JP2005045605A - Electronic apparatus, and method and system for viewing information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus, and method and system for viewing information, capable of setting a layout coordinating a plurality of electronic apparatus, and also capable of presenting a viewing mode for simultaneous viewing of a plurality of pieces of information. <P>SOLUTION: A television set 10 reads and interprets a layout description file composed of a layout information representing the layout of content displayed on display screens of an information processor terminal 20 and a personal computer 30 connected to the television set, and a content information representing the content displayed on the display screens of the information processor terminal 20 and the personal computer 30 defined in the layout information. Based on the interpreted layout description file, the layout information and content information used for the information processor terminal 20 and the personal computer 30 are cut out, and the content is displayed on the display screens of the information processor terminal 20 and the personal computer 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an electronic device to which at least one electronic device is connected as a connected device, an information viewing method for viewing content using the electronic device, and a plurality of electronic devices connected to each other. The present invention relates to an information viewing system for displaying and viewing information composed of various contents on a display screen, and an information viewing system for displaying and viewing information composed of various contents distributed on a display screen included in an electronic device.

  In recent years, attempts have been made to connect and use various electronic devices such as television receivers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) using a predetermined network in the home. In such a system, for example, video input from various devices connected via a network is performed together with content distributed from a broadcasting station or the like on a device provided with a display screen such as a television receiver. It is possible.

  In this case, the electronic device that has received the content displays the plurality of pieces of information according to a predetermined layout in order to display the plurality of pieces of information on one display screen for simultaneous viewing. At this time, the layout of the display screen in the electronic device is unique and preset by the content distribution side. For example, as a layout for displaying two pieces of information, as shown in FIG. 16A, the two pieces of information are displayed in two left and right display areas (PoutP), and as shown in FIG. When one information is displayed in the main display area, a display area (PinP) in which the other information display area is provided in the main display area is generally used.

  Also, in a PDA or a so-called camcorder, for example, if it has a camera function, it is possible to freely determine the position for displaying the captured information and the position for displaying text such as subtitles attached to the information. There wasn't.

  As described above, various contents displayed on the display screen as information are usually preset to unique image sizes and display sizes determined by the distribution side, and the receiving side can freely arrange the layout of the display screen. It is required to be established.

  On the other hand, in recent years, as a mechanism for describing the layout of a display screen, a mechanism using a so-called SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) which is a language recommended by the so-called W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) has been proposed. Yes. This SMIL is a language that integrates various multimedia data such as moving image data, still image data, audio data, and character data to realize synchronization with a web page. As an application language of so-called XML (eXtensible Markup Language) It is positioned. The SMIL can control the content such as which position on the display screen is displayed at what timing and for how long. Specifically, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is proposed as a technique using such SMIL.

JP 2002-99285 A

  Specifically, this Patent Document 1 describes SMIL in which each file name of a plurality of multimedia information included in the prepared multimedia content and its reproduction format are described according to an operation from the viewer terminal. While receiving the file from the distribution source, the main body of a plurality of multimedia information specified by each file name described in the previously received SMIL file is received from a predetermined server, and this is received from the distribution side. A multimedia information distribution method for reproducing according to a reproduction format described in a file is disclosed.

  By the way, in an environment in which the above-described various electronic devices are connected and used via a network, a situation occurs in which a plurality of media are viewed at the same time, for example, a television receiver is viewed while working on a personal computer. To do. In such a situation, the media is basically not linked, and each device is merely watching content distributed from a broadcast or network in a separated form. Even if there is a way to cooperate, because it is a unique technology, for example, it is assumed that there will be differences between manufacturers, and there is a situation in which even the same manufacturer cannot match between devices. It is also assumed that it will occur.

  Further, even when a so-called CE (Consumer Electronics) device such as a television receiver is considered as a single unit, as shown in FIGS. Only broadcast information and storage content information can be viewed through multiple display areas at the same time. In this case, the number of displays is simply increased, and the information is linked. Instead, the layout is determined within the range preset by the content distribution side, and accordingly, the display method is merely changed on the device side.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can provide a layout in which cooperation between a plurality of electronic devices can be set, and provides a new viewing style in simultaneous viewing of a plurality of pieces of information. It is an object to provide an electronic device, an information viewing method, and an information viewing system.

  An electronic device according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is an electronic device to which at least one electronic device is connected as a connection device, and is used as visual video information to be displayed on each display screen of the connection device. A layout description file that reads and interprets a layout description file composed of layout information indicating the content layout content and content information indicating the content content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device defined by the layout information Based on the layout description file interpreted by the interpretation means and the layout description file interpretation means, the layout information and the content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying the content are cut out, and based on the layout information and the content information, Concerned It is characterized in that a control means for displaying the contents on each of the display screen of the connection device.

