JPH11355674A - Transmitter, receiver, transmitting method and receiving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitting method and a receiving method which are advantageous in costs without producing partiality among broadcasting stations, degrading the quality of an EPG itself nor damaging operability until the EPG is displayed and utilized in the case of considering user's convenience and transmitting program related information about the whole programs broadcasted by all broadcasting stations. SOLUTION: This transmitter consists of plural broadcasting stations 200, 300,... which transmit plural transport streams and a program related information management center 700. The center 700 collects each program related information of the stations 200, 300,..., temporally and successively inserts the collected program related information into each transport stream of the stations 200, 300,... and also controls transmission by inserting channel selection information which is for receiving a broadcasting station that currently transmits the collected program related information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to program-related information other than programs, such as program names, program broadcast dates and times, broadcast channels, program genres, program performers, and program contents. A transmitting device and a method for transmitting summary information and the like, and a program-related information broadcasted by the broadcasting device and the method are received and displayed on a display screen.
The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus such as a television receiver for creating and displaying a program table such as G and a method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, digital broadcasting services for broadcasting video and audio signals as digital data have already been started.

[0003] Digital broadcasting using satellites has already been started in the United States, Japan, Europe and other countries around the world.
Terrestrial services are about to start in the United States. In these digital broadcasting, one transmission band,
Video data and audio data of a program and various other data are multiplexed and broadcast. As a method of performing such data multiplexing, an encoding structure of an MPEG2-transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as TS) is generally used. The encoding structure and various parameters are defined by the following standards.

[0004] ISO / IEC IS 13818-1, Internati
onal Standard, MPEG-2 Systems In the above standard, the program specification information (Program Specific Information
: Hereinafter abbreviated as PSI). In the digital broadcasting service, in addition to the PSI, program-related information (or program arrangement information) for a user (viewer) to identify a service or an event is separately defined and operated. Such information is displayed on the screen in an electronic program guide (Electronoc Program Guide: hereinafter abbreviated as EPG).
It is also used as data for creating.

[0005] The format of the program-related information may be independently defined by a broadcaster, but there are also standards for sharing receivers. For example, the Japan Radio Industry Association has established the following standards.

ARIB STD-B10 Program arrangement information used for digital broadcasting In terrestrial digital broadcasting in the United States and BS digital broadcasting in Japan, where full-scale broadcasting is scheduled to start in recent years, a plurality of broadcasters enter the market. By transmitting program-related information based on such standards, the receiving side does not need a dedicated receiver for each channel.

[0007] On the other hand, in CS digital broadcasting, which has already started operation, the broadcast consignee defines its own program-related information (program arrangement information) format.
When receiving a TS managed by the broadcast consignment provider, a dedicated receiver is used. The broadcasting service provider for CS digital broadcasting manages a large number of TSs collectively, and a specific TS in the program-related information for creating an EPG is used for transmission. In this specific TS,
It constantly transmits program-related information on programs broadcasted in all TSs managed by the business operator. The dedicated receiver receives the specific TS when an EPG display command is input by a button operation of the user, extracts the program related information from the specific TS, and sets an EP covering the programs broadcasted in all the TSs.
Create and display G.

[0008] When a plurality of TSs are managed by one broadcasting company as in the CS digital broadcasting described above, an EPG covering all programs broadcasted by the TSs can be easily realized.

By the way, in the aforementioned terrestrial digital broadcasting in the United States and in BS digital broadcasting in Japan, where full-scale broadcasting is scheduled to start in recent years, a predetermined TS is assigned to each of a plurality of broadcasters. I have. That is, unlike a CS digital broadcast, one broadcaster does not manage a plurality of TSs collectively. In such terrestrial digital broadcasting in the United States and BS digital broadcasting in Japan, a part of a certain TS is allocated exclusively for broadcasting program-related information for creating an EPG.
A method of transmitting the program-related information on all the programs in S is possible. However, in the TS to which the broadcast of the program-related information is assigned, the amount of broadcast data that can be used by the broadcaster is reduced, which causes unfairness among the broadcasters. Therefore, realization is difficult.

[0010] A method is also conceivable in which all TSs transmit program-related information for EPG creation relating to all programs broadcasted in all TSs. This method is also used by each broadcaster in each TS for original broadcasting. Since the data transmission capacity that can be used is reduced, it is difficult to obtain agreement between broadcasters. Furthermore, since the same program-related information is transmitted in duplicate in each TS, the efficiency is low even from the viewpoint of the entire broadcasting system. Therefore, it is highly likely that each broadcasting company will transmit only the program-related information relating to the program to be broadcasted on its own TS in its own TS. There is a problem that only the display can be performed.

