JPH11331809A - Communication terminal with program selection function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control service contents when the user selects a program according to the operation by the user and a state of a system. SOLUTION: An information distribution system consists of a center installation 20 that distributes information on a program or the like, a transmission line 21 through which the information and a request command of the information or the like are sent, and a communication terminal 10 that receives the information distributed from the installation 20 and sends a request command. The communication terminal 10 is provided with a menu control data storage means 14 that stores menu control data consisting of mode identification information denoting an operating mode for program selection and of a parameter denoting a transition destination and specifying transition of a menu and the operating mode, an operating mode storage means 17 that stores a present operating mode of the communication terminal, a transition destination decision means 15 that decides the transition destination based on the data and the operating mode, and a transition processing means 16 that conducts prescribed transition based on a command from the means 15, and also with a program selection function that selectively receives plural different programs in plural different operating modes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for video equipment, and more particularly to a control system for enabling various services by controlling not only a state but also an operation mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an in-house video system such as a hotel or an information distribution system such as a CATV comprising a center facility, a transmission line and a communication terminal, a user at a communication terminal selects and uses a desired program. It is configured to be able to. Here, in the present specification, a program means information such as a still image, a moving image, and audio that can be viewed and heard by a user. In the above system, as a method of selecting a program by a user, a method is generally used in which a communication terminal displays a menu on a screen and the user selects a program using an input device such as a remote controller.

Here, how to associate and control a menu with each program is a problem. In general, a transition destination when each remote control key is pressed on a currently displayed screen (menu) is used as data. A terminal device has been provided.

The configuration of a conventional information distribution system will be described with reference to FIG. The conventional information distribution system is configured by connecting a plurality of communication terminals 10 and a center facility 20 via a transmission line 21. Here, as the transmission path 21, a two-way transmission path or a one-way transmission path is used depending on the contents of the service. The communication terminal 10 includes an operation reception unit 11, a display state storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a menu control data storage unit 14, a transition destination determination unit 15, and a transition processing unit 16. .

The operation receiving means 11 is a means for receiving an operation signal from a remote controller or the like. Display state storage means 12
Saves the identification number indicating the menu or program currently displayed on the screen. The communication means 13 is means for communicating with the center equipment, and receives menu control data and program data. The menu control data storage unit 14 stores menu control data, which will be described later, sent from the center facility. The transition destination determining means 15 sends a command to the menu control data storing means 14 based on the input from the operation receiving means 11 and the identification number indicating the menu or program displayed on the current screen stored in the display state storing means 12. With reference to the stored corresponding menu control data, the menu control data and the program at the transition destination are determined. Transition processing means 16
Executes a process of transitioning to the transition destination determined by the transition destination determination unit 15.

[0006] The center equipment 20 transmits menu control data to the communication terminal 10 via the transmission line 21.
The menu control data describes a transition destination when each key of the remote controller is pressed during display of a menu or a program, for one or a plurality of menus and programs. Here, the transition destination indicates a menu, a program, or the like displayed by the communication terminal 10 after each key of the remote controller is pressed.

The communication terminal 10 stores the menu control data received via the communication means 13 in the menu control data storage means 14. Further, the communication terminal 10 stores the identification number indicating the menu or the program being displayed on the screen in the display state storage unit 12.

When a user operates the communication terminal 10 by using an input device such as a remote controller, the operation receiving means 11 receives the operation. The transition destination determining means 15 is the
The transition destination is determined by referring to the menu control data based on the screen displayed by the user and the operation by the user. The transition processing means 16 displays the determined transition destination on the communication terminal. For example, when the determined transition destination is a moving image, a channel selection or reproduction is started. When the determined transition destination has an identification number, the transition processing unit 16 stores the determined transition destination identification number in the display state storage unit 12.

