JPH1098705A - Broadcast receiving terminal and broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable automatic switching to a request channel of a request on this side when the request program is broadcasted. SOLUTION: When data from a broadcasting center 1 is data for ID specification, an ID specification data storage part 22a in a data processing circuit 22 is updated and stored, and it is judged whether or not the stored ID specification data includes its terminal ID stored in a terminal ID storage part 22b; when so, it is judged whether or not a channel which is currently selected by a channel selecting circuit 26 is a Karaoke channel. When not, the channel is switched to the Karaoke channel immediately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving terminal capable of receiving a broadcast signal or control data transmitted from a broadcast center and performing a predetermined receiving process, and a broadcast receiving terminal and a broadcast receiving terminal individually provided by the viewer. The present invention relates to a broadcast system including a broadcast center that broadcasts a broadcast signal in response to a request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art
A new form of TV broadcasting called interactive television is becoming widespread between a local television broadcasting center such as a CATV system and a subscriber terminal. However, these are generally video on demand (VOD)
Unlike a system that delivers videos as if viewers are watching their favorite videos on a VCR at home, there is no “broadcasting” frame that transmits video to an unspecified number of people. That is, this is a limited interactive television system in which requests made individually by viewers are stored, and broadcast signals corresponding to the requests are sequentially broadcast in a predetermined order.

A television broadcasting center in such a system temporarily accumulates successive requests from viewers and broadcasts a broadcast signal corresponding to the request in the requested order. However, in such a form, a situation occurs in which the speed of the request from the viewer exceeds the speed of broadcasting and digesting the broadcast signal. Then, the requests accumulate, and the waiting time of the requesting viewer increases. For example, if a request is received only within a predetermined two hours and the corresponding broadcast signal is broadcast by the end of the broadcast on that day, the viewer who made the request will see I do not know if it will be broadcast.

[0004] Therefore, in such a case, when a request or the like is made, a service for providing information such as a time until a broadcast corresponding to the request is made to the user side is performed, so that a broadcast from the time of the request is performed. There is an idea of trying to make the user's convenience until time.

[0005] However, if the waiting time is long, the user cannot fix the broadcast signal to the channel for receiving the broadcast signal. There is also a situation in which even when it is time to start the broadcast requested by the user, he or she misses it without noticing. That is,
Even if the user is aware of the waiting time, the broadcast start time, etc., it is quite possible that if the user is paying attention to the content of another program, he will not notice even when the start time comes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and even if the channel is switched to a channel other than a predetermined channel for receiving a desired broadcast signal, the desired channel can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to automatically switch to a predetermined channel when receiving a broadcast signal, and to prevent the user from noticing, for example, the start time of the broadcast corresponding to his / her request.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a broadcast receiving terminal connected to a transmission line and transmitted from a broadcasting center via the transmission line. And a data receiving means for receiving control data transmitted from a broadcasting center via a transmission path, and a channel selecting means for selecting only a broadcast signal of a desired channel from the plurality of broadcast signals. And a terminal identification information storage unit for storing identification information of the terminal itself in the broadcasting system, and in the control data transmitted from the broadcasting center, the broadcasting in the broadcasting system set in accordance with the content of the broadcasting is included. Also includes identification information identification data of the receiving terminal, and the terminal identification information and the terminal identification identified based on the identification information identification data in the received control data. In the case where the identification information of the terminal stored in the multi-address storage means match, characterized in that by controlling the channel selection means comprises a channel switching control means to automatically switch to the given channel.

According to the broadcast receiving terminal, a plurality of broadcast signals transmitted from the broadcast center via the transmission path can be selected by the channel selecting means only for the broadcast signal of the desired channel, and the broadcast center can be selected via the transmission path. Can be received by the data receiving means. In addition to such a basic function as a broadcast receiving terminal, the terminal identification information storage means stores the identification information of its own terminal in the broadcasting system, and the channel switching control means stores the identification information in the received control data. If the terminal identification information specified based on the specification data matches the identification information of the own terminal stored in the terminal identification information storage means, the control unit controls the channel selection means and automatically switches to a predetermined channel. is there.

