JP2000253326A - Transmitter and receiver for electronic program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a program by using voice and sound information such as a music used for the program, a voice announcing explanation of the program, and a commercial voice on the program in an electronic program guide when explanation information of the broadcast program is displayed on a screen for a guide to select a program to be viewed. SOLUTION: The electronic program guide transmitter (1) that adds voice information (D) to electronic program guide information sets (A), (B), (C) and provides an output of the result as transmission code streams (A), (B), (C), (D) is provided. Furthermore, the title electronic program guide receiver is provided, which separates the voice information from the transmission code streams (A), (B), (C), (D), decodes the separated information and outputs a voice signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transmission device and a reception device for an electronic program guide, which are means for providing electronic information for a user to select a broadcast program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of cable TV and satellite broadcasting, the number of channels and programs receivable by a user has increased dramatically, and a program desired by a user can be selected from a conventional program guide provided on a print medium. It is becoming increasingly difficult to make quick, reliable, and easy choices. An electronic program guide has been proposed to solve this problem. This can be done separately or in parallel with the program being broadcast,
Information on a program (program guide information) is transmitted from a broadcasting station to a user terminal, and the user selects a desired program using the information on the received and stored program.

[0003] The type of information included in the program-related information of the electronic program guide according to the prior art includes, for example, a title name, a program name, and a program name as shown in Fig. 12 of JP-A-8-289266. Character information such as start time and commentary on program contents was common. In addition, in order to pick up information on a program desired by the user from information on the program, a method has been proposed in which a search is performed using a keyword set by the user to list related programs.

However, the information used when a user selects a program he wants to watch is actually not limited to character information. For example, you can actually listen to the music to see if the music used in the program is a song you know, or a song that suits your taste. There is a need to listen to a program to get the atmosphere and image of the program. Alternatively, in an electronic program guide in the related art, information contents such as a program name, a program start time, and a description of program contents provided in the form of text information are transmitted to a user in the form of audio information (announcement), If the user can listen as a guide, the convenience of the electronic program guide will be improved, such as providing the service to users with visual impairment, or using the electronic program guide even in situations where the TV screen cannot be viewed, such as cooking. The range of use expands.

Further, when selecting a program, some users attach importance to the sponsor who provides the program and judge the atmosphere and level of the program based on the image of the sponsor. If you can listen to the sound of a TV commercial broadcast with the program, you will be able to more directly and clearly understand the sponsor's image.

As described above, if audio information that assists in selecting a program can be used as a part of an electronic program guide, the user can select a program more reliably, quickly, and easily. Nevertheless, there was a problem that conventional electronic program guides could not meet the needs.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an electronic program guide transmitting apparatus for transmitting electronic program guide information to which audio information for assisting program selection is added, and a program selection. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic program guide receiving apparatus that receives electronic program guide information to which audio information is added to help and outputs audio information. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention encodes electronic program guide information corresponding to a program and encodes the encoded information into code strings (A) and (B).
(C) an encoding means (2) for outputting an audio signal obtained by encoding an audio signal corresponding to the program in the code sequence (A) (B) (C) output from the encoding means (2) An electronic program guide transmission device (1) having an additional means (3) for adding a code string (D) and outputting the output code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) to the outside of the apparatus; )I will provide a.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an audio signal corresponding to a program in code strings (A), (B) and (C) obtained by encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to the program. Electronic program guide information decoding means (13) for decoding and outputting the electronic program guide information from an input code sequence (A) (B) (C) (D) to which an encoded audio signal code sequence (D) is added. ) (14) and the input code string (A) (B)
(C) An electronic program guide receiving device (11) having audio signal decoding means (13) (15) for decoding and outputting an audio signal corresponding to the program from (D).

