JPH11331808A - Application processing unit and application processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain communication with an external device even in the case of receiving an application that provides no communication function. SOLUTION: An application 55 applicable to a communication impossible system has a program 56 corresponding to a communication possible system to control a communication function section. An engine 53 interprets it and executes the application 55 and gives a communication control program 64 to an engine 52. Thus, an communication function section 61 of the engine 52 sends/receives data with an external device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an application processing apparatus and an application processing method for processing a transmitted application program, and more particularly to a digital television broadcast, a network, and a CA.
The present invention relates to an application processing device and an application processing method suitable for a TV system or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of semiconductor technology and communication technology, television (TV) receivers have functions not only for simply viewing broadcast signals by video and audio but also as information terminals. Those that have also been developed. When such a television receiver is used, various services using the transmitted information can be received by transmitting information other than video and audio from the transmission side. In addition, by installing a two-way communication function, a TV that receives and listens to digital data multiplexed on a broadcast signal in addition to video and audio.
It is also possible to return a predetermined response to the program.

[0003] As a television receiver which realizes such a function, reference 1 (International Publication No. 096/3446) is available.
6) (Compact Graphical lnteractive Broadcast lnfo
rmation System) (International Patent Classifica
Option: H04N 1/00). In the system of this document 1 (hereinafter referred to as ICAP system), not only video and audio signals but also digital data is multiplexed and broadcast on a TV program, and a response is made in response to a process based on the multiplexed digital data. A technique for realizing the returning two-way communication function is disclosed.

In the ICAP system, a transmitting side transmits multiplexed data called an application that realizes a predetermined function by a set of one or more programs, and a receiving side uses software called an engine, which is application executing means, to execute the application. Is interpreted and executed. WinkBasic is defined as a language used in the ICAP method, and a so-called IT (Inter Text) vision has been developed as a specific example of realizing a communication function using WinkBasic.

On the other hand, digital broadcasting is currently being studied. Also in this digital broadcasting, transmission of not only video and audio signals but also multiplexed data, that is, applications is being considered. Mainly, the format of the application is determined for such digital broadcasting as ISO / IEC 13522-5.
MHEG (Multimedia and Hypermedi
a Information Coding Experts Group) -5 standard.

[0006] The application of the MHEG-5 system is as follows.
The feature is that the range of functions is wider than that of the application of the method specified in the literature 1. But MHE
Although G-5 specifies the format of the application, it does not mention the function of two-way communication that returns a response to a program using a communication line, as in the ICAP method of Document 1.

That is, a device having an engine based on MHEG-5 cannot provide a bidirectional communication function.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an execution example of an application in a television receiver using an engine based on MHEG-5 or another similar standard which does not define the function of two-way communication.

The engine 1 having no communication function receives the application 2 transmitted as a data broadcast, interprets and executes the content. As a result, on the display screen 3 of a display device such as a TV receiver, various characters, graphics,
That is, an object is drawn.

The operation of the engine 1 can be controlled by a user. A user controls the operation of the engine 1 using an input device 4 such as a remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller). The engine 1 receives a signal from the input device 4 and performs processing according to a user's input operation.

FIG. 3 shows an example of execution of an application transmitted in addition to a movie program broadcasted from a broadcasting station. By executing the application received by the engine 1, for example, information on the performers of the movie can be displayed on the display screen 3 as character objects 5, and the image of the beginning of the movie can be displayed on the moving image object 6. Can be displayed as Further, the engine 1
GUI (Graphical User Int) that accepts user operations
button objects 7 and 8 can be displayed.

The button objects 7 and 8 permit the user to give a command to the engine 1. For example, the button object 7 generates a command for displaying information of another performer. Things. For example, the user positions the cursor 9 on the button object 7 by using an arrow key or the like of the remote controller, and operates the button object 7 by operating the determination key of the remote controller.
To display information of another performer.

As described above, the application executed by the engine 1 makes it possible to transmit a command based on a user's operation to the engine 1 and control the display desired by the user. However, in the example of FIG. 3, since it does not have a communication function, it is impossible to transmit information from a user to a broadcasting company which is a transmission source of an application. For example, it is not possible to provide a service such as performing a popular vote for performers, summing up the results, and taking up the results in a program.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an execution example of an application using an engine having a communication function. Engine 11 is an application sent as data broadcast
12 is received, the contents are interpreted and executed. Thereby, objects such as various characters and figures are drawn on the display device 3 such as a TV screen.

The engine 11 receives a signal based on an operation of the input device 4 such as a remote controller, and performs a process according to the input operation. Further, data can be transmitted / received to / from the outside by using a communication line 15 such as a telephone line as needed.

FIG. 4 shows an example of realizing online shopping.

The user uses the input device 4 to input the product name and quantity into the input field objects 16 and 17, respectively. In response to this input operation, these objects 16,
The contents entered in 17 are displayed. Button object 18
The cursor (not shown) is moved to and the operation of the enter key or the like on the remote controller is performed. As a result, the engine 11 receives a signal based on a user operation and sends out the input order via the communication line 15. Note that a business entity that actually receives the order is specified as the transmission destination.

Immediately after the start of digital broadcasting, digital broadcasting and analog broadcasting may be mixed. In this case, the above-mentioned ICAP
MHEG-5 broadcast signals are received in a mixed manner. For example, ICA by analog broadcasting
It is conceivable that data broadcasting of the P system is performed, and data broadcasting of the MHEG-5 system is performed by digital broadcasting.

However, there is little compatibility between these two types of applications. Therefore, particularly in the transition period of the broadcasting system, it is conceivable that a device which incorporates engines of both systems and can execute applications of both systems is used as a receiver.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing such a conventional application processing apparatus.

The television signal transceiver 20 is an engine 1
It has 1,1. The engine 11 interprets and executes the application 12 corresponding to the ICAP method, and the engine 1 corresponds to the application 2 corresponding to the MHEG-5.
Is interpreted and executed. Further, the engine 11 has a communication function unit 21, executes the application 12, and
The communication function unit 21 can communicate a response from the communication line 15 to the outside.

However, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, although the engine 11 has the communication function unit 21, the MHEG-5
Since the communication function unit 21 cannot be used in an application transmitted by the system, it is necessary to provide a service for two-way communication using received data in digital broadcasting using the MHEG-5 system or the like. There was a problem that can not be.

[0023]

As described above, in the above-described conventional application processing apparatus, even if the apparatus has a communication function, the application is executed by an engine which does not provide the communication function. When executed, there is a problem that two-way communication with the outside cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an application processing apparatus capable of performing bidirectional communication with the outside even when an application is executed by an engine that does not provide a communication function. The purpose is to provide.

[0025]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an application processing apparatus comprising communication function means for enabling transmission and reception of data to and from the outside, and is described in the first system. First application program execution means for receiving and executing the application program;
A second application program receiving and executing the application program described in the second method, wherein the second communication function unit provided in the first application program execution unit can be operated based on the received application program. An application processing method according to claim 4 of the present invention, comprising: an application program of a first system having a communication function or an application program of a second system having no communication function. A step of receiving the program, a step of executing the application program of the second scheme when the application program of the second scheme is received, and a step of executing the application program of the second scheme. The communication function corresponding to the first method It is obtained; and a procedure for operating.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the received application program described in the second method is executed by the second application program executing means. The second application program execution means operates the transmission function means included in the first application program execution means based on the received application program.

[0027] In claim 4 of the present invention, the second application program having no communication function is received and executed. The communication function corresponding to the first method is operated based on the application program of the second method.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of an application processing apparatus according to the present invention.

This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a television receiver.

The television receiver 51 has an engine 52 and an engine 53. In the television receiver 51,
Applications 54 and 55 are received. The applications 54 and 55 are multiplexed and transmitted with broadcast signals such as video and audio signals in order to provide various services to users.

