JP2006254017A - Television receiver controllable by network connection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve functions, such as on-air video, browsing a video image, reserving/executing video recording, accessing functions inherent to a television and receiving services at a dedicated television site by operating a television at home by a notebook-sized personal computer, etc., through the Internet from a going-out place. <P>SOLUTION: An http server function is attached inside the television, a mechanism capable of responding to Internet connection from the outside is incorporated, and it is possible to view and control a television image through the Internet by an html document, script and the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a television receiver having an Internet connection function.

In recent years, with the digitization of television receivers, there are many high-function and high-value-added products, and among them, many products having an Internet connection function have been released. With this Internet connection function, the user can use Web page browsing, mail exchange, karaoke data download, and the like. Furthermore, on television, products of the type in which an on-air broadcast image received at home is played over the Internet and the image can be enjoyed on a terminal are emerging. In addition, a service that distributes domestic on-air broadcasts to paying members overseas via the Internet at the center is also provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-274380 A

  When you are away from home, operate your home TV with a laptop computer via the Internet, browse on-air video, view video, schedule and execute video recording, access TV-specific functions, and receive services on TV-only sites Realize functions such as.

  The present invention synthesizes TV display video with OSD, encodes and compresses it with audio for access from the Internet, distributes it, and displays a control panel resembling a remote control on a personal computer screen. The same operation as a dedicated remote control is possible. This can be realized by using the television as an HTTP server and distributing the HTML content in the television, and no special additional software is required on the personal computer side. The remote control button operation is transmitted to the television and the corresponding function is executed. This can be realized by a script on the television side.

  Moreover, since the television is an HTTP server, it is possible to restrict access terminals by authentication.

  The television display image can be distributed via the Internet, and the television can be controlled and viewed from an external personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention makes it possible to control and view a television (101) in the home from the outside via a personal computer (102) via the Internet. (103 service, etc.) can be indirectly used on a TV-dedicated site that cannot be accessed from.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the television of the present invention. The display content of the antenna (202), video input (external input) (201) or browser (210) is combined with the OSD (208) and output to the display device (215) and speaker (214) of the television itself. If a fixed IP address is assigned and there is access and control from the Internet, the combined display image is encoded and compressed and distributed to the Internet via http or streaming protocol. At this time, since control on the television main body side is restricted, an indicator (216) indicating that the Internet is being accessed is lit on the television main body.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a browser screen of a personal computer or the like accessing the television from the outside. After predetermined terminal authentication, a control panel (301) resembling a remote control is displayed together with the display contents (302) of the television. By clicking on this control panel, it is possible to operate the television at home and use the same functions as watching television at home.

  FIG. 4 is a flow of the TV side software. When there is an access from the Internet (401), the TV is turned on (402). Thereafter, authentication is requested (403), and if authentication is possible (404), it is checked whether control from the Internet is possible (406). If it is already being recorded or viewed, a panel indicating that is displayed on the access terminal. Here, depending on the implementation, a procedure for passing control to the Internet side may be defined, and control may be passed to the Internet side accordingly. However, in order to simplify the explanation, a television entity is used here. If it is inside, the connection is disconnected (405).

  If the network control is possible, encoding of the TV screen (408) is started, and a control panel resembling the TV screen and the remote control is displayed (409). In the initial state, the television screen displays the screen of the currently selected broadcast station. When the user clicks a button on the control panel, an operation when the equivalent button on the remote controller is pressed is performed (411). Therefore, it is possible to control video from a television, record it, watch a recorded program, or access an Internet service that allows access only to the television and indirectly use this service. Some of these services use personal IDs assigned to each TV and handle personal information in a secure situation.

  By clicking the power button on the control panel on the personal computer side (412) or closing the browser, the connection is cut off (414) and the encoding is stopped. Further, when the television main body becomes in a state where it cannot accept control from the network, for example, by executing scheduled recording, while watching the Internet, the connection is cut off and the encoding is stopped. If the television is not in use at home, the remote control power is turned off.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to access a home TV from the outside via the Internet, and to control and view it. In particular, the service on the home TV and the TV dedicated site is used. In the case where personal information management is performed, it is possible to use a method of making inquiries to the television at home even when away from home.

Schematic diagram of the present invention Block diagram of the television of the present invention The figure which shows the personal computer side browser screen of this invention The flowchart which shows the outline by the side of the television of this invention

Explanation of symbols

101 TV 102 Internet access terminal (PC etc.)
103 Site for Dedicated TV Service 104 Internet Network 201 External AV Input 202 Antenna 203 Internet Connection 204 Tuner 205 TS Decoder 206 Audio Decoder 207 Video Decoder 208 OSD
209 Display control unit 210 Browser 211 Encoder 212 Server function such as httpd 213 Ethernet (registered trademark)
214 TV main body display output device 215 TV main body audio output device (speaker)
216 Indicator during network control 301 Control panel 302 TV image display area 303 Remote control button on control panel 304 OSD superimposed on TV image

Claims (3)

A television receiver capable of encoding / compressing the result of synthesizing the received video from the antenna and the video input video with the OSD together with the voice and transmitting the result to the Internet in real time, and remote control from a terminal connected via the Internet. The television receiver according to claim 1, which has an authentication method for limiting terminals that can be connected to the Internet. 2. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the television receiver has a function for accessing a television-dedicated service, and the function can be used indirectly by controlling the television from a terminal connected via the Internet.

Images