JP2003274306A - Contents reproducing device, television broadcast receiving device, reproduction system, reproducing method, storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents reproducing device which enables a television broadcast receiving device principally for applications and realize facile use environment for applications by but for the television broadcast receiving device. <P>SOLUTION: Storage means 304 and 119 store contents including at least either of video and audio. Reproducing means 302 and 305 reproduce the contents in the storage means 119. Contents reproducing means 103, 104, 106, 111, and 110 processes the contents reproduced by the reproducing means 302 and 305 to output them on a monitor. A control means 301 controls the execution of an application program 307 according to the monitoring output state of the contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention receives, for example, a digital broadcast wave in which data such as characters, images, audio, and video is multiplexed, and based on the received data, display, reproduction, and application. Used in devices or systems that have the function of executing programs
The present invention relates to a content reproducing device, a television broadcast receiving device, a reproducing system, a reproducing method, a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the same, and the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, a television broadcast signal containing video is digitized, the digital television broadcast is transmitted via a broadcasting satellite, a communication satellite, or the like, and each household receives the digital television broadcast. The system is made to operate.

With the above-mentioned digital television broadcasting, a television broadcasting receiving apparatus (so-called television or television receiver) which receives and reproduces the digital television broadcasting in each home or the like is changing from watching to using. It is said that there is.

For example, in the past, a television, which was only a means for watching a broadcast program, received radio waves in which moving images, voices, various data, and the like were multiplexed with the digitization of broadcasts, and the user It is becoming possible to display various data and the like according to the operation of the remote controller (remote controller).

Further, in BS digital broadcasting as television broadcasting, a data broadcasting service has already started. This is because the broadcasting station superimposes and transmits a data group including display data and a script program on the television broadcast wave, and the television broadcast receiver side receives and stores the television broadcast wave, and the remote controller of the user. It is a service that makes it possible to display the corresponding data on the screen according to an operation or the like.

On the other hand, it goes without saying that an environment in which an application program is mainly used by a personal computer (personal computer) has been realized so far, and when the user uses the application program on the personal computer, the user needs to use the application program. A certain fee is paid to the software sales company, which is the provider of the software. This allows the user to use the application program on the personal computer.

Specifically, for example, the user purchases a package of a desired application program from the software sales company side and installs the application program in the personal computer. Alternatively, the user accesses the provider of the desired application program through the Internet or the like by operating the personal computer, inputs user information such as a credit card number, and then downloads the application program. Alternatively, the user operates the personal computer to access the provider of the desired application program via the Internet, etc., downloads the application program, deposits this fee, and then receives the key code from the provider of the application program. After receiving the disclosure, the application program is used.

[0008]

However, in the conventional digital broadcast receiving apparatus as described above, only a part of the script or program included in the data of the program being broadcast can be executed. Execution was only possible during the broadcast of the program. That is, the conventional television broadcast receiving apparatus cannot meet the demand that the user wants to actively use the application program in order to achieve a certain purpose.

Further, even in the television broadcast receiving apparatus as described above, there is a demand for an environment in which the user can independently use the application program when he / she wants. There is a strong demand to use it for free and, if possible, for free. In particular, in the environment for using television broadcasting where it is basically common to watch programs for free,
There is a strong demand for similar environments for application programs.

Further, for example, although a huge amount of money is required for developing application software in a company, the company often provides services for distributing application software to users free of charge.

However, the above service requires that the user purchases generally expensive hardware or operating software or the like, which is essential for using the application software (program) of the company. Since it was assumed,
There has been a problem that companies (businesses) that can perform the service are limited.

Further, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-43282
In the distributed data processing system described in the publication, by inserting an advertisement in a part of the WWW browser display, the online communication fee cost of the user is reduced and the application program can be easily used.

However, in the above system, the application programs that can be used by the user are limited to the applications for browsing the Internet contents, so that they cannot be applied to the application programs that are not connected to the Internet.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and makes it possible to use the television broadcast receiving apparatus mainly for applications, and unlike the conventional personal computer environment, the television broadcast receiving apparatus can be used. A content reproducing device, a television broadcast receiving device, a reproducing system, a reproducing method, which provides an application execution control function for realizing a simple application use environment unique to the device, and a computer reading which stores a program for executing the content reproducing device. The purpose is to provide a possible storage medium and the program.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Under such a purpose,
The present invention is a content reproducing apparatus for reproducing a content containing at least one of video and audio, the accumulating means accumulating the content, a reproducing means for reproducing the content in the accumulating means, and the reproducing means. Content processing means for processing and playing back the content played back by the application, application executing means for executing an arbitrary application program, and an application program by the application executing means based on the monitor output state of the content by the content processing means. And control means for controlling the execution of.

Further, the present invention is a television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which a content including at least one of video and audio is multiplexed, and a content storage means for storing the content. A reproducing means for reproducing the content in the content accumulating means, a content processing means for processing the content reproduced by the reproducing means for monitor output, a program accumulating means for accumulating an arbitrary application program, and the content And an application executing means for reading and executing the application program in the program accumulating means based on the monitor output state of the content by the processing means.

Further, the present invention is a television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content are multiplexed and processed. And content storage means for storing attribute data, playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means based on the attribute data of the content, program storage means for storing an arbitrary application program, and content by the playback means. And an application executing means for reading and executing the application program in the program accumulating means based on the reproduction state of.

Further, the present invention is a television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which a content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content are multiplexed and processed. And content storage means for storing attribute data, playback means for playing back content in the content storage means, application execution means for executing an arbitrary application program, and condition data for using the application program. An application usage condition accumulating unit, and the reproducing unit, when the application program is executed by the application executing unit, the corresponding condition data in the application using condition accumulating unit and the attribute in the content accumulating unit Performs reproduction of the content data and the match, the application execution unit, based on the reproduction state of the content by the reproducing means, and executes continuation of the application program.

Further, the present invention is a television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which attribute data relating to content including at least one of video and audio and content to be distributed in the future is multiplexed. A content storage unit for performing the content storage process and the storage reservation process for the content to be distributed in the future; a reproduction unit for reproducing the content in the content storage unit; and an application execution unit for executing an arbitrary application program. An application usage condition storage means for storing condition data for using the application program, wherein the content storage means compares the attribute data with the condition data stored in the application usage condition storage means. On the basis of And executes the accumulation reservation processing and storage processing of content indicated by the attribute data.

Further, the present invention is a reproducing method for reproducing a content containing at least one of video and audio, comprising a storage step of storing the content in a storage means, and a content in the storage means. A reproducing step of reproducing, a content processing step of processing the content reproduced by the reproducing step and outputting it to the monitor means, an application executing step of executing an application program, and a monitor output of the content by the monitor means. A control step of prohibiting the execution of the application program during a non-existing period is included.

The present invention is also a reproducing method for receiving and reproducing a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio is multiplexed,
A content storage step of storing the above content,
A reproducing step of reproducing the content accumulated by the content accumulating step, a program accumulating step of accumulating an application program, an application executing step of reading out and activating and executing the application program accumulated by the program accumulating step, and the reproducing operation And an application control step of permitting the application program to be started or continuously executed by the application executing step when the content is being reproduced by the step.

The present invention is also a reproduction method for receiving and reproducing a content including at least one of video and audio and a television broadcast wave in which the attribute data of the content is multiplexed, And a content storage step of storing attribute data, and a content stored by the content storage step,
A reproduction step of reproducing based on the attribute data of the content, a program accumulating means for accumulating an application program, an application executing step of reading out and starting and executing the application program accumulated by the program accumulating step, and a content by the reproducing step. Is being reproduced, the application control step of permitting the start or continuous execution of the application program by the application execution step is included.

Further, the present invention is a reproducing method for receiving and reproducing a content including at least one of video and audio and a television broadcast wave in which attribute data of the content is multiplexed, and the content is reproduced. And a content storage step of storing attribute data, a playback step of playing back the content stored by the content storage step, an application execution step of starting and executing an application program, and condition data for using the application program. And an application use condition accumulating step of accumulating, wherein the reproducing step is accumulated by the application using condition accumulating step when the application program is executed by the application executing step. The application executing step includes a step of reproducing the content in which the corresponding condition data and the attribute data accumulated in the content accumulating step match. When the content is reproduced in the reproducing step, the application executing step includes: It is characterized by including a step of starting or continuing execution of the program.

