JP2010187067A - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of updating the software of an external apparatus to be connected even when an updating data provision period is ended. <P>SOLUTION: Updating data for updating the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100 and updating data for updating the software of other present company products manufactured by the manufacturing company of the digital broadcast receiver 100 included in digital broadcast signals are downloaded, and the downloaded updating data are stored in a storage section 16. When another present company product is connected to the digital broadcast receiver 100, the updating data corresponding to the connected present company product among the updating data stored in the storage section 16 are extracted and outputted to the present company product. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver for downloading various software and contents added to a digital broadcast signal.

  With the recent development of digital technology, digitalization has advanced in the field of broadcasting. For example, digital broadcasting such as terrestrial digital television broadcasting, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting, CS (Communications Satellite) digital broadcasting has been widely put into practical use. ing.

  In such digital broadcasting, expansion of a wide variety of service functions is planned. Therefore, in order to support the extended service function in a digital broadcasting receiver that receives the digital broadcasting, the digital broadcasting receiver The software installed in must be updated.

  The update software in this case is added to the digital broadcast signal and provided to the user irregularly in the form of so-called on-air download. The user downloads the software for updating included in the broadcast signal by receiving the digital broadcast signal in a state where the digital broadcast receiver is connected to the antenna and can receive the software, and updates the software. Do.

  For this reason, a manufacturer of a digital broadcast receiver that intends to provide software for update applies to the provider that performs the download service and applies to the contractor that is entrusted by the provider. On the other hand, the content for software update is submitted. The contractor performs necessary processing such as data embedding on the content, and then distributes the content to the broadcaster.

  The content described above is composed of update data including a new version of software (hereinafter referred to as “update data”), SDTT (Software Download Trigger Table) for notifying the download schedule of the update data, and the like. ing. First, after the SDTT is distributed to each broadcasting station of each broadcasting company, it is broadcast from the broadcasting station together with an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver also receives SDTT when receiving the broadcast. Thereafter, the update data incorporated in the broadcast signal is broadcast from the broadcast station, and the digital broadcast receiver downloads the update data according to the previously received download schedule based on the SDTT, and replaces the old version software with the new version software. Update to

  For example, in Japan, there is “Dpa: Association for Promotion of Digital Broadcasting” as a provider of download service business to digital broadcasting receivers. As a consignor who receives this, there is “B-SAT: Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a digital broadcast receiving system. The television receiver 51 receives the digital broadcast signal 2 broadcast from the broadcast station 1 via the antenna 7. Here, as is well known, the digital broadcast signal 2 is a transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as “TS”) in which individual streams such as video 4, audio 5, and data 6 are handled in a common signal format and are multiplexed signals. ) 3. In the following description, the stream of video 4 is described as “video ST4”, the stream of audio 5 as “audio ST5”, and the stream of data 6 as “data ST6”. The update data, SDTT, EPG, and the like described above are included in the data ST6 of TS3.

  As a result, the television receiver 51 downloads the update data included in the data ST6 when the digital broadcast signal 2 is received, so that the software can be updated with the update data. The software can be made to follow the extended service function without bothering people. Patent Documents 1 to 4 listed below disclose techniques related to software update in a digital broadcast receiver.

  In the system of FIG. 6, when the software of the television receiver 51 is updated by on-air download, the update data corresponding to the software of the television receiver 51 is downloaded unless the television receiver 51 receives the digital broadcast signal 2. I can't. For this reason, the television receiver 51 in a state where the digital broadcast signal 2 cannot be received, for example, in a state stored in stock in a store warehouse, cannot update software. Can not follow the extended service function.

  In addition, when the update data provision period (period during which on-air download is possible) corresponding to the software of the owned device has ended, the update data cannot be downloaded. For this reason, for example, when the old period television receiver 51 is purchased or when the setting of the television receiver 51 is initialized, the software cannot be updated, so that the television cannot be updated. The receiver 51 cannot follow the extended service function.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of updating software of an external device to be connected even after the update data provision period ends. It is said.