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a receiving apparatus (11) for an electronic program guide, wherein the input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) include a plurality of audio signals. A designating means for adding a signal code sequence and designating a specific code sequence from the plurality of audio signal code sequences using the electronic program guide information outputted by the electronic program guide information decoding means (13) (14) (17) (18) and the audio signal decoding means (15) for decoding the audio signal code string specified by the specifying means (17) (18) into an audio signal.
(16) There is provided an electronic program guide receiving device (19) characterized by having the following.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electronic program guide transmitting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an electronic program guide transmission device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the encoder unit (2) has a function of converting the input program guide information into code strings (A), (B), and (C) and outputting the code strings to the audio information insertion unit (3). The audio information insertion unit (3) adds the input audio information to the code strings (A), (B), and (C) input from the encoder unit (2), and transmits the transmission code strings (A), (B), and (C). It has the function of outputting to the outside of the device as (D). Next, the operation of the electronic program guide transmitting apparatus (1) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a code string in which the electronic program guide transmitting device (1) is involved.

In FIG. 1, first, program guide information is input to an encoder unit (2). The program guide information is formed by collecting information such as a program title, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start / end time, a program type, and detailed information (performers, program descriptions, stories, etc.) for one program. Yes, it is operated as an electronic program guide system using a predetermined format. The encoder unit (2) converts the input program guide information into a code string (A).
(B) and (C) are generated and output to the audio information insertion unit (3). The code strings (A), (B), and (C) generated by the encoder unit (2) have, for example, the structure shown in FIG. Start code (A) that declares the beginning of the program guide information, the type of the program using a 1-byte length code
(B) and detailed information (C) including a program title and the like.

The speech information insertion unit (3) receives the code sequences (A), (B), and (C) generated by the encoder unit (2) and the speech information as input, and transmits the transmission code sequences (A) and (B).
(C) Generate and output (D). The audio information is information in which an audio signal related to a program is encoded according to a predetermined format, and the information may be compressed simultaneously with the encoding. The encoding method and the compression method are determined in advance as an electronic program guide system, and a plurality of methods are determined so that they can be used. The information encoded and compressed by one of the methods is audio information. It may be.

Any audio information added to the electronic program guide can be used as long as it is information obtained by encoding audio related to the program. However, when the following is selected, the user selects the program. To further promote the effect of using the electronic program guide. The first is to select audio samples used in the program as audio information. This is, for example, a part of a theme song of a drama, a background music or a dialogue, and a part of a musical piece performed in a music program. By listening to the audio sample, the user can directly listen to a part of the content related to the audio of the program, which can help in selecting the program.

The second is to select an audio guide for a program as audio information. In this case, information provided as character information in an electronic program guide, such as a program title and a broadcast time, is converted into a sound (announcement). By selecting an audio guide, for example, a visually impaired user can use the electronic program guide when using the electronic program guide, and can use the electronic program guide even in a situation where a television screen cannot be viewed while cooking, etc. The range of use of the system can be expanded. The third is to select, as the audio information, the audio of the advertisement (commercial) that is being played along with the program. When selecting a program to be watched, it responds to the user's need to confirm the name of the sponsor who provides the program or to capture the image of the sponsor by listening to the sound of the commercial being used.

In the configuration of the electronic program guide transmitting apparatus (1) shown in FIG. 1, the transmission code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) output by the audio information inserting unit (3) are, for example, as shown in FIG.
It has been described above that the data structure is as shown in FIG. That is, a code sequence (D) obtained by encoding audio information is added to the generated code sequences (A), (B), and (C) output from the encoder unit (2) shown in FIG. . At the head of the code string of the D portion, an identification code for specifying a method and a format for encoding and compressing an audio signal used when demodulating the audio information portion of the electronic program guide on the receiving side is added. The transmission code strings (A) (B) (C) (D) output from the electronic program guide transmission device (1) are as follows:
It is superimposed on a broadcast program signal using superimposing means and transmitting means (not shown), and is broadcast by radio waves or a wired transmission path as a program broadcast added by an electronic program guide. The electronic program guide added to the broadcast includes, in addition to information on individual programs as described above, a so-called “program” in which programs broadcast on each channel in one week are summarized in one table. It is also possible to provide a "table". The transmission apparatus (1) for an electronic program guide according to the present embodiment is configured to add an electronic program guide relating to a “program guide” to a broadcast program and broadcast it in the same manner as the apparatus according to the related art. ing.

[0015] The information of the electronic program guide relating to each program and the program table which is a list of programs broadcast for a certain period of time, such as one week or one day, shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the receiving terminal. At a regular timing, such as 6:00 in the morning on Monday, an electronic program guide and a program guide of an individual program for one week are superimposed on the broadcast and transmitted. The receiver side knows in advance that the program will be transmitted at that time, so that the electronic program guide is received and stored by timer control regardless of whether the user is watching the program or not. Furthermore, as the broadcast date approaches, the content of the broadcast program changes, or the sports broadcast program extends the broadcast time according to the development of the game,
It is possible that all programs to be broadcast after that will be broadcast for a certain period of time, so in order to cope with this, only data that is changed at regular times, such as 6:00 in the morning, will be transmitted. When the broadcast starts, if there is a change in the broadcast time or the like after that, the change program is transmitted, and the electronic program guide information stored on the receiving side is updated. It is operated so that there is no difference from broadcasting.

The transmission code strings (A) and (B)
(C) and (D) may be configured as follows. "Journal of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, Vol. 52, No. 11, pp. 1
551 to 1553 ", an example of a data broadcast transmission protocol stack is introduced. In the above-described example, services related to a television program are provided by a data encoding method. Digital broadcasting is based on MPEG2 which is an image compression method, and TS (transport stream) is used.
On top of PES (Packetized Element)
The data carousel and the object carousel can be considered as the transmission protocol for the storage service in which data is carried in the form of a “tray stream” or “section”.
This is a DSM-CC data carousel defined by SO13818-6. It describes that a method capable of transmitting a file name, a directory structure, an expiration date, and the like by adding an extension and a descriptor to the DSM-CC data carousel is being studied. .

[0017] With the transmission / reception system using the transmission protocol stack as discussed above, a user receives a data broadcasting service in addition to a broadcast program from a receiver installed in each home, and interactively operates the data broadcasting service. It is possible to reproduce and use detailed information including images and sounds. In such a system, the information to be added by the apparatus according to the present invention described above, such as audio information, audio sample information, audio guide information, commercial audio information, etc., together with the identifiers representing them, the data broadcast transmission protocol. A transmission device of the electronic program guide transmitted by the stack may be configured. The present invention is applied to a transmission system in which data is transmitted to each home using such an interactive method, or a transmission system in which data is unilaterally transmitted as part of a broadcast, as described in the embodiment. Is to be implemented. In the following embodiment, description will be made on the latter one-side transmission system in which data is transmitted as part of a broadcast.

Next, a first embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11) according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 3, the separating unit (13) includes code strings (A), (B), and (C) relating to the input electronic program guide.
(D) is output to the buffer memory (12) and temporarily stored therein, and is output from the buffer memory (12) in response to a selection control signal input by the user using an operation means such as a remote controller attached to the television receiver (40). The read input code string (A) (B) (C) (D) is converted into an electronic program guide part (A)
(B (C) and the audio information part (D), and the input code strings (A), (B), and (C) of the electronic program guide part are sent to the decoder unit (14). D) to the format converter (15).

The buffer memory (12) includes a separating unit (13).
The input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) input from the storage unit are stored, and the stored input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) are stored in response to a command from the separation unit (13). It has the function of reading out and outputting. The decoder section (14) includes a separating section (13)
Input code string of electronic program guide part input from (A)
(B) (C) is decoded and the video signal is converted to the device (1).
It has a function of outputting to the television receiver (40) connected to the outside of 1). The format conversion unit (15) decodes the input code string (D) of the audio information part input from the separation unit (13), and converts the decoded signal as an audio signal to the television receiver (4).
0). Buffer memory (1
2) The separation unit (13), the decoder unit (14), and the format conversion unit (15) are provided by the electronic program guide receiving device (1).
It is a component of 1). In FIG. 3, a television receiver (40) displays an image of an electronic program guide and outputs sound according to a video signal and an audio signal output from the electronic program guide receiving device (11), and operates an attached remote controller or the like. Generating a selection control signal in accordance with the operation of the means, and separating the signal (13)
And has the function of operating the electronic program guide display.

Next, the operation of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the transmission code string (A) shown in FIG.
(B) The program broadcast on which (C) and (D) are superimposed arrives at a broadcast receiving means (not shown) installed at home by radio waves or a wired transmission path, and is coded (A) (B) (C).
(D) is a separated electronic program guide receiving device (11)
To enter.

The separation unit (13) receives the input code string (A)
(B), (C), and (D) are displayed immediately in response to a command of a selection control signal in response to a user's display and non-display selection command of the electronic program guide, or the buffer memory (1
Output to 2) for temporary storage. Further, the electronic program guide that is superimposed on the program broadcast and reaches the home, and is separated and input to the electronic program guide receiving device (11) is represented by input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D). In addition to data for storing information on individual programs, it is also possible to provide so-called "program guide" data in which, for example, programs broadcast by each channel during one week are summarized in one list. .

A user who is receiving a broadcast on the television receiver (40) makes a selection as to whether or not to display the electronic program guide by operating means such as a remote controller attached to the television receiver (40). When the user inputs a command to display the electronic program guide using the operation means, a selection control signal is generated in accordance with the command, and the selection control signal is input to the separation unit (13) of the electronic program guide receiving device (11). Separation unit (13)
Displays the program guide data of the electronic program guide on the screen in response to the selection control signal. For this purpose, the separation unit (13) stores the data relating to the program table in the buffer memory (1).
2) and outputs the read data to the decoder unit (14). The decoder unit (14) converts the input data into a video signal,
It is output to the outside of the electronic program guide receiving device (11) for display on the screen of the television receiver (40). FIG. 4 shows an example of a program guide displayed on the screen of the television receiver (40) by the above operation. The example of the program table shown in FIG. 4 shows that information of an electronic program guide that can be displayed on two programs, Program 1 and Program 2, in one week's program is stored in the buffer memory (12). The user can select a program 2 from a selectable program name by using a remote controller or the like.
Indicates that was selected.

When the user further performs an operation of "confirmation" in the state of FIG. 4, the operation means of the television receiver (40) changes the program 2
A selection control signal to display an electronic program guide related to the above is input to the separation unit (13). The separating unit (13) reads the program 2 from the buffer memory (12) according to the selection control signal.
The input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) corresponding to (1) are read out, the parts (A), (B), and (C) of the electronic program guide are separated and output to the decoder unit (14), and the audio information (D) is separated and output to the format conversion unit (15). The decoder unit (14) decodes the input code strings (A), (B), and (C) of the input electronic program guide part and outputs the decoded signal as a video signal to the outside of the electronic program guide receiving device (11). The video information of the electronic program guide can be viewed on the screen of the television receiver (40).
FIG. 5 shows a display example of the electronic program guide screen.

In FIG. 5, on the electronic program guide display screen (20), character information such as a program title and a broadcast date and time is displayed. At the same time that the electronic program display screen (20) is displayed, the audio signal output from the format conversion unit (15) reaches the television receiver (40) connected to the device, and the audio related to the program is output from the speaker.
It is configured so that the user can listen. The output audio is related to the program displayed in FIG. 5, as described in the embodiment of the transmission device of the electronic program guide.
It may be an audio sample, an audio guide, or commercial audio.

A user who does not need to output the sound of the electronic program guide should select the sound off button (21) in the electronic program guide display screen (20) by operating a remote controller or the like to confirm that the sound is not output. Can also.

Next, a second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Note that, in the following description, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and names, and are partially omitted in order to avoid duplication. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data structure of the code string of the electronic program guide input to the apparatus of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, displaying an electronic program guide to which audio information is added is the same as in the first embodiment, but is characterized in that a plurality of audio information is added. That is, code strings (A), (B), and (C) related to the electronic program guide shown in FIG.
To a plurality of pieces of audio information, for example, three pieces of audio information such as audio information 1, audio information 2, and audio information 3.
The two code strings (D1), (D2), and (D3) are added, and the transmission code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) shown in FIG.
1) (D2) and (D3) are superimposed on the program and broadcast, separated by receivers at homes, and input to the receiver according to the present embodiment.

At the beginning of each of the three audio information code strings, D1, D2 and D3, a method and format for encoding and compressing an audio signal used when decoding the code string on the receiving side are described. An identification code for identification is added. FIG. 6 shows an electronic program guide receiving apparatus (1) according to the present embodiment.
It is a block diagram which showed the schematic structure of 9). 6 have the same functions as those of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 3, so that they have the same names and symbols as those in FIG. The description of the repeated contents will be partially omitted.

In the configuration diagram of FIG. 6, the selector (17)
A command (a page turning command) for switching one display screen of the electronic program guide screen displayed on the screen to the next display screen, which is input by the user using an operation means attached to the television receiver (40), As explained later,
In accordance with a command (voice information selection command) for selecting one to be reproduced from a plurality of pieces of voice information displayed on the display screen (30) of the electronic program guide, information or voice information of a specific electronic program guide is displayed. Separation unit (18)
It has a function to publish. The separation unit (18) is a code sequence (A) (B) (C) for an externally input electronic program guide.
(D1) (D2 (D3) are output to the buffer memory (12), and the input code strings (A) (B) (C) (D1) (D
2) (D3) is the electronic program guide part (A) (B) (C)
And audio information parts (D1) (D2) (D3)
It has a function of outputting the electronic program guide portions (A), (B) and (C) to the decoder section (14).

Further, the separating section (18) specifies the specific voice information in the voice information portions (D1) (D2) (D3) of the input code string in accordance with a command from the selecting section (17) to output the specific voice information. Has a function of separating the audio information portion of the data and outputting the separated information to the memory portion (16). The memory unit (16) stores an input code string (D1, D2, or D3) relating to audio information selected by the user, output from the separation unit (18) in response to a command from the selection unit (17), and outputs a reproduction instruction signal. Has a function of outputting an input code string (D1, D2, or D3) relating to audio information to the format conversion unit (15) in a method according to a mode such as normal reproduction or fast-forward reproduction in response to the instruction.

Next, the operation of the apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the user inputs a command to display the electronic program guide from the operation means, a program guide is displayed on the screen of the television receiver (40). FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen of the program guide. FIG.
In the one-week program displayed in the program table,
And Program 2 can display an electronic program guide, and “SOUND” in the display of Program 1 and Program 2 indicates that each electronic program guide includes audio information. When the user selects the program 2 with the remote controller and the selection is confirmed, an electronic program guide relating to the program 2 is displayed on the screen of the television receiver (40). FIG. 8 shows an example of the electronic program guide display screen at that time.

In FIG. 8, on the electronic program guide display screen (30), a plurality of character information such as a program title and a broadcast date and time, and a plurality of audio information selection buttons (31) are displayed. In the present embodiment, as described above, the electronic program guide of one program is configured to include a plurality of pieces of audio information, and program 2 is selected from the program table shown in FIG. 7 and shown in FIG. When the electronic program guide display screen (30) is displayed, no audio information is output yet. If there is audio information that the user wants to output, one of the audio information selection buttons (31) is selected with a remote controller or the like and confirmed. A selection control signal corresponding to the selection and determination by the remote controller is input to the selection unit (17), and the selection unit (17) instructs the separation unit (18) to output specific audio information corresponding to the signal. Separation unit (1
8) reads out the data of the specific audio information, that is, for example, D1 in FIG.

The memory unit (16) stores the input data therein, and outputs the data to the format conversion unit (15).
Since the format converter (15) converts the data into an audio signal and outputs it to the outside of the apparatus, the user can listen to the desired audio information of the electronic program guide through the speaker of the connected television receiver (40). The plurality of selectable pieces of audio information can be realized with various contents. That is, the text information of the electronic program guide is converted to speech (announcement)
In the audio guide, the audio information 1 may be in Japanese, the audio information 2 may be in English, the audio information 3 may be in Chinese, etc., or each audio sample may be composed of a part of music used in a program. The information may be samples of a plurality of different music. Alternatively, it is of course possible to use audio information 1 as an audio sample such as music, audio information 2 as an audio guide explaining a program, and audio information 3 as a commercial voice played in the program.

Further, in the electronic program guide display screen (30), a plurality of audio reproduction instruction buttons (32) are arranged, each of which is rewound, normal reproduction, fast forward, and paused (when released, reproduction is resumed from the same place). ), A function of instructing a reproduction mode such as stop (reproduction starts from the beginning when the reproduction is instructed). The audio playback instruction button performs a playback operation similar to that of a tape recorder. For example, when the rewind button is selected during playback, reverse playback is performed and this function can be used to find the beginning of music. In the case of audio information that is not suitable for reverse playback, such as an audio guide (announcement), if the user temporarily pauses and then selects the rewind button, the access position of the audio information can be traced without outputting the audio. When the user selects an audio reproduction instruction button (32) in a desired mode with a remote controller of the television receiver (40) or the like, a reproduction instruction signal corresponding to the selection is stored in the memory unit (1).
Input to 6). The memory unit (16) sequentially outputs the audio data to the format conversion unit (15) by an output method according to the input reproduction instruction signal, for example, a method of fast-forward or reverse rotation. The format conversion unit (15) includes a memory unit (1
Since the audio data input from 6) is sequentially converted to an audio signal and output, the user can listen to the audio information reproduced in a desired mode.

[0035]

As described above, the apparatus according to the present invention has the following effects. That is, the electronic program guide transmitting apparatus of the present invention is configured to add the audio information of the program to the electronic program guide information and to output the information. In the first embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention, audio information is separated from electronic program guide information to which audio information is added, and an audio signal is output. Therefore, by using the above two devices of the present invention, the user can use audio information on a program for program selection in addition to the screen display information of the electronic program guide, and more quickly, easily, and surely obtain desired information. There is an effect that a program can be selected.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present invention, desired audio information is selected from the electronic program guide information to which a plurality of audio information is added, using the electronic program guide display screen. And output a voice signal. Therefore, by using the above-described apparatus and the transmission apparatus for an electronic program guide according to the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above-described invention, the user can select and listen to a plurality of pieces of audio information when selecting a program. ,
Since the amount of information for selection increases, there is an effect that a program can be selected more reliably. Also,
The apparatus according to the invention of the present application provides a variety of audio information that meets diversified user needs in combination with the electronic program guide information, thereby providing an effect of widening the way of enjoying the program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of an electronic program guide transmission device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data structure of a transmission code string output by an electronic program guide transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen display of the electronic program guide output by the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a screen display of the electronic program guide output by the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of an electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of an electronic program guide screen display output by the second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a screen display of the electronic program guide output by the second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data structure of an input code string input to a second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electronic program guide transmitting apparatus 2 encoder section 3 audio information inserting section 11 electronic program guide receiving apparatus 12 buffer memory 13 separating section 14 decoder section 15 format converting section 16 memory section 17 selecting section 18 separating section 19 electronic program guide receiving apparatus 20 electronic Program guide display screen 21 Audio off button 30 Electronic program guide display screen 31 Audio information selection button 32 Audio information reproduction instruction button 40 Television receiver A Start code B Information on program type C Detailed information D Audio information D1 Audio information 1 D2 Audio Information 2 D3 Voice information 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] An encoding means for encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to a program and outputting it as a code string, and an audio signal obtained by encoding an audio signal corresponding to the program in the code string output by the encoding means. An electronic program guide transmitting apparatus, comprising: an adding unit that adds a code string and outputs the output code string to the outside of the apparatus. 2. The electronic program guide information is obtained from an input code string obtained by adding an audio signal code string obtained by encoding an audio signal corresponding to the program to a code string obtained by encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to the program. An electronic program guide receiving apparatus, comprising: an electronic program guide information decoding means for decoding and outputting; and an audio signal decoding means for decoding and outputting an audio signal corresponding to the program from the input code string. 3. The electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said input code sequence is obtained by adding a plurality of audio signal code sequences, and said electronic program guide information decoding means outputs said electronic program guide information. Designating means for designating a specific code string from the plurality of audio signal code strings using information, and the audio signal decoding means for decoding the audio signal code string specified by the specifying means into an audio signal. An electronic program guide receiving device, comprising: