JP2004172739A - Broadcast signal reception method, broadcast signal transmission method, and broadcast signal receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a viewer from stopping viewing of a program because the viewer diverts its interest to related information resulting from the viewer's access to the related information provided as attachment (supplement) information of the program. <P>SOLUTION: Access destination information provided as additional information of the program and also limit information for limiting access to the access destination information are attached to a broadcast signal. When the viewer receives the access destination information provided as the additional information of the program and its limit information at the same time of reception of the broadcast program and accesses the access destination, the access is limited according to the limit information, and when the viewer's interest is diverted to the related information of the access destination and is going to leave viewing of the program, the viewer is automatically brought back to viewing of the program. Thus, the program viewing can be made consecutive. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a broadcast signal receiving method, a broadcast signal transmitting method, and a broadcast signal receiving apparatus, and more particularly, to broadcast in a program broadcast such as information variety, drama, documentary, or commercial (hereinafter referred to as CM) in television broadcast. This technology relates to a technology that multiplexes and broadcasts access destination information on the Internet related to information in a program to a broadcast program signal, and automatically restricts access of viewers using the access destination information. is there. The broadcast program signal referred to in this specification indicates a broadcast signal provided and presented to a viewer including a CM broadcast, and the CM broadcast is also included in the category of the broadcast program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, television broadcasts and radio broadcasts have been digitized, and a large amount of digital data can be broadcast simultaneously with video and audio. By playing back digital data, various broadcasting services such as participation of viewers in quiz programs and provision of more detailed information on commercials have been performed.
[0003]
Further, these broadcasts are generally performed in real time (real time), and the provided contents and CM information are lost after the broadcast ends, so that information such as contents or CMs that interest the user later is deleted. In order to obtain the information, at the time of broadcasting, information (URL (Uniform Resource Locator)) of a place where related information can be obtained by the Internet is recorded, and when the user wants to know, the information can be obtained based on the recorded URL. It is considered.
[0004]
On the other hand, with the development of computers and the Internet, various types of information have been provided in the form of homepages, and these information are linked to each other or in one direction, and by following this, interesting content information can be obtained one after another. be able to.
[0005]
For these reasons, simply broadcasting program-related information related to the content of a broadcast program naturally limits the viewer's ability to acquire the information, and it is also transient. A service that points to a URL on the Internet as a place to be obtained and provides detailed program-related information from a homepage on the Internet is also considered (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-15269
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The service according to the above cited reference 1 is excellent in that not only program-related information broadcasted within a limited time but also the Internet that can be accessed at any time is used. However, when browsing information on the Internet while watching a broadcast program, and there is content on the homepage that further interests the viewer, it is necessary to further follow the content link to obtain various information. Interest may shift and you may not watch the program. For broadcasters, broadcasting program-related information at the same time as a program, or broadcasting information of a place where information related to the program contents can be obtained (access destination information) is an expansion of a broadcasting service to viewers. It is the true intention of broadcasters that they want viewers to continue watching programs, and they want to avoid the leakage of viewers to the Internet.
[0008]
In other words, there has been a problem that what was conventionally complementary information is mainly due to the interests and preferences of the viewer, and there is no means for preventing the viewer from leaving the program.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration in which access destination information on the Internet related to information in a broadcast program is multiplexed with a broadcast program signal and broadcast. Therefore, even if the viewer's interest shifts to browsing the homepage on the Internet using the access destination information and tries to move away from program viewing, the viewer can be returned to program viewing so that broadcasting can be performed. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to continue program viewing, which is requested by a business operator.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in one representative invention of the information access restriction method according to the present invention, access destination information such as a URL on the Internet related to information in a broadcast program and access to the access destination are provided. The restriction information to be restricted is that, when receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with a broadcast program signal and accessing using the access destination information, the access is automatically restricted according to the restriction indicated in the restriction information. You.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, 101 is a broadcasting station (broadcasting equipment), 111 is an advertiser, 112 is a homepage provided by the advertiser 111 on the Internet, 121 is the Internet, and 131 is a receiver. In the broadcast station 101, reference numeral 102 denotes an access destination information addition processing unit, reference numeral 103 denotes a restriction information addition processing unit, and reference numeral 132 denotes an access destination information processing unit in the receiver 131, and reference numeral 133 denotes a restriction information processing unit.