Further, the present invention is a reproducing method for receiving and reproducing a television broadcast wave in which attribute data relating to content including at least one of video and audio and content to be distributed in the future is multiplexed. A content storage step of performing storage processing of the content, and storage reservation processing of the content to be distributed in the future,
A reproducing step of reproducing the content accumulated by the content accumulating step, an application executing step of activating and executing an application program, and an application use condition accumulating step of accumulating condition data for using the application program, In the content storing step, when the attribute data and the condition data stored in the application use condition storing step match,
The method is characterized by including a step of executing a storage reservation process and a storage process of the content indicated by the attribute data.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is a storage means for storing content including at least one of video and audio, and the storage means. Means for reproducing the content in the content, content processing means for processing the content reproduced by the reproduction means and outputting it to the monitor, application executing means for executing an arbitrary application program, and content monitoring by the content processing means And a control means for controlling the execution of the application program by the application execution means based on the output state.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is a television broadcast wave in which contents including at least one of video and audio are multiplexed. Content storage means for storing content, playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means, content processing means for processing the content played back by the playback means and outputting to a monitor, and storage for an arbitrary application program It is characterized by comprising a program accumulating means and an application executing means for reading and executing the application program in the program accumulating means based on the monitor output state of the content by the content processing means.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is multiplexed with content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content. Content storage means for storing the content and attribute data of the television broadcast wave, playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means based on the attribute data of the content, and program storage means for storing an arbitrary application program. And an application executing means for reading and executing the application program in the program accumulating means based on the reproduction state of the content by the reproducing means.

Also, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is multiplexed with content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content. A content storage unit that stores the content and attribute data of the television broadcast wave, a reproduction unit that reproduces the content in the content storage unit, an application execution unit that executes an arbitrary application program, and the application program are used. And an application use condition storage means for storing condition data for storing the condition data for use in the application use condition storage means, when the application program is executed by the application execution means. And reproducing the content whose attribute data in the content storage means matches, and the application executing means continues execution of the application program based on the reproduction state of the content in the reproducing means. To do.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means stores content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data relating to content to be distributed in the future. Content storage means for performing storage processing of the content of the multiplexed television broadcast waves and storage reservation processing for the content to be distributed in the future, playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means, and an arbitrary application program And an application use condition storage unit for storing condition data for using the application program. The content storage unit stores the attribute data and the application use condition storage unit. Tajo Based on the comparison result between the data, and executes the accumulation reservation processing and storage processing of content indicated by the attribute data.

Further, the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium recording the program according to any one of claims 30 to 34.

According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, for example, the application program is started based on the reproduction state such as whether or not the content or the content group previously stored in the storage means such as the hard disk is being reproduced. And control of execution can be performed. That is, it is possible to allow the user to use the application on condition that the content stored in advance is reproduced.

Further, the priority of the content reproduction content is changed according to the day of the week when the user is using the application program, the time, etc. The degree can be changed.

Further, it is possible to perform control to change the content to be reproduced for each application program to be executed and control to change the content to be reproduced according to the state of the application program.

[0034]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] The present invention is applied to, for example, a television broadcast receiving apparatus (digital television receiving apparatus) 100 for receiving digital television broadcasting (digital broadcasting) as shown in FIG. To be done.

First, in the present embodiment, a digital broadcast station (not shown) encodes video contents (contents including audio) of a television program and data relating to the video contents (content attribute data). The encoded data is multiplexed and then modulated, and the modulated data is transmitted as a broadcast wave from an antenna (not shown) of the broadcasting station. The broadcast wave transmitted from the antenna of the broadcast station is received by the digital television receiver 100 (user side terminal device) via a broadcast satellite (BS) not shown.

Hereinafter, the digital television receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, which receives and processes the above-mentioned broadcast waves,
Will be specifically described.

<Structure and Series of Operations of Digital Television Receiver 100> In the digital television receiver 100 shown in FIG. 1, the antenna 160 first receives a broadcast wave (digital broadcast wave) from a broadcast station. The digital tuner unit 101 selects a signal in the frequency band of the channel selected by a user operation or the like from the received wave (digital broadcast wave) of the antenna 160, inputs the signal, and demodulates and corrects the error of the input signal. Etc., digital data in a format called a transport stream (TS) is generated, and the transport stream (hereinafter referred to as “TS data”) is output to the descrambler 102.

If the TS data from the digital tuner section 101 is TS data that has been scrambled for viewing restriction, the descrambler 102 performs descrambling (descrambling) included in the TS data. The TS data is descrambled based on the key information and the key information output from the IC card control unit 117 described later, and the TS data after the descramble is output to the transport decoder 103.

If the TS data from the digital tuner unit 101 is not the TS data that is scrambled for viewing restriction, the descrambler 102 outputs the TS data to the transport decoder 103.

The IC card 135 whose information is read from the IC card control unit 117 records the contract information of the user and the key information for unlocking the key information for the descrambler included in the TS data obtained from the received wave. ing.

The IC card controller 117 is for the IC card 1
35, if the key information for descrambling the descrambler 102 is recorded, the key information is read from the IC card 135,
This is output to the descrambler 102 via the bus 122.

The transport decoder 103 processes the TS data from the descrambler 102 to generate data in a format called "partial TS" by removing unnecessary data from the TS data, and the partial TS data ( Data including video content and content attribute data) is stored in the hard disk 119 via the bus 122.

Further, the transport decoder 103 is
Partial TS already stored on the hard disk 119
The data is read, the packet data included in the partial TS data is extracted, and at the same time, it is divided into video, audio, and content attribute data (hereinafter, also referred to as “broadcast data”) and output for each packet.

The video decoder 106 decodes the encoded video data obtained by the transport decoder 103 and outputs the decoded video data to the moving picture plane 107 in the graphic buffer 121. .

The audio decoder 104 decodes the encoded audio data obtained by the transport decoder 103 and outputs the decoded audio data to the digital / analog converter (DAC) 105. . The DAC 105 is the audio decoder 104.
From the speaker 133 and outputs it from the speaker 133.

The CPU 118 controls the operation of the entire digital television receiver 100 by reading and executing a predetermined processing program.

For example, the CPU 118 performs various data processing by reading and executing the application program stored in the hard disk 119 or the memory 112, and at the same time, transfers the data to the graphic generation unit 110. Perform graphic display control.

The graphic generation unit 110 includes the CPU 11
Image data of a character or a graphic is generated based on the data supplied from 8, and the image data is transferred to the character / graphic plane 109 or the still image plane 108 of the graphic buffer 121.

The screen synthesizing unit 111 executes a synthesizing process or a switching process of the data stored in the moving image (video) plane 107, the character / graphic plane 109, and the still image plane 108 in the graphic buffer 121, and outputs the processed data. Is output to the display device 134. Indicator 134
Displays the data from the screen synthesis unit 111 on the screen.

The descrambler 102, the memory 112, and the transport decoder 10 described above are connected to the bus 122.
3, video decoder 106, graphic generation unit 11
0, graphic buffer 121, screen compositing unit 111,
Along with the hard disk 119, the IC card control unit 117, and the CPU 118, the IEEE 1394 interface 114, the modem 113, the serial interface 120 that can communicate with the display unit 134, the light receiving unit 116 of the remote controller (remote controller) 132, and various operation instructions from the user. The accepting operation unit 115 is connected. The components connected to the bus 122 can communicate with each other via the bus 122.

IEEE 1394 interface 114
Is an interface for performing protocol communication with a VTR (video tape recorder) 130 and a printer 131 externally connected to the main body of the digital television receiving apparatus 100.

The modem 113 is an interface for connecting to a network (not shown) such as the Internet via a telephone line, and is used, for example, to perform information communication with the data server 150 on the broadcaster side on the network. To be

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the remote controller 132. The configuration of the remote controller 132 is as follows.
The configuration is not limited to that shown in FIG. For simplification of description of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 shows only buttons for performing operations for realizing necessary functions, and buttons necessary for actual reception and processing of television broadcasting are not shown. Not limited to this.

