WO2010084747A1

WO2010084747A1 - Information distribution system, information distribution apparatus, information distribution method, information reception apparatus, and information reception method

Info

Publication number: WO2010084747A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/000305
Authority: WO
Inventors: 前田悟
Original assignee: Ｊｖｃ・ケンウッド・ホールディングス株式会社
Priority date: 2009-01-20
Filing date: 2010-01-20
Publication date: 2010-07-29

Abstract

An information distribution system allowing a user to receive content by means of another communication medium if within a broadcast region, without making the user perform any special operation. The information distribution system (10) comprises an information reception apparatus (receiver (40)) able to receive information sent by radio waves from a wireless station (broadcast station (20)), and an information distribution apparatus (broadcast station (20)) able to distribute information to the information reception apparatus. The information reception apparatus comprises a reception status detection unit which detects the reception status of radio waves, while the information distribution apparatus comprises a distribution unit which distributes to the information reception apparatus, the information sent by radio waves from the wireless station and/or information other than the information sent by radio waves from the wireless station, by means of a communication medium (IP communication network (100)) different from the radio waves. In the information distribution system (10), the reception and transmission of distributed information is controlled in accordance with the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit.

Description

Information distribution system, information distribution apparatus, information distribution method, information reception apparatus, and information reception method

The present invention relates to an information distribution system, an information distribution device, an information distribution method, an information reception device, and an information reception method.

When distributing content in terrestrial digital broadcasting, it is necessary to obtain a broadcasting license for broadcasting business by broadcasting area. However, if the content is distributed via the IP communication network, the content is broadcast, so that the content is also distributed outside the broadcast target area for which the broadcast license is acquired. Therefore, when the content transmitted by broadcast stations is redistributed via the IP communication network, it is distributed to mobile terminals, TVs, and STBs (set top boxes) that exist only in the broadcast target area. It is necessary to control access by region.

For example, as one method of performing access control depending on the area where the receiver is installed, the TTL (Time To Live) value included in the header of the IP data, that is, the number of hops of the router through which it is set in advance for each broadcast target area Have been proposed (see Patent Document 1). When content is distributed with such settings, even if it is redistribution by broadcast or IP multicast specifying only a specific IP address range, if the TTL value set in this IP data becomes zero, the content is Since the transferring router discards the IP data in the middle, the content can be transmitted only to the broadcast target area even through the IP communication network.

As another aspect, when a user lives in an area where broadcast waves can be received and has a portable receiver, the access control method is used when the location where the user wants to receive content is outside the area. As one, a device using a receiver equipped with a storage medium storing information indicating reception permission in a specific registered area has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). If the content is redistributed by adopting such a configuration, it is possible for a legitimate user to receive the content via the IP communication network even when the user is outside the registered area.

JP 2007-336022 A (summary etc.) JP 2008-141429 A (summary etc.)

However, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, regardless of whether content is distributed for the first time or redistributed, it can be distributed only within the broadcast target area unless the TTL value is strictly set for each broadcast target area. Not like that. Also, depending on the routing protocol adopted by each passing router, the route to the arrival of content may be different even within the same broadcast target area, and the TTL value does not necessarily reach only within the broadcast target area. It is not guaranteed that the value is possible. Therefore, since there is a possibility that the content is not distributed even within the broadcast target area, or the content may be distributed even outside the broadcast target area, the access control method using the TTL value of the IP data is There is a problem from the viewpoint of reliability.

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, a storage medium storing information indicating reception permission must be attached to the receiver regardless of whether the content is distributed for the first time or redistributed. Therefore, even if the user has a receiver in the broadcast target area, the content is not distributed unless the storage medium is always mounted on the receiver. Further, in order to adopt this method throughout Japan, it is necessary to manage information indicating reception permission for each user, which is unified by all broadcasting stations.

Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an information distribution system that allows content to be received via another communication medium within a broadcast target area of a wireless station without imposing a special operation on the user. An object is to provide an information distribution device, an information distribution method, an information reception device, and an information reception method.

An information distribution system according to one aspect of the present invention is an information distribution system including an information reception device capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations by radio waves, and an information distribution device capable of distributing information to the information reception device. The information receiving device has a reception status detecting unit that detects the reception status of radio waves, and the information distribution device is other than information transmitted by radio stations and / or information transmitted by radio stations by radio waves. It has a distribution unit that distributes information to the information receiving device via another communication medium different from radio waves, and transmission / reception of distributed information is controlled according to the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit Is.

An information distribution apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information distribution apparatus capable of distributing predetermined information to an information receiving apparatus capable of receiving information transmitted by a radio station by radio waves, and the radio station transmits by radio waves. An information receiving device that is transmitted from the information receiving device, and a distribution unit that distributes information other than information transmitted by the radio station and / or information transmitted to the information receiving device via a communication medium other than the radio wave. A reception unit that receives information indicating the reception status of radio waves in the radio, and a control unit that controls information distribution to the information reception device by the distribution unit according to the reception status of radio waves indicated by the information received by the reception unit Is.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the information distribution apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention further includes an output permission determination unit that determines whether to distribute information based on the reception status of radio waves in the information reception apparatus. The control unit preferably includes a control unit that controls the output of the information received by the distribution unit via the other communication medium in the information receiving device according to the determination result of the output permission / non-permission by the output permission / non-permission determination unit.

An information distribution method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information distribution method used for an information distribution apparatus capable of distributing predetermined information to an information reception apparatus capable of receiving information transmitted by a radio station using radio waves, The information distribution apparatus includes a reception unit, a control unit, and a distribution unit, and transmits information other than the information transmitted by the radio station and / or information transmitted by the radio station using radio waves. And receiving the information indicating the reception status of the radio wave in the information receiving device, which is transmitted from the information receiving device, and the control unit is received by the receiving unit. The step of controlling the information distribution to the information receiving device by the distribution unit according to the reception status of the radio wave indicated by the information, and the information transmitted from the radio station by the radio station and / or the information transmitted from the radio station by the radio wave Less than A step of delivering other information to the information receiving apparatus through another communication medium other than the radio wave, and has a.

An information receiving apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information receiving apparatus capable of receiving information transmitted by a radio station using radio waves, and is distributed from the information distribution apparatus via a communication medium other than radio waves. A receiving unit that receives information transmitted by radio stations and / or information other than information transmitted by radio stations, a reception status detection unit that detects reception status of radio waves, and a reception status detection unit And a control unit that controls reception of information distributed from the information distribution apparatus via another communication medium by the reception unit in accordance with the reception status detected in (1).

In addition to the configuration of the information receiving apparatus described above, the information receiving apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention can output information distributed from the information distributing apparatus based on the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit. The control unit further includes an output propriety determination unit that performs determination, and the control unit receives information distributed from the information distribution apparatus via another communication medium by the reception unit according to the output propriety determination result by the output propriety determination unit. Is preferably controlled.

In addition to the configuration of the information receiving device described above, the information reception device according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a reception status detection unit configured to receive a received electric field intensity of a radio wave from a radio station as a radio wave reception status, and It is preferable to detect the value of the reception error rate.

Further, an information receiving apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, in addition to any of the above-described configurations of the information receiving apparatus, is processed by a reception status detection unit or an output availability determination unit based on information distributed from the information distribution apparatus. It is preferable to determine whether or not to perform.

In addition to any one of the above-described information receiving device configurations, an information receiving device according to one aspect of the present invention transmits information indicating the reception status of the radio wave detected by the reception status detection unit to the information distribution device. It is preferable to further include a reception status transmission unit for transmitting via a communication medium.

An information receiving apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, in addition to any of the above-described configurations of the information receiving apparatus, includes a reception status detection unit configured to determine a reception electric field strength and / or a reception error rate of a radio wave from a radio station. The value is detected, and the reception status transmission unit preferably transmits the value of the reception electric field strength and / or the reception error rate to the information distribution apparatus.

An information receiving method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information receiving method used for an information receiving apparatus capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations from radio waves, and the information receiving apparatus includes a reception status detection unit, In addition to having a control unit and a receiving unit, the information can be received via an information distribution device that distributes information transmitted by radio waves and / or information other than information transmitted by radio waves and other communication media other than radio waves. The state detection unit detects the reception state of the radio wave, and the control unit is distributed from the information distribution apparatus via another communication medium by the reception unit according to the reception state detected by the reception state detection unit. A step of controlling reception of information, and information transmitted from the information distribution device via a communication medium other than radio waves, and / or information transmitted by radio stations and / or information Other than In which a step of receiving information.