The application 55 is compatible with a system that does not provide a communication function (hereinafter referred to as a communication disabled system), and includes, for example, a program for using a service provided by a sender in response to a user operation. In.
Further, the application 54 supports a method capable of providing a communication function (hereinafter, referred to as a communication enabled method). For example, a user performs an operation in response to a service provided by a sender to generate a predetermined response. Contains a program that allows it to be returned to the sender.

It should be noted that ICAP or the like can be considered as a communicable method, and MHEG-5 or the like can be considered as a non-communicable method. MHEG-5 has a function of outputting data unrelated to the MHEG grammar to the outside, and the present embodiment utilizes such a function.

The engine 52 can execute an application corresponding to a communicable system such as the ICAP system. The engine 53 can execute, for example, an application corresponding to a communication disabled system such as the MHEG-5 system.

The engine 52 has a communication function unit 61.
The communication function section 61 is controlled by the engine 52 and can transmit and receive data to and from the outside. For example, the communication function unit 61 can transmit and receive data using the communication line 15 such as a telephone line. Note that the engine 53 has no communication function unit, and cannot transmit and receive data to and from the outside.

The engine 52 interprets and executes the input communicable system application 54, and
The processing specified by 54 can be performed in response to a user operation.

The engine 53 interprets and executes the input application 55 of the communication disabled system, and can execute the processing specified by the application 55 in response to a user operation.

In the present embodiment, the application 55 includes a communication control program 56 for controlling the communication function unit 61 of the engine 52. The program 56 is described in a communicable system and can be interpreted and executed by the engine 52, but is handled as data unrelated to the engine 53 in a non-communicable system (for example, MHEG-5 grammar).

On the other hand, the engine 53 has a function of executing data externally by regarding data included in the application as an external program. If the application 53 has a description specifying this function, the engine 53 receives the program 64 specified by the received application 63.
Is sent to the engine 52. Note that the program 64 corresponds to the program 56.

For example, if the applications 54 and 55 are I
Assuming that the program 56 is compatible with the CAP method or the MHEG-5 method, the program 56 is a script described in Wink Basic defined by the ICAP method, and the program 56 is defined as an exchange program class defined by the MHEG-5 ( A method of including it in the application 55 as an Interchanged Program Class) can be considered.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.

Now, it is assumed that an application 54 of a communicable system is input to the television receiver 51. This application 54 is interpreted and executed by the engine 51. The engine 51 interprets the application 54 and executes a service specified by the application 54.

The service also includes a program that sends out predetermined data to the outside in response to a user operation. When a user operation is performed, a predetermined response is transmitted through the communication line 15. Sent to the outside.

Next, the application 55 of the communication disabled system
Shall be received. In the application 55, a program 56 for operating the communication function unit 61 of the engine 1 is described. That is, the program 56 is described in a communicable manner.

Upon receiving the signal, the television receiver 51 supplies an application 55 to the engine 53. The engine 53 interprets and executes the input application 63. During the execution of the application 63 by the engine 53, the program 64 included in the application 63 is determined by the engine 53 as a data string to be output to the outside, and the engine 53 sends the program 64 to the engine 52 to be executed. The other programs in the application 63 are interpreted and executed by the engine 53.

When given a program 64 (received program 62), the engine 51 interprets and executes this program 62. The program 62 is for controlling the communication function unit 53, and the engine 52 controls the communication function unit 61 by the program 62. Thereby, the communication function unit 61
Transmits and receives data to and from the outside via the communication line 15 based on the program 62. Note that communication data from the communication function unit 61 is also supplied to the engine 53 as a return value.

In this way, the application 55 can provide a service using two-way communication as shown in FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a program for controlling a communication function of an engine capable of interpreting and executing an application that provides a communication function is provided among communication applications that do not provide a communication function. In addition to the description corresponding to the system, and the description to supply this program to the engine of the communicable system, if there is a communication function in the receiver,
Even when the application does not provide a communication function, data transmission / reception with the outside can be performed using the communication function.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an example has been described in which a communication control program for controlling a communication function unit of an engine compatible with a communicable system is described in an application. In the embodiment, the communication control program is built in an engine compatible with the communication disabled system.

For example, in the MHEG-5 system, the engine can have a plurality of resident programs. Various functions such as a function of detecting time can be realized by the resident program. The MHEG-5 application has data (Resident Program C) for identifying and calling these resident programs.
lass)) can be inserted. For example, a communication control program is incorporated as the resident program.

In the present embodiment, the television receiver 70 uses an engine 71 instead of the engine 53. In addition, applications 73 that support the communication disabled method include:
A communication control program for controlling the communication function unit 61 of the engine 52 is not included. But the application
The 73 includes data for calling the communication control program 72 built in the engine 71.

The engine 71 is compatible with the communication disabled system, and can interpret and execute the received application 74. In the present embodiment, the engine 71 has a built-in communication control program 72 for controlling the communication function unit 61 of the engine 52, and the program 72 instructs the receiving application 73 to execute the program 72. This can be done by including the data for

For example, if the applications 54 and 73 are I
Assuming that the communication control program 72 is compatible with the CAP method or the MHEG-5 method, the communication control program 72 is a script described in Wink Basic defined in the ICAP method, and this program 72 is defined as a resident defined in the MHEG-5. A method of calling by a program class is conceivable.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.

Application compatible with communication enabled system
The operation when receiving 54 is the same as in the embodiment of FIG. Now, the application 73 corresponding to the communication disabled method
Shall be received. The application 73 is supplied to the engine 71, and the engine 71 interprets and executes the received application 74. During the execution of the application 74 by the engine 71, the engine 71
In G-5, the data defined as the resident program class is interpreted. This causes the engine 71 to call the built-in communication control program 72 and
Output to 52.

The engine 52 interprets and executes the communication control program 62 input from the engine 71, and controls the communication function unit 61. Further, the engine 71 outputs data used for communication to the communication function unit 61. Thereby, the communication function unit 61
Transmits and receives data to and from the outside based on the application 73.

Note that the communication data of the communication function unit 61 is also supplied to the engine 71, and the engine 71 can also perform display based on a communication result or the like according to the application 73.

As described above, also in this embodiment, FIG.
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is apparent that the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be combined, for example. In this case, it is conceivable to use a communication control program built in the engine for routine relatively simple processing, and realize a special processing by a communication control program included in an application.

In each of the above embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a television receiver has been described. However, it is apparent that the present invention can be used for other communication media such as a network and a CATV.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that bidirectional communication with the outside can be performed even when an application is executed by an engine which does not provide a communication function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an application processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an execution example of an application that does not provide a communication function.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an execution example of an application that provides a communication function.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional application processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

51… Television receiver, 52, 53… Engine, 54, 55…
Application, 56: Communication control program, 61: Communication function unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takanori Muramatsu 8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Inside Toshiba Multimedia Technology Research Laboratories

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first application program executing means comprising communication function means for enabling transmission and reception of data to and from the outside, receiving and executing an application program described in a first method; A second application program receiving and executing the application program described in the second method, wherein the second communication function unit provided in the first application program execution unit can be operated based on the received application program. An application processing apparatus comprising: an application program execution unit. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second application program executing means includes a communication control program for controlling the communication function means included in the received application program. 2. The application processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication function unit is made operable by outputting to the application program execution unit. 3. The second application program executing means has a built-in communication control program for controlling the communication function means, and includes data for calling the communication control program in a received application program. 2. The application processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the communication processing unit is operating, the communication function unit is made operable by outputting the communication control program to the first application program execution unit. 4. A procedure for receiving a first-type application program having a communication function or a second-type application program without a communication function, and a step of receiving the second-type application program. Comprises a step of executing the application program of the second method, and a step of operating the communication function corresponding to the first method based on the application program of the second method. Application processing method.