[0011]

As described above, as a first method, when user convenience is considered, EP
As the program-related information for creating G, it is desirable that a long-term broadcast schedule in all TSs and detailed related information of each program be broadcast in one dedicated TS. However, since such program-related information has a very large data amount, in a broadcast mode in which different TSs are assigned to a plurality of broadcasters, a single TS corresponding to one broadcaster collectively includes the TSs. It is difficult to broadcast by broadcasting because the amount of broadcast data that can be used by the broadcaster is reduced.

On the other hand, as a second method, when each TS transmits only program-related information relating to a program broadcast by the TS, the EPG created by the receiver is transmitted to another TS.
Is not displayed at all, and the user's convenience is greatly impaired.

[0013] As a third method, when a method of causing all TSs to transmit program-related information on all programs broadcasted by all TSs is performed, all TSs consume a large amount of transmission bandwidth for the program-related information. As a result, the original amount of program data may be reduced and the quality of the program itself may be degraded.
If the program-related information amount for each program is reduced in favor of the quality deterioration, the displayed EPG will not be structurally satisfactory, and the merit as the EPG will be diminished. In addition, if the transmission frequency of the program-related information is kept low in order not to reduce the original program data amount, the waiting time until the EPG is created and displayed increases, and the time until the EPG is displayed and utilized is increased. Operability is significantly impaired. As a countermeasure, there is a method of storing EPG data in a memory by a receiver, but a large-capacity memory is required, which leads to a significant cost increase of a product.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in consideration of user's convenience in a broadcast mode in which a predetermined TS is assigned to each of a plurality of broadcasters.
When transmitting program-related information of all programs broadcasted in all TSs, there is no unfairness among broadcasters corresponding to each TS, and the quality of the EPG itself is not deteriorated, and the EPG is displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission device, a reception device, a transmission method, and a reception method that are advantageous in terms of cost without impairing operability until use.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A transmitting apparatus according to the present invention collects program-related information on a program currently being broadcast in a plurality of transport streams and a program scheduled to be broadcast, and collects all the collected information. Collection means for outputting program-related information; program-related information insertion means for inserting the all-program-related information into transport streams that are different according to time zones; and which transport stream currently has all the program-related information inserted. Insertion means for generating identification information for identification and insertion into all of the plurality of transport streams; and means for transmitting a plurality of transport streams into which the all-program related information and identification information have been inserted. It is a feature.

Still further, the present invention provides a receiving means for receiving a transport stream transmitted from a transmitting apparatus, and identifying a transport stream into which all program-related information is currently inserted from the received transport stream. Means for extracting the identification information of all the programs, means for receiving a transport stream into which all the program-related information is currently inserted according to the identification information, and means for extracting all the program-related information from the transport stream. Means for creating a program guide from related information.

In the present invention, when there are a plurality of broadcast stations transmitting a plurality of transport streams, equipment such as a program-related information management center is provided in addition to the plurality of broadcast stations. And a program-related information collecting means for collecting program-related information on programs broadcast in transport streams from a plurality of broadcast stations and programs to be broadcast in the program-related information management center; Means for inserting the program-related information into each of the plurality of transport streams (transmission channels) in time sequence, and a transponder that currently transmits the program-related information to all of the plurality of transport streams. And a means for inserting identification information for inserting channel selection information as identification information for receiving a port stream (transmission channel), thereby providing program-related information of all programs in a plurality of transport streams. Is inserted into each transport stream sequentially, for example, in a rotating manner for each time zone and transmitted. And so, and to all of the plurality of transport streams, and they are transmitted by inserting tuning information that can receive a transport stream that transmits the aggregated program-related information currently. This makes it possible to realize a transmission device that does not cause unfairness between transport streams, that is, between broadcasters, in a broadcast mode in which different broadcasters are assigned to a plurality of transport streams, such as BS digital broadcasting.

The receiving apparatus extracts channel selection information included in all transport streams, selects and receives a transport stream for transmitting program-related information based on the channel selection information, By extracting program-related information, a program guide (EPG) can be created and displayed. Since each transport stream takes charge of the transmission of the aggregated program-related information for each time zone, a large burden is not always imposed on each transport stream, so that the quality of the displayed EPG itself is degraded. Can be avoided,
In addition, in the transport stream in charge, it is easy to transmit the program-related information in a timely and continuous manner, so that there is no waiting time for displaying the EPG and the operability until the EPG is utilized is not impaired. And EPG
A large-capacity memory for holding data is unnecessary, and a receiving device which is advantageous in terms of cost can be realized.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a transmitting device and a receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the receiving device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment in a case where the transmission time zone (service time zone) of the program-related information is changed depending on the day for all broadcasters. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital broadcasting system according to the present invention.

First, the overall configuration of the digital broadcasting system will be described with reference to FIG. The antenna form is a form corresponding to BS digital broadcasting.

In the digital broadcast system, FIG. 4 shows one transport stream (hereinafter referred to as T
There are a plurality of broadcasting stations 200, 300, 400,. A plurality of carrier waves modulated for each TS transmitted from each broadcasting station are transmitted, for example, in the satellite 500, and the satellite 500
It is re-transmitted after being amplified by the repeater inside. Receiver 600
Then, one is selected from a plurality of carrier waves transmitted from the satellite 500, the TS is demodulated, one video data is separated from a plurality of video data included in the one TS, and MPEG decoding processing is performed. And outputs it as a video signal to the display device.

The broadcasting station 200 inputs a plurality of image data obtained from a plurality of (three in the figure) image pickup devices 201, 202, and 203 to a plurality of MPEG encoders 211, 212, and 213, respectively. , 213 are encoded in the MPEG format and transport packets (hereinafter referred to as T
S packet). Broadcasting station 200 is divided into three transport groups, and three MPEG encoders 211, 212, and 213 operate with a clock from one clock generator 221. Similarly, broadcast station 300
A plurality of image data obtained from a plurality of (two in the figure) imaging devices 301 and 302 are respectively converted into a plurality of MPEG encoders 31.
1 and 312, and each encoder 311, 312 outputs MP
A TS packet is generated by encoding using the EG method. The broadcasting station 300 is divided into two transport groups, and the two MPEG encoders 311 and 312 operate with a clock from one clock generator 321. Similarly, the broadcasting station 400 includes a plurality of (two in the figure) imaging devices 40.
The plurality of image data obtained from the first and second encoders 402 and 412 are input to the plurality of MPEG encoders 411 and 412, respectively.
The TS packets are generated by encoding each of the 1, 412 using the MPEG method. The broadcasting station 400 is divided into two transport groups, and the two MPEG encoders 411 and 412 operate with a clock from one clock generator 421.

In the broadcasting station 200, a plurality of MPEG
A plurality of TSs respectively output from the encoders 211 to 213
The packet is multiplexed by the multiplexing circuit 231 to form one TS, and the carrier is modulated by the modulation circuit 241 to be transmitted from the antenna to the satellite 5.
Send to 00. Similarly, in the broadcasting station 300, a plurality of MPEs
A plurality of Ts output from the G encoders 311 and 312, respectively.
The S packet is multiplexed by a multiplexing circuit 331 to form one TS, and a carrier is modulated by a modulation circuit 341 to be transmitted from an antenna to a satellite 5.
Send to 00. Similarly, the broadcasting station 400 has a plurality of MPEs.
A plurality of Ts output from the G encoders 411 and 412, respectively.
The S packet is multiplexed by the multiplexing circuit 431 to form one TS, and the carrier is modulated by the modulation circuit 441, and is transmitted from the antenna to the satellite 5.
Send to 00. In the satellite 500, the three carrier waves of the three TSs transmitted from the three broadcasting stations are amplified and retransmitted by separate repeaters (transponders) 501 to 503, respectively. On the receiving side, the carrier waves of the plurality of TSs are received by the antenna and supplied to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 600.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 200, one demodulation circuit (including a tuner) 611 receives and demodulates one carrier from a plurality of TSs transmitted on carriers of different frequencies, and multiplexes the demodulated one TS. The video data is supplied to a separation circuit 621 to select (separate) desired video data from a plurality of video data in the TS, and the video data is decoded by a video decoder (including an MPEG decoder) 631 in an MPEG system. The MPEG decoded video signal is displayed on the screen of a display device 641 such as a cathode ray tube (CRT).

FIG. 5 shows a data structure of a transport packet constituting an MPEG2 transport stream (TS). MPEG2 system layer (MPEG
2 System Layer) defines a method of packetizing a plurality of video streams and multiplexing them into one TS. Here, the packets of each video bit stream multiplexed on one TS are called transport packets (TS packets). The TS packet has a 4-byte header portion, and a PID (packet ID) in the TS portion indicates what data the TS packet contains. In the decoding of the system layer in the demultiplexing circuit 621, the PID is taken out and the value is determined to determine what TS packet it is. If the TS packet is video data TS packet to be decoded, the TS packet is extracted. To the video decoder 631. Note that the program-related information for creating an EPG according to the present invention is arranged and transmitted in, for example, a payload in a TS packet. Also, since the channel selection information for selecting the transport stream (channel) for transmitting the program-related information for creating an EPG according to the present invention has a small information amount, the channel selection information is arranged in, for example, an optional field in the adaptation field of the TS packet. It may be transmitted. The number of video streams that can be multiplexed into one TS is, for example, 4
0 Mb / s, and the bit rate of the video bit stream is 6
Assuming Mb / s, six signals can be transmitted. Further, when transmitting a large number of video streams, a plurality of TS
Will be used.

FIG. 1 shows a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the antenna form is a form corresponding to terrestrial digital broadcasting.

In FIG. 1, a transmitting side (hereinafter referred to as a transmitting device) 100 of a digital broadcasting system includes a broadcasting station 200 and a broadcasting station 30.
0, a program-related information management center 700. Although the case where there are two broadcasting stations is shown here, there may be two or more broadcasting stations.

The broadcasting station 200 is provided with program data generating means (FIG. 4).
210), and multiplexed program-related information, which is all-program-related information to be described later, and channel selection information as identification information, on a plurality of pieces of program data. Packet multiplexing means (which is a packet inserting means corresponding to the multiplexing circuit of FIG. 4) 231;
Modulating means 241 as transmitting means for generating a signal for transmission by modulating a carrier wave of a predetermined frequency with the multiplexed data.
And program-related information generating means 250 for own-station programs for generating program-related information for own-station programs of the broadcasting station 200. Similarly, the broadcasting station 300 includes program data generating means (corresponding to the image pickup devices 301 and 302 and MPEG encoders 311 and 312 in FIG. 4) 310 and packet multiplexing means (packet inserting means corresponding to the multiplexing circuit in FIG. 4). 331), modulating means 341 as transmitting means for generating a transmission signal by modulating a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of the broadcasting station 200 with the multiplexed data, and a local station program of the broadcasting station 300. Program related information generating means 350.

The program-related information management center 700 includes a program-related information collection unit 710, a program-related information transmission channel selection unit 720 as program-related information insertion unit, and a program-related information transmission channel selection as identification information insertion unit. Information generation means 73
0. Here, ch indicates a channel. The program-related information collecting means 710 has a function of counting program-related information of each station from the broadcasting stations 200 and 300. The program-related information transmission channel selection means 720 as the program-related information insertion means transmits the totaled program-related information, which is all the program-related information collected by the program-related information collecting means 710, to a plurality of (here, two) broadcasts. A plurality (two) of broadcasting stations (that is, transmission channels, hereinafter referred to as transmission channels) such that one of the stations 200 and 300 is sent to one of the broadcasting stations for a fixed time and the next fixed time is sent to the other broadcasting station. A transmission channel for inserting and transmitting the totalized program-related information sequentially and temporally in each case.
(That is, a broadcast station). The program-related information transmission channel selection information generation means 730 as the identification information insertion means is used to select the transmission channel (ie, the broadcast station) selected by the program-related information transmission channel selection means 720 at regular time intervals. A function is provided for inserting channel selection information as identification information into all (here, two) transmission channels (that is, all broadcast stations).

Receiving apparatus 600 has a receiving means (corresponding to the demodulation circuit in FIG. 4) 611 and can extract channel selection information as identification information or totaled program-related information as all program-related information. Possible packet separating means (corresponding to the demultiplexing circuit in FIG. 4) 621, a decoder 631 for performing MPEG decoding processing of program data, a display means 641 for displaying program data and EPG, and a selecting means transmitted from the transmitting side. Program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650 for grasping the program-related information transmission channels that have been compiled based on the station information and controlling channel selection.
And a program table (EP) based on the totaled program-related information.
An EPG generating means 660 as a program guide generating means for generating and displaying G), a user interface (I / F) means 670 for inputting an operation signal from the operating means itself or a remote operating means (remote control), It is provided with.

The receiving means 611 receives a carrier transmitted from the transmitting apparatus 100 at a different frequency for each broadcasting station, that is, for each transmission channel, selects one transmission channel, and demodulates a TS included in the carrier of the channel. And a process of switching the reception channel to the transmission channel containing the aggregated program-related information based on the channel frequency information from the transmission channel grasping means 650. The packet separating unit 621 converts necessary data (program data, channel selection information for receiving a TS into which the aggregated program-related information is inserted, and aggregated program-related information) from the TS extracted by the reception unit 611. It has the function of separating. The decoder 631 performs MPEG decoding of the program data separated by the packet separating unit 621 to reproduce a video signal, and supplies the video signal to the display unit 641. Program related information transmission c
The h grasping means 650 constitutes, together with the packet separating means 621, an extracting means of the totalized program related information, and when the EPG display instruction (operation) is performed, the totalized program related information transmission from the packet separating means 621 is performed. Receiving means for generating channel selection frequency information of the transport stream ch based on the transport stream channel selection information (identification information);
In addition to supplying the packet to the 611, the PID value of the packet containing the aggregated program-related information (information for separating the packet containing the aggregated program-related information) is supplied to the packet separating unit 621. The EPG generation means 660 generates an EPG based on the tallyed program-related information separated by the packet separation means 621 and supplies it to the display means 641.