In FIG. 2, 201 is a remote controller 1
32 and the digital television receiver 1 shown in FIG.
00 is a light emitting unit for performing infrared communication with the light receiving unit 115. Reference numeral 202 denotes a power key for turning on / off the power of the digital television receiving device 100. 203
Is a stick-shaped cursor key, which is configured to be a cursor movement input in four directions by tilting it up and down (forward and backward) left and right, and a “decision” input by pressing the stick itself.

Reference numeral 204 is a "d" key (d button) for displaying a data broadcast obtained from a digital broadcast wave.
Is. 205 is a screen switching key for switching the display screen on the display device 134. Reference numeral 206 denotes numeric keys arranged in a matrix, and 207 denotes a display 134.
Is a menu button to display the menu screen with.

Reference numeral 208 is an UP / Down key composed of two keys, UP and Down. Reference numeral 209 denotes a button group for reproducing the content stored in the hard disk 119, and further for rewinding, stopping, reproducing, and fast-forwarding during reproduction. 210 is an application key for displaying the application selection list on the display device 134.

<Software Configuration of Digital Television Receiving Apparatus 100> FIG.
0 shows the functional configuration by software executed by the CPU 118.

The function executed by the CPU 118 is, as shown in FIG. 5, the application execution control unit 30.
1, content reproduction control unit 302, content attribute data 303, storage control unit 304, content reproduction processing unit 3
05, a user event control unit 306, an application (program) 307, user information 308, and a system clock 309.

The above-mentioned components 301 to 309 are respectively
The content reproduction processing unit (content reproduction processing module) 305 is a hard disk 119, a transport decoder 103, a video decoder 106, an audio decoder 104, and a screen synthesizing unit. The decoding process of the partial TS stream accumulated in the hard disk 119, the video display process, and the audio reproduction process are performed while controlling the respective constituent units configured by hardware such as 111.

The application execution control unit (application execution control module) 301 reads the application program stored in the hard disk 119 and loads it into the memory 112, and also executes execution control such as initialization of the program.

The content attribute data (content attribute data module) 302 is a data module including the content attribute data of the video content contained in each partial TS data stored in the hard disk 119. User information (user information module) 30
Reference numeral 8 denotes an information module about the user himself, which is set in advance by the user.

The user event control section (user event control module) 306 receives a user input from the remote controller 132 and sends an event to the content reproduction control module 302 and the application execution control module 301 based on the received information. To do.

Here, the application 307 is stored in the hard disk 119 and is in an executing state.

The content reproduction control unit (content reproduction control module) 302 is a process for selecting which of the data forming the video content (partial TS data) stored in the hard disk 119 is to be reproduced. Also, control processing such as reproduction start and stop for the content reproduction processing unit (content reproduction processing module) 305 is executed.

Storage control unit (storage control module) 304
Performs storage control when storing data (TV broadcast content) from the digital tuner 101 in the hard disk 119 via the transport decoder 103.

<Specific Operation of Digital Television Receiving Apparatus 100> Here, the digital television receiving apparatus 100 is implemented by the software configuration shown in FIG.
The main operation of will be described.

(Operation of Storage Control Module 304) In the present embodiment, the video contents are distributed at a predetermined date and time from the broadcasting station. Accordingly, the storage control module 304 controls the digital tuner 101 at a predetermined date and time to select a channel to which a predetermined content is distributed and start receiving the channel. Then, the storage control module 304 controls the transport decoder 103 to convert the TS data of the received content into the partial TS data, and stores this in the hard disk 119.

Here, as described above, the digital broadcast distributed from the broadcasting station includes the video content (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “content”) and the content attribute data of the video content. The content attribute data includes, as service information (SI) information, a content name (program name), a reproduction time, and other attribute information related to the content.

Therefore, the storage control module 304
Stores the content attribute data of the content in the content attribute data module 303 when the content (partial TS data) is stored in the hard disk 119.

FIG. 4 shows the state of the content attribute data stored in the content attribute data module 303 by the storage control module 304. In FIG. 4 described above, as an example, it is assumed that the content attribute data for four contents is stored in the content attribute data module 303.

As shown in FIG. 4, an identification number (ID) is added to each of the four contents. The content attribute data here is, for example, XML.
It is data using the text format described based on (extensible Markup Language), and each element that is the content of the data is described in the area surrounded by the start tag <xxx> and the end tag </ xxx>, Further, each element can contain other elements inside.

FIG. 4 (a) is a content attribute element (id = 1) representing the first content attribute data. Among the elements, a file, a time offset, a content name, a time, It includes elements such as expiration date and preferential playback conditions. Furthermore, the priority reproduction condition elements include elements such as reproduction day, reproduction time zone, user group, and user gender. Subsequent second to fourth content attribute elements also include internal elements with the same configuration as the first content attribute element.

The contents of the content attribute element shown in FIG. 4 are the contents converted and described by the storage control module 304 from the broadcasting station together with the broadcast wave as service information (SI) information based on XML. Is.

However, the only file element is the information newly added by the storage control module 304 when the content storage processing is performed. This file element is a file name added by the storage control module 304 when the content is stored in the hard disk 119. When the content playback processing module 305 later reads the content from the hard disk 119 and processes the content, the file element is added. used.

The time offset element is an element used to specify individual contents when one piece of partial TS data contains a plurality of contents. Specifically, the time offset element is data indicating how many minutes after the start of a certain partial TS data, the target content is set. The time element is data indicating the time required to reproduce each piece of content when one piece of partial TS data includes a plurality of pieces of content.

The priority reproduction condition element is an element including a reproduction time zone element and a user layer element. The playback time zone element is
The start and end of the playback time are expressed in numbers in units of 24 hours.
The data is expressed by connecting with [-]. Similarly, the user layer element is also described by connecting the beginning and end of the width of the user age group with [-].

In FIG. 4, all four contents are described as one file with the ID "0001", but each may be described as a file with a different ID.

(Operation of Application Execution Control Module 301) The application execution control module 301 starts the application program stored in the hard disk 119 in advance, terminates it, and has four states (Loaded, Paused, Ac) that the application program has.
tive, Destroyed) state change process that controls the transition.

The application program according to the present embodiment is, for example, a so-called Java in which a source code written in Java (R) language is compiled beforehand.
The (R) byte code (hereinafter, also referred to as "Java (R) class file") is configured to include image data, audio data, and other data used during execution by the application program.

FIG. 5 shows the application execution control module 301.
It shows the operation of. In addition, in FIG.
“●” (black circle) means the start of processing, double circle means the end of processing, and diamond means judgment and branching.

When the user requests the application activation by pressing the application key 210 of the remote controller 132, the application execution control module 301 first causes the content reproduction control module 302.
A content reproduction request is issued (step S501).

The content reproduction control module 302
The content attribute data 303 as shown in FIG. 4 is acquired, and it is confirmed by the content attribute data 303 whether or not the reproduced content exists. Then, as a result of the above confirmation, if the content to be reproduced does not exist, the content reproduction control module 302 notifies the application execution control module 301 to that effect.

Application execution control module 30
Upon receiving the notification from the content reproduction control module 302, the 1 immediately suspends and terminates the application activation process if there is no content to be reproduced according to the notification (step S502).

On the other hand, when there is content to be reproduced, the application execution control module 301 starts the application initialization process (step S5).
03). That is, the application execution control module 301 reads the byte code and loads it into the memory 112 (step S503a), a function call process for putting the application into a pause state (step S503b), as the application startup process.
And a function call process (step S503c) for bringing the application into a running state (active).

FIG. 6 shows an example of the display screen 610 on the display device 134 after the application starting process by the application execution control module 301. As shown in FIG. 6, the application execution control module 301 controls the composition control unit 111 to divide the display screen 610 into two areas 611 and 612, and the application is displayed in the display area 612. The reproduced content is displayed in 611.

FIG. 7 shows the operation during application execution in the application execution control module 301.

