KR101014290B1 - Reception device, station selection method, and stream distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

When the stream data is switched to another input during viewing, and the input is returned to the stream data again, the stream data from the position immediately before switching to the other input can be easily reproduced. During playback of the video stream transmitted from the video server 10, the receiver 1 requests the video server 10 to stop playback of the video stream when the input is switched to the DTV broadcast received by the antenna 2, The position information at which playback of the video stream is stopped is stored. In the receiver 1, when the input is switched back to the video stream side, it is required for the video server 10 from the receiver 1 to resume playback of the video stream which was reproduced until just before the previous input was switched. At this time, the positional information stored at the time of transmission of the reproduction stop request is transmitted to the video server 10, and playback of the video stream starts from the position where the previous input was switched.

Television broadcast, stream data, receivers, playback means, switching means, communication means, transmitters

Description

Receiver and tuning method, and stream distribution system {RECEPTION DEVICE, STATION SELECTION METHOD, AND STREAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus, a channel selection method, and a stream distribution system suitable for use in the case of converting and receiving television broadcast and stream data.

In recent years, with the start of digital television broadcasting (hereinafter abbreviated to DTV) broadcasting using satellites and the preparation of terrestrial digital television broadcasting, DTV receivers for transmitting television broadcasts received as digital signals have become popular. In general, DTV receivers can also receive terrestrial analog television broadcasting.

On the other hand, as the network environment is maintained such that high-speed communication is possible on the Internet, a service for transmitting stream data, such as a video, through a network for streaming, which receives data and then plays back, has been proposed. The stream data is stored, for example, in a content server on the network. When the DTV receiver and the content server are connected in both directions through a network, and the DTV receiver requests a distribution of the desired video to the content server, the content server selects and plays the stream data of the requested video from the stored stream data. The stream data is distributed to the existing DTV receiver through the network. The transmitted stream data is received and sent by the DTV receiver.

In recent years, many television receivers have a plurality of inputs, so that other signals such as a video tape recorder (VTR) can be input. With one DTV receiver, the user can switch between digital or analog television broadcasting, stream-distributed video, video signals output from the VTR, and enjoy viewing each.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-253367 describes a technology that makes it possible to search for digital content or digital television broadcasting programs on the Internet using EPG (Electric Program Guide) data, and to convert and view these contents according to the search results. It is.

In a television receiver having both a function of receiving a television broadcast and a function of receiving stream data transmitted through the network as described above, the input can be switched to another input such as a television broadcast while receiving the stream data. By the way, when the input is switched to another input such as a television broadcast while receiving and transmitting the stream data, if the stream data is reproduced in the content server, the reproduction of the stream data proceeds even while viewing the content by another input. It will become. Therefore, it is necessary to return the playback position of the stream data in the case where it is desired to resume watching from immediately before switching to another input from the other input and switching to another input.

As described above, in a television receiver having both a function of receiving a television broadcast and a function of receiving stream data transmitted through a network, a function of automatically resuming the stream data from the position where it has returned to the previous playback position has been required. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a hard disk drive (built in the receiver 100 capable of receiving DTV) of digital image data by DTV broadcasting, which is broadcast through the satellite 110 and received by the antenna 102. A DTV receiving system has been proposed in which the HDD 101 is temporarily stored. The digital image data stored in the HDD 101 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 103, and is supplied to the receiver 120 as a signal that can be transmitted by the receiver 120. According to this configuration, the digital video data received on a certain channel by the antenna 102 is continuously stored in the HDD 101.

In this system, for example, information such as commercials inserted into a program broadcast on an existing channel, or data by broadcasting data superimposed with video data in DTV broadcasting is viewed in detail, so that the display is temporarily paused. It is set as the state, and the HDD 101 stores the received video data by television broadcasting. Subsequently, by continually storing the video data on the HDD 101, when the display pause state is released, the data from the time point at which the pause state is set is sequentially read from the HDD 101, whereby The continuity of the image played back and forth can be maintained.

For this configuration, it is considered to add a configuration that enables reception of stream data transmitted over the network. From the time when the stream data is switched to another input during reception, the received stream data is stored in the HDD 101 continuously. When the input is returned to the stream data from another input, the stream data stored in the HDD 101 is sequentially read from the data at the time when the input is switched, so that the stream data from the position where the input is completely replaced. Playback can be resumed.