  Such an electronic device according to the present invention uses a layout description file composed of layout information and content information of each connected device, and thus, based on the layout description file, links between media to be displayed on each connected device. The intended layout can be set, and a new viewing style in simultaneous viewing of a plurality of information can be provided.

  Here, the electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes display means for displaying content on a display screen, and the display means has a layout based on the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpretation means on the display screen. Display content.

  In other words, the electronic device according to the present invention can display necessary content on the display screen included in the electronic device based on the layout description file and can also display necessary content on the display screen of the connected device.

  Further, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the control means cuts out layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying content, and creates a layout description file for the connected device. It has a creation means. The electronic device according to the present invention includes a distribution unit that distributes the layout description file created by the layout description file creation unit to each of the connected devices configured to be able to interpret the layout description file. It is characterized by providing.

  Accordingly, the connected device that has received the layout description file distributed from the electronic device according to the present invention can display the content based on the layout description file.

  As another method, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the control means interprets the connected device as a virtual device driver at the software level and interprets it by the layout description file interpretation means. The content is displayed on each display screen of the connected device based on the layout description file.

  Thus, the present invention is not limited to an environment where the connected device interprets the layout description file, but only in an environment where only the electronic device that is the distribution source of the layout description file for the connected device can interpret the layout description file. The content can be displayed on each display screen of the connected device.

  In the layout description file, time information for defining the content to change from the default content to a predetermined content according to time is described as content information, and the control means includes the time information. Based on this, the content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device can be changed.

  Furthermore, when the electronic device according to the present invention determines that the connected device described in the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpreting unit is not found, the connected device It is characterized by comprising notifying means for notifying the user that no message has been found.

  As a result, the electronic device according to the present invention can appropriately notify the user to that effect even when a connection device suitable for viewing content is not connected.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the control means can display content on each display screen of the connected device in a layout set and operated by the user. At this time, the control means causes the user to select the connection device for displaying the content, selects a plurality of layout patterns for the selected connection device, and determines the connection device according to the selected contents. The content can be displayed on each display screen.

  Thereby, the electronic device according to the present invention allows the user to arbitrarily select an electronic device for displaying content and a layout on the display screen of the electronic device.

  The present invention can also apply an audio device as the connection device. In this case, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the layout description file interpreting means includes layout information indicating the content layout content as auditory audio information to be processed by each of the connected devices as the audio devices, Read and interpret a layout description file composed of content information indicating the contents of content to be processed by each of the connected devices defined by the layout information, and the control means interprets the layout description interpreted by the layout description file interpretation means Based on the file, the content is output by each of the connected devices.

  Thereby, the electronic device according to the present invention changes not only the display of the content as visual video information but also the layout of the content as the audio information output from the connected audio device by, for example, absolute time or date It becomes possible to do.

  Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the layout description file interpreting means can read and interpret the layout description file created and distributed by the content distribution side.

  The electronic device according to the present invention is preferably a television receiver.

  Also, an information viewing method according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is an information viewing method for viewing content using an electronic device to which at least one device is connected as a connected device, From layout information indicating the content layout content as visual video information to be displayed on the display screen, and content information indicating the content content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device defined by the layout information A layout description file interpretation step for reading and interpreting the layout description file, and layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices that display content based on the layout description file interpreted in the layout description file interpretation step. Cut out the Based on out information and content information, it is characterized in that a control step of displaying content on each of the display screen of the connected devices.

  Such an information viewing method according to the present invention uses a layout description file including layout information and content information of each connected device, and based on this layout description file, links between media to be displayed on each connected device. It is possible to set a layout that achieves the above, and to provide a new viewing style in simultaneous viewing of a plurality of information.

  Further, in the information viewing method according to the present invention, the control step cuts out layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying content, and creates a layout description file for creating a layout description file for the connected device. And a distribution step of distributing the layout description file created in the layout description file creation step to the connected device configured to be able to interpret the layout description file. Yes.

  Accordingly, in the information viewing method according to the present invention, the connected device that has received the layout description file distributed from the electronic device can display the content based on the layout description file.

  As another method different from this method, in the information viewing method according to the present invention, in the control step, the connected device is regarded as a virtual device driver at the software level and is interpreted in the layout description file interpretation step. The content is displayed on each display screen of the connected device based on the layout description file.

  Thus, the information viewing method according to the present invention can interpret the layout description file only by the electronic device that is the distribution source of the layout description file for the connected device, even in an environment where the connected device does not interpret the layout description file. If it is an environment, it is possible to display content on each display screen of the connected device.

  Furthermore, an information viewing system according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is configured by connecting a plurality of electronic devices, and displays information composed of various contents on a display screen included in each electronic device for viewing. A layout showing the content of content layout as visual video information to be displayed on each display screen of the connection device by connecting the at least one electronic device as the connection device and the at least one electronic device. Read and interpret a layout description file consisting of information and content information indicating the content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device defined by the layout information, and based on the interpreted layout description file Used for each of the above connected devices Excised broadcast and content information, based on the layout information and content information, characterized by comprising a one electronic device to display the content on the respective display screen of the connected devices.