After executing the application, the application execution control module 301 executes the event driven processing which is started by the event periodically generated by the timer function of the CPU 118 or the user event generated by the operation of the remote controller 132 by the user. To do.

First, the application execution control module 301 makes a call to the content reproduction control module 302 to confirm whether or not the content is being reproduced (step S701). As a result, the content reproduction control module 302 determines that the content is being reproduced. If it is being reproduced (step S702), this processing is immediately terminated.

On the other hand, as a result of the above confirmation, when the content reproduction control module 302 is not reproducing the content,
Alternatively, when the content reproduction is stopped by the user's operation of the remote controller 132 to stop the reproduction (step S
702), the application execution control module 301
Displays a warning on the screen during execution of the application (see FIG. 6 above, display area 612 of screen 610) (step S703). FIG. 8 shows a display example of the warning display 620 displayed by executing the process of step S703.

Application execution control module 30
If the user recognizes that the user has pressed the application (APP) button 210 of the remote controller 132 during the warning display 620 (step S704), the termination processing for suspending the execution of the application is executed (step S7).
07).

In the application execution control module 301, the warning display 620 allows the user to select the remote control 1
When the result of the inquiry to the content reproduction control module 302 is that the content is being reproduced due to the reproduction instruction by the operation of 32 (step S705, step S705).
706), this processing ends without executing any processing in order to continue the execution of the application.

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the operation of the application execution control module 301 and other software modules or hardware components. Note that, in FIG. 9 above, the line extending downward indicates the passage of time (time), and indicates that the processing is executed later as it goes downward.

For example, the content reproduction control module 3
02 responds to the inquiry from the application execution control module 301 (step S901), “playing” (step S902). When the content reproduction is stopped by the user's operation of the remote controller 132 (step S903, discard S904), the content reproduction control module 302 responds to the inquiry from the application execution control module 301 (step S905). "Not playing" is responded (step S906).

Application execution control module 30
1 receives the response from the content reproduction control module 302 and displays a warning (step S907).

Furthermore, when the user reproduces the content by operating the remote controller 132 (step S9).
08, discard S909), the content reproduction control module 302, the application execution control module 30
In response to the inquiry from 1 (step S910),
It responds to "playing" (step S911).

Application execution control module 30
1 receives the response from the content reproduction control module 302 and cancels (deletes) the warning display (step S91).
2).

(Operation of Content Reproduction Control Module 302) FIGS. 10 to 12 show the operation of the content reproduction control module 302. The content reproduction control module 302 receives the content reproduction request from the application execution control module 301 as described above, and starts the corresponding processing.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, the content reproduction control module 302 acquires the content attribute data 303 as shown in FIG. 4, and the content attribute data 303 determines whether or not reproduced content exists. Confirm (step S1001).

As a result of the confirmation in step S1001, if the reproduced content does not exist, the content reproduction control module 302 sets the content reproduction to the stopped state (step S1004), and at the same time, as described above, the application execution control module 301 is instructed. And notifies that there is no reproduction content (step S100).
5).

As a result of the confirmation in step S1001, if the reproduced content exists, the content reproduction control module 302 executes the search process for the priority content (step S1002).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the content reproduction control module 302 first acquires the current day of the week, time information, and user information to be described later when executing the priority content search processing (step S10
02a), the content of the content attribute data 303 is read out, and the processing from step S1002b is executed for all existing content attribute data.

That is, the content reproduction control module 302 first reads the content of the content attribute data to be processed (step S1002b), and the content of the priority reproduction condition contained in the content of the content attribute data and the current day of the week and time information. , And user information (step S1002d), and as a result of this comparison, if all match (corresponding) (step S1002e), content reproduction processing is executed (step S1010).

The step S1002d will be described in detail. For example, if the content attribute data is as shown in FIG.
In the case of the data as shown in, the priority reproduction condition is described as the reproduction day of the week in the content attribute data having the content attribute id = 1 described at the beginning as “Monday Tue Wednesday Thursday”. In this case, it is necessary that the current day of the week falls under this. Also, as the reproduction time zone, "10-
Since it is described as "15", it is necessary that the current time zone is between 10:00 and 15:00. Furthermore, since "20-70" is described as the user class, the age group information of the registered user needs to be between 20 and 70 years old.

When all the elements included in the priority reproduction conditions as described above match the current day of the week, the time, and the information set in the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the content reproduction processing is executed. It will be. Further, for example, in the case of the content attribute data with the content attribute id = 1 shown in FIG. 4, the data stored in the hard disk 119 with the file ID = 0001 is stored for 120 seconds from the beginning 60 seconds after the beginning. Content reproduction will be executed.

As described above, in the priority content search process of step S1002, the content attribute data 303
The reproduction content is determined according to the content of, and immediately after that, the reproduction of the content is executed. After the processing is completed for all the content attribute data (step S1002c), the normal content search processing is executed (step S1003).

Normal content search process (step S10)
In 03), for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the content reproduction control module 302 acquires the content attribute data 303 as shown in FIG. 4 and executes the reproduction content determination processing. In particular, the content registered in the content attribute data 303 is simply selected in order from the beginning to the end without performing comparison with the priority reproduction condition, and the reproduction processing is executed (step S100).
3a, step S1003b, step S1010).

Then, the content reproduction control module 3
02, when the content attribute data of all the contents are read and the reproduction of the contents is completed, the priority content search process is executed again (step S10).
02).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the priority content search process (step S1002) and the normal content search process (step S1003) are alternately repeated, so that they are targets of priority reproduction. The content will be reproduced with double the priority with respect to other normal content. Also, the content that is the target of priority reproduction changes with the day of the week and the time when the user uses the application.

Here, the "user information" in the present embodiment is information that is set in advance after the user has purchased the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like. FIG.
Shows an example of a user information setting screen 1300.

For example, when the user displays the setting screen 1300 displayed on the display 134, the remote controller 132
By operating, a cursor key (not shown) on the setting screen 1300 is moved to select a display area to be changed,
By operating the number keys 206 of the remote controller 132, the value of the age group is set or changed. Further, the user also operates the remote controller 132 to set the gender configuration.

The setting information on the setting screen 1300 is held by the user information module 308 shown in FIG. 3 and used as a processing parameter in the priority content search processing shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

According to the present embodiment as described in detail above, it is possible to control the execution of the application program depending on whether or not the content group previously stored in the hard disk 119 is being reproduced. Become. That is, it is possible to allow the user to use the application on condition that the content stored in advance is reproduced.

By executing the content reproduction control as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the user can change the priority of the content reproduction contents according to the day of the week, time, etc. in which the application program is used. It is possible to change the priority of the content reproduction content according to the information about the user registered in advance by the user.

In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned FIGS.
In the content reproduction control shown in 2, the priority content search process (step S1002) and the normal content search process (step S1003) are alternately performed at a ratio of 1: 1. For example, the priority content search process and the normal content search process may be performed at a ratio of 2: 1 or a ratio of 3: 1.

Further, in the present embodiment, the user information that can be set is the information of the range of the age group of the user and the gender composition, but of course, other information may be included.
For example, the user information may include information such as the music genre preferred by the user and the product genre desired by the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description of the content attribute data is the description based on XML, but it is not limited to this from the point of the gist of the present invention.
It may be described as text based on another method or as a binary data block.

Further, in the present embodiment, the content is distributed from the broadcasting station at a predetermined time, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the user manually operates the content for the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The input operation may be performed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, all the file IDs of the stored contents are ID =
Although it is set to 0001, the file ID is not limited to this.
May be changed and handled as individual files.

[Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, the configuration and operation of the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 are configured and operate as described below. Note that only the configuration and operation different from those of the first embodiment will be specifically described here.

First, in this embodiment, video data, audio data, and "broadcast data" of a television program are coded at a digital broadcasting broadcasting station (not shown), and each coded data is multiplexed. After being converted, the data is modulated and the modulated data is transmitted as a broadcast wave from an antenna (not shown) of the broadcasting station. The broadcast wave transmitted from the antenna of the broadcast station is transmitted via a broadcast satellite (BS) (not shown).
Digital television receiver 100 (user-side terminal device)
Will be received at.