[0014]
Hereinafter, the outline of the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The broadcast station 101 adds access destination information (hereinafter, referred to as a URL) related to information in the program to the program being broadcast by the access destination information addition processing unit 102, and multiplexes the broadcast program signal. And broadcast. In this case, the access restriction information to the URL is simultaneously added by the restriction information addition processing unit 103, and the information is multiplexed with the broadcast program signal and broadcast.
[0015]
As the access restriction information, for example, information that restricts an accessible time or an access time length, information that restricts the number of times of instructing to follow a linked URL, information that restricts a range that can be indicated by the URL, and the like can be considered. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these, and that a combination of these may be used. The access destination information (URL) is, for example, a URL of a homepage of an inn introduced in the program if the program is a travel information program or the like. , Or the URL of the manufacturer's homepage, and the advertiser 111 is the provider of the URL (access destination information). That is, the advertiser 111 provides, as the access destination information, specifically, the URL of the homepage 112 of the advertiser 111 from which detailed information related to the information in the program can be obtained. The broadcast station 101 creates access restriction information as described in the above example with respect to the provided URL in accordance with the contract with the advertiser 111, and adds and multiplexes this together with the URL to the broadcast program signal.
[0016]
The receiver 131 receives the broadcast, extracts additional information, and analyzes this. The access destination information analysis processing unit 132 extracts and analyzes the access destination information from the additional information, and presents the presence of the access destination information to the viewer. Further, the access restriction information processing unit 133 extracts and analyzes the access restriction information from the additional information, and when the viewer starts accessing based on the access destination information, restricts the access according to the restriction information. Pull back to program viewing.
[0017]
As an example of the access restriction information, a case where the accessible date / time and the accessible (connectable) time length are limited will be described with reference to FIG.
[0018]
The travel information program 200 is broadcasted on November 03, 2002 from 20:00 to 20:54, and at the same time as the URL 201 of the homepage of the inn introduced in the program, the following information is used as access restriction information for the URL. The indicated information is added to and multiplexed with the broadcast program signal and broadcast. That is, in this example, as the access restriction information, in this example, the access permission flag 202, the time 203 at which the access is started during the broadcast of the program, and the time length 204 (program This is the length of time from the start of access permission during broadcasting to the cancellation of permission. Alternatively, the time may be the time at which access permission is canceled.) The maximum time length 205, the date and time 206 when access is permitted to start after the end of the program broadcast, and the time length 207 that allows access from the time when the access is started (the access is permitted after the end of the program broadcast). It is the length of time from the start to the time when permission is prohibited. And may also be), the maximum length of time 208 after the program broadcast end access (connection) is permitted is set.
[0019]
The receiver 131 extracts and analyzes the above URL (access destination information) and access restriction information, and presents the presence of the access destination information to the viewer. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the access permission flag 202 is permitted, and the information 203 to 208 shown thereafter are access restriction conditions. In the travel information program 200, the introduction of the inn begins at 20:17, and at the same time, the presence of the URL relating to the inn is presented on the screen, and the access to the URL is provided to the viewer from 20:17. Allowed. Then, access is possible for the introductory time of this inn for 9 minutes, but when 30 seconds elapse after access, an instruction is given to return to program viewing. After the program ends on Nov. 3, 2002, 20:54, it is possible to access freely, but the information provision period is one week. In the case of accessing after the end of the program, the viewer can operate the remote controller or the like as appropriate during the broadcast of the program, and store the URL interactively displayed on the screen in the memory of the receiver 131. Will be kept.
[0020]
In other words, in the present example shown in FIG. 2, after introducing the presence of a URL in a program, access (connection) to the URL is permitted for a maximum of 30 seconds, and after 30 seconds, the program automatically returns to program viewing. To be. When the program ends, the home page of the URL can be freely browsed within the designated date. Thus, according to this example, when introducing information one after another in a program, even if a viewer is interested in certain information and accesses a URL to obtain detailed information, even after 30 seconds, Is returned to the original program viewing, so that the viewer can continue to watch the program.
[0021]
As another example of the access restriction information, a case where the number of times of instructing to follow a URL is limited will be described with reference to FIG.
