JP4817645B2 - Information relay system, mediation device, and television receiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying information received via a network on a television receiver.

In recent years, with the practical application of digital broadcasting, a technique for displaying information received via the Internet on a television receiver has been studied. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an Internet shared television receiving terminal that can receive a television broadcast and can be connected to the Internet.
JP 2002-112229 A

  When connecting to the Internet, a personal computer (PC) is generally used. However, it is not easy for a user unfamiliar with a PC to operate the PC and connect to the Internet. Such a user can easily connect to the Internet by using the Internet shared television receiving terminal.

  By the way, the Internet shared television receiving terminal needs to have various devices and functions such as a modem in order to connect to the Internet. For this reason, the Internet shared television receiving terminal has higher function and higher cost than the conventional television receiver that displays only the television broadcast.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to receive information received via a network with fewer functions and at a lower cost without impairing user convenience. It is to be displayed.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, information received from a network is displayed on a television receiver via an intermediary device connectable to the network.

For example, the first invention is an information relay system comprising a television receiver that cannot be connected to a network and a mobile phone that can be connected to the network. The television receiver operates the television receiver. the a remote control for receiving an operation instruction to the mobile phone, the operation instruction, the instruction transmitting unit that transmits to the mobile phone, the information that the mobile phone has been downloaded via the network in response to the operation instruction, the mobile phone An information receiving means for receiving the received information, and a display means for displaying the received information, wherein the mobile phone receives the operation instruction from the television receiver, and in response to the operation instruction. An acquisition means for connecting to the network and downloading information, and transmitting the downloaded information to the television receiver Possess information transmitting unit, wherein the acquisition unit, when connecting to the network, and transmits the mobile phone-specific authentication information stored in the storage means of the mobile phone.

The second invention is a television receiver can not connect to the network, a the cellular phone in the information relaying system comprising a mobile phone and which can be connected to a network, and from the television set, for the mobile phone receiving means for receiving an operation instruction to connect to the network in response to the operation instruction, acquiring means for downloading information, the downloaded information, have a, and information transmitting means for transmitting to the television receiver The acquisition unit transmits authentication information unique to the mobile phone stored in the storage unit of the mobile phone when connecting to the network .

The third invention is the television receiver in the information relay system comprising a television receiver that cannot be connected to the network and a mobile phone that can be connected to the network, and operates the television receiver, a remote controller receiving an operation instruction to the mobile phone, the operation instruction, the instruction transmitting unit that transmits to the mobile phone, the information that the mobile phone has been downloaded via the network in response to the operation instruction from the mobile phone Receiving information receiving means; and display means for displaying the received information.

  According to the present invention, information received via a network can be displayed on a television receiver with fewer functions and at a lower cost without impairing user convenience.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an information relay system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  The information relay system of this embodiment includes a television receiver 1, an intermediary device 2, and a remote control device (hereinafter “remote control”) 3. The television receiver 1 and the mediation device 2 are connected by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 4. The television receiver 1 and the intermediary device 2 may be connected by wireless communication using Bluetooth or infrared communication using infrared of IrDA (Infrared Data Association).

  The television receiver 1 receives radio waves transmitted from a broadcasting station (not shown) and displays a television program. In addition, the television receiver 1 displays various information received from the mediation device 2.

  The intermediary device 2 receives (downloads) various types of information from a computer system (not shown) such as a Web server via the network 5 such as the Internet, and transmits the received information to the television receiver 1. Various types of information include content provided by a computer system, Web pages (documents published on the Internet), e-mail, data, and the like. In the present embodiment, a mobile phone is used as the intermediary device 2.

  The remote controller 3 is a device for remotely operating the television receiver 1. That is, the remote controller 3 functions as an input device for the television receiver 1. The remote controller 3 receives input of various operation instructions and transmits the input operation instructions to the television receiver 1. The operation instructions received by the remote controller 3 include an operation instruction for the television receiver 1 and an operation instruction for the mediation device 2. When the television receiver 1 receives an operation instruction for the mediation device 2 from the remote controller 3, the television receiver 1 transmits the operation instruction to the mediation device 2 via the USB cable 4.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the television receiver 1.