  Such an information viewing system according to the present invention uses a layout description file including layout information and content information of each connected device, and displays on one electronic device and each connected device based on the layout description file. It is possible to set a layout in which cooperation between media to be performed is set, and to provide a new viewing style in simultaneous viewing of a plurality of pieces of information.

  Here, in the information viewing system according to the present invention, the one electronic device displays the content on its own display screen in a layout based on the interpreted layout description file.

  That is, in the information viewing system according to the present invention, one electronic device displays necessary content on its own display screen based on the layout description file, and also displays necessary content on the display screen of the connected device. Each can be displayed.

  In the information viewing system according to the present invention, the one electronic device cuts out layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying content, and creates a layout description file for the connected device. The generated layout description file is distributed to each of the connected devices configured to be able to interpret the layout description file.

  Thereby, in the information viewing system according to the present invention, the connected device that has received the layout description file distributed from one electronic device can display the content based on the layout description file.

  As another method, in the information viewing system according to the present invention, the one electronic device is based on a layout description file obtained by interpreting the connected device as a virtual device driver at the software level. The content is displayed on each display screen of the connected device.

  As a result, in the information viewing system according to the present invention, even if the connected device does not have an environment for interpreting the layout description file, only the electronic device that is the distribution source of the layout description file for the connected device can interpret the layout description file. If the environment is available, the content can be displayed on each display screen of the connected device.

  Furthermore, an information viewing system according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object is an information viewing system that displays and displays information including various contents distributed on a display screen provided in an electronic device, and is connected to each other. A layout indicating the contents of a layout of contents to be displayed on each display screen of the electronic device as a delivery destination, while delivering content as visual video information to each of the plurality of electronic devices and the electronic device A distribution device that distributes a layout description file including information and content information indicating the content to be displayed on each display screen of the electronic device defined by the layout information. Read and interpret the layout description file distributed from the above distribution device Cut layout information and content information required based on the interpretation layout description file, is characterized by displaying content on a display screen in a layout based on the layout information and content information.

  Such an information viewing system according to the present invention distributes a layout description file including layout information and content information of each electronic device from a distribution device, and displays the layout description file on a plurality of electronic devices based on the layout description file. It is possible to set a layout in which cooperation between power media should be set, and to provide a new viewing style in simultaneous viewing of a plurality of information.

  In the information viewing system according to the present invention, a television broadcast station is applied as the distribution device, and a television receiver that receives broadcasts from the distribution device as at least one of the electronic devices. Can be applied.

  According to the present invention, since a layout in which cooperation between media to be displayed on each connected device can be set based on the layout description file, conventionally, each electronic device receives various contents separately. Instead of the situation displayed on the predetermined display screen, a new viewing style in simultaneous viewing of a plurality of information can be provided.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, an information processing terminal 20 such as a so-called smart display, a personal computer 30, a set top box (STB) 40, a video, At least one electronic device such as a cassette recorder (Video Cassette Recorder; VCR) 50, a hard disk recorder 60, a disk recorder 70, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 80, a game machine 90, or a so-called camcorder 100 has a predetermined network. Information viewing that can be applied to a television set system that is connected via a network, and displays information consisting of various contents simultaneously on a display screen of each electronic device such as the television receiver 10 for viewing. System.

  This information viewing system utilizes not only that each electronic device separately receives various contents via a network and displays them on a predetermined display screen, but also uses that each electronic device is connected via a network. Thus, a new viewing style for simultaneously viewing a plurality of pieces of information is provided to a user who is a viewer. In particular, since this information viewing system displays a plurality of pieces of information on a single display screen for simultaneous viewing, when the plurality of pieces of information are displayed according to a predetermined layout, they are conventionally preset by the content distribution side. When displayed according to the layout, it is possible to set a layout in which cooperation between the electronic devices is achieved.

  Here, in the information viewing system, system construction is made possible by expanding and utilizing so-called SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language), which is a layout description language describing a plurality of information layouts. It is easy to realize and can eliminate ambiguity in terms of mounting. Therefore, in the following, prior to the description of the information viewing system, a technology that is a premise of the present invention, which has been filed separately by the applicant, will be briefly described with respect to the information viewing system that simultaneously displays various contents using SMIL. Shall be explained.

  First, the layout description language based on SMIL uses a so-called URI (Uniform Resource Identifiers) rule to define display information for selecting an interface for transmitting / receiving a signal to / from a source as a content distribution source. It is defined using a URI schema.

  Specifically, a layout description file composed of a layout description language by SMIL includes, for example, a layout portion 111 as a head element for defining and laying out a plurality of display areas, and a defined display area as shown in FIG. It is roughly divided into a content portion 112 as a body element for defining information from which source is displayed and adding other information. Since the layout description file is roughly divided into a layout part 111 and a content part 112, information display from a specific source can be defined. Therefore, the layout description file can be freely used using a URI rule. Information from the source can be laid out on the display screen.