However, in this configuration of FIG. 1, there is a problem that the cost increases because the HDD 101 is built into the television receiver. In addition, there is a problem that the burden on the device is large in order to reproduce the video data while storing the data on the HDD 101. In addition, due to the storage capacity of the HDD 101, there is a possibility that not all the received stream data can be stored. In this case, there is a problem that the reproduction may end in the middle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reproduce stream data from a position immediately before switching to another input when the stream data is switched to another input while watching and input is returned to the stream data again. It is to provide a receiving apparatus, a channel selection method, and a stream distribution system that enable the storage device to have a storage means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a receiving apparatus which switches television broadcasting and stream data so as to receive the data, comprising: reproducing means for reproducing the received stream data, and converting the input into an input different from that from the reproducing means; Transmission means for transmitting stream data when the input is switched from an input from the reproduction means to another input by the switching means during reproduction of the stream data by the reproduction means. When the stop request for stopping the transmission is sent to the source of the stream data by the communication means, and the switching means switches the input from another input to the output from the reproduction means again, the stream data is sent to the source of the stream data. Playback from the position where you stopped sending the stream data. Display is a receiving apparatus, characterized in that to transmit by the start request, the communication means.

In addition, the present invention provides a channel selection method in which television broadcasting and stream data are switched so that reception is possible. A step of communication in communication with the source of the stream data, and when the input is switched from the input from the reproducing step to another input during the reproducing of the stream data by the reproducing step, When a stop request for stopping transmission is sent to the source of the stream data by the communication step, and the input is switched again from the other input to the output from the reproduction step by the switching step, Start playback of the stream data from the position where you stopped sending the stream data. A start request, a channel selecting method, characterized in that to transmit by a step of the communication.

In addition, the present invention provides a stream distribution system that delivers stream data to a receiving apparatus that can switch between television broadcasting and stream data so that the stream apparatus can receive the stream data server for reproducing and transmitting the stream data and the stream data server. And a receiving device including a reproducing means for receiving stream data and reproducing the received stream data, switching means for switching the input into an input different from the input from the reproducing means, and communication means for communicating with the stream data server, The reception device sends a stop request to the stream data server by the communication means to stop the transmission of the stream data when the input device switches the input from the input from the playback means to another input during the playback of the stream data by the playback means. To the stream data The burr stops the transmission of the stream data by the stream data server in response to the stop request, and the receiving apparatus switches the stream data to the stream data server when the input device switches the input from another input to the input from the reproduction means again by the switching means. A communication request is sent to the stream data server by the communication means from the position where the transmission of the stream data is stopped from the position at which the transmission of the stream data is stopped. A stream distribution system characterized by reproducing and transmitting to a receiving device.

As described above, in the present invention, when the input stream is switched from the stream data to another input during reproduction of the received stream data, a stop request for stopping the transmission of the stream data is sent to the source of the stream data, and the input is again sent. When the stream data is switched from another input, the stream data is sent to the sender of the stream data so that a start request for starting the stream data from the position where the stream data is stopped is transmitted. Even if there is no means for accumulating the stream data, once the input is switched to another input and subsequently returned to the stream data, the stream data can be continuously reproduced from the position where the previous stream data was stopped.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system using a DTV receiver equipped with a hard disk drive according to the prior art.

2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration of an example of a stream distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an example of a DTV receiver according to the first aspect of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the stream distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a sequence chart schematically showing an example of a process of requesting pause of transmission of a stream from a DTV receiver to a video server;

6 is a sequence chart schematically showing an example of a process for requesting the start of stream distribution from a DTV receiver to a video server;

7 is a block diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an example of a history table;

9 is a block diagram for explaining an operation using a history table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a sequence chart schematically showing a process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the 1st form of embodiment of this invention is described, referring drawings. 2 schematically shows a configuration of an example of a stream distribution system according to the first aspect of the present invention. For example, a digital television (DTV) broadcast radio wave broadcast through the satellite 13 is received by the antenna 2 and supplied as a stream data by a reception processor (not shown) to be supplied to the signal processor 3 of the receiver 1. do. The signal processor 3 performs a predetermined process on the supplied stream data and supplies it to the receiver 4. The receiver 4 transmits an image based on the supplied signal.

The video server 10, for example, is managed by an Internet video distribution company, reproduces video data stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) 11 as video data storage means, and outputs it as stream data. The output stream data is transmitted via the Internet 12 and is received by the receiver 1, for example. In the receiver 1, the received stream data is subjected to predetermined processing in the signal processing section 3 and supplied to the receiver 4. The receiver 4 transmits an image based on the supplied signal.

In the following, the reproduction of the accumulated video data to be output as the stream data in the video server 10 is appropriately expressed as "reproducing the video stream data" or the like.

The receiver 1 can communicate in both directions through the image server 10 and the Internet 12. The receiver 1 switches the stream data based on the signal received by the antenna 2, and the stream data transmitted via the Internet 12, for example, in accordance with an operation of the receiver 1 of the user, and then the signal. It can be input to the processing part 3.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, while the user views the video corresponding to the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 with the receiver 4, the input to the signal processing unit 3 is controlled by the user's operation. After switching from the stream data transmitted from 10 to another input is instructed, the temporal playback position of the stream data at that time is stored, and the video stream data is reproduced from the receiver 1 to the video server 10. Requires a pause. Then, when the input to the signal processing unit 3 is returned to the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 from another input, the input to the signal processing unit 3 stored in the receiver 1 immediately before switching to another input. The video server 10 requests the video server 10 to reproduce the video stream data from the playback position.

According to the stream distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, even if the receiver 1 does not have a means for storing stream data such as a hard disk drive, the user inputs the input to the receiver 1 to the video server 10. When switching from the stream data transmitted from the video data) to another input and returning from the other input to the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 again, the video by the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 is inputted to another input. It can watch from the position of the continuation of the reproduction position just before switching to.

3 shows a configuration of an example of the DTV receiver 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The DTV receiver 20 has a structure in which the receiver 1 and the receiver 4 described in FIG. 2 are included in the same box. The DTV receiver 20 has a BS / CS digital tuner 30 and an analog tuner 31, and is a DTV broadcast called a BS (Broadcasting Satellite) broadcast or a CS (Communication Satellite) broadcast received by an antenna (not shown), or a terrestrial wave. The analog television broadcast using the above can be received.

The BS / CS digital tuner 30 receives the broadcast of the channel selected from the BS broadcast and the CS broadcast according to the channel selection signal supplied from the AV switch 24, and outputs a video and audio signal based on the received broadcast. . The video and audio signals output from the BS / CS tuner 30 are input to the AV (Audio Video) switch 24.

Similarly, the analog tuner 31 receives the broadcast of the channel selected from the analog television broadcast in accordance with the channel selection signal supplied from the AV switch 24, and outputs a video and audio signal based on the received broadcast. The video and audio signals output from the analog tuner 31 are supplied to the AV switch 24.

The DTV receiver 20 also has an external input terminal (not shown) capable of inputting external video and audio signals. Video and audio signals output from, for example, a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 40 connected to an external input terminal are input to the AV switch 24. In addition, the AV switch 24 is output from a stream decoder 26 to be described later, and video and audio signals are supplied.

The AV switch 24 has an A / D converter inside, for example, and can correspond to input of both video and audio signals of analog and digital. In addition, many external input terminals can be provided. In the following, the video and audio signals will be described focusing on the processing of the video signals, and description of the audio signals is omitted.

The AV switch 24 inputs one of the BS / CS tuner 30, the analog tuner 31, the external input terminal and the stream decoder 26 according to the tuning control signal supplied from the tuning control microcomputer 23. Choose. At the same time, when the BS / CS tuner 30 or the analog tuner 31 is selected, the tuning signal indicating signal specifying the reception channel is selected according to the tuning signal of the BS / CS tuner 30 and the analog tuner 31. Supply for the selected side.

The video signal selected by the AV switch 24 among the BS / CS tuner 30, the analog tuner 31, and the external input terminal is output from the AV switch 24, and is supplied to the signal processing unit 28. The image signal subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processor 28 is supplied to the display unit 29 by a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), or the like. Then, the video based on the video signal is sent out.

The tuning control microcomputer 23 is composed of, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), and has a read only memory (R0M), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. The channel selection control microcomputer 23 performs the above-described channel selection control in accordance with a program stored in advance in the ROM, and simultaneously controls the entire DTV receiver 20. In addition, the channel selection microcomputer 23 gives a control signal for instructing the stream player 25 to be described later to control the reproduction of the stream data. RAM is used as a work memory of a CPU. The memory 32 is also connected to the channel selection control microcomputer 23.

The remote control commander 21 (hereinafter, abbreviated as remote controller 21) is for remotely operating the DTV receiver 20 using, for example, an infrared signal, and includes a channel setting key, an input switching key, a volume setting key, Various operation means necessary for operating the DTV receiver 20, such as a power supply ON / OFF key and a key (up-down key) which raises and lowers a receiving channel one by one, are provided. After the key operation is made from the user, the remote controller 21 modulates and transmits a control signal according to the operated key to an infrared signal.

Incidentally, although the operation means provided in the remote controller 21 is described as key here, this is not limited to this example. For example, you may use a cross key which can direct the direction of up, down, left, and right, a touch panel etc. which input is made by touching, as an operation means. You may use the dial which sets an input value by rotating, and the operation means which combined rotation operation and pressing operation.

The infrared signal transmitted from the remote controller 21 is received by the remote controller receiver 22 of the DTV receiver 20 to demodulate the infrared signal. The control signal demodulated by the infrared signal is supplied to the tuning control microcomputer 23. The channel selection control microcomputer 23 generates, for example, the channel selection control signal described above in accordance with this control signal, and outputs it to the AV switch 24.                 

