JP2002016561A - Information transmitter and method, information terminal equipment and information terminal reception method, digital broadcast receiver and method, and output time arithmetic unit and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information transmitter, that distributes contents through a digital satellite in a time different from actual time, so as to reproduce a program at a correct time, thereby transmitting contents information needing a long time through the use of a limited time and transmitting the contents information over a narrow frequency band. SOLUTION: A dummy packet, whose adaptation field includes a value of a dummy PCR(program clock reference) for decoding actual time and time ratio information of a transfer time to a actual time is prepared. In reception, time information at output is obtained from the dummy PCR and the time ratio information, and the time information at the output is added to a TS packet as a time stamp and the resulting packet is stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk drive. In reproduction while referring to the time stamp added at the recording, data are read from the storage device. Thus, the contents information transmitted on a time base different from the actual time can be reproduced on a correct time base.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to, for example, a digital BS (Broadcast Satellite) broadcast system for distributing content data by utilizing a free band of a transponder generated by the end of a normal broadcast. The present invention relates to a preferable information transmitting apparatus and method, an information terminal apparatus and an information terminal receiving method, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and method, and an output time calculating apparatus and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In digital BS broadcasting, MPEG (Mo
ving Picture Coding Experts Group) 2-TS (Trans
Port Stream) is used to broadcast programs composed of digital video data, digital audio data, and other information. In MPEG2-TS, programs of a plurality of channels can be multiplexed and transmitted on one carrier wave.
For example, a satellite (BS-
Four transponders) have eight transponders with a transmission bandwidth of 30 Mbps. With one transponder, 6 channels for SDTV (Standard Definition Television) broadcasting, HDTV (High Definition Televi
sion) can transmit two channels.

[0003] Among these ordinary programs broadcasted by the digital BS broadcast, there are those in which the broadcast time zone is limited to the daytime. For this reason, when normal broadcasting ends at night, a free band is generated in the transponder. Therefore, it has been proposed to distribute content data by effectively using the available band of the transbonder generated after the end of the broadcast.

[0004] In other words, content data is transmitted from a broadcasting station to receivers at homes via BS satellites using a free band for a transponder generated at the end of a normal broadcast at night. The data of this content is received by the receiver in each home. Each home receiver is provided with a storage device such as a hard disk drive. The received content data is temporarily stored in the storage device. The content data stored in the storage device can be reproduced later by the user. When the content data stored in the storage device is reproduced, the content data is read from the storage device of the receiving terminal in each home, and the video is displayed on the television receiver in each home.

[0005] Such a content data distribution service has an advantage that the content data can be distributed at low cost because it utilizes an empty band generated by the end of a normal broadcast. As the data of the content to be distributed, various data can be considered in addition to video data such as a movie or a drama. Such a content data distribution service can also be used for video on demand and music distribution services.

In such a content data delivery service, data is transferred using the free band of the transponder after the broadcast of a normal program ends, so that the content data can be delivered in a time zone. Is limited by the broadcast time of a normal program. Further, the band that can be secured for the transmission of content data is limited to the free band of the transponder during the end of the normal broadcast. For this reason, content data cannot be delivered within the time when a normal broadcast ends and a transponder has an available bandwidth, or a sufficient bandwidth for delivering content data can be secured in the transponder's available bandwidth. It may be gone.

Therefore, in such a content data distribution service, in order to reduce the content data distribution time, data is transmitted at a speed faster than real time, or a band sufficient for transmitting the content data is used. In order to secure the data, it is considered that data is transmitted at a speed lower than real time.

[0008] That is, for example, it is assumed that a time period during which a normal broadcast is not performed is four hours from 1:00 in the night to 5:00 in the morning. In this case, if the time of the data of the content to be distributed is within 4 hours, the data of the content can be transmitted in real time in 4 hours from 1:00 in the middle of the night when normal broadcasting ends to 5:00 in the morning.

[0009] However, if the content to be distributed has a real time of, for example, 8 hours, the distribution of the content data is not performed in the four hours from 1:00 in the night to 5:00 in the morning when the normal broadcast ends. Can't complete.

[0010] Thus, when the transfer time of the content data cannot be sufficiently ensured, the transfer of the content data is performed at a speed, for example, twice as fast as the real time. If the content data is transmitted at twice the speed of real time, for example, eight hours of content data is transmitted in four hours in real time. Therefore, even if the time of the content to be distributed is, for example, 8 hours in real time, if the transfer speed is doubled, it is possible to obtain 4 hours from 1:00 in the middle of the night when normal broadcasting ends to 5:00 in the morning. The distribution of the content data can be completed.

As described above, a digital BS satellite has eight transponders with a transmission bandwidth of 30 Mbps.
And one transponder, SDTV
It is possible to transmit 6 channels for broadcasting and 2 channels for HDTV broadcasting. For example, it is assumed that content data is distributed using the end time of a program that is broadcasting SDTV. In this case, if data of SDTV content equivalent to a program that has been broadcasted until then is to be distributed, the data of the content can be transferred as it is in real time using an available bandwidth. However, HDTV
Try to distribute the content data of SDTV
In the free band of the transponder caused by the end of the broadcast program, the band is not sufficient and the data of the content cannot be transferred.

[0012] Thus, if a sufficient band for transferring the content data cannot be secured, the content data is transferred at a speed lower than the real time. For example, in real time, if the transfer rate of the data of the HDTV content for one hour is reduced to 1/4 and the transmission is performed, the transmission band is reduced to 1/4, which is caused by the end of the program broadcasting the SDTV. HDTV content data can be transferred even in the free band of the transponder.

[0013] For example, suppose that it is desired to distribute data of two contents of SDTV by using the end time of a program broadcasting on SDTV. If content data is distributed in real time, it is not possible to simultaneously distribute two content data by utilizing a free band generated when a program broadcasting one SDTV ends.

In this case, the transfer speed of the content information is reduced to half. When the transfer speed is halved,
The data of two SDTV contents can be transmitted at the same time by utilizing the free band of the transponder generated when the transmission band is halved and the program broadcasting one SDTV ends.

Further, it is assumed that, for example, 10 Mbps is reserved as an available band of the transponder. On the other hand, it is assumed that the data bandwidth of the content to be transmitted is 8 Mbps. In this case, a null packet is normally inserted and transmitted. However, in this case, a 2 Mbps band is wasted. If the transfer speed of the content data can be changed, the data can be transferred without causing such waste.

[0016]

As described above, during the night, when broadcasting ends and a transponder has an available band,
In a system in which content data is transmitted using an available bandwidth of a transponder, by transmitting data at a speed faster than real time, it becomes possible to transmit long-time content data within a limited time. In addition, by transmitting data at a speed lower than real time, it becomes possible to transfer data of a wideband content in a limited transmission band or to transmit data of a plurality of contents at the same time.

However, when data is transmitted at a speed different from real time, time information is lost, and the time axis cannot be restored. For this reason, there arises a problem that the program cannot be reproduced by setting the time based on the PCR (Program Clock Reference) transmitted in the TS packet.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an MPEG
2 stream at a different speed than real time,
An information transmitting apparatus and method, an information terminal apparatus and an information terminal receiving method, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a receiving method, and an output time calculating apparatus and a method capable of reproducing a program by restoring a correct time axis. is there.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an information transmitting apparatus for multiplexing data including predetermined content and transmitting the multiplexed data, comprising: means for converting a time axis of data including the content to be transmitted; An information transmitting apparatus comprising: means for generating time information based on the time information; and means for including the time information in data; and means for transmitting data of the content including the time information.

According to the present invention, in an information terminal device for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmitting side, a detecting means for detecting time information from the received data, and detecting the detected time information as predetermined content Conversion means for converting to output time information indicating output timing;
An information terminal device comprising: a recording unit that records at least predetermined content and output time information; and a unit that controls output of content read from the recording unit based on the output time information.

According to the present invention, in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal, means for extracting digital data including predetermined content from the received broadcast signal,
Detecting means for detecting time information from the extracted digital data; converting means for converting the detected time information into output time information indicating timing for outputting predetermined content; and recording for recording at least the predetermined content and output time information A digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: means for controlling output of content read from recording means based on output time information.

According to the present invention, in an information transmitting method for multiplexing and transmitting data including predetermined content, a time axis of data including the content to be transmitted is converted, and time information is generated based on the converted time axis. An information transmission method characterized in that time information is included in data and data of the content including the time information is transmitted.

According to the present invention, in an information terminal receiving method for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, time information is detected from the received data, and the detected time information is output as predetermined content. This is an information terminal receiving method that converts the information into output time information indicating timing, records at least predetermined content and output time information, and controls output of the content based on the output time information.