[0022]
In the present example shown in FIG. 3, a URL (access destination information) 301 and its access restriction information 302 are added to the information variety program 300. The access restriction information 302 in this example shown in FIG. 3 is information for restricting the number of times of instructing to follow a URL, and is set to twice here. In other words, in this example, access to the URL 301 attached to the program and access to other URLs indicated and linked on the home page of the URL 301 are permitted once, but further, another or When a subsequent URL is specified, the user is returned to program viewing without following the URL.
[0023]
As a result, it is possible to restrict the viewer from surfing the Internet and following the links one after another to gain access, and to continue viewing the program.
[0024]
As yet another example of the access restriction information, a case where the range that can be specified by the URL is limited will be described with reference to FIG.
[0025]
In the present example shown in FIG. 4, // www. toys. com / anime_char_1 / info_a1 and its access restriction information 402 as // www. toys. com / anim_char_1 /. For example, the access destination information 401 is a homepage of a related product of the program 400 for children, and a toy maker providing the program broadcasts this program even if the related product of another program is introduced on another homepage. During this operation, access cannot be made by the access restriction information 402, and when a URL out of this location "amine_char_1 /" is instructed, the program is returned to the original program viewing.
[0026]
Thus, when the viewer attempts to access information other than the information provided along with the program, it is possible to restrict the access and continue viewing the program.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a receiving apparatus that is applicable to the system of the present embodiment and that can perform access restriction processing using the access restriction information illustrated in FIG.
[0028]
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a receiving device, which is a tuner 501 for receiving a broadcast, a descrambler 502 for descrambling for realizing conditional access, and those desired from video, audio, and additional data multiplexed by, for example, the MPEG method. , A decoding unit 504 for decoding video / audio, a Mix unit 505 for mixing the decoded video / audio with a signal generated in the receiving device, and a CPU 506 for controlling the receiving device. , Receives the broadcast, and presents the program to a display device (not shown). The receiving apparatus 500 further analyzes access destination information added to the program being received / presented, and presents the presence of the access destination information to the viewer. At the same time, the added access restriction information is analyzed, a restriction information processing unit 512 for performing access restriction, a time / counter processing unit 513 for monitoring the restriction conditions, and an Internet access instruction by a remote control operation or the like from the viewer. And an Internet connection / presentation processing unit 514 for receiving and accessing the Internet and presenting it.
[0029]
The time / counter processing unit 513 has time information, and measures elapsed time according to an instruction. The restriction information processing unit 512 issues a notification request of “20:17” to the time / counter processing unit 513 based on the access permission flag 202 and the information 203 to 208 on the access restriction condition. The processing unit 513 notifies the CPU 506 of the access permission. In response to this, the CPU 506 issues an instruction to the access destination information processing unit 511 and the Mix unit 505, and confirms that the access destination information (URL) to the home page of the “hotel information 1” exists, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in a), the display information 801 of the travel information program and the presence information 802 of the access destination information are superimposed and displayed by the OSD function on the display screen 800 of the display device. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, the presence information 802 of the access destination information is indicated by “hotel information 1” and the access permitted time zone “20:17 to 20:26”. The existence information 802 of the access destination information is deleted when the time exceeds 20:26. As shown in FIG. 8A, when there is only one access destination, the viewer simply pushes the Internet access instruction key of the remote controller, and the viewer can access the URL corresponding to the presence information 802 of the access destination information. Access is made automatically. Note that the display form indicating that the access destination information is present is arbitrary, but from the viewpoint of the user service, it is preferable that the display form is such that the viewer can easily recognize the access destination information.
[0030]
When there are a plurality of access destination information, for example, “inn information 1”, “inn information 2”, “inn information 3”... After the selection, the access may be started by pushing the Internet access instruction key of the remote controller. Further, when accessing after the end of the program, the URL of the desired access destination may be stored in the memory by pushing the URL registration key of the remote controller.