  The digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a digital broadcast receiver that updates software with update data added to a digital broadcast signal, and updates the software of the digital broadcast receiver included in the digital broadcast signal. Update data for update and update data for updating software of other in-house products manufactured by the manufacturer of the digital broadcast receiver are downloaded, and the downloaded update data is stored in the storage unit. Then, when other company products are connected to the digital broadcast receiver, update data corresponding to the connected company products is extracted from the update data stored in the storage unit and output to the company products. To do.

  In this way, the digital broadcast receiver can download not only the update data corresponding to the software of the receiver but also the update data corresponding to the software of other in-house products manufactured by the same manufacturer. Therefore, even when the external device connected to the digital broadcast receiver is an old company product and the update data provision period has ended, the software of the external device can be updated.

  The digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention extracts a download notification data from a digital broadcast signal, a storage unit storing a manufacturer ID representing a manufacturer of the receiver and a device ID unique to the receiver, and the download notification. A control unit may be provided that performs reservation setting for download of update data based on the data and then downloads the update data. In this case, the control unit determines whether or not the manufacturer ID and the first identifier representing the manufacturing company included in the download notification data match, and the device ID and the device-specific information included in the download notification data. It is verified whether the second identifier matches. If the manufacturer ID and the first identifier match and the device ID and the second identifier match, after setting the download reservation, the digital broadcast receiver is set according to the reservation setting. Download the corresponding update data. If the manufacturer ID and the first identifier match and the device ID and the second identifier do not match, the download reservation setting is made, and then the digital broadcast receiver is set according to the reservation setting. Download update data for other connected products. If the manufacturer ID does not match the first identifier, the download reservation setting is not performed.

  In this way, it is possible to download only the update data corresponding to the software of the product manufactured by the manufacturer of the digital broadcast receiver, and not to download the update data corresponding to the software of the other company's product.

  In the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention, the control unit includes information on the second identifier in the update data when the manufacturer ID and the first identifier match and the device ID and the second identifier do not match. After adding, the update data may be moved to the storage unit.

  By doing so, the storage unit can be configured with a storage medium having a smaller capacity than the storage unit, and thus the cost can be reduced.

  In the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention, the control unit performs authentication processing of the external device when the external device is connected to the digital broadcast receiver. As a result of the authentication processing, the connected external device When it is determined that the product is an in-house product, update data corresponding to the in-house product may be output to an external device.

  In this way, the external device can update the software based on the update data acquired from the digital broadcast receiver. Therefore, even when the update data provision period ends, the external device The extended service function can be followed, thereby ensuring the convenience of the user.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even after the provision period of update data is complete | finished, the digital broadcast receiver which can update the software of the connected external apparatus can be provided.

It is the figure which showed the digital broadcast receiving system using the digital broadcast receiver of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the digital broadcast receiver of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the digital broadcast receiver. It is the figure which showed the data structure of SDTT. It is the figure which showed the detail of the descriptor. It is a figure for demonstrating on-air download.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital broadcast receiving system using the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention. The digital broadcast receiver 100 is a hard disk recorder, for example, and receives the digital broadcast signal 2 broadcast from the broadcast station 1 via the antenna 8. As described above, the digital broadcast signal 2 is a transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as “TS”) 3 in which individual streams such as video 4, audio 5, and data 6 are handled in a common signal format and are multiplexed signals. is there. In the following description, the stream of video 4 is described as “video ST4”, the stream of audio 5 as “audio ST5”, and the stream of data 6 as “data ST6”. Update data, SDTT, EPG, and the like are included in data ST6 of TS3.

  Reference numeral 500 denotes an external device connected to the digital broadcast receiver 100. As an example, a television receiver 51 and an STB (Set Top Box) 52 capable of receiving the digital broadcast signal 2 are listed. The digital broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 500 such as the television receiver 51 and the STB 52 may be connected using, for example, an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable as disclosed in Patent Document 5 described later. In this case, a video signal and an audio signal can be transmitted simultaneously with one HDMI cable, and a control signal between devices can be transmitted bidirectionally.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the present invention. The digital broadcast receiver 100 is configured to be connectable to an external device 500 via lines L1 to L4 described later.

  In the digital broadcast receiver 100, the control unit 11 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls each unit of the digital broadcast receiver 100. The communication unit 12 outputs the control signal output from the control unit 11 to the communication unit (not shown) of the external device 500 via the line L1, and is also output from the control unit (not shown) of the external device 500. The control signal is input to the communication unit 12 via the line L1. Thereby, between the digital broadcast receiver 100 and the external apparatus 500, the control signal output from each control part can be transmitted bidirectionally.

  The storage unit 13 includes, for example, a flash ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk, and the like, and the storage unit 13 stores various software such as application software. The temporary storage unit 14 is composed of, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores data necessary for control processing and arithmetic processing by the control unit 11.

  The broadcast signal processing unit 15 is composed of, for example, a tuner, a demultiplexer, etc., and converts the digital broadcast signal 2 received by the antenna 8 into a TS (transport stream) 3 shown in FIG. Separated into separate streams of video ST4, audio ST5, and data ST6. After the separation, the video ST4 is output to the video ST processing unit 17, the audio ST5 is output to the audio ST processing unit 19, and the data ST6 is output to the data ST processing unit 21.

  The storage unit 16 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), and stores various data extracted from the data ST6 in the data ST processing unit 21.

  The video ST processing unit 17 performs predetermined processing such as image processing on the input video ST4, and converts the video after the processing into a signal, that is, outputs it to the video signal output unit 18 as a video signal. To do. The video signal output unit 18 outputs the input video signal to the video signal input unit (not shown) of the external device 500 via the line L2.

  The audio ST processing unit 19 performs predetermined processing such as audio processing on the input audio ST5 and converts the audio after the completion of processing into a signal, that is, outputs the audio signal to the audio signal output unit 20 as an audio signal. To do. The audio signal output unit 20 outputs the input audio signal to the audio signal input unit (not shown) of the external device 500 via the line L3.

  The data ST processing unit 21 extracts various data (such as SDTT and update data) included in the data ST6 by performing predetermined processing such as data processing on the input data ST6. The extracted data is output to the storage unit 16. The data output unit 22 outputs predetermined data from the storage unit 16 and / or the storage unit 13 to the data input unit (not shown) of the external device 500 via the line L4 under the control of the control unit 11. .

  When receiving the digital broadcast signal 2 and downloading the update data, the digital broadcast receiver 100 configured as described above executes a predetermined operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Specifically, in step S1 of FIG. 3, the digital broadcast receiver 100 receives the digital broadcast signal 2 broadcast from the broadcast station 1 (FIG. 1) via the antenna 8.

  In step S2, the received digital broadcast signal 2 is converted into TS3 by the broadcast signal processing unit 15, and the data ST6 separated from the TS3 is output to the data ST processing unit 21.

  In step S3, after the data ST processing unit 21 performs predetermined processing such as data processing on the input data ST6, various data (such as SDTT and update data) included in the data ST6. Is extracted and output to the storage unit 16.

  In step S <b> 4, the control unit 11 verifies the SDTT stored in the storage unit 16. Here, the SDTT has a data structure including a plurality of descriptors as indicated by 61 in FIG. 4, for example. The SDTT is an embodiment of download notification data in the present invention.

  In the SDTT 61 of FIG. 4, “table_id_ext” of the descriptor 62 is composed of descriptors 69 and 70 as shown in FIG. Here, “maker_id” of the descriptor 69 indicates an ID unique to the manufacturer, and “model_id” of the descriptor 70 indicates the model number of the device manufactured by the manufacturer. The “maker_id” of the descriptor 69 is an embodiment of the first identifier in the present invention, and the “model_id” of the descriptor 70 is an embodiment of the second identifier in the present invention.

  In “num_of_contents” of the descriptor 63, the number of download contents described in the SDTT 61 is indicated. This download content is update data added to the digital broadcast signal 2.

  In the “target_version” of the descriptor 64, version information of content (device software) to be updated is shown.

  In the “new_version” of the descriptor 65, version information of the download content (update data) is indicated. The “download_level” of the descriptor 66 indicates the importance level of the download. For example, when “01” is indicated in the descriptor 66, the update data is forcibly downloaded. When “00” is indicated, the update data is optionally downloaded. In addition, when downloading of update data is arbitrary, whether or not to execute download is determined by the user's judgment.

  The “start_time” of the descriptor 67 indicates the distribution start time of the download content (update data), and the “duration” of the descriptor 68 indicates the distribution duration of the download content. Note that other descriptors in the SDTT 61 are not necessary descriptors in the description of this flowchart, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S5 of FIG. 3, the control unit 11 matches the manufacturer ID representing the manufacturer of the digital broadcast receiver 100 stored in advance in the storage unit 13 with the “maker_id” of the descriptor 69 (FIG. 5). If they match (step S5: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. If they do not match (step S5: NO), this flowchart ends.

  In step S6, the control unit 11 matches the device ID (for example, model number) unique to the digital broadcast receiver 100 stored in advance in the storage unit 13 with the “model_id” of the descriptor 70 (FIG. 5). If they match (step S6: YES), the process proceeds to step S7. If they do not match (step S6: NO), the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S7, the control unit 11 verifies whether or not the version information of the built-in software stored in the storage unit 13 in advance corresponds to the version information indicated in the descriptor 64. If (S7: YES), the process proceeds to step S8, and if not applicable (step S7: NO), this flowchart ends.

  In step S8, the control unit 11 makes a download reservation for downloading the update data based on the SDTT 61 (particularly, the descriptor 66, the descriptor 67, etc.). The download reservation setting information is stored in the temporary storage unit. 14 is stored.

  Specifically, the manufacturer ID stored in the storage unit 13 in advance matches the “maker_id” in the descriptor 69 and the device ID and description of the digital broadcast receiver 100 stored in the storage unit 13 in advance. If the “model_id” of the child 70 matches, a download reservation for update data corresponding to the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100 is made.

  Further, the manufacturer ID stored in the storage unit 13 in advance matches the “maker_id” in the descriptor 69 and the device ID of the digital broadcast receiver 100 stored in the storage unit 13 in advance and the descriptor If the “model_id” of 70 does not match, a download reservation of update data corresponding to the software of the external device 500 (TV receiver 51, STB 52, etc.) that is another in-house product manufactured by the same manufacturing company is performed. .

  Note that this download reservation differs in reservation form depending on the contents shown in the descriptor 66 in the SDTT 61. Specifically, when download of update data is forced based on the descriptor 66, the download reservation is automatically performed, and when download of update data is optional, the download reservation is manual, that is, the user Is done by.

  In step S9, the download reservation made in step S8, that is, the update data added to the digital broadcast signal 2 broadcast thereafter is downloaded based on the download reservation setting information stored in the temporary storage unit 14. The update data that has been executed and downloaded is stored in the storage unit 16 under the control of the control unit 11.

  In step S10, when the update data stored in the storage unit 16 corresponds to the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100, that is, in the download reservation in step S8, the digital broadcast reception stored in the storage unit 13 is received. If the device ID of the device 100 matches the “model_id” of the descriptor 70, the control unit 11 updates the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the update data. Accordingly, this flowchart ends.

  When the update data stored in the storage unit 16 does not correspond to the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100, that is, in the download reservation in step S8, the digital broadcast receiver 100 stored in the storage unit 13 is stored. If the device ID does not match the “model_id” of the descriptor 70, the control unit 11 adds the information of “model_id” to the update data and then moves from the storage unit 16 to the storage unit 13. Let Accordingly, this flowchart ends.

  When the external device 500 is connected, the digital broadcast receiver 100 transmits a control signal via the line L1 and starts the external device 500 authentication process. Specifically, the authentication process verifies whether the manufacturer of the digital broadcast receiver 100 and the manufacturer of the external device 500 are the same, that is, whether the manufacturer IDs of both devices match. As a result of the verification, if the manufacturer IDs match, it is determined that the connected external device 500 is a company product. Further, whether or not the update data moved to the storage unit 13 corresponds to the software of the external device 500, that is, the device ID of the external device 500 and “model_id” added to the update data. Verify whether they match. As a result of the verification, if they match, the data output unit 22 outputs the update data to the data input unit (not shown) of the external device 500 via the line L4. As a result, the software of the external device 500 is updated with the update data acquired from the digital broadcast receiver 100.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, when the manufacturer ID stored in the storage unit 13 in advance matches the “maker_id” of the descriptor 69, the download schedule (download time, broadcast) shown in the SDTT 61 is obtained. Download reservation setting for downloading the update data of the company's product based on the channel). For this reason, the digital broadcast receiver 100 can download not only update data corresponding to the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100 but also update data corresponding to the software of the external device 500 manufactured by the same manufacturer. . Thus, when the external device 500 is connected to the digital broadcast receiver 100, update data corresponding to the software of the external device 500 can be output from the digital broadcast receiver 100 to the external device 500. Therefore, if the digital broadcast receiver 100 receives the digital broadcast signal 2 via the antenna 8 during the update data provision period, downloads the update data of its own product and stores it in the storage unit 16, the update data Even after the provision period has elapsed, the external device 500 can be connected to the digital broadcast receiver 100 and the software of the external device 500 can be updated. That is, both the digital broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 500 can be made to follow the extended service functions.

  In the present invention, various embodiments other than those described above can be adopted. For example, in the above embodiment, the communication unit 12, the video signal output unit 18, and the audio signal output unit 20 are provided separately. However, these are integrated interfaces such as the HDMI standard disclosed in Patent Document 5, for example. It may be. Thereby, since each line L1-L3 also becomes a grouped line, wiring is simplified and a user's convenience improves.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the memory | storage part 13 and the storage part 16 were provided separately, it is not restricted to this, Only the memory | storage part 13 is provided and the various data stored in the storage part 16 are the said memory | storage part 13. May be stored. As a result, when the downloaded update data does not correspond to the software of the digital broadcast receiver 100, the control unit 11 does not have to move the update data from the storage unit 16 to the storage unit 13. Can be speeded up. Further, since the storage unit 16 is not necessary, the number of parts is reduced, so that the cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although manufacturer ID showing the manufacturer of the digital broadcast receiver 100 was memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 13, it is not restricted to this, For example, unique ID for every group company of this manufacturer is also combined You may remember. As a result, more update data can be downloaded, and the types of devices that can follow the extended service function can be expanded.

2 Digital broadcast signal 3 Transport stream 6 Data stream 8 Antenna 11 Control unit 12 Communication unit 13 Storage unit 15 Broadcast signal processing unit 16 Storage unit 21 Data ST processing unit 22 Data output unit 61 SDTT (Software
Download Trigger Table)
62 to 70 descriptor 100 digital broadcast receiver 500 external device L1 to L4 line

JP 2006-254027 A JP 2007-235190 A JP 2008-141504 A JP 2008-236031 A JP 2006-203725 A

Claims (4)

A digital broadcast receiver for updating software with update data added to a digital broadcast signal,
Update data for updating software of the digital broadcast receiver included in the digital broadcast signal and update data for updating software of other in-house products manufactured by the digital broadcast receiver manufacturer And download
Storing the downloaded update data in a storage unit;
When the other in-house product is connected to the digital broadcast receiver, the update data corresponding to the connected in-house product is extracted from the update data stored in the storage unit and output to the in-house product A digital broadcast receiver characterized by: The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein
A storage unit that stores a manufacturer ID representing a manufacturer of the receiver and a device ID unique to the receiver;
A download unit for extracting download notification data from the digital broadcast signal, and setting a download setting for the update data based on the download notification data, and thereafter, a control unit for executing the download of the update data,
The controller is
Whether or not the manufacturer ID and the first identifier representing the manufacturing company included in the download notification data match, and the device ID and the second unique to the device included in the download notification data Verify whether each identifier matches,
If the manufacturer ID and the first identifier match, and the device ID and the second identifier match, after setting the download reservation, the digital broadcasting is performed according to the reservation setting. Download the update data corresponding to the receiver,
If the manufacturer ID and the first identifier match, and the device ID and the second identifier do not match, the download reservation setting is performed, and then the digital broadcast is performed according to the reservation setting. Download the update data corresponding to the other company products connected to the receiver,
The digital broadcast receiver, wherein the download reservation setting is not performed when the manufacturer ID does not match the first identifier. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2,
The controller is
When the manufacturer ID and the first identifier match and the device ID and the second identifier do not match, the update information is added after adding the information of the second identifier to the update data. A digital broadcast receiver, wherein data is moved to the storage unit. In the digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2 or 3,
When the external device is connected to the digital broadcast receiver, the control unit performs authentication processing of the external device,
As a result of the authentication process, when it is determined that the connected external device is the other in-house product, update data corresponding to the in-house product is output to the external device. .

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