According to the present invention, an information distribution system, an information distribution apparatus, an information distribution method, and information that can cause content to be received via another communication medium within a broadcast target area without imposing a special operation on the user. A receiving apparatus and an information receiving method can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the information delivery system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the broadcasting station shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the receiver shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the receiver shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a reception error rate detection circuit for performing the detection process of step S4 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the broadcasting station shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the broadcasting station and receiver which are contained in the information delivery system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the information delivery system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the broadcasting station shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the receiver shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the receiver shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the reception error rate detection circuit for performing the detection process of step S45 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the receiver shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the broadcasting station and receiver which are included in the information delivery system which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

First, the information distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an information distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the information distribution system 10 includes a broadcast station 20 and a receiver 40. 1 illustrates one broadcasting station 20 and two receivers 40, the information distribution system 10 may include a plurality of broadcasting stations 20 and three or more receivers 40.

In the information distribution system 10, the receiver 40 detects the reception status of the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20, transmits the detection information to the broadcast station 20 via the IP communication network 100, and the broadcast station 20 uses the detection information as the detection information. In response, the content is transmitted to the receiver 40. Note that the IP communication network 100 as an example of another communication medium is a communication network for performing communication between the broadcasting station 20 and the receiver 40. The IP communication network 100 may be configured by a network using any one of the Internet, a CATV, a dedicated line, a VPN (virtual LAN), a WAN, or the like using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, or a combination thereof. Good. Note that other communication protocols other than IP communication may be used as other communication media in the claims.

The broadcast station 20 sends the content for the broadcast program as stream data according to the broadcast schedule. Also, the broadcasting station 20 can superimpose and transmit data broadcast and EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information on the broadcast wave. In addition, the broadcast station 20 uses the IP communication network 100 to provide related content such as still images, audio, and moving images related to the broadcast program, or unique content that is independently produced regardless of the broadcast program (for example, a homepage provided by the broadcast station 20). , Text information, still picture information, moving picture information) can be provided to the receiver 40.

In other words, the broadcast station 20 is linked to the video and audio of the broadcast program, and provides data broadcast that provides independent information such as information related to the broadcast program, weather forecasts and news, and EPG information referred to as an electronic program guide. In addition to being a radio station that can transmit and transmit broadcast waves from an antenna, it is also an information distribution device that can transmit the above-described information to the receiver 40 via the IP communication network 100. The broadcast station 20 corresponds to an example of a radio station and an information distribution device that transmit the radio wave in the claims.

The receiver 40 receives the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20 described above, and outputs video, audio and EPG information of the received broadcast program. In addition, when the reception status of the broadcast wave transmitted from the antenna of the broadcast station 20 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the receiver 40 can transmit the same content as the content transmitted by the broadcast station 20 using the broadcast wave and / or Content related to the content and other different content can be received via the IP communication network 100. Note that the receiver 40 corresponds to an example of an information receiving device in claims.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the broadcasting station 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the broadcast station 20 includes a content stream creation unit 21, an EPG information creation unit 22, a data broadcast creation unit 23, a MUX (MultipleXer) unit 24, a reception unit 25, a transmission availability determination unit 26, and a content generation unit. 27, the transmission unit 28, the broadcast content DB 21a, the broadcast schedule DB 22a, the data broadcast content DB 23a, the transmittable information DB 26a, and the content DB 27a are main components. In the present embodiment, the broadcast station 20 corresponds to the claimed radio station and information distribution device, but functions as a radio station (content stream creation unit 21, EPG information creation unit 22, data broadcast creation unit) 23, a MUX unit 24, a broadcast content DB 21a, a broadcast schedule DB 22a, and a data broadcast content DB 23a) and functions as an information distribution device (reception unit 25, transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 26, content generation unit 27, transmission) The functions of the unit 28, the transmittable information DB 26a, and the content DB 27a) may be realized by separate devices.

Here, the information processing realized by the functions of the content stream creation unit 21, the EPG information creation unit 22, the data broadcast creation unit 23, the transmission availability determination unit 26, and the content generation unit 27 described above controls the entire broadcast station 20. This is realized by the control unit 29 executing in cooperation with hardware resources (not shown). Specifically, the control unit 29 includes a CPU, which is a hardware resource (not shown), and the CPU reads various programs stored in a ROM (not shown) into the RAM (not shown) and executes them in cooperation. It is realized by doing.

The broadcast content DB 21a, the broadcast schedule DB 22a, the data broadcast content DB 23a, the transmittable information DB 26a, and the content DB 27a are stored in the storage unit 30, and the storage unit 30 is, for example, from an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or the like. Composed.

The content stream creation unit 21 creates broadcast content with reference to the broadcast content DB 21a. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the broadcast content is encoded and multiplexed in conformity with the MPEG2-TS (Motion Photographic Coding Experts Group-2 Transport Stream) standard. In the MPEG2-TS standard, video and audio of transmitted content is generated as an encoded ES (Elementary Stream), and a PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) in which ES is packetized for each meaningful unit is generated. Is done. Further, a TS (Transport Stream) packet obtained by dividing the PES is transmitted from the broadcast station 20.

In addition, by assigning a 13-bit packet identifier called PID to the header of each TS packet, it is possible to classify whether each TS packet is video data, audio data, control data, or the like of broadcast content. .

The control data here refers to data called SI / PSI (Service Information / Program Specific Information). SI of SI / PSI includes information necessary for creating EPG information, and PSI is control data including information for performing basic control. The TS packet is subjected to an encryption process (hereinafter referred to as “scramble process”) for preventing viewing contrary to the intention of the broadcast station 20. Here, for example, Multi2 can be used as the scrambling method. This Multi2 is one of the methods for encrypting digital data, and is widely used in BS digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting. Note that the broadcast content described above is stored in the broadcast content DB 21a.

The EPG information creation unit 22 creates EPG information with reference to the broadcast schedule DB 22a. The broadcast schedule DB 22a stores a broadcast schedule of the broadcast station 20 and broadcast schedule information of other broadcast stations 20.

The data broadcast creation unit 23 creates a data broadcast such as weather forecasts and information related to programs from the data broadcast content DB 23a. The data broadcast is described as being encoded and multiplexed in conformity with the MPEG2-TS standard in the same manner as the broadcast content described above. The data broadcasting content DB 23a includes URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information and P2P (Peer to Peer) information provided by the broadcasting station 20 related to the program in addition to data broadcasting such as weather forecasts and information related to the program. ) Search query information that can be used in the method may be stored. The data broadcast creation unit 23 supplies these information together to the MUX unit 24.

The MUX unit 24 includes content data created by the content stream creation unit 21 with reference to the broadcast content DB 21a, EPG information created by the EPG information creation unit 22 with reference to the broadcast schedule DB 22a, and a data broadcast creation unit 23. Broadcast data 24a is generated by multiplexing data broadcast program data created with reference to the data broadcast content DB 23a. The broadcast data 24a is transmitted as a broadcast wave from the antenna of the broadcast station 20.

The receiving unit 25 is a communication interface that can receive a content request from the receiver 40 via the IP communication network 100. The receiving unit 25 receives information (for example, reception field strength and / or reception error rate) indicating the reception status of the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station 20 from the receiver 40.

The transmission availability determination unit 26 determines whether the content can be transmitted from information indicating the reception status of the broadcast wave received by the reception unit 25. Specifically, if the receiver 40 can determine that the content can be received according to the reception status of the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station 20, it determines that the content can be transmitted from the broadcast station 20. When the content requested from the receiver 40 is not limited to the area, the content can be transmitted to the receiver 40 regardless of the result of the broadcast station 20 reception determination. Note that the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 26 may transmit content also to the receiver 40 when the broadcasting station 20 is not temporarily determined to be receivable by referring to the transmission permission information DB 26a. Note that the transmission result information DB 26a stores in advance determination result information as to whether or not the receiver 40 has been able to transmit in the past.

When the transmission permission determination unit 26 refers to the transmission permission information DB 26a and determines that the content can be transmitted to the receiver 40, the content generation unit 27 refers to the content DB 27a and transmits to the receiver 40. Generate content to be used. Here, the content to be transmitted to the receiver 40 may be a content requested by the receiver 40, or a content linked to the broadcast program may be generated. The selected content may be generated when the receiver 40 requests specific content, and program-linked content may be automatically generated and transmitted otherwise. Note that, depending on whether or not the broadcast station 20 can be received by the receiver 40, whether or not a specific content can be transmitted is determined. However, depending on whether or not reception is possible, access to a specific site operated by the broadcast station 20 is restricted. Also good.

Various contents are stored in the content DB 27a. The content stored in the content DB 27a stores program-linked content, content that can be accessed even after the end of broadcasting, content that is not limited to an area, and the like. Specific examples of content include still images, moving images, and audio. The information is described in a markup language such as XML (extensible Markup Language) or BML (Broadcast Markup Language), and the compatibility with the IP communication network 100 by using such a markup language. Can be made good.

The transmission unit 28 is a communication interface that receives a content request from the receiver 40 via the IP communication network 100 and transmits the content to the receiver 40.

Subsequently, the receiver 40 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the receiver 40 shown in FIG. The receiver 40 is, for example, a terminal that receives a TV broadcast or a radio broadcast, and may be a fixed receiving terminal or a portable mobile terminal. The receiver 40 also outputs information received from the broadcast station 20 to the display device 60 and the audio reproduction device 70. Note that the receiver 40 according to the present embodiment is a separate device from the display device 60 and the audio playback device 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the receiver 40, the display device 60, and the audio reproduction device 70 may be provided in the same housing, for example, a television set. Further, the receiver 40 and the display device 60 may be provided in the same casing, and only the audio reproduction device 70 may be provided in another casing. That is, there are no particular limitations on the devices in which the three receivers 40, the display device 60, and the audio reproduction device 70 are provided. The receiver 40 may have a recording function and a recording function.

As shown in FIG. 3, the receiver 40 includes an operation input unit 41, a control unit 42, a tuner 43, a descrambler unit 44, a DEMUX (DEMMultipleXer) unit 45,

decoding units

46 a and 46 b, a video / audio output unit 47, and a recording unit. 48 and the communication part 49 are made into the main components. Here, the control unit 42 includes, for example, a CPU, which is a hardware resource (not shown), and reads various programs stored in the recording unit 48, the ROM, and the like into the RAM, and cooperates with various arithmetic processes. As a result, the information processing performed by the function of each unit of the receiver 40 can be realized.

The operation input unit 41 is configured with, for example, a remote control or a touch panel, but may be configured to allow voice input or the like. In addition, the operation input unit 41 receives an operation input from the user and transmits a user instruction to the control unit 42. The user can perform an operation input to the receiver 40 by operating the operation input unit 41. The operation input to the receiver 40 may be input to an operation input unit 41 provided in the receiver 40 via a radio signal (operation signal) such as infrared rays. The operation signal input to the operation input unit 41 is input to the control unit 42 via a bus (not shown).

The control unit 42 is configured by a CPU (not shown) and the like, and is a central processing unit that analyzes an operation signal input to the operation input unit 41 and controls operations of each unit constituting the receiver 40 or a part thereof. . For example, when the user inputs a channel selection instruction using the operation input unit 41, a signal indicating the content of the channel selection instruction is input to the control unit 42 via the operation input unit 41 and a bus (not shown). As a result, the control unit 42 transmits a channel selection instruction for the channel selected by the user to the tuner 43 via a bus (not shown). The control unit 42 also operates as a reception status detection unit in claims, and details thereof will be described together with the operation of the receiver 40 described later.

The tuner 43 receives the broadcast wave of the broadcast station 20 with an antenna, demodulates the received RF (Radio Frequency) signal, performs error correction, etc., and outputs a TS signal composed of TS packets to the descrambler unit 44. In FIG. 3, only one tuner 43 is shown for receiving digital terrestrial broadcasting. However, when receiving analog broadcasting, the tuner 43 is provided for analog broadcasting, and two tuners 43 are provided. Also good.

The descrambler unit 44 performs a process of canceling the scramble process of the TS signal composed of the TS packet that is superimposed on the RF signal received by the tuner 43 and scrambled and transmitted according to the instruction of the control unit 42. . The descrambler unit 44 supplies the DEMUX unit 45 with a TS signal including the TS packet from which the scramble process has been released. When the scramble process is not performed, the received broadcast data 24a may be directly supplied to the DEMUX unit 45 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 42.

The DEMUX unit 45 outputs a TS signal (that is, broadcast data 24a obtained by multiplexing a plurality of streams such as video and audio in the MUX unit 24 of the transmitting-side broadcast station 20) including the TS packet from which the scramble processing has been canceled, And processing for separating the data into stream data such as voice and audio and section format data such as SI / PSI. Each data separated by the DEMUX unit 45 is supplied to the decoding unit 46 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 42.

The decoding unit 46a decodes broadcasting content, EPG information, data broadcasting, and the like according to instructions from the control unit 42. The decoding unit 46 a supplies the decoded data to the recording unit 48. The data supplied from the decoding unit 46a to the recording unit 48 may be supplied as it is as a data signal without being decoded as a video signal or an audio signal. In this case, a decoding unit 46 a may be provided between the recording unit 48 and the video / audio output unit 47.

The decoding unit 46a decodes the above-described broadcast content, EPG information, data broadcast, and the like to generate audio data, video data, and program data, respectively. The decoded audio data is supplied to the audio reproduction device 70 described above. The audio reproduction device 70 performs D / A conversion processing on the supplied audio data and outputs it as an audio signal. The decoding unit 46 a supplies the decoded video data and program data to the video / audio output unit 47. The decoding unit 46b will be described together with a communication unit 49 described later.

The video / audio output unit 47 stores the supplied program data in a RAM (not shown). The video / audio output unit 47 generates EPG information by drawing program data. Then, the video / audio output unit 47 generates a synthesized screen obtained by synthesizing the screen based on the EPG information on the screen based on the video data from the decoding unit 46 a and sends the synthesized screen to the display device 60. The display device 60 displays this composite screen.

The recording unit 48 stores the data decoded by the

decoding units

46a and 46b according to the recording instruction from the control unit 42.

The communication unit 49 is a communication interface that communicates with the broadcast station 20 via the IP communication network 100. The communication unit 49 uploads information indicating the reception status from the control unit 42 to the broadcast station 20. The broadcasting station 20 receives the information indicating the reception status transmitted from the communication unit 49 of the receiver 40 by the receiving unit 25, and presents whether or not the content can be downloaded and downloadable content. The communication unit 49 of the receiver 40 receives data from the transmission unit 28 of the broadcast station 20, and sends the data to the decoding unit 46b. The decoding unit 46 b decodes the data received from the communication unit 49 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 42 and supplies it to the video / audio output unit 47. Similarly, the data supplied to the video / audio output unit 47 is output to the display device 60 and / or the audio reproduction device 70. The communication unit 49 corresponds to an example of a reception status transmission unit in the claims.

Subsequently, the operation of the receiver 40 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiver 40 shown in FIG. In the following processing, it is assumed that there are a plurality of broadcasting stations 20 and broadcast waves are transmitted from each broadcasting station 20.

START: When receiving the operation input signal from the operation input unit 41, the control unit 42 of the receiver 40 starts processing.

Step S1: The control unit 42 determines whether or not there is a request for access to the broadcast station 20 from the operation input unit 41. If there is an access request, the process proceeds to step S2. If there is no access request, the determination process in step S1 is repeated until there is an access request. It may be monitored until an access request is made.

Step S2: The control unit 42 detects whether or not a broadcast wave is being received from the broadcast station 20 that has requested access. The control unit 42 shifts the process to step S4 when receiving (YES in step S2), and shifts the process to step S3 when not receiving.

Step S3: The control unit 42 tunes to the broadcast station 20 that has requested access, receives the broadcast wave, and shifts the processing to step S4.

Step S4: The control unit 42 detects the reception status of the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20, and shifts the processing to step S5. Specifically, the control unit 42 detects the electric field reception intensity and / or reception error rate of the broadcast wave.

Here, as a method for detecting the electric field reception intensity of the broadcast wave by the control unit 42 as an example of the reception status detection unit in the claims, an electric field reception intensity signal generation circuit (not shown) capable of generating an electric field reception intensity signal is used. The receiver 40 is provided so that a value obtained from the generation circuit is output to the control unit 42. For example, a known RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indication) circuit is provided as the generation circuit so that an electric field reception intensity signal can be obtained from the RSSI circuit. Any circuit may be used as long as the electric field reception intensity can be detected.