  The television receiver 1 includes a display device 11, a display unit 12, a relay unit 13, a processing unit 14, and a storage unit 15. The display device 11 is a display that displays information received from the television program and the mediation device 2. The display device 11 can be a CRT (CRT) display or a liquid crystal display.

  The display unit 12 outputs the television program and information received from the mediation device 2 to the display device 11. The display unit 12 may have a Web browser function for browsing a Web page that is information published on the Internet. The Web browser analyzes a Web page described in HTML or the like and displays it on the display device 11.

  The relay unit 13 exchanges data (operation instructions, information, etc.) with the mediation device 2 via the USB cable 4. That is, the relay unit 13 communicates with the mediation device 2 according to the USB interface. Further, the relay unit 13 receives a request from the intermediary device 2 and supplies electricity supplied from an external power source such as an outlet to the intermediary device 2 via the USB cable 4.

  The processing unit 14 receives an operation instruction from the remote controller 3 and performs a process according to the received operation instruction. For example, when an operation instruction for the mediation device 2 is received, the processing unit 14 controls the relay unit 13 to transmit the received operation instruction to the mediation device 2.

  The storage unit 15 stores a menu screen 16 and various pieces of reception information 17 (contents, web pages, data, etc.) received from the mediation device 2. The menu screen 16 is a screen for selecting a video to be displayed on the display device 11. The menu screen 16 will be described later.

  The television receiver 1 has a tuner (not shown) that receives a television broadcast wave transmitted by a broadcasting station, and a channel (not shown) that selects a frequency of the television broadcast wave.

  FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of the intermediary device 2.

  The intermediary device 2 includes a display device 21, a display unit 22, a relay unit 23, a processing unit 24, a network connection unit 25, a charging information generation unit 26, a charging unit 27, and a storage unit 28. . The display device 21 is a display that displays various types of information. In the present embodiment, since the mediation device 2 is a mobile phone, the display device 21 is assumed to use a liquid crystal display.

  The display unit 22 outputs various information received (downloaded) via the network 5 to the display device 21. The display unit 22 may have a Web browser function.

  The relay unit 23 transmits / receives data (operation instructions, information, etc.) to and from the television receiver 1 via the USB cable 4. That is, the relay unit 23 communicates with the television receiver 1 according to the USB interface. Further, the relay unit 23 receives electricity supplied from the television receiver 1 via the USB cable 4.

  The processing unit 24 receives an operation instruction for the remote controller 3 via the television receiver 1 and performs processing according to the received operation instruction. The processing unit 24 receives an operation instruction input from an input device (not shown) such as an operation button, and performs processing according to the operation instruction. For example, when an operation instruction for selecting a hyperlink (position information on the network) displayed on the display device 21 is received, the processing unit 24 connects to the network 5 using the network connection unit 25 and connects the hyperlink destination. Download information.

  The network connection unit 25 is wirelessly connected to the network 5 and transmits / receives data to / from a computer system (for example, a Web server) connected to the network 5. In the present embodiment, the connection setting for the network connection unit 25 to connect to the network 5 is performed when making a contract with a communication carrier for a mobile phone service (for example, an Internet connection service). The communication carrier is, for example, an ISP (Internet Service Provider).

  The billing information generation unit 26 generates billing information and transmits the generated billing information to the communication carrier's computer system via the network 5. The billing information is generally the number of received packets of information received via the network 5, the call time, and the like. Further, the billing information generation unit 26 may include the presence / absence of a pay service that provides information on a display screen suitable for the display device 11 of the television receiver 1 in the billing information. That is, the computer system of the communication carrier transmits information in a format suitable for the narrow display device 21 (liquid crystal screen) of the mediation device 2 that is a mobile phone, and is in a format suitable for the large display device 11 of the television receiver 1. It is assumed that a paid service for transmitting the information is provided. The processing unit 24 receives a usage instruction for the paid service input from the input device or the remote controller 3 and notifies the computer system of the communication carrier of the usage of the paid service. Then, the billing information generation unit 26 generates billing information indicating that the pay service is used.

  The charging unit 27 is a battery that stores electricity supplied from an external power source such as an outlet and electricity supplied from the television receiver 1 via the USB cable 4. For example, the charging unit 27 or the relay unit 23 receives an instruction input from the input device and requests the television receiver 1 to supply electricity.

  The storage unit 28 stores address information 281, authentication information 282, and reception information 283. In the address information 281, the address of each piece of information existing on the network is set. For example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) can be used as the address. For example, the address information 281 stores a URL of a predetermined portal site (portal site) for performing the Internet. The portal site is a Web site that serves as an entrance to the Internet. Further, the address information 281 stores an address of a web site for online shopping (shopping). The address information 281 stores the address of a mail server for performing e-mail.

  The authentication information 282 stores information unique to the mediation apparatus 2 that is set when the cellular phone service is contracted with the communication carrier. For example, in the authentication information 282, a subscriber number, a machine number, a password, and the like of the mediation apparatus 2 that is a mobile phone are set. The received information 283 stores various types of information (content, web page, e-mail, data, etc.) received via the network 5.

  In addition to the display devices 11 and 22, each of the television receiver 1 and the mediating device 2 described above includes a CPU, a memory, an external storage device such as an HDD, an input device such as an operation panel and function buttons, and the like. A general-purpose computer system provided with a communication control device for connecting to these devices and a bus for connecting these devices can be used.

  In this computer system, each function of each device is realized by the CPU executing a predetermined program loaded on the memory. For example, the functions of the television receiver 1 and the intermediary device 2 are as follows. The CPU of the television receiver 1 is a program for the television receiver 1 and the CPU of the mediation device 2 is a program for the mediation device 2, respectively. It is realized by executing. The storage unit 15 of the television receiver 1 uses the memory of the television receiver 1 or an external storage device. Further, the memory of the mediation device 2 or an external storage device is used for the storage unit 28 of the mediation device 2. Further, regarding the external storage device and the input device, each device is provided as necessary. Moreover, the mediating apparatus 2 has a receiver and a transmitter.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the menu screen 16 stored in the storage unit 15 of the television receiver 1.

  As shown in the figure, the menu screen 16 displays a television selection field 41, an Internet selection field 42, a shopping selection field 43, and a mail selection field 44. The user can specify one of the selection fields using the remote controller 3. When the television selection field 41 is designated, the television receiver 1 displays the television program on the display device 11. When the Internet selection field 42 is designated, the television receiver 1 displays a predetermined portal site for performing the Internet on the display device 11. When the shopping selection field 43 is designated, the television receiver 1 displays a predetermined Web site for online shopping on the display device 11. When the mail selection field 44 is designated, the television receiver 1 displays an e-mail transmission / reception screen for performing e-mail on the display device 11.

  The menu screen 16 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 4, and various screens can be used. For example, a corresponding address (URL) may be displayed in each of the selection columns 42 to 44 excluding the television selection column 41. That is, the address information 281 of the intermediary device 2 is also stored in the storage unit 15 of the television receiver 1. The corresponding addresses are displayed in the selection fields 42 to 44 of the menu screen 16.

  Further, for example, the addresses of a plurality of shopping sites may be displayed in the shopping selection field 43. Thereby, the user can access a desired shopping site according to the type of shopping.

  The menu screen 16 can be freely changed by the user using an input device such as the remote controller 3. For example, the user inputs a menu name other than the selection columns 41 to 44 shown in the figure and a corresponding address. Accordingly, the processing unit 14 of the television receiver 1 generates a menu screen to which a new selection field is added.

  Next, processing of the information relay system will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of the information relay system. First, the processing unit 14 of the television receiver 1 receives an operation instruction from the remote controller 3 (S51). The user inputs an operation instruction using the operation buttons of the remote controller 3. Then, the remote controller 3 transmits the received operation instruction to the television receiver 1.