[0031]
Now, while the viewer is displaying the presence information 802 of the access destination information as shown in FIG. 8A (that is, within 9 minutes when access to the URL is permitted (20:26 By the time)), when an access instruction is issued, the Internet connection / presentation processing unit 514 automatically accesses the URL 201 detected by the access destination information processing unit 511. Then, the Internet connection / presentation processing unit 514 displays the image 803 acquired from the accessed home page on the display screen 800 of the display device, for example, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the image is superimposed and displayed by the OSD function of the Mix unit 505 (or only the image 803 obtained from the accessed homepage is displayed on the display screen 800). At this time, in the image 803 obtained from the home page, the remaining access permitted time 803-1 is displayed to inform the viewer of the remaining access time. It becomes.
[0032]
On the other hand, the viewer's access instruction by the remote controller is also transmitted to restriction information processing section 512. In response to this, the restriction information processing unit 512 requests the time / counter processing unit 513 to measure 30 seconds based on the information 204 on the access restriction condition. If the viewer performs an operation to return to program viewing before 30 seconds elapse after accessing the homepage, the restricted information processing unit 512 that recognizes the operation returns to the time / counter processing unit 513 for a 30-second measurement counter. (Or clear the 30-second measurement counter). Then, the time / counter processing unit 513 notifies the restriction information processing unit 512 that the 30-second measurement counter has counted up or when it reaches 20:26. In response to this, the restriction information processing unit 512 instructs the CPU 506 to switch to the presentation of a broadcast program when presenting the Internet information, and the CPU 506 executes the Internet connection / presentation processing unit. When the Internet information is presented by controlling the 514 and the Mix unit 505, the display is switched to the program presentation. Here, when switching from the state in which the Internet information is presented to the presentation of the broadcast program, as shown in FIG. It is desirable to display a message 805 such as "Return" so as not to make the viewer feel uneasy or questioned.
[0033]
Note that the same processing is performed for the access restriction condition information 206 to 208, but the access elapsed time limit “2” 208 is not limited, and thus the access elapsed time is not measured by the counter.
[0034]
As described above, with the receiving apparatus shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to detect additional information for restricting Internet access and perform access restriction, so that the viewer can be automatically returned to program viewing.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a receiving apparatus that is applicable to the system of the present embodiment and that can perform access restriction processing using the access restriction information illustrated in FIG.
[0036]
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 600 denotes a receiving device, which is the same as the receiving device 500 except that a counter 613 for measuring the number of times of access to the Internet is provided instead of the time / counter processing unit 513. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication.
[0037]
The counter 613 measures the number of times the viewer instructs Internet access. The measurement result is notified to the restriction information processing unit 512, and the restriction information processing unit 512 compares the number of permitted accesses 302 with the notified number of times specified by the viewer. Notify to Upon receiving this notification, the CPU 506 ends the presentation of the Internet information and switches to the program presentation. In this case as well, it is desirable to display a message such as "Return to presentation of broadcast program because access permission condition is not satisfied".
[0038]
As described above, the receiving apparatus shown in FIG. 6 can also detect additional information for restricting Internet access and perform access restriction, so that the viewer can be automatically returned to program viewing.
[0039]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a receiving apparatus that is applicable to the system of the present embodiment and that can perform access restriction processing using the access restriction information illustrated in FIG.
[0040]
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 700 denotes a receiving device, which has no time / counter processing unit 513, and has an equivalent function and a URL to be accessed by a user's instruction in place of the Internet connection / presentation processing unit 514. The configuration is the same as that of the receiving apparatus 500 except that an Internet connection / presentation processing unit 714 for notifying 512 is provided. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication.
[0041]
The Internet connection / presentation processing unit 714 notifies the restriction information processing unit 512 before accessing the URL specified by the viewer. In response, the restriction information processing unit 512 compares the access permission range information 402 with the notified URL, and notifies the CPU 506 of the access prohibition if the URL is out of the permission range. Upon receiving this notification, the CPU 506 ends the presentation of the Internet information and switches to the program presentation. In this case as well, it is desirable to display a message such as "Return to presentation of broadcast program because access permission condition is not satisfied".
[0042]
As described above, the receiving apparatus shown in FIG. 7 can also detect additional information for restricting Internet access and perform access restriction, and thus can automatically return the viewer to program viewing.
