JP2007096720A - Receiver, content reception method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for automatically and surely acquiring content relevant to a broadcast program before its broadcasting. <P>SOLUTION: In this receiver 1 for receiving a broadcast program 31 and content 21, meta data 22 and content reproduction program 23 relevant to the broadcast program 31, a validity term acquiring part 13 acquires validity term information showing a term of validity for downloading the content 21 of the reserved broadcast program 31. A decision part 14 decides whether or not a timing to download the content 21 or the like is within the term of validity shown by the term of validity information. When it is decided that the timing is within the term of validity, a data acquiring part 11 acquires the content 21 or the like, and a storage device 12 stores the content 21. Thus, the content 21 or the like relevant to the broadcast program 31 is prepared for the storage device 12 before the broadcast of the reserved broadcast program 31 starts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for causing a receiver to receive a broadcast program and content related to the broadcast program.

  Today, in addition to a broadcast program, multi-channel broadcasting that enables content (video) related to the broadcast program to be received on another channel is performed. In the multi-channel broadcasting, since the video can be viewed on each channel, the user of the receiver can enjoy the way that suits his / her preference.

  The broadcast program is transmitted as a broadcast wave, but there is a method in which content is transmitted via a communication network instead of a broadcast wave. In this system, the broadcast station side prepares a server so that the receiver can acquire the content via a communication network, and transmits the content related to the broadcast program. The reason why the broadcast program and the content are transmitted in different systems is to prevent the image quality of the broadcast program from being deteriorated due to an increase in communication resources required for content transmission.

  In general, content related to a broadcast program is acquired with reference to an electronic program guide (EPG), for example. In many cases, a dedicated program for content reproduction is also acquired. In that case, in order to reproduce the content more appropriately, metadata is also acquired together. The metadata describes information such as access control (content location) in addition to information for identifying the corresponding broadcast program. The metadata makes it possible to search for content and link to a Web page while watching a program.

  The data amount of the content is expected to increase in the future so as to meet the demands of viewers (receiver users). However, if the amount of content data becomes enormous, it takes time to acquire the content, and synchronization with a broadcast program becomes difficult. For this reason, some conventional receivers can acquire related content before a broadcast program is broadcast. An example of the receiver is described in Patent Document 1.

The conventional receiver described in Patent Document 1 automatically reserves content when a broadcast program is reserved, or receives the content in response to a viewer instruction ( Paragraph 0038). However, the content of the reserved broadcast program is not always prepared at the time of reservation. This is because, depending on the broadcast program, it may take a lot of time to select and produce related content, and it may be difficult to prepare until the broadcast of the broadcast program approaches. As a result, even if the content reception reservation is simply made, it can be said that the content may not be prepared at the reservation date and time. For this reason, in addition to automatically acquiring content in advance, it is considered important to ensure that content can be acquired.
JP 2002-300544 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for automatically and reliably acquiring content related to a broadcast program before the start of the broadcast.

  The receiver according to the present invention is based on the premise that a broadcast program and content related to the broadcast program can be received, respectively, and an effective period indicating the receivable validity period of the content related to the broadcast program reserved for viewing or recording. Information acquisition means that can acquire period information, and content for which the information acquisition means has acquired effective period information are automatically received and stored before the corresponding broadcast program is broadcast based on the effective period indicated by the effective period information. Content receiving means.

  The content acquisition method of the present invention is a method for causing a receiver to acquire in advance a content related to a broadcast program, which is transmitted via a communication network, to a broadcasting station that transmits the broadcast program by broadcast waves, An electronic program guide and effective period information indicating an effective period of receivable content related to the broadcast program registered in the electronic program guide is transmitted by the broadcast wave, and the broadcast program is electronically viewed or recorded for recording. Based on the effective period indicated by the effective period information received together with the electronic program guide, the receiver reserved using the program guide automatically receives the content related to the broadcast program before broadcasting the broadcast program. To save.

  The program of the present invention has a function for realizing the means provided in the receiver.

  According to the present invention, content related to a broadcast program is automatically acquired and stored based on a valid period that can be received (accessed) set for the content before the broadcast of the broadcast program is started. . Since the content is received in consideration of the effective period, the content can be surely acquired in advance. As a result, it is possible to perform reproduction that is always synchronized with the broadcast program being broadcast.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a broadcasting system 50 including a receiver 1 according to the present embodiment. The broadcasting system 50 includes a broadcasting station 4 in addition to the receiver 1. The broadcasting station 4 includes a broadcasting facility for transmitting the broadcasting program 31 as a broadcasting wave 30 and a server connected to the communication network 20 (both not shown). As a result, multi-channel broadcasting is supported.

  The broadcasting station 4 and the receiver 1 are connected via the communication network 20. The communication network 20 includes, for example, the Internet to which a server is connected and a public network that connects the Internet and the receiver 1. Here, for convenience of explanation, the communication network 20 is hereinafter referred to as the Internet 20 for convenience.

  The broadcast station 4 transmits an EPG (electronic program guide) 32 in addition to the broadcast program 31 at a predetermined timing, for example, by the broadcast facility. The server includes content 21 related to the broadcast program 31, metadata 22 describing various information related to the broadcast program 31, and a content playback program (hereinafter referred to as “playback program”) 23 for playing back the content 21. It is prepared. These data 21 to 23 are transmitted via the Internet 20 in response to a request from the receiver 1. The reproduction program 23 appropriately switches the content 21 to be reproduced in synchronization with the broadcast program 31 being broadcast by the metadata 22.

  The receiver 1 includes a data acquisition unit 11, a storage device (storage unit) 12, an effective period acquisition unit 13, a determination unit 14, a clock 15, and a synchronization unit 16. The data acquisition unit 11 communicates with the server of the broadcasting station 4 via the Internet 20 and stores content 21, metadata 22, a content reproduction program 23 and the like (hereinafter abbreviated as content 21 and the like) related to the broadcast program 31, respectively. Get the data. The storage device 12 stores acquired data such as the content 21. The valid period acquisition unit 13 processes the received EPG 32.

  The EPG 32 describes the broadcast date and time (information) of the broadcast program 31 scheduled to be broadcast. In the present embodiment, a valid period (information) in which the content 32 related to the broadcast program 31 can be received is described. The effective period acquisition unit 13 extracts a necessary effective period (information) from the EPG 32 and performs processing related to acquisition of the content 21 to be acquired.

  The receiver 1 has a function of reserving a broadcast program 31 for viewing or recording. When the broadcast program 31 is reserved, the valid period acquisition unit 13 extracts the valid period of the broadcast program 31 from the EPG 32 and sends it to the determination unit 14. The determination unit 14 determines whether the current date and time counted by the clock 15 is within the effective period, and thus the content 21 of the broadcast program 31 that has entered the effective period of the content 21 among the reserved broadcast programs 31 is data. It is acquired by the acquisition unit 11 before the broadcast starts. The acquired content 21 is stored and stored in the storage device 12. When the metadata 22 and the reproduction program 23 necessary for reproducing the content 21 exist, the metadata 22 is acquired and stored together with the content 21. Hereafter, it is assumed that the metadata 22 and the reproduction program 23 necessary for reproducing the content 21 always exist.

  In this way, the contents 21 of the reserved broadcast program 31 (including other necessary data, if any) are automatically stored in the broadcast program 31 after entering the valid period during which it can be received. Automatically acquired before the broadcast starts. For this reason, the content 21 can always be reliably acquired at the stage before the start of broadcasting. As a result, it is possible to reliably realize reproduction of the content 21 appropriately synchronized with the broadcast program 31 that has started broadcasting. The synchronizer 16 synchronizes the output of the broadcast program 31 and the reproduction of the content 21, and outputs each as a video 24.

  The effective period acquisition unit 13 stores, for example, a receiving circuit that receives a broadcast wave, a demodulating circuit that demodulates a signal received by the receiving circuit, a CPU that processes a signal demodulated by the demodulating circuit, and a program executed by the CPU A non-volatile memory and a RAM used for work. Thereby, the broadcast program 31 is received by the effective period acquisition unit 13. The determination unit 11 includes, for example, a CPU, a nonvolatile memory, and a RAM.

  In the present embodiment, the valid period information is described in the EPG 32, but the valid period information may be transmitted to the receiver 1 separately from the EPG 32. You may make it transmit via the internet 20 instead of the broadcast wave 30. FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing executed by the receiver 1 according to the present embodiment. The processing executed by the broadcasting station 4 is also shown. Next, the operation of the receiver 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 2 is realized by the CPU executing a program stored in a nonvolatile memory.

  For example, the broadcasting station 4 periodically transmits the EPG 32 by the broadcast wave 30 several times a day (for example, five times) (step SA1). As described above, the EPG 32 includes the location (for example, URL indicating the location) of the content 21, the reproduction program 23, and the metadata 22 of the broadcast program 31 in addition to the broadcast date and time of the broadcast program 31 scheduled to be broadcast. The validity period is described. One receiver 1 executes an EPG acquisition process for using the transmitted EPG 32 (step SB1). The broadcast program 31 is reserved using the EPG 32. The broadcast date and time of the reserved broadcast program 31, the channel (ch), the location of the content 21, etc. are stored in the storage device 12.

  The receiver 1 executes a Web access process for accessing the server of the broadcast station 4 via the Internet 20 regardless of whether or not the broadcast program 31 is reserved or not (step SB2). The access process is a process executed when, for example, it becomes necessary to access the server due to a user request, or when a preset time interval has elapsed since the execution. The broadcast station 4 (the server) transmits the data requested by the execution of the access process to the receiver 1 (step SA2). If the requested data is the content 21, the metadata 22, and the reproduction program 23, these are transmitted to the receiver 1. If such data is for the reserved broadcast program 31, the receiver 1 receives it and stores it in the storage device 12.

  Broadcast station 4 transmits broadcast program 31 by broadcast wave 30 in accordance with the broadcast schedule (step SA3). If the broadcast program 31 is reserved, the receiver 1 executes a recording / viewing process for responding to the reservation (step SB3). A description of processing executed thereafter is omitted.

  3A and 3B are flowcharts of the EPG acquisition process executed as step SB1. Next, the acquisition process will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. The acquisition process is executed when the EPG 32 sent from the broadcasting station 4 is received. Here, for the sake of convenience, the processing executed for the user to make a reservation is also shown. The user can do things other than reservation, but since the importance is low, the processing for dealing with other things is omitted. The same applies to other processes.

  First, in step S11, initialization is performed, and the EPG 32 acquired in the past is deleted. In the next step S 12, the received EPG 32 is acquired and stored in the storage device 12. In the next step S13, an EPG screen on which the content of the acquired EPG 32 is arranged is displayed on a display device (not shown). The display is performed using the synchronization unit 16.

  In step S14 following step S13, the user designates the broadcast program 31 in response to an operation on a switch provided in the receiver 1 or a remote control device (hereinafter abbreviated as “remote control”). In step S15 to which the process proceeds after the designation, the presence or absence of data (content 21, metadata 22, reproduction program 23) associated with the designated broadcast program 31 is confirmed for each data with reference to the EPG 32. After the confirmation, the process proceeds to step S16, and it is determined whether there is associated data. If the data does not exist, the determination is no and the process moves to step S19. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S17.

  In step S17, the access destination (for example, URL) of the data associated with the designated broadcast program 31 and the valid period of the access are extracted from the EPG 32 and stored in the storage device 12. In the subsequent step S18, a message for notifying that the associated data exists and the valid period are displayed. In the next step S19, it is determined whether or not the viewing reservation switch (SW) for instructing the viewing reservation of the designated broadcast program 31 is turned on. If the switch is operated by the user, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S20 in FIG. 3B. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step S22 in FIG. 3B.

  In step S20, the broadcast time of the designated broadcast program 31 (indicating the broadcast start date and time and the broadcast end date and time) and its channel are stored in the storage device 12. In the next step S21, a value of 1 indicating that there is a reservation for viewing is substituted into the viewing reservation flag as a variable. Thereafter, the series of processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, in step S22, as in step S20, the broadcast time of the designated broadcast program 31 and its channel are stored in the storage device 12. In the next step S23, a value of 1 indicating that there is a reservation for recording is assigned to a recording reservation flag which is a variable. Thereafter, the series of processing is terminated.

  In this way, when a reservation for viewing or recording is made, in addition to information for receiving the reserved broadcast program 31, information for accessing related data, that is, data is accessed. Access destinations and valid periods that can be stored are stored. Thereby, such data is accessed at an appropriate timing before the start of broadcasting.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the Web access process executed as step SB2 shown in FIG. Next, the access process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As described above, this access processing needs to access the server in response to, for example, a user's request (including one automatically performed by the playback program 23 when viewing the broadcast program 31). Or when a preset time interval has elapsed since execution. In the case of a user request, an access destination corresponding to the request is specified and executed. When the set time interval elapses, the access destination stored by the reservation is designated and executed.

  First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the designated access destination is a stored access destination. If the designated access destination is not stored in the storage device 12, the determination is no, the process proceeds to step S32, and after accessing the designated access destination and downloading the data stored therein, a series of Terminate the process. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S33.

  In step S33, the current date and time are acquired from the clock 15. In a succeeding step S34, it is determined whether or not the current date and time is within the valid period stored in association with the access destination. If the current date and time is within the valid period, the determination is yes, the process moves to step S35, the corresponding access data stored is downloaded, the corresponding data is downloaded and stored in the storage device 12, and then a series of Terminate the process. Otherwise, the determination is no, the process proceeds to step S36, and if the access is requested by the user, a warning is given that the period is not valid for a certain period, and then the series of processes is terminated.

  The processes in steps S31 to S36 are executed for each access destination when there are a plurality of access destinations (access destinations stored in units of 31 broadcast programs) stored by reservation. Thereby, data to be acquired in advance is surely acquired.

  The time interval is set in consideration of the minimum time that can be considered as the time from the start of the effective period until the broadcast program 31 starts broadcasting. For this reason, the data (content 21, metadata 22, reproduction program 23) related to the reserved broadcast program 31 can be acquired and stored reliably at the timing before the start of broadcasting within the effective period.

  The data related to the reserved broadcast program 31 may be automatically acquired at the date and time determined in consideration of the effective period and the broadcast date and time. The acquisition may be performed by selecting a situation where the receiver 1 is not used or the load is relatively light so that the receiver 1 can be used more comfortably.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the recording / viewing process executed as step SB3 shown in FIG. Finally, the recording / viewing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The recording / viewing process is executed when the broadcast start date and time of the reserved broadcast program 31 arrives.

  First, in step S41, the current date and time are acquired from the clock 15. In a succeeding step S42, it is determined whether or not the acquired current date and time match the broadcast start time (date and time) indicated by the broadcast time stored in the storage device 12. If the broadcast start date has not arrived, the determination is no and the process moves to step S51. If not, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S43.

  In step S43, it is determined whether the value of the viewing reservation flag or the recording reservation flag is 1. If the value of any of these flags is 1, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S44. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step S41.

  In step S44, the channel is set as a reception channel so that the reserved broadcast program 31 can be viewed or recorded, and acquisition of the broadcast wave 30 transmitted through the channel is started. In a succeeding step S45, it is determined whether or not there is already downloaded data for the broadcast program 31. If the data is not stored in the storage device 12, the determination is no, the received broadcast is processed in step S46 to output 30, and then the process proceeds to step S49. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S47.

  In step S47, the downloaded reproduction program 23 is activated. In the next step S48, synchronized playback with the broadcast wave 30 (broadcast program 31) of the downloaded content is started. In the next step S49, it is determined whether or not the value of the recording reservation flag is 1. If the value is 1, the determination is yes, and after starting the recording process for recording the broadcast program 31 in step S50, the process returns to step S41. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step S41. The recording process is a process of storing the received broadcast program 31 (broadcast wave 30) in, for example, the storage device 12 until the stop is instructed.

  In step S51 in which the determination in step S41 is NO and the process proceeds, it is determined whether or not the current date and time acquired in step S41 matches the broadcast end time (date and time) indicated by the broadcast time stored in the storage device 12. . If the broadcast end date has not arrived, the determination is no and the process returns to step S41. Thereby, after the reception of the reserved broadcast program 31 is started, it waits for the broadcast end date and time to arrive. On the other hand, when that is not right, determination will be YES and it will transfer to step S52.

  In step S52, it is determined whether the value of the viewing reservation flag or the recording reservation flag is 1. If the value of any of these flags is 1, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S53. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step S41.

  In step S53, reception of the reserved broadcast program 31 is stopped. In a succeeding step S54, it is determined whether or not there is data already downloaded for the broadcast program 31. If the data is not stored in the storage device 12, the determination is no and the process moves to step S58. Otherwise, the determination is yes and the process moves to step S55, the running reproduction program 23 is stopped, and the download data including the program 23 is erased, and then the process moves to step S56.

  In step S56, it is determined whether or not the value of the recording reservation flag is 1. If the value is 1, the determination is YES, the recording process being started is stopped (step S57), and 0 is further substituted into the recording reservation flag or viewing reservation flag as necessary (step S58). ), A series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step S58.

  The number of broadcast programs 31 reserved for recording or viewing is not limited to one. A plurality of broadcast programs 31 may be reserved for recording or viewing. Therefore, in step S58, when there is no broadcast program 31 reserved for recording or viewing due to the end of the broadcast of the reserved program 31, 0 is substituted for the corresponding flag. I am doing so.

  A program for realizing the receiver 1 as described above may be distributed by being recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, or a memory card. Part or all of the program may be distributed via a communication network such as a public network. In such a case, the user can apply the present invention to the device by acquiring the program and loading it into an existing receiver or a data processing device equipped with a broadcast wave receiving function. Therefore, the recording medium may be accessible by a device that distributes the program.

It is a lineblock diagram of broadcasting system 50 containing receiver 1 by this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the process which the receiver 1 by this embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of an EPG acquisition process. It is a flowchart of an EPG acquisition process (continuation). It is a flowchart of a Web access process. It is a flowchart of a video recording / viewing process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receiver 4 Broadcasting station 11 Data acquisition part 12 Storage device (storage part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Effective period acquisition part 14 Judgment part 15 Clock 16 Synchronization part 20 Internet 21 Content 22 Metadata 23 Content reproduction program 24 Output image | video 30 Broadcast wave 31 Broadcast program 32 EPG
50 Broadcasting system

Claims (3)

In a receiver capable of receiving a broadcast program and content related to the broadcast program,
Information acquisition means capable of acquiring valid period information indicating a valid period during which content related to a broadcast program reserved for viewing or recording can be received;
Content receiving means for automatically receiving and storing the content acquired by the information acquisition means before the broadcast of the corresponding broadcast program based on the validity period indicated by the validity period information;
A receiver comprising: A method for causing a receiver to acquire content related to a broadcast program transmitted via a communication network in advance,
Effective period information indicating the receivable effective period of the content related to the broadcast program registered in the electronic program guide and the broadcast program is transmitted to the broadcast station that transmits the broadcast program by the broadcast wave. Let
Based on the validity period indicated by the validity period information received together with the electronic program guide, a content related to the broadcast program is received in a receiver in which the broadcast program is reserved for viewing or recording using the electronic program guide. Automatically receive and save the broadcast program before broadcasting,
The content acquisition method characterized by this. A program to be executed by a receiver capable of receiving a broadcast program and contents related to the broadcast program,
A function capable of acquiring valid period information indicating a valid period during which content related to a broadcast program reserved for viewing or recording can be received;
A function for automatically acquiring and storing the content acquired the valid period information by the function that can be acquired, based on the valid period indicated by the valid period information, before broadcasting the corresponding broadcast program;
A program to realize

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