In the digital broadcasting system (transmitting apparatus 100 and receiving apparatus 600) configured as described above, the broadcast stations 200 and 300 transmit their own programs by their own program-related information generating means 250 and 350, respectively. The program-related information relating to the program to be executed is generated and sent to the program-related information management center 700.
The program-related information is, for example, a program name, a program broadcast date and time, a broadcast channel, a program genre, a performer of the program, and summary information on the contents of the program. In the program-related information management center 700, the program-related information collecting means 710 compiles the program-related information transmitted from each broadcasting station. The tabulated program-related information is distributed to the broadcast station 200 and the broadcast station 300 by the program-related information transmission channel selection means 720 for each time slot. For example, between a certain time t1 and t2, the broadcast station 20
The signal is sent to the broadcasting station 300 at 0 during the next time t2 to t3. Also, program-related information transmission channel selection information generation means 730
In this example, channel selection information including information for identifying a broadcasting station that is currently transmitting the aggregated program-related information is generated and transmitted to all the broadcasting stations (both the broadcasting station 200 and the broadcasting station 300).

The broadcast station 200 and the broadcast station 300 select the aggregated program-related information, which is all the program-related information transmitted from the program-related information management center 100, and the aggregated program-related information transmission TS. The channel selection information is multiplexed with the local station TS and broadcast. That is, a TS is created by multiplexing packets of program-related information, channel selection information, and the like on the own station broadcast program data, and is broadcast. Here, the aggregated program-related information is not always sent from the program-related information management center 700 to each of the broadcasting stations 200 and 300. Therefore, each broadcasting station 20
At 0 and 300, the program data generating means 210 and 310 are controlled only during the time period in which the aggregated program-related information is transmitted to reduce the number of packets of the own station broadcast program data from the normal number. Insert the tabulated program related information into the station broadcast program data. The data multiplexed by the packet multiplexing units 231 and 331 are subjected to modulation processing by the modulation units 241 and 341 and transmitted by carrier waves having different frequencies.

In the receiving apparatus 600, the receiving means 611 performs a process such as demodulation, and obtains a TS in which packets of the aforementioned program data, totaled program related information, channel selection information and the like are multiplexed. The packet separating means 621 separates and extracts program data, tuning information, and totalized program related information from the TS obtained by the receiving means 611.

Usually, the packet separating means 62
The program data extracted in 1 is decoded by the decoder 631, and the obtained program video is displayed on the display means 641.

When the viewer inputs an EPG display command (operation) through the user I / F means 670, the receiving device 600
First, the channel selection information separated by the packet separation means 621 is decoded by the program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650, and the frequency of the broadcast radio wave on which the TS currently transmitting the program-related information is being broadcast, and The value of the identifier (PID) of the packet containing the aggregated program-related information is grasped. By this operation, when it is determined that the aggregated program-related information is present in the currently received TS, the PID value of the packet containing the aggregated program-related information is instructed to the packet separating unit 621, and the packet The separating means 621 separates the packet containing the program-related information which has been counted based on the PID value. The EPG generation means 660 generates an EPG based on the separated program-related information and displays it on the display means 641. If the program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650 determines that there is no aggregated program-related information in the currently received TS, the program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650 grasps the program-related information. The frequency information of the information broadcast wave is transmitted to the receiving unit 611, and the receiving unit 611 receives the broadcast wave of that frequency and performs processing such as demodulation.
A TS in which the program-related information packets are multiplexed is obtained. Thereafter, the packet separating means 621 separates the packet containing the program related information based on the PID value sent from the program related information transmission channel grasping means 650. The EPG generation means 660 generates an EPG based on the separated program-related information and displays it on the display means 641.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 described above, when transmitting program-related information on all programs broadcasted at all broadcasting stations (or TSs), user convenience is taken into consideration. A configuration in which program-related information of all programs spanning a plurality of broadcasting stations (transmission channels) is totaled, and the collected program-related information is sequentially and temporally (that is, carried around) at each broadcasting station (transmission channel); As a result, since no burden is imposed on only one broadcasting station (or TS), there is no unfairness between the broadcasting stations, and the program guide information can be sent with sufficient contents, so that the display quality of the program guide (EPG) itself can be improved. Since the program guide (EPG) of all programs can be displayed and the transmission frequency of the program-related information can be increased without deterioration, the waiting time for the program guide (EPG) display instruction is small. Operation There is no prejudice to the sex. Also, by using the channel selection information indicating the transmission channel of the aggregated program-related information,
When an EPG display request is input from a user, the operation for selecting a TS to which the aggregated program-related information is transmitted can be immediately started, and the aggregated program is added to the currently selected TS for viewing. Even when the related information is not included, the program guide (EPG) can be displayed in a state close to real time. The receiving device can create an EPG for all programs spanning a plurality of TSs, and can provide great convenience to the user. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to transmit the aggregated program-related information to each of the plurality of TSs, the transmission band can be effectively used as a result.

FIG. 2 shows a receiving device in a digital broadcasting system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the configuration of the transmitting device of the digital broadcasting system is similar to that of FIG.
0,300, and a program-related information management center 700. The program-related information transmission channel selection information generation means 730 of the program-related information management center 700 includes information indicating which broadcast station is transmitting the program-related information in the TS, and an expiration date of the information. In other words, the program-related information transmission channel selecting means 720 generates channel selection information including information indicating the time at which the program-related information is to be switched to the next TS for transmitting the program-related information, and transmits it to all the broadcasting stations 200 and 300.

The receiving apparatus 600 shown in FIG. 2 includes a receiving means (corresponding to the demodulation circuit in FIG. 4) 611, a packet separating means (corresponding to the multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit in FIG. 4) 621, and an MPEG decoding process for the program data. Decoder 631, a display means 641 for displaying program data and EPG, and program-related information for grasping a program-related information transmission channel that has been compiled based on channel selection information sent from the transmission side and controlling channel selection. Transmission c
h grasping means 650 and EPG generating means 660 for generating and displaying an EPG based on the collected program-related information.
And a user interface (I / F) means 670 for inputting an operation signal from the operation means itself or a remote operation means (remote control), and channel selection information for selecting a totaled program-related information transmission TS. Memory for
680 and expiration date checking means 690 for determining whether or not the channel selection information stored in the memory 680 is currently valid. That is, the receiving apparatus 600 shown in FIG.
In addition, a memory 680 and an expiration date confirmation unit 690 are provided.

The receiving means 611 receives a carrier transmitted from the transmitting apparatus 100 at a different frequency for each broadcasting station, that is, for each transmission channel, selects one transmission channel, and demodulates a TS included in the carrier of the channel. And a process for switching the reception channel to the transmission channel containing the aggregated program-related information based on the channel frequency information. Packet separation means
A function 621 separates necessary data (program data, channel selection information for receiving a TS in which the aggregated program-related information is inserted, and aggregated program-related information) from the TS extracted by the reception unit 611. have. The memory 680 is for holding the channel selection information separated by the packet separation unit 621. The held channel selection information is used to store the program-related information that has been compiled on the transmission side and to a plurality of transmission channels (broadcast stations). Each time switching is performed, the new channel selection information is supplied from the packet separating means 621 and updated. When the user inputs an EPG display command (operation), the expiration date confirming means 690 determines whether the channel selection information held in the memory 680 is currently valid or not, by checking the program included in the channel selection information. The determination is made by comparing the TS switching time (expiration date) of the related information transmission with the current time. The decoder 631 performs MPEG decoding of the program data separated by the packet separating unit 621 to reproduce a video signal, and supplies the video signal to the display unit 641. Program related information transmission channel grasping means 650
Indicates that when an EPG display command (operation) is issued,
Based on the transport stream channel selection information for transmitting the aggregated program-related information held in 680, the frequency information for channel selection of the transport stream ch is generated and supplied to the receiving unit 611, and the aggregated program-related information is The PID value of the packet containing the information (information for separating the packet containing the aggregated program-related information) is grasped and supplied to the packet separating means 621. EPG generation means 660
An EPG is generated based on the tallyed program related information separated by the packet separating means 621 and supplied to the display means 641.

In the receiving apparatus 600 configured as described above, a process such as demodulation is performed by the receiving means 611, and the TS in which packets of the aforementioned program data, totaled program related information, channel selection information and the like are multiplexed. Get. The packet separating means 621 can separate and extract program data, channel selection information and totalized program related information from the TS. The extracted tuning information is immediately stored and held in the memory 680. Also, every time new tuning information is extracted from the packet separating means 621, the tuning information stored in the memory 680 is updated to new information. When the viewer inputs an EPG display command (operation) via the user I / F unit 670, the validity period checking unit 690 first determines whether or not the channel selection information stored in the memory 680 is currently valid. To judge. This determination can be made by comparing the TS switching time for transmitting program-related information included in the channel selection information with the current time.

Here, when the channel selection information held in the memory 680 is determined to be valid, the following operation is performed. memory
The channel selection information held in 680 is transmitted to the program-related information c.
The information is decoded by the grasping means 650, and the frequency of the broadcast wave on which the TS transmitting the currently compiled program-related information is being broadcast and the PID value of the packet containing the compiled program-related information are grasped. When it is determined by this operation that the currently received TS has the aggregated program-related information, the PID value of the packet containing the aggregated program-related information is instructed to the packet separating unit 621, and the packet separation is performed. Means 621 separates the packet containing the tallyed program related information based on the PID value. The EPG generating means 660 generates E based on the separated program-related information.
The PG is generated and displayed on the display means 641.

The program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650
If it is determined that the currently received TS does not include the aggregated program-related information, the program-related information transmission c
h The frequency information of the program-related information radio wave grasped by the grasping means 650 is transmitted to the receiving means 611, and the receiving means 611 receives the broadcast radio wave of that frequency, performs processing such as demodulation, and multiplexes the aggregated program-related information packets. Obtained TS. afterwards,
The packet separating means 621 separates the packet containing the aggregated program related information based on the PID value sent from the program related information transmission channel grasping means 650. EPG generation means 66
0 means EPG based on separated program related information
Is generated and displayed on the display means 641.

The expiration date checking means 690 uses the memory 680
When it is determined that the channel selection information held in the memory 680 is invalid, the next channel selection information is extracted by the packet
And immediately inputs the newly extracted tuning information to the expiration date checking means 690. After confirming the expiration date in the same manner as described above, the program-related information transmission channel grasping means 65
0 is the TS that is currently transmitting the aggregated program-related information
Grasps the frequency of the broadcast radio wave being broadcast and the PID value of the packet containing the program-related information that has been totaled.
When it is determined that the aggregated program-related information is present in the currently received TS by this operation, the PID value of the packet containing the aggregated program-related information or the contained packet is instructed to the packet separating means 621, and the packet separation is performed. In the means 621, this PI
The packet containing the program-related information is separated based on the D value. The EPG generation means 660 generates an EPG based on the separated program-related information and displays it on the display means 641.

The program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650
In the case where it is determined that the program-related information does not exist in the currently received TS, the frequency information of the program-related information broadcast radio wave grasped by the program-related information transmission channel grasping means 650 is transmitted to the receiving means 611. The receiving means 611 receives the broadcast wave of the frequency, performs processing such as demodulation, and obtains a TS in which the program-related information packets are multiplexed. Thereafter, the packet separating means 621 separates the packet containing the program related information based on the PID value sent from the program related information transmission channel grasping means 650. The EPG generation means 660 generates an EPG based on the separated program-related information and displays it on the display means 641.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2 described above, means (memory 680) for holding channel selection information inside the receiving device
Since there is no need to wait for channel selection information when an EPG display request is input from the user,
Using the channel selection information already held in the receiving device, it is possible to immediately start an operation for selecting a TS to which the aggregated program-related information is transmitted. In addition, since information indicating the expiration date is entered in the channel selection information on the transmission side and the expiration date confirmation means 690 is provided in the receiving device 600, the receiving device 600 has a means (memory 680) for internally holding the channel selection information. In this case, the stored tuning information is old, and the T
In S, there is a possibility that the tallyed program-related information has not been transmitted, and in such a case, it is detected that the expiration date has passed by comparing the expiration time with the current time, and the next new channel selection information is detected. , The operation can be shifted to the channel selection operation. That is, when an EPG display command is input, it is possible to prevent a TS that does not send out the aggregated program-related information from being received by mistake.

By the way, as described in the embodiment of FIG. 1, each broadcasting station must reduce the data amount of its own broadcasting program during the time period allocated for transmitting the aggregated program related information. Reducing the data amount is equivalent to lowering the program broadcast quality. In general, the number of viewers in a broadcasting time zone during the day is increased during a specific time zone, for example, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Therefore, if a specific broadcasting station is always assigned to transmit the aggregated program-related information in such a specific time zone, unfairness occurs between the broadcasting stations. Therefore, in the case where the transmission time zone of the aggregated program-related information is sequentially and temporally handled between broadcast stations, that is, between broadcasters,
It is conceivable to control the transmission of program-related information so as to be fair between broadcast stations.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the transmission method according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, when the transmission of the aggregated program-related information is assigned to a plurality of broadcasting stations (broadcasting companies) by the program-related information transmission channel selecting means 720 in the program-related information management center 700 in FIG. Is controlled so that the time zone in charge of transmitting the aggregated program-related information at the broadcasting station changes depending on the day.