In addition, as a method for detecting the reception error rate of the broadcast wave by the control unit 42 as an example of the reception status detection unit in the claims, the receiver 40 is provided with a reception error rate detection circuit, and the detection circuit is obtained from the detection circuit. The detection signal is output to the control unit 42. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the reception error rate detection circuit 80 for performing the detection process of step S4 shown in FIG. For example, as the detection circuit, a reception error detection unit 81 that can detect a reception error, a main counter 82 that increments by one each time the reception error detection unit 81 checks a bit of reception data, and a reception error detection unit 81 An error bit counter 83 that increments by one each time an error bit of received data is detected, and a reception error rate calculation unit 84 that always calculates an error rate from the count values of the main counter 82 and the error bit counter 83 described above, The memory 85 that holds a preset reference value, and the error signal calculated by comparing the error rate calculated by the error rate calculation unit 84 with the reference value of the memory 85 exceeds the reference value. And a determination unit 86 for outputting. As reference values preset in the memory 85, for example, four reference values of 2 × 10 ⁻² , 2 × 10 ⁻³ , 2 × 10 ⁻⁴ and 2 × 10 ⁻⁵ are provided, and the calculated error rate is set. When the determination unit 86 outputs the respective detection signals T to the control unit 42 at the time when exceeds any one of these reference values, the reception error rate of the reception data R can be detected. The reception error rate detection circuit 80 described above is merely an example, and any circuit may be used as long as the reception error rate can be detected.

Inputting reception data R and detecting the reception status of the broadcast wave by using the electric field reception intensity signal obtained from the above-described electric field reception intensity signal generation circuit and / or the detection signal T obtained from the reception error rate detection circuit 80 Can do.

Step S5: The control unit 42 uploads information indicating the reception status of the broadcast wave to the broadcast station 20 via the IP communication network 100, and proceeds to step S6.

Step S6: The control unit 42 receives content corresponding to the information uploaded from the broadcast station 20 in step S5. Although details will be described later, since the information indicating the reception status is bad, the information indicating that the content cannot be distributed and the information indicating the reception status are good. Content and the like are distributed from the broadcasting station 20.

Step S7: The control unit 42 outputs the received content to the display device 60 and the audio reproduction device 70 as video and audio output data.

Subsequently, the operation of the broadcast station 20 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the broadcast station 20 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the broadcast station 20 is transmitting a broadcast wave as a premise for the following processing.

START: The control unit 29 of the broadcasting station 20 starts processing when the receiving unit 25 receives information transmitted from the receiver 40.

Step S10: The control unit 29 detects the reception status of the broadcast wave transmitted from the receiver 40, and shifts the processing to step S11.

Step S11: The controller 29 determines whether or not the receiver 40 can receive the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20 from the information indicating the reception status detected in Step S10. Specifically, the information indicating the detected reception status includes at least a value such as a received electric field strength and / or a reception error rate. For example, if the received electric field strength, a predetermined value (for example, 60 dB or more) is set. It is determined whether or not it exceeds or a BER (Bit Error Rate) is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 2 × 10 ⁻⁴ ) if it is a reception error rate. In this embodiment, either the reception field strength value or the reception error rate is used to broadcast depending on whether the detected reception field strength value or the reception error rate value satisfies a predetermined value. It is determined whether or not a wave can be received, but it is determined that a broadcast wave can be received when both of the received electric field strength value and the reception error rate value are satisfied and each satisfies a predetermined value, or Alternatively, it may be determined that a broadcast wave can be received when any one of these satisfies a predetermined value. When the control unit 29 of the broadcast station 20 determines that the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20 cannot be received at a predetermined level, the control unit 29 proceeds to step S12 and receives the broadcast wave at the predetermined level. If it is determined that it can be performed, the process proceeds to step S13.

Step S12: The control unit 29 transmits content indicating that the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20 cannot be received to the receiver 40.

Step S13: On the other hand, when the control unit 29 determines in step S11 that the receiver 40 can receive at a predetermined level, the control unit 29 further determines whether there is content that can be transmitted to the receiver 40. . If there is content that can be transmitted to the receiver 40, the control unit 29 proceeds to step S14. If there is no content that can be transmitted, the control unit 29 proceeds to step S15. Here, the content that can be transmitted to the receiver 40 refers to content that is transmitted in conjunction with the program broadcast time for content related to a program broadcast by the broadcast station 20.

Step S14: Since there is no content to be transmitted, the control unit 29 transmits the content to that effect to the receiver 40.

Step S15: On the other hand, since there is content to be transmitted, the control unit 29 transmits the content to the receiver 40.

Such an information distribution system 10 allows the receiver 40 to receive content via the IP communication network 100 within the broadcast target area without imposing a special operation on the user. In other words, the content can be distributed only to the receiver 40 that can receive the broadcast wave.

Subsequently, an information distribution system 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Unlike the information distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment, the information distribution system 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention receives the information when the receiver 40A receives information from the broadcast station 20A by broadcast waves. It is possible to receive content linked to the information. The information distribution system 10A according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the information distribution system 10 shown in FIG. 1 except for the operations of the broadcasting station 20A and the receiving device 40A. , 2, and 3, and components having similar functions will be described with the same reference numerals. The broadcast station 20A corresponds to an example of a radio station and an information distribution device that transmit the claimed radio wave, and the receiver 40A corresponds to an example of an information reception device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operations of the broadcasting station 20A and the receiver 40A included in the information distribution system 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following processing, it is assumed that there are a plurality of broadcast stations 20A and broadcast waves are transmitted from each broadcast station 20A.

START: When receiving the operation input signal from the operation input unit 41, the control unit 42A of the receiver 40A starts processing.

Step S20: When the control unit 42A receives a broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20A by a user operation or the like (the user views the broadcast), the control unit 42A proceeds to the process of step S21.

Step S21: The control unit 42A detects whether there is content linked to the program from the broadcast wave. Specifically, the control unit 42A analyzes and detects EPG information and data broadcast information included in the broadcast wave. As a result, when there is content linked to the program (YES in step S21), the control unit 42A proceeds to the process of step 22, and when there is no content (NO in step S21), the control unit 42A repeats the determination process of step S21.

Step S22: The control unit 42A notifies the user that there is content linked to the program, and proceeds to the process of step S23. The notification method is, for example, a menu screen that is displayed by a predetermined icon on the display screen of the display device 60, or a screen that displays EPG information, and that is called by a user performing a specific operation. May be displayed.

Step S23: The control unit 42A detects whether or not there is a request for program-linked content from the user. Note that when the user reserves the display of linked content for a specific program or when there is program-linked content, and the setting is such that the linked content is to be played back again, the control unit 42A determines that the user has It is determined that there is a request for program-linked content (YES in step S23). Note that, in this step S23, when there are a plurality of program-linked contents, the control unit 42A also sets a method for acquiring the contents. Specifically, all contents are downloaded or only specific contents are downloaded. When there is no request for program-linked content from the user (NO in step S23), control unit 42A repeats the process of step S23 until there is a request for program-linked content.

Step S24: If there is a request for program-linked content in step S23, the control unit 42A detects the reception status of the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20A of the receiver 40A, and proceeds to the process of step S25. The method for detecting the broadcast wave reception status is the same as the process in step S4 in FIG.

Step S25: The control unit 42A obtains information indicating the reception status as information of the receiver 40A detected in step S24 and terminal information (for example, correspondence of ID and codec of the receiver 40A, communication speed, displayable image size), The data is transmitted to the broadcast station 20A via the IP communication network 100. If there are a plurality of contents, the set acquisition method is also transmitted. When the control unit 42A of the receiver 40A completes the process of step S25, the process of step S26 is started on the broadcasting station 20A side.

Step S26: The control unit 29A of the broadcasting station 20A receives the information of the receiver 40A including the information indicating the reception status transmitted from the receiver 40A in Step S25 via the IP communication network 100.

Step S27: The control unit 29A determines from the information of the receiver 40A whether the receiver 40A may transmit the linked content. Specifically, the control unit 29A determines whether, for example, the received electric field strength and / or the reception error rate exceed a predetermined value from the information indicating the reception status of the receiver 40A. If the control unit 29 determines that the receiver 40A can transmit linked content (YES in step S27), the control unit 29 proceeds to step S28 and is not the receiver 40A that may transmit linked content. (NO in step S27), the process proceeds to step S29.

Step S28: The control unit 29A transmits linked content to the receiver 40A. When there are a plurality of linked contents, the contents are transmitted based on the acquisition method set by the receiver 40A. If there is no particular setting, before sending the linked content, after sending the content indicating which linked content to acquire, the linked content according to the request of the receiver 40A may be sent. One content or all of the content may be transmitted. When the process of step S28 is performed, the process of step S31 is started on the receiver 40A side.

Step S29: On the other hand, if it is determined in step S27 that the receiver 40A is not capable of transmitting the linked content, the control unit 29A may receive the linked content to the receiver 40A. Content notifying that it is not the machine 40A is transmitted. When the process of step S29 is performed, the process of step S30 is started on the receiver 40A side.