The above-mentioned "broadcast data" includes "service information data" (SI data) indicating the contents of a broadcast channel or broadcast program, text data described in markup language, image data, and audio data. The data includes “data broadcast content data” and “application data” including an application program code and its related data file.

<Software Configuration of Digital Television Receiving Apparatus 100> FIG. 14 shows a functional configuration by software executed by the CPU 118 in the digital television receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.
Incidentally, in the software configuration shown in FIG. 14, the same functions as those of the software configuration shown in FIG.

The software configuration in this embodiment includes recording reservation data 1409, application attribute data 1408, and application 1407.

The content reproduction processing module 305
Hard disk 119, transport decoder 10
3, video decoder 106, audio decoder 10
4 and the hardware composing unit such as the screen compositing unit 111 are controlled to carry out the decoding process of the partial TS stream accumulated in the hard disk 119, the video display process and the audio reproduction process.

Application execution control module 30
1 reads the application program accumulated in the hard disk 119 and loads it into the memory 112,
In addition, execution control such as program initialization is performed.

Content attribute data module 303
Is a partial T stored in the hard disk 119.
It is a data module in which content attribute data of contents included in S data is collected.

The user event control module 306
A user input from the remote controller 132 is received, and an event is transmitted to the content reproduction control module 302 and the application execution control module 301 based on the received information.

The application 1407 is an application distributed by a broadcast wave from a broadcasting station. After being received by the digital tuner 101, it is decoded by the transport decoder 103, and the hard disk 11
Accumulated in 9. Application here 1407
Is stored in the hard disk 119 and then stored in the memory 11
It is assumed that it is loaded in 2 and is running.

The content reproduction control module 302
A process for selecting which of the contents (partial TS data) stored in the hard disk 119 is to be reproduced, a control process for starting and stopping reproduction of the content reproduction processing module 305, and the like are executed.

The storage control module 304 inputs the content (TS data) from the digital tuner 101.
Is stored in the hard disk 119 via the transport decoder 103.

The application attribute data 1408 is
It is a data module that stores application attribute data. The recording reservation data 1409 is a data module for storing the time and channel of the program to be recorded when the storage control module 304 performs the automatic storage operation.

<Specific Operation of Digital Television Receiving Apparatus 100> Here, the digital television receiving apparatus 10 is implemented by the software configuration shown in FIG.
The main operation of 0 will be described.

(Operation of Storage Control Module 304) In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the content is distributed from the broadcasting station at a predetermined date and time. Therefore, when the storage control module 304 reaches the determined date and time,
A channel for predetermined content distribution is selected and reception of the channel is started. Then, the storage control module 304 controls the transport decoder 103 to convert TS data into partial TS data, and stores the partial TS data in the hard disk 119.

Here, the digital broadcast distributed from the broadcasting station contains the content attribute data of the content together with the content, as in the first embodiment. The content attribute data includes, as service information (SI) information, a content name (program name), a reproduction time, and other attribute information related to the content.

Therefore, the storage control module 304
Stores the content attribute data of the content in the content attribute data module 303 when the content (partial TS data) is stored in the hard disk 119.

FIG. 15 shows the state of the content attribute data stored in the content attribute data module 303 by the storage control module 304. In FIG. 15 described above, as an example, it is assumed that the content attribute data modules 303 store the content attribute data for the six contents.

As shown in FIG. 15, an identification number (ID) is added to each of the six contents. Further, the content attribute data here is data using a text format described based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language), as in the first embodiment.
Further, in the present embodiment, the target content is, for example, the content of a product advertisement.

The (a) shown in FIG. 15 is a content attribute element (id = 1) representing the first content attribute data.
And its elements include files, time offsets, content names, vendor names, sections, categories,
It includes elements such as time and expiration date. The subsequent second to sixth content attribute elements also include internal elements with the same configuration as the first content attribute element.

The contents of the content attribute element shown in FIG. 15 are the contents converted and described by the storage control module 304 from the broadcasting station together with the broadcast wave as service information (SI) information based on XML. Is.

However, the file element is the information newly added by the storage control module 304 when the content storage process is performed. This file element is a file name added by the storage control module 304 when the content is stored in the hard disk 119. When the content playback processing module 305 later reads the content from the hard disk 119 and processes the content, the file element is added. used.

The time offset element is an element used to specify individual contents when one piece of partial TS data includes a plurality of contents. Specifically, the time offset element is data indicating how many minutes after the start of a certain partial TS data, the target content is set. The time element is data indicating the time required to reproduce each piece of content when one piece of partial TS data includes a plurality of pieces of content.

The providing company name element and the section element are names of the side (company) that creates and provides the content,
And the element representing the section in charge in the company. For example, in the content attribute element indicated by id = 1 in FIG. 15 described above, the content is created and provided by the section “Office Software Division” of the company name “Michael Soft”.

In the content attribute element shown in FIG. 15, the section element and the category element can be treated as options, and it is not always necessary to have these elements.

(Application Execution Control Module 3
Operation of 01) First, FIG. 16 shows an example of the contents of the application attribute data 1408 handled by the application execution control module 301.

The application attribute data 1408 is
Attribute information about some applications already stored in the hard disk 119 is data described in XML format.

The attribute information of the application includes two elements of the application name and the usage condition content, and a content element among the elements of the usage condition content, and further, the company name, the name, the section, and the category. It is configured to include the elements of.

In the attribute information of the application, it is not necessary to use all the elements of company name, name, section, and category as the elements included in the content element. For example, one of these elements is used. You may use it.

FIG. 17 shows the application execution control module 30.
1 shows the operation of No. 1. In FIG. 17 above,
“●” (black circle) means the start of processing, double circle means the end of processing, and diamond means judgment and branching.

The application program in this embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment, for example,
Image data, audio data, etc. used by the application program during execution, together with so-called Java (R) bytecode (Java (R) class file) in which source code written in Java (R) language is compiled in advance. It is configured to include the data of.

When the user presses the application key 210 of the remote controller 132 to request the application activation, the application execution control module 301 first sets the application attribute data 1408.
Is acquired (step S1701).

Next, the application execution control module 301 reads out the application condition data 1408 acquired in step S1701, that is, the use condition element included in the attribute of the application that is about to be activated, and uses the use condition element as a parameter to retrieve the content. A request for content reproduction is issued to the reproduction control module 302 (step S1702).

Specifically, for example, when the application attribute data 1408 is the data as shown in FIG. 16, the application to be activated is "Michael Softword for TV" shown in (A) in the figure.
If it is, the usage condition element is (1) type = corporate advertisement, company name = Michael Soft, section = office software division (2) type = corporate advertisement, company name = Michael Soft, name = Michael Soft Office 2000 (3) Type = non-profit organization advertisement, company name = World Peace Federation Secretariat, name = three elements of eradication campaign. A request for content reproduction is issued to the content reproduction control module 302 using these elements as condition parameters.

The content reproduction control module 302
Although details will be described later, the content attribute data 303 as described above is read out, and a search process for checking whether or not there is a reproduced content that matches the condition parameter specified by the application execution control module 301 is executed. .

For example, in the above Michael Soft example,
The two contents indicated by the content elements id = 1 and id = 3 shown in (a) and (c) of FIG.
It matches the condition parameter.

Application execution control module 30
1 controls the graphic generation unit 110 when there is no content that matches the condition as a result of the search processing by the content reproduction control module 302.
For example, as shown in FIG. 18, a display is provided to inform the user that the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100 does not hold the content to be used (step S1).
704), this process (application activation process) is interrupted and terminated.

On the other hand, if there is content that matches the conditions, the application execution control module 301
Is a bytecode read process and a memory load process (step S1) as the application startup process.
705a), a function call process for setting the inside of the application in a pause state (step S1705b), and a function call process for setting the application in an active (active) state (step S1705c) are sequentially executed (step S1705).

In the present embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, the application execution control module 3
01 controls the screen synthesizing unit 111 so that the screen shown in FIG.
As shown in, the screen is divided into two areas 611 and 612, the area 612 is the application display screen, and the area 611 is the content reproduction screen.