  In the layout portion 111, as shown in the first line, it is declared that the layout described in SMIL is defined by describing as <layout type = “text / smil-basic-layout”>. As described in the second line, by describing as <root-layout width = “640” height = “480” />, the size of the display screen included in the electronic device that displays the content is 640 in width. Define that pixel x height 480 pixels.

  In the layout portion 111, as shown in the third to fifth lines, a plurality of display areas are individually defined using a tag “region” and an attribute id. For example, in the layout portion 111, as shown in the third line, a display area “r1” can be defined by describing “<region id =“ r1 ”to”. That is, in this example, four display areas “r1”, “r2”, “r3”, and “r4” are defined.

  On the other hand, in the content portion 112, the content to be displayed in each display area defined in the layout portion 111 is defined. For example, in the content portion 112, as shown in the first line, by describing “<video id =“ id1 ”to region =“ r1 ”/>”, a display area defined as “r1” is displayed. It can be defined to display information from a video input defined as “id1”.

  In the information viewing system, when the layout on the display screen is defined by the layout description file composed of the layout description language by SMIL, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, four display areas are laid out. In the display area, text information 121 such as a so-called ticker, web information 122, broadcast information 123 such as terrestrial broadcast, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) broadcast and CS (Communications Satellite) broadcast, and video input information 124 such as a game are displayed. Will be.

  Thus, in the information viewing system, a layout on the display screen can be defined by the layout description file, and a plurality of contents can be displayed simultaneously.

  However, even in this information viewing system, when there are a plurality of electronic devices having means for displaying the content, the solution to the problem of the present invention in which each electronic device separately displays the content in a separated form. This is not done, but merely displaying a plurality of contents in one electronic device.

  In view of this, the information viewing system shown as an embodiment of the present invention proposes to extend SMIL, and enables coordination between media to be displayed on each electronic device and setting a layout in each electronic device. To do.

  More specifically, the information viewing system, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, causes the television receiver 10 placed in the same living room or the like in the home and the information processing terminal 20 such as a smart display to cooperate, The television receiver 10 with a large display screen displays a baseball broadcast or the like on a full screen, and the information processing terminal 20 with a small display screen assumed to be at the user's hand is originally a television receiver. It is possible to realize a viewing style in which other incidental information related to the baseball broadcast that may be displayed in a predetermined layout on ten display screens is displayed in a predetermined layout.

  Hereinafter, an information viewing system capable of realizing such a viewing style will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the information viewing system includes a television receiver 10 connected to each information processing terminal 20 such as a smart display connected to the television receiver 10 and a personal computer 30. As the layout information for the device, a configuration in which the above-described layout description language by SMIL is extended is distributed.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the layout description file composed of the layout description language includes layout information 151 indicating the contents of the layout to be displayed on the television receiver 10 that is the distribution source of the layout description file. , A layout portion including layout information 152 indicating the content of the content displayed on the information processing terminal 20 and layout information 153 indicating the content of the content displayed on the personal computer 30 is provided.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, this layout description file is a head element composed of layout information 151, 152, 153 for the television receiver 10, the information processing terminal 20, and the personal computer 30, respectively. As body elements composed of content information 154, 155, and 156 indicating the content content defining which source information is displayed in the display area defined by each of the layout information 151, 152, and 153. It is divided into content parts.

  That is, this layout description file describes the layout information of the television receiver 10 in “root-layout” in the layout portion, and “topLayout” used in the so-called “multi-window” display in SMIL. The layout information of the information processing terminal 20 and the personal computer 30 is described by defining an electronic device by its attribute id using a tag "."

  The attribute id plays a role of linking the layout and source of each electronic device in the layout description file. However, in the information viewing system, in order to link an actual electronic device and this attribute id, for example, one of the so-called UPnP (Universal Plug & Play) mechanisms, which is a procedure for discovering a device, SSDP (Simple A method of determining the name and function of each electronic device using Service Discover Protocol and linking it to the attribute id may be used.

  In the layout description file, as shown in FIG. 2, the location (source) where the moving image data or web content to be displayed in each display area defined in the layout portion exists is described as content information. By doing so, it is possible to define that content existing in the source is displayed.

  In the layout description file, as shown in the first line of the content information 155 and the first line of the content information 156, the default content is changed to the predetermined content based on time information such as a predetermined absolute time and date. Can be defined. For example, in the layout description file, the content of the default content is defined as the content information 154, and as shown in the first line of the content information 155, “<par begin =” wallclock (12:30) ”end = By describing “wallclock (13:30)”>, it is possible to define that the content defined by the content information 155 is displayed during the time from 12:30 to 13:30. In addition, as shown in the first line of the content information 156, by describing “<par begin =” begin = ”wallclock (2003-07-28T15: 30-08: 00: 00)>”, July 2003 From 15:30 to 8:00 the next day in the US West Coast time on the 28th, the content information The content defined in the report 156 can be defined to be displayed.