On the other hand, the same control is performed in a reproducing apparatus such as a video CD in which a user can select and reproduce a still image or a moving image recorded on a recording medium. In this case, the menu control data is recorded on a recording medium. For example, when a user selects a title of a moving image from a menu, the reproducing device starts reproducing a track described in the menu control data. However, in the case of a video CD, the menu control data includes two types of lists, a selection list and a play list.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the above two types of lists in the case of a video CD. In the selection list 81, an address at which reproduction is started in association with a key is written. In the playlist 82, a track of a program to be reproduced in association with a key is written.

[0011] Selection No. of the selection list 81
Indicates a key, and when the user presses the key, the video CD playback apparatus displays a menu specified by the address of the selection list 81. The PlayItem No. of the playlist 82 indicates a key, and when the user presses the above key, the playback device of the video CD
The program specified by the second track is displayed.

In both the information distribution system and the reproducing apparatus, when the menu transition source and the user's operation are the same, the transition destination is the same, so that the communication terminal or the reproducing apparatus performs the same operation. I do. When the transition destination is a program, the conventional menu control data directly points to the contents of the program, and no special control is performed during the transition.

[0013]

In recent years, video-on-
As represented by demand (hereinafter referred to as VOD) and game-on-demand, services in an information distribution system are diversified, and advanced controls are required even in services that have been conventionally implemented. I have.

The service in the information distribution system will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is an example of transition when viewing a free program. Program selection menu S31
For example, 1. Free program, 2. The options of programs that can be viewed, such as paid programs, are displayed. In the transition of this example, when the user selects “1. Free program” from the program selection menu S31, a free program broadcast screen S32 is displayed.

FIG. 10 shows an example of transition when viewing a pay program. In the program selection menu S51, as in the case of FIG. Free program, 2. The options of programs that can be viewed, such as paid programs, are displayed. Here, when the user selects “2. pay program” from the program selection menu S51, a trailer playback screen S52 of the pay program is displayed. The trailer playback screen S52 is prepared in advance for each pay program, and ends when a preset time elapses. When the above trailer ends, 1. View,
2. A viewing confirmation screen S53 is displayed, which shows options for program viewing such as not viewing. The user inputs whether to view or not to view from an input device such as a remote controller. When the user selects “1. Watch” while the communication terminal is displaying the viewing confirmation screen S53, the communication terminal performs the charging process S53.
After performing step 54, the pay program broadcast screen S55 is displayed.

If the user selects "2. Do not watch" while the communication terminal is displaying the viewing confirmation screen S53, the communication terminal displays, for example, a program selection menu S51.

In the conventional program selection control, a user directly designates the contents of a program. That is, the free program broadcast screen S
9 and the direct control of the pay program broadcast screen S55, the transition as shown in FIG. 9 can be realized by the conventional control. However, as shown in FIG. The transition cannot be realized by the conventional control.

A case where the contents of a program are changed according to the state of the system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
This is an example of a transition when the same program content is supplied by both a VOD service and a VTR service. VOD
In the case of a paid program serviced by, the user can view the program contents from the beginning. On the other hand, in the case of a pay program provided by a VTR, the program content is repeatedly broadcast on a certain channel, and when the user tunes to the channel, the user views the program content. You cannot watch from the beginning. In the example of FIG. 11, a trailer is prepared only for a pay program based on VOD. S71 is a program selection menu, S72 is a trailer playback screen, S73 is a VO
Viewing confirmation screen for D, S74: VOD charging process, S75
Is a pay program broadcast screen by VOD, S76 is a viewing confirmation screen for VTR, S77 is a billing process for VTR, S78 is VT
It is a pay program broadcast screen by R.

In this example, when the service based on VOD is available, when the user selects “2. Paid program” from the program selection menu S71, a trailer playback screen S72 is displayed.
Is displayed. The trailer is prepared in advance for each pay program, and ends when a preset time elapses. When the trailer ends, a VOD viewing confirmation screen S73 is displayed. The user inputs whether to view or not to view using an input device such as a remote controller. If the user selects “1. Watch” while the communication terminal is displaying the VOD viewing confirmation screen S 73, the communication terminal
After performing the D charging process S74, a pay program broadcast screen S75 based on VOD is displayed. If the communication terminal is VOD
When the user selects “2. Do not watch” while displaying the viewing confirmation screen S73, the communication terminal displays, for example, a program selection menu S71.

On the other hand, consider the case where VOD service is not possible because all VOD lines are used or the VOD service is stopped on the center facility side. If service by VOD is not possible,
The user selects "2. Paid program" from the program selection menu S71.
When is selected, a VTR viewing confirmation screen S76 is displayed. The user inputs whether to view or not to view using an input device such as a remote controller. If the user selects "1. Watch" while the communication terminal is displaying the VTR viewing confirmation screen S76, the communication terminal performs VTR charging processing S7.
7 and then pay program broadcast screen S78 by VTR
Is displayed. Note that the communication terminal displays the VTR viewing confirmation screen S.
When displaying the message 76, the user selects “2.
Is selected, the communication terminal displays, for example, the program selection menu S
71 is displayed.

As described above, in the conventional program selection control,
If you perform the same operation while the same screen is displayed, you can only control so that it always performs the same operation.
As shown in FIG. 11, control that changes the operation of the communication terminal depending on the state of the system was impossible.

According to the present invention, a center facility for distributing information such as a program, a transmission line for transmitting the information and a request command for the information, and the like, for receiving information distributed from the center facility and transmitting the request command, etc. In an information distribution system including a communication terminal, the service content when a user selects a program can be changed according to the state of the system and the operation of the user, so that more convenient services can be provided. With the goal.

[0023]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention describes a pressed key, an operation mode, and parameters for each screen. By describing the transition destination of the menu, channel, etc. in the parameter,
Specify the operation after transition. By allowing the communication terminal to recognize the operation mode and have means capable of executing different operations, it is possible to have a plurality of program selection procedures,
Realize diversification of services.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a center facility for distributing information such as a program, a transmission line for transmitting the information and a request command for the information, and a reception and request command for information distributed from the center facility. A communication terminal for transmitting information, etc., which is used for an information distribution system having menu control data for defining a transition of a menu for selecting a program and an operation mode. Means, an operation mode storage means for storing the current operation mode of the communication terminal, a transition destination determination means for determining a transition destination from the menu control data and the operation mode, and a predetermined mode based on a command from the transition destination determination means. Transition processing means for performing transition, and selectively receiving a plurality of different programs in a plurality of different operation modes. Unishi and a communication terminal having a program selecting function Te.

Further, according to the present invention, in a communication terminal having a program selecting function, a system state storing means for storing a system state of the information distribution system is provided, and the transition destination determining means includes menu control data, an operation mode and the system state. The transition destination is determined from.

According to the present invention, in the communication terminal having the program selecting function, the menu control data is constituted by at least mode identification information indicating the operation mode and a parameter indicating a transition destination.

According to the present invention, in the communication terminal having the program selecting function, the menu control data is transmitted from the center facility to the communication terminal via the transmission path. The transmitted menu control data is stored.

Further, according to the present invention, in a reproducing apparatus having a program selection function, menu control data for defining a transition of a menu for selecting a program and an operation mode and a recording medium on which distribution information such as a program is recorded are stored. Recording medium reading means for reading distribution information such as control data and programs; menu control data storage means for storing menu control data read from the recording medium reading means;
Operation mode storage means for storing the current operation mode, transition destination determination means for determining a transition destination from the menu control data and the operation mode, and transition processing means for performing a predetermined transition based on an instruction from the transition destination determination means And a plurality of different programs are selectively reproduced in a plurality of different operation modes.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram of a communication terminal when the present invention is applied to an information distribution system.

The information distribution system according to the present embodiment is configured by connecting a plurality of communication terminals 10 to a center facility 20 via a transmission line 21. Here, the transmission path 21 may be a bidirectional transmission path or a one-way transmission path that can transmit only in the direction from the center facility 20 to the communication terminal 10 depending on the contents of the service.

The communication terminal 10 includes an operation reception unit 11, a display state storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a menu control data storage unit 14, a transition destination determination unit 15, a transition processing unit 16, and an operation mode storage unit. Means 17.

The operation receiving means 11 is a means for receiving an operation signal from a remote controller or the like. Display state storage means 12
Saves the identification number indicating the menu or program currently displayed on the screen. The communication means 13 is means for communicating with the center equipment, and receives menu control data and program data. The menu control data storage unit 14 stores menu control data, which will be described later, sent from the center facility. The transition destination determination unit 15 stores the input from the operation reception unit 11, the identification number indicating the menu or program displayed on the current screen stored in the display state storage unit 12, and the operation mode storage unit 17. Based on the operation mode ID indicating the current operation mode, the corresponding menu control data stored in the menu control data storage unit 14 is referred to, and the menu control data or the program to which the transition is made is determined. The transition processing unit 16 executes a process of transitioning to the transition destination determined by the transition destination determination unit 15. The operation mode storage unit 17 stores the current operation mode.

The center equipment 20 transmits menu control data to the communication terminal 10 via the transmission line 21 by using, for example, the FSK modulation / demodulation method. In the menu control data, an operation mode and a parameter when each key of the remote controller is pressed during display on each screen are described. The parameters describe the transition destination of the menu, the channel, and the like in accordance with the operation mode.

The communication terminal 10 receives the menu control data by the communication means 13 and stores it in the menu control data storage means 14. Further, the communication terminal 10 stores the identification number indicating the menu, the program, or the like being displayed on the screen in the display state storage unit 12.

When the user operates the communication terminal 10 with an input device such as a remote controller, the operation receiving means 11 receives the operation and the transition destination determining means 15 determines the transition destination. The transition destination determining unit 15 considers the operation obtained from the operation receiving unit 11, the identification number stored in the display state storing unit 12, and the operation mode stored in the operation mode storing unit 17 described later. , Determine the transition destination. The transition processing unit 16 changes the display of the communication terminal to the determined transition destination. When the determined transition destination is a moving image, reproduction is started.

If the transition destination determined by the transition destination determining means 15 has an identification number, the identification number indicating the new display content is stored in the display state storage means 12 and the new operation mode is stored in the operation mode storage means 17. To save. The operation mode storage means 17 will be described below assuming that it can store a plurality of operation modes that do not contradict each other, but it is also possible to always store one type of operation mode.

It is possible to define a transition in advance for each operation mode, and the transition destination determining means 15 automatically determines the transition destination even if no operation is performed by the user, and Is given to the transition processing means 16. For example, when the user selects “2. pay program” in the program selection menu S51 of FIG. 10, the pay program mode is designated. In the pay program mode, the trailer is first played (S52), and when the trailer ends, the viewing confirmation screen S53 is automatically displayed. When "1. Watch" is selected, the charging process S54 is performed, and then the pay is performed. A transition of starting a program is defined. If the above transition is defined, the transition shown in FIG. 10 can be realized by giving a pay program mode and a corresponding pay program number when a pay program is selected.

The menu control data transmitted from the center equipment 20 to the communication terminal 10 via the transmission line 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, for each operation mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a mode ID for identifying the operation mode and the meaning of the parameters are defined.

In the normal broadcast mode having the mode ID "40", it is assumed that an operation of receiving a channel number as a parameter and selecting the channel number is defined. In the menu display mode having the mode ID “41”, an operation of receiving an identification number as a parameter and transitioning to a still image or a moving image indicated by the identification number is defined.