Thus, for example, when the waiting time until the start time of a desired broadcast becomes longer, even when the user is waiting for another broadcast program, the identification information is not lost. If the terminal identification information specified based on the identification data matches the stored identification information of the own terminal, it is known that the broadcast signal has been transmitted for the own terminal. Since the channel is switched to a predetermined channel that can receive the broadcast signal, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the broadcast start time is overlooked without being noticed.

Further, when automatically switching to a predetermined channel by the channel switching control means, a notification means for notifying that automatic channel switching control is to be performed may be provided. Good. In this case, the notification means only needs to be able to notify that the channel has been switched by acting on the five senses of human beings. For example, as described in claim 3, a voice message indicating that the channel is automatically switched is provided. It is preferable to output and notify. In other words, assuming that you are always watching the screen of a television device or the like that reproduces a broadcast signal, if you simply switch channels before starting the broadcast, the viewer will be able to obtain the desired broadcast content, No problem, but you may be looking away from the screen. Therefore, in that case, it can be said that a method of appealing to hearing by voice is preferable. Of course, on the screen for reproducing and displaying the broadcast signal, the effect of performing the automatic switching control of the channel may be notified by displaying characters, symbols, or the like, or may be notified by both the audio output and the screen display. Good. Although it has been described that it is effective to appeal to hearing by voice, for example, in the case of a screen display, it is possible to draw attention by adding a change from a normal screen state by blinking or the like. In addition to the above, for example, a dedicated buzzer may be sounded or a lamp may be blinked, or the notification may be made by a vibrator function as employed in a mobile phone device or the like. However, in this case, since it is necessary for the user to wear it, for example, it is sufficiently feasible to provide a vibrator function to the remote control device for the broadcast receiving device and put it in a breast pocket or the like. is there.

[0011] Further, when configured as a broadcasting system, as described in claim 4, the above-mentioned broadcast receiving terminal includes:
It is conceivable to provide a broadcast center capable of transmitting a plurality of broadcast signals and identification information specifying data to the broadcast receiving terminal via a transmission path. When the broadcasting system is configured as described above, it is conceivable to adopt a configuration of a broadcasting center as described in claim 5. That is, a request information storage unit for storing request information individually made by viewers, and a broadcast for sequentially broadcasting a broadcast signal corresponding to the request information stored in the request information storage unit in a predetermined order. Means, and a request center having a request response function, wherein the request information storage means can store, in addition to the request information, terminal identification information corresponding to the generation source of the request information, When the terminal information is also stored in the request information storage means, the identification information specifying data for specifying the stored terminal identification information is transmitted before transmitting the broadcast signal corresponding to the request information. Make up.

According to the broadcast system of the present invention, the request information individually stored by the viewer is stored in the request information storage means, and the broadcast means responds to the request information stored in the request information storage means. The broadcast signals are sequentially broadcast in a predetermined order. In addition to such basic broadcasting processing, the following processing is executed. That is, the request information storage means can store, in addition to the request information, the terminal identification information corresponding to the generation source of the request information. Prior to the transmission of the broadcast signal corresponding to the information, the identification information specifying data for specifying the stored terminal identification information is transmitted. Therefore, on the broadcast receiving terminal side,
When the identification information specifying data is received, it is determined whether or not the identification information of the own terminal is included. If the identification information identification data is included, the terminal automatically switches to a predetermined channel.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the user does not notice the broadcast start time and misses it.