[0043]
In the above description, FIGS. 2 to 4 are shown independently as the access restriction information, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are shown independently as the receiving device. However, in the present invention, the access restriction information may be a combination of these. Needless to say, the receiving device may also combine functions so as to process the combined access restriction information. The access restriction information is not limited to the above-described example. The present invention can be realized by providing information for restricting use of access destination information and a receiving device having a function of processing the restriction information. It is possible.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a configuration in which access destination information related to information in a broadcast program on the Internet is multiplexed with a broadcast program signal and broadcast, the access destination information using the access destination information is used. Even if the viewer's interest shifts to browsing the homepage when the viewer's interest shifts, the viewer can be automatically returned to the program viewing, so that the broadcaster's purpose, program viewing, should be continued. Becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of access restriction information used in a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of access restriction information used in a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of access restriction information used in a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving device used in a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving device used in a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving device used in a broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on the receiving device side in the broadcast transmission / reception / net communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Broadcasting Station 102 Access Destination Information Addition Processing Unit 103 Restriction Information Addition Processing Unit 111 Advertiser 112 Homepage 121 Internet 131 Receiver 132 Access Destination Information Processing Unit 133 Restriction Information Processing Unit 500 Receiving Device 501 Tuner 502 Descrambler 503 Demultiplexing Unit 504 Decoding unit 505 Mix unit 506 CPU
511 Access destination information processing unit 512 Restriction information processing unit 513 Time / counter processing unit 514 Internet connection / presentation processing unit 600 Receiving device 613 Counter 700 Receiving device 714 Internet connection / presentation processing unit

Claims (11)

Access destination information on the Internet related to information in a broadcast program and restriction information for restricting access to the access destination receive a broadcast signal multiplexed with a broadcast program signal, and A method for receiving a broadcast signal, wherein, when accessing using a broadcast signal, access is automatically restricted according to the restriction indicated in the restriction information. In claim 1,
A broadcast signal receiving method, wherein the broadcast program signal is a broadcast signal provided and presented to a viewer including a commercial broadcast. In claim 1 or 2,
The broadcast signal receiving method, wherein the access destination information is a homepage address on the Internet of a provider providing the access destination information. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The restriction information includes information indicating a date and time at which access to the access destination indicated by the access destination information is permitted, and / or information indicating an access time length to the access destination indicated by the access destination information. A broadcast signal receiving method. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The broadcast signal receiving method, wherein the restriction information includes information for restricting the total number of accesses to an access destination indicated by the access destination information and another access destination linked to the homepage of the access destination. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The broadcast signal receiving method, wherein the restriction information includes information for restricting a usable range of the access destination information. In claim 6,
The broadcast signal receiving method, wherein the usable range of the access destination information is a specific page of a homepage on the Internet. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The restriction information is information obtained by combining two or more of the restriction information described in claim 4, the restriction information described in claim 5, and the restriction information described in claim 6. Broadcast signal receiving method. The access destination information on the Internet related to the information in the broadcast program and the restriction information for restricting access to the access destination are multiplexed with the broadcast program signal and broadcast.
The restriction information includes information indicating a date / time at which access to the access destination indicated by the access destination information is permitted, and / or information indicating an access time length to the access destination indicated by the access destination information. thing,
Alternatively, the restriction information includes information for restricting the total number of accesses to the access destination indicated by the access destination information and another access destination linked to the homepage of the access destination,
Alternatively, the restriction information includes information for restricting a usable range of the access destination information,
A broadcast signal transmitting method, characterized in that: Receiving means for receiving access destination information on the Internet related to information in a broadcast program, and restriction information for restricting access to the access destination, receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with a broadcast program signal;
Means for separating and extracting the access destination information and the restriction information from the received signal,
Means for analyzing the extracted access destination information and presenting the presence of the access destination information to the viewer;
Analyzing the restriction information, when the viewer accesses using the access destination information, means for restricting access according to the analyzed restriction conditions,
A broadcast signal receiving device, comprising: In claim 10,
The restriction information includes information indicating a date / time at which access to the access destination indicated by the access destination information is permitted, and / or information indicating an access time length to the access destination indicated by the access destination information. thing,
Alternatively, the restriction information includes information for restricting the total number of accesses to the access destination indicated by the access destination information and another access destination linked to the homepage of the access destination,
Alternatively, the restriction information includes information for restricting a usable range of the access destination information,
A broadcast signal receiving device, characterized in that:

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