The VOD pay broadcast mode having the mode ID “42” receives the VOD number as a parameter,
It is assumed that the operation of reproducing the VOD program indicated by the VOD number in the VOD pay broadcast mode is defined. In the VOD pay-broadcast mode, for example, the user is asked whether or not to watch the trailer after playback, and a playback request of the VOD program is transmitted from the communication unit 13 to the center via the transmission path 21 only when an operation of viewing is performed. The communication terminal can perform control different from that in the normal broadcast mode, such as transmitting to the facility 20.

In the VTR pay broadcast mode having the mode ID "43", an operation of receiving a channel number as a parameter and reproducing the channel number in the VTR pay broadcast mode is defined. In the VTR pay broadcast mode, the communication terminal performs control different from that in the normal broadcast mode, such as asking the user whether or not to watch, and selecting a channel number only when an operation of viewing is performed. Can be

In the hotel guide mode having mode ID "44", it is assumed that the operation of receiving the hotel guide number as a parameter and viewing the hotel guide program indicated by the hotel guide number is defined. For example, when a hotel guide program is prepared as a VOD program, it is possible to control the reproduction to be started directly without reproducing the trailer.

Language switching having mode ID "45"
Switch between Japanese mode and English mode alternately. The communication terminal displays a screen in Japanese when in the Japanese mode, and displays a screen in English when in the English mode. Whether the mode is the Japanese mode or the English mode is stored in the operation mode storage means 17 separately from the above-described normal broadcast mode, menu display mode, pay broadcast mode, and hotel guide mode. It is possible to control to display the menu in Japanese in the mode, and to display the menu in English in the menu display mode in the English mode. When switching between Japanese and English alternately, there is no need for a parameter, and it may be set to FF (invalid) as shown in FIG. 2. However, when switching between three or more languages, for example, 01 Is Japanese, 02 is English,
03 may be a code such as Chinese, and each may be given as a parameter for language switching.

When the communication terminal does not perform any operation in response to the user's operation, that is, when the state of the communication terminal does not change before and after the user's operation, the operation mode is as shown in FIG.
Of the operation mode ID “FF” shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an example of menu control data using the mode ID defined in FIG. FIG. 3 defines the control when the user presses any one of the keys 1 to 5 of the remote controller when the menu having each identification number is displayed. FIG. 3 shows an example in which five remote control keys are used, but the number of remote control keys is not limited.

The identification number "51" indicates the option (key 1) on the menu display screen (identification number 52) of the normal broadcast and the VO
D Paid broadcast menu display screen (identification number 53) options (key 2), VTR pay broadcast menu display screen (identification number 54) options (key 3), hotel guide menu display screen (identification number 55) ) Is menu control data of a main menu screen displaying options (key 4) and language switching options (key 5).

The identification number “52” corresponds to the channel number “0”.
This is menu control data for a normal broadcast menu display screen that displays a normal broadcast option (key 1) of “1” and a normal broadcast option (key 2) of channel number “02”.

The identification number “53” includes the option (key 1) of the VOD pay broadcast of the program content “01” and the program content “0”.
This is menu control data of a VOD pay-broadcast menu display screen displaying a VOD pay-broadcast option (key 2) of “2” and a VOD pay-broadcast option (key 3) of program content “03”.

The identification number “54” corresponds to the channel number “2”.
5 "VTR pay broadcast option (key 1) and channel number" 26 "VTR pay broadcast option (key 2)
And menu control data of a VTR pay-broadcast menu display screen for displaying a VTR pay-broadcast option (key 3) of channel number "27".

The identification number “55” corresponds to the option (key 1) of the hotel guide of the program content “01” and the program content “02”.
7 is menu control data of a hotel guide menu display screen that displays the choices (key 2) of the hotel guide.

The state transition in the communication terminal having the menu control data shown in FIG. 3 in the menu control data storage means 14 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, state S10 is a state in which the main menu with the identification number 51 is displayed in the menu display mode, state S11 is a state in which the normal broadcast menu with the identification number 52 is displayed in the menu display mode, and state S12 is a state in the menu display mode. The state in which the VOD pay broadcast menu with the identification number 53 is displayed is referred to as state S13.
Indicates a state in which the VTR pay broadcast menu with the identification number 54 is displayed in the menu display mode, state S14 indicates a state in which the hotel guide menu with the identification number 55 is displayed in the menu display mode, and state S15 indicates a state in which the language switching mode is performed. Is shown. Also, ,,,, represent remote control keys pressed on the respective menu display screens.
For example, when the key 1 of the remote controller is pressed in the main menu S10, the state transits to the normal broadcast menu display state S11.

Further, in FIG. 4, state S16 is a state in which the program of channel number 01 is selected in the normal broadcast mode, and state S17 is a state in which the channel number is 02 in the normal broadcast mode.
S18 is a state in which the program of VOD number 01 is reproduced in the VOD pay broadcast mode, and
9 is a state in which the program of VOD number 02 is reproduced in the VOD pay broadcast mode, and state S20 is a state in which the
The state in which the program with the OD number 03 is reproduced, and the state S21 is V
The state where the program of channel number 25 is reproduced in the TR pay-broadcast mode, the state S22 is the state where the program of channel number 26 is reproduced in the VTR pay-broadcast mode, and the state S23 is V
The state where the program of channel number 27 is reproduced in the TR pay broadcasting mode, the state S24 is the state where the program of the hotel guide number 01 is selected in the hotel guide mode, and the state S25 is the state where the program of the hotel guide number 02 is selected in the hotel guide mode. FIG.

Hereinafter, the respective transitions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described. The operation when the communication terminal is displaying the main menu of the identification number 51 (state S10) is as follows. When the user presses 1 on the remote controller, the normal broadcast menu display screen with the identification number 52 is displayed in the menu display mode (state S11). When the user presses 2 on the remote controller, the VOD pay-broadcast menu display screen with the identification number 53 is displayed in the menu display mode (state S12). When the user presses 3 on the remote controller, the VTR pay-broadcast menu display screen with the identification number 54 is displayed in the menu display mode (state S13). When the user presses 4 on the remote controller, the hotel guide menu display screen with the identification number 55 is displayed in the menu display mode (state S12). When the user presses 5 on the remote controller, language switching is performed (state S13). That is,
If the communication terminal is in Japanese mode before the user presses the remote control 5, the mode becomes English mode. If the communication terminal is in the English mode before the user presses the remote control 5, the user enters the English mode. Switch to Japanese mode.

The operation when the communication terminal is displaying the normal broadcast menu with the identification number 52 (state S11) is as follows. When the user presses 1 on the remote controller, channel 01 in the normal broadcast mode is selected (state S16). When the user presses 2 on the remote controller, channel 02 in the normal broadcast mode is selected (state S17).

The operation when the communication terminal is displaying the VOD pay broadcast menu with the identification number 53 (state S12) is as follows. When the user presses 1 on the remote controller, the program having the VOD number 01 is reproduced in the VOD pay broadcast mode by the transition as shown in FIG. 10 (state S1).
8). When the user presses 2 on the remote control, for example, the transition shown in FIG.
The program with the OD number 02 is reproduced (state S19). When the user presses 3 on the remote controller, for example, the transition shown in FIG.
The reproduction of the third program is performed (state S20). Even if the user presses 4 or 5 on the remote control, the communication terminal does nothing,
The menu of the identification number 53 remains displayed.

The operation when the communication terminal is displaying the VTR broadcast menu with the identification number 54 (state S13) is as follows. When the user presses 1 on the remote controller, channel 25 in the VTR pay broadcast mode is selected (state S2).
1). When the user presses 2 on the remote controller, the channel 26 in the VTR pay broadcast mode is selected (state S22).
When the user presses 3 on the remote controller, channel 27 in the VTR pay broadcast mode is selected (state S23).