According to the present invention, in a digital broadcast receiving method for receiving a broadcast signal, digital data including predetermined content is extracted from the received broadcast signal, time information is detected from the extracted digital data, and the detected time information is detected. A digital broadcast receiving method for converting predetermined content into output time information indicating a timing for outputting the content, recording at least the predetermined content and the output time information, and controlling reading of the predetermined content based on the output time information. is there.

According to the present invention, there is provided an output time calculation device for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detecting time information from the received data, and calculating output time information from the detected time information. Means for latching the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information; and the time difference information of the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. And a means for calculating output time information of the packet by multiplying the output time by a multiplication factor.

According to the present invention, there is provided an output time calculating device for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmitting side, detecting time information from the received data, and calculating output time information from the detected time information. Means for latching the arrival time of the packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and the time ratio information is added to the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. Multiply to calculate the output time information of the packet, obtain continuous dummy packets,
An output time calculation device including means for calibrating output time information of a packet based on a difference between dummy reference information included in successive dummy packets.

According to the present invention, there is provided an output time calculating method for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmitting side, detecting time information from the received data, and calculating output time information from the detected time information. Latching the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference information and the time ratio information, and multiplying the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet by the time ratio information. This is an output time calculation method for calculating output time information of the packet.

The present invention provides an output time calculating method for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmitting side, detecting time information from the received data, and calculating output time information from the detected time information. Latching the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference information and the time ratio information, and multiplying the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet by the time ratio information. Output time calculation method for calculating output time information of a packet, obtaining continuous dummy packets, and calibrating the output time information of the packet based on a difference between dummy reference information included in the continuous dummy packets. It is.

A dummy packet is prepared in which the value of the dummy PCR for restoring the real time and the time ratio information between the transfer time and the real time are entered in the adaptation field.

At the time of reception, time information at the time of output based on real time is obtained from the dummy PCR of the dummy packet and the time ratio information. The time information at the time of output based on the real time is added to the TS packet as a time stamp and stored in a storage device such as a hard disk drive. At the time of reproduction, data is read from the storage device with reference to the time stamp added at the time of recording. As a result, content data transmitted on a time axis different from real time can be reproduced on a correct time axis.

Alternatively, at the time of reception, a TS packet to which a time stamp is added is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk drive. At the time of reproduction, time information at the time of output based on real time is obtained from the dummy PCR of the dummy packet and the time ratio information, and reproduction is performed at the timing of the obtained time. As a result, content data transmitted on a time axis different from real time can be reproduced on a correct time axis.

As described above, since content data can be transmitted at a speed different from real time, long-time content data is transmitted using a limited time, or content data is transmitted in a narrow band. It becomes possible.

The time information at the time of reproduction based on real time is obtained by latching the arrival time of the dummy packet, and adding the time ratio to the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. By multiplying the information, a simple configuration is required.

The time information at the time of reproduction based on real time is obtained by latching the arrival time of the dummy packet, and adding the time ratio to the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. By calculating the output time of the packet by multiplying the information, obtaining continuous dummy packets, and calibrating the output time of the packet based on the difference between the dummy PCRs included in the continuous dummy packets, the error is reduced. Accumulation is stopped, and accuracy can be improved.

[0035]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention is applicable to the system which distributes the data of a content using digital BS broadcasting. FIG. 1 shows that the digital B
1 shows an overall configuration of a system for distributing content data using S broadcast.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a broadcasting station for digital BS broadcasting, and 2 is a digital BS (Broadcast Satellite).
The satellite 3 for broadcasting is a user's receiving terminal.

In digital BS broadcasting, for example, 12 GH
Using the z-band (frequency 11.7 GHz to 12 GHz), video data and audio data are MPEG2
(Moving Picture Coding Experts Group)-TS (Tr
ansport Stream). Video data is MP
The audio data is compressed based on the EG2 method,
It is compressed based on the MPEG2-ACC (Advanced Audio Coding) method. Then, the video packet and the audio packet are incorporated into an MPEG2 transport stream, and are, for example, Triles 8PSK (Phase S).
hift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift K)
eying) or BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying)
, And is transmitted on a desired carrier.

The broadcasting station 1 converts the video data and the audio data, which are the sources of the program to be broadcast, as described above.
It is incorporated in an MPEG2 transport stream, modulated with a desired carrier, and transmitted to the satellite 2.
In the stream from the broadcast station 1, programs of a plurality of channels are multiplexed. As will be described later, when a normal program ends at night, the stream from the broadcast station 1 includes the data of the content to be distributed.

The satellite 2 is, for example, a satellite of a digital BS (a successor to BS-4).
The transponder of the machine is mounted. The transmission bandwidth of one transponder is, for example, 30 Mbps. 1
With two transponders, SDTV (Standard Definitio
n Television) For broadcasting, for example, 6 channels, HDTV
(High Definition Television) broadcasting can transmit two channels.

The signal from the broadcasting station 1 is transmitted via the satellite 2
It is received by the receiving terminal 3 of each home. Receiving terminal 3 at each home
Comprises a receiver 4 and a television receiver 5. The receiver 4 receives a signal transmitted from the broadcasting station 1 via the satellite 2, demodulates an MPEG2 transport stream, extracts video and audio packets of a desired channel from the transport stream, It decodes a video signal and an audio signal.

The video signal and the audio signal decoded by the receiver 4 are supplied to a television receiver 5,
A playback screen is displayed on the television receiver 5.

The storage unit 7 is provided in the receiver 4. The storage unit 7 is provided for storing data of contents transmitted at night by effectively using the available bandwidth.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the broadcasting station 1. In FIG. 2, 11A, 11B,... Indicate a broadcast signal processing unit for performing a normal broadcast, and 21 indicates a broadcast signal processing unit for performing a content distribution broadcast.

Broadcast signal processing sections 11A and 11 for normal broadcasting
B, video signals from video sources 12A, 12B, ... are supplied to video encoders 13A, 13B, ..., and audio signals from audio sources 15A, 15B, ... are audio encoders 16A, 16B, ...
Supplied to Video encoders 13A, 13B, ...
Then, the video data is compressed by the MPEG2 system to form a video packet. Also, audio encoder 1
6A, 16B,..., MPEG2-AAC (Advanced A
udio Coding) method, the audio data is compressed,
An audio packet is formed. Also, PSI (Program Specific Information) such as channel selection information, limited reception information, and program information are generated from the data generators 17A, 17B,.

The outputs of the video encoders 13A, 13B, ..., the outputs of the audio encoders 16A, 16B, ... and the outputs of the data generators 17A, 17B, ... are supplied to multiplexers 14A, 14B, .... Video packets, audio packets, and data packets are multiplexed by the multiplexers 14A, 14B,.
It is incorporated in a TS packet having a fixed length of 8 bytes. The outputs of the multiplexers 14A, 14B,.
The signal is supplied to the multiplexer 18.

In the signal processing unit 21 of the content distribution broadcast, the video signal from the video source 22 is supplied to the video encoder 23, and the audio signal from the audio source 25 is supplied to the audio encoder 26.
The video data is compressed by the video encoder 23 according to the MPEG2 system to form a video packet. The audio data is compressed by the audio encoder 26 according to the MPEG2-AAC method, and an audio packet is formed. Further, the data generation unit 27 generates PSI such as channel selection information, limited reception information, and program information.

The output of the video encoder 23, the output of the audio encoder 26, and the output of the data generator 27 are supplied to a multiplexer 24. In the multiplexer 24, the video packet, the audio data, and the data packet are multiplexed and incorporated into a TS packet having a fixed length of 188 bytes.

The output of the multiplexer 24 is supplied to a time converter 28. When the transfer time of the content to be distributed cannot be sufficiently secured, the time conversion unit 28 transfers the data of the content faster than real time,
When the free band of the transponder cannot be sufficiently secured, the data transfer speed is converted so that the data of the content can be transferred later than the real time.

The time conversion unit 28 can be realized by, for example, an editing machine using a personal computer. In the case of distributing content data faster than real time, the TS packets are temporarily stored in a hard disk drive of a personal computer constituting the time conversion unit 28, and the TS packets are output faster than the input rate. When distributing the content at a low speed, the TS packet is temporarily stored in a hard disk drive of a personal computer constituting the time conversion unit 28, and the TS packet is output at a lower speed than the input rate.

At this time, the PCR (Program Clock)
Reference) is rewritten to the dummy PCR, and time ratio information is added. The dummy PCR and the time ratio information will be described later. Of course, the time conversion unit 28
Conversion of packet stream transfer time and dummy PCR
Can be implemented with dedicated hardware.