As for the operation of the application execution control module 301 during the execution of the application, the operation as shown in FIG. 7 is performed as in the first embodiment. Further, the application execution control module 301 periodically checks whether or not the content is being reproduced, and confirms that the content reproduction is stopped by the user's operation of the remote controller 132 or the like. A warning display like this is displayed.

(Operation of Content Reproduction Control Module 302) FIG. 19 shows the content reproduction control module 302.
It shows the operation of.

First, the content reproduction control module 30
Upon receiving the content reproduction request from the application execution control module 301, the second acquires the usage condition parameter given as a parameter at this time (step S1901).

Next, the content reproduction control module 30
2 reads the content attribute data 1408 (step S1902), and the content attribute data 1408 is read.
The content attribute elements included in are sequentially analyzed (step S1903).

That is, the content reproduction control module 302 compares the unanalyzed content attribute element (step S1904) with the use condition parameter (step S1905), and if this match is recognized (step S1906), the content is analyzed. To play
(Step S1907). On the other hand, if the conditions do not match,
Alternatively, when the reproduction of the content is completed, the content reproduction control module 302 executes the process of comparing the next content attribute with the usage condition parameter.

In the above comparison processing of this embodiment,
All the conditions included in each content element indicated by the application attribute data 1408 must match.
For example, in the case of the application of "Small Mail for TV" indicated by id = 2 in FIG. 16 above, (1) Type = Corporate advertisement, Company name = 21st Century Trading Co., Ltd., Section = Import Car Division (2) Type = Company advertisement, company name = daily beer, name = 2
Millennium Year-end Gift Campaign (3) Type = Corporate Advertising, Company Name = Mainichi Beer, Name = Super Smooth Beer (4) Type = Corporate Advertising, Company Name = Nihonbashi Department Store (5) Type = Corporate Advertising, Company Name = Shibuya Television Broadcast, Category = The program has five conditions, that is, a program, and content that matches each of these conditions is searched.

Further, in the case of the content attribute data shown in FIG. 15, the contents shown in (b) of FIG. 15 are the same in the condition of (1) above, and the contents of (d) are shown in the condition of (3) above. ) Indicates that the conditions match. Therefore, the contents reproduced in this case are the two contents shown in FIGS. 15B and 15D.

In the comparison process, for the content element of the application attribute data 1408,
It suffices that only the specified conditions match, even if other parameters exist on the content attribute data 1408 side.
It is ignored in the above comparison processing.

When all the content attributes included in the content attribute data 303 have been analyzed (step S1908), the content reproduction control module 302
If there is no content that matches the conditions,
For the application execution control module 301,
Notify the non-reproduction state (step 1909). If there is content that matches the conditions, the content reproduction control module 302 again uses the content attribute data 303.
The process is started from the beginning, and the content with the matched condition is played back. As a result, in the case of the "small mail for TV" described above, the contents shown in FIGS. 15B and 15D are alternately reproduced.

By the application execution control operation and the content reproduction control operation as described above, the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment responds to the attribute information specified for the application activated by the user. Thus, the reproduced content can be changed.

Further, the application execution control module 301 of the present embodiment further receives a status change notification from the application while the application is operating,
Based on the notification, the content reproduction condition is changed.

FIG. 20 shows the relationship between the content reproduction control module 302 and other software modules or hardware components in the above operation. In FIG. 20, the line extending downward indicates the passage of time (time), and the lower the line, the later the process is executed.

First, when the state of the application is changed by the user operating the remote controller 132 (steps S2001 and S2002), the application execution control module 301 is notified of the data indicating the new state ( Step S2003).

Next, when the application execution control module 301 receives the status change notification, it confirms the application attribute data 1408 of the application being executed (step S2004), and with respect to the content element,
When the type of “state designation” is designated, the content reproduction control module 302 is searched for a content element that matches the state transmitted by the state change notification from the application and sets the content included in the content element as a new parameter. (Step S2005).

The content reproduction control module 302
Upon receiving a new parameter from the application execution control module 301, the content attribute data 303
Is checked, and a content whose condition matches the new parameter is searched for (step S2006).

The content reproduction control module 302
As a result of the above search, if the corresponding content can be searched, the content reproduction processing module 305 is instructed to reproduce the content (step S200).
7).

Concretely, for example, in the case of the application attribute data 1408 as shown in FIG.
In the application "BIC PHOTO MANAGEMENT FOR TV" shown in FIG. 6C, an attribute "state designation" is set as a content element that is a usage condition. In this case, the application execution control module 301
Upon receiving a status change notification from the application during execution of the application, the content playback request is changed by changing the condition parameter for the content playback control module 302 according to the notification (state value “1” or “2”). I do.

That is, when the state value “1” is notified from the application, the application execution control module 301: type = corporate advertisement, company name = BIC camera, category = personal computer type = corporate advertisement, A content reproduction request is issued with three conditions as parameters: company name = BIC camera, category = AV device / type = company advertisement, company name = BIC camera, category = household appliances. On the other hand, when the condition value “2” is notified from the application, the application execution control module 301 issues a content reproduction request with the conditions of type = “company advertisement”, company name = BIC camera, category = PC peripheral device as parameters. Issue.

Also, in the confirmation processing of the application attribute data 1408 in step S2004, the application attribute data 14 of the application being executed is
If there is no content element having the type “state designation” in 08, the application execution control module 301 keeps the execution of the application.

Further, the content reproduction control module 30
In the search process in step 2 (step S2006),
When the content that matches the condition cannot be searched, the application execution control module 301 receives a notification to that effect from the content reproduction control module 302 (not-playback notification, step S2007 ′), and after the processing of step S703 shown in FIG. The same processing is executed to display the warning as shown in FIG. 8 (step S200).
8).

By performing the above-described operation, the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment can change the content of the content to be reproduced according to the "state" of the application being used by the user. become able to.

(Operation of Storage Control Module 304) First, in the above description, the storage control module 302 is assumed to store content at a predetermined time.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in addition to this, the storage control module 302 itself analyzes the service information (SI) data, searches for the content to be stored, and executes the recording reservation process and the recording process. 21 and 22 show the storage control module 3 according to the present embodiment.
The operation No. 04 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 21, first, the storage control module 304 determines the application attribute data 1408.
Is acquired (step S2101), and further, the transport decoder 103 is requested to acquire service information (SI) multiplexed in TS (transport stream) data, and the SI information is acquired (step S2102). .

FIG. 23 is an EIT (Event In) which is one of the table information included in the SI information in this embodiment.
formation table). EIT
Is a table in which information about each broadcast program content (event) is described. In the EIT of this embodiment, the event information description area 2 includes a program content name (event name). The event description area 3 includes information such as program (event) attribute data, provider name, section, and category.

The storage control module 304 reads the EIT of the program to be broadcast in the future included in the SI information, compares the read information with the application attribute data 1408 acquired in the process of step S2101 (step S2103), If there is a matching program, and the program is content that has not been stored and has not been reserved, that is, content that has not been registered with the content attribute data 303 and has not been registered with the recording reservation data 1409. In the case of (step S2105), the broadcast time, end time, channel, and event of the content
The ID is registered in the recording reservation data 1409. (Step S2106).

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the storage control module 304, when the broadcast time registered in the recording reservation data 1409 comes, the digital tuner 101, the transport decoder 103, and the hard disk 119.
The content storage execution operation is performed by controlling (step S2107, step S2108). Further, the storage control module 304 registers information such as the name, provider name, section, and category of the stored program content in the content attribute data 303 (step S2109).

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform the operation of permitting the execution and continuous use of the application on condition that the content designated in advance is reproduced. Further, it becomes possible to perform an operation of changing the content to be reproduced for each application and an operation of changing the content to be reproduced according to the state of the application. Further, not only is the content stored at a predetermined time, but the content matching the condition specified by the application attribute registered in the application attribute data 1408 is searched from the service information and the storage operation is automatically performed. Will be able to.

In the first and second embodiments, the remote controller 132 is used as means for the user to give an operation instruction or data input to the television receiver 100.
2 is given as an example of the function of the remote controller 132. However, the function of the minimum necessary buttons as shown in FIG. 2 is given, but the function of the remote controller 132 is not limited to this. Besides, a keyboard and a mouse may be provided. Further, the remote controller 132 may be provided with a button for inputting Roman characters and numbers.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the application is started by pressing the application button 210 of the remote controller 132. However, for example, a plurality of applications are already stored in the hard disk 119. If the application button 2
A list of available applications may be displayed on the display 134 at the timing of pressing 10, the user may select a desired application from the list, and the selected application may be activated.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the application is stored in the hard disk 119 in advance, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by data broadcasting. It is also applicable to applications downloaded using TV broadcast waves. Alternatively, it may be taken in the television broadcast receiving apparatus 100 via a recording medium such as a card medium or a disk medium.

In the first and second embodiments, the text data described in XML is used as the content attribute data 303. However, the content attribute data 303 is not limited to this. Is also applicable.

In the first and second embodiments, information such as the content name, provider name, section, and category name of the content is described as elements based on XML. The URI (Uniform R) that identifies the content is not limited to
esource indicator) description, content_id: // <provider's DNS (domain Naming System)
Name>;<sectionname> / <category> / <file Id> etc. may be described.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the host and the terminal of the first and second embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that it is also achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the device reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the first and second embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code and the program code constitute the present invention. Becomes A ROM, flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, or the like can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the first and second embodiments are realized, but also based on the instruction of the program code,
Needless to say, this also includes the case where the OS or the like running on the computer performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the first and second embodiments. Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the extended function board inserted in the computer or the extended function unit connected to the computer, the extended function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU provided on the board or function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the first and second embodiments are realized.

[0192]

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, the following effects (1) to (7) can be obtained.

(1) The user can use the application program together with the television broadcast at any time regardless of the contents of the program being broadcast.

(2) The user can be permitted to use the application program on condition that the designated accumulated content is reproduced. With this, by setting the content to be reproduced to the content such as a commercial or an introduction program of a product or service, for example, the provider of the application program can provide the user who is using the television broadcast and the application program. Advertising using video and audio is possible.

Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, a certain application software company develops and provides an application, and the commercial content of the application for its own personal computer (personal computer) can be viewed and listened to the user. It becomes possible to implement a service form in which the use of the application is permitted.

As in the conventional television program production, a certain application software company develops and provides an application with the investment from a plurality of sponsors, and the user is required to watch the commercial group of the sponsor. In addition, it becomes possible to implement a service mode in which the use of the application is permitted.

As a result, a new application utilization service unique to the television broadcast receiving apparatus or system can be provided, and a new application providing service model can be realized. Also, the user can use the application for free or at an extremely low charge when using the application.

(3) For example, conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which a banner advertisement is displayed on a part of the display screen to permit the use of the Internet browsing application free of charge. According to the invention, it becomes possible to provide an advertisement service by a moving image using a screen of a television broadcast, and not only a much higher advertisement effect can be obtained than before, but it can be used not only in an internet browsing application but also in a television broadcast. Free use service can be realized even for various applications. Furthermore, the use conditions (condition data) are monitored instead of the use conditions being monitored for each application as in the conventional case, so that the development of each application is facilitated.

(4) The priority of the content reproduction content is changed according to the day of the week or the time when the user is using the application program, or the content reproduction content is displayed according to the user information registered in advance by the user. The priority can be changed. For example, from 10:00 to 1
Until 2:00 pm, mainly commercial contents such as household items and clothes targeted at housewives should be preferentially played, and during weekends, commercial contents such as fishing and gardening items should be preferentially played. Alternatively, the commercial content such as women's underwear can be preferentially played back only to women, so that effective advertising can be achieved.

(5) Since it is possible to change the content reproduction content according to the application program used by the user, for example, the commercial of a newly released game is reproduced while the user is executing the game application. In addition, for example, while the user is using an application, it is possible to reproduce only the commercial content of the company providing the application.

(6) Since it is possible to change the content reproduction content according to the state of the application program, for example, in the case of an application provided by a large-scale mass retailer, when the user attempts a print operation. In addition, it is possible to reproduce a commercial for a new product printer or a commercial for special price information on consumables such as ink, which enables more effective advertising than ever.

(7) Rather than directly specifying the content to be reproduced from the application program,
Since it is possible to specify the provider name, section, category, etc. by a method that was not available in the conventional program content specification,
When using one application program, the contents to be reproduced are not fixed from the beginning, but can be replaced every week or can be replaced with new contents at any time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television broadcast receiving apparatus to which the present invention has been applied in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a remote controller (remote control) of the television broadcast receiving apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the television broadcast receiving apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining content attribute data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the application execution control module when the application is started.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen during application execution.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the application execution control module during application execution.

FIG. 8 is a display screen during application execution.
It is a figure for explaining a warning display.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation when reproduction of content is stopped by a user operation during execution of an application.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the content reproduction control module.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining priority content search processing in the operation of the content reproduction control module.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining normal content search processing in the operation of the content reproduction control module.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information input screen.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of a television broadcast receiving device to which the present invention has been applied in the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining content attribute data according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining application attribute data according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the application execution control module according to the second embodiment when the application is activated.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning display that is displayed when content that is a usage condition is not reproduced when an application is activated.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the content reproduction control module according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the cooperative operation of the application, the application execution control module, and the content reproduction control module when there is a change in the state of the application triggered by remote control input during execution of the application.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining an operation (to step S2106) of the storage control module according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining an operation (from step S2107) of the storage control module according to the second embodiment.

[Fig. 23] Fig. 23 is a diagram for describing an EIT (Event Infotmation Table) distributed from a broadcasting station in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 television broadcasting receiver 101 Digital tuner section 102 descrambler 103 Transport Decoder 104 audio decoder 105 Digital / Analog Converter (DAC) 106 video decoder 107 Video plane 108 Still image plane 109 character graphic plane 110 Graphic generation unit 111 Image synthesizer 112 memory 113 modem 114 1394 interface 115 Operation part 116 Light receiving part 117 IC card controller 118 CPU 119 hard disk 120 serial interface 121 buffer 122 bus 130 VTR 131 Printer 132 remote control 133 speakers 134 Display 135 IC card 150 data servers 160 antenna 301 Application execution control module 302 Content reproduction control unit 303 Content attribute data 304 Storage control unit 305 Content playback processing unit 306 User event control unit 307 application (program) 308 user information 309 system clock

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Atsushi Mizudome             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Takashi Yamamoto             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation F-term (reference) 5B076 BB06 BB17                 5C025 BA30 CA02 DA01 DA05                 5C052 AA01 AB02 AB04 CC01 DD10

Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. A content reproducing apparatus for reproducing content including at least one of video and audio, comprising: accumulating means for accumulating the content, reproducing means for reproducing the content in the accumulating means, and the reproducing operation. Content processing means for processing the content reproduced by the means and outputting to the monitor, application executing means for executing an arbitrary application program, and application by the application executing means based on the monitor output state of the content by the content processing means A content reproduction apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls execution of a program. 2. The content reproduction according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the application executing means so as to prohibit the execution of the application program in a period in which the content is not output as a monitor. apparatus. 3. The reproducing means determines the reproduced content in accordance with predetermined priority information when reproducing one of the plurality of contents accumulated in the accumulating means. The content reproduction device according to claim 1. 4. The reproducing means changes the priority information based on at least one of application execution time zone information, application day-of-week information, and preset user information. The content reproducing apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The priority information includes information defined for each application program, and the reproducing means changes the priority information based on an attribute of a running application. The described content playback device. 6. A television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio is multiplexed, the content storing means storing the content, and the content. Reproducing means for reproducing the content in the accumulating means, content processing means for processing the content reproduced by the reproducing means for monitor output, program accumulating means for accumulating an arbitrary application program, and content by the content processing means. A television broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: an application executing unit that reads out and executes the application program in the program accumulating unit based on the monitor output state of the above. 7. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the application executing means executes the application program while the content is being output on a monitor. 8. The application executing means, when reproducing one content among a plurality of contents accumulated in the content accumulating means, determines a reproduction content according to predetermined priority information. 7. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 6, which is characterized in that. 9. The application executing means changes the priority information based on at least one of application execution time zone information, application day-of-week information, and preset user information. The television broadcast receiving device according to claim 8. 10. The priority information includes information defined for each application program, and the application executing means changes the priority information based on an attribute of an application being executed. 8. The television broadcast receiver according to item 8. 11. A television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which a content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content are multiplexed and processed. Content storage means for storing, content playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means based on the attribute data of the content, program storage means for storing an arbitrary application program, and content playback state by the playback means. On the basis of,
A television broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: an application executing means for reading and executing the application program in the program accumulating means. 12. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the application executing means executes the application program while the content is being reproduced. 13. The attribute data includes information on a time zone in which the content is to be preferentially reproduced, and the reproducing means compares the time zone included in the attribute data with the current time to determine that the current time is The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content is preferentially reproduced when the content is within the time zone. 14. The attribute data includes information about a day of the week on which the content should be preferentially reproduced, and the reproducing means compares the day of the week included in the attribute data with the current day of the week, and if they match each other. 12. The content is preferentially reproduced in the above.
The described television broadcast receiving device. 15. The attribute data includes information about a user who should preferentially reproduce the content, and the reproducing means compares the user information included in the attribute data with user information registered in advance, 12. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content is preferentially reproduced when they match. 16. The television broadcast according to claim 11, wherein the attribute data includes at least one of a content name, a content priority reproduction time zone, a content priority reproduction day, a user age group, and a user gender. Receiver. 17. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content includes at least one of video and audio information for advertisement of at least one of goods and services. 18. A television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content is multiplexed, the content and attribute data being Content storage means for storing, reproduction means for reproducing the content in the content storage means, application execution means for executing an arbitrary application program, and application use condition storage for storing condition data for using the application program Means for reproducing the application program by the application executing means, the reproducing means includes corresponding condition data in the application use condition accumulating means, and attribute data in the content accumulating means. Performs reproduction of the matching content, the application execution unit, based on the reproduction state of the content by the reproducing means, a television broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by performing continuation of the application program. 19. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the application executing means continues execution of the application program when the content is being reproduced by the reproducing means. 20. The condition data includes data defined for each of a plurality of states included in the application program, and the reproducing means includes condition data corresponding to a change in a state of an application program being executed, and the content. 19. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the content that matches the attribute data in the storage means is reproduced. 21. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the content storage means stores data generated from the attribute data multiplexed on the television broadcast wave. 22. The attribute data and the condition data include at least one of a content name, a content provider name, a content providing company name, a content providing company department name, and a content category. Item 19. A television broadcast receiving device according to item 18. 23. The television broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the content includes at least one of video and audio information for advertisement of at least one of goods and services. 24. A television broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and processing a television broadcast wave in which attribute data relating to content to be distributed in the future and content including at least one of video and audio is multiplexed, the television broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: Content storage means for performing storage processing and storage reservation processing for the content to be distributed in the future, reproduction means for reproducing the content in the content storage means, application execution means for executing an arbitrary application program, and the application program Application usage condition storage means for storing condition data for using, the content storage means, based on a comparison result of the attribute data and the condition data stored in the application use condition storage means, Attribute day above Television broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by performing the accumulation reservation processing and storage processing of the content indicated by. 25. A reproduction system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other, wherein at least one device of the plurality of devices is the content reproduction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A reproduction system having a function or a function of the television broadcast receiving device according to any one of claims 6 to 24. 26. A reproducing method for reproducing a content containing at least one of video and audio, comprising a storing step of storing the content in a storing means, and a reproducing step of reproducing the content in the storing means. A content processing step of processing the content reproduced by the reproduction step and outputting it to the monitor means, an application executing step of executing an application program, and a period during which the content is not monitor-output by the monitor means. And a control step of prohibiting execution of the application program. 27. A playback method for receiving and playing back a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio is multiplexed, the content storing step of storing the content, A reproducing step of reproducing the content accumulated by the accumulating step, a program accumulating step of accumulating the application program, an application executing step of reading out and starting and executing the application program accumulated by the program accumulating step, and a reproducing step of the reproducing step. An application control step for permitting the application program to be started or continuously executed by the application executing step when the content is being reproduced. 28. A reproducing method for receiving and reproducing a content including at least one of video and audio and a television broadcast wave in which attribute data of the content is multiplexed, and reproducing the content and the attribute data. A content storage step of storing, a playback step of playing back the content stored by the content storage step based on attribute data of the content, a program storage means for storing an application program, and an application stored by the program storage step. An application execution step of reading a program to start and execute it, and when the content is being reproduced by the reproduction step, the application program is started or continued by the application execution step. Reproducing method characterized by comprising an application control step of permitting the line. 29. A reproducing method for receiving and reproducing a content including at least one of video and audio and a television broadcast wave in which attribute data of the content is multiplexed, and reproducing the content and the attribute data. Content accumulation step for accumulation, reproduction step for reproducing the content accumulated by the content accumulation step, application execution step for starting and executing an application program, and application use for accumulating condition data for using the application program A condition accumulating step, and the reproducing step corresponds to the accumulating by the application using condition accumulating step when the application program is executed by the application executing step. The step of reproducing the content in which the condition data and the attribute data accumulated in the content accumulating step match each other is included. The application executing step includes a step of reproducing the content of the application program when the content is reproduced in the reproducing step. A reproducing method comprising the step of starting or continuing execution. 30. A reproduction method for receiving and reproducing a television broadcast wave in which attribute data relating to content to be distributed in the future and content including at least one of video and audio is received, the method comprising: A content storage step of performing storage processing and storage reservation processing of the content to be distributed in the future, a playback step of playing back the content stored by the content storage step, an application execution step of starting and executing an application program, An application usage condition accumulation step of accumulating condition data for using the application program, wherein the content accumulation step includes the attribute data and the condition data accumulated by the application usage condition accumulation step. Reproducing method data and is if they match, characterized in that it comprises the step of performing the accumulation reservation processing and storage processing of content indicated by the attribute data. 31. A program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means stores a storage means for storing content including at least one of video and audio and a content in the storage means. Based on the reproduction means for reproducing, the content processing means for processing the content reproduced by the reproduction means for monitor output, the application executing means for executing an arbitrary application program, and the monitor output state of the content by the content processing means. And a control means for controlling the execution of the application program by the application execution means. 32. A program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means stores the content of a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio is multiplexed. Content storage means, playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means, content processing means for processing the content played back by the playback means and outputting to a monitor, and program storage means for storing an arbitrary application program A program executing means for reading and executing the application program in the program accumulating means based on a monitor output state of the content by the content processing means. 33. A program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content are multiplexed. Content storage means for storing the content and attribute data of the content, playback means for playing back the content in the content storage means based on the attribute data of the content, program storage means for storing an arbitrary application program, and the playback Based on the playback status of the content by means,
A program comprising: an application execution unit that reads and executes the application program in the program storage unit. 34. A program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is a television broadcast wave in which content including at least one of video and audio and attribute data of the content are multiplexed. Content storage means for storing the content and attribute data of, content reproduction means for reproducing the content in the content storage means, application execution means for executing an arbitrary application program, and condition data for using the application program. And an application usage condition storage means for storing the application usage condition storage means for storing the application usage condition storage means, A program characterized in that a content having the same attribute data as that in the content storage means is reproduced, and the application executing means continues execution of the application program based on a reproduction state of the content in the reproducing means. 35. A program for causing a computer to function as a predetermined means, wherein the predetermined means is a television in which attribute data relating to content including at least one of video and audio and content to be distributed in the future is multiplexed. John Broadcast Wave content storage processing,
And a content storage unit for performing storage reservation processing of the content to be distributed in the future, a reproduction unit for reproducing the content in the content storage unit, an application execution unit for executing an arbitrary application program, and the application program Application usage condition storage means for storing condition data for storing the attribute data based on a result of comparison between the attribute data and the condition data stored in the application usage condition storage means. A program for executing storage reservation processing and storage processing of content indicated by. 36. A computer-readable storage medium having the program according to any one of claims 31 to 35 recorded therein.