The operation when the communication terminal is displaying the hotel guide menu of the identification number 55 (state S17) is as follows. When the user presses 1 on the remote controller, the program with the hotel guide number 01 is displayed in the hotel guide mode.
When the user presses 2 on the remote controller, the program with the hotel guide number 02 is displayed in the hotel guide mode.

It is to be noted that all possible transitions of the communication terminal may be provided by menu control data, or that a part of the transition of the communication terminal may be fixed and other transitions may be provided by menu control data. You may do it.

Referring to FIG. 5, another example of the configuration of communication terminal 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is characterized in that a system state storage unit 18 is added to the terminal device 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The center equipment 20 transmits the status of the system to each communication terminal 10 via the transmission path 21.
The transmission timing of the state of the system can be determined as appropriate for each system, and may be transmitted from the center facility 20 to each communication terminal at a fixed interval or a variable interval. At the timing when a request is transmitted to the communication terminal 20, the center equipment 20 is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 that has transmitted the request.
May be transmitted.

When the communication terminal 10 receives the transmitted system state by the communication unit 13, the communication terminal 10 stores the system state in the system state storage unit 18.

When the user operates the communication terminal 10 using an input device such as a remote controller, the operation receiving unit 11 receives the operation and the transition destination determining unit 15 determines the transition destination. At this time, the transition destination determining means 15
1 and the identification number stored in the display state storage unit 12 and the operation mode storage unit 17 described later.
The transition destination is determined in consideration of both the operation mode stored in the system state and the system state stored in the system state storage unit 18.

The transition processing means 16 displays the display of the communication terminal,
Change to the transition destination determined above. When the determined transition destination is a moving image, reproduction is started. When the determined transition destination has an identification number, the identification number indicating the new display content is stored in the display state storage unit 12 and the new operation mode is stored in the operation mode storage unit 17.

In a system using a communication terminal as shown in the present configuration example, the hotel guide program is divided into VOD and VTR.
Consider an example of preparing both. The playback of the hotel guide program by VOD is started or stopped in response to a request from a user. In the hotel guide program by the VTR, the content recorded on the VTR is repeatedly reproduced on a certain channel, and the user watches the hotel guide program by selecting the channel. In this case, the communication terminal 1
In the hotel guide mode, control 0 is performed, for example, as described with reference to FIG. That is, in the case of the hotel guide mode, the VOD is referred to
If there is a vacancy in the channel, the hotel guide by the VOD service shown in S72 to S75 is reproduced, and
When the channel is congested, it is possible to perform control such as selecting a hotel guide by the VTR service shown in S76 to S78. The decision to select a hotel guide by the VTR service may be based on whether there is a VOD channel available,
A certain threshold value may be determined, and a reference may be made based on whether or not the number of free channels of the VOD is greater than the threshold value.

The present invention is effective not only for a communication terminal but also for a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a still image or a moving image recorded on a certain recording medium. A third embodiment of the present invention, which is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a reproducing apparatus, will be described with reference to FIG.

The reproducing apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment
An operation receiving unit 11, a display state storing unit 12, a menu control data storing unit 14, a transition destination determining unit 15,
It has a transition processing unit 16, an operation mode storage unit 17, and a recording medium reading unit 31.

The operation receiving means 11 is a means for receiving an operation signal sent from a remote controller or the like. The display state storage unit 12 stores the identification number of the currently displayed screen shown in FIG. Menu control data storage means 14
Stores the menu control data read from the recording medium. The transition destination determining means 15 is provided with an operation signal from the operation receiving means 11 and a current system state consisting of an identification number indicating the currently displayed screen stored in the display state storing means 12 or an operation mode storing means. 15 based on the current operation mode consisting of the current operation mode ID stored in the current operation mode ID, or both the current operation mode and the current system state.
The transition destination is determined with reference to the menu control data stored in the. The transition processing unit 16 performs a process of transitioning to a transition destination based on the transition destination determination data from the transition destination determination unit 15. The operation mode storage unit 17 stores the operation mode ID shown in FIG. 3 representing the current operation mode. The recording medium reading means 31 reads out still image data, moving image data, audio data, menu control data, and the like recorded on the recording medium.

When the present invention is applied to the reproducing apparatus 30, menu control data is recorded on a recording medium such as a video CD or DVD together with distribution information of a program or the like. The reproducing device 30 reads the menu control data by the recording medium reading means 31 and stores it in the menu control data storage means 14.

With such a configuration, menu screens and voices of a plurality of languages are recorded on a recording medium, and a language is selected on the main menu display screen. , And can be reproduced and displayed or uttered from a track in a desired language.

It should be noted that the menu control data may be such that all possible transition information is collectively recorded on a recording medium, and the reproducing apparatus may read the entire menu control data at one time. For each program distribution information, information on possible transitions may be dispersed and recorded on a recording medium, and each time a transition is made, menu control data indicating the next transition may be read.

When the menu control data indicating the next transition is read each time a transition is made, the menu control data storage means 14 is omitted, and the recording medium reading means 31 is switched to the menu every time an operation is performed by the user. The control data is read, and the read data is directly used as the transition destination determining means 1
The playback device 30 may be configured as referred to in FIG.

[0071]

According to the present invention, by including the operation mode information in the menu control data and operating the operation mode of the video equipment, the service content can be changed according to the state of the system or the user, thereby providing a more convenient service. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information distribution system and a configuration of a communication terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a definition example of a mode ID and parameters for each operation mode in menu control data.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of menu control data using a mode ID and parameters defined in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is based on the menu control data defined in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state transition of a communication terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information distribution system and a configuration of a communication terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a playback device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional information distribution system.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a selection list and a playlist of a video CD.

FIG. 9 is a transition diagram when viewing a free program.

FIG. 10 is a transition diagram when a pay program is viewed.

FIG. 11 is a transition diagram when the same program content is supplied by both a VOD and a VTR.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication terminal 11 Operation reception means 12 Display state storage means 13 Communication means 14 Menu control data storage means 15 Transition destination determination means 16 Transition processing means 17 Mode storage means 18 System state storage means 20 Center equipment 21 Transmission path 30 Reproduction device 31 Recording Medium reading means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A center facility for distributing information such as a program, a transmission path for transmitting the information and a request command for the information, and a communication terminal for receiving information distributed from the center facility, transmitting a request command, and the like. A communication terminal for use in an information distribution system having menu control data for defining a menu transition and an operation mode for selecting a program, wherein a menu control data storage means for storing the menu control data; Operation mode storage means for storing the operation mode, a transition destination determination means for determining a transition destination from the menu control data and the operation mode, and a transition processing means for performing a predetermined transition based on a command from the transition destination determination means , And selectively receive a plurality of different programs in a plurality of different operation modes. A communication terminal having a program selection function. 2. A system state storing means for storing a system state of the information distribution system, wherein a transition destination determining means determines a transition destination from menu control data, an operation mode, and the system state. The communication terminal having a program selection function according to claim 1. 3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the menu control data includes at least mode identification information indicating the operation mode and a parameter indicating a transition destination. 4. The center equipment transmits the menu control data to the communication terminal via the transmission path, and the communication terminal transmits the transmitted menu control data to the menu control data storage means. The communication terminal having a program selection function according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is stored. 5. A recording medium for reading menu control data and distribution information such as programs from a recording medium in which menu control data defining program transitions and operation modes for program selection and distribution information such as programs are recorded. Reading means, menu control data storage means for storing menu control data read from the recording medium reading means,
Operation mode storage means for storing the current operation mode, transition destination determination means for determining a transition destination from the menu control data and the operation mode, and transition processing means for performing a predetermined transition based on an instruction from the transition destination determination means Wherein a plurality of different programs are selectively reproduced in a plurality of different operation modes.