The output of the time conversion unit 28 is the multiplexer 1
8 is supplied. The multiplexer 18 controls the normal broadcast TS packet of each channel formed by each of the normal broadcast signal processing units 11A, 11B,... And the T of the content distribution broadcast formed by the content distribution broadcast signal processing unit 21.
S packets are multiplexed.

The output of the multiplexer 18 is supplied to the modulator 30. In the modulation unit 30, for example, trellis 8PSK,
Modulation processing by hierarchical coding is performed by QPSK or BPSK.

The output of the modulator 30 is supplied to the frequency converter 31. The frequency converter 31 converts the carrier frequency according to the frequency of the transponder to be used. The output of the frequency converter 31 is amplified by the amplifier 32, output from the antenna 33, and transmitted to the satellite 2.

In the daytime when normal broadcasting is performed on all channels, the broadcast signal processing unit 11 for normal broadcasting
A, 11B,... Are operating, and the band of the transponder of the satellite 2 is occupied by the broadcasting of these normal channels. Thus, when the band of the transponder of the satellite 2 is occupied by the broadcast of the normal channel,
The operation of the signal processing unit 21 for content distribution is stopped because there is no available band for delivering content data to the transponder.

In the night time zone, some normal broadcast programs end and an empty band is created in the transmission band of the transponder of the satellite 2. At this time, the operation of the broadcast signal processing units 11A, 11B,... Of the normal broadcast, which has finished broadcasting, is not performed, and the signal processing for distributing the content data is performed in order to perform the content distribution broadcast. The unit 21 is operated.

As described above, the distribution of the content data is as follows.
It is not performed during the time period during which the normal broadcast is being performed, but is performed during a time period when the normal broadcast is completed and an empty band is generated in the transmission band of the transponder of the satellite 2. Thereby, the distribution cost of the content can be reduced.

However, in this case, since the distribution of the content data is limited to the time zone in which the transponder of the satellite 2 has an empty band, the time during which the content data can be distributed is limited to the broadcast time of the program of the normal channel. Limited by time. For this reason, long-time content data cannot be transmitted. In addition, the band that can be secured for the transmission of content data is limited to the free band of the transponder during the end of the normal broadcast.
For this reason, data of a broadband content cannot be transferred.

Therefore, in this example, the multiplexer 24
The time conversion unit 28 is provided at the subsequent stage. And at night,
In the case of distributing content data using the free band of the transponder caused by the end of the normal broadcast, the time conversion unit 28 changes the data transfer speed. For example, when the time of the content to be distributed is long and a sufficient transfer time cannot be secured, the time conversion unit 28 transfers the content data at a speed higher than the real time. As a result, it is possible to transfer content data for a long time. If the transmission band of the data of the content to be distributed cannot be sufficiently secured, the data is transferred at a speed lower than the real time. As a result, data of a wideband content can be transferred.

However, if the content data is transferred at a time different from the real time, reference time information cannot be obtained during reproduction, and the time axis based on the real time cannot be restored.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when content data is transferred at a speed different from real time, time ratio information for reproducing real time and a dummy packet including a dummy PCR are transmitted. I try to send.

FIG. 3 shows a stream transmitted from the broadcasting station 1 when content data is transferred at a speed different from real time. The stream transmitted from the broadcasting station 1 is a fixed-length TS packet of 188 bytes, which is incorporated into an MPEG2 transport stream. In this TS packet, as shown in FIG.
Include audio packets AP, AP,... And audio packets AP, AP,.
P, DP,... Are included. Dummy packets DP, D
P,... Include time ratio information for restoring real time and dummy PCR. The dummy packet is provided with a PID (packet identifier) indicating that the TS packet is a dummy packet.

FIG. 4 shows a receiver 4 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 1 shows an example. In FIG. 4, a signal transmitted from a broadcasting station 1 via a satellite 2 is received by a parabolic antenna 51. Although not shown, the received signal is transmitted to the LNB attached to the parabolic antenna 51.
(Low Noise Block Down Converter)
It is converted to a band intermediate frequency signal. The output of the LNB of the parabolic antenna 51 is supplied to a tuner 52.

The tuner 52 selects a transponder signal having a desired carrier frequency from the received signals.
The reception frequency of the tuner 52 is set by the output of the system controller 50. The output of the tuner 52 is supplied to the demodulator 53.

In the demodulation unit 53, trellis 8PSK, QPS
A demodulation process of K or BPSK is performed. That is, B
In S digital satellite broadcasting, BPSK, QPSK,
Hierarchical transmission is performed by the trellis 8PSK. In TC-8PSK modulation, the amount of information per symbol increases, but if there is attenuation due to rainfall, the error rate deteriorates. On the other hand, in BPSK and QPSK,
Although the amount of information per symbol decreases, the error rate does not decrease so much even if attenuation due to rainfall occurs.

On the transmitting side, each TS packet is mapped to a frame composed of 48 slots, with one TS packet corresponding to one slot. A modulation scheme and an encoding scheme can be assigned to each slot.
The type and coding rate of the modulation scheme assigned to each slot are described in TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing C
onfiguration Control) signal. And
A super frame is configured in units of 8 frames,
Interleaving is performed for each slot position.

In the demodulation section 53, when the CN ratio of the received signal is good, demodulation is performed with the trellis 8PSK, and there is attenuation due to rainfall.
Demodulation is performed by SK or QPSK.

The output of the demodulation unit 53 is supplied to an error correction unit 54. The error correction unit 54 performs an error correction process using, for example, a Reed-Solomon code.

The output of the error correction section 54 is supplied to a descrambler 55. In the descrambler 55, the CAS (Co
ndition Access System) control is performed, and in the case of conditional access, a descrambling process is performed. From the output of the descrambler 55, a transport stream is obtained.

The transport stream output from the descrambler 55 is supplied to the demultiplexer 60 and also to the PCR / time stamp processing unit 56. When receiving a normal broadcast, the stream from the descrambler 55 is sent to the demultiplexer 60. When recording a normal broadcast or storing content data, the output of the descrambler 55 is supplied to the PCR / time stamp processing unit 56.

The demultiplexer 60 is provided with a descrambler 55 based on a command from the system controller 50.
A desired packet is separated from the stream from the.

That is, the PID is described in the header of the transmitted TS packet. The demultiplexer 60 separates video packets, audio packets, and data packets of a desired program based on the PID. The video packet is sent to the video processing unit 63, and the audio packet is sent to the audio processing unit 64.
Sent to The data packet is sent to the system controller 50.

In the video processing section 63, decoding processing of the MPEG2 system is performed, and the video signal is decoded. This video signal is output from the output terminal 65. Further, the audio processing unit 64 performs a decoding process of the MPEG2-AAC method, and decodes the audio signal. This audio signal is output from the output terminal 66.

The stream sent for distribution of the content data is sent from the descrambler 55 to the PCR
It is supplied to the time stamp processing unit 56. The transfer speed of the content data can be different from the real time as described above. And if content data is sent at a different speed than real time,
Time ratio information for reproducing real time and dummy PCR
Is sent.

A dummy packet is obtained by the PCR / time stamp processing unit 56, and the time ratio information and the value of the dummy PCR in the dummy packet are extracted. Then, the PCR / timestamp processing unit 56 outputs the time ratio information and the dummy PCR included in the dummy packet.
And the time of the internal input timer, the time information based on the real time is obtained. The time information based on the real time is added to the TS packet as a time stamp. When the incoming packet is a dummy packet, the adaptation field is rewritten.

When recording a normal broadcast, since the normal broadcast is performed in real time, there is no need to re-calculate the time information or rewrite the description of the adaptation field. Further, even if a stream is sent for distribution of content data, if it is sent in real time, there is no need to re-calculate time information or rewrite the description of the adaptation field. In this case,
The PCR / time stamp processing unit 56 adds a time stamp formed by an internal input timer to the TS packet.

The output of the PCR / time stamp processing unit 56 is supplied to a hard disk drive 58 via a hard disk controller 57 and is stored in a disk of the hard disk drive 58.

The data stored in the hard disk drive 58 is read out via the hard disk controller 57 and supplied to the timing setting section 61. The timing setting unit 61 extracts the time stamp added at the time of recording from the output of the hard disk drive 58, and determines the packet output timing based on the time information indicated by the time stamp and the time information of the internal output timer. Is set. Based on this timing, data read from the hard disk drive 58 is supplied to the demultiplexer 60.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the timing setting section 61 in FIG. In FIG.
The TS reproduced from the hard disk drive 58 via the hard disk controller 57 is input to an input terminal 81.
Packets are supplied. As described above, a time stamp is added to this TS packet.

This time stamp is the time of the input timer when the packet arrives in the case of content data transmitted in a normal broadcast or in real time. In the case of content data transmitted at a speed higher or lower than the real time, the time based on the real time calculated by using the time ratio information or the value of the dummy PCR and the time of the internal input timer. It is.

The time stamp added to the TS packet is extracted by the time stamp extracting section 82.
Then, the TS packet is supplied to the output control unit 85, and the time stamp is supplied to the comparison unit 83. The comparing section 83 is supplied with time information from the output timer 84. The comparing unit 83 compares the extracted time stamp with the time information from the output timer.

When the time stamp extracted by the time stamp extracting section 82 matches the output timer value from the output timer 84, a control signal is output from the comparing section 83.
The control signal controls the output of the output control unit 85, and the TS packet is output from the output terminal 86.

In the case of content data transmitted in a normal broadcast or in real time, the time of the input timer when the packet arrives is added as a time stamp. Therefore, by reading the information read from the hard disk drive 58 based on the timing of the output timer 84 that advances in the same manner as when the time stamp is added, it is possible to restore the packet stream on the same time axis as when inputting.

In the case of content data transmitted at a speed higher or lower than the real time, time ratio information and dummy P
A time based on the real time calculated by using the value of the CR and the time of the internal input timer is added as a time stamp. This calculation will be described later. Therefore, if the information read from the hard disk drive 58 is read based on the timing of the output timer 84, the packet stream can be restored on a time axis based on real time.

In FIG. 4, the output of the timing setting section 61 is supplied to a demultiplexer 60. The demultiplexer 60 separates a video packet and an audio packet. The video packet is transmitted to the video processing unit 63
Supplied to The audio packet is supplied to the audio processing unit 64.

The video processing section 63 performs a decoding process of the MPEG2 system to decode a video signal. This video signal is output from the output terminal 65. Further, the audio processing unit 64 performs a decoding process of the MPEG2-AAC method, and decodes the audio signal. This audio signal is output from the output terminal 66.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a more specific configuration of the receiver 4. 6, a transport stream from a descrambler 55 (FIG. 4) is input from an input interface 101 and supplied to a selector 102 and an input PID parser 103. The output of the selector 102 is supplied to the output interface 129.

The output interface 129 is connected to the demultiplexer 60 (FIG. 4). If the user is watching a normal program and does not record, the stream from the input interface 101 is output from the output interface 129 via the selector 102 and sent to the demultiplexer 60.

When recording a normal program on a hard disk drive or storing distributed content data on a hard disk drive, a stream input from the input interface 101 is input to the input PI.
It is supplied to the D parser 103.

The input PID parser 103 extracts TS packets necessary for recording and control from TS packets constituting the received transport stream. Unnecessary TS packets are discarded by the input PID parser 103. The recording packet is supplied to the TS packet analyzer 104. TS packet analyzer 10
At 4, the packet is analyzed.

The multiplexer 105 multiplexes the TS packet output from the input PID parser 103, the TS packet reproduced from the hard disk output from the output PID parser 106, and the TS packet from the packet insertion unit 130, Output.

The output of TS packet analyzer 104 is supplied to time stamp adding section 107. The time stamp adding unit 107 is supplied with time information from the time calculating unit 131. The time calculation unit 131 includes an input timer 108
Is supplied.

If the input stream is real time, a time stamp is added by the time stamp adding section 107 to the input TS packet based on the time from the input timer 108.

When the input stream is different from the real time, the time ratio information for reproducing the real time and the dummy P
A dummy packet containing the CR is sent. TS
The packet analyzer 104 acquires the dummy packet, and extracts the time ratio information and the value of the dummy PCR in the dummy packet. The time ratio information and the dummy PCR are sent to the time calculation unit 131.

[0094] The time calculation unit 131 outputs the time ratio information and the dummy PCR included in the dummy packet.
And the time of the input timer 108 when the packet arrives, the time information based on the real time is obtained. This real time information is added to the TS packet as a time stamp. If the arriving packet is a dummy packet, the adaptation field is rewritten so that the dummy packet becomes a packet having a normal PCR value.

The time stamp adding section 107 and the time calculating section 131 correspond to the PCR / time stamp processing section 56 in FIG.

The TS packet to which the time stamp is added by the time stamp adding unit 107 is transmitted to the arbiter 10.
9. The arbiter 109 is an SDRAM (Syn
Requests generated in the chronous dynamic random access memory (111) are arbitrated. Arbiter 109
The TS packet input to the SDRAM 111 is input by the SDRAM controller 110 to the input FIFO (Firs
t-In First-Out) 112.

The TS packet stored in the input FIFO 112 is read out by the SDRAM controller 110 and sent to the index adding unit 1 via the arbiter 109.
15 is supplied.

The index adding unit 115 receives the search time stamp from the search timer 116 and sends the search time stamp to the DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 11.
7 are provided.

Data to be recorded on the hard disk drive is processed for each cluster which is a recording unit of the hard disk, and is processed by DMA transfer. The index adding unit 115 assigns a search stamp and LBA to each cluster.
(Logical Block Address) and an index composed of a user area are added, and this index is added, and the clustered data is supplied to the selector 120.

On the other hand, the bus bus interface 132
Are connected to the system controller 50 (FIG. 4), and commands and data from the system controller 50 are transmitted via the bus bus interface 132. The command and data are supplied to the selector 120. Also, in order to enable DMA transfer, DM
Commands and data from the A controller 117 are supplied to the selector 120.

The data from the index adding unit 115 is supplied to the hard disk drive 122 via the selector 120 and the interface 121. This data is stored in the hard disk controller 124
As a result, the disk 12 of the hard disk drive 122
3 recorded. In this way, data based on the received TS packet stream is recorded on the disk 123 of the hard disk drive 122.

When reproducing data based on the TS packets stored in the disk 123 of the hard disk drive 122, the data is read from the disk 123. The data is read for each cluster, and the read data is supplied to the index detection unit 125 via the interface 121 and the selector 120.

The index detecting section 125 detects the index added by the index adding section 115 from the reproduced data. The detected index is stored in a register in the DMA controller 117, and the DMA controller 117 controls reading of the disk based on the stored index. Then, here, the index is removed.

[0104] The reproduced transport stream from the index detection unit 125 is transmitted to the arbiter 109, SDRA
The data is temporarily stored in the output FIFO 113 of the SDRAM 111 via the M controller 110.

The reproduced transport stream stored in the output FIFO 113 is transmitted to the SDRAM controller 11
0, is supplied to the arbiter 109, and further supplied to the time stamp detection unit 126.

The output of the output timer 127 is supplied to the time stamp detecting section 126. The time stamp detection unit 126 detects the time stamp added by the time stamp addition unit 107 at the time of input. Then, based on the time of the output timer 127, the reproduced transport stream is output at a timing that returns the time interval between the TS packets to the original state according to the time stamp.

The control of the time stamp detecting section 126 corresponds to the timing setting section 61 in FIG.

The reproduced transport stream is supplied to the output PID parser 106. Output PID parser 1
06 receives the reproduction transport stream output from the time stamp detection unit 126, extracts a reproduction packet to be reproduced from the TS packets constituting the reproduction transport stream, and outputs this to the multiplexer 105.

The multiplexer 105 is connected to the TS packet output from the output PID parser 103 and the input PID parser 1.
06 and the output packet insertion unit 1
30 are multiplexed, and this is
02 to the output interface.

The output interface 129 is connected to the demultiplexer 60 (FIG. 4), and the reproduced TS
The packet stream is sent to the demultiplexer 60 from the output interface.

As described above, in this example, when content data is distributed, data is transmitted at a speed different from real time. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, a dummy packet DP including a dummy PCR and time ratio information is transmitted. Then, on the receiving side, the PCR / timestamp processing unit 56 in FIG. 4 applies a dummy P to the data transferred at a speed different from the real time.
Using the CR and the time ratio information and the time of the input timer when the packet arrives, time information based on real time is obtained by calculation, and the obtained time information is added to the TS packet as a time stamp. Further, the adaptation field of the dummy packet is rewritten so that the dummy packet becomes a packet having a normal PCR value. As a result, even if the data is transmitted at a speed different from the real time, it is possible to reproduce the data by performing the same processing as that for the stream transmitted in the real time at the time of reproduction. About this,
Details will be described below.

In an MPEG2 TS packet, a reference value called a PCR, which is a reference of a program time, is transmitted at regular intervals (for example, 100 ms). In a normal system, the value of this PCR is used as a reference value for the program time.

FIG. 7 shows an MPEG transport stream. As shown in FIG.
Is composed of 188-byte TS packets. As shown in FIG. 7B, this TS
The packet has a synchronization byte (8 bits) indicating the head of the packet, and an error indication (1) indicating the presence or absence of an error in the packet.
Bit), a unit start indication (1 bit) indicating that a new PES packet starts from the payload of this transport packet, and a transport packet priority (1 bit) indicating the importance of this packet.
PID (13 bits) for identifying an individual packet, scramble control (2 bits) indicating the presence / absence of payload scrambling, adaptation field control (2 bits) indicating presence / absence of an adaptation field and presence / absence of a payload. , A cyclic counter (4 bits) for detecting, based on the continuity of the reception count, whether a packet having a PID has been partially rejected, an adaptation field for transmitting additional information on an individual stream, and a payload (information ).

[0114] In the adaptation field, additional information on the individual stream and stuffing can be entered. As shown in FIG. 7C, the adaptation field has an adaptation field length (8
Bit), discontinuous indication (1 bit), random access indication (1 bit), stream priority indication (1 bit), five flags for an optional field, an optional field, and a stuffing byte.

The adaptation field length indicates the length of the adaptation field. The discontinuous display indicates that the system clock of the same PID will be reset next time to have new contents. The random access indicator indicates the beginning of a video sequence or the beginning of an audio sequence, and indicates an entry point of random access. The stream priority indicates that a significant part of this individual stream is the payload of this packet. For example, in the case of video, it is an intra-coded part.

FIG. 7D shows an optional field.
As shown in the figure, PCR (Program Clock Reference)
(42 + 6) bits) and OPCR (Original PCR)
(42 + 6 bits) and splice countdown (8
Bit), transport private data length and data, and adaptation field extension. The flags provided before the optional fields indicate the states of these five optional fields. The stuffing byte is stuffing for making the TS packet a fixed length of 188 bytes.

FIG. 8 describes an adaptation field of a TS packet having a PCR value.

As shown in FIG. 7C, in the adaptation field, additional information on the individual stream,
Staffing can be included. The adaptation field is the adaptation field length (adap
tioon_field_length) and discontinuity display (discontinuity_
indicator) and random access display (random_access
_indicator) and stream priority display (elemantary_str)
eam_priority_indicator) and five flags for optional fields (PCR_flag, OPCR_flag, splicing)
_point_flag, transport_private_data_flag, adaptati
on_field_extention_flag), an optional field, and a stuffing byte.

In the case of a packet having a PCR value,
A PCR value is described. Therefore, five flags (PC
R_flag, OPCR_flag, splicing_poin_flag, transport_p
private_data_flag, adaptation_field_extention_fla
g), the PCR flag (PCR_flag) is “1”.

The PCR uses a 33-bit program clock reference base (program_clock_reference_bass).
e), 6-bit reserved, and 9-bit program clock reference extension (program_clock_reference_extention).

As described above, in this example, when transferring content data at a speed different from real time, a dummy packet is transmitted. In this dummy packet, the value of the dummy PCR and the time ratio information are included in the adaptation field.

FIG. 9 describes the configuration of the adaptation field of the dummy packet.

In the case of a dummy packet, a dummy PCR
And the time ratio information, the transport private data (transport_private) in the adaptation field.
_data) is processed and five flags (PCR_flag, OPCR_fl
ag, splicing_point_flag, transport_private_data_fl
ag, adaptation_field_extention_flag), a transport private data flag (transport_privat) indicating that there is transport private data.
e_data_flag) is “1”.

Then, the dummy PCR is used as transport private data (transport_private_data).
(Dummy PCR) and time ratio information (Dummy Ratio) are described.

The dummy PCR is a 33-bit dummy program clock reference base (dume PCR).
mmy_program_lock_reference_base), 6-bit reserved (dummy_reserved), and 9-bit dummy program clock reference extension (dummy_base)
program_clock_reference_extention), and this format is the same as the normal PCR format.

The time ratio information (Dummy Ratio) indicates the ratio between the transfer speed of the real time and the transfer time of the transmitted data, and is a 5-bit integer value (output_ratio_int).
And a 12-bit decimal value (output_ratio_decimal)
And 7-bit reserved (output_ratio_reserved).

Next, a description will be given of an operation for obtaining a time based on the real time from the time ratio information and the value of the dummy PCR and the time of the input timer when a packet arrives.

The TS packet is transferred at high speed or low speed by the time ratio indicated by the time ratio information with respect to real time. Therefore, the time from the time when the first dummy packet arrives to the time when the next packet arrives is shorter or longer than the real time by the time based on the time ratio information. Therefore, if the difference between the time when the incoming packet arrives and the time when the dummy packet arrives first is multiplied by the time ratio information, the output time based on the real time can be obtained.

That is, if the input arrival time of the first dummy packet is idt (0) and the input arrival time of the n-th normal packet from the first dummy packet is irt (0) (n), the first dummy packet The output time ort (0) (n) of the n-th packet is ort (0) (n) = (irt (0) (n) −idt (0), where the time ratio information in the dummy packet is ratio. )) · Ratio… (1)

FIG. 10 shows the PCR / time stamp processing in the case where the difference between the arrival time of the first dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet is multiplied by the time ratio information to determine the output time of the packet. Part 56 (FIG. 4)
FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration of (or a time calculation unit 131 (FIG. 6)).

Referring to FIG. 10, a received TS packet is input from an input terminal 201,
2 and to the adaptation field converter 203. When the input TS packet is a dummy packet, the adaptation field conversion unit 203 rewrites the adaptation field.

That is, from the adaptation field of the dummy packet shown in FIG. 9, transporation is performed so that the packet becomes a normal packet having the normal PCR shown in FIG.
The contents of t_private_data and the contents of the PCR are rewritten. Then, the PCR_flag is changed from “0” to “1”, and tran
sport_private_data_flag is changed from “1” to “0”. The output of the adaptation field converter 203 is output from the packet output terminal 221.

[0133] The packet analysis unit 202
It is determined whether the packet is a dummy packet or a normal packet other than the dummy packet.

When the first dummy packet is input, the time idt (0) of the input timer 204 is taken into the latch 205. Then, the ratio extracting unit 208 extracts the time ratio information ratio from the dummy packets, and sets the extracted time ratio information in the multiplier 207.

In the case other than the first dummy packet, T
Time ir of input timer 204 when S packet arrives
t (0) (n) is supplied to the subtractor 206. Subtractor 206
Then, the difference irt (0) (n) −idt (0) between the arrival time idt (0) of the first dummy packet latched by the latch 205 and the arrival time irt (0) (n) of the input packet. ) Is required. The output of the subtracter 206 is the multiplier 207
Supplied to

The time ratio information ratio extracted by the ratio extraction unit 208 is supplied to a multiplier 207. Multiplier 20
7, the difference value (irt (0) between the arrival time idt (0) of the first dummy packet and the arrival time irt (0) (n) of the input packet.
(n) -idt (0)) and the time ratio information ratio.
As a result, the calculation shown in equation (1) is performed. The output of the multiplier 207 is output from the output terminal 222.

FIG. 11 shows that the output time of a packet is obtained by multiplying the difference between the arrival time of the first dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet by the time ratio information, and is added to the packet as a time stamp. This is an example of such a case. In this example, the content data is transmitted at a speed higher than the real time, and an example in which the time ratio information is “2” is shown.

In FIG. 11, it is assumed that dummy packet D_P0 is input at time "0". At this time, the time “0” of the input timer 204 is taken into the latch 205 as the arrival time idt (0) of the first dummy packet. Since the first dummy packet D_P (0) serves as a reference, the output time is “0”.

Next, at time “2”, the packet R_P (0)
When (0) is input, the value “2” of the input timer 204 at this time is captured as the packet arrival time irt (0) (0). Then, the value “2” of the input timer 204 at this time and the time “0” captured in the latch 205
Is subtracted, and this is multiplied by the time ratio information “2”. Therefore, the output time ort (0) (0) is ort (0) (0) = (2-0) × 2 = 4.

Next, at time “4”, the packet R_P (0)
When (1) is input, the value “4” of the input timer 204 at this time is captured as the packet arrival time irt (0) (1). Then, the value “4” of the input timer 204 at this time and the time “0” captured in the latch 205
Is multiplied by the time ratio information “2”, and the output time ort (0) (1) becomes ort (0) (1) = (4-0) × 2 = 8.

Hereinafter, similarly, packet R_P (0)
(2), the output time of R_P (0) (3),... Ort (0) (2),
ort (0) (3)... are obtained as “12”, “16”,.

