transmitting data in the same section format. For example, a section transmission device for EPG information can be used for transmitting a data broadcasting service. And it was not very efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a section transmission apparatus capable of transmitting various section data having different transmission forms, and a transmission method thereof. The purpose is.

[0012]

Therefore, in the section sending apparatus of the present invention, an application storing means for storing an application, an application executing means for executing an application, and an object queue for holding one or more objects in order are provided. There are provided an object managing means for managing, sending information managing means for managing sending information of the object, and an object sending means for repeatedly sending the object.

Also, in the section sending method of the present invention,
An object queue which holds one or more objects in order and object sending information are managed, objects in the object queue are sequentially switched according to a command issued from an application, and objects are repeatedly sent according to the sending information. ing.

Therefore, by using an application adapted to the data to be transmitted, section data having different transmission formats can be transmitted by the same device.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) In a first embodiment of the present invention, a section sending apparatus capable of sending section data having different sending modes by exchanging applications will be described.

This apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, stores an application in which a command to be issued in accordance with the passage of time is described, and reads and interprets the application from the application storage 101 to generate an object. Execution means for registering, registering, sending information, and issuing commands
102, a sending information managing unit 103 for managing sending information, an object managing unit 104 for holding an object queue storing one or more objects having the same identification information in the sending order, and an object to be currently sent. And an object sending means 106 for repeatedly sending the object held by the sending object holding means 105.

In this apparatus, an application describing a command to be issued as time passes is stored in the application storage means 101. The application executing means 102 reads and interprets the application, generates an object, instructs the sending information managing means 103 to create sending information, and
Instruct 4 to create an object queue, and register the created object in the object queue. The transmission information includes a transmission start time, a transmission end time, a transmission cycle, a packet ID at the time of transmission, and a link list to the object queue. The object queue holds the object identification information and the entity of one or more objects.

The transmission information management means 103 instructs the object management means 104 to transfer the object according to the transmission start / end time. Also, the transmission information management means 10
3 designates a cycle and a packet ID to the object sending means 106 in accordance with the sending start / end time, and instructs the object sending means 106 to start and end sending.

The object managing means 104 holds the object queue, and transfers the object at the head of the object queue to the sending object holding means 105 when receiving an instruction to transfer the object from the sending information managing means 103. Also, the object management unit 104 receives the instruction from the transmission information management unit 103 or the application execution unit 102
In accordance with a command from the above application, an object that is no longer needed as time passes is deleted from the sending object holding unit 105.

The sending object holding means 105 holds the current object to be sent transferred from the object managing means 104, and sends the object to the object sending means 106.
Sends the object held in the sending object holding means 105 repeatedly according to the sending information.

The receiving terminal 107 receives and interprets the sent object and performs processing according to the content of the object.

Next, a method of managing information in the section transmitting apparatus will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of managing objects in the object management means of the section sending device. The object queue 201 manages one or a plurality of objects 202 having the same identification information.
The object queue has object identification information (table ID, table ID extension) as attributes. The object management means 104 manages one or a plurality of object queues. The object 202 is an entity of section data. The objects 202 are stored in the object queue 201 in the order of transmission.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the transmission information managed by the transmission information management means of the section transmission device and the object queue managed by the object management means. The transmission information 301 indicates a transmission schedule of the object. The transmission information 301 includes attributes such as a transmission start time, a transmission end time, a transmission cycle, and a packet ID at the time of transmission. The transmission information management means 103 manages one or a plurality of transmission information.

The object queue 201 is bound (associated) with the transmission information 301. Object queue 201
Are transmitted according to the transmission schedule described in the bound transmission information 301. Outgoing information
301 has a link list for managing the bound object queue. One transmission information 301 may bind a plurality of object queues 201. In this case, a plurality of objects are transmitted simultaneously with the same transmission schedule. Also, one object queue 20
1 may be bound across a plurality of pieces of transmission information 301. In this case, an object having the same identification information will be broadcast a plurality of times.

The transmission information management means 103 provides an interface for creating transmission information and binding an object queue to the application on the application execution means 102. The object management means 104 provides an application with an interface for creating an object queue, registering an object, and switching an object to be sent. The application uses these interfaces to construct the relationship between the transmission information, the object queue, and the objects as shown in FIG.

Next, the basic operation of the section sending device will be described.

The basic operation of the section transmission device is divided into four operations: transmission preparation, transmission start, object switching by command, and transmission end.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the section transmission device at the time of transmission preparation. The application operating on the application execution means first requests the transmission information management means to create transmission information (step S401).

Next, the application requests the object management means to create an object queue by designating the identification information of the object to be stored (step S).
402).

Next, the application creates and registers an object in the object queue created by the object management means. This process is repeated for all objects having the same identification information (step S403).

Next, the application binds (associates) the object queue registered in the object management means with the transmission information registered in the transmission information management means.
Request to do so. By this processing, it becomes possible to specify the object to be transmitted according to the transmission information (step S404). The application determines the number of object queues from step S402 to step S4.
Repeat until 04.

By performing the above processing, the relationship between the transmission information, the object queue, and the object as shown in FIG. 3 is established.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the section transmission device at the start of transmission. In FIG. 5, first, the transmission information management unit instructs the object management unit to transfer the first object by designating each bound object queue according to the transmission start time (step S502).

The object management means takes out the head object from the designated object queue and transfers it to the sending object holding means (step S).
506).

Since the preparation for sending the object has been completed in the above steps, the sending information management means designates the sending information to the object sending means and instructs the start of object sending (step S507).

The object sending means repeatedly sends the object on the sending object holding means into packets in accordance with the period and the PID (packet ID) in the sending information (step S508).

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the section sending device when an object is switched by a command. In FIG. 6, first, the application on the application execution unit issues a "switch to next object" command to the object management unit, specifying the object queue by the identification information (table ID, table ID extension). (Step S60
1).

The object management means takes out the head object from the designated object queue, transfers it to the sending object holding means, and replaces the currently sending object (step S605).

The object sending means repeatedly sends the replaced object on the sending object holding means while dividing it into packets while keeping the period and the PID (step S606).

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the section transmission device at the end of transmission. In FIG. 7, when the sending end time comes, the sending information management means instructs the object sending means to end sending the object.
The object sending means ends sending of the object (step S701).

Next, the transmission information management means issues an object deletion request to the object management means (step S702).

The object management means deletes the object which has been transferred to the sending object holding means (step S703).

The section sending device of the present invention can send out objects in various ways according to their types by executing the above basic operations in combination with an application.

Next, as a specific example of the section transmitting apparatus, an operation when transmitting EPG information will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the entire EPG information. As shown in FIG. 8, the EPG information includes a plurality of tables repeatedly transmitted. NIT (Network Informat
ionTable) sends information about the entire network and the transport streams belonging to the network.
The SDT (Service Description Table) sends channel information (channel name, description, etc.) of each channel. pres
ent / following EIT (Event Information Table)
Sends information on the program currently being broadcast. scheduleEIT
Sends a long-term program listing including the program of the day. By transmitting such EPG information by the section transmitting device and obtaining it by the receiving terminal, it is possible to display a program table and execute recording reservation.

Each table is based on the difference in the contents to be sent.
Send each one differently. Eg present / followin
The content of the gEIT is updated one after another at the same time as the broadcast program is switched. On the other hand, the schedule EIT sends a weekly program table starting from the day, so it may be updated once a day. Unless there is a change in SDT or NIT, basically the same contents are repeatedly transmitted.

FIG. 9 is an example of a program table to be included in the EPG information. The program table shown in FIG. 9 indicates that a program is broadcast on two channels of channel numbers 1 and 2. In channel number 1, "morning news" of program ID 11 is broadcasted from 09:00 to 10:00, and "high school baseball" of program ID 12 is broadcasted from 10:00 to 11:00. 09:30 for channel number 2
From 10:30 to 10:30, "Relay of the Diet" of program ID 21 is broadcasted, and from 10:30 to 11:30, "English conversation" of program ID 22 is broadcasted.

FIG. 10 is an example showing how to send EPG information for the present / following EIT and schedule EIT for the channel of channel number 1. First 09: 0
Between 0 and 10:00, the present / following EIT object 1 corresponding to the program ID 11 "morning news" is broadcast. The present / following EIT has 0x4E as the table ID and the table ID in the section header.
The extension is identified using the channel number (1 in this case). The program ID, start time, program duration, name, and the like are described in a section body in a predetermined format.

Next, between 10:00 and 11:00, the program ID 12
Present / following EIT object 2 corresponding to "High school baseball" is broadcast. Since the object 2 indicates the same channel information as the object 1, the table I
D, the table ID extension has the same value, but the version number is incremented to notify the receiving terminal that the information has been updated.

On the other hand, in order to send the weekly program guide of the channel number 1, the object 3 of the schedule EIT is simultaneously broadcast. In the object 3, information of programs on and after the day, including the program ID 11 and the program ID 12, is described in a predetermined format. The object 3 is broadcast with the same contents during the day.

FIG. 11 shows the objects when sending the EPG information and the contents of the sending information. The attributes in the transmission information are as follows. present / following E
For both IT and schedule EIT, the start time is -∞ and the end time is + ∞. This is because the EPG information is always broadcasted.
Performed by a command from the application. pr
In the esent / following EIT, the sending cycle is 1 second, and P
The ID is set to 0x12.

In the schedule EIT, the transmission cycle is 3 seconds, and the PID is set to 0x12.

On the other hand, the object queue is present / fo
For each llowing EIT and schedule EIT,
The object queues of the channels 1 and 2 are registered, and the identifiers of the object queues are [0x4E, 1] and [0, respectively, from the table ID and the table ID extension.
x4E, 2], [0x50,1], [0x50,2]. present / followin
An object is generated and added to each object queue of gEIT for each program. Here, the program IDs 11 and 12 are assigned to the channel 1 object queue.
Are added to the object queue of channel 2 with objects of program IDs 21 and 22, respectively. At the head of each object queue, an empty object to be transmitted until the program starts broadcasting is inserted.

In each object queue of the schedule EIT, an object is generated and added for each date.

Each object queue is bound to the corresponding transmission information.

Next, the operation of the application when transmitting the EPG information will be described step by step. The application first prepares for sending the object, and establishes the relationship between the sending information and the object queue shown in FIG.
Specifically, as described above, registration of transmission information,
It registers object queues, creates and adds objects, and binds object queues to sending information.

When the object is prepared for transmission, the start time in the registered transmission information is -∞, so that the object inserted at the head of each object queue is
Sent immediately.

Next, the manner in which the application issues a command to the section sending device over time will be described. FIG. 12 shows the correspondence between time and command issuance. As shown in this figure, the application switches the program of each channel, and present / follow
ing Switch EIT objects. First, at 09:00, the "next object" command is issued to the object sending means by designating the object queue [0x4E, 1]. This allows the section sending device to:
The basic operation at the start of transmission described above is performed, and as a result,
The transmitted object is switched to the object corresponding to the program ID 11. (Step S120
1).

The application continues at 09:30, 10:
At 00 and 10:30, the corresponding command is issued, and the transmitted object is switched accordingly (steps S1202 to S1204).

When the date changes at 0:00, the application switches the schedule EIT object to the program guide of the next day (steps S1205 to S1).
206).

Since the end time in the transmission information is + ∞, the object is transmitted permanently. The application creates an object and adds it to the object queue every time the content of a program to be newly sent is determined.

The receiving terminal monitors the section header of the object transmitted for each sub-table.
Upon detecting that the version number has been increased, it is possible to know that the object has been updated. This allows the latest E
It is possible to correctly acquire the PG information and display the program information corresponding to the program currently being broadcast, as shown in FIG. 13, or make a reservation for the program by displaying the weekly program table.

Next, as a specific example of the section transmitting apparatus, an operation when transmitting a data broadcasting service will be described.

FIG. 14 is an example of a screen on a receiver of a data broadcasting service by MHEG. FIG. 14 shows an example of a weather forecast service. The service includes a graphic module japan.jpg showing a map of Japan, a graphic module sunny.gif showing a sunny mark, and a scene module weather.mhg describing the arrangement and behavior of the graphic module. It is composed of

FIG. 15 shows an example of how to send this data broadcast service. The graphic module and the scene module
It is transmitted in a data carousel defined by ISO / IEC13818-6. The data carousel uses DII (Download Info Indica) to indicate the transmission location of each module.
Option) and DDB (Download
Data Block). The table ID of DII is 0x3B and the table ID
The extension is always zero. Table ID of DDB is 0x3C
And the table ID extension is equal to the value of the module ID for identifying each module. In this example, from 10:00 to 11:
During 00, the DII and the DDB of each module are transmitted.

FIG. 16 shows the contents of the object and transmission information when transmitting the data broadcasting service. D
The attributes in the transmission information of II have a start time of 10:00 and an end time of 11:00. It is assumed that the transmission period of DII is 3 seconds and the PID is 0x101. The attributes of the transmission information of the DDB are the start time and the end time are the same as DII.
The start time is 10:00 and the end time is 11:00. It is assumed that the transmission period of the DDB is 10 seconds and the PID is 0x102. The object queue is registered for each of the DII and the DDB of each module, and the identifiers of the object queues are respectively [0x3B, 0], [0x3C, 0], [0x3C, 1], [0x3C, 1] based on the table ID and the table ID extension. 0x3C,
2]. DII object queue [0x3B] is DII
Of the DDB object queue [0x3C,
[0x], [0x3C, 1], and [0x3C, 2] are all bound to the DDB transmission information. Basically, since the contents of each module do not change over the transmission period, one object is inserted into each object queue.

Next, the operation of the application when transmitting the data broadcasting service shown in the above example will be described step by step. The application first prepares the section sending device for sending the object, and establishes the relationship between the sending information and the object queue shown in FIG. Specifically, as described above, registration of transmission information, registration of an object queue, generation and addition of an object, and binding of an object queue to transmission information are performed.

In the case of the data broadcasting service, unlike the case of the EPG, the object is transmitted only during the transmission period described in the transmission information. In this example, the transmission of each object starts at 10:00, and ends at 11:00.

In the data broadcasting service, the object being broadcast is not normally switched as described above, but the object may be updated during the transmission period. FIG. 17 shows an example in which the contents of the module are changed during the transmission period. In this case, the changed object is generated from the application and added to the object queue (step S1701). Then, by issuing a "next object" command, the object to be transmitted is switched (step S1702).

The receiving terminal receives each object,
Decode to the original image module or scene module. By interpreting the description of the scene module, a data broadcasting service as shown in FIG. 13 can be executed.

As described above, the case where EPG information is transmitted using the section transmission device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows.
The case where the data broadcasting service is transmitted has been described. As described above, the section sending device according to the first embodiment of the present invention manages sending information and an object queue, and provides an operation interface to an application. Therefore, by exchanging the applications, it is possible to easily transmit section data having different transmission formats in accordance with the section format.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, a section transmission device that can start an application in synchronization with the transmission start / end time described in the transmission information will be described.

As shown in FIG. 18, this apparatus includes a trigger generating means 1802 for generating a trigger for an application in accordance with the transmission start and end times in the transmission information, and a transmission start and end time for the transmission information management means 103. And a change input unit 1801 for inputting a change of the transmission information. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

Next, a specific operation of the section transmission device will be described using an example.

As shown in FIG. 19, consider a data broadcast service that updates data in synchronization with a scene of a broadcast program. The program is composed of three scenes, scene 1 to scene 3, scene 2 starts 5 minutes and 30 seconds after the start of the program, scene 3 starts 12 minutes after the start of the program, and the total length of the program is 14 minutes and 30 seconds It is. On the other hand, the data broadcasting service broadcasts a data broadcasting application composed of modules 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously with scene 1, but updates module 1 at the same time as switching to scene 2 (module 1 '). At the same time as switching to scene 3,
Module 2 is updated (module 2 ').

FIG. 20 shows the contents of the object and transmission information when transmitting the data broadcasting service. D
The attributes in the transmission information of II have a start time of 14:00 and an end time of 14:15. It is assumed that the transmission period of DII is 3 seconds and the PID is 0x101. The attributes of the transmission information of the DDB are the start time and the end time are the same as DII.
The start time is 14:00 and the end time is 14:15. It is assumed that the transmission period of the DDB is 10 seconds and the PID is 0x102. The object queue is registered for each of the DII and the DDB of each module, and the identifiers of the object queues are respectively [0x3B, 0], [0x3C, 1], [0x3C, 2], [0x3B, 0] from the table ID and the table ID extension. 0x3C,
3].

The object queue [0x3B] of DII is DI
In the transmission information of I, each object queue [0x3C,
[1], [0x3C, 2] and [0x3C, 3] are all bound to the transmission information of the DDB. Objects are registered in each object queue. Object queue of DDB [0x3
[C, 1] and [0x3C, 2] additionally register a module 1 ′ and a module 2 ′ that are changed during the transmission period, respectively. In the DII object queue [0x3B], DII 'and DII'', which are sent each time any DDB module is changed, are additionally registered.

When transmitting this data broadcasting service,
The operation of the application will be described step by step. In this case, the application includes an application 1 that prepares for transmission, and an application 2 that operates in synchronization with the broadcast program during transmission. First, the application 1 is activated and requests the section sending device to prepare for sending an object. Specifically, as described in the first embodiment, registration of transmission information, registration of an object queue, generation and addition of an object, and binding of an object queue to transmission information are performed. Here, it is assumed that the broadcast start time is set at 14:00.

The application 1 further sends a trigger to the transmission information management means so as to generate a trigger at the start of transmission.
Make settings for sending information. At this time, the application execution means is set so that the application 2 is started in response to the trigger. The application 1 ends after the transmission preparation is completed.

Next, the operation at the start of broadcasting will be described. At 14:00, which is the broadcast start time of the transmission information, the transmission information management unit requests the object management unit to transfer the first object from each object queue.
Thus, the transmission of the head object of each object queue is started.

The transmission information management means simultaneously requests the trigger generation means to generate a transmission start trigger.
The trigger generation means generates a transmission start trigger and notifies the application execution means. Since the application executing means is set in advance to start the application 2 in response to the trigger, the application executing means reads and starts the application 2 from the application storing means.

When the application 2 is started, it issues a command along with the elapsed time from the reception. FIG. 21 shows the relationship between the elapsed time and the command. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, at 5:30 minutes after receiving the trigger, that is, at 14: 5: 30, the application 2 sends the following message to the object queue [0x3B, 0] and the object queue [0x3C, 1]. Issue the "object" command. As a result, the DII being sent is switched to DII ', and at the same time, the object in the object queue [0x3C, 1] is
The mode is switched from module 1 to module 1 '(steps S2101 to S2102). Next, the application waits 12 minutes after receiving the trigger, that is, 14:12.
Every minute, a “next object” command is issued to the object queue [0x3B, 0] and the object queue [0x3C, 2]. As a result, the transmitting DII ′ becomes DII ″.
At the same time as the object queue [0x3C, 2]
Is switched from module 2 to module 2 ′ (steps S2103 to S210).
4). In this way, the application 2 switches the object of the data broadcasting service in conjunction with the switching of the scene of the broadcast program.

Next, the operation when the start time of the broadcast program is changed to 14:15 immediately before the start of the broadcast will be described.
In this case, the broadcast station operator changes the transmission start time described in the transmission information on the transmission information management means to 14:15 by using the change input means. The change input means may be connected to an automatic broadcast program transmission system, and may automatically change the transmission start time by a signal from the automatic transmission system. The transmission information management means generates a transmission start trigger through the trigger generation means at 14:15 in accordance with the changed transmission information.

Even if the transmission start time is changed, the application 2 starts when the transmission start trigger is received, and issues a command according to the elapsed time from that point. That is, the command scheduled to be issued at 14: 5: 30 is issued at 14:20:30, and the command scheduled to be issued at 14:12 is issued at 14:27. Therefore, the object of the data broadcasting service can be switched at the same time when the scene of the program whose start time is changed is switched.

As described above, by using the section sending device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to generate a trigger at the sending start time described in the sending information and notify the application executing means. it can. As a result, the application can be activated when necessary, and the transmission content can be changed with the progress of time. For example, as described above, the transmission content of the data broadcasting service can be switched together with the program content. Furthermore, even when the broadcast time of a program is changed, the start time can be easily changed.

(Third Embodiment) In a third embodiment, a section sending device capable of controlling the sending of an object by a real-time operation will be described.

As shown in FIG. 22, according to the input from an external operator or a system, this apparatus
An object control input means 2201 for individually setting an attribute of whether transmission is possible is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 23, the transmission object holding means 105 manages a transmission permission flag indicating whether transmission is possible for each object being transmitted. Object sending means
106 refers to the sending permission flag when the object on the sending object holding unit 105 is repeatedly read, and continues sending the object when the sending permission flag is ON, but when the sending permission flag is OFF. In
Stop sending the object immediately.

Next, a specific operation of the section transmission device will be described using an example.

As shown in FIG. 9, EPG data for a plurality of channels is transmitted by the section transmission device.
It is assumed that transmission of the present / following EIT needs to be stopped.

The operator operates the object control input means.
At 2201, a request to stop the EIT of channel 1 is input. In response to this, the object control input means refers to the sending object holding means 105 and refers to the present / fol
The transmission permission flag is set to OFF for the object having the identifier [0x4E, 1] corresponding to the lowing EIT.
The object sending means 106 repeatedly reads and sends each object. When detecting that the sending permission / prohibition flag of the object having the identifier [0x4E, 1] is turned off, the object sending means 106 immediately stops sending this object. In this way, transmission of specific EPG data can be immediately stopped.

Further, the present / foll of the channel 1 stopped above due to the end of the emergency broadcast or the restoration of the failure of another device.
When the transmission of the owing EIT is restarted, the transmission can be immediately restarted by the same procedure.

Further, even when there is a program switching time while the transmission of the present / following EIT is stopped, the object management means updates the object on the transmission object holding means in accordance with a command from the application. When the transmission is resumed, the correct EIT can be transmitted according to the original program time. As described above, by using the section sending device of the third embodiment, sending can be controlled in real time for each object. As a result, even when the transmission of a specific object has to be stopped / restarted due to an emergency broadcast or a device failure, it is possible to respond immediately.

(Fourth Embodiment) In a fourth embodiment, a section sending device that generates and sends a section type object of a scenario and a tag will be described.

As shown in FIG. 24, this apparatus has an overall scenario management means 2401 for managing an overall scenario showing a hierarchical relationship between a plurality of nodes, and a tag management for managing a tag for specifying a certain portion of a broadcast program. Means 2402; and an object generation means 2403 for generating an object by extracting a partial scenario associated with a specific tag from the whole scenario managed by the whole scenario management means 2401.
The tag managed by the tag management means 2402 is associated with any node of the whole scenario managed by the whole scenario management means 2401. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

Here, the scenario and the tag will be described first.

FIG. 25 shows the relationship between scenarios and tags. As shown in FIG. 25, the scenario has a tree structure connecting a plurality of nodes. Each node has a name indicating the content or genre of the program. The tag specifies and cuts out a specific part of the program. In this example, scenes of "baseball" and "J-League" of the "7:00 o'clock news" program are cut out by tags. Here, the tag is cut out by the absolute time, but may be expressed by a relative time from the start of the program. Instead of cutting out the program on the time axis, a specific component of the program, for example, “sub-audio” can be specified by a tag. Tags are associated with any node in the scenario. In this example, tag 1 is associated with the “baseball” node, and tag 2 is associated with the “J-League” node.

A scenario and a tag are produced for each program, and a section format object is generated. As shown in FIG. 26, one scenario object is generated from a scenario having one tree structure. A fixed value is assigned to the table ID of the scenario object so that the table can be identified as a scenario object (0xD1 is assigned in the example in the figure). Is assigned. When a scenario change such as a node addition or a name change occurs, the version number is updated. Node name, node ID, parent node ID
Are repeatedly described for each node, and are arranged in the section body. An error detection code is added to the end of the scenario object, similarly to other objects.

In the case of a tag, one tag object is generated from a plurality of tags for cutting out the scene of the same one program. A fixed value is assigned to the table ID of the tag object so that the table can be identified as a tag object (0xD0 is assigned in the example in the figure), and the table ID extension assigns a program ID. When the range of the program indicated by the tag or the link destination node is changed, the version number is updated. Tag I
D, the start time and length of the scene, the ID of the node on the scenario to be linked, and the like are repeatedly described for each tag, and are arranged in the section body. An error detection code is added to the end of the tag object, similarly to other objects.

The generated tags and scenario objects are broadcast together with the program. The receiver receives the program and stores it in a storage device that can be accessed at random. The receiver simultaneously receives and stores the tag and scenario objects. When the storage of the program is completed, the receiver interprets the stored tags and scenarios and displays a scenario selection screen shown in FIG. The viewer selects a node of interest from the displayed scenario. In this example, the viewer has selected the node of “J league”. The receiver can access a particular scene in the program and play it immediately according to the tag associated with the node. When the viewer selects the node “sports”, the receiver searches the lower nodes “baseball” and “J league”, and tags “tag 1” and “tag 2” related to these nodes. Automatically reproduces the scene of the program indicated by.

Next, the whole scenario and the partial scenario will be described.

In the above scenario and tag description,
A tag indicating the content of the "7:00 News" program was used. On the other hand, if the receiver can store a plurality of programs, as shown in FIG. 28, the viewer is conscious of which news program was broadcast by showing an overall scenario spanning a plurality of news programs. You can watch various news items without having to. In this example, "baseball" and "stock price" were broadcasted in "7:00 o'clock news", and "J league" and "exchange rate" were broadcasted in "9:00 o'clock news".
The viewer can access the video of each item centrally by following one overall scenario.

To broadcast such an overall scenario,
Broadcasting the entire scenario for each news program is inefficient because there are many nodes unrelated to the program. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 29, a partial scenario including only a node associated with a tag indicating a part of the program being broadcast is created and broadcast together with the program and the tag of the program.
Here, in the partial scenario that is broadcast at the same time as “7:00 o'clock news”, since tags 1 and 2 for extracting “7 o'clock news” are associated with the “baseball” and “stock price” nodes, This is a partial scenario including “baseball” and “stock price” starting from “news”.

The receiver receives, interprets, and stores the scenario object of the partial scenario for each news program. If a partial scenario of another news program is already stored, the partial scenario is stored except for the overlapping part, and a new scenario is combined with the stored scenario. In this way, an overall scenario can be built on the receiver.

Next, a specific operation when a section and a scenario are transmitted by the section transmitting apparatus will be described.

In FIG. 24, the overall scenario management means 24
01 manages the entire scenario shown in FIG. The tag management means 2402 manages one or a plurality of tags for each news program. Application storage means 101
Stores an application that prepares for sending a tag and a scenario for each news program.

At the time to prepare for transmission, the application executing means 102 reads from the application storage means 101 the application for preparing to transmit the news tag and scenario at 7:00. The application execution unit 102 issues a request for creating an object queue to the object management unit 104 according to the description of the read application. Here, one object queue is created for each tag and scenario. Next, the application execution unit 102
An object generation request is issued to 3.

The object generating means 2403 extracts a partial scenario of the program, generates a tag object and a scenario object, and
Register in the above object queue.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a procedure for extracting a partial scenario and generating a tag object and a scenario object in the object generating means. A procedure for extracting a partial scenario will be described with reference to FIG. The object generation unit reads all tags included in the corresponding program from the tag management unit (step S3001). Object generation means,
For each tag read, a node on the related overall scenario is searched (step S3002). When the object generation unit finds the relevant node, it extracts the node (S3004). Thereafter, the parent nodes are sequentially traced and extracted (step S3006). If the extracted node is the originating node, the processing of the tag ends. If the node to be taken out has already been taken out by another tag, the processing of that tag ends (step S3003). When all tags have been processed, the object generation means creates a scenario object from the extracted partial scenario (step S
3007), a tag object is generated from all tags included in the corresponding program that has been read (step S3008).

When the object generation is completed, the application executing means registers the transmission information and binds the object queue to the transmission information as described in the first embodiment. Here, the transmission time in the transmission information is set at the same time as the broadcast of the program or after the end of the program.

When the transmission time comes, the section transmission device starts transmission in accordance with the basic operation described in the first embodiment. The receiver receives and interprets the scenario object, and combines the extracted partial scenario with the already stored scenario. The receiver displays the combined scenario at the request of the viewer, and the viewer can immediately view only the news items of interest by selecting the nodes in the scenario.

As described above, by using the section transmitting apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when transmitting data including a scenario and a tag, a partial scenario is automatically extracted and a scenario object is Can be generated. As a result, only the partial scenario related to the current program can be transmitted with the minimum necessary operation, so that the transmission band can be used effectively.

[0115]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the section sending device includes application storing means, application executing means, object managing means, sending information managing means, and object transferring means,
By inputting a command from a different application for each type of data, the transmission of the object can be controlled.

By preparing an application according to the data to be transmitted in accordance with such a configuration, it is possible to transmit various section data with the same device.

Further, according to the present invention, the section sending device is provided with a trigger generating means in addition to the above-described structure, so that a trigger can be generated at the start of sending to notify the application.

With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain an effect that the application can be activated when necessary, and the transmission content can be changed with the progress of time. Further, in the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, an object transmission control unit is provided to control the transmission of the object.

With this configuration, it is possible to obtain an effect that transmission can be controlled according to a real-time operation for each object.

Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, a configuration is provided that includes an overall scenario management unit, a tag management unit, and an object generation unit, and an object is generated by cutting out a partial scenario from the entire scenario and a tag. .

With this configuration, when data consisting of a scenario and a tag is transmitted, an object can be automatically generated from data in a necessary range, and high-efficiency transmission can be easily realized. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a section sending device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an object management method in the section sending device;

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a relationship between transmission information and an object queue in the section transmission device;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram at the time of preparation for transmission of the section transmission device;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram at the time of starting transmission of the section transmission device;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram when an object is switched by a command of the section transmission device,

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram at the end of transmission of the section transmission device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of EPG information;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a program table to be included in EPG information;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of how to send EPG information;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of an object and transmission information when transmitting EPG information;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence between a time and a command issued by an application;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of using EPG information in a receiver.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on a receiver of the data broadcasting service;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a data broadcasting transmission method;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state of management of objects and transmission information when transmitting a data broadcasting service;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of changing an object during a transmission period;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a section sending device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of an application synchronized with the progress of a program.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a state of management of objects and transmission information when transmitting a data broadcasting service according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence between a time and a command issued by an application;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a section transmission device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of an object on a sending object holding unit;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a section sending device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a scenario and a tag.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a scenario object and a tag object.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a scenario selection screen on the receiver.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a scenario spanning a plurality of programs;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a whole scenario and a partial scenario.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of generating an object from the entire scenario and a tag,

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional section transmission device;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a method of managing EPG information in data management means of a conventional section transmission device;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a method of managing data broadcast service information in the data management means of the conventional section transmission device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 application storage means 102 application execution means 103 sending information management means 104 object management means 105 sending object holding means 106 object sending means 107 receiving terminal 1801 change input means 1802 trigger generation means 2201 object control input means 2401 overall scenario management means 2402 tag management Means 2403 Object generation means 3101 Transmission data management means

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An application storing means for storing an application, an application executing means for executing the application, an object managing means for managing an object queue for holding one or more objects in order, and transmitting the object sending information. A section transmission device comprising: transmission information management means for managing; and object transmission means for repeatedly transmitting an object. 2. The transmission information management unit manages one or a plurality of the transmission information, each transmission information is associated with one or a plurality of the object queues, and the application executed by the application execution unit. 2. The section sending device according to claim 1, wherein the sending unit creates the sending information and the object queue, registers the object in the object queue, and switches the object. 3. The object is an ISO / IEC1
The section sending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the section sending apparatus has a section format defined by 3818-1. 4. The section sending device according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger generating unit that generates a trigger for activating the application according to the sending information. 5. The section sending device according to claim 1, further comprising an object control input unit that controls whether an object can be sent from the object sending unit. 6. An overall scenario management means for managing an overall scenario hierarchically showing one or a plurality of nodes and their relations, and a tag for specifying a portion of a broadcast program and associated with one of the nodes of the overall scenario 6. A tag managing unit for managing a tag, and an object generating unit for generating an object by cutting out a partial scenario indicating the content of a specific tag from the entire scenario. Section sending device. 7. An object queue for managing one or more objects in an ordered manner and transmission information of the objects, and sequentially switching the objects in the object queue according to a command issued from an application, and A section sending method wherein the object is repeatedly sent according to the following. 8. The object is an ISO / IEC13
The section sending method according to claim 7, wherein the section format is a section format defined by 818-1. 9. The section sending method according to claim 7, wherein the sending information includes an object sending period. 10. The section transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the transmission information includes a transmission cycle of an object. 11. The transmission information includes a packet ID of a packet transmitting an object.
The section sending method according to claim 7. 12. The section transmission according to claim 7, wherein a trigger is generated when starting and ending the transmission of the object in accordance with the transmission information, and an application is activated by the trigger. Method. 13. The method according to claim 7, wherein whether or not the object can be transmitted is controlled in accordance with an input command.
13. The section sending method according to any one of items 1 to 12. 14. An overall scenario in which one or a plurality of nodes and their relationships are hierarchically shown, and a tag specifying a part of a broadcast program and associated with one of the nodes of the overall scenario is managed. 14. The section sending method according to claim 7, wherein a partial scenario indicating the contents of a specific tag is cut out from the scenario to generate an object.