WO2024083216A1 - Video content publishing system and television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to a video content publishing system and a television receiver. Metadata such as program information for image publishing in broadcast and communication is not integrated. In a system for publishing video content, a publishing system generates program information with program information of a publishing operator and identification information of the publishing operator and publishes the program information to an intermediate shared server. The intermediate shared server generates unified program information from the program information received from the publishing system, and publishes the program information of the intermediate shared server to a television receiver according to a request from the television receiver.

Description

Video content distribution system and television receiver

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Japanese patent application filed with the Japan Patent Office on October 21, 2022, with application number 2022-169211 and invention name “Visual content distribution system and television receiver”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application.

Technical Field

The present application relates to a distribution system and a television receiver which are composed of a server system for distributing video contents and a receiving terminal for receiving video contents distributed via a network and which can easily select video contents distributed via a network.

Background technique

In recent years, with the development of the Internet, many dynamic image distribution services have been implemented. In particular, large-scale, large-screen TV receivers not only receive broadcasts as before, but also connect to the Internet to play the distributed video content, so that higher-quality and immersive video can be enjoyed. This has become possible with the speed of the Internet and the improvement of the processing performance of TV receivers. In the future, the opportunities to display and operate various video content provided by the Internet on TV receivers will increase.

On the other hand, television receivers still receive broadcast-based visual content, and many viewers are enjoying broadcast viewing. Therefore, for viewers, not only the previous broadcast viewing, but also the opportunity to select a plurality of contents based on distribution has increased.

Under such circumstances, viewers want a method that allows them to more easily select their favorite content from among the video content distributed through broadcasting or communication. However, various methods are currently provided for selecting video content based on broadcast waves and video content distributed through communication, and viewers need to play the video content after selecting each program selection method. For example, the selection of video distribution content is implemented by a method of displaying a content selection screen based on an icon placed on the home screen of the TV, or by a button dedicated to the distribution content. On the other hand, with regard to broadcast content, television receivers are generally designed so that programs can be selected by activating a direct button indicating a channel on a remote controller or a program list.

Prior Art Literature

Non-patent literature

Non-patent document 1: ARIB TR-B14 Part 4 of the Terrestrial Digital Television Broadcasting Operation Rules

Non-Patent Document 2: PSI/SI Operation Regulations for Terrestrial Digital Television Broadcasting

Summary of the invention

The following describes the current method of selecting video content based on broadcasting and selecting video content based on communication.

FIG. 19 shows an embodiment of the current broadcasting system.

The broadcast program content 19001 in the broadcast system 19000 is compressed by the encoder 19002 and input to the multiplexing and sending unit 19003. On the other hand, the program information required for program selection is generated as SI (Service Information) information by the SI generating unit 19004, input to the multiplexing and sending unit 19003, multiplexed in the video and audio stream, and sent. The multiplexed video and audio stream is sent to the television receiver 19100 as a broadcast wave. The television receiver 19100 In the embodiment, the receiving and separating unit 19103 receives the broadcast wave and separates the multiplexed SI signal and the video and audio stream. The separated video and audio stream is input to the decoder 19102, and the compressed video and audio stream is decoded by the decoder 19102. The decoded video and audio is input to the content display unit 19101 and displayed.

On the other hand, the separated SI signal is input to the SI processing unit 19104, and after the program description and information required for program selection are saved for each channel, it is input to the program list screen 19105. A program list that is easy for viewers to understand is generated on the program list screen 19105, and is input to the content display unit 19101 and displayed to the viewer.

The above processing is implemented by the control unit 19106 controlling each unit according to the signal output by the remote controller 19107 operated by the viewer.

FIG. 20 shows a conventional program table displayed according to FIG. 19 .

The program table is shown in 20100. The horizontal axis shows the channel number, and the vertical axis shows the time. The table shows the description information of the program showing the content. Content 1A to content 3C shown in the figure show the title of the program and the text showing the description thereof.

Reference numeral 20000 indicates a remote controller. The remote controller has a program list button for starting a program list, number buttons 1 to 12 for selecting each channel, and is equipped with up, down, left, and right keys for moving a cursor for selecting content in the program list, and an enter key.

When the program list button of the remote controller 20000 is pressed, the program list is displayed on the TV screen. Then, the cursor 20101 is moved using the up, down, left, and right keys of the remote controller 20000 to select a predetermined content.

In the above, the program list is activated by the program list button of the remote controller 20000 to select the content, but in the case of broadcasting, it can be directly activated by the direct selection buttons representing the numbers 1 to 12 on the remote controller 20000. In broadcasting, since the broadcasting station can be identified by the channel number, this is implemented by mapping the channel number and the direct selection button.

Next, an embodiment of a video distribution system is shown in FIG21.

The distribution content 21001 in the distribution system 21000 is compressed by the encoder 21002 and input to the multiplexing distribution unit 21003. On the other hand, the program information required for program selection is generated by the program information unit 21004, input to the multiplexing distribution unit 21003, multiplexed on the video and audio stream and sent out. The multiplexed video and audio stream is transmitted to the television receiver 21100 via the communication line. In the television receiver 21100, the stream transmitted via the communication line is received by the receiving separation unit 21103, and the multiplexed program information and video and audio stream are separated. The separated video and audio stream is input to the decoder 21102, and the compressed video and audio stream is decoded by the decoder 21102. The decoded video and audio are input to the content display unit 21101, and the video and audio are displayed.

On the other hand, the separated program information is input to the program information processing unit 21104 to generate a program selection screen. At this time, unlike broadcast reception, icons or a program overview screen are shown to the viewer. Usually, in communication-based distribution, content without a concept of time is selected through VOD (Video On Demand), so a program overview is generated. The icon or content selection screen generated in 21105 is input to the content display unit 21101 and displayed.

The above processing can be implemented by controlling each part through the control unit 21106 based on the signal output by the remote control 21107 operated by the viewer.

Fig. 22 shows an example of a conventional selection screen for video and audio content transmitted by communication. In a television receiver, when selecting a distribution content, a distribution source selection screen 22100 is first displayed. In the distribution source selection screen, one or more icons are displayed for each distribution source, and a distribution source is specified by selecting an icon.

Here, if icon 1 is selected, a list 22200 of contents provided by the distribution source indicated by icon 1 is displayed next. Since there is no concept of time, it is displayed as a list of contents.

Here, these operations are performed via remote control 22000 .

When the viewer presses the home button of the remote controller 22000, a distribution source selection screen 22100 is displayed. The icon representing a predetermined distribution source is selected by operating the cursor 22101 with the up, down, left, and right keys of the remote controller. After specifying a distribution source with the OK button, a content list 22200 is displayed.

In the content list 22200 , the cursor 22102 is similarly operated using the up, down, left, and right keys of the remote controller 22000 to select the desired content.

In addition, FIG23 shows another embodiment of the video distribution system.

The distribution system 23000 transmits the video and audio stream from the transmission unit 23003 to the stream distribution network 23300, and the program information generated by the distribution system 23000 is transmitted from the program information unit 23004 to the receiving unit 23401 of the intermediate shared server 23400. The distribution systems 23100 and 23200 transmit the video and audio stream and the program information through another path similarly to the distribution system 23000. The intermediate shared server 23400 accumulates the received program information in the program information accumulation unit 23403. When content is selected on the content selection screen 23505 of the television receiver 23500, the designated video and audio stream is transmitted from the stream distribution network 23300 to the receiving unit 23503, and the video and audio content decoded by the decoder 23502 is displayed on the content display unit 23501.

The program information is distributed from the transmission unit 23402 of the intermediate shared server 23400 to the program information processing unit 23504 of the television receiver 23500, and a content selection screen 23505 is generated.

Access to the stream distribution network and the intermediate shared server can be achieved from multiple television receivers or from television receiver 23600.

FIG. 24 shows a conventional example of a selection screen for video and audio contents according to the above-described embodiment.

In the content list 24100, the services provided by the publication A, publication B, and publication C are arranged at the top of the screen. If publication A is selected, the contents A1 to A6 provided by publication A are displayed, and the video content selected therefrom is played. When publication B is selected, as shown in the content list 24200, the contents B1 to B6 provided by publication B are displayed, and the video content selected therefrom is played. In this conventional example, it is not necessary to return to the publication source selection screen 22100 shown in FIG. 22, and publication A to publication C can be selected on the screen of FIG. 24, so that the desired content can be selected, but the contents provided by publication A, publication B, and publication C cannot be displayed collectively. Here, these operations can be implemented by operating the cursors 24101 and 24201 using the remote controller 24000.

As described above, the method of selecting content to be distributed in a television receiver varies depending on the structure of the distribution system, which directly affects the convenience of the viewer. Considering the various types of distribution systems envisioned in the future, there are the following issues.

1) The current system is used in a simple system structure of multiple distribution operators and one intermediate shared server. However, due to the multi-layered participation of content providers and distribution operators based on different industries and the complexity of the participation of multiple intermediate shared servers, there is a problem of being unable to provide viewers with a stable service.

2) When the content provider is a broadcasting station, the content selection screen displayed on the television receiver is the same as during broadcasting, and requires an overview display across broadcasting stations. However, in the current distribution system, it becomes an overview display according to each service provided by the content provider or distribution operator. When the viewer searches for content, there is a problem of the convenience of having to switch services.

3) When the content provider is a broadcasting station, since its distribution is different from broadcasting and is uniformly distributed nationwide, it is not possible to generate a program list for each channel in each region, which poses a problem of viewer convenience.

4) When the information of the distributed content is changed, it is not reflected on the selection screen of the television receiver, and there is a problem of inconvenience in that the viewer must search for the content from the old program information.

As a first way:

A video content publishing system publishes video content, wherein:

The video content distribution system comprises a distribution system and an intermediate shared server.

The publishing system comprises: a publishing operator program information generating unit, which is used for generating program information for one or more publishing operators; a publishing operator program information generating unit with identification, which is used for adding publishing operator identification information to the publishing operator program information generated in the publishing operator program information generating unit to generate publishing operator program information with identification; and a publishing operator program information sending unit with identification, which publishes the publishing operator program information with identification to the intermediate shared server.

The intermediate shared server comprises: an intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which generates program information in a unified format of one or more program information with identification of publishing operators received from the publishing system; and an intermediate shared server program information sending unit, which sends the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

As a second way:

A video content publishing system publishes video content, wherein:

The video content distribution system comprises a distribution system and an intermediate shared server.

The publishing system comprises: a content provider program information generating unit, which is used for one or more content providers to generate program information; a program information generating unit with identification of content providers, which generates program information with identification of content providers, wherein the program information with identification of content providers is program information with content provider identification information added to the program information of content providers generated in the content provider program information generating unit; a program information sending unit with identification of content providers, which sends the program information with identification of content providers to a publishing operator; a publishing operator program information generating unit, which is used for the publishing operator to generate program information in a format that unifies the received one or more program information with identification of content providers, wherein the program information generating unit with identification of publishing operators generates program information with identification of publishing operators, wherein the program information with identification of publishing operators is program information with content provider identification information added to the program information of publishing operators generated in the publishing operator program information generating unit; and a program information sending unit with identification of publishing operators, which sends the program information with identification of publishing operators to an intermediate shared server;

The intermediate shared server comprises: an intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which generates program information in a unified format of one or more program information with identification of publishing operators received from the publishing system; and an intermediate shared server program information sending unit, which sends the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

As a third way:

The video content distribution system according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein:

The publishing system has an intermediate shared server direct sending unit with program information identifying content providers, and the intermediate shared server direct sending unit with program information identifying content providers is used by one or more content providers to directly publish the program information with program information identifying content providers to the intermediate shared server;

The intermediate shared server comprises: an intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which generates program information in the form of one or more program information with identification of content providers and one or more program information with identification of publishing operators received in a unified manner; and an intermediate shared server program information sending unit, which publishes the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

As a fourth method:

A video content distribution system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein:

When there are multiple intermediate shared servers, the intermediate shared servers have:

A generating unit for identifying the intermediate shared server program information is provided, which generates the tracking information in the intermediate shared server program information. Program information with the intermediate shared server identification information added; and

The intermediate shared server program information with identification transmitting unit distributes the intermediate shared server program information with identification to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

As a fifth method:

A video content distribution system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein:

The publishing system has:

A program information generating unit with broadcast information, which generates program information of the released content including information related to the broadcast (broadcast start date and time, broadcast time, etc.) when the broadcasted content is released;

a program attribute hierarchical structure generating unit configured to generate attribute information of broadcast content according to a hierarchical structure based on the program information; and

The content unique identification component is used to assign unique values to various identifiers so that the content can be uniquely identified in the program information.

As the sixth method:

A video content distribution system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein:

The intermediate shared server has:

a program information component unit management unit that performs version management according to the component units of the program information; and

The program information management department performs version management of the entire program information.

As the seventh method:

A television receiver, which receives program information from the video content distribution system described in the sixth aspect, wherein:

The television receiver has:

a program information component unit management unit for performing version management according to the component units of the program information held by the television receiver;

A program information management department, which performs version management of the entire program information; and

A program information processing unit performs the following processing: the television receiver accesses the intermediate shared server, obtains the version of the program information of the intermediate shared server, compares the version of the program information of the intermediate shared server with the version of the program information maintained by the television receiver, and when the comparison result shows that the version of the program information of the television receiver is older than that of the intermediate shared server, further compares the versions according to the constituent units of the program information, the television receiver obtains the program information of the constituent units older than that of the intermediate shared server, and updates the program information maintained in the television receiver.

As the eighth method:

A video content distribution system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein:

The video content publishing system has:

A program information generating unit with identification of broadcast region generates program information including the same region identification information as the broadcast in the content provider program information when the broadcast content is distributed by the distribution system.

As the ninth method:

A television receiver, which receives program information from the video content distribution system described in the eighth aspect, wherein:

The television receiver includes a regional information matching program table generating unit that generates a program table for a channel matching regional information set in the television receiver.

As the tenth method:

A video content distribution system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein:

The video content distribution system has a program information generation unit with a function of identifying broadcast channel information. In this case, the program information generating unit with identification of broadcast channels generates program information including the same channel identification information as the broadcast in the content provider program information, the distribution operator program information, or the intermediate shared server program information.

As the eleventh method:

A television receiver, which receives program information from the video content distribution system described in the tenth aspect, wherein:

The television receiver includes a broadcast channel matching program table generating section that generates a program table on a channel identified by a channel matching channel information of a broadcast wave of a selectable station held by the television receiver.

As a twelfth way:

A television receiver receives program information from a video content distribution system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein:

A program table generating unit, which generates a program table based on the intermediate shared server program information or the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server;

a channel display setting unit for enabling a user to select a channel displayed in the program table; and

The channel display order setting unit is used to enable the user to set the order of channels displayed in the program table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is based on the first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment based on the present application;

FIG3 is an embodiment based on the present application;

FIG4 is an embodiment based on the present application;

FIG5 is an example of a system hierarchy based on the present application;

FIG6 is an embodiment based on the present application;

FIG7 is an example of program information based on the present application;

FIG8 is an example of a program table based on the present application;

FIG9 is based on the second embodiment of the present application;

FIG10 is an example of a process flow of program information version management based on the present application;

FIG11 is a third embodiment based on the present application;

FIG12 is an embodiment of program information with regional information based on the present application;

FIG13 is an example of a program table based on the present application;

FIG14 is a fourth embodiment based on the present application;

FIG15 is an example of program information based on the present application;

FIG16 is a fifth embodiment based on the present application;

FIG17 is an example of channel selection based on the present application;

FIG18 is an example of a channel display order based on the present application;

FIG19 is an embodiment of a conventional broadcasting system;

FIG20 is an example of a conventional program table;

FIG21 is an embodiment of an existing network publishing system;

FIG22 is an example of a selection screen for existing published content;

FIG23 is an embodiment of an existing network publishing system;

FIG. 24 is an example of a conventional selection screen for distributed content.

Description of Reference Numerals
1000, 1100, 2200, 3300, 4300, 6200, 9000, 9100, 11200, 14200, 16200… Release system
1004, 2203, 3303, 4303…Program information generation department of the publishing operator
1006, 2205, 3305, 4305…with a program information generation unit for identifying and publishing operators
1007, 2206, 3306, 4306, 11206, 14206, 16206…with a program information sending unit for identifying and publishing operators
1300、2400、3500、4500、4600、5301、5302、6400、9300、11400、14400、16400
...shared server in the middle
1303, 2403, 3503, 4503 ... shared server program information generation unit
1304, 2404, 3504... have a server program information sending unit in the middle.

Detailed ways

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present application, even a video content distribution system composed of various content providers and distribution operators can greatly improve the convenience of viewers. In addition, when distributing broadcast content, the convenience of viewers can be improved by forming a program table by forming the same channel arrangement as the broadcast.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment according to the present application.

The video content distribution system of this embodiment is composed of distribution systems 1000, 1100, a streaming distribution network 1200, an intermediate shared server 1300, and television receivers 1400, 1500.

The distribution system 1000 transmits the video and audio stream from the transmission unit 1003 to the stream distribution network 1200. In addition, the distribution system 1000 generates the distribution business operator program information in the distribution business operator program information generation unit 1004, generates the distribution business operator program information with identification by adding the distribution business operator identification information 1005 to the distribution business operator program information in the identification distribution business operator program information generation unit 1006, and transmits the distribution business operator program information with identification from the distribution business operator program information transmission unit 1007 to the receiving unit 1301 of the intermediate shared server 1300. The distribution system 1100 also performs the same processing as the distribution system 1000.

The intermediate shared server 1300 accumulates one or more program information with identification of the distribution company received from the distribution system in the program information accumulation unit 1302 , and generates the intermediate shared server program information in a unified format in the intermediate shared server program information generation unit 1303 .

In response to a request from the television receiver 1400, the intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit 1304 of the intermediate shared server 1300 transmits the intermediate shared server program information to the program information processing unit 1404 of the television receiver 1400. The same process is performed when there is a request from the television receiver 1500.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which one or more content providers release program information to a release operator based on the present application.

The video content distribution system of this embodiment is composed of content providing systems 2000 and 2100, a distribution system 2200, a streaming distribution network 2300, an intermediate shared server 2400, and television receivers 2500 and 2600.

The content providing system 2000 transmits the video and audio stream from the transmitting unit 2003 to the streaming distribution network 2300. In addition, the content providing system 2000 generates content provider program information in the content provider program information generating unit 2004, generates content provider program information with identification by adding content provider identification information 2005 to the content provider program information in the content provider program information generating unit 2006, and transmits the content provider program information with identification from the content provider program information transmitting unit 2007. The program information with identification of the content provider is sent to the receiving unit 2201 of the distribution system 2200. The content providing system 2100 also performs the same processing as the content providing system 2000. The distribution system 2200 accumulates the program information with identification of the content provider received by the receiving unit 2201 in the program information accumulation unit 2202, generates the distribution company program information in a unified format in the distribution company program information generation unit 2203, generates the distribution company program information with identification by adding the distribution company identification information 2204 to the distribution company program information in the distribution company program information generation unit 2205, and sends the distribution company program information with identification from the distribution company program information transmission unit 2206 to the receiving unit 2401 of the intermediate shared server 2400. The intermediate shared server 2400 accumulates one or more distribution company program information with identification received from the distribution system in the program information accumulation unit 2402, and generates the intermediate shared server program information in which the program information of each distribution company is unified in the intermediate shared server program information generation unit 2403.

In response to a request from the television receiver 2500, the intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit 2404 of the intermediate shared server 2400 transmits the intermediate shared server program information to the program information processing unit 2504 of the television receiver 2500. When there is a request from the television receiver 2600, the same process is performed.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which one or more content providers directly send program information to an intermediate shared server based on the present application.

This embodiment is composed of content providing systems 3000, 3100, 3200, a distribution system 3300, a stream distribution network 3400, an intermediate shared server 3500, and television receivers 3600, 3700.

The content providing system 3000 transmits the video and audio stream from the transmitting unit 3003 to the stream distribution network 3400. In addition, the content providing system 3000 generates content provider program information in the content provider program information generating unit 3004, generates content provider program information with identification by adding content provider identification information 3005 to the content provider program information in the identifying content provider program information generating unit 3006, and directly transmits the content provider program information with identification from the intermediate shared server direct transmitting unit 3007 to the receiving unit 3501 of the intermediate shared server 3500. The content providing systems 3100 and 3200 transmit the video and audio stream to the distribution network 3400 in the same manner as the content providing system 3000. Furthermore, the content providing systems 3100 and 3200 generate the content provider program information with identification in their respective content provider program information generating units 3106 and 3206, and transmit the content provider program information with identification from the content provider program information transmitting units 3107 and 3207 to the receiving unit 3301 of the distribution system 3300. The distribution system 3300 accumulates the content provider program information with identification received in the receiving unit 3301 in the program information accumulating unit 3302, generates the distribution business operator program information in a unified format in the distribution business operator program information generating unit 3303, generates the distribution business operator program information with identification by adding the distribution business operator identification information 3304 to the distribution business operator program information in the distribution business operator program information generating unit 3305, and transmits the distribution business operator program information with identification from the distribution business operator program information transmitting unit 3306 to the receiving unit 3501 of the intermediate shared server 3500. The intermediate shared server 3500 accumulates one or more program information with identification of content providers and one or more program information with identification of publishing operators received in the receiving unit 3501 in the program information accumulation unit 3502, and generates intermediate shared server program information in a unified form in the intermediate shared server program information generation unit 3503.

In response to a request from the television receiver 3600, the intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit 3504 of the intermediate shared server 3500 transmits the intermediate shared server program information to the program information processing unit 3604 of the television receiver 3600. The same process is performed when there is a request from the television receiver 3700.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which there are multiple intermediate shared servers.

This embodiment is composed of content providing systems 4000, 4100, 4200, a distribution system 4300, a stream distribution network 4400, intermediate shared servers 4500, 4600, and television receivers 4700, 4800.

FIG4 is an example in which the intermediate shared server is multiple based on FIG3. In the content providing system 4000, the program information with identification generated by the program information with identification generating unit 4006 is directly transmitted from the intermediate shared server direct transmission unit 4007 to the receiving units 4501 and 4601 of the intermediate shared servers 4500 and 4600. In the content providing system 4100, the program information with identification generated by the program information with identification generating unit 4106 is transmitted from the program information with identification transmitting unit 4107 to the receiving unit 4301 of the distribution system 4300. The content providing system 4200 performs the same processing as the content providing system 4100. The publishing system 4300 accumulates the program information with identification of the content provider received in the receiving unit 4301 in the program information accumulation unit 4302, generates the publishing operator program information in a unified form in the publishing operator program information generation unit 4303, generates the publishing operator program information with identification by adding the publishing operator identification information 4304 to the publishing operator program information in the publishing operator program information generation unit 4305, and sends the publishing operator program information with identification from the publishing operator program information sending unit 4306 to both or either of the receiving units 4501, 4601 of the intermediate shared servers 4500, 4600. The intermediate shared server 4500 accumulates one or more program information with identification of content providers and one or more program information with identification of distribution companies received in the receiving unit 4501 in the program information accumulation unit 4502, generates intermediate shared server program information in a unified format in the intermediate shared server program information generation unit 4503, and generates program information with identification of content providers by adding intermediate shared server information 4504 with identification to the intermediate shared server program information in the intermediate shared server program information generation unit 4505. The intermediate shared server 4600 also performs the same processing as the intermediate shared server 4500.

In response to a request from the television receiver 4700, the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server is transmitted from the program information transmitting section 4506 of the intermediate shared server 4500 to the program information processing section 4704 of the television receiver 4700. The same process is performed when there is a request from the television receiver 4800.

FIG. 5 shows a system-level embodiment based on the present application.

This embodiment is composed of a content providing system layer 5100, a publishing system layer 5200, an intermediate shared server layer 5300, and a television receiver layer 5400.

There are one or more content providers, such as content provider 5101 sending to one publishing operator 5201, content provider 5102 sending to multiple publishing operators 5201, 5202, and content provider 5103 sending directly to an intermediate shared server 5302.

There may be one or more publishing operators, and there may be an example where a publishing operator 5201 sends to one intermediate shared server, and an example where a publishing operator 5202 sends to a plurality of intermediate shared servers 5301 and 5302 .

There are one or more intermediate shared servers, and there are examples such as an intermediate shared server 5301 sending to multiple television receivers 5401 and 5402, and an intermediate shared server 5302 sending to one television receiver.

Regarding the generation of program information, content provider program information 5500 is generated in the content providing system layer 5100, wherein content provider identification information 5501 is added, and content provider program information 5502 with identification is generated. Next, distribution operator program information 5503 is generated in the distribution system layer 5200, wherein distribution operator identification information 5504 is added, and distribution operator program information 5505 with identification is generated. Next, intermediate shared server program information 5506 is generated in the intermediate shared server layer 5300, wherein intermediate shared server identification information 5507 is added, and intermediate shared server program information 5508 with identification is generated.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment according to the present application.

This embodiment is composed of content providing systems 6000 and 6100, a distribution system 6200, a stream distribution network 6300, an intermediate shared server 6400, and television receivers 6500 and 6600.

In the case of distributing broadcast content, the content providing system 6000 generates a program information with a broadcast information generating unit. In 6005, the program information of the released content is generated, and the program information of the released content includes information related to the broadcast (broadcast start date and time, broadcast time, etc.), and the attribute information of the broadcast content is hierarchically structured in a program attribute hierarchical structure generating unit 6006, and then a unique value is assigned to various identifiers in a manner that can uniquely identify the content in a content unique identification forming unit 6007. The content providing system 6100 also performs the same processing.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of program information based on the present application.

This embodiment is composed of program information 7000 and a program information hierarchical structure 7100 based on broadcast program information.

Originally, since the program information for publishing content is defined for each service of the content provider and publishing operator, the composition of the program information is not common. In addition, since it is basically composed of information required for network publishing, broadcast-related program information is not necessary. In the present application, as shown in program information 7000 based on broadcast program information, program information including broadcast-related information (broadcast start date and time, broadcast time, etc.) is constructed. In addition, as shown in the program information hierarchy 7100, content attributes such as intermediate shared servers, publishing operators, content providers, channels, etc. are hierarchical, and in order to uniquely identify the content, each identifier is assigned a unique value (in this example, service ID AAA1, AAA2, etc.).

Through the present application, a television receiver can centrally manage distribution channels of various content providers and distribution operators, and can construct a program list identical to the broadcast wave.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a program table based on the present application.

This embodiment is a program table generated based on the program information of Figure 7. The program information is composed based on broadcast-related information including broadcast start date and time, broadcast time, etc., and by hierarchizing content attributes and assigning unique values to each identifier, the television receiver can generate the same program table as the broadcast for channels and contents of different distribution services.

The current situation is that if a publishing service is not selected in the publishing source selection screen, the content list of the publishing service is not displayed. In addition, as shown in Figure 24, it is necessary to switch the publishing service in order to search for content, but according to the present application, the viewer can search for content without moving back and forth on the hierarchy or switching the publishing service.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment according to the present application.

This embodiment is composed of distribution systems 9000, 9100, a stream distribution network 9200, an intermediate shared server 9300, and television receivers 9400, 9500.

The intermediate shared server 9300 has a program information management unit 9305 that manages the version of the entire program information. In addition, the program information component unit management unit 9306 also manages the version of each component unit of the program information. In addition, the program component unit refers to, for example, distribution operator information, content provider information, channel information, etc.

When the version of any constituent unit is updated, the version of the entire program information is updated in the program information management unit 9305 .

The television receiver 9400 includes a program information management unit 9406 for managing the version of the entire program information, and a program information component unit management unit 9407 for managing the version of each component unit of the program information.

The television receiver 9400 accesses the program information management unit 9305 of the intermediate shared server 9300, obtains the version of the program information held by the intermediate shared server 9300, and compares it with the version of the program information held by the receiver. As a result of the comparison, if the version of the program information of the television receiver 9400 is older than that of the intermediate shared server 9300, the versions are further compared in constituent units of the program information. As a result of the comparison of constituent units of the program information, if an older version of the program information of a constituent unit exists in the television receiver 9400, the television receiver 9400 obtains the program information and updates the program information held in the television receiver 9400. The television receiver 9500 also performs the same operation as the television receiver 9400. Same treatment.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a processing flow of program information version management according to the present application.

The television receiver compares the version of the program information managed by the intermediate shared server with the version of the program information held by the television receiver (10000). As a result of the comparison, if the program information versions of the intermediate shared server and the television receiver are the same, the program information held by the television receiver is not updated (10001). As a result of the comparison, if the program information version of the television receiver is older than that of the intermediate shared server, the television receiver then compares the versions in units of the program information and updates the old program information held by the television receiver (10002).

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment according to the present application.

This embodiment is composed of content providing systems 11000, 11100, a distribution system 11200, a stream distribution network 11300, an intermediate shared server 11400, and television receivers 11500, 11600.

The content providing system 11000 generates the program information with identification of the broadcasting region including the broadcasting region identification information 11004 in the program information with identification of the broadcasting region generating unit 11005, and transmits it from the program information with identification of the content provider transmitting unit 11008 to the receiving unit 11201 of the distribution system 11200. The distribution system 11200 transmits the program information with identification of the distribution business operator from the program information transmitting unit 11206 to the receiving unit 11401 of the intermediate shared server 11400. In response to the request from the television receiver 11500, the intermediate shared server 11400 transmits the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server from the program information transmitting unit 11404 to the program information processing unit 1154 of the television receiver 11500. The program information processing unit 11504 of the television receiver 11500 compares the broadcast region information included in the program information with the identification intermediate shared server with the region information set in the television receiver, extracts the matching distribution channel, generates a program table configured for the channel in the region information matching program table generating unit 11505, and displays it on the content display unit 11501. The same process is performed when there is a request from the television receiver 10600.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the program information with identification of the broadcast region of FIG. 11, which is composed of a broadcast region identification 12000 and program information 12100 for each service.

In the current content distribution based on broadcasting operators, it is not distributed by region like terrestrial broadcasting, but is distributed nationwide. Therefore, when the broadcast content is distributed on the Internet, the program information does not include the broadcast region identification information. Therefore, in order to achieve the same content selection as the viewing of broadcast waves, in this application, the distributed content provider program information including the broadcast region identification information is generated. For example, as in the program information 12100 of each service, the regional identification information 12102 and 12103 included in the program information of the broadcast of the service are added.

According to the present application, a television receiver can compare the regional information with the regional information set in the television receiver and generate a program list on a distribution channel having regional identification information consistent with the region.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a program table using program information including region identification information.

In this embodiment, the television receiver region setting 13001 is set to "Niigata", and only channels having region identification information of Niigata are displayed in the program list.

(Fourth Embodiment)

FIG. 14 shows a fourth embodiment according to the present application.

This embodiment is composed of content providing systems 14000 and 14100 , a distribution system 14200 , a stream distribution network 14300 , an intermediate shared server 14400 , and television receivers 14500 and 14600 .

The content providing system 14000 generates the broadcast channel identification information including the broadcast channel identification information 14004 in the broadcast channel identification information generating unit 14005, and sends the broadcast channel identification information to the receiving unit 14201 of the distribution system 14200 from the broadcast channel identification information sending unit 14008. The program information sending unit 14206 sends the program information with identification of the distribution provider to the receiving unit 14401 of the intermediate shared server 14400. In response to the request from the television receiver 14500, the intermediate shared server 14400 sends the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server from the program information sending unit 14404 to the program information processing unit 14504 of the television receiver 14500. The program information processing unit 14504 of the television receiver 14500 compares the broadcast channel information included in the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server with the broadcast channels received by the television receiver 14500, extracts the distribution channel that matches, generates a program list composed on the channel in the broadcast channel matching program list generating unit 14505, and displays it on the content display unit 14501. The same process is performed when there is a request from the television receiver 14600.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of FIG. 14 with program information for identifying broadcast channels, which is composed of a broadcast channel identification 15000 and program information 15100 for each service.

In the present application, as in the embodiment of FIG. 11 , in order to realize the same content selection as the viewing of broadcast waves, the program information of the content provider, the program information of the distribution operator, or the program information of the intermediate shared server including the broadcast channel identification information is generated. For example, as shown in the program information 15100 of each service, the channel identification information 15102, 15103 (network identification, TS (Transport Stream) identification, service ID, etc.) of the broadcasting service is added.

According to the present application, a television receiver can compare the channel information received via broadcast waves with the channel information stored in the television receiver, and generate a program table on a distribution channel having channel identification information consistent with the channel information.

(Fifth Embodiment)

FIG. 16 shows a fifth embodiment according to the present application.

This embodiment is composed of content providing systems 16000 and 16100 , a distribution system 16200 , a stream distribution network 16300 , an intermediate shared server 16400 , and television receivers 16500 and 16600 .

The content providing system 16000 transmits the program information with identification of the content provider from the program information transmitting unit 16007 to the receiving unit 16201 of the distribution system 16200. The distribution system 16200 transmits the program information with identification of the distribution company from the program information transmitting unit 16206 to the receiving unit 16401 of the intermediate shared server 16400. In response to the request from the television receiver 16500, the intermediate shared server 16400 transmits the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server from the program information transmitting unit 16404 to the program information processing unit 16504 of the television receiver 16500. When there is a request from the television receiver 16600, the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server is similarly transmitted from the intermediate shared server to the program information processing unit 16604 of the television receiver 16600.

The television receiver 16500 generates a program table consisting of channels set in the channel display setting unit 16506 in the program table generating unit 16505 based on the program information processed in the program information processing unit 16504, and displays the program table in the content display unit 16501.

Based on the program information processed in the program information processing unit 16604 , the television receiver 16600 generates a program table consisting of the channels set in the channel display order setting unit 16606 and the display order of the channels in the program table generating unit 16605 , and displays the program table in the content display unit 16601 .

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of the channel display setting and program table in the television receiver 16500 of FIG. 16 , and is composed of a channel display setting 17000 and a program table 17100 .

In the current content distribution based on broadcasting operators, it is not distributed by region like terrestrial broadcasting, but distributed nationwide. Therefore, when the distribution channels are displayed in the form of a program list, all multiple channels are displayed, which makes it inconvenient for viewers to search for content. Therefore, in the present application, a setting is provided in a television receiver so that only channels that viewers like can be selected.

In channel display setting 17000, the viewer sets the channels that he/she wants to be displayed in the program list (in this example, channel 1, channel 3, channel 5, channel 8, and channel 9 are selected), and only the selected channels are displayed in program list 17100. According to the present application, the viewer can display only the channels he/she likes on the program list and can easily search for the content he/she wants to watch.

18 shows an embodiment of the channel display order setting and program table in the television receiver 16600 of FIG. 16 , and is composed of a channel display order setting 18000 and a program table 18100 .

In the channel display order setting 18000, the viewer sets the channels that the viewer wants to display in the program table and the display order of the channels (in this example, order), as shown in program table 18100, channels are displayed in a set order, so that viewers can easily search for content.

[Note 1]

A publishing system is a video content publishing system for publishing video content, and has:

A publishing operator program information generating unit, which is used for one or more publishing operators to generate program information;

A distribution company program information generating unit is provided, which generates program information by adding distribution company identification information to the distribution company program information generated by the distribution company program information generating unit;

A unit for sending program information with identification and distribution operator, which sends the program information with identification and distribution operator to the intermediate shared server;

The intermediate shared server program information generating unit is used for the intermediate shared server to generate program information in a format that unifies the received one or more program information with identification of the publishing operator; and

The intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit transmits the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

[Note 2]

According to the release system of Note 1, it has:

A content provider program information generating unit, which is used for one or more content providers to generate program information;

a program information generating unit with identification information of content providers, which generates program information by adding content provider identification information to the content provider program information generated by the content provider program information generating unit;

A program information sending unit with identification of content provider, which sends the program information with identification of content provider to the publishing system;

A distribution operator program information generating unit, which is used in the distribution system to generate program information in a unified form of one or more received program information with identification content providers;

A distribution company program information generating unit is provided, which generates program information by adding distribution company identification information to the distribution company program information generated by the distribution company program information generating unit;

A unit for sending program information with identification and distribution operator, which sends the program information with identification and distribution operator to the intermediate shared server;

The intermediate shared server program information generating unit is used for the intermediate shared server to generate program information in a format that unifies the received one or more program information with identification of the publishing operator; and

The intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit transmits the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

[Note 3]

A publishing system according to Note 1 or 2 has:

A shared server direct sending unit with identification content provider program information for one or more content providers The provider directly sends the program information with identification of the content provider to the intermediate shared server;

An intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which is used for the intermediate shared server to generate program information in a format that unifies the received one or more program information with identification of content providers and one or more program information with identification of distribution operators; and

The intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit transmits the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

[Note 4]

A publishing system according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, wherein:

When there are multiple intermediate shared servers, the intermediate shared servers have:

a program information generating unit with identification of the intermediate shared server, which generates program information by adding the intermediate shared server identification information to the intermediate shared server program information; and

The program information transmitting unit with identification of the intermediate shared server transmits the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.

[Note 5]

A publishing system according to any one of notes 1 to 4, comprising:

A program information generating unit with broadcast information, which generates program information of the released content including information related to the broadcast (broadcast start date and time, broadcast time, etc.) when the broadcasted content is released;

a program attribute hierarchical structure generating unit configured to generate attribute information of broadcast content according to a hierarchical structure based on the program information; and

The content unique identification component is used to assign unique values to various identifiers so that the content can be uniquely identified in the program information.

[Note 6]

A publishing system according to any one of notes 1 to 4,

The intermediate shared server has:

a program information component unit management unit that performs version management according to the component units of the program information; and

The program information management department performs version management of the entire program information.

[Note 7]

A television receiver, which receives program information from the distribution system of Note 6, having:

a program information component unit management unit for performing version management according to the component units of the program information held by the television receiver;

The program information management department is responsible for the overall version management of program information;

A program information processing unit performs the following processing: a television receiver accesses an intermediate shared server, obtains a version of program information from the intermediate shared server, compares the version of program information from the intermediate shared server with a version of program information stored in the television receiver, and when the comparison result shows that the version of program information from the television receiver is older than that from the intermediate shared server, further compares the versions based on constituent units of the program information, the television receiver obtains program information of constituent units older than that from the intermediate shared server, and updates the program information stored in the television receiver.

[Note 8]

A publishing system according to any one of notes 1 to 6, comprising:

The program information generating unit with identification of broadcast region generates program information including the same region identification information as the broadcast in the program information provided by the content provider when the broadcast content is distributed.

[Note 9]

A television receiver, which receives program information from the distribution system of Note 8, comprising:

The regional information matching program table generating unit generates a program table for a channel matching the regional information set in the television receiver.

[Note 10]

A publishing system according to any one of notes 1 to 6, comprising:

A program information generating unit with identification of broadcast channels generates program information containing the same channel identification information as the broadcast in the content provider program information, the distribution operator program information, or the intermediate shared server program information when distributing broadcast content.

[Note 11]

A television receiver, which receives program information from the distribution system of note 10, comprising:

The broadcast channel matching program table generating section generates a program table on a channel identified by a channel matching the channel information of the broadcast wave of the selectable station held by the television receiver.

[Note 12]

The publishing system according to any one of notes 1 to 6, comprising:

A program table generating unit, which is used for the television receiver to generate a program table based on the intermediate shared server program information or the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server;

A channel display setting unit, which is used for the viewer to select the channel displayed in the program table;

The channel display order setting unit is used to enable the viewer to set the order of channels displayed in the program table.

Claims (12)

1. A video content publishing system publishes video content, wherein:

   The video content distribution system comprises a distribution system and an intermediate shared server.

   The publishing system comprises: a publishing operator program information generating unit, which is used for generating program information for one or more publishing operators; a publishing operator program information generating unit with identification, which is used for adding publishing operator identification information to the publishing operator program information generated in the publishing operator program information generating unit to generate publishing operator program information with identification; and a publishing operator program information sending unit with identification, which publishes the publishing operator program information with identification to the intermediate shared server.

   The intermediate shared server comprises: an intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which generates program information in a unified format of one or more program information with identification of publishing operators received from the publishing system; and an intermediate shared server program information sending unit, which publishes the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.
2. A video content publishing system publishes video content, wherein:

   The video content distribution system comprises a distribution system and an intermediate shared server.

   The publishing system comprises: a content provider program information generating unit, which is used for one or more content providers to generate program information; a program information generating unit with identification of content providers, which generates program information with identification of content providers, wherein the program information with identification of content providers is program information with content provider identification information added to the program information of content providers generated in the content provider program information generating unit; a program information sending unit with identification of content providers, which publishes the program information with identification of content providers to a publishing operator; a publishing operator program information generating unit, which is used for the publishing operator to generate program information in a format that unifies the received one or more program information with identification of content providers; a program information generating unit with identification of publishing operators, which generates program information with identification of publishing operators, wherein the program information with identification of publishing operators is program information with the publishing operator identification information added to the publishing operator program information generated in the publishing operator program information generating unit; and a program information sending unit with identification of publishing operators, which publishes the program information with identification of publishing operators to the intermediate shared server,

   The intermediate shared server comprises: an intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which generates program information in a unified format of one or more program information with identification of publishing operators received from the publishing system; and an intermediate shared server program information sending unit, which publishes the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.
3. The video content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein:

   The publishing system has an intermediate shared server direct sending unit with program information identifying content providers, which is used by one or more content providers to directly publish the program information with identification content providers to the intermediate shared server.

   The intermediate shared server comprises: an intermediate shared server program information generating unit, which generates program information in a unified form of one or more received program information with identification of content providers and one or more received program information with identification of publishing operators; and an intermediate shared server program information sending unit, which publishes the intermediate shared server program information to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.
4. The video content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein:

   In the case where there are multiple intermediate shared servers, the intermediate shared servers have:

   A generating unit for identifying the intermediate shared server program information is provided, which generates the tracking information in the intermediate shared server program information. Program information with identification of the intermediate shared server added with identification information of the intermediate shared server; and

   The intermediate shared server program information transmitting unit with identification distributes the intermediate shared server program information with identification to the television receiver in response to a request from the television receiver.
5. The video content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

   The publishing system has:

   A program information generating unit with broadcast information, which generates program information of the released content including information related to the broadcast (broadcast start date and time, broadcast time, etc.) when the broadcasted content is released;

   a program attribute hierarchical structure generating unit configured to generate attribute information of broadcast content according to a hierarchical structure based on the program information; and

   The content unique identification component is used to assign unique values to various identifiers so that the content can be uniquely identified in the program information.
6. The video content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

   The intermediate shared server has:

   a program information component unit management unit that performs version management according to the component units of the program information; and

   The program information management department performs version management of the entire program information.
7. A television receiver, which receives program information from the video content distribution system according to claim 6, wherein:

   The television receiver has:

   a program information component unit management unit for performing version management according to the component units of the program information held by the television receiver;

   A program information management department, which performs version management of the entire program information; and

   A program information processing unit performs the following processing: the television receiver accesses the intermediate shared server, obtains the version of the program information of the intermediate shared server, compares the version of the program information of the intermediate shared server with the version of the program information maintained by the television receiver, and when the comparison result shows that the version of the program information of the television receiver is older than that of the intermediate shared server, further compares the versions according to the constituent units of the program information, the television receiver obtains the program information of the constituent units older than that of the intermediate shared server, and updates the program information maintained in the television receiver.
8. The video content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the video content distribution system comprises:

   A program information generating unit with identification of broadcast region generates program information including the same region identification information as that of the broadcast in the content provider program information when the broadcast content is distributed by the distribution system.
9. A television receiver, which receives program information from the video content distribution system according to claim 8, wherein:

   The television receiver includes a regional information matching program table generating unit that generates a program table for a channel matching regional information set in the television receiver.
10. The video content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

    The video content publishing system has a program information generating unit with identification of broadcast channels. When publishing broadcast content, the program information generating unit with identification of broadcast channels generates program information including the content provider program information, the publishing operator program information, or the intermediate shared server program information, which includes the same channel identification information as the broadcast.
11. A television receiver, which receives program information from the video content distribution system according to claim 10, in

    The television receiver includes a broadcast channel matching program table generating section that generates a program table on a channel identified by a channel matching channel information of a broadcast wave of a selectable station held by the television receiver.
12. A television receiver, which receives program information from a video content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

    The television receiver has:

    A program table generating unit, which generates a program table based on the intermediate shared server program information or the program information with identification of the intermediate shared server;

    a channel display setting unit for enabling a user to select a channel displayed in the program table; and

    The channel display order setting unit is used to enable the user to set the order of channels displayed in the program table.