As described above, the difference (irt (0) (n) -idt (0)) between the input arrival time of the input TS packet and the input arrival time of the first dummy packet is added to the time ratio information rat.
The operation for multiplying io to obtain the output time ort (0) (n) is shown in FIG.
As shown by 0, since the output time can be calculated by one subtractor 206 and one multiplier 207, there is an advantage that the circuit configuration is simplified. However, in this configuration, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, since the output time is obtained by multiplying the difference Δ1, Δ2,... Between the arrival time of the input packet and the arrival time of the first dummy packet by the time ratio information, errors accumulate. There's a problem. The error includes an error of the time stamp, an error based on the PCR on the distribution side, a jitter of the packet on the distribution side, and the like. When there are these errors, the errors are small near the first dummy packet, but as the distance from the first dummy packet increases, the errors accumulate and become large errors.

Therefore, it is conceivable to calibrate the output time using the value of the dummy PCR so that errors do not accumulate.

That is, it is assumed that the input TS packet is a dummy packet. As described above, the dummy packet contains the value of the dummy PCR. T entered
If the S packet is a dummy packet, a dummy PCR
The time at the time of output is obtained based on the value of. Dummy P
Since the value of CR reflects real time, dummy PCR
No error accumulates in the output time determined by

That is, the value of the x-th dummy PCR is set to (D
_pcr (x)) and the value of the previous dummy PCR is (D_pcr
(x-1)), and the difference is diff diff = D_pcr (x)-D_pcr (x-1), the x-th dummy packet is calculated from the output time of the (x-1) -th dummy packet. Output later. Therefore, the output time od of the x-th dummy packet
t (x) is the time when the previous dummy packet is output odt
The value is obtained by adding (x-1) the difference diff between the value of the x-th dummy PCR (D_pcr (x)) and the value of the immediately preceding dummy PCR (D_pcr (x-1)). odt (x) = odt (x-1) + diff = odt (x-1) + (D_pcr (x)-D_pcr (x-1))… (2)

As described above, the output time of the dummy packet is obtained from the value of the dummy PCR, and since the time obtained from the value of the dummy PCR is a time based on the real time, no error is accumulated. When the output time of the packet is calibrated based on the output time of the dummy packet obtained in this way, the error is calibrated every time the dummy packet is input, and the accumulation of the error can be prevented. .

Then, based on the x-th dummy packet, the output time ort (x) (n) of the n-th ordinary packet from the x-th dummy packet becomes the output time odt (x) of the x-th dummy packet. x), and the value obtained by multiplying the difference between the input arrival time irt (x) (n) of the packet and the input arrival time idt (x) of the x-th dummy packet by the time ratio information ratio. Can be ort (x) (n) = odt (x) + (irt (x) (n)-idt (x))-ratio… (3)

As shown in the above equation (2), the output time odt (x) of the x-th dummy packet is obtained from the difference between the dummy PCRs of successive dummy packets. (3)
Output time o of the dummy packet calculated by equation (2)
Substituting dt (x) gives ort (x) (n) = odt (x-1) + (D_pcr (x)-D_pcr (x-1)) + (irt (x) (n)-idt (x) ) ・ Ra tio… (4)

FIG. 12 shows an example of the PCR / time stamp processing section 56 (or the time calculation section 131) for obtaining the output time by the above-described calculation. In FIG.
The received TS packet is input from the input terminal 301 and is supplied to the packet analysis unit 302 and is also supplied to the adaptation field conversion unit 303. If the input TS packet is a dummy packet, the adaptation field conversion unit 303 rewrites the adaptation field. The output of the adaptation field conversion unit 303 is output from the packet output terminal 321.

The packet analysis unit 302 receives the input TS
It is determined whether the packet is a dummy packet or a normal packet other than the dummy packet. When the input packet is a dummy packet, the time of the input timer 304 is taken into the latch 305 as idt (x). The output of the packet analysis unit 302 is output to the ratio extraction unit 308
, And further supplied to the PCR extraction unit 309. The ratio extraction unit 308 extracts the time ratio information ratio from the dummy packet, and the PCR extraction unit 309
The value D_pcr (x) of the dummy PCR is extracted from the dummy packet.

When a normal packet other than a dummy packet is received, the time irt (x) (n) of the input timer 304
Is supplied to the subtracter 306, and the latch 3
05, the arrival time idt (x) of the immediately preceding dummy packet, and the arrival time irt (x) (n) of the input packet
Is obtained (irt (x) (n) -idt (x)). The output of the subtractor 306 is supplied to the multiplier 307.

The time ratio information ratio extracted by the ratio extraction unit 308 is supplied to a multiplier 307. Multiplier 30
7, a difference value (irt (x) (n) -idt (x)) between the arrival time of the previous dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet;
The time ratio information ratio is multiplied. This multiplier 307
Is supplied to the adder 315.

Dummy P extracted by PCR extraction section 309
The value D_pcr (x) of CR is supplied to the latch 310. The output of the latch 310 is supplied to the latch 311 and also to the subtractor 312. The output of the latch 310 is supplied to a subtractor 312.

The latches 310 and 311 latch successive dummy PCR values D_pcr (x) and D_pcr (x−1). The subtractor 312 calculates a difference value (D_pcr (x) -D_pcr (x-1)) between the values of the successive dummy PCRs.

The output of the subtractor 312 is supplied to the adder 313. The output of the adder 313 is supplied to the latch 314. The latch 314 latches the output time ort (x-1) of the previous dummy packet. The output of the latch 314 is supplied to the adder 313. The output of the adder 313 is supplied to the adder 315 and also to the selector 316.

The selector 316 switches between a dummy packet and other normal packets. In the case of a dummy packet, the selector 316 is set on the terminal 316a side, and the time obtained from the output of the adder 313 is output from the output terminal 322. In the case of a normal packet, the selector 316 is switched to the terminal 316b, and the time determined by the adder 315 is equal to the output terminal 3.
22.

When the input packet is a dummy PCR packet, the output time is calculated by the calculation shown in the above equation (2).

That is, the packet analyzer 302
If it is determined that the input packet is a dummy packet, the PCR extraction unit 309 sets the value of the dummy PCR D_pcr (x)
Are extracted, and the values D_pcr (x) and D_pcr (x-1) of the continuous dummy PCR are taken into the latches 310 and 311, and the value of the x-th dummy PCR (D_pcr (x)) is obtained by the subtractor 312.
And the value of the previous dummy PCR (D_pcr (x-1))
diffdiff = D_pcr (x)-D_pcr (x-1) is calculated.

The output time odt (x-1) of the previous dummy packet is latched in the latch 314. Adder 31
At 3, the output time of the previous dummy packet, odt (x-1),
The difference diff between the value of the x-th dummy PCR (D_pcr (x)) and the value of the immediately preceding dummy PCR (D_pcr (x-1)) is added. As a result, an operation of odt (x) = odt (x-1) + diff = odt (x-1) + (D_pcr (x) -D_pcr (x-1)) is performed, and the output time of the x-th dummy PCR is performed. od
t (x) is required.

The output time odt (x) of the x-th dummy PCR thus obtained is output from the output terminal 322 as a time stamp via the selector 316.

If the input packet is a dummy packet, the adaptation field conversion unit 303
The adaptation field is rewritten.

If the input packet is a normal TS packet other than the dummy packet, the output time is calculated by the calculation shown in equation (4).

That is, the time idt (x) when the x-th dummy packet is input is latched in the latch 305. From the input timer 304, the time irt (x) (n) when the TS packet arrives is output, and the subtractor 306
Then, a difference irt (x) (n) -idt (x) between the input arrival time irt (x) (n) of the packet and the input arrival time idt (x) of the x-th dummy packet is obtained.

The multiplier 307 calculates the difference between the input arrival time irt (x) (n) of the packet and the input arrival time idt (x) of the x-th dummy packet by the time ratio information ra.
multiplied by tio. (irt (x) (n)-idt (x))-ratio

The adder 315 multiplies the difference between the input arrival time irt (x) (n) of the packet and the input arrival time idt (x) of the x-th dummy packet by a time ratio ratio (irt (x )
(n) -idt (x)). ratio) and the output time odt (x) of the x-th dummy packet from the adder 313 are added.

Thus, ort (x) (n) = odt (x) + (irt (x) (n) -idt (x)). Ratio = odt (x-1) + (D_pcr (x) -D_pcr (x-1)) + (irt (x) (n)-idt (x)) · ra tio is performed, and the output time ort (x) (n ) Is required.

Output time id of the determined x-th packet
t (x) (n) is output to the output terminal 322 via the selector 316.
Is output as a timestamp.

FIG. 13 shows an example in which the output time is obtained in this way and added to the packet as a time stamp. In this example, the content data is transmitted at a speed higher than the real time, and an example in which the time ratio information is “2” is shown.

In FIG. 13, at time “0”, dummy packet D_P (0) is input, and time “2”, “4”,
..., packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0)
(1),... Are input, and at time “16”, the dummy packet D_P (1) is input, and the time “18”, “20”,
..., packets R_P (1) (0), R_P (1)
(1),... Are input.

Since the dummy packet D_P (0) is input at time “0”, the dummy packet D_P (0)
“0” is taken in as the arrival time idt (0) at the time of inputting (0). The output time odt (0) of the dummy packet D_P (0) becomes “0”.

Packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0)
(1) are input at times “2”, “4”,..., So packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0) (1)
As the arrival times irt (0) (0), irt (0) (1),... At the time of input of “2”, “2”, “4”,.

The arrival time irt (0) (0) at the time of inputting the packet R_P (0) (0) is “2”. And the time ratio rat
io is “2”. Therefore, the packet R_P0
The output time ort (0) (0) of (0) is ort (0) (0) = odt (0) + (irt (0) (0) −idt (0)) × ratio = 0 + (2-0 ) × 2 = 4.

Then, the following packet R_P (0)
The arrival time ort (0) (1) at the time of output of (1) is the packet R_P
Since the arrival time irt (0) (1) at the time of input of (0) (1) is “4”, ort (0) (1) = odt (0) + (irt (0) (1) −idt (0)) × ratio = 0 + (4-0) × 2 = 8.

Hereinafter, packets R_P (0) (2), R_P
Output time of (0) (3), ... ort (0) (2), ort (0) (3),
Are "12", "16", and so on.

The dummy packet D_P (1) has the time “1”.
6 ", the D_P of the dummy packet
The arrival time idt (1) at the time of input of (1) is “16”
Is taken in.

The value of the dummy PCR added to the dummy packet D_P (1) is “32”, and the value of the dummy PCR added to the dummy packet D_P (0) immediately before the dummy PCR is “32”.
Is "0", the value of diff is diff = 32-0 = 32.

Therefore, dummy packet D_P (0)
Assuming that the output time odt (0) of the dummy packet D_P (1) is odt (0) = 0, the output time odt 1 of the dummy packet D_P (1) is
Odt (1) = odt (0) + diff = 0 + 32 = 32.

Packets R_P (1) (0), R_P (1)
(1) are input at times “18”, “20”,..., Respectively, so that packets R_P (1) (0), R_P
(1) Arrival time irt (1) (0), irt (1) when inputting (1) ...
As (1),..., “18”, “20”,.

The arrival time irt (1) (0) at the time of inputting the packet R_P (1) (0) is “18”. Then, the time ratio is “2”. Therefore, packet R_P (1)
The output time ort (1) (0) of (0) is ort (1) (0) = odt (1) + (irt (1) (0) −idt (1)) × ratio = 32 + (18−16) ) × 2 = 36.

Then, the following packet R_P (1)
The output time ort (1) (1) of (1) is the packet R_P (1)
Since the arrival time irt (0) (1) at the time of input of (1) is “20”, ort (1) (1) = odt (1) + (irt (1) (1) −idt (1) ) × ratio = 32 + (20−16) × 2 = 40

Hereinafter, packets R_P (1) (2), R_P
(1) (3), output time ort (1) (2), ort (1) (3),
Are "44", "48", and so on.

The output time ort 0 thus obtained
, Ort 0 (1),..., Ort 1 (0), ort 1 (1),... Are added to the TS packet as time stamps.

As shown in FIG. 13, the packet R_P
The output time of (0) (0), R_P (0) (1),.
Difference values Δ1, Δ with time of dummy packet DP_ (0)
, Calculated on the basis of the packet R_P (1)
The output time of (0), R_P (1) (1)... Is the difference value Δ11, Δ12 from the time of the dummy packet DP_ (1),
.. Are calculated. Since the output time of the dummy packet is obtained by the dummy PCR, no error is accumulated in the output time. For this reason, every time a dummy packet arrives, the error of the output time is calibrated, and accumulation of the error can be prevented.

FIG. 14 shows the timing at the time of reproduction by adding a time stamp as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, the packet D_P
Since the time stamp “0” is added to (0), when the time becomes “0”, the processing of the packet D_P (0) is performed. Packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0)
(1),... Are appended with time stamps “4”, “8”,..., So that at times “4”, “8”,..., Packets R_P (0) (0), R_P ( 0) (1),
Is performed.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, at the time of recording, the packets transmitted at times “0”, “2”, “4”,. "8",
, And the content sent at a speed faster than the real time is played back at a slower speed, and is played back on a time axis based on the real time.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show that information is distributed at a speed slower than the real time (time ratio 1/2), and at the time of reproduction, the information is reproduced at a speed faster than the transmitted time according to the real time. This is an example of performing.

In FIG. 16, at time “0”, dummy packet D_P (0) is input, and at time “2”, “4”,
..., packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0) (1)
Are input and at time “12”, the dummy packet D_P
(1) is input, and packets R_P (1) (0), R_P (1) (1),... Are input at times “14”, “16”,.

In this case, the time ratio information is (1/2)
The dummy packet D_P is obtained by the above operation.
Assuming that the output time odt (0) of (0) is odt (0) = 0,
The output time ort (0) (0) of the packet R_P (0) (0) becomes “1”, and the subsequent packet R_P (0) (1)
The arrival time ort (0) (1) at the time of output is “2”.
The output times ort (0) (2), ort (0) (3),... Of the packets R_P (0) (2), R_P (0) (3),.
"4", ...

The output time of the dummy packet D_P (1) is “6”, and the packets R_P (1) (0), R_P (1) (0)
Arrival time at the output of P (1) (1),... Ort (1) (0), ort
(1) (1),... Become “7”, “8”,.

The output time thus obtained is added to the TS packet as a time stamp and recorded.

FIG. 17 shows the timing at the time of reproduction. As shown in FIG. 17, since the time stamp “0” is added to the packet D_P (0), when the time becomes “0”, the processing of the packet D_P (0) is performed. Packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0) (1),
Are added with time stamps "1", "2",..., So that when the time becomes "1", "2", ..., packets R_P (0) (0), R_P (0) (1 ),... Are performed.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, at the time of recording, packets transmitted at times “0”, “2”, “4”,. "2",
, And the content sent at a speed lower than the real time is reproduced at a higher speed, and is reproduced on a time axis based on the real time.

As described above, in the system to which the present invention is applied, when content data is transmitted at a speed higher or lower than the real time, the time ratio information and the dummy PCR are transmitted.
Is transmitted. The output time is obtained by calculation based on the time ratio information and the dummy PCR, and the output time obtained by this calculation is added as a time stamp. Thus, even when content data is transmitted at a speed different from the real time, the time based on the real time can be restored.

In the above-described embodiment, the time information at the time of output based on real time is restored at the time of recording. However, a correct time axis may be restored at the time of reproduction. That is, at the time of recording, a time stamp is added as it is at the time of the input timer, and at the time of reproduction, the dummy P
From the CR and the time ratio information, time information at the time of output based on the real time is obtained, and reproduction is performed at the timing of the obtained time, so that the content data transmitted on a time axis different from the real time can be obtained. Alternatively, playback may be performed on a correct time axis.

In the above example, content data is transmitted at night when normal broadcasting ends and a transponder has a free band. However, a dedicated channel or program for transmitting content data is provided. You may do it.

Further, in the above-described example, the content data is transmitted by digital BS broadcasting, but the transmission of content data is not limited to digital BS broadcasting. Similarly, digital CS broadcasting and digital terrestrial broadcasting can transfer content data.

Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where content data is transmitted via the Internet or various networks.

[0199]

According to the present invention, a dummy packet is prepared in which the value of the dummy PCR for restoring the real time and the time ratio information between the transfer time and the real time are contained in the adaptation field.

At the time of reception, time information at the time of output is obtained from the dummy PCR and the time ratio information, and the time information at the time of output is added to a TS packet as a time stamp, and is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk drive. It is memorized. At the time of reproduction, data is read from the storage device with reference to the time stamp added at the time of recording. As a result, content information transmitted on a time axis different from real time can be reproduced on a correct time axis.

Alternatively, at the time of reception, a TS packet to which a time stamp has been added is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk drive. At the time of reproduction, time information at the time of output based on real time is obtained from the dummy PCR of the dummy packet and the time ratio information, and reproduction is performed at the timing of the obtained time. As a result, content data transmitted on a time axis different from real time can be reproduced on a correct time axis.

As described above, since content information can be transmitted at a speed different from real time, long-time content information is transmitted using a limited time, or content information is transmitted in a narrow band. It becomes possible.

Further, according to the present invention, the reproduction time based on real time is obtained by latching the arrival time of the dummy packet and calculating the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. By multiplying the time ratio information, it can be obtained with a simple configuration.

Further, according to the present invention, the reproduction time based on the real time is obtained by latching the arrival time of the dummy packet and calculating the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. By calculating the output time of the packet by multiplying the time ratio information, obtaining continuous dummy packets, and calibrating the output time of the packet based on the difference between the dummy PCRs included in the obtained dummy packets. , The error will no longer accumulate,
The accuracy can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of an information distribution system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a transmitting side in the information distribution system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram used for describing a packet stream to be transmitted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a receiving side in the information distribution system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a timing setting unit;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing details of a receiving side in the information distribution system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram used for describing an MPEG2 transport stream.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram used for explaining an adaptation field.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram used for explaining an adaptation field.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a time calculation unit.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram used for describing an example of a time calculation unit.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another example of the time calculation unit.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram used for explaining another example of the time calculation unit.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram used for describing another example of the time calculation unit.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram used for describing another example of the time calculation unit.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram used for describing another example of the time calculation unit.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram used for describing another example of the time calculation unit.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram used for describing another example of the time calculation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Broadcasting station, 2 ... Digital BS satellite, 3 ...
· Receiving terminal, 56 · · · PCR · time stamp processing unit, 58 · · · hard disk drive, 61 · · · timing setting unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 Z 7/08 7/173 610Z 7/081 630 7/24 7/08 Z 7/173 610 7/13 Z 630 (72) Inventor Kagami Atsushi 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Iwao Yamamoto 6-7 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. 35 Sony Corporation F term (reference) 5C025 AA29 DA01 DA04 5C059 MA00 RB01 RC04 RC08 RC09 SS02 SS30 TA71 TC37 UA02 UA05 UA30 UA32 5C063 AA20 AB03 AB07 AC01 AC06 CA11 CA16 CA20 CA23 DA07 DA13 5C064 BB05 BC17 BC22 5K028 BB05 EE03 KK01 KK03 KK23 KK32 MM12 MM16 NN00

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An information transmitting apparatus for multiplexing and transmitting data including predetermined content, comprising: means for converting a time axis of data including content to be transmitted; and generating time information based on the converted time axis. An information transmitting apparatus comprising: means for including the time information in the data; and means for transmitting data of the content including the time information. 2. The information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time information includes dummy reference time information indicating a reference time at the time of output, and time ratio information indicating a time ratio between a real time and a transfer time. 3. An information terminal device for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detecting means for detecting time information from the received data, and detecting the detected time information as the predetermined content. Converting means for converting the output time information into output time information indicating the timing of outputting the predetermined content and the output time information; and outputting the content read from the recording means based on the output time information. An information terminal device having a control unit. 4. The time information includes: dummy reference time information indicating a reference time at the time of output; and time ratio information indicating a time ratio between a real time and a transfer time. The information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein output time information is calculated from the time ratio information. 5. The conversion means latches an arrival time of a dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and obtains an arrival time of the latched dummy packet and an arrival time of an input packet. 4. The information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the output time information of the packet is calculated by multiplying the difference from the arrival time by the time ratio information. 6. The conversion means latches the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and calculates the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. The time difference information is multiplied by the time ratio information to calculate the output time information of the packet, the continuous dummy packets are obtained, and based on the difference of the dummy reference time information included in the continuous dummy packets. 4. The information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the output time information of the packet is calibrated. 7. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal, comprising: means for extracting digital data containing predetermined content from the received broadcast signal; detecting means for detecting time information from the extracted digital data; Converting means for converting the detected time information into output time information indicating a timing for outputting the predetermined content; recording means for recording at least the predetermined content and the output time information; and Means for controlling output of content read from the recording means. 8. The time information includes dummy reference time information indicating a reference time at the time of output, and time ratio information indicating a time ratio between a real time and a transfer time. 8. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein output time information is calculated from the information and the time ratio information. 9. The conversion means latches the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and obtains the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. 8. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a difference between the packet and the time ratio information is multiplied by the time ratio information to calculate packet output time information. 10. The conversion means latches the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and calculates the arrival time of the latched packet and the arrival time of the input packet. Is multiplied by the time ratio information to calculate the output time information of the packet.Also, a packet including a continuous dummy is obtained, and based on the difference of the dummy reference information included in the continuous dummy packet, 8. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an output time of said packet is calibrated. 11. An information transmission method for multiplexing and transmitting data including predetermined content, comprising: converting a time axis of data including content to be transmitted; generating time information based on the converted time axis; An information transmission method, wherein time information is included in the data, and data of a content including the time information is transmitted. 12. The information transmission method according to claim 11, wherein the time information includes dummy reference time information indicating a reference time at the time of output, and time ratio information indicating a time ratio between a real time and a transfer time. 13. An information terminal receiving method for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detecting time information from the received data, and outputting the detected time information to the predetermined content. An information terminal receiving method, comprising: converting the predetermined content and the output time information at least into output time information indicating a timing of the content terminal; and controlling output of the content based on the output time information. 14. The time information includes dummy reference time information indicating a reference time at the time of output, and time ratio information indicating a time ratio between a real time and a transfer time. 14. The information terminal receiving method according to claim 13, wherein output time information is calculated from the information and the time ratio information. 15. The above-mentioned conversion latches the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and obtains the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. And the difference
14. The information terminal receiving method according to claim 13, wherein the output time information of the packet is calculated by multiplying the time ratio information. 16. The conversion according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: latching the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information; and acquiring the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. And the difference
The output time information of the packet is calculated by multiplying the time ratio information. The output time information of the packet is obtained based on the difference between the dummy reference information included in the continuous dummy packet and the continuous dummy packet. 14. The information terminal receiving method according to claim 13, wherein the information terminal is calibrated. 17. A digital broadcast receiving method for receiving a broadcast signal, comprising: extracting digital data containing predetermined content from the received broadcast signal; detecting time information from the extracted digital data; Is converted into output time information indicating a timing of outputting the predetermined content, at least the predetermined content and the output time information are recorded, and reading of the predetermined content is controlled based on the output time information. Digital broadcast receiving method. 18. The time information includes dummy reference time information indicating a reference time at the time of output, and time ratio information indicating a time ratio between a real time and a transfer time. 18. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 17, wherein output time information is calculated from the time ratio information. 19. The conversion according to claim 1, further comprising the step of latching the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information, and performing the conversion of the packet including the latched dummy reference time information and the time ratio information. 18. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 17, wherein the difference between the arrival time and the arrival time of the input packet is multiplied by the time ratio information to calculate the output time information of the packet. 20. The conversion according to claim 1, wherein the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference information and the time ratio information is latched, and the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet are determined. Is multiplied by the time ratio information to calculate output time information of the packet, obtains continuous dummy packets, and obtains the packet based on the difference between the dummy reference information included in the continuous dummy packets. 18. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 17, wherein the output time is calibrated. 21. An output time calculation device that receives data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detects time information from the received data, and calculates output time information from the detected time information. Means for latching the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information; and the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet, Means for multiplying the ratio information to calculate output time information of the packet. 22. An output time calculation device that receives data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detects time information from the received data, and calculates output time information from the detected time information. Means for latching the arrival time of a packet including the dummy reference time information and the time ratio information; and a difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet; The output time information of the packet is calculated by multiplying the information, the continuous dummy packet is obtained, and the output time information of the packet is calibrated based on the difference between the dummy reference information included in the continuous dummy packet. An output time calculation device comprising means. 23. An output time calculation method for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detecting time information from the received data, and calculating output time information from the detected time information. In the above, the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference information and the time ratio information is latched, and the time ratio information is added to the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. An output time calculation method in which output time information of the packet is calculated by multiplication. 24. An output time calculation method for receiving data including predetermined content distributed from a transmission side, detecting time information from the received data, and calculating output time information from the detected time information. In the above, the arrival time of the dummy packet including the dummy reference information and the time ratio information is latched, and the time ratio information is added to the difference between the arrival time of the latched dummy packet and the arrival time of the input packet. The output time information of the packet is calculated by multiplying the packet, the continuous dummy packet is obtained, and the output time information of the packet is calibrated based on the difference between the dummy reference information included in the continuous dummy packet. Output time calculation method.