For example, four broadcasters A, B, C, D
If there is, there is a day (24 hours) from 0:00 to 6:00, 6:00 to 1
It is divided into four time zones of 2:00, 12:00 to 18:00, and 18:00 to 24:00, and the broadcasters A, B, C, and D determine the transfer of program-related information for each time zone, and each time The service provider of the obi is configured to change according to the month or day of the week. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the time period from 18:00 to 24:00 when the golden time enters is as shown in FIG.
Different operators, such as C, B, and A, are in charge of each day.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 3 described above, when a system for transmitting program guide information that spans a plurality of broadcasters (transmission channels) in each transmission channel is adopted, a specific broadcasting business It is possible to avoid a situation in which a user always sends out the aggregated program-related information at the golden time, and it is possible to eliminate unfairness among the operators.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, one service provider is determined for each time zone. However, the time at the boundary between time zones, for example, a business A and a business B on Mondays If the user requests EPG display immediately before the boundary time 6:00 of each service time zone, the broadcaster is switched from A to B during acquisition of the aggregated program-related information. That is, it is possible to switch to the transmission channel of the provider B without acquiring all the program-related information required as EPG creation data on the transmission channel of the provider A,
In the transmission channel of the operator B, the remaining data is acquired or the data is acquired again, resulting in poor data acquisition efficiency. Therefore, there are four broadcasters A, B, C, and D. One day (24 hours) is from 0:00 to 6:00, from 6:00 to 12:00,
When the time is divided into four time zones from 2:00 to 18:00 and from 18:00 to 24:00, the broadcasters A, B, C, and D determine the responsibilities of transmitting the program-related information for each time zone differently depending on the day. Each of the carriers A, B, C, and D is assigned a slightly longer time than the boundary time (for example, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3). When the EPG display request is made by the user, it is necessary to create an EPG image in one transmission channel, in such a manner that the service time of the operator B is temporally overlapped at the boundary time between the time zones. The probability of missing data can be reduced. That is, it is possible to easily ensure continuity as data of program-related information that can be acquired by one transmission channel for EPG image creation.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, when transmitting program-related information on all programs broadcasted by all broadcasting stations (or TSs), user convenience is taken into consideration. Since the program-related information of all programs spanning a plurality of broadcasting stations (transmission channels) is totaled, and the totaled program-related information is sequentially and temporally (that is, carried around) in each transmission channel, the broadcasting is performed. Without causing unfairness between stations (or TSs), without deteriorating the display quality of the program guide itself, displaying the program guide for all programs, and ensuring the transmission frequency of program-related information, Using the channel selection information indicating the transmission channel of the totalized program-related information, the program guide can be displayed in a state close to real time, so that the operability for the program guide display command is not impaired, and Preparative manner to be advantageous transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus, it is possible to realize a transmission method, and a receiving method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a transmitting device and a receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a transmission method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a digital broadcasting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of a transport packet constituting an MPEG2 transport stream.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: transmitting device, 200, 300: broadcasting station, 210, 310: program data generating means, 231, 331: packet multiplexing means (packet inserting means), 241, 341: modulating means (transmitting means), 250, 3
50: program-related information generating means for own station program; 600: receiving apparatus; 611: receiving means; 621: packet separating means (extracting means for identifying information, extracting means for aggregated program-related information);
... Decoder, 641 ... Display means, 650 ... Program related information transmission c
h grasping means, 660: EPG generating means (program table creating means), 680: memory, 690: expiration date confirming means, 700: program related information management center, 710: program related information collecting means, 720: program related information transmission channel Selection means (program-related information insertion means), 730... Program-related information transmission channel selection information generation means (identification information insertion means).

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A collecting means for collecting program-related information relating to a program currently being broadcast in a plurality of transport streams and a program scheduled to be broadcast, and outputting the collected program-related information. Program-related information insertion means for inserting all program-related information into transport streams that differ according to time zones; and generating identification information for identifying which transport stream is currently inserted with all program-related information. A transmission apparatus comprising: an insertion unit that inserts all the transport streams into a plurality of transport streams; and a unit that transmits a plurality of transport streams into which the all-program related information and the identification information are inserted. 2. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said program-related information inserting means changes a transport stream into which said all-program-related information is inserted at predetermined time intervals. 3. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information includes information indicating a validity period. 4. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time zone is changed according to day. 5. A receiving means for receiving a transport stream transmitted from the transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2; and a transport stream into which all program-related information is currently inserted from the received transport stream. Means for extracting identification information for identification, means for receiving a transport stream into which all program-related information is currently inserted according to the identification information, and means for extracting all program-related information from the transport stream; Means for creating a program guide from all program-related information. 6. Collecting means collects program-related information on a program currently being broadcast in a plurality of transport streams and a program scheduled to be broadcast, and outputs all the collected program-related information. By program related information insertion means, said all program related information,
Insertion into different transport streams depending on the time zone, insertion means for generating identification information for identifying which transport stream is currently inserted with all program-related information, and inserting it into all of the plurality of transport streams And transmitting a plurality of transport streams into which the all-program related information and identification information are inserted. 7. An identification for receiving a transport stream transmitted by the transmission method according to claim 6 by receiving means, and identifying a transport stream into which all program-related information is currently inserted from the received transport stream. Receiving the transport stream in which all the program-related information is currently inserted according to the identification information, extracting all the program-related information from the transport stream, and generating a program table from the all-program-related information. A receiving method characterized by being created.