The transmission / reception control unit 27 is connected to the Internet 12 by a communication line having a communication speed of, for example, several Mbps (Megabits per second) or more, and controls communication with the Internet 12. The video server 10 is accessed between the video server 10 and the transmission / reception control unit 27 by using a predetermined protocol such as, for example, Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) through the Internet 12. Can be received by the DTV receiver 20 of the stream data transmitted from the control panel, or the command and data can be received between the DTV receiver 20 and the video server 10.

On the other hand, the image server 10 stores image data in a data storage unit (not shown). The video data is compressed and encoded by, for example, the Moving Pictures Experts Group 2 (MPEG2) method. In the video server 10, for example, video data designated by a title can be read from the data storage unit, reproduced, and output as stream data. Stream data is specified, for example, by MPEG2 described above and transmitted on the Internet 12 based on the stream transmission scheme. Of course, the compression encoding method and the transmission method of the video data are not limited to MPEG2.

The video server 10 also controls playback of video data stored in the data storage unit. For example, on the basis of a request from the outside, the video data (video stream data) is played back, stopped, fast-forwarded, and rewinded. The video server 10 is also capable of reproducing video stream data from a start position specified in time. For example, the video stream data can be reproduced from a position corresponding to the time by giving the time information indicating the time from the beginning of the video stream data such as a time code from the outside as the start position.

The video server 10 is provided with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) indicating a place on the Internet 12. The video server 10 can access the video server 10 by assigning a URL via the Internet 12. FIG. The present invention is not limited to this, and a URL may be provided to each of the video data stored in the data storage unit of the video server 10. In this case, by specifying a URL via the Internet 12, it is possible to play back video stream data given the URL.

The video stream data read and reproduced from the data accumulating unit of the video server 10 is transmitted on the Internet 12. This stream data is received by the transmission / reception control unit 27 and supplied to the stream player 25 and the stream decoder 26.

The stream decoder 26 decodes the supplied stream data and supplies it to the AV switch 24. The stream player 25 also controls the reception of the stream data in accordance with a control signal from the channel selection microcomputer 23. For example, the stream player 25 transmits a distribution request for video data to the video server 10 via the transmission / reception control unit 27 according to a control signal from the channel selection microcomputer 23, and at the same time, a stream decoder. To 26, the decoding start of the stream data is instructed. In accordance with the distribution request, the video stream data reproduced by the video server 10 is transmitted via the Internet 12 and received by the transmission / reception control unit 27. The received stream data is supplied to the stream decoder 26 to be decoded and converted into a video signal and input to the AV switch 24.

The operation of the stream distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 4. This flow chart shows that the user initially receives the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 by the DTV receiver 20, and is watching the video by the received stream data. It is an example of switching to an input (e.g., a video signal by the analog tuner 31) and watching for a while, and then performing the operation of returning the input to the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 for viewing.

In the first step S10, the output of the stream decoder 26 is selected as the input of the DTV receiver 20 from the user, and the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 to the display 29 of the DTV receiver 20. The video by is transmitted. That is, the stream data transmitted from the video server 10 is received by the transmission / reception control unit 27, decoded by the stream decoder 26, and the predetermined processing is performed by the signal processing unit 28 through the AV switch 24. Then, it is supplied to the display 29 and sent out.

Then, the video server 10 is based on, for example, an address on the Internet 12 of the DTV receiver 20 (IP (Internet Protocol) address, etc., when TCP / IP is used to connect the Internet 12). The stream data is transmitted. The address of the DTV receiver 20 is transmitted to the video server 10 with the request, for example, when the DTV receiver 20 requests distribution of the video data from the DTV receiver 20 to the video server 10.

In the case where the DTV receiver 20 receives the stream data transmitted from the video server 10, for example, the remote controller 21 is operated from the user to input the input to another input (here, the analog tuner 31). Instruction to switch to (by step S11). The remote control 21 modulates and transmits a control signal based on this instruction to an infrared signal. This infrared signal is received and demodulated by the remote control light receiving unit 22, and becomes an original control signal and supplied to the tuning control microcomputer 23. The channel selection microcomputer 23 interprets the control signal instructing this input switching and determines whether it can be switched. When the channel selection microcomputer 23 determines that it is possible to switch, the channel selection control signal for instructing the AV switch 24 to switch the input from the stream decoder 26 to the analog tuner 31 is output. At the same time, a signal indicating that the input is switched is also transmitted to the stream player 25 (step S12).

The AV switch 24 switches the input in accordance with the tuning control signal instructing the input switching received from the tuning control microcomputer 23. As a result, the output of the analog tuner 31 is supplied to the signal processing unit 28, and an image based on the output of the analog tuner 31 is displayed on the display 29 (step S13).

On the other hand, in response to the channel selection control signal, the stream player 25 requests the video server 10 of the source of the stream data, which has been received so far, to temporarily stop the stream data. In addition, the stream player 25 instructs the stream decoder 26 to stop the decoding process of the stream data, and acquires time information indicating the time point of the pause in the stream data. The time information is information indicating time from the head of the stream data, and for example, a time code embedded in the stream data can be used. The time information can be obtained by measuring the time from the head of the video in the DTV receiver 20 without being limited thereto. The acquired time information is stored in the memory 32 together with the URL of the video server 10 as the source of the stream data, title information of the distributed video, and the like (step S14).

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart schematically showing an example of a process of requesting pause of transmission of a stream from the DTV receiver 20 to the video server 10. First, a request for pause of stream reproduction is issued from the channel control microcomputer 23 to the stream player 25 (SEQ100). The stream player 25 having received the pause request transmits a request to the video server 10 to pause playback of the video stream data currently transmitted as stream data (SEQ101). Upon receiving this request, the video server 10 performs a process of stopping the transmission of the stream data to the DTV receiver 20.

After the input of the DTV receiver 20 is switched to the analog tuner 31, a video by the analog tuner 31 is viewed from the user for a while (step S15).

Thereafter, for example, the remote controller 21 is operated from the user, and the same instruction to switch the input from the analog tuner 31 to the stream decoder 26 is issued (step S16). The control signal based on this instruction is modulated to the infrared signal, and the modulated infrared signal is transmitted from the remote controller 21 and received by the remote controller receiver 22. The remote control receiver 22 demodulates the received infrared signal to the original control signal and supplies it to the channel selection microcomputer 23. The channel selection microcomputer 23 interprets this control signal and determines whether input switching is possible. When the channel selection microcomputer 23 determines that switching is possible, the channel selection control signal for instructing the AV switch 24 to switch the input from the analog tuner 31 to the stream decoder 26 is output. At the same time, the stream player 25 is also transmitted from the analog tuner 31 to the stream decoder 26 (step S17).

When the AV switch 24 receives the tuning control signal instructing the input switching from the tuning control microcomputer 23, the AV switch 24 switches the input according to the tuning control signal. As a result, the output of the stream decoder 26 is supplied to the signal processing unit 28, so that the image based on the output of the stream decoder 26 can be displayed on the display 29 (step S18).

On the other hand, the stream player 25 distributes the video so as to be able to receive the video that was watched until immediately before switching to the analog tuner 31, that is, the distribution stream data received in step S10 described above, in accordance with the channel selection control signal. The distribution source (the video server 10) of the stream data is requested to start playback of the stream data. The URL of the video server 10 is stored in the memory 32 when the input is switched from the stream decoder 26 to the analog tuner 31, and the video server 10 is requested to pause the distribution stream data. It is. In addition, time information indicating the time point at which the pause on the stream data is paused stored in the memory 32 is transmitted to the video server 10 together with the stream reproduction start request (step S19).

6 is a sequence chart schematically showing an example of a process for requesting the start of stream distribution from the DTV receiver 20 to the video server 10. First, a start request for playback of stream data is issued from the channel control microcomputer 23 to the stream player 25 (SEQ200). In this reproduction start request, the URL of the original video server 10 of the distribution of the original video server 10 and the input stored in the memory 32 until the input is switched to the analog tuner 31 and the input is sent to the analog tuner 31. Time information on the stream data corresponding to the time to be switched and title information of the video is added.

The stream player 25 which has received this reproduction start request receives corresponding video stream data from the video server 10 indicated by the URL in accordance with the URL, time information, and title information of the image added to the reproduction start request. A request to reproduce from the time information is transmitted (SEQ201). When the video server 10 receives this request, the video server 10 reproduces and transmits the video stream data from the time indicated by the time information to the DTV receiver 20. This stream data is received by the transmission / reception control unit 27 of the DTV receiver 20 via the Internet 12 and supplied to the stream decoder 26 (SEQ202).

The stream decoder 26 decodes the received stream data into a video signal and inputs it to the AV switch 24. Since the AV switch 24 is switched from the analog tuner 31 to the stream decoder 26 in step S18 described above, the video signal input from the stream decoder 26 is supplied to the signal processing unit 28 to provide a predetermined signal. Processing is carried out and supplied to the display 29 and sent out.

In the above description, the memory 32 in which the URL, title information and time information are stored is described to be connected to the channel selection microcomputer 23, but this is not limited to this example. The memory 32 may be connected to the stream player 25. In this case, when the reproduction start request is supplied from the channel selection microcomputer 23 to the stream player 25, the URL, title information and time information stored in the memory 32 are read by the stream player 25, In addition to the reproduction start request, it is transmitted to the Internet 12.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the above-described embodiment, the DTV receiver 20 saves the history of the distributed stream data viewed, and thereafter, the previously viewed stream data is previously viewed. Playback is possible from the paused position. In FIG. 7, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 3 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted, and only parts related to the second embodiment of the present embodiment are shown, and other configurations are omitted.

The video servers 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D have different URLs (URL 1, URL 2, URL 3 and URL 4), respectively, and the DTV receiver 20 over the Internet not shown. Is connected to. By specifying the URL, the DTV receiver 20 requests distribution of video data to these video servers 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D, respectively, and receives the request from the video servers 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D. Receive the stream data to be sent. Then, the user can watch the video by the received stream data.

In the second embodiment of this embodiment, the history of receiving and viewing stream data in the DTV receiver 20 is stored as a history table 50. As the storage destination of the history table 50, the memory 32 can be used. In this case, the memory 32 is, for example, a battery-backed nonvolatile memory, and it is preferable that the history table 50 can be maintained even when the power of the DTV receiver 20 is turned off.

8 shows a configuration of an example of the history table 50. The field "URL" describes the URL of the video server that is the source of the received stream data. If a URL is assigned to the video data itself distributed as the stream data, the URL is described. The field "title" describes title information of video data distributed as stream data. This field "title" is not limited to the title information of the video data, and other information such as a file name of the video data may be used as long as it is information capable of specifying the video data in the video server indicated by the field "URL". If the field "URL" indicates the video data itself, the field "title" can be omitted.

As described in the first embodiment of the above-described embodiment, the field "TC" switches to another input while watching video by stream data, and pauses playback of video stream data distributed as stream data to the video server. The time information of the pause position when it is requested to be described is described. The time information is time information indicating time from the head of the video, and for example, a time code embedded in the stream data can be used. The time information may be obtained by measuring the time from the head of the video in the DTV receiver 20 without being limited thereto.

An operation using the history table 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9. In addition, in FIG. 9, the part corresponding to FIG. 3 and FIG. 7 mentioned above attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, abbreviate | omits detailed description, and shows only the part which concerns on this 2nd Embodiment of this embodiment, and abbreviate | omits other structure.

The history table 50 includes URLs (URL (1), URL (2), URL (3), and URL (4)) of the video server, which are the sources of the stream data viewed in the past in the DTV receiver 20, respectively. It is stored in the memory 32 associated with title information of the viewed video data and time information (TC: time code) indicating a position at which reproduction of the video stream data distributed by the stream data is paused. In FIG. 9, title information and time information in the history table 50 are omitted.

In the DTV receiver 20, for example, while watching a video by a distribution stream distributed from a video server, a user performs a predetermined operation on the remote control unit 21 so as to receive stream data that has been received in the past. In this case, playback can be made from the position at which playback was stopped upon reception of the past.

If an operation for changing a channel such as an operation of an up-down key is performed to the remote controller 21 from the user while receiving stream data transmitted from a video server, the control signal generated according to this operation Is modulated to the infrared signal and transmitted. This infrared signal is received by a remote control receiver 22, not shown, demodulated into an original control signal, and supplied to the tuning control microcomputer 23.

The channel selection microcomputer 23 reads a pair of URL, title information, and time information from the history table 50 stored in the memory 32 in accordance with the control signal. It is assumed here that information relating to the URL 2 is read. At this time, the most recently stored information may be read first or may be read from the longest stored information. Information stored at a predetermined position in the history table 50 may be read first.

The channel selection control microcomputer 23 according to the information read from the history table 50, the title server corresponding to the URL 2 in the history table 50 with respect to the video server 10B indicated by the URL 2; A reproduction start request is generated to reproduce the video from the time indicated by the time information. The generated reproduction start request is supplied to the stream player 25 and transmitted from the stream player 25 to the corresponding video server 10B, as already described with reference to FIG.

The video server 10B receives this request, reproduces the corresponding video stream data, and transmits it to the DTV receiver 20 via the Internet. The stream data transmitted from the video server 10B is received by the DTV receiver 20 and decoded by a stream decoder 26 (not shown) under the control of the stream player 25, and is then decoded by the signal processor through the AV switch 24. 28). Predetermined processing is performed on the video signal supplied by the signal processing unit 28, and is supplied to a display 29 (not shown) to transmit an image.

Here, the operation in the case where the operation of changing the channel using the remote controller 21 is also made from the user will be described with reference to FIG. Initially, it is assumed that the stream data distributed from the video server 1 is received and viewed by the DTV receiver 20 (SEQ300).

In accordance with a control signal in accordance with an operation on the remote controller 21, for example, the set of the following URL of the history table 50 stored in the memory 32 is read by the tuning control microcomputer 23. Then, a playback start request is generated in accordance with the read set information of the URL and supplied to the stream player 25 (SEQ301). The stream player 25 instructs the stream decoder 26 to pause the decoding of the currently received stream data and to instruct the decoding of the newly received stream data.

In addition, the stream player 25 requests the transmission source of the currently received data stream (the video server 1 in the example of FIG. 10) to temporarily pause the stream transmission (SEQ302), and from the channel control microcomputer 23. The supplied reproduction start request is transmitted to the video server (video server 2 in the example of FIG. 10) corresponding to the URL (SEQ303).

Then, the history table 50 describes the information of the stream data whose transmission is paused by SEQ302, that is, the URL of the sender of the stream data, the video title information, and the time information indicating the time on the paused stream. At this time, the URL, title information, and time information may be newly described with respect to the history table 50, or may be overwritten with corresponding information in the past.

The video server 1 receives the pause request of the transmitted stream transmission and performs the stop processing of the stream transmission. In addition, the video server 2 receives the transmitted reproduction start request and reproduces and transmits the video stream data indicated by the reproduction start request from the position indicated in the time information (SEQ304). This stream data is received by the DTV receiver 20, decoded by the stream decoder 26, becomes a video signal, and supplied to the signal processing unit 28 through the AV switch 24. Then, a predetermined process is performed in the signal processing unit 28 and sent to the display 29.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, if the channel switching operation is performed using the remote controller 21 while receiving the stream data transmitted from the video server in this way, it is received according to the information described in the history table 50. The stream data can be switched, and playback can be started by sending from the position where the previous playback was stopped, respectively.

The operation of the remote controller 21 is one example, and the stream one previous by the operation of raising a channel (for example, pressing the "up" key), and the stream of one new stream by the operation of lowering the channel (for example, pressing the "down" key). Considering the reproduction start instruction is considered. By doing in this way, a plurality of distribution stream data can be switched and viewed in the sense of switching the channel of the normal absorption television broadcast.

In the above description, the memory 32 is described as being connected to the channel selection microcomputer 23, but this is not limited to this example. As described in the first embodiment, the memory 32 may be connected to the stream player 25.

In the above description, it has been explained that tuning is performed based on the history table 50 when the channel switching operation is performed while receiving the distribution stream data. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, while watching a video by the BS / CS digital tuner 30 or the analog tuner 31, a predetermined key of the remote controller 21 is operated to perform tuning based on the history table 50. It may be.

In addition, in the above description, a path for transmitting stream data from the video server 10 to the DTV receiver 20 and a path for transmitting a request from the DTV receiver 20 to the video server 10 are connected to the Internet 12. Although explained as being, this is not limited to this example. That is, the transmission of the stream data from the video server 10 to the DTV receiver 20 and the request from the DTV receiver 20 to the video server 10 may be performed by other communication means. For example, transmission of stream data from the video server 10 to the DTV receiver 20 using radio waves, and transmission of a request to the video server 10 from the DTV receiver 20 to the Internet 12 or the like. It can be done through the network.

In the above description, the time information indicating the pause position of the stream data has been described so as to be stored in the memory 32 of the DTV receiver 20, but this is not limited to this example. In other words, the video server 10 may store time information indicating the pause position of the stream data. When the video server 10 receives a pause request for stream data transmitted from the DTV receiver 20 to the video server 10, the video server 10 stops playback of the video stream data according to the received request. . At this stop processing, the positional information on the video stream data corresponding to the stop position is acquired and stored. Next, when resumption of playback of the video stream data is requested from the DTV receiver 20, playback of the video stream data is started in accordance with the stored time information.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the case where an input is switched to another input while watching a video by a video stream transmitted from the video server in the receiver, playback of the video stream data is paused from the receiver side to the video server. At the same time, when the input is returned to the video stream data, the video server is requested to play the video stream data from the position where the previous playback was paused. Therefore, there is an effect that resumption of reproduction from the previous stop position of the video stream transmitted from the video server is possible even if the receiver side does not have a means for storing video data such as a hard disk drive.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the history of video stream data received in the past in the receiver is stored together with the pause position information of the video stream data, and stored in the history by the channel switching operation. The video server is requested to play back the video stream data from the position at which playback was stopped last time. Therefore, there is an effect that the user can switch and view the image stream data in the sense of switching the channel of the absorbing normal television broadcast.