Step S30: The control unit 42A receives and reproduces content indicating that linked content cannot be transmitted from the broadcast station 20A, and ends the processing (END).

Step S31: The control unit 42A receives the linked content transmitted in step S28. When the reception of the linked content is completed, the control unit 42A proceeds to the process of step S32.

Step S32: The control unit 42A reproduces the linked content by the set method and ends the processing (END). Specifically, it is possible to reproduce with a broadcast wave on two screens, or to reproduce a still image or a moving image on the display device 60 when the broadcast is audio such as radio broadcast.

By adopting such an information distribution system 10A, it is possible to cause the receiver 40A to receive the content via the IP communication network 100 within the broadcast target area without imposing a special operation on the user. That is, the content can be distributed only to the receiver 40A that can receive the broadcast wave. In addition, such an information distribution system 10A makes it possible to distribute content linked to a broadcast program only for users who are viewing the broadcast program. Also, the user can view various contents provided by the broadcasting station 20A only by viewing the broadcast program.

Subsequently, an information distribution system 10B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an information distribution system 10B according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the information distribution system 10B includes a broadcasting station 20B and a receiver 40B. In the information distribution system 10B, the broadcast content can be received when the receiver 40B receives the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station 20B with the antenna. Further, the receiver 40B can receive broadcast content and / or content other than broadcast content from the broadcast station 20B through the IP communication network 100A by determining whether or not it can output. Although FIG. 8 illustrates one broadcasting station 20B and two receivers 40B, the information distribution system 10B may include a plurality of broadcasting stations 20B and three or more receivers 40B.

Further, in this information distribution system 10B, when the receiver 40B receives content transmitted from the broadcast station 20B via the IP communication network 100A, the reception state of the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station 20B is detected. Whether to output the received content is determined in accordance with the detection status. The IP communication network 100A is a communication network for performing communication between the broadcasting station 20B and the receiver 40B. The IP communication network 100A may be configured by a network using any one of the Internet, CATV, dedicated line, VPN (virtual LAN), WAN, etc. using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, or a combination thereof. Good. Note that other communication protocols other than IP communication may be used as other communication media in the claims.

Broadcast station 20B sends the content for the broadcast program as stream data in accordance with the broadcast schedule. Also, the broadcast station 20B can superimpose data broadcast and EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information on the broadcast wave and transmit it. In addition, the broadcasting station 20B uses the IP communication network 100A to provide related content such as still images, audio, and moving images related to the broadcast program, or unique content that is independently produced regardless of the broadcast program (for example, a homepage provided by the broadcast station 20B). , Text information, still image information, and moving image information) can be provided to the receiver 40B.

In other words, the broadcast station 20B is linked with the video and audio of the broadcast program, data broadcasting that provides independent information such as information related to the broadcast program, weather forecasts and news, and EPG information referred to as an electronic program guide, In addition to being a radio station that can emit and transmit broadcast waves from an antenna, it is also an information distribution device that can transmit the above-described information to the receiver 40B via the IP communication network 100A. Note that the broadcast station 20B corresponds to an example of a radio station or an information distribution apparatus that transmits radio waves in the claims.

The receiver 40B receives the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20B described above, and outputs video, audio and EPG information of the received broadcast program. In addition, when the reception status of the broadcast wave transmitted from the antenna of the broadcast station 20B is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the receiver 40B transmits the broadcast station 20B via the IP communication network 100A. It is possible to output the same content as the content transmitted by the broadcast wave and / or content related to the content, or other different content. Note that the receiver 40B corresponds to an example of an information receiving device in the claims.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the broadcasting station 20B shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the broadcast station 20B includes a content stream creation unit 21, an EPG information creation unit 22, a data broadcast creation unit 23, a MUX (MultipleXer) unit 24, a reception unit 25, a transmission availability determination unit 26, and a content generation unit. 27, the transmission unit 28, the broadcast content DB 21a, the broadcast schedule DB 22a, the data broadcast content DB 23a, the transmittable information DB 26a, and the content DB 27a are main components. In the present embodiment, the broadcasting station 20B corresponds to an example of a wireless station and an information distribution device in claims, but functions as a wireless station (content stream creation unit 21, EPG information creation unit 22, data broadcasting) A creation unit 23, a MUX unit 24, a broadcast content DB 21a, a broadcast schedule DB 22a, and a data broadcast content DB 23a) and functions as an information distribution device (reception unit 25, transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 26, content generation unit 27) The transmission unit 28, the transmittable information DB 26a, and the function as the content DB 27a) may be realized by separate devices.

Here, the information processing realized by the functions of the content stream creation unit 21, the EPG information creation unit 22, the data broadcast creation unit 23, the transmission availability determination unit 26, and the content generation unit 27 described above controls the entire broadcast station 20B. This is realized by the control unit 29B executing in cooperation with a hardware resource (not shown). Specifically, the control unit 29B includes a CPU, which is a hardware resource (not shown), and the CPU reads various programs stored in a ROM (not shown) into a RAM (not shown) and executes them in cooperation. It is realized by doing.

The broadcast content DB 21a, the broadcast schedule DB 22a, the data broadcast content DB 23a, the transmittable information DB 26a, and the content DB 27a are stored in the storage unit 30. The storage unit 30 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or a flash. It consists of memory.

The content stream creation unit 21 creates broadcast content with reference to the broadcast content DB 21a. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the broadcast content is encoded and multiplexed in conformity with the MPEG2-TS (Motion Photographic Coding Experts Group-2 Transport Stream) standard. In the MPEG2-TS standard, video and audio of transmitted content is generated as an encoded ES (Elementary Stream), and a PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) in which ES is packetized for each meaningful unit is generated. Is done. Further, a TS (Transport Stream) packet obtained by dividing the PES is transmitted from the broadcast station 20B.

The control data here refers to data called SI / PSI (Service Information / Program Specific Information). SI of SI / PSI includes information necessary for creating EPG information, and PSI is control data including information for performing basic control. The TS packet may be subjected to an encryption process (hereinafter referred to as “scramble process”) for preventing viewing contrary to the intention of the broadcast station 20B. Here, for example, Multi2 can be used as the scrambling method. This Multi2 is one of the methods for encrypting digital data, and is widely used in BS digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting. The broadcast content DB 21a stores information on which the above-described broadcast content is based.

The EPG information creation unit 22 creates EPG information with reference to the broadcast schedule DB 22a. In the broadcast schedule DB 22a, the broadcast schedule of the broadcast station 20B is stored, but the broadcast schedule information of another broadcast station 20B may be stored.

The data broadcast creation unit 23 creates a data broadcast such as weather forecasts and information related to programs from the data broadcast content DB 23a. In the following description, it is assumed that the data broadcast is encoded and multiplexed according to the MPEG2-TS standard in the same manner as the broadcast content described above. In addition to data broadcasting such as weather forecasts and information related to the program, the data broadcasting content DB 23a includes URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information and P2P (Peer to Peer) information provided by the broadcasting station 20B related to the program. ) Search query information that can be used in the method may be stored. The data broadcast creation unit 23 supplies these information together to the MUX unit 24.

The MUX unit 24 includes content data created by the content stream creation unit 21 with reference to the broadcast content DB 21a, EPG information created by the EPG information creation unit 22 with reference to the broadcast schedule DB 22a, and data created by the broadcast creation unit 23. Broadcast data 24b is generated by multiplexing data broadcast program data created with reference to the broadcast content DB 23a. The broadcast data 24b is transmitted as a broadcast wave from the antenna of the broadcast station 20B.

The receiving unit 25 is a communication interface capable of receiving a content request from the receiver 40B via the IP communication network 100A.

The transmission permission determination unit 26 determines whether or not the receiver 40B that has transmitted the content request is a valid user with reference to the transmission permission information DB 26a. If the receiver 40B that has transmitted the content request is not a valid user, the transmission permission / inhibition determining unit 26 notifies the receiver 40B that the content cannot be transmitted. If the receiver 40B that has transmitted the content request is a legitimate user, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 26 supplies a signal permitting the content request to the content generation unit 27. Note that the transmission information DB 26a stores user information of the receiver 40B such as an IP address associated with a user who can use the information distribution system 1, a user ID of the user, and a password associated with the user ID. Information stored in the unit 52 (see FIG. 10) is stored at least.

When the content generation unit 27 receives a signal permitting a content request from the transmission permission determination unit 26, the content generation unit 27 refers to the content DB 27a and generates content to be transmitted to the receiver 40B. Here, the content to be transmitted to the receiver 40B may be a content requested by the receiver 40B, or a content linked to the broadcast program may be generated. The selected content may be generated when the receiver 40B requests specific content, and program-linked content may be automatically generated and transmitted otherwise. Note that whether or not a specific content can be transmitted is determined based on whether or not the broadcast station 20B can be received by the receiver 40B, but depending on whether or not reception is possible, access to a specific site operated by the broadcast station 20B is restricted. Also good.

Various contents are stored in the content DB 27a. The content stored in the content DB 27a stores program-linked content, content that can be accessed even after the end of broadcasting, content that is not limited to an area, and the like. Specific examples of content include still images, moving images, and audio. The information is described in a markup language such as XML (extensible Markup Language) or BML (Broadcast Markup Language). By using such a markup language, the compatibility with the IP communication network 100A is achieved. Can be made good.

The transmission unit 28 is a communication interface that receives a content request from the receiver 40B via the IP communication network 100A and transmits the content to the receiver 40B.

Subsequently, the receiver 40B will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the receiver 40B shown in FIG. The receiver 40B is a terminal that receives, for example, TV broadcasts or radio broadcasts, regardless of whether the receiver 40B is a fixed reception terminal or a portable mobile terminal. Further, the receiver 40B outputs the information received from the broadcasting station 20B to the display device 60 and the audio reproduction device 70. The receiver 40B according to the present embodiment is a separate device from the display device 60 and the audio playback device 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the receiver 40B, the display device 60, and the audio reproduction device 70 may be provided in the same housing, for example, a television set. Further, the receiver 40B and the display device 60 may be provided in the same housing, and only the audio reproduction device 70 may be provided in another housing. That is, there are no particular limitations on the devices in which the three receivers 40B, the display device 60, and the audio reproduction device 70 are provided. The receiver 40B may have a recording function and a recording function.

As shown in FIG. 10, the receiver 40B includes an operation input unit 41, a control unit 42B, a tuner 43, a DEMUX (DEMMultipleXer) unit 45, a decoding unit 46a, a decoding unit 46a, a video / audio output unit 47, a recording unit 48, and a network connection. The main component is the unit 49, the network information decoding unit 46b, the reception status detection unit 50, the output availability determination unit 51, and the user information storage unit 52. Here, the control unit 42B is composed of, for example, a CPU, which is a hardware resource (not shown), and reads various programs stored in the recording unit 48, the ROM, etc. into the RAM, and cooperates with various arithmetic processes. As a result, the information processing performed by the functions of the respective units of the receiver 40B can be realized.

The operation input unit 41 is configured with, for example, a remote control or a touch panel, but may be configured to allow voice input or the like. In addition, the operation input unit 41 receives an operation input from the user and transmits a user instruction to the control unit 42. The user can perform operation input to the receiver 40 </ b> B by operating the operation input unit 41. The operation input to the receiver 40B may be input to the operation input unit 41 provided in the receiver 40B via a wireless signal (operation signal) such as infrared rays. The operation signal input to the operation input unit 41 is input to the control unit 42B via a bus (not shown).

The control unit 42B is a central processing unit that includes a CPU (not shown) and the like, analyzes an operation signal input to the operation input unit 41, and controls operations of each unit or a part of the receiver 40B. . For example, when the user inputs a channel selection instruction using the operation input unit 41, a signal indicating the content of the channel selection instruction is input to the control unit 42B via the operation input unit 41 and a bus (not shown). As a result, the control unit 42B transmits a channel selection instruction to the channel selected by the user to the tuner 43 via a bus (not shown).

The tuner 43 receives the broadcast wave of the broadcast station 20B with an antenna, demodulates the received RF (Radio Frequency) signal, performs error correction, and outputs a TS signal composed of TS packets to the DEMUX unit 44. In FIG. 10, only one tuner 43 is shown for receiving terrestrial digital broadcasting. However, when receiving analog broadcasting, radio broadcasting (analog, digital), and BS broadcasting (analog, digital), those tuners are also shown. A tuner 43 may be provided, and two or more tuners 43 may be provided.

The DEMUX unit 44 converts a TS signal composed of TS packets (that is, broadcast data 24b obtained by multiplexing a plurality of streams such as video and audio in the MUX unit 24 of the transmission-side broadcast station 20B) into stream data such as video and audio. And processing for separation into section format data such as SI / PSI. Each data separated by the DEMUX unit 44 is supplied to the decoding unit 46a in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 42B.

The decoding unit 46a decodes broadcasting content, EPG information, data broadcasting, and the like according to instructions from the control unit 42B. The decoding unit 46 a supplies the decoded data to the recording unit 48. The data supplied from the decoding unit 46a to the recording unit 48 may be supplied as it is as a data signal without being decoded as a video signal or an audio signal.

Also, the decoding unit 46a decodes the above-described broadcast content, EPG information, data broadcast, and the like to generate audio data, video data, and program data, respectively. The decoded audio data is supplied to the audio reproduction device 70 described above. The audio reproduction device 70 performs D / A conversion processing on the supplied audio data and outputs it as an audio signal. The decoding unit 46 a supplies the decoded video data and program data to the video / audio output unit 47.

The recording unit 48 stores data decoded by the decoding unit 46a or the network information decoding unit 46b in accordance with a recording instruction from the control unit 42B.

The network connection unit 49 is a communication interface that communicates with the broadcast station 20B via the IP communication network 100A. The network connection unit 49 receives data from the transmission unit 28 of the broadcast station 20B and sends the data to the network information decoding unit 46b.

The network information decoding unit 46 b decodes the data received from the network connection unit 49 according to an instruction from the control unit 42 and supplies the decoded data to the video / audio output unit 47. Similarly, the data supplied to the video / audio output unit 47 is output to the display device 60 and / or the audio reproduction device 70.

The reception status detection unit 50 has a function of detecting the reception status of a broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcasting station 20B in response to a reception status detection instruction from the control unit 42B. The details of the reception status detection unit 50 will be described together with the operation of the receiver 40B described later. The value detected by the reception status detection unit 50 is supplied to the output availability determination unit 51.

Based on the value supplied from the reception status detection unit 50, the output availability determination unit 51 determines whether to output the content received via the network connection unit 49 based on the output availability determination instruction from the control unit 42B. To do. The details of the output propriety determination unit 51 will be described together with the operation of the receiver 40B described later. When the received content is output by the output permission determination unit 51, a signal permitting output is supplied to the video / audio output unit 47, and when the received content is not output, the network connection unit indicates that the output cannot be performed. 49, the receiver 40B that has requested the content is notified.

The user information storage unit 52 stores registration information about a user who uses the information distribution system 1 using the receiver 40B. The registered information about the user here is an IP address associated with a user who can use the information distribution system 1, a user ID of the user, a password associated with the user ID, and the like.

The receiver 40B includes a descrambler unit (not shown) for releasing the scramble when the broadcast data 24b superimposed on the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station 20B is subjected to the scramble process. Also good. In this case, the descrambler unit performs a process of canceling the scramble process of the TS signal composed of the TS packet that is superimposed on the RF signal received by the tuner and subjected to the scramble process according to the instruction of the control unit 42. Do. In addition, the descrambler unit supplies a TS signal including the TS packet from which the scramble process has been canceled to the DEMUX unit 44.

Subsequently, the operation of the receiver 40B will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiver 40B shown in FIG. In the following processing, it is assumed that there are a plurality of broadcast stations 20B and broadcast waves are transmitted from each broadcast station 20B.

START: When receiving the operation input signal from the operation input unit 41, the control unit 42B starts processing.

Step S41: The control unit 42B determines whether or not there is an access request to the broadcast station 20B from the operation input unit 41. If there is an access request, the process proceeds to step S42. If there is no access request, the determination process in step S41 is repeated until there is an access request. It may be monitored until an access request is made.

Step S42: The control unit 42B receives the content via the IP communication network 100A from the broadcasting station 20B that has requested access. When the reception of the content from the broadcast station 20B is completed via the IP communication network 100A, the control unit 42B proceeds to the process of step S43.

Step S43: The control unit 42B determines whether or not a broadcast wave is being received from the broadcast station 20B that has requested access in step S41. If the broadcast wave from the broadcasting station 20B is being received, the control unit 42B proceeds to the process of step S45, and if not, the process proceeds to the process of step S44.

Step S44: The control unit 42B tunes to the broadcast station 20B that requested the access, receives the broadcast wave, and shifts the processing to step S45.