  The operation instructions include an operation instruction for the television receiver 1 and an operation instruction for the mediation device 2. The operation instructions for the television receiver 1 include, for example, a menu display instruction for instructing display of the menu screen 16 (see FIG. 4), an instruction for selecting the TV selection field 41 on the menu screen 16 and the like.

  The operation instruction for the mediating device 2 includes an operation instruction that requires connection to the network 5. For example, the operation instruction for the mediating device 2 includes an operation instruction for selecting the Internet selection field 42, the shopping selection field 43, or the mail selection field 44 on the menu screen 16. Further, the operation instruction for the mediating device 2 includes an operation command for selecting a hyperlink of information displayed on the display devices 11 and 21 (information received from the mediating device 2).

  Then, the processing unit 14 of the television receiver 1 determines whether or not the received operation instruction is an operation instruction for the television receiver 1 (S52). In the case of an operation instruction for the television receiver 1 (S52: YES), the processing unit 14 performs a process according to the operation instruction (S53). For example, in the case of a menu display instruction, the processing unit 14 reads the menu screen 16 stored in the storage unit 15 and controls the display unit 12 to display the menu screen on the display device 11. In the case of an instruction to select the television selection field 41 on the menu screen 16, the processing unit 14 controls the display unit 12 to display the television program received from the tuner on the display device 11.

  On the other hand, if it is not an operation instruction for the television receiver 1, that is, an operation instruction for the mediation device 2 (S52: NO), the processing unit 14 controls the relay unit 13 to transmit the operation instruction to the mediation device 2. (S54). The relay unit 13 transmits an operation instruction via the USB cable 4.

  Then, the relay unit 23 of the mediation apparatus 2 receives an operation instruction from the television receiver 1 (S55). And the process part 24 performs a predetermined process according to the received operation instruction (S56).

  For example, in the case of an instruction to select the Internet selection field 42 on the menu screen 16, the processing unit 24 reads the address information 281 in the storage unit 28 and specifies an Internet address (URL). Then, the processing unit 24 controls the network connection unit 25 to connect to the network 5 with the specified address as a destination. Similarly, in the case of an instruction to select the shopping selection field 43 or the mail selection field 44 on the menu screen 16, the processing unit 24 specifies a predetermined address from the address information 281 in the storage unit 28 and uses the address as a destination. Connect to network 5. Further, in the case of an operation instruction for selecting a hyperlink of information displayed on the display devices 11 and 21, the processing unit 14 connects to the network 5 with the hyperlink destination as a destination.

  If the operation instruction received from the television receiver 1 includes an address (URL), the processing unit 24 connects to the network 5 with the address as a destination.

  Further, when connecting to the network 5, the processing unit 14 reads the authentication information 282 stored in the storage unit 28 as necessary, and transmits the authentication information to the specified address. The computer system that has received the authentication information can authenticate that the transmission is from a valid mediation device 2 (user).

  Then, the processing unit 24 controls the network connection unit 25 to receive (download) information via the network 5 and store it in the storage unit 28 as reception information 283 (S57). Then, the processing unit 24 controls the display unit 22 to output the received information to the display device 21 and controls the relay unit 23 to transmit the received information to the television receiver 1 (S58).

  The relay unit 13 of the television receiver 1 receives information from the mediation device 2 via the USB cable 4 and stores it as received information 17 in the storage unit 15 (S59). Then, the display unit 12 displays the received information on the display device 11 (S60).

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  In the present embodiment, information acquired by the mediation device 2 via the network 5 is displayed on the television receiver 1. Accordingly, the television receiver 1 can display information acquired via the network with fewer functions and at a lower cost without impairing user convenience.

  Further, a user unfamiliar with the PC can easily connect to the network by using the television receiver 1 of the present embodiment.

  Moreover, the mediation apparatus 2 of this embodiment can receive electricity from the television receiver 1 via the USB cable 4 and can charge it.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, Many deformation | transformation are possible within the range of the summary. For example, in the above embodiment, a mobile phone is used as the mediation device 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an L mode compatible telephone may be used for the intermediary device 2. The L mode is an information providing service using a telephone line (ADSL line), ISDN line, optical line, etc., by NTT East Corporation and NTT West Corporation. The L-mode compatible telephone is a fixed telephone with a built-in computer, and has a display device for a liquid crystal display, an input device such as operation buttons, a receiver, a transmitter, and the like, similar to a mobile phone. Note that the configuration of the L-mode compatible telephone is the same as the configuration of the intermediary device 2 shown in FIG. Further, the intermediary device 2 (form phone) in the above embodiment is connected to the network 5 wirelessly, but the L-mode compatible telephone is connected to the network 5 by wire (by connecting to a line).

  In addition, the television receiver 1 of the above embodiment receives various operation instructions from the remote controller 3. However, the television receiver 1 may include input means such as an operation panel and transmit an operation instruction input from the input means to the mediation device 2.

  In the above embodiment, the menu screen 16 is stored in the storage unit 15 of the television receiver 1. However, the menu screen 16 may be stored in the storage unit 28 of the mediation device 2. In this case, the television receiver 1 receives a request instruction for the menu screen 16 from the remote controller 3 and transmits the request instruction to the mediation device 2. The mediation device 2 receives the request instruction, reads the menu screen 16 from the storage unit 28, and transmits it to the television receiver 1. Then, the television receiver 1 receives the menu screen 16 from the mediation device 2 and displays it on the display device 11.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information relay system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram of a television receiver. It is a block diagram of an intermediary device. It is a figure which shows an example of a menu screen. It is a processing flow figure of an information relay system.

Explanation of symbols

  1: TV receiver, 11: display device, 12: display unit, 13 relay unit, 14: processing unit, 15: storage unit, 2: mediation device, 21: display device, 22: display unit, 23 relay unit, 24 : Processing unit, 25: network connection unit, 26: charging information generation unit, 27: charging unit, 28: storage unit, 3: remote controller, 4: USB cable, 5: network

Claims (4)

An information relay system comprising a television receiver that cannot be connected to a network and a mobile phone that can be connected to a network,
The television receiver is
A remote control for operating the television receiver and receiving an operation instruction for the mobile phone ;
Instruction transmitting means for transmitting the operation instruction to the mobile phone ;
An information receiving means for the mobile phone the information downloaded via the network in response to the operation instruction is received from the mobile phone,
Display means for displaying the received information,
The mobile phone
Instruction receiving means for receiving the operation instructions from the television receiver;
An acquisition means for connecting to the network in accordance with the operation instruction and downloading information;
The downloaded information, have a, and information transmission means to be transmitted to the television receiver,
The information relay system is characterized in that the acquisition unit transmits authentication information unique to the mobile phone stored in the storage unit of the mobile phone when connecting to the network . The information relay system according to claim 1,
The television receiver and the mobile phone are connected by a cable capable of transmitting and receiving information and electricity,
The television receiver further includes power transmission means for transmitting electricity supplied from an external power source to the mobile phone via the cable, and the mobile phone receives power from the television receiver via the cable. And a charging means for charging electricity. A television set can not connect to the network, a the cellular phone in the information relaying system comprising a mobile phone and which can be connected to a network, and
Receiving means for receiving an operation instruction for the mobile phone from the television receiver;
An acquisition means for connecting to the network in accordance with the operation instruction and downloading information;
The downloaded information, have a, and information transmission means to be transmitted to the television receiver,
The mobile phone is characterized in that, when connecting to the network, the acquisition means transmits authentication information specific to the mobile phone stored in the storage means of the mobile phone . A television receiver in an information relay system comprising a television receiver that cannot be connected to a network and a mobile phone that can be connected to a network,
A remote control for operating the television receiver and receiving an operation instruction for the mobile phone ;
Instruction transmitting means for transmitting the operation instruction to the mobile phone ;
An information receiving means for the mobile phone the information downloaded via the network in response to the operation instruction is received from the mobile phone,
And a display means for displaying the received information.

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