  In the information viewing system, based on such a layout description file, the television receiver 10 uses an API (Application Program Interface) such as a so-called DOM (Document Object Model) or SAX (Simple API for XML), The layout information and the content information used for each of the information processing terminal 20 and the personal computer 30 are cut out, for example, the layout description file for the information processing terminal 20 as shown in FIG. 8 and the personal computer 30 as shown in FIG. A layout description file is created, and the layout description file is distributed to each of the information processing terminal 20 and the personal computer 30. In the information viewing system, the information processing terminal 20 and the personal computer 30 each display content based on the distributed layout description file.

  In such an information viewing system, each electronic device such as the television receiver 10 includes at least a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 which is a control means for comprehensively controlling each unit, as shown in FIG. , A read-only ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 for storing information including various programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 functioning as a work area, a network interface 204 for connecting to an external network, and image data VRAM (Video RAM) 205 for enabling drawing and display of images simultaneously, a graphic controller 206 for processing and controlling image data stored in the VRAM 205, and various information including contents Display device 20 which is a display means for displaying With the door, and these sections are connected to the bus 210.

  The CPU 201 executes various programs including software recorded in the ROM 202 and controls each unit in an integrated manner.

  The ROM 202 stores information including various programs. Information stored in the ROM 202 is read under the control of the CPU 201.

  The RAM 203 functions as a work area when the CPU 201 executes various programs, and temporarily stores various data and reads the stored various data under the control of the CPU 201.

  The network interface 204 is, for example, an analog line, a so-called Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN (Local Area Network), ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), or FTTH (Fiber To The). Home), various wireless communication systems such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11a / b wireless LAN or so-called Bluetooth (Bluetooth), or so-called FOMA (registered trademark) ) Or the like, or an CDMA-2000 method such as HDR (High Data Rate) or the like, and an external interface under the control of the CPU 201. Communicate with

  The VRAM 205 is provided to enable image data to be drawn and displayed at the same time. Writing and / or reading of image data to / from the VRAM 205 is performed under the control of the graphic controller 206.

  The graphic controller 206 performs processing and control on the image data by writing image data to the VRAM 205 and reading the image data stored in the VRAM 205 under the control of the CPU 201. The graphic controller 206 supplies image data for display to the display device 207.

  Examples of the display device 207 include various types such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic electroluminescence display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). It is a display device, and displays various types of information such as text information, web information, broadcast information, and video input information such as games supplied from the graphic controller 206 on the display screen under the control of the CPU 201.

  Each of the electronic devices including such units executes predetermined software for displaying content on the display screen of the display device 207 based on the layout description file. This software can be expressed as a stack structure having four layers as shown in FIG.

  That is, as shown in the figure, this software stack includes a window system (Window System) 252, a file system library (File System Library) 253, and a network library (Network Library) 254 in an upper layer of an OS (Operating System) 251. The CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) 255, the XML parser 256, and the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) parser 257 are provided above the window system 252, the file system library 253, and the network library 254, and the XML parser. An SMIL parser 258, a BML (Broadcast Markup Language) 259, and a WML (Wireless Markup Language) 260 are provided on the upper layer of 256.

  The OS 251 comprehensively manages each software located in an upper layer and hardware located in a lower layer such as an interface. The window system 252 divides the display screen of the display device 207 into a plurality of rectangular display areas and displays each information in each display area. The television receiver 10 can lay out video information input as content on the display screen via the OS 251 under the control of software above the window system 252.

  Further, the file system library 253 collects and stores video information and the like as contents recorded as files. Furthermore, the network library 254 collects and stores each network. The television receiver 10 can perform more free layout of contents on the display screen based on the abundant information collected by the file system library 253 and the network library 254.

  CSS255 is one of the style sheet languages for designing a document described in a language such as HTML or XML, and enables content to be displayed in a layout state on a display screen. It is.

  Furthermore, the XML parser 256 checks the generated XML document and performs syntax analysis to determine the logical structure. The HTML parser 257 checks the HTML document obtained via the network library 254 or the like. The SMIL parser 258 checks the created SMIL document and performs the syntax analysis. The television receiver 10 uses the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258 as the layout description file interpreting means and the layout description file creating means, from the layout description file as shown in FIG. A content description file can be cut out and a layout description file to be distributed to each electronic device as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 can be created.

  Furthermore, BML259 is an XML-based markup language used to describe BS digital broadcast content, and is used to perform content layout on a display screen, association of a plurality of content, and the like. is there. The television receiver 10 can use the BS digital broadcast as a content source by the BML 259.