Step S45: The control unit 42B detects the reception status of the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20B, and shifts the processing to step S46. Specifically, the control unit 42B detects the electric field reception intensity and / or the reception error rate of the broadcast wave.

Here, as a method for detecting the electric field reception intensity of the broadcast wave by the control unit 42B as an example of the reception status detection unit in the claims, an electric field reception intensity signal generation circuit (not shown) capable of generating an electric field reception intensity signal is used. The receiver 40B is provided so that a value obtained from the generation circuit is output to the control unit 42B. For example, a known RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indication) circuit is provided as the generation circuit so that an electric field reception intensity signal can be obtained from the RSSI circuit. Any circuit may be used as long as the electric field reception intensity can be detected.

In addition, as a method for detecting the reception error rate of the broadcast wave by the control unit 42B as an example of the reception status detection unit of the claims, the receiver 40B is provided with a reception error rate detection circuit, and is obtained from the detection circuit. The detection signal is output to the control unit 42B. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the reception error rate detection circuit 80 for performing the detection process of step S45 shown in FIG. For example, as the detection circuit, a reception error detection unit 81 that can detect a reception error, a main counter 82 that increments by one each time the reception error detection unit 81 checks a bit of reception data, and a reception error detection unit 81 An error bit counter 83 that increments by one each time an error bit of received data is detected, and a reception error rate calculation unit 84 that always calculates an error rate from the count values of the main counter 82 and the error bit counter 83 described above, The memory 86 that holds a preset reference value and the error signal calculated by comparing the error rate calculated by the error rate calculation unit 84 with the reference value of the memory 86 exceeds the reference value to detect the detection signal. And a determination unit 85 for outputting. As reference values preset in the memory 86, for example, four reference values of 2 × 10 ⁻² , 2 × 10 ⁻³ , 2 × 10 ⁻⁴ , and 2 × 10 ⁻⁵ are provided, and input received data When the error rate calculated from R exceeds any of these reference values, the determination unit 85 outputs the respective detection signals T to the control unit 42B, whereby the reception error rate can be detected. The reception error rate detection circuit 80 described above is merely an example, and any circuit may be used as long as the reception error rate can be detected.

The reception status of the broadcast wave is detected by using the reception data R using the electric field reception intensity signal obtained from the electric field reception intensity signal generation circuit and / or the detection signal T obtained by inputting the reception error rate detection circuit 80. Can do.

Step S46: The control unit 42B determines whether or not the content can be output depending on whether or not the reception status of the broadcasting station 20B detected in step S45 has reached a predetermined level. The control unit 42B determines that the received content can be output when the reception status has reached a predetermined level, and proceeds to the process of step S48. If the reception status has not reached the predetermined level, the control unit 42B receives the content. If it is determined that the content cannot be output, the process proceeds to step S47.

Step S47: The control unit 42B outputs information indicating that the content cannot be distributed because the reception status is bad or cannot be received to the display device 60 and the audio reproduction device 70, and ends the processing (END). .

Step S48: The control unit 42B outputs the received content as video and audio output data to the display device 60 and the audio reproduction device 70, and ends the processing (END). It does not matter whether the received content is in a streaming format or a download format. If the received content is in the streaming format, the newly received content is reproduced at the transition to the output permission determination at step S46, or the content is buffered after the access request is generated at step S41. The content received after the access request in step S41 is generated after it is determined in step S46 that output is possible may be reproduced.

As described above, it is possible to determine whether or not the content received from the broadcasting station 20B is within the broadcasting target area of the broadcasting station 20B on the receiver 40B side by determining whether the content can be output from the reception state of the broadcast wave. . Therefore, on the broadcast station 20B side, it is not necessary to consider whether or not the receiver 40B is within the broadcast target range for the content distribution request from the receiver 40B.

Subsequently, another operation of the receiver 40B will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiver 40B shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 13 is different from the process shown in FIG. 11 in step S42A. Based on the data included in the content received from the broadcast station 20B via the IP communication network 100A, the reception status detection process and the output availability determination process are performed. It is determined whether or not to perform. Note that the same processing (START in FIG. 13, steps S41 to S48, END) as the processing shown in FIG.

Step S42A: When the content is received via the IP communication network 100A in Step S42, the control unit 42B receives the reception status from the data included in the content or the data transmitted together with the content, and whether or not the output is possible. It is determined whether or not to perform a determination process. Here, the process determination data for determining whether to perform the reception status detection process or the output permission determination process may be added by the broadcast station 20B at the time of content creation in the content creation unit 27 of the broadcast station 20B, for example. Alternatively, it may be included in advance as data in the content included in the content DB 27a. The determination in step S42A can be made by performing flag determination on the receiver 40B side for the presence or absence of processing determination data transmitted in this manner. If the control unit 42B determines from the data included in the content received via the IP communication network 100A in step S42 that it is necessary to perform reception status detection processing or output availability determination processing (YES in step S42A). Then, the process proceeds to step S45, and if it is determined that it is not necessary to perform the reception status detection process or the output permission determination process (NO in step S42A), the process proceeds to step S48.

In this way, by determining whether to perform the reception status detection process and the output permission determination process based on the data received from the broadcast station 20B, all contents received from the broadcast station 20B via the IP communication network 100A are determined. Thus, it is possible to receive and output the content without performing the reception status detection process and the output availability determination process one by one.

As described above, by using such an information distribution system 10B, content is output from the receiver 40B via the IP communication network 100A within the broadcast target area without imposing a special operation on the user. be able to. That is, the content can be distributed only to the receiver 40B that can receive the broadcast wave.

Subsequently, an information distribution system 10C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Unlike the information distribution system 10B according to the third embodiment, the information distribution system 10C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention receives the reception when the receiver 40C receives information from the broadcast station 20C by broadcast waves. The content linked to the information can be received via the IP communication network 100A. The information distribution system 10C according to the fourth embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the information distribution system 10B shown in FIG. 8 except for the operations of the broadcasting station 20C and the receiver 40C. , 9 and 10 are respectively referred to, and components having similar functions will be described with the same reference numerals. The broadcasting station 20C corresponds to an example of a radio station and an information distribution device for transmitting the claimed radio wave, and the receiver 40C corresponds to an example of an information receiving device in the claims.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing operations of the broadcasting station 20C and the receiver 40C included in the information distribution system 10C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the following processing, it is assumed that there are a plurality of broadcasting stations 20C, and broadcast waves are transmitted from each broadcasting station 20C.

START: When receiving the operation input signal from the operation input unit 41, the control unit 42C starts processing.

Step S40: When the control unit 42C receives a broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20 by a user operation or the like (the user views the broadcast), the control unit 42C proceeds to the process of step S41.

Step S41: The control unit 42C detects whether there is content linked to the program from the broadcast wave. Specifically, the control unit 42C analyzes and detects EPG information and data broadcast information included in the broadcast wave. As a result, when there is content linked to the program (YES in step S41), the control unit 42C proceeds to the process of step S42, and when there is no content (NO in step S41), the control unit 42C repeats the determination process of step S41.

Step S42: The control unit 42C notifies the user that there is content linked to the program, and proceeds to the process of step S43. The notification method is, for example, a menu screen that is displayed by a predetermined icon on the display screen of the display device 60, or a screen that displays EPG information, and that is called by a user performing a specific operation. May be displayed.

Step S43: The control unit 42C detects whether or not there is a request for program-linked content from the user. For example, when the user reserves the display of linked content for a specific program or when there is a program-linked content and the setting is such that the linked content is played back again, the control unit 42C receives the setting from the user. It is determined that there is a request for program-linked content (YES in step S43). In this step S43, when there are a plurality of program-linked contents, the method for acquiring the contents may also be set. Specifically, the setting is such that all contents are downloaded or only specific contents are downloaded. When there is no request for program-linked content from the user (NO in step S43), control unit 42C repeats the process of step S43 until a request for program-linked content is received.

Step S44: If there is a request for program-linked content in step S43, the control unit 42C receives the content. When there are a plurality of linked contents, the contents are received based on the acquisition method set by the receiver 40C. If there is no particular setting, after receiving the content indicating which linked content is received prior to receiving the linked content, the linked content according to the content request may be received, or there are a plurality One of the contents or all of the contents may be received.

Step S45: The control unit 42C detects the reception state of the broadcast wave from the broadcast station 20C, and proceeds to the process of step S46. Note that the method for detecting the broadcast wave reception status is the same as the processing in step S5 in FIG.

Step S46: The control unit 42C determines whether to output the received program-linked content based on the value detected in step S45. When the received program-linked content is output (YES in step S46), the control unit 42C proceeds to the process of step S48, and when not output (NO in step S46), the control unit 42C proceeds to the process of step S47.

Step S47: The control unit 42C reproduces (outputs) the content indicating that the linked content cannot be output from the broadcasting station 20C, and ends the processing (END).

Step S48: The control unit 42C plays (outputs) the linked content by the set method, and ends the processing (END). Specifically, it is possible to reproduce with a broadcast wave on two screens, or to reproduce a still image or a moving image on the display device 60 when the broadcast is audio such as radio broadcast.

By using such an information distribution system 10C, content linked to a broadcast program can be output from the receiver 40C via the IP communication network 100A within a broadcast target area without imposing a special operation on the user. Can do. That is, the content can be distributed only to the receiver 40C that can receive the broadcast wave. In addition, such an information distribution system 10C makes it possible to distribute content linked to a broadcast program only for users who are viewing the broadcast program. Further, the user can view various contents provided by the broadcasting station 20C only by viewing the broadcast program.

The

information distribution systems

10, 10A, 10B, and 10C have been described as exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Is possible.

For example, the presence or absence of program-linked content may be notified by voice. Alternatively, the presence / absence of linked content may be notified during a broadcast wave program broadcast. Specifically, the presenter may introduce the program in a program or stream it as a telop. When notification is made during program broadcast, the presence or absence of linked content may be detected by voice recognition or image recognition.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the information indicating the reception status is determined and whether or not the content can be transmitted is determined. However, the content limited to the region and the content not limited to the region on the HP of the broadcasting station. May be prepared, and the processing may be performed when the reproduction of the content limited to the region is requested.

In addition, the transmission availability determination unit 26 of the broadcasting station 20B in the third embodiment of the present invention receives information indicating the reception status of the broadcast wave from the receiver 40B, and determines whether the content can be transmitted from the reception status. You may do it. When the content requested from the receiver 40B is not limited to the area, the content may be transmitted to the receiver 40B regardless of the result of the broadcast station 20 reception determination. . Further, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 26 may transmit content also to the receiver 40B when the broadcasting station 20 is not temporarily determined to be receivable by referring to the transmission permission information DB 26a. In this case, it is preferable that determination result information as to whether or not the receiver 40B has been able to transmit in the past is stored in advance in the transmittable information DB 26a.

Further, in the

information distribution systems

10, 10A, 10B, and 10C according to the above-described embodiments, the client server type network method for downloading content from the broadcasting station 20 is adopted, but the P2P type network method is used. It may be. In this case, the content request to the

broadcasting stations

20, 20A, 20B, and 20C is transmitted as a search query, information indicating the reception status is also transmitted, and the content only when the information indicating the reception status satisfies a reference value It is also possible to convey the information of the peer that holds and download the content from the peer.

Moreover, it implement | achieves by comprising all or one part of the function of each part demonstrated by the

information delivery system

10, 10A, 10B, 10C which concerns on each embodiment mentioned above with a program, and installing this program in information processing apparatus (computer). May be. Specifically, it can be a program for causing a computer to function. The program can be directly installed on a computer from a medium recorded in an executable state, but it may be installed on a remote computer via a network.

10, 10A, 10B, 10C information distribution system,
20, 20A, 20B, 20C broadcast station (wireless station, information distribution device),
25 receiving unit (receiving unit of the information distribution device),
28 transmission unit (distribution unit of information distribution apparatus),
26 a transmission availability determination unit (a part of the output availability determination unit of the information distribution device),
29, 29A control unit (control unit of information distribution device and output availability determination unit),
29B, 29C control unit (control unit of information distribution apparatus),
40, 40A, 40B, 40C receiver (information receiving device),
42, 42A control unit (control unit of information reception device, reception status detection unit),
42B, 42C control unit (information receiving device control unit, reception status detection unit, reception status transmission unit and output availability determination unit),
49 communication unit, network connection unit (reception unit of information reception device, part of reception status transmission unit),
50 reception status detection unit (part of the reception status detection unit of the information reception device),
51 Output availability determination unit (part of the output availability determination unit of the information reception device),
80 reception error rate detection circuit (part of the reception status detection unit of the information reception device),
100,100A IP communication network (other communication media)

Claims

An information distribution system comprising: an information reception device capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations via radio waves; and an information distribution device capable of distributing information to the information reception device,
The information receiving device has a reception status detection unit that detects the reception status of the radio wave,
The information distribution device transmits the information transmitted by the radio station using the radio wave and / or the information other than the information transmitted by the radio station using the radio wave via the communication medium different from the radio wave. A distribution unit for distributing to the receiving device;
The information distribution system, wherein transmission / reception of information to be distributed is controlled in accordance with the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit.
An information distribution device capable of distributing predetermined information to an information reception device capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations via radio waves,
A distribution unit that distributes information other than information transmitted from the radio station and / or information transmitted from the radio station to the information receiving device via a communication medium other than the radio wave; ,
A receiving unit that receives information indicating a reception status of the radio wave in the information receiving device transmitted from the information receiving device;
An information distribution device comprising: a control unit that controls information distribution to the information reception device by the distribution unit according to a reception state of the radio wave indicated by the information received by the reception unit.
The information distribution device according to claim 2,
Based on the reception status of the radio wave in the information receiving device, further includes an output availability determination unit that determines whether to deliver information to be distributed,
The control unit controls the output in the information receiving device of information distributed via the other communication medium by the distribution unit according to the determination result of the output propriety by the output permission determination unit,
An information distribution apparatus comprising:
An information distribution method used for an information distribution apparatus capable of distributing predetermined information to an information reception apparatus capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations by radio waves,
The information distribution apparatus includes a reception unit, a control unit, and a distribution unit, and transmits information other than information transmitted by the radio station and / or information transmitted by the radio station using radio waves. It can be distributed to the information receiving device via another communication medium,
Receiving the information transmitted from the information receiving device and indicating the reception status of the radio wave in the information receiving device;
The control unit controlling information distribution to the information receiving device by the distribution unit according to the reception status of the radio wave indicated by the information received by the reception unit;
The distribution unit sends information other than information transmitted from the radio station by the radio wave and / or information transmitted from the radio station to the information reception device via a communication medium other than the radio wave. Delivering, and
An information distribution method characterized by comprising:
An information receiving device capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations via radio waves,
Receives information transmitted from the information distribution apparatus via a communication medium other than the radio wave and transmitted by the radio station using the radio wave and / or information other than the information transmitted by the radio station using the radio wave. A receiver,
A reception status detection unit for detecting the reception status of the radio wave;
A control unit that controls reception of information distributed from the information distribution apparatus via the other communication medium by the reception unit in accordance with the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit. To receive information.
The information receiving device according to claim 5,
Based on the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit, further includes an output propriety determination unit that determines whether to output information distributed from the information distribution device,
The control unit controls reception of information distributed from the information distribution apparatus via the other communication medium by the reception unit according to a determination result of output permission by the output permission determination unit. To receive information.
The information receiving device according to claim 5 or 6,
The reception status detection unit
An information receiving apparatus for detecting a reception field intensity and / or a reception error rate value of the radio wave from the radio station as the radio wave reception status.
The information receiving device according to claim 6 or 7,
An information receiving apparatus that determines whether or not to perform the processing of the reception status detection unit or the output availability determination unit based on information distributed from the information distribution apparatus.
The information receiving device according to claim 5,
An information receiving apparatus, further comprising: a reception status transmission unit configured to transmit information indicating the reception status of the radio wave detected by the reception status detection unit to the information distribution apparatus via the other communication medium.
The information receiving device according to claim 9,
The reception status detection unit detects the value of the received electric field strength and / or reception error rate of the radio wave from the radio station,
The reception status transmission unit transmits the reception field strength and / or the reception error rate value to the information distribution device;
An information receiving apparatus.
An information receiving method used in an information receiving apparatus capable of receiving information transmitted by radio stations by radio waves,
The information receiving apparatus includes a reception status detection unit, a control unit, and a receiving unit, and also distributes information transmitted by the radio waves and / or other information other than the information transmitted by the radio waves and other than the radio waves Can be received via other communication media,
The reception status detection unit detecting the reception status of the radio wave;
The control unit controlling reception of information distributed from the information distribution device via the other communication medium by the reception unit according to the reception status detected by the reception status detection unit;
The receiving unit is distributed from the information distribution device via a communication medium other than the radio wave, and the information transmitted by the radio station using the radio wave and / or the information transmitted by the radio station using the radio wave Receiving the other information. An information receiving method comprising: