JP2006246063A - Digital broadcasting system, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcasting system which performs action corresponding to program advance acquiring program information distributed by others except the viewing and listening channel, and improves convenience of viewing and listening of televiewers. <P>SOLUTION: The digital broadcasting system is provided with a moving video distributor which distributes digital data of the moving video of the program; a meta-data distributor which creates the meta-data showing contents of the moving video, and data of advance states, and distributes them corresponding to a time-axis of the moving video; a digital broadcasting device which performs distribution processing corresponding to the channels; a moving video receiver which receives the moving video; a meta-data receiver which receives the meta-data; a supervisory data memory which stores action processing corresponding to variance of advance states; an action selector which extracts data of the advance states of the moving video from meta-data distributed in each channel, and performs detection whether the data correspond to the variance of the established advance states; and an action control unit which performs channel change corresponding to televiewer's setting according to the detection result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display technology for moving images distributed by data broadcasting in digital broadcasting, Internet distribution (server type broadcasting), and the like, and more particularly, a digital broadcasting system and method for handling metadata indicating detailed information of moving images added to moving images. And programs.

In digital broadcasting such as BS digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting, and video distribution on the Internet, metadata relating to this content is distributed along with image data (content). (For example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
This metadata is detailed information indicating the description of each scene of the video, the segmentation of the scene, and the like as information synchronized with the playback time axis at the time of playback of the video. It is also used to increase the supplement and added value to the displayed moving image.

In the transmission and reception of moving images and metadata in digital broadcasting, for example, several methods as shown below are used.
As shown in FIG. 14, in the above digital broadcasting, a method in which moving images and metadata are multiplexed on a broadcast wave and modulated and then transmitted can be considered. In this case, the broadcast wave receiving device (TV tuner) 100 receives a broadcast wave transmitted from a television station, and the broadcast receiving unit 101 receives program data (moving image and metadata) of a channel selected (selected) from this broadcast wave. Is multiplexed) and demodulated. Then, the moving image / metadata separating unit 102 decodes the multiplexed program data and separates it into a moving image and metadata. The metadata processing unit 103 performs processing for analyzing input metadata and displaying it on a screen. The program display unit 104 displays a moving image and metadata having contents synchronized with a time axis on which the moving image is displayed on the screen of the display device 105.

  The transmission / reception method shown in FIG. 15 is almost the same as the method shown in FIG. The difference is that metadata is not multiplexed on the broadcast wave, moving image data is transmitted via the broadcast wave, and metadata is distributed over a network such as the Internet. The metadata receiving unit 106 inputs metadata corresponding to the selected channel via the network interface 107. The subsequent processing for moving images and metadata is the same as the method shown in FIG.

  The transmission / reception method shown in FIG. 16 is almost the same as the method shown in FIG. The difference is that broadcast waves are not used, and a moving image is distributed over a network such as the Internet, and metadata is multiplexed on this moving image and distributed as program data. The moving image / metadata receiving unit 108 receives and demodulates the selected program data via a network interface such as the Internet. The subsequent processing for moving images and metadata is the same as the method shown in FIG.

The transmission / reception method shown in FIG. 17 is almost the same as the method shown in FIG. The difference is that the metadata is not multiplexed on the broadcast wave, and the moving image and the metadata are distributed separately by a network such as the Internet. The moving image receiving unit 109 inputs moving image data of the channel selected via the network interface 107, and similarly, the metadata receiving unit 106 corresponds to the selected channel via the network interface 107. Enter the metadata. The subsequent processing for moving images and metadata is the same as the method shown in FIG.
JP 2001-78104 A JP 2003-152696 A

  In the above-described conventional digital broadcasting system, metadata is positioned as information supplemented to a moving image being viewed, and is used to provide various information about the moving image to the viewer. On the other hand, the viewer is not interested only in the program being viewed, but is also interested in the program contents other than the channel being viewed and the progress of the program.

For example, the following situations can be considered.
1. Currently watching variety shows, but at the same time, I am interested in the trend of sports games being broadcast on other channels.
2. Since the drama of the channel C1 being watched becomes a CM, it is desired to change to the channel C2 that temporarily broadcasts another sports program and return to the channel C1 when the CM ends.
3. I want to watch the channel for the time when singer A appears in a song program.
As in the situation described above, viewers often have an interest in the program content of multiple channels and the progress of the program.

However, as described above, the conventional digital broadcasting system has a mechanism for receiving the moving image and metadata distributed by the receiving device, and synchronizes the received moving image and metadata with the time axis. It is only displayed on the screen at the same time.
In addition, some conventional digital broadcasting systems have a configuration in which a receiving device has a plurality of tuners and records a plurality of programs at the same time. While viewing a program on a predetermined channel, information on programs on other channels is recorded. Can't get.

For this reason, the conventional digital broadcasting system has a problem that when a plurality of interesting programs are simultaneously progressing, the viewer often has to perform a process of changing the channel, so that the viewer cannot enjoy watching calmly. .
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and obtains information on a program distributed on a channel other than the channel being viewed and changes the channel corresponding to the program progress that the viewer is interested in. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcasting system and method that enables a viewer to calmly watch a program by performing the above.

  The digital broadcast system of the present invention generates and distributes metadata indicating the content and progress data of a moving image, corresponding to the time axis of the distributed moving image, and a moving image distribution unit that distributes the moving image digital data in the program A digital broadcasting device that has a metadata distribution unit and performs distribution processing corresponding to a predetermined channel; a video reception unit that receives videos of a plurality of channels; and metadata reception that receives metadata corresponding to the videos A monitoring data storage unit that stores predetermined processing (channel change or image display processing, etc.) corresponding to a change in progress set in advance by the viewer, and metadata distributed for each channel, An action selection unit that extracts the progress data of each video and detects whether each corresponds to the set progress change In response to the detection result, and a digital broadcast receiver and a action control unit that performs predetermined processing corresponding to the setting of the viewer.

  In the digital broadcasting system according to the present invention, the metadata distribution unit may store the progress status data including a title of each program in the moving image, a name of each scene in the moving image, a keyword of each scene in the moving image, and a change in the content of the metadata. It is characterized by generating.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention receives digital data of a moving image in a program and metadata indicating the content of the moving image and data on the progress status in correspondence with the time axis of the distributed moving image. The content is displayed on the screen, from a video receiving unit that receives videos of a plurality of channels, a metadata receiving unit that receives metadata corresponding to the video, and metadata distributed for each channel, An action selection unit that extracts data on the progress of each video and detects changes in the respective progress, and a predetermined process (channel change or image display) corresponding to the viewer's setting corresponding to the detection result And an action control unit for performing processing and the like.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention includes a monitoring data storage unit that stores a channel change process corresponding to a change in progress set by a viewer in advance, and the action selection unit performs the progress for each detected channel. The change of the situation is compared with the change of the progress situation set in the monitoring data storage unit, and it is detected whether or not it corresponds.

  In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, the change in the progress stored in the monitoring data storage unit includes the title of each program in the moving image, the name of each scene in the moving image, the keyword of each scene in the moving image, and the content of the metadata. It is characterized by having a change.

  In the digital broadcasting method of the present invention, the moving image distribution unit corresponds to the process of distributing the digital data of the moving image in the program corresponding to a predetermined channel, and the time axis of the moving image distributed in the metadata distribution process. A process of generating and distributing metadata indicating progress data, a process of receiving a video of a plurality of channels by a video receiver, and a process of receiving metadata corresponding to the video by the metadata receiver; The monitoring data storage unit stores a process of a predetermined process corresponding to a change in the progress state set in advance by the viewer, and the action selection unit stores the progress state of each video from the metadata distributed for each channel. And a process for detecting whether each corresponds to a set change in progress, and an action control unit corresponding to the detection result. Characterized by comprising a process of performing predetermined processing corresponding to the setting of the viewer.

  The digital broadcast receiving method of the present invention receives digital data of a moving image in a program and metadata indicating data of the content and progress of the moving image in correspondence with a time axis of the moving image to be distributed. The content is displayed on the screen, and the process in which the video receiving unit receives video of multiple channels, the process in which the metadata receiving unit receives metadata corresponding to the video, and the action selecting unit is in each channel. The process of extracting the progress status of each video from the metadata distributed to, and detecting the change of each progress status, and the action control unit responds to the detection result and responds to the viewer's settings And performing a predetermined process.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a change in the progress of a program can be obtained from each of the distributed metadata of a plurality of channels, and a channel change process is performed in response to this change. Even when programs of interest are simultaneously progressing, it is not necessary for the viewer to frequently change the channel, and it is possible to calmly watch the program of each channel.

  In addition, according to the present invention, by setting action processing corresponding to a change in the progress of a program in the action data storage unit in advance, channel change reservation processing can be freely performed, and a plurality of interesting programs can be simultaneously processed. Even when the program is in progress, it is possible to watch the program of each channel calmly without worrying about the program progress of other channels.

The feature of the present invention is to analyze and extract the content of metadata including the channel being viewed and its change for the viewer, monitor the progress of the content of the video in real time, and display it on the screen Or changing the channel.
As a result, in addition to the program being viewed, the present invention can grasp the progress of the program in a channel other than being viewed, and can control the channel based on this program status, improving the convenience of program browsing. ing.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a digital broadcasting system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the embodiment. In this figure, a digital broadcasting device 1 generates a moving image distribution device 11 that distributes a moving image as digital data corresponding to a channel assigned to itself, and metadata indicating detailed information of the moving image. And a metadata distribution unit 12 that distributes the data.

In other words, a combination of this moving image (moving image data as distributed digital data) and metadata becomes program data distributed in units of channels. The digital broadcasting device 1 multiplexes moving images and metadata, modulates the multiplexed data as program data, and transmits it as a broadcast wave.
Here, the metadata is not only the description of the contents of each scene of the video, but also the title of each program in the video, the name of each scene in the video, the keyword of each scene in the video, the start time and end time of each scene, etc. Contains progress data for each scene in the video.
As shown in FIG. 6, the receiving device 2 converts the program data distributed from the moving image distribution device 1 through a broadcast wave serving as a distribution medium into the moving image and metadata (actually, metadata) of the channel set for the viewer. Are displayed on the screen of the display device 26 and on the divided screens, respectively.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the receiving apparatus 2 which is the digital image distribution apparatus in the first embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the receiving device according to the first embodiment.
In this figure, a receiving apparatus 2 includes a broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 that receives a broadcast wave of program data in which a moving image and metadata of a selected channel are multiplexed, and a broadcast that demodulates the received program data. A receiving unit 22, a moving image / metadata separating unit 23 that decodes the multiplexed program data and separates it into a moving image and metadata, and performs a process of analyzing the separated metadata and displaying it on the screen. The metadata processing unit 24, a moving image, and a program display processing unit 25 that displays metadata having contents synchronized with the time axis on which the moving image is displayed on the screen of the display device 26, and a configuration similar to the conventional example. ing.

  In addition, the receiving device 2 has a function of processing an HTML file, a BML file (Broadcasting Markup Language), etc., for example, a browser function. As a function different from the conventional example, other channels (viewing / listening) The broadcast wave of the program data multiplexed with the video and metadata of the channel that the user is not viewing) and the received program data outside the selected channel are demodulated. The viewing program broadcast receiving unit 28, the viewed program non-viewing video / metadata separating unit 29 that decodes the multiplexed program data and separates it into a video and metadata, and analyzes the separated metadata, The viewing program non-viewing program metadata processing unit 30 for extracting the progress status (or distribution status) data, the selected channel to be monitored, and the progress status in this channel Stores the monitoring rules of the predetermined processing (channel change, screen display, etc.) that occurs in response to changes in the monitoring target items, with any item of data (including changes in metadata content) being monitored The monitoring rule database 31 is compared with the monitoring progress data of the extracted metadata to detect whether there is a change that causes an action, and a change that causes an action is detected. Then, the action control unit 33 that performs processing corresponding to the monitoring rule, the input device 34 that edits the setting contents of the monitoring rule database 31, the channel of the program being viewed and the channel of the program not being viewed are received programs. It has a received program control unit 35 that manages the data and switches the channel of the received program and metadata. Here, a plurality of viewing program external broadcast receiving devices 27 and a viewing program external broadcast receiving unit 28 are provided so as to be able to monitor a plurality of programs on channels outside the viewing program.

The monitoring rules stored in the monitoring rule database 31 are recorded in the table format shown in FIG.
As described above, as the progress data, as shown in FIG. 4, “metadata channel” indicating which channel corresponds to the metadata, “isCM”, “link”, and “monitor” as the monitoring metadata type “Type”. data ”, xxxyyyy after the keyword“ data ”of each scene in the moving image, information on the progress of each scene of the moving image such as the start time (starttime) and end time (endtime) of each scene, and are shown in this figure The title of each program in the moving image (moving image digital data), the name of each scene in the moving image, and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) after “link” as “type” indicating the change of the metadata itself, etc. Have. With the starttime, the program display processing unit 25 synchronizes the display of the moving image and the metadata in time. In addition, a URL indicating the location of a file that distributes metadata image data (including character data) to be displayed as an image corresponding to each scene is added to the “link” section.
Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (c), there are cases where the metadata type, text data, etc. are directly included, and as shown in FIG. Some URLs link to text files, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Labgage) files, BML files, and moving image files. This URL may be the original metadata distribution source or the URL of another provider on the Internet. When the URL is included in the metadata, the STB 2 accesses the URL as a metadata broadcast in parallel with the broadcast image information (moving image data), and the distribution source to which the URL indicates Information (image data, character data, etc.) is obtained and displayed on the display device 26.

  In the table of FIG. 3, the rule ID is identification information given corresponding to each rule set by the viewer, and the monitoring channel is a channel to be monitored that is selected in advance from channels that are being viewed or outside the viewing program. The monitoring metadata type includes, for example, items to be monitored, such as commercials (isCM), changes in the metadata itself (new metadata is input; Link, that is, changes in URL), keyword word extraction (Data) This indicates items to be monitored such as The condition indicates the detection state of the monitoring metadata type. The action type (processing item) describes the type of channel change processing that occurs when the progress data extracted from the metadata input by the action selection unit 32 matches the detection state of the monitoring target. In the action content, the actual processing content to be performed in the action type is described.

Next, the operation of the digital broadcasting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Broadcasting stations such as content distributors and television stations that distribute video and metadata distribute and generate digital data of the video of the program to be broadcast, generate metadata corresponding to this video, and With digital data. In this metadata, the above-described progress status data, synchronization information indicating which scene of the moving image and CM (commercial; a part of the scene) are displayed, display time, and additional information indicating the content of the program are shown. Has been.

For example, it is assumed that the viewer is viewing the channel “10” and the other channels outside the viewing program are “1” to “9”.
Here, it is assumed that the viewer has previously set the monitoring rule shown in FIG. 3 in the monitoring rule database 31 from the input device 34 on the display device 26 by using, for example, the metadata monitoring setting screen of FIG. In the display screen of FIG. 5, there are CM switching as a monitoring channel selection and monitoring item (monitoring metadata type), new metadata and monitoring keywords, and actions when metadata corresponding to the monitoring rule is detected. Channel change and screen display are provided as options.
That is, the channels outside the viewing target program to be monitored stored in the monitoring rule database 31 are “1”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “8”, and the monitoring rule IDs “01”, “ “02”, “03”, “04”, “05”, “06”, “07”, “08”, “09”.

  Then, as the monitoring rule ID “01”, the monitoring channel “8”, the monitoring metadata type “isCM” is CM, the condition is “if the condition changes from CM to a program”, and the action type is “change channel”. , The action content is “changing the channel to“ 8 ”. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the progress status of the channel “8” has changed from a CM to a program such as a drama, the action control unit 33 performs processing to change the channel currently being viewed to the channel “8”. Do.

  Further, as the monitoring rule ID “02”, the monitoring channel “4”, the monitoring metadata type “Link” indicates new metadata (new metadata), and the condition is “when the content of the metadata changes”, The action type is “display on the screen”, and the action content indicates that the character string “metadata appears in 4 channels” is displayed on the screen. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the metadata of the channel “4” has changed, the action control unit 33 performs processing for displaying the character string at a predetermined position on the display screen of the channel currently being viewed. .

  As the monitoring rule ID “03”, the monitoring channel “1”, the monitoring metadata type “Data” indicate a keyword, the condition is “when metadata having the keyword“ xxxxyyyy ”appears”, and the action type is “ “Display on screen” and the action content indicates that a character string “matched monitoring keyword in one channel” is displayed on the screen. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the keyword “xxxxyyyy” exists in the metadata of the channel “1”, the action control unit 33 displays the display screen of the channel currently being viewed as shown in FIG. A process for displaying the character string as non-viewing metadata monitoring information at a predetermined position is performed. Here, the metadata displayed on the left side of the moving image is additional information such as a description of the content of the moving image being viewed.

  Further, as the monitoring rule ID “04”, the monitoring channel “5”, the monitoring metadata type “Data” indicate a keyword, the condition is “when metadata having the keyword“ CDDD ”appears”, and the action type is “ “Display on the screen”, and the action content indicates that the character string “matched the monitoring keyword in 5 channels” is displayed on the screen. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the keyword “CDDD” exists in the metadata of the channel “5”, the character string is placed at a predetermined position on the display screen of the channel currently being viewed by the action control unit 33. Process to display.

  Also, as the monitoring rule ID “05”, the currently viewed channel “8” is set as the monitoring channel, the monitoring metadata type “isCM” is CM, the condition is “when the program changes to CM”, and the action type Is “change channel”, and the action content is “change channel to“ 4 ”. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the progress of the channel “8” has changed from a program such as a drama to a CM, the action control unit 33 changes the channel “8” currently being viewed to the channel “4”. Perform the process.

  Also, as the monitoring rule ID “06”, the monitoring channel “8”, the monitoring metadata type “isCM” is CM, the condition is “when the program changes from CM”, and the action type is “change channel”. , The action content is “changing the channel to“ 8 ”. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the progress status of the channel “8” has changed from a CM to a program such as a drama, the action control unit 33 performs processing to change the channel currently being viewed to the channel “8”. Do.

  As the monitoring rule ID “07”, the monitoring channel “4”, the monitoring metadata type “Data” indicate a score, the condition is “if the score has changed”, and the action type is “change channel”. , The action content is “changing the channel to“ 4 ”. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the score of the game has changed as the progress status of the channel “4”, the action control unit 33 performs a process of changing from the channel currently being viewed to the channel “4” to 120 After 2 seconds, a process of returning from channel “4” to the channel before change is performed.

  As the monitoring rule ID “08”, the monitoring channel “6”, the monitoring metadata type “Data” indicate a keyword, the condition is “when the keyword“ Singer A ”appears in the metadata”, and the action type is “Change channel”, and the action content is “change channel to“ 6 ”. That is, when the action selection unit 32 detects that the singer A is included in the metadata as the progress status of the channel “6” (appears), the channel “6” from the channel currently being watched by the action control unit 33. Process to change to.

As the monitoring rule ID “09”, the monitoring channel “6”, the monitoring metadata type “Data” indicate a keyword, the condition is “when metadata with the keyword“ singer A ”disappears”, and the action type Is “change channel”, and the action content is “change channel to“ 4 ”. That is, when the action selecting unit 32 detects that the singer A is not included in the metadata as the progress status of the channel “6” (end of the singer's turn), the channel “6” currently being viewed by the action control unit 33. To change from “4” to “4”.
When the viewer views the program, acquires data on the progress status of the viewing program or the non-viewing program (back program) using metadata, and causes the receiving apparatus 2 to perform various processes, the monitoring rule described above is used. The monitoring rule set in the database 31 is selected.

Next, using the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8, the received program control unit 35, which describes an example of the operation of the digital broadcasting system of the present invention, matches the broadcast receiving device 21 to the channel set by the viewer (selects the channel). Step S1).
Then, the received program control unit 35 stores the channel in which the broadcast receiving device 21 is set in the received program data unit 36 as the viewing channel of the viewing program (step S2).
Next, the received program control unit 35 reads out the monitoring rule selected by the viewer from the monitoring rule database 31, and extracts the monitoring channel to be monitored from this monitoring rule (step S3).

Then, the received program control unit 35 detects whether or not the channel to be monitored is the same as the currently viewed channel stored in the received program data unit 36 (step S4).
At this time, if the received program control unit 35 detects that the channel to be monitored is not the same as the channel being viewed, the process proceeds to step S5.
Next, the received program control unit 35 stores the channel of the non-viewed program to be monitored in the received program data unit 36 as a monitoring channel (step S5).

Then, the received program control unit 35 adjusts the broadcast program receiving device 27 outside the viewing program to one or a plurality of monitoring channels. As a result, the viewing program outside broadcast receiving unit 28 acquires and demodulates the program data (the movie and metadata multiplexed) of the program of the monitoring channel, and outputs it to the viewing program outside movie / metadata separating unit 29. (Step S6).
Next, the moving image / metadata separating unit 29 outside the viewing program separates the multiplexed program data into the moving image and the metadata (step S7).

  Then, the viewing program external metadata processing unit 30 analyzes the acquired metadata and detects whether or not the metadata is newly distributed (step S8). Here, the viewing program external metadata processing unit 30 compares the URL of the “Link” section of the newly acquired metadata with the URL of the “Link” section of the metadata acquired immediately before in the same channel. Judgment is made based on whether or not the character strings of both URLs are the same. If the URL character strings match, the metadata is the same. If the URL character strings do not match, the metadata is different. At this time, if the metadata processing unit 30 for viewing / listening program detects that the acquired metadata is new metadata, the processing proceeds to step S9, while the acquired metadata is the same as the previous metadata. If it is detected, the process returns to step S6. At this time, when the data indicated by the URL in the “Link” section of the metadata is text data, a specific character string described in the text data may be monitored.

  Next, the action selection unit 32 performs the first determination as to whether the analyzed metadata (data indicating the progress status extracted from the metadata) is the metadata of the monitoring channel in the monitoring rule. A second determination of whether or not the metadata type is performed, and a third determination of whether or not the conditions are met, and whether all of the first to third determination results match the selected monitoring rule. Whether or not is detected (step S9). At this time, if the action selection unit 32 detects that all of the first to third determination results match the selected monitoring rule, the process proceeds to step S10, while the first to third determination results. If it is detected that any of the above is different from the selected monitoring rule, the process returns to step S6.

Next, the action selection unit 32 selects and reads out the action type and action content of the matched monitoring rule from the monitoring rule database 31 (step S10).
And the action control part 33 performs a predetermined | prescribed process according to the selected action type and action content (step S11). For example, when the action type is display on the screen as in the monitoring rule ID 02 shown in FIG. 3, the action control unit 33 controls the program display processing unit 25 to display the screen of the display device 25 as shown in FIG. 6. Then, a character string “Metadata has been acquired on channel 4” is displayed as the non-viewing metadata monitoring information (step S12). If the action type is channel change, the action control unit 33 returns the process to step S1 and controls the received program control unit 35 to change the viewing channel to the channel described in the action content of the monitoring rule ( Step S1).

On the other hand, in step S4, when the received program control unit 35 detects that the channel to be monitored is the same as the channel currently being viewed stored in the received program data unit 36, the received program control unit 35 proceeds to step S13 (FIG. Go to 8).
Next, the broadcast receiving unit 22 receives and demodulates the program data in which the moving image and the metadata are multiplexed via the broadcast wave receiving device 21 set to the viewing channel, and then to the moving image / metadata separating unit 23. Output (step S13).
Then, the moving image / metadata separating unit 23 separates the multiplexed program data into moving images and metadata (step S14).

  Next, the metadata processing unit 24 analyzes the acquired metadata and detects whether or not the metadata is newly distributed (step S15). Here, the metadata processing unit 24 performs comparison with the metadata acquired immediately before in the viewing channel, and determines whether or not the content (character data string) is the same. At this time, if the metadata processing unit 24 detects that the acquired metadata is new metadata, the process proceeds to step S16, while the acquired metadata is the same as the previous metadata. If detected, the process returns to step S13.

  Then, the action selection unit 32 performs a first determination as to whether or not the analyzed metadata is the metadata of the monitoring channel in the monitoring rule, and a second determination as to whether or not the metadata is a metadata type to be monitored. Further, a third determination is made as to whether or not the conditions are met, and detection is performed as to whether or not all of the first to third determination results match the selected monitoring rule (step S16). At this time, if the action selection unit 32 detects that all of the first to third determination results match the selected monitoring rule, the process proceeds to step S17, while the first to third determination results. If it is detected that any of the above is different from the selected monitoring rule, the process returns to step S13.

Next, the action selection unit 32 selects and reads out the action type and action content of the matched monitoring rule from the monitoring rule database 31 (step S17).
And the action control part 33 performs a predetermined | prescribed process according to the selected action type and action content (step S18). For example, when the action type is display on the screen as in the monitoring rule ID 02 shown in FIG. 3, the action control unit 33 controls the program display processing unit 25 to display the screen of the display device 25 as shown in FIG. 6. Then, a character string “Metadata has been obtained on channel 4” is displayed as the non-viewing metadata monitoring information (step S19). If the action type is channel change, the action control unit 33 returns the process to step S1 and controls the received program control unit 35 to change the viewing channel to the channel described in the action content of the monitoring rule ( Step S1).

  The receiving device 2 receives the multiplexed program data because the broadcast wave receiving device 21 is set as the viewing channel regardless of the processes of FIGS. 7 and 8, and the broadcast receiving unit 22 receives the program data. The moving image / metadata separating unit 23 separates the program data into moving images and metadata, and the program display processing unit 25 displays the moving image and metadata of the viewing channel on the screen of the display device 25 as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

Next, an application example of the digital broadcasting system according to the first embodiment when the monitoring rule in the flowcharts in FIGS. 7 and 8 is set to the monitoring rule ID 03 in FIG. 3 will be described using the flowchart in FIG. At this time, the viewer selects channel “10” as the viewing channel, and selects the monitoring rule with the monitoring rule ID 03.
The received program control unit 35 sets the broadcast receiving device 21 to the channel “10” set by the viewer (channel selection, step S1).
Then, the received program control unit 35 stores the channel “10” in which the broadcast receiver 21 is set in the received program data unit 36 as a viewing channel of the viewing program (step S2).
Next, the received program control unit 35 reads the monitoring rule whose monitoring rule ID selected by the viewer is “03” from the monitoring rule database 31 and extracts the monitoring target channel “1” from the monitoring rule (step S3). ).

Then, the received program control unit 35 detects whether or not the channel “1” to be monitored is the same as the currently viewed channel “10” stored in the received program data unit 36 (step S4). .
At this time, if the received program control unit 35 detects that the channel to be monitored “1” is different from the channel “10” being viewed, the process proceeds to step S5.
Next, the received program control unit 35 stores the channel “1” of the non-viewed program to be monitored in the received program data unit 36 as a monitoring channel (step S5).

Then, the received program control unit 35 matches the watching program non-program broadcast receiving device 27 with the monitoring channel “1” (selects channel “1”). As a result, the viewing-and-listening-program broadcast receiving unit 28 acquires and demodulates the program data (the movie and metadata multiplexed) of the program of the monitoring channel “1”, and the viewing-and-listening-program outside movie / metadata separating unit 29 (Step S6).
Next, the viewing program non-moving image / metadata separating unit 29 separates the multiplexed program data of the channel “1” into moving images and metadata (step S7).

  Then, the viewing program external metadata processing unit 30 analyzes the acquired metadata and detects whether or not the metadata is newly distributed (step S8). Here, the viewing program external metadata processing unit 30 compares with the metadata acquired immediately before in the same channel, and determines whether or not the contents (character data string) are the same. At this time, if the metadata processing unit 30 for viewing / listening program detects that the acquired metadata is new metadata, the processing proceeds to step S9, while the acquired metadata is the same as the previous metadata. If it is detected, the process returns to step S6.

  Next, the action selection unit 32 performs the first determination as to whether or not the analyzed metadata is the metadata of the monitoring channel in the monitoring rule ID “03”, whether or not the metadata type is the monitoring target metadata type. A second determination and a third determination as to whether or not the conditions are met are performed, and whether or not all of the first to third determination results match the selected monitoring rule is detected (step S9). ). At this time, if the action selection unit 32 detects that all the first to third determination results match the monitoring rule with the selected monitoring rule ID “3”, the process proceeds to step S10. If it is detected that any one of the first to third determination results is different from the selected monitoring rule, the process returns to step S6.

Next, the action selection unit 32 selects and reads out the action type and action content of the matched monitoring rule from the monitoring rule database 31 (step S10).
Then, the action control unit 33 displays that the selected action type is a screen display and the action content “matches the keyword monitored in one channel” via the program display processing unit 25 in FIG. As shown, it is displayed on the screen of the display device 26 (step S11).

  As another application example, when the viewer sets the monitoring rule IDs “05” and “06” in FIG. 3, for example, when watching a drama on the channel “8”, the action selection unit 32 displays the channel. “8” detects that the progress has changed from a program to a commercial (CM). Since the action type is channel change to channel “4”, the received program control unit 35 gives an instruction to the broadcast wave receiving device 21 to change the viewing channel from channel “8” to channel “4”. Output. As a result, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from channel “8” to channel “4”.

  At this time, in the monitoring rule ID “06”, since the channel “8” is the channel to be monitored, the action control unit 33 sets the setting of the viewing program external broadcast wave receiving device 27 to the received program control unit 35. An instruction to change from channel “4” to channel “8” is output. Thereby, the action selection unit 32 detects that the progress state of the monitoring channel “8” is changed from the commercial to the program. Since the action type is channel change to channel “8”, the received program control unit 35 gives an instruction to the broadcast wave receiver 21 to change the viewing channel from channel “4” to channel “8”. Output. Thereby, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from the channel “4” to the channel “8”, and sets the monitoring channel to the channel “4”. The above-described processing is continuously performed unless the monitoring rule to be selected is changed.

  As another application example, when the viewer sets the monitoring rule IDs “05” and “06” in FIG. 3, for example, a baseball broadcast is viewed on channel “4”, for example, contrary to the above-described example. In this case, the action selection unit 32 detects that the progress of the channel “8” has changed from a commercial to a program. In the monitoring of the monitoring rule ID “06”, since the action type is channel change to channel “8”, the received program control unit 35 instructs to change the viewing channel from channel “4” to channel “8”. Is output to the broadcast wave receiving device 21. Thereby, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from the channel “4” to the channel “8”.

  At this time, since the channel “8” is a monitoring channel in the monitoring rule ID “05”, the action selection unit 32 detects that the progress state of the monitoring channel “8” has changed from a program to a commercial. Since the action type is channel change to channel “4”, the received program control unit 35 gives an instruction to the broadcast wave receiving device 21 to change the viewing channel from channel “8” to channel “4”. Output. As a result, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from channel “8” to channel “4”, and sets the monitoring channel to channel “8”. The above-described processing is continuously performed unless the monitoring rule to be selected is changed.

  As another application example, when the viewer sets the monitoring rule ID “07” (change in the contents of baseball) in FIG. 3, for example, when watching a drama on the channel “8”, the action selection unit It is detected that the score of any team has changed, that is, the progress status has changed in the baseball broadcast 32 broadcast on the channel “4”. Since the action type is channel change to channel “4”, the received program control unit 35 gives an instruction to the broadcast wave receiving device 21 to change the viewing channel from channel “8” to channel “4”. Output. As a result, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from channel “8” to channel “4”. The monitoring rule with the monitoring rule ID “07” is set to return to the channel “8” before the change after 120 seconds. Therefore, after changing to channel “4”, after 120 seconds have elapsed in counting by the internal counter, received program control unit 35 receives an instruction to change the viewing channel from channel “4” to channel “8”. Output to the device 21. Thereby, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from the channel “4” to the channel “8”.

  As another application example, when the viewer sets the monitoring rule IDs “08” and “09” in FIG. 3, for example, when the baseball is viewed on the channel “4”, the action selection unit 32 displays the channel. The name of the singer A, which is the keyword, is detected from the metadata of “6”, that is, it is detected that the progress has changed in the order in which the singer A sings. Since the action type is channel change to channel “6”, the received program control unit 35 gives an instruction to the broadcast wave receiving device 21 to change the viewing channel from channel “4” to channel “6”. Output. Thereby, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from the channel “4” to the channel “6”.

  At this time, in the monitoring rule ID “09”, since the channel “6” is the channel to be monitored, the action control unit 33 sets the setting of the viewing program external broadcast wave receiving device 27 to the received program control unit 35. An instruction to change from channel “4” to channel “6” is output. As a result, the action selection unit 32 detects that the name of the singer A, which is the keyword, disappears from the metadata of the monitoring channel “6”, that is, the singing of the singer A has ended and the progress has changed. Since the action type is channel change to channel “4”, the received program control unit 35 gives an instruction to the broadcast wave receiving device 21 to change the viewing channel from channel “6” to channel “4”. Output. As a result, the broadcast wave receiving apparatus 21 changes the viewing channel from the channel “6” to the channel “4”. The viewing program becomes the baseball channel “4”, and the monitoring channel becomes the channel “6”. The above-described processing is continuously performed unless the monitoring rule to be selected is changed.

<Second Embodiment>
A digital broadcasting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the receiving unit 2 according to the second embodiment. In this figure, the same parts as those of the receiving device 2 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A description thereof will be omitted. The receiving device 2 in the second embodiment shown in this figure is different from the receiving device 2 in the first embodiment in that a moving image is distributed as a broadcast wave and metadata is distributed via a network. At this time, the moving image and the metadata may not be distributed from the same digital broadcasting apparatus 1, but may be distributed from another metadata service provider or the like.

For this reason, since the receiving device 2 is distributed from the digital broadcasting device 1 in a state in which the moving image and the metadata are separated, the moving image / metadata separating unit 23 viewing-and-listening program outside broadcast wave receiving device in the first embodiment. 27, the viewing program outside broadcast receiving unit 28, and the viewing program outside moving image / metadata separating unit 29 are not provided.
On the other hand, in order to receive metadata from a network such as the Internet, a network interface 37, a metadata receiving unit 38, and a viewing program external metadata receiving unit 39 are provided. In addition, since a moving image outside the viewing program is not necessary, the viewing program outside metadata reception unit 39 acquires the monitoring channel metadata directly from the network interface 37.
The processing for channel change and comment screen display using metadata progress status data is the same as that of the receiving apparatus 2 of the first embodiment, except that the transmission medium at the time of distribution is different.

<Third Embodiment>
A digital broadcasting apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the receiving unit 2 according to the third embodiment. In this figure, the same parts as those of the receiving device 2 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A description thereof will be omitted. The receiving device 2 in the third embodiment shown in this figure is different from the receiving device 2 in the first embodiment in that moving images and metadata are multiplexed and distributed as program data via a network. .

For this reason, since the receiving device 2 is distributed from the digital broadcasting device 1 in a state where the moving image and the metadata are multiplexed, the moving image / metadata separating unit 41 corresponding to the first embodiment, outside the viewing program A broadcast receiving unit 39 and a non-viewing program moving image / metadata separating unit 42 are provided.
On the other hand, a network interface 37 is also provided for receiving metadata from a network such as the Internet.
The processing for channel change and comment screen display using metadata progress status data is the same as that of the receiving apparatus 2 of the first embodiment, except that the transmission medium at the time of distribution is different.

<Fourth Embodiment>
A digital broadcasting apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the receiving unit 2 according to the fourth embodiment. In this figure, the same parts as those of the receiving device 2 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A description thereof will be omitted. The receiving device 2 in the third embodiment shown in this figure is different from the receiving device 2 in the first embodiment in that the moving image and the metadata are distributed as program data via the network in a separated state. .

For this reason, since the receiving device 2 is distributed from the digital broadcasting device 1 in a state where the moving image and the metadata are separated, the moving image / metadata separating unit 23 corresponding to the first embodiment, the broadcast outside the viewing program A configuration corresponding to the receiving unit 27 and the non-viewed program moving image / metadata separating unit 29 is not provided.
On the other hand, a network interface 37 is provided to receive metadata from a network such as the Internet. In addition, since a moving image outside the viewing program is not necessary, the viewing program outside metadata reception unit 43 acquires the monitoring channel metadata directly from the network interface 37.
The processing for channel change and comment screen display using metadata progress status data is the same as that of the receiving apparatus 2 of the first embodiment, except that the transmission medium at the time of distribution is different.

  1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system. The program monitoring process in the first to fourth embodiments may be performed by executing the program monitoring process. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” includes a WWW system provided with a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the 1st to 4th embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the receiver 2 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the storage format of the monitoring rule set by the viewer in the monitoring rule database 31. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the description format of the metadata used for this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of a display of the screen which sets the monitoring item etc. of metadata. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of a display of unviewed metadata monitoring information in the screen of the receiver of the 1st to 4th embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation example of the digital broadcasting system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation example of the digital broadcasting system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the application example of the digital broadcasting system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the receiver 2 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the receiver 2 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the receiver 2 in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of a metadata displayed on the screen of the receiver in a prior art example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the receiver in the 1st prior art. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the receiver in the 2nd prior art. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 3rd conventional receiver. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the receiver in the 4th prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital broadcasting apparatus 2 ... Receiving apparatus 11 ... Moving image delivery part 12 ... Metadata delivery part 21 ... Broadcast wave receiving apparatus 22 ... Broadcast receiving part 23, 41 ... Moving image / metadata separation part 24 ... Metadata processing part 25 ... Program Display processing unit 26 ... Display device 27 ... Broadcast wave receiving device 28 for viewing program ... Broadcast receiving unit for viewing program 29,42 ... Video / metadata separating unit for viewing program 30,43 ... Metadata processing unit 31 for viewing program ... Monitoring rule database 32 ... action selection unit 33 ... action control unit 34 ... input device 35 ... received program control unit 36 ... received program data unit 37 ... network interface 38 ... metadata reception unit 39 ... viewing program external metadata reception unit 40 ... Broadcast receiver

Claims (7)

A video distribution unit that distributes digital data of the video in the program;
A digital broadcasting device that has a metadata distribution unit that generates and distributes metadata indicating the content and progress data of a moving image in correspondence with a time axis of the moving image and performs distribution processing corresponding to a predetermined channel When,
A video receiver that receives videos from multiple channels;
A metadata receiving unit that receives metadata corresponding to the video;
A monitoring data storage unit that stores a predetermined process corresponding to a change in progress set in advance by the viewer;
An action selection unit that extracts data on the progress of each video from the metadata distributed for each channel and detects whether each corresponds to a change in the set progress,
A digital broadcast system comprising: an action control unit that performs predetermined processing corresponding to the setting of the viewer in response to the detection result.   The metadata distribution unit generates the progress data including a title of each program in the moving image, a name of each scene in the moving image, a keyword of each scene in the moving image, and a change in the content of the metadata. Item 2. A digital broadcasting system according to Item 1. Digital broadcast reception that receives the digital data of the video in the program and the metadata indicating the content and progress data of the video in correspondence with the time axis of the video to be distributed, and displays the video and the content of the video on the screen Device,
A video receiver that receives videos from multiple channels;
A metadata receiving unit that receives metadata corresponding to the video;
An action selection unit that extracts data on the progress of each video from the metadata distributed for each channel and detects changes in the respective progress,
An digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: an action control unit that performs predetermined processing corresponding to the setting of the viewer in response to the detection result. A monitoring data storage unit for storing processing corresponding to a change in progress set by the viewer in advance;
The action selection unit compares the detected change in the progress status of each channel with the change in the progress status set in the monitoring data storage unit, and detects whether or not they correspond. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 3.   The change in the progress stored in the monitoring data storage unit includes a title of each program in the moving image, a name of each scene in the moving image, a keyword of each scene in the moving image, and a change in the content of metadata. Item 5. The digital broadcast receiver according to Item 3 or Item 4. A process in which the video distribution unit distributes digital data of a video in a program corresponding to a predetermined channel;
The process of generating and distributing metadata indicating the content and progress data of the video in correspondence with the time axis of the video distributed by the metadata distribution process,
The process in which the video receiver receives videos from multiple channels,
A process of receiving metadata corresponding to the video by the metadata receiver;
A process in which the monitoring data storage unit stores a channel change process corresponding to a change in progress set by the viewer in advance;
A process in which the action selection unit extracts data on the progress of each video from the metadata distributed for each channel, and detects whether each corresponds to a change in the set progress,
A digital broadcasting method comprising: a process in which an action control unit performs a channel change process corresponding to a viewer setting in response to the detection result. Digital broadcast reception that receives the digital data of the video in the program and the metadata indicating the content and progress data of the video in correspondence with the time axis of the video to be distributed, and displays the video and the content of the video on the screen Is the way
The process in which the video receiver receives videos from multiple channels,
A process in which a metadata receiving unit receives metadata corresponding to the video;
A process in which the action selection unit extracts data on the progress of each video from the metadata distributed for each channel, and detects changes in the respective progress,
A digital broadcast receiving method, wherein the action control unit includes a step of performing a predetermined process corresponding to the setting of the viewer in response to the detection result.

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