JPH0723369A - Vod system and vod terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply specify a video title in a VOD system. CONSTITUTION:A video image request for specifying a video title is transmitted to a broadcasting station 1 by specifying an item arranged on the under layer of a top menu T. This VOD system is provided with a VOD terminal equipment for receiving the video signal for the video title from the broadcasting station 1 and displaying the received signal on a self-terminal side television and a direct specification item 4 for directly specifying the video title is arranged on the just under layer of the top menu T.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a VOD system and a VOD terminal device that facilitates a video image request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a VOD (Video On Demand) system has been attracting attention as a system in which any video image can be enjoyed at home at any time.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional VOD system. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 is a broadcasting station. The broadcasting station 1 has a line interface 1a that communicates with a plurality of VOD terminal devices via a communication line, a control device 1b that analyzes / controls and charges requests from each terminal, and stores and manages video images. A video image storage device 1c is provided. 2 is a VOD terminal device. The VOD terminal device 2 includes a line interface 2a that communicates with the broadcasting station 1 via a communication line, a television 2c that displays a video selection menu and video images, and an operation device 2d that performs operations such as video selection. Further, a control device 2b for controlling the entire VOD terminal device 2 is provided.

First, a menu for selecting a video from the control device 1b of the broadcasting station 1 as shown by an arrow N1 is sent to the VOD terminal device 2 via the line interface 1a as shown by an arrow N2. V as indicated by arrow N3
The video selection menu received by the OD terminal device 2 is displayed on the television 2 on the VOD terminal device 2 side as shown by an arrow N4.
It is displayed in c. The user of the VOD terminal device 2 uses the arrow N
As shown by 5, a video image name is selected from the video selection menu using the operation device 2d of the VOD terminal device 2. As indicated by the arrow N6, the control device 2b of the VOD terminal device 2 requests the selected video image name from the broadcasting station 1 via the line interface 2a as indicated by the arrow N7. In response to the received video image request, the control device 1b of the broadcast station 1 searches the video image storage device 1c as shown by an arrow N9 and extracts the video image as shown by an arrow N10 as shown by an arrow N8. As indicated by the arrow N11, the control device 1b of the broadcasting station 1 displays the extracted video image in the arrow N12.
VOD via line interface 1a as shown in
The billing process is performed while sending to the terminal device 2. Then, the video image received by the VOD terminal device 2 as shown by the arrow N13 is displayed on the television 2c on the VOD terminal device 2 side as shown by the arrow N14.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the structure of a menu which is a video image request method in the conventional VOD system.

In FIG. 8, first, the user of the VOD terminal device 2 selects a specific submenu from the submenu group displayed on the top menu. Then, a specific title menu is selected from the title menu group displayed in the sub menu. Finally, select the video title name you want to watch from among several video titles displayed in the title menu.

[0007]

In the menu form which is the conventional video image request system, when the number of types of video services increases, the number of submenus is increased or a submenu is further added below the submenu. This is dealt with by making the hierarchical structure deeper and more complex. To increase the number of video titles, multiple pages of menus will be prepared. However, with these methods,
There is a problem that the operation load on the user increases and a huge number of menu operations are required to specify one video title. For example, in the menu form shown in FIG. 8, in order to specify a video title that the user wants to watch, the user must specify in four layers of a top menu level, a submenu level, a title menu level, and a video title level. The operation is extremely complicated.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a VOD system and a VOD terminal device capable of making a simple and quick video image request when a video title to be watched is already determined. To do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a direct designation item for directly designating a video title directly under the top menu.

[0010]

With the above arrangement, the present invention can realize a simple and quick video image request without performing a complicated menu operation.

[0011]

EXAMPLE A VOD system and a VOD terminal device according to an example of the present invention will be described below. First, the video image request menu structure will be described with reference to FIG. In the VOD system of this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the conventional constituent elements and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a menu structure in which selection items are hierarchically arranged in the order of a top menu T and below, a sub menu, a title menu and a video title, as in the conventional menu structure shown in FIG. . Then, when the video title to be viewed is not decided, the user can select the video title by the menu operation similar to the conventional menu structure. On the other hand, 4 is a direct designation item for directly inputting the video title name or video title ID when the video title to be watched is already decided. The direct designation item 4 is installed immediately below the top menu T (in parallel with the submenu), and below the direct designation item 4, a video title confirmation layer 5 is arranged in parallel with the video title. . Then, the user can directly input the video title name or video title ID by selecting the direct designation item 4 from the top menu T. Then, on the video title confirmation layer 5, detailed information of the video title corresponding to the input video title name or video title ID is displayed. Here, the user confirms that there is no input error and transmits a video image request to the broadcasting station 1.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the top menu T of the VOD system in this embodiment. First, in order to explain the procedure for hierarchically designating a video title, from the submenus listed in the top menu T of FIG.
When the highlighted item selection cursor is moved or the item number is input and the movie submenu is selected, the submenu of FIG. 3 is displayed. When a new movie is selected in the movie submenu of FIG. 3, the new movie title menu of FIG. 4 is displayed. When an arbitrary new movie title is selected from the new movie title menu of FIG. 4, the movie of the selected title is sent from the broadcasting station 1 and is broadcast on the television 2c.

FIG. 5 shows an example of direct designation of the VOD system in this embodiment. When the direct designation item 4 is selected in the top menu T of FIG. 2, the direct designation screen of FIG. 5 is displayed. Here, the video title ID is assigned to the operation device 2d.
When you press the keyboard or button of and press a number or symbol, the entered number or symbol is displayed in the input field. When the confirmation key of the operation device 2d is pressed after the input is completed, the detailed screen of the video title of FIG. 6 is displayed by the input video title ID. When the video title is confirmed here, the video image is broadcast. If the video title confirmation in FIG. 6 is canceled, the screen returns to the direct designation screen in FIG.

[0015]

As described above, the present invention can provide a VOD system capable of making a simple and quick video image request by providing the direct designation item of the video title directly under the top menu.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a menu structure diagram of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a top menu of a menu structure of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of a submenu of a menu structure of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of a title menu of a menu structure of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of direct designation of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view of confirming a video title of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional VOD system.

FIG. 8: Menu structure diagram in a conventional VOD system

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Broadcasting station 1c Video image storage device 2 VOD terminal device 2c Television 4 Direct designation item T Top menu

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A broadcast station having a video image storage device for storing video images, and a terminal device for receiving a video image signal of a video title from the broadcast station and broadcasting the video image signal on a television of the own terminal side. In the VOD system, a direct designation item for directly designating a video title is arranged on the same screen as the top menu transmitted by the broadcasting station, and the terminal device gives the title to the broadcasting station according to the designation operation of the direct designation item. VO characterized by sending specified signal
D system. 2. A video image request for designating a video title is transmitted to a broadcasting station by designating an item arranged in a lower layer of the top menu, and a video image signal of this video title is received from the broadcasting station to allow the terminal itself to transmit the video image signal. A VOD terminal device to be broadcast on a television, wherein the broadcasting station sends a title designation signal to the broadcasting station according to a designation operation of a direct designation item for directly designating a video title arranged on the same screen as the top menu. VOD terminal device configured in.