Claims (19)

In the receiving apparatus which can receive a plurality of stream data, Reproducing means for reproducing the received stream data; Switching means for switching an input to an input different from the input at said reproducing means; Communication means for communicating with a source of the stream data; Transmission source acquiring means for acquiring information on the transmission source of the stream data; Positional information acquiring means for acquiring positional information indicating a position on said stream data reproduced by said reproducing means at the time when said input means is switched from an input in said reproducing means to another input by said switching means; History storage means for storing, as a history, a plurality of positional information of the stream data acquired by the positional information obtaining means and information of the transmitting source acquired by the transmitting-source obtaining means; Equipped with Acquiring a stop request for stopping transmission of the stream data when the input means switches from the input in the reproduction means to the other input by the switching means during the reproduction of the stream data by the reproduction means. Transmitted by the communication means to a sender of the stream data obtained by the means, When the input is switched from the other input to the input in the reproduction means again by the switching means, the transmission source acquiring means according to the history of the positional information of the stream data stored by the history storage means. Reads the transmission source obtained by the above, and starts reproduction of the positional information and the stream data acquired by the positional information acquiring means from the position of the positional information of the stream data with respect to the transmission source of the read stream data. The transmission request to be transmitted by the communication means, Receiving device. delete The method of claim 1, The reception device according to claim 2, wherein the reception of the stream data and the transmission of the stop request or start request are performed by different communication means. The method of claim 1, A receiving device which transmits an address of a receiving device together with the starting request when transmitting the starting request. The method of claim 1, A receiving device that transmits information of a transmission source together with the start request when transmitting the start request. The method of claim 1, A reception device for transmitting information indicating stream data together with the start request when the start request is transmitted. delete The method of claim 1, The receiving device, wherein the URL of the transmitting source is stored in the history. The method of claim 1, The receiving apparatus according to the history, wherein URLs of streams stored in the transmission source are stored. A tuning method in which a plurality of stream data can be received, A reproduction step of reproducing the received stream data; A switching step of switching an input to an input different from the input in the reproduction step; A communication step of communicating with a source of the stream data; A source acquisition step of acquiring information on a source of the stream data; A positional information acquiring step of acquiring positional information indicating a position on the stream data reproduced in the reproducing step at the time when the input is switched from an input by the reproducing step to another input by the switching step; A history storage step of storing, as a history, a plurality of positional information of the stream data acquired by the positional information acquiring step and information of the transmitting origin acquired by the transmitting-source acquiring step; Including; When the input is switched from the input by the reproduction step to the other input in the switching step during the reproduction of the stream data by the reproduction step, a stop request for stopping transmission of the stream data is received from the transmission source acquisition step. By the steps of the communication to the sender of the stream data obtained by The source obtaining step in accordance with the history of the positional information of the stream data stored by the history storing step, when the input is switched from the other input to the input by the reproducing step again by the switching step. Reads the transmission source acquired by the data, and reproduces the position information acquired by the position information acquisition step and the stream data with respect to the transmission source of the read stream data from the position of the position information of the stream data. Initiate a start request to be initiated by the communication step, Tuning method. A stream distribution system for delivering stream data to a receiving device that is capable of receiving a plurality of stream data, the stream distribution system comprising: A stream data server for reproducing and transmitting the stream data; Reproducing means for receiving the stream data transmitted from the stream data server, reproducing the received stream data, switching means for converting an input into an input different from the input from the reproducing means, and communicating with the stream data server. The communication means to be reproduced, the transmission source acquiring means for acquiring the information of the transmission source of the stream data, and the playback means reproduced by the reproduction means at the time when the input is switched from an input in the reproduction means to another input by the switching means. A plurality of positional information acquiring means for acquiring positional information indicating a position on the stream data, positional information of the stream data acquired by the positional information acquiring means, and information of the transmitting origin acquired by the transmitting-source acquiring means as a plurality of history. Receiving having history storage means for storing Device And, The reception device issues a stop request to stop transmission of the stream data when the input means switches the input from the input means to the other input by the switching means during the reproduction of the stream data by the reproduction means. Transmitting by said communication means to said stream data server as a transmission source of said stream data acquired by said transmission source obtaining means, The stream data server stops transmission of the stream data by the stream data server in accordance with the stop request, The receiving device is adapted to change the input from the other input to the input in the reproduction means by the switching means, in accordance with the history of the position information of the stream data stored by the history storage means. The transmission source acquired by the transmission source acquiring means is read, and the position information acquired by the positional information acquiring means is reproduced to the stream data server as the transmission source of the read stream data. A start request starting from the location of the information to the stream data server by the communication means, The stream data server reproduces the transmission of the stream data from the position of the positional information according to the start request, and transmits it to the receiving apparatus, Stream distribution system. The method of claim 11, The reception of stream data from the stream data server and the transmission of the stop request or start request to the stream data server are performed by different communication means. The method of claim 11, And a stream distribution system configured to transmit an address of a receiving device together with the start request when transmitting the start request. The method of claim 11, And in the case of transmitting the start request, information indicating a stream data server together with the start request. The method of claim 11, And a stream distribution system that transmits information representing stream data together with the start request when the start request is transmitted. delete delete The method of claim 11, The stream distribution system in which the URL of the transmission source is stored in the history. The method of claim 11, And the URLs of the streams accumulated in the transmission source are stored in the history.

Images