  WML 260 is a language for WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), which is a communication protocol for using the Internet by a portable terminal such as a cellular phone, and makes it possible to access Internet-based information from the portable terminal. is there.

  Among the electronic devices that execute such software, the television receiver 10 distributes a layout description file to each electronic device through a series of steps as shown in FIG.

  First, as shown in the figure, the television receiver 10 reads a layout description file as previously shown in FIG. 7 by the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258 under the control of the CPU 201 in step S1. In step S2, it is determined whether or not the time information such as the absolute time and date described above is described as the content information about a certain electronic device.

  If the television receiver 10 determines that the time information is not described in the layout description file, the television receiver 10 proceeds to step S4 while the time information is described in the layout description file. If it is determined that the time information is present, it is determined in step S3 whether or not it is time to match the time information described in the layout description file under the control of the CPU 201.

  If the television receiver 10 determines that the time does not match the time information described in the layout description file, the television receiver 10 waits until the time is reached, while describing in the layout description file. If it is determined that the time that matches the current time information has been reached, whether or not an electronic device described in the layout description file has been found under the control of the CPU 201 in step S4, That is, it is determined whether or not the electronic device is connected.

  Here, when the television receiver 10 determines that the electronic device described in the layout description file has not been found, the television receiver 10 proceeds to step S5 and under the control of the CPU 201, The user is informed that the corresponding electronic device has not been found on the display screen as the notification means, and in step S6, the processing is switched to the next target electronic device, and the processing from step S2 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when determining that the electronic device described in the layout description file has been found, the television receiver 10 uses DOM, SAX, or the like under the control of the CPU 201 in step S7. Then, the layout information and the content information for the electronic device are cut out, and the layout description file for the electronic device as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 is created. In step S8, the layout description file is used as the distribution means. To the electronic device via the network interface 204.

  Then, in step S9, the television receiver 10 determines whether there is no other electronic device under the control of the CPU 201, that is, the information of the other electronic device is included in the layout description file read in step S1. If it is determined whether or not it is described, and it is determined that there is another electronic device, the process from step S4 is repeated again, while if it is determined that there is no other electronic device, A series of processing is finished as it is.

  In the information viewing system, the television receiver 10 passes through such a series of steps to create a layout description file for each electronic device and distribute the layout description file to each corresponding electronic device. be able to. In the information viewing system, the television receiver 10 itself displays content based on the layout description file by the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258, and the layout description file distributed from the television receiver 10 is displayed. Each received electronic device also displays content based on the distributed layout description file by the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258.

  As described above in detail, in the information viewing system shown as the embodiment of the present invention, this layout description is obtained by extending SMIL and using a layout description file including layout information and content information of each electronic device. Based on the file, it is possible to set the layout of each electronic device while coordinating between the media to be displayed on each electronic device, so conventionally, each electronic device can separately transmit various contents via a network. It is possible to provide a new viewing style that replaces the situation received and displayed on the predetermined display screen. At this time, since this information viewing system is based on SMIL based on XML, a new viewing style can be realized with a relatively easy configuration.

  Thus, this information viewing system can give a guideline for constructing a new product system because the user can freely select various viewing styles using a plurality of electronic devices. It is. In addition, this information viewing system can use electronic devices connected to the network to integrate various contents on the network including terrestrial broadcasting, BS broadcasting, CS broadcasting, and even web contents. The distribution side can also provide a platform for developing various services.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, it has been described that all the electronic devices have the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258 installed, interpret the layout description file, and display the contents. However, the present invention can be applied even when only the television receiver 10 is equipped with the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258.

  In this case, the television receiver 10 executes software having a stack structure as shown in FIG. That is, in addition to the structure shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of device drivers 261, 262, 263, 264, 265,... Corresponding to each electronic device connected to the television receiver 10 are provided below the OS 251. Is provided, and further below these device drivers 261, 262, 263, 264, 265,..., A device driver emulator for realizing equivalent functions on a system different from the original and providing compatibility The layer 266 is provided.

  Each electronic device is connected to the television receiver 10 that executes such software in the form of a so-called plug-in, and the television receiver 10 virtually connects each electronic device at the software level. Think of it as a device driver. Then, the television receiver 10 interprets the layout description file as shown in FIG. 7 and displays the content based on the layout description file.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when all the electronic devices are not mounted with the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser 258, the television receiver 10 that is the distribution source of the layout description file is used as the XML parser 256 and the SMIL parser. If the parser 258 is installed, it is possible to display content on each electronic device.

  Further, the present invention may be set by the user in actual operation. That is, according to the present invention, the layout description file as shown in FIG. 7 can be created by the television receiver 10 or the like according to the user's setting operation.

  Specifically, in the information viewing system, as shown in FIG. 14A, an electronic device that displays content such as the information processing terminal 20 and the personal computer 30 can be selected on the display screen of the television receiver 10. To display. The user selects an electronic device to be set from electronic devices displayed on the display screen by using the remote controller 10a for operating the television receiver 10 or the like. Further, in the information viewing system, as shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality of layout patterns for the electronic device selected by the user are displayed on the display screen of the television receiver 10 so as to be selectable. Let them choose.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic device in which a user displays a content by only operating the remote controller 10a by creating a layout description file by the television receiver 10 in accordance with contents selected by the user. And the layout on the display screen of the electronic device can be selected.

  Furthermore, although only the display of content as visual video information has been taken up in the above-described embodiments, the present invention can also be applied to listening to content as audio information.

  For example, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 15, as an electronic device connected to the television receiver 10, speakers 301 and 302 built in the television receiver 10, multichannel surround such as so-called 5.1 ch, and the like. The present invention is also applicable to an information viewing system provided with various audio devices such as a plurality of speakers 303, 304, and 305 constituting a speaker system, each speaker 306 and 307 constituting a two-way speaker system, and an AV amplifier 308. Can do. In such an information viewing system, layout information indicating the content layout content as auditory audio information to be processed by a speaker or AV amplifier as an audio device, and the speaker defined by the layout information A layout description file consisting of content information indicating the content to be processed by each AV amplifier is read and interpreted, and output from each speaker or AV amplifier based on the interpreted layout description file by absolute time, date, or the like. It is possible to change the layout of content as audio information.

  Further, the present invention can be expected to improve the game performance by applying such a use to a game machine or the like.

  Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the distribution side creates a layout description file as shown in FIG. 7 and distributes it to each electronic device such as the television receiver 10. . That is, as an information viewing system, when a television broadcasting station serving as a distribution device broadcasts, a layout description file is also distributed, and various electronic devices including the television receiver 10 that receives the broadcast receive a layout description file. Can be configured to read and interpret.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made centering on the television set system in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected to the television receiver 10, but the present invention is a system other than the television set system. Of course, any system can be applied as long as it is a system for viewing content.

  Thus, it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure explaining the structural example of the information viewing-and-listening system shown as embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a layout description file composed of a layout description language according to SMIL, which is a premise technique of the present invention that is filed separately by the applicant of the present application. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout on the display screen when a layout on the display screen is defined by the layout description file illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure explaining the structural example of an information viewing-and-listening system, Comprising: It is a figure for demonstrating the viewing-and-listening style which cooperates a television receiver and an information processing terminal. It is a figure explaining the structural example of an information viewing-and-listening system, Comprising: With respect to each of the information processing terminal and personal computer which are connected to a television receiver, a television receiver uses SMIL as layout information for each electronic device. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure which distributes what extended the layout description language by. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a layout description file used in the information viewing system shown in FIG. 5. It is a figure explaining the specific structural example of the layout description file used in the information viewing-and-listening system shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a layout description file for an information processing terminal created by a television receiver in the information viewing system shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a layout description file for a personal computer created by a television receiver in the information viewing system shown in FIG. 5. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of each electronic device which comprises an information viewing-and-listening system. It is a figure explaining the structure of the software stack which each electronic device which comprises an information viewing-and-listening system performs. It is a flowchart explaining a series of processes at the time of distributing a layout description file to each electronic device from a television receiver in an information viewing system. It is a figure explaining the structure of the software stack which the said television receiver performs in the case where only a television receiver mounts an XML parser and a SMIL parser. It is a figure explaining the case where the selection of the electronic device which displays a content by the user, and the selection of the layout on the display screen of the said electronic device is performed, Comprising: The electronic device which displays a content on the display screen of a television receiver It is a figure explaining a mode that it displays so that selection is possible. It is a figure explaining the case where the selection of the electronic device which displays a content by the user, and the selection of the layout on the display screen of the said electronic device is carried out, Comprising: About the selected electronic device on the display screen of a television receiver It is a figure explaining a mode that a plurality of layout patterns are displayed so that selection is possible. It is a figure explaining the structural example of the information viewing-and-listening system which applied this invention to the content as audio | voice information. It is a figure explaining the example of the layout which displays two information, Comprising: It is a figure explaining a mode that the said two information is displayed on two right and left display areas. It is a figure explaining the example of the layout which displays two information, Comprising: When one information shall be displayed on a main display area, the display area of the other information is provided and displayed in the said main display area. It is a figure explaining a mode that it is.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Television receiver 10a Remote controller 20 Information processing terminal 30 Personal computer 40 Set top box 50 Video cassette recorder 60 Hard disk recorder 70 Disk recorder 80 Portable information terminal 90 Game machine 111 Layout part 112 Content part 121 Text information 122 Web information 123 Broadcast information 124 Video input information 151, 152, 153 Layout information 154, 155, 156 Content information 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 Network interface 205 VRAM
206 Graphic controller 207 Display device 210 Bus 251 OS
252 Window system 253 File system library 254 Network library 255 CSS
256 XML Parser 257 HTML Parser 258 SMIL Parser 259 BML
260 WML
261, 262, 263, 264, 265,... Device driver 266 Device driver emulator layer 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 Speaker 308 AV amplifier

Claims (20)

An electronic device to which at least one electronic device is connected as a connection device,
Layout information indicating the content layout content as visual video information to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device, and content content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device defined by the layout information Layout description file interpretation means for reading and interpreting a layout description file comprising content information indicating
Based on the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpreting means, the layout information and the content information used for each of the connected devices that display the content are cut out, and based on the layout information and the content information, An electronic device comprising control means for displaying content on each display screen. A display means for displaying the content on the display screen;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the content on a display screen in a layout based on the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpretation unit. The control means includes layout description file creation means for cutting out layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying content, and creating a layout description file for the connected device,
The distribution means for delivering the layout description file created by the layout description file creation means to each of the connected devices configured to be able to interpret the layout description file. Electronics. The control means regards the connected device as a virtual device driver at the software level, and displays content on each display screen of the connected device based on the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpreting means. The electronic device according to claim 1. The layout description file describes time information for defining the content information to change from the default content to a predetermined content according to the time.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device based on the time information. When the control unit determines that the connected device described in the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpreting unit has not been found, the user is notified that the connected device has not been found. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that performs the notification. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays content on a display screen of each of the connected devices in a layout set and operated by a user. The control means causes the user to select the connection device for displaying content, and to select a plurality of layout patterns for the selected connection device, and according to the selected contents, each of the connection devices. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein content is displayed on a display screen. The connected device is an audio device,
The layout description file interpretation means includes layout information indicating the content layout content as auditory audio information to be processed by each of the connected devices as the audio devices, and each of the connected devices defined by the layout information. Read and interpret the layout description file consisting of content information indicating the content to be processed by
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes each of the connected devices to output content based on the layout description file interpreted by the layout description file interpretation unit. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the layout description file interpretation unit reads and interprets a layout description file created and distributed by a content distribution side. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a television receiver. An information viewing method for viewing content using an electronic device to which at least one device is connected as a connected device,
Layout information indicating the content layout content as visual video information to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device, and content content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device defined by the layout information A layout description file interpretation step of reading and interpreting a layout description file consisting of content information indicating
Based on the layout description file interpreted in the layout description file interpretation step, the layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying content are cut out, and the connected device is extracted based on the layout information and the content information. And a control step of displaying content on each of the display screens. The control step includes a layout description file creation step of cutting out layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices that display content, and creating a layout description file for the connected device,
13. The information according to claim 12, further comprising a distribution step of distributing the layout description file created in the layout description file creation step to the connected device configured to be able to interpret the layout description file. How to watch. In the control step, the connected device is regarded as a virtual device driver at the software level, and content is displayed on each display screen of the connected device based on the layout description file interpreted in the layout description file interpretation step. The information viewing method according to claim 12, wherein: An information viewing system that is configured by connecting a plurality of electronic devices and displays and displays information including various contents on a display screen included in each electronic device,
At least one electronic device;
The at least one electronic device is connected as a connected device, and layout information indicating the content layout content as visual video information to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device, and the above-described layout information Layout used for each of the above connected devices for reading and interpreting a layout description file composed of content information indicating the contents of the content to be displayed on each display screen of the connected device, and displaying the content based on the interpreted layout description file An information viewing system comprising: one electronic device that cuts out information and content information and displays the content on each display screen of the connected device based on the layout information and content information. 16. The information viewing system according to claim 15, wherein the electronic device displays content on a display screen of the electronic device having a layout based on the interpreted layout description file. The one electronic device cuts out layout information and content information used for each of the connected devices for displaying content, creates a layout description file for the connected device, and creates the layout description file as the layout description file. The information viewing system according to claim 15, wherein the information viewing system is distributed to each of the connected devices configured to be capable of interpreting. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the connected device is regarded as a virtual device driver at a software level, and the content is displayed on each display screen of the connected device based on the interpreted layout description file. Item 15. The information viewing system according to Item 15. An information viewing system for displaying and viewing information consisting of various contents distributed on a display screen provided in an electronic device,
A plurality of electronic devices connected to each other;
Distributing content as visual video information to each of the electronic devices, layout information indicating the content of the content to be displayed on each display screen of the electronic device as a delivery destination, and the layout information A distribution device that distributes a layout description file composed of content information indicating the content to be displayed on each display screen of the electronic device defined by
Each of the electronic devices reads and interprets the layout description file distributed from the distribution device, extracts necessary layout information and content information based on the interpreted layout description file, and based on the layout information and content information. An information viewing system characterized by displaying content on a display screen in a layout. The distribution device is a television broadcasting station,
20. The information viewing system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the electronic devices is a television receiver that receives a broadcast by the distribution device.