When a request from a viewer is accepted, an operator at the broadcast center may listen to the request information from the viewer and manually store the information, or the reception of the request may be automated. However, it is also possible to construct a system that does not require any human intervention such as an operator on the broadcast center side. In this case, when receiving the request information from the viewer, predetermined guidance voice information is transmitted to the viewer side via the telephone line, and the request content identification information and the terminal identification are transmitted as a response to the guidance voice information. It is conceivable to configure to receive information and the like. of course,
Although it can be realized by using a dedicated communication line other than the telephone line, the telephone line has an advantage that an existing one can be used. For example, a voice response function for automatically receiving an incoming call from a viewer and providing guidance by electronic voice and a code receiving function for receiving a code transmission using a dial tone by telephone are provided, and a predetermined guidance voice by the voice response function is provided. According to the viewer, for example, input a karaoke song number or terminal identification information requested by a push button or the like,
It is convenient to receive it as a code using a dial tone.

As a broadcast signal broadcast from such a broadcast center, for example, a signal for karaoke is conceivable. In this case, the broadcasting means is a television broadcasting means capable of transmitting audio information and video information, and the broadcast signal broadcasted by the broadcasting means is a karaoke performance sound corresponding to the requested karaoke music and a lyric telop in the background video. May be included in the image. of course,
Even if only the karaoke performance sound is broadcast as a broadcast signal, it will be a karaoke, but it is becoming common sense in today's karaoke to display a video composed of a background video and lyrics telop along with the karaoke performance. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to broadcast a broadcast signal including a karaoke performance sound and a video in which lyrics telop is synthesized with a background video. In this case, the broadcasting center and the subscriber terminal may be connected by a wire like a so-called CATV, or may be wireless as in a normal broadcasting system.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment will be described as a broadcasting system in which a CATV converter 20 as a receiving terminal is connected to a broadcasting center 1 via a CATV transmission line 10.

First, the CATV converter 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Although only one CATV converter 20 is shown in FIG. 1, a large number of CATV converters 20 are connected to the broadcast center 1 via the CATV transmission line 10.
Connected to a CATV system.

The CATV converter 20 includes a data receiving circuit 21 as data receiving means, a data processing circuit 22 as channel switching control means, an operation unit 23,
H display unit 24 and notification sound generation unit 2 as notification means
5, a tuning circuit 26 as a tuning means, and a broadcast center 1
The broadcast information transmitted from the communication device 10 via the CATV transmission line 10 is transmitted to the data receiving circuit 21 through the control data and the channel selection circuit 2.
And a distributor 27 for distributing the broadcast signal to the 6-side broadcast signal, and further connected to a TV receiver 30 via a channel selection circuit 26.

The data receiving circuit 21 includes a broadcast center 1
Receives the control data transmitted through the CATV transmission line 10 from the PC, and transfers the data to the data processing circuit 22. The data received here is ID specifying data for specifying identification information (hereinafter, referred to as ID) of the CATV converter 20 in the broadcasting system set in accordance with the content of the broadcast signal from the broadcast center 1. Yes, ID
It is stored in the specifying data storage unit 22a. This reception and storage operation is performed regardless of whether the converter power supply provided in the operation unit 23 of the CATV converter 20 is on or off.
Each time data transmission is performed, the same process is performed.

Here, data stored in the data processing circuit 22 will be described. ID specifying data storage unit 2
2a, an ID for specifying the ID of the CATV converter 20 that has requested the broadcast content corresponding to the broadcast content that the broadcast center 1 intends to start broadcasting from now on.
The specific data is stored. The data processing circuit 22
A terminal ID storage unit 2 as terminal identification information storage means
2b is also provided, and the terminal ID storage unit 22b stores terminal identification information set to identify the CATV converter 20 as a terminal in the present CATV system.

In the data processing circuit 22, an operation unit 23
It is determined whether the desired channel input from is a viewable channel, and if it is selectable, the desired channel is controlled by controlling the channel selection circuit 26, and the video signal and the video signal are transmitted to the TV receiver 30. Output audio signal.

Next, the broadcast center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The broadcast center 1 includes a host computer 11 as control means for controlling the entire broadcast center, an external storage device 12 as request information storage means, a display device 13, a karaoke reproducing device 14, a telop synthesizing device 15, A broadcasting unit 16 as a broadcasting unit and a voice response device 18 are provided. The broadcasting center 1 is connected to a number of telephones 50 via a public telephone line 40.

Each device will be described, including its role in the broadcast center 1 or its relation to the broadcast system.
First, the voice response device 18 is for receiving a request from a viewer. The broadcasting center 1 stores requests made individually by viewers, and can broadcast the results of the requests. The viewers can use the telephone 50 on hand to obtain a desired karaoke Information can be requested. This request is made using a predetermined “request code”. This is the same as "song number" in a general karaoke apparatus. Since the request is made by a numeric code, the viewer actually
The tone of the request code is transmitted by depressing the dial or the push phone. This request code is assumed to have been notified to the viewer in advance by a distribution or the like.

The call from the viewer is automatically accepted by the voice response device 18 in the broadcast center 1. The voice response device 18 transmits a message registered in advance by a built-in synthesized voice means (not shown), inputs a request code to the viewer, whether or not a broadcast start notice described later is necessary, and an advance notice when necessary. The host computer 1 prompts the user to input the terminal ID, which is the destination, and to provide guidance.
1 to receive the above-mentioned call, transmit various messages, and receive a pulse code.

The request code received by the voice response device 18 is determined by the host computer 11 as to whether the request code is valid or not by comparing it with a database on the external storage device 12. The request reception table (see FIG. 4) in the request reception table 11b (see FIG. 3) is stored together with the received time information.

Based on the stored request code, the host computer 11 totals the request information corresponding to a predetermined total period based on the reception time information stored as a set. Then, a broadcast table (see FIG. 7) is created based on the result of the aggregation of the request information, and the broadcast processing is executed according to the broadcast table.

The broadcast contents broadcast by the broadcasting means 16 are received by a CATV converter 20 which is a broadcast receiving terminal on the viewer side, and can be viewed as a karaoke program. In the present embodiment, the broadcasting center 1 and the CATV converter 20 are connected in a wired format called a CATV transmission line 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but they are connected in a wireless format like a normal broadcasting system. You may.

The display device 13 is connected to the host computer 11 and can display these conditions. This is used for confirmation by the operator of the broadcast center 1. Subsequently, a signal flow centering on the host computer 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the voice response device 18 is connected to the CPU 11a of the host computer 11 by a control signal. The CPU 11a controls the voice response device 18 to control the incoming call waiting of the public telephone line 40 (see FIG. 1) and to control the transmission of a voice message in the device 18 after the incoming call (selection from a plurality of messages). The voice response device 18 returns the dial pulse received through the public telephone line 40 to the host computer 11 as numerical information. Thus, automatic reception of the viewer request by the public telephone line 40 is performed. The numerical value returned from the voice response device 18 is stored in the CPU memory 11b.

The external storage device 12 is a host computer 11 storing a database relating to the request code.
External storage for reading and writing data between devices. As a result, the CPU 11a performs search and collation of the request code. The karaoke playback device 14 has a CPU 11
a and a control signal. The CPU 11a transmits the request code tune number to the karaoke reproducing device 14,
The apparatus 14 can reproduce the karaoke music, and can control the start / end of the reproduction. Also,
The karaoke reproducing device 14 returns the reproduction status (reproducing, reproduction end, etc.) to the CPU 11a. Thereby, the CP
U11a can reproduce the karaoke music by the request code.

The telop synthesizing device 15 receives control relating to image output and synthesis and transfer of image data from the CPU 11a. For example, the CPU 11a uses the CATV converter 2
On the 0 side, a character string to be displayed as an arbitrary message can be generated, and the generated message is developed as image data in the CPU memory 11b by font data in the external storage device 12, and the telop synthesizing device 1
5 is transferred. The device 15 receives a video signal from the karaoke reproducing device 14 and combines the image transferred from the CPU 11a with the video to add a telop display to the video output from the karaoke reproducing device 14.

The video signal output from the telop synthesizing device 15 is broadcast by the broadcasting means 16 together with the audio signal output from the karaoke reproducing device 14.
This broadcast content is received by a receiver such as a television receiver on the viewer side, and can be viewed.

Next, the operation of the broadcasting system according to the present embodiment will be described. First, an operation when the broadcast center 1 receives a request from a viewer will be described. FIG. 4 is a communication sequence diagram between the viewer and the broadcast center 1 when receiving a request, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a request reception table.

The broadcast center 1 receives a request from a viewer according to the communication sequence shown in FIG. In addition,
The viewer who can request this is simply the broadcast center 1
It does not mean that you can watch broadcasts from the Internet, but rather "subscribers" who have the right to request.
For example, in a CATV system, if the right to request is automatically given when subscribing to the system, all are "subscribers" here. In the case of broadcasting in a normal wireless format, for example, it is conceivable to separately contract to collect a predetermined fee instead of making a request. In that case, only the person who made the contract is the "subscriber" here. In the following description, the term "viewer" is used in the meaning of a subscriber unless otherwise specified.

Returning to the communication sequence of FIG. 4, when the viewer originates and connects to the broadcasting center 1 via the public telephone line 40, the broadcasting center 1 responds to the incoming call from the telephone 50 by the voice response device 18. As a voice response message (for example, contents such as "Please enter the song number to request").

When the viewer inputs a song number to be requested via the telephone 50, the request number is stored as an item of the requested song number in the request reception table (FIG. 5) on the CPU memory 11b. In the broadcast center 1, as the request acceptance response transmission, the voice response device 18 may, for example, say, "The request has been accepted. Enter 1 # if you want to automatically switch channels, 2 if you do not need it." By transmitting a voice response message of the content, it responds that the request has been received, and prompts the viewer to input whether or not automatic channel switching is necessary.

Here, when the viewer inputs "2 #", the broadcast center 1 which has received "2 #" determines that there is no need for automatic channel switching and sets nothing in the terminal ID item in the request reception table of FIG. Not done. On the other hand, when the viewer inputs "1 #", it is a case where the user desires automatic channel switching according to the message, and the broadcast center 1 that has received it inputs individual information for automatic channel switching. For example, after inputting “*” by the voice response device 18, enter the ID of the terminal for which automatic channel switching is desired. Is transmitted.

[0038] In response, the "*" input by the viewer and the terminal ID are transmitted to the broadcasting center 1 via the telephone 50. The broadcast center 1 that has received the terminal ID is stored in the terminal ID item of the request reception table of FIG. When the detailed information for the automatic channel switching is obtained in this way, the voice response device 18 is set to, for example, "If the channel was changed to another channel before the broadcast, the karaoke channel Will automatically switch to. Thank you for your request. "

Thereafter, all items of the request reception table shown in FIG. 5 are stored by adding two items of the request reception date and the reception time / minute / second. next,
The operation at the time of broadcasting the requested music will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a program executed by the CPU 11a.

The premise of the processing shown in FIG. 6 will be described. As a premise, there is a program that broadcasts a requested song once a day, and the song broadcasted in the program is automatically determined based on past requests, or determined by the program creator as appropriate. It was done.

First, in the first step S10,
A broadcast table as shown in FIG. 7 is created. this is,
All request data having a song number corresponding to a song scheduled to be broadcast during the karaoke program on that day as a request song number in the request reception table (FIG. 5) is obtained and created based on the acquired request data. For example, when a plurality of requests are made for the same song, each request data is obtained as one request data. Therefore, even if the broadcast schedule in the program is 10 songs, the number of corresponding request data may be as large as 20 or 30. As described above, since there are cases where a plurality of requests are made for the same song, in such a case, a plurality of terminal IDs are used as ID specifying data of the broadcast table.
May be set. For example, the requested song number “5088” in the broadcast order 2 in the broadcast table of FIG.
In addition, two terminal IDs are set as ID identification data for the requested song number “3618” in the broadcast order 4. Also, the requested song number “299
No ID specifying data for “1” is set.

When the broadcast table is created in this way, in the following S20, the data of the first broadcast order is read from the broadcast table (FIG. 7), and in the subsequent S30, the data is included in the ID identification information. Determine if there is data. For example, the first data in the broadcast table shown in FIG. 7 is the terminal ID “611” as ID specifying data.
Since "3" has been set, the process shifts to S40 and the ID
The specifying data is transmitted from the broadcasting means 16 (see FIG. 1) to the CATV.
The signal is transmitted to the CATV converter 20 via the transmission line 10. After transmitting the ID specifying data, the process proceeds to S50.

In S50, the performance and broadcast of the requested music are started. This is, as described above, the CPU 11a
(See time 3) transmits the requested music number to the karaoke reproducing apparatus 14 and causes the apparatus 14 to reproduce the karaoke music. The video signal from the karaoke reproducing apparatus 14 is input to the telop synthesizing apparatus 15. The telop synthesizing apparatus 15 synthesizes this image with the image transferred from the CPU 11a as necessary, and displays the telop display on the video output from the karaoke reproducing apparatus 14. Will be added. The video signal output from the telop synthesizing device 15 is broadcast by the broadcasting means 16 together with the audio signal output from the karaoke reproducing device 14.

After the start of the karaoke performance / broadcast, the process shifts to S60 to check the performance status of the karaoke reproducing device 14 to determine whether the karaoke performance has ended. Continue checking. Then, if the processing has been completed (S60: YES), the flow shifts to S70 to determine whether or not the data is final data. If the data is the final data (S70: YES), the process ends. If the data is not the final data (S70: NO), S80.
Move to.

In S80, the next data in the broadcast table is read out, and the flow shifts to S30. The data of the broadcast table is sequentially processed in this manner. For example, as shown in the broadcast order 3 of the broadcast table shown in FIG.
In some cases, the ID specifying data is not set. In that case, a negative determination is made in S30, so that the process proceeds to S50 without executing the process of S40.

Next, the operation of the CATV converter 20 on the receiving side when the requested music is broadcast from the broadcasting center 1 will be described. In the CATV converter 20, the data processing circuit 22
It is determined whether the desired channel input from the operation unit 23 is a viewable channel, and if it is selectable, the desired channel is controlled by the tuning circuit 26 to select the desired channel. To output video and audio signals. That is, the viewer can view the program received on the desired channel on the TV receiver 30 by specifying the desired channel on the operation unit 23.

Accordingly, a viewer who has requested a karaoke song can enjoy the karaoke song requested by setting the channel to a predetermined karaoke channel. Not necessarily. For this reason, if the waiting time is long, the user cannot fix the channel to receive the broadcast signal, and may use the waiting time to watch a broadcast program on another channel. However, there is a possibility that a situation may occur in which the user's requested broadcast is overlooked unnoticed even when it is time to start.

In the present CATV converter 20, in order to solve such a problem, when the broadcast of the song requested by the user is started, even if the karaoke channel which can receive the broadcast is changed to another channel. ,
The control to automatically switch to the karaoke channel before starting the broadcast is executed.

The contents of the control processing relating to the automatic channel switching will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S110, the broadcast center 1 sends the CATV
The presence or absence of control data to converter 20 is confirmed. Here, if the data is received, the process proceeds to S120, and it is determined whether or not the received data is ID specifying data. If the received data is not ID specifying data (S120: N
O), the process proceeds to S190, performs other corresponding processes, and returns to S110. On the other hand, if the received data is ID identification data (S120: YES), S1
Then, the process goes to 30 to update and store the ID specifying data in the ID specifying data storage unit 22a.

In the subsequent S140, the terminal ID stored in the terminal ID storage section 22b is stored in the S13.
At 0, it is determined whether or not it is included in the ID specifying data updated and stored. If the own terminal ID is not included (S140: NO), the process returns to S110 without performing the processing after S150, but if the terminal ID is included (S1).
40: YES), and proceeds to S150.

In S150, it is determined whether the channel currently selected in the channel selection circuit 26 is a karaoke channel. If the channel is a karaoke channel (S150: YES), the process returns to S110 without performing the processing of S160 and thereafter. If the channel is not a karaoke channel (S150: NO), S1 is performed.
Go to 60.

In S160, the tuning circuit 26 is controlled to
Switch to karaoke channel. As a result, the content broadcast on the karaoke channel from the broadcast center 1 can be viewed on the TV receiver 30.
Then, in the following 170, it is notified that the channel has been switched. The notification of the channel switching is performed by generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generation unit 25. For example, "The request song will be broadcast, so I switched to the karaoke channel."
Guidance may be provided directly in the audio content, or a sound such as a buzzer sound that can minimize attention may be used. However, in the case of a buzzer sound, it is only necessary to understand the meaning of the sound, but if it is not, it may not be possible to understand what happened. Is kind.

As described above, when the broadcasting of the song requested by the user is started, the ID including the terminal ID of the terminal itself is included.
Since the specifying data has been transmitted before the start of the broadcast (S110 to S130), even if the channel is changed from the karaoke channel to another channel (S150: NO),
The request can be automatically switched to the karaoke request (S160), and the fact that the request has been switched is notified. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the viewer is unnoticed and misses when it is time to start broadcasting the requested song because the viewer is watching a broadcast program on another channel. is there.

In the flowchart of FIG. 8,
If a negative determination is made in S110, that is, if there is no received data including the ID specifying data, it is determined whether or not the channel has been switched in S180. If a channel has been switched (S180: YES), S140
To move to. This is because, for example, when the user automatically switches to the karaoke channel and is informed (S160, S170), the user is not in front of the TV receiver 30 and switches to the karaoke channel, but switches to another channel. This is a process that takes into account the case in which the error has occurred. In other words, in such a case as well, the channel is automatically switched to the karaoke channel, so that it is possible to appropriately cope with a situation where the user switches to another channel without knowing that the channel has already been switched to the karaoke channel. If the song requested by the user is completed and ID specifying data corresponding to the next song is transmitted, the data is updated and stored in S130, so that the song is not the one requested by the user. Even if the channel is switched (S180: YES), a negative determination is made in S140, so that the user can enjoy the channel on a channel other than the karaoke channel.

As described above, according to the present CATV converter 20, a plurality of broadcast signals transmitted from the broadcast center 1 of the CATV system via the CATV transmission line 10 are transmitted by the channel selection circuit 26 to only the broadcast signals of the desired channel. The data can be selected and control data transmitted from the broadcast center 1 can be received by the data receiving circuit 21.

If the received control data is ID specifying data, it is determined whether or not the ID specifying data includes its own terminal ID.
If D is included and the current karaoke channel is not currently selected, the karaoke channel is automatically switched to notify that effect.

Thus, for example, when the waiting time until the requested music is broadcast becomes long, even if the user is switching to another channel and spending the waiting time, his / her own request Before the song is broadcast, the channel is always switched to the karaoke channel, and a notification to that effect is given.

In the present embodiment, when automatically switching to the karaoke channel, the notification sound generator 2
5, the notification sound is output to notify that the channel has been switched. For example, when a broadcast of another channel is being viewed via the TV receiver 30, the notification sound is separately output. Even without outputting, it is possible to recognize that the broadcast of the requested song is started by automatically switching to the karaoke channel. However, it is conceivable that the viewer is looking away from the screen or doing something else at a slightly distant place. In this case, it is preferable to output the notification sound.

As described above, the present invention is not at all limited to such embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the notification sound is output from the notification sound generation unit 25 to appeal to the viewer's hearing.
The notification is not limited to such sound notification, and may be visual, for example. For example, the fact that the automatic switching control of the channel is to be performed may be displayed as a telop on the screen of the TV receiver 30 to notify the user. In that case, the telop synthesizing device 15 in the broadcast center 1 converts the video signal from the karaoke reproducing device 14 into the host computer 1.
It is conceivable to combine the notification telops generated by 1 and broadcast them from the broadcasting means 16. Alternatively, a means for synthesizing such a telop may be provided in the CATV converter 20. Furthermore, a configuration in which such a telop synthesizing means is provided on the TV receiver 30 side may be employed.
This is advantageous in that the V receiver 30 can be used.

[0059] Naturally, the notification may be made by both voice output and screen display. Further, in the case of a screen display, for example, in the case of a screen display, it is possible to draw attention by adding a change from a normal screen state by blinking or the like. In addition to the above, for example, the notification may be made by a vibrator function as employed in a mobile phone device or the like. However, in this case, it is necessary for the user to wear it.
This can be realized sufficiently by making the TV converter 20 operable by a remote control device, providing the remote control device with a vibrator function, and putting it in a breast pocket or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a CATV converter.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a broadcast center.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a signal flow centered on a host computer in a broadcasting center.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence between a viewer and a broadcast center when a request is received.

FIG. 5 is a data configuration diagram of a request reception table handled by a host computer of a broadcast center.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a requested music broadcasting process executed by a host computer of a broadcasting center.

FIG. 7 is a data configuration diagram of a broadcast table handled by a host computer of a broadcast center in request music broadcast processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing related to automatic channel switching in the CATV converter.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Broadcasting center 10 ... CATV transmission line 11 ... Host computer 11b ... CPU memory 12 ... External storage device 13 ... Display device 14 ... Karaoke reproducing device 15 ... Telop synthesizing device 16 ... Broadcast means 18 ... Voice response device 20 ... CATV converter 21 ... data receiving circuit 22 ... data processing circuit 22a ... ID specifying data storage section 22b ... terminal ID storage section 23 ... operation section 24 ... CH display section 25 ... notification voice generation section 26 ... channel selection circuit 27 ... distributor 30 ... TV receiver 40: public telephone line 50: telephone

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A channel selecting means connected to a transmission path for selecting only a broadcast signal of a desired channel from a plurality of broadcast signals transmitted from a broadcasting center via the transmission path. A data receiving means for receiving control data transmitted from a broadcasting center via the terminal, comprising: terminal identification information storage means for storing identification information of the terminal itself in a broadcasting system; In the control data transmitted from
Also includes data for identifying the identification information of the broadcast receiving terminal in the broadcast system set according to the broadcast content,
When the terminal identification information specified based on the identification information specifying data in the received control data matches the identification information of the own terminal stored in the terminal identification information storage means, the channel selection means is A broadcast receiving terminal comprising: a channel switching control unit for controlling and automatically switching to a predetermined channel. 2. The broadcast receiving terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying that automatic switching control of a channel is to be performed when the channel switching control means automatically switches to a predetermined channel. . 3. The broadcast receiving terminal according to claim 2, wherein said notifying means is configured to output a sound to notify that the channel is automatically switched, and to notify it. 4. A broadcast receiving terminal according to claim 1, wherein said broadcast receiving terminal transmits said plurality of broadcast signals and said identification information specifying data to said broadcast receiving terminal via a transmission path. Broadcasting system provided with. 5. A broadcast center, comprising: a request information storage unit for storing request information individually made by a viewer; and a broadcast signal corresponding to the request information stored in the request information storage unit. A broadcast center with a request response function, comprising: a broadcasting unit that sequentially broadcasts in accordance with the order, wherein the request information storage unit further includes, in addition to the request information, terminal identification information corresponding to a source of the request information When the terminal information is also stored in the request information storage unit, the broadcast unit specifies the stored terminal identification information before transmitting the broadcast signal according to the request information. 5. The broadcast system according to claim 4, wherein the broadcast system is configured to transmit identification information specifying data for use.