JP2002132634A - System for providing information related with broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently provide totally different information to respective broadcasting receivers when it is required that relevant information to be acquired accompanying a television program or the like is made different among broadcasting receivers which receive the same broadcasting. SOLUTION: Relevant information servers 21, 22, and 23 are connected to a network 4, and provided with mutually different relevant information data bases 21. The relevant information data base 21 holds table information in which broadcasting identification information is made correspond to relevant information related with the broadcasting information. A broadcasting receiver 1 holds server information 9 for performing access to one of the relevant information servers 21, 22, and 23, and acquires the relevant information corresponding to the broadcasting information identification information by performing access to the relevant information managing server indicated by the server information 9, and provides the relevant information to a viewer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast-related information providing system for providing information related to broadcast information to a device connected to a network such as the Internet via the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In digital broadcasting such as BS / CS digital broadcasting, by using a data broadcasting channel, related information relating to a television program or a radio program broadcasted on a video or audio broadcasting channel is distributed simultaneously with the program. It is possible. Therefore, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives digital broadcasts can view related information related to a television program acquired through a data broadcast channel. By distributing the URL as the related information, a broadcast receiving terminal connected to a network such as the Internet can refer to a homepage or the like related to the program.

[0003] Similarly, in analog television broadcasting,
According to the method specified by ARIB STD-B5 “Standard television data broadcasting of a transmission method using a vertical blanking period”, it is possible to multiplex any data signal on a TV video signal, and to use “BitCast”. (Reference: Nikkei Multimedia, No. 28, 1997, 10, pp. 52 to 57) and other systems use data signals multiplexed on analog television video signals to provide information related to broadcast content. The presentation has been realized.

[0004] In an existing broadcasting system, basically the same information is presented to all broadcast receiving apparatuses that receive the same broadcast. In particular, in BS / CS digital broadcasting, since the broadcasting area is nationwide, the same information is distributed and presented nationwide. In a BS digital broadcast receiver, etc., the zip code of the area where the broadcast receiver is installed is input to the broadcast receiver, and only the information related to the area specified by the zip code is included in the received information. A system or the like provided to users has been realized.

[0005]

However, there are cases where it is desired that the related information acquired accompanying a television program or the like differs between broadcast receiving apparatuses that receive the same broadcast.

[0006] As a specific example, for example, when a retailer of fruits and vegetables, which are expanding nationwide, distributes a CM image for the purpose of image enhancement or the like using BS digital broadcasting, the commercial is simultaneously performed. And want to provide related detailed information including retail price information of the product. However,
When the retail price information of a product or the information on the type of product to be handled is completely different depending on the region because the supplier of each product differs depending on the region, it is necessary to provide different related information to each region. .

[0007] In response to such a request, it is difficult to cope with the related information distribution method using an existing data broadcast channel because only the same information can be distributed to each broadcast receiving device. Furthermore, in the application as described above, in a method of distributing all relevant information for each area and presenting only information relating to the area where the broadcast receiving terminal is installed, the amount of information to be distributed is enormous. Problematic and unrealistic.

In the method of broadcasting related information using a data broadcasting channel, a corresponding distribution cost is required to provide the related information. Difficult cases arise. Further, due to the limitation of the amount of data that can be distributed, if it is a broadcast video, related information of a main subject can be provided, but related information about an unimportant portion such as a background may not be delivered.

[0009] For example, in a drama video or the like, information on the performers, information on the costumes of the performers, product information such as furniture appearing in the videos, information on the shop where the shooting is performed, etc. are related information. It is conceivable to provide such information, but if a company that produces or sells various products appearing in the video wants to transmit related information, it is not a sponsor of the drama program, etc. If the information cannot be secured, it is difficult to provide the related information using the data broadcasting channel.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a case in which related information acquired along with a television program or the like is required to be different between broadcast receiving apparatuses that receive the same broadcast, so that each broadcast receiving apparatus is completely different. An object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast-related information providing system for efficiently providing information.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast-related information providing system in which a related information transmitter desiring to transmit related information can provide broadcast-related information easily and inexpensively.

[0012]

A broadcast-related information providing system according to the present invention has a function of receiving broadcast information broadcasted from a broadcast station and providing the information to a viewer, and a function of being connected to a predetermined network and being connected to the network. At least one broadcast receiving device having a function of providing acquired information to a viewer;
A plurality of related information management servers connected to the network and managing a database (hereinafter, referred to as “related information database”) including a group of information related to broadcast information (hereinafter, referred to as “related information”); The database includes table information in which information for identifying each broadcast information (hereinafter, referred to as “broadcast information identification information”) and related information of the broadcast information are associated with each other. Manage different related information databases,
Each broadcast receiving device holds server information including information for accessing one of the plurality of related information management servers, and accesses the related information management server specified by the server information via the network. Then, with reference to the table information included in the related information database managed by the related information management server specified by the server information, related information corresponding to any broadcast information identification information is determined, obtained, and provided to the viewer. Related information acquisition means.

[0013] Since each broadcast receiving apparatus has a different related information database to refer to by changing a related information management server of an access destination designated by server information,
The related information selected corresponding to the broadcast information identification information differs individually for each broadcast receiving device. As a result, it is possible to acquire different related information for each broadcast receiving device and provide the related information to the viewer.

Further, since the related information is provided via the network, there is no need for the related information sender to bear the distribution cost for distributing the related information using the broadcast channel.

The broadcast receiving apparatus can change the server information held by the broadcast receiving apparatus by setting a related information management server to which a viewer using the broadcast receiving apparatus accesses to obtain the related information. A server information setting unit may be provided. Therefore, a viewer using each broadcast receiving device can freely set server information, and the viewer can select and use a related information management server that holds related information that meets his needs.

[0016] The server information held by the broadcast receiving apparatus may be different for each area where the broadcast receiving apparatus is installed. Thus, when the related information differs for each region, the viewer using each broadcast receiving device provides the related information directed to the region to which the viewer belongs, that is, the region where the broadcast receiving device is installed. The relevant information management server is accessed to obtain the relevant information. As a result, while receiving the same broadcast information, each broadcast receiving device can acquire different related information for each region and provide the related information to the viewer.

Further, each related information management server accesses an associated information database managed by the related information management server by using an information terminal connected to the network, and adds information. Related information adding / updating means may be provided. Therefore, using an information terminal connected to a predetermined two-way network such as the Internet to which the related information providing server is connected,
It is possible for any related information sender who intends to transmit related information to freely register and transmit related information.

Further, a related information sender accessing a related information management server is identified, and only the registered specific related information sender is allowed to add or update the related information to the related information database. An authentication unit may be provided.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a broadcast-related information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The broadcast-related information providing system according to the present embodiment receives broadcast information broadcast from a broadcast station 3 and
And the network 4 such as the Internet
A broadcast receiving apparatus 1 having a function of providing information obtained through the network 4 to the viewer 6
Connected to the network 4, composed of related information management server 2 _1, related information server 2 _2, related information management server 2 ₃ that manages the database (related information database) 21 containing information (related information) group associated with broadcast information Is done.

Here, the network 4 corresponds to the Internet or the like. The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 receives broadcast signals such as BS digital broadcasts, CS digital broadcasts, terrestrial digital broadcasts, cable television broadcasts, and network broadcasts via an IP network (Internet), and decodes broadcast information such as audio and video. , Playback, is a device having the function of presenting to the viewer, if it is a television broadcast, a broadcast receiving antenna device, a tuner device or STB (Set Top Box),
It is a device composed of a television or the like. In FIG. 1, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is illustrated as an apparatus in which the above-described devices are integrated. However, an actual broadcast receiving apparatus performs processing for decoding broadcast information such as video and audio from a broadcast signal using a broadcast receiving antenna. And a device for displaying and reproducing video and audio are separated, and necessary devices are connected by a wired communication path or a wireless communication path. Further, the broadcast receiving device 1 includes a communication device such as a modem for performing communication by connecting to the Internet 4 via an ISDN, an analog telephone, or another communication line. Furthermore, a related information management server
2 _1, 2 _2, 2 ₃ may be implemented in a system as a WWW server connected to the Internet.

The related information database 21 managed by the related information management servers 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , 2 ₃ includes at least information for identifying each broadcast information (broadcast information identification information) and related information related to the broadcast information. Is included in the table information.

In one embodiment of the broadcast-related information providing system, the broadcast information identification information may be constituted by using a part of the broadcast information. Specifically, as broadcast information identification information, (1) numeric character string information added to header information of each bucket for delivering video frames and audio frames and other broadcast information, and (2) watermarks on video signals and audio signals Numeric character string information superimposed on broadcast information using techniques (Kokoo Matsui, "Basics of Digital Watermarking", Morikita Publishing Co., Ltd., ISBN4-627-82551.X), etc. (3) Video before or after decoding Broadcast information itself such as data or audio data, for example, if the broadcast information is a video, use the video frame data itself or a part of the video frame data as broadcast information identification information for identifying a video frame. There is.

[0025] When used as information broadcast information identification information as described above, related information management server 2 _1, 2 _2, 2 _3, when configuring the related information database 21, and acquires the broadcast information from the broadcast station 1, By extracting the broadcast information identification information described above,
It is stored in the related information database 21.

Unlike the above, the broadcast information identification information may include information for identifying a broadcast channel on which the broadcast information specified by the broadcast information identification information is broadcast, and the broadcast date and time of the broadcast information. .

Further, the related information is information related to specific broadcast information, such as text, image, sound, music,
This is multimedia information composed of video and the like. For example, when a movie is provided as broadcast information, the related information includes profile information of characters in the movie described in HTML, titles of BGM, information of composers, and the like.
When the broadcast information is a CM video, the information includes detailed information of a product advertised by the CM, information on BGM of the CM, and the like. Alternatively, the related information may be address information for accessing the multimedia information content, that is, a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) for the content.

The related information is broadcast when a URL to the multimedia information contents related to any of the broadcast information, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 accesses the related information management server 2 _1, 2 _2, 2 _3, which was notified After acquiring the URL that is the related information corresponding to the information identification information,
The user accesses the RL, obtains information contents such as a homepage, and presents it to the viewer 6. The broadcast receiving device 1 constituting the broadcast-related information providing system of the present embodiment has functions and devices for performing the above-described processing.

[0029] The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 holds the server information 9 that includes information for accessing the related information management server 2 _1, 2 _2, 2 ₃ in one server, this server information 9 The user accesses the designated related information management server via the network 4 and refers to the table information included in the related information database 21 managed by the related information management server designated by the server information 9 to identify any broadcast information. It has a related information acquisition unit 11 that determines and acquires related information corresponding to the information and provides the related information to the viewer 6.

The related information acquisition unit 11 (1) accesses the related information management servers 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , and 2 ₃ sequentially and sequentially, and retrieves all related information related to the broadcast information that the viewer 6 is viewing. An input unit such as a button for instructing acquisition of related information, which is sequentially acquired from the management database 21 and presented to the viewer 6, or (2) a button for instructing acquisition of related information provided in the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is operated by the viewer 6, Related when the related information acquisition is instruction information management server 2 _1, 2 _2, 2 ₃ accesses the relevant broadcast information identification information corresponding to the broadcast information relevant information acquisition was being viewed at the indicated time points Information management server 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , 2 ₃
To obtain the related information associated with the broadcast information identification information from the related information database 21, and
Or (3) the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 has a so-called bookmark button, a button for instructing acquisition of related information, and a memory (storage device), and the viewer 6 The broadcast information is stored in the broadcast information identification information memory corresponding to the broadcast information being viewed at the time when the bookmark is operated and bookmarked, and the viewer 6 operates a button for instructing the acquisition of the related information, and the acquisition of the related information is instructed. accessing related information management server 2 _1, 2 _2, 2 ₃ at the time, and notifies the broadcast information identification information stored in the memory to the related information management server 2 _1, 2 _2, 2 _3, the from the related information database 21 A case in which a related information group associated with the broadcast information identification information group is acquired and presented to the viewer 6 may be considered.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Server information 9 held by the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is a server to be accessed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 to obtain related information.
Information for accessing related information management server 2 _1, specifically, related information management server 2 ₁ IP address, or related information management server 2 ₁ for accessing related information database 21 reference services provided Indicates a case where a URL or the like is included. Therefore, the broadcast receiving device 1
Referring to this information, and accessible via the network 4 to the related information management server 2 _1, obtains the related information corresponding to the particular broadcast information identification information.

Further, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 sets the server information 9 held by the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 to be freely set by the viewer 6 using the broadcast receiving apparatus 1, and accesses the server information 9 to obtain related information. It has a server information setting unit 12 that can change the information management server. Thereby, the viewer 6
By setting the broadcast receiving apparatus 1, related information management server 2 instead of _1, it is possible to obtain information by accessing the related information management server 2 ₂ and related information management server 2 _3.

The server information 9 held by the broadcast receiving device 1 may be different for each area where the broadcast receiving device 1 is installed. This is because, for example, when providing product information as related information, the supplier of each product differs depending on the region. If so, it will be necessary to provide separate relevant information for each region. In such a case, the server information 9 held by the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is changed for each region, and a different related information providing server is accessed for each region, whereby different related information can be provided for each region. It becomes possible.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a broadcast-related information providing system according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing a system configuration in a case where server information differs depending on regions.
In FIG. 2, a related information management server 2A includes a related information database 2 that holds related information to be provided to the area A.
1A, and a related information management server 21B manages a related information database 21B that holds related information to be provided to the area B. Therefore, the server information 9A held in the broadcast receiving device 1A installed in the area A includes information for accessing the related information management server 2A, and the server information 9A is stored in the area B.
The server information 9B held in the broadcast receiving device 1B installed in the server includes information for accessing the related information management server 2B. As a result, the broadcast receiving device 1A accesses the related information management server 2A to acquire related information, and the broadcast receiving device 1B accesses the related information management server 2B to acquire related information.

The setting of the server information for each region is as follows.
At the time of selling the broadcast receiving device of the broadcast-related information providing system of the present invention to the viewer, according to the installation location to be confirmed, the salesperson can perform predetermined settings, or
As one function of the server information setting unit 12, a method of inputting an identifier unique to a region, for example, an address or a postal code, and setting server information based on the input information may be used. . Further, in the latter method, the broadcast receiving apparatus accesses a server that provides server information via a predetermined network 4 such as the Internet, notifies an address and a postal code, and obtains server information corresponding thereto. In some cases.

Each related information management server 2A, 2B
Indicates that any of the related information senders 7A and 7B
The related information database 21A managed by the related information management servers 2A and 2B using the information terminals 5A and 5B connected to the
It has related information addition / update units 22A and 22B for accessing and accessing the 21B and adding / updating information. As a result, any of the related information senders 7A and 7B can access the related information management servers 2A and 2B, respectively, and register the related information to freely provide the related information.

Further, the related information management servers 2A, 2B
Is information for identifying the related information senders 7A and 7B who can access the related information databases 21A and 21B to add and update information, specifically, the name, identification character number, address, and telephone number of the related information sender And related information sender 7A,
Information for authenticating 7B, specifically, multiple numbers,
The network 4 has related information sender information databases 23A and 23B for registering passwords composed of characters, information obtained by extracting fingerprint features for fingerprint authentication, and the like.
When any of the related information senders is accessed using the information terminals 5A and 5B connected to the server, the related information sender information databases 23A and 23B are referred to, and the related information sender is referred to the related information sender. It is checked whether the information is registered in the information databases 23A and 23B, and the related information management servers 2A and 2B are registered only for the registered related information senders.
Has related information sender authentication units 24A and 24B for accessing and adding and updating related information databases 21A and 21B managed by the company.

In FIG. 2, the related information sender database 23A of the related information management server 2A installed in the area A (or providing related information directed to the area A) includes related information that also exists in the area A. Although the information of the information sender 7A is registered, the information of the related information sender 7A existing in the area A is registered when the information sender 7A is installed in the area B (or provides the related information directed to the area B). Since it has not been performed, the related information sender 7A can access the related information management server 2A, register the related information in the related information database 21A, and provide the related information to the area A, Since access to the related information management server 2B is rejected, related information cannot be registered in the related information database 21B.

Next, an example in which the above-described broadcast-related information providing system is applied to a related information providing service related to television broadcasting will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this application example, for example, in a broadcast that distributes the same broadcast information nationwide, such as a BS digital television broadcast, when a major retailer having dealers nationwide distributes a CM image, it is linked to the CM image. And operated by dealers in various locations
It is assumed that a product information homepage provided by a WWW server is provided. Further, in this application example, on the broadcast receiving device side, the viewer presses the related information acquisition instruction button provided on the broadcast receiving device while watching the television image, so that the viewer is currently viewing. The configuration is such that related information related to broadcast video is acquired and presented. Therefore, during viewing of the CM video provided by the major retailer, the viewer presses the related information acquisition instruction button, so that the broadcast receiving device used by the viewer is installed at the dealer's store. A merchandise information homepage provided by a WWW server operated by a store that operates in a region will be presented.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the entire system in this application example. In FIG. 3, at most two related information management servers are described. However, in the case where a region C, a region D, and the like exist in addition to the illustrated region A and the region B, each of the regions (or Related information management server for providing related information to each area).

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 in this application example.

In this application example, the broadcast information identification information is assumed to be character string information including a broadcast channel identifier, date, and time. Here, the broadcast channel identifier is indicated by a number. The related information is a URL to a homepage or the like that actually provides information related to broadcast information.

FIG. 5 shows a description example of the broadcast information identification information. Table 1 shows an example of an information table included in the related information databases 21A and 21B in this application example. In the figures, dates are represented by YYYY / MM / DD (YYYY:
Year, MM: month, DD: day), and the time is H
It is described in the format of H: MM: SS (HH: hour, MM: minute, SS: second).

[0045]

[Table 1]

In this application example, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1A,
1B includes a broadcast channel identifier enclosed by <channel> tags as shown in FIG.
The broadcast information identification information including the date enclosed by the <date> tag and the time enclosed by the <time> tag is stored in the related information management server 2A,
Send to 2B. Here, the time is the time at which the viewers 6A and 6B operate the related information acquisition instruction buttons provided on the broadcast receiving apparatuses 1A and 1B to instruct acquisition of the related information on the video being viewed.

As shown in Table 1, the related information databases 21A and 21B store, as “broadcast channel, broadcast date and time information”, a broadcast channel identifier enclosed by <channel> tags,
There is information including the broadcast date enclosed by the <date> tag, the broadcast start time enclosed by the <time> tag, and the broadcast period information enclosed by the <during> tag, which is related to each “broadcast channel, broadcast date and time information”. The information is configured to correspond to a URL to a homepage or the like that provides information related to information (video) broadcast in the time zone of the broadcast channel.

When the related information management servers 2A and 2B are notified of the broadcast channel identifier information and the date and time information as the broadcast information identification information from the broadcast receiving apparatuses 1A and 1B, the related information management servers 2A and 2B refer to the related information databases 21A and 21B, The related information (that is, URL) group associated with the broadcast information on the date is acquired on the broadcast channel, and the acquired group is transmitted to the broadcast receiving apparatuses 1A and 1B.
Notify to

In the following, in this application example, the operation of the system when a viewer acquires information related to a broadcast during viewing is described.

The information contained in the related information database 21A held by the related information management server 2A is shown in Table 1.
The information included in the related information database 21B held by the related information management server 2B is shown in Table 2. Further, both the broadcast receiving device 1A and the broadcast receiving device 1B in FIG. 3 have the configuration shown in FIG.

[0051]

[Table 2]

First, the viewer 6A viewing the broadcast information (video) of the broadcast channel 01 using the broadcast receiving apparatus 1A.
However, it is assumed that at 18:59:45 on February 21, 2000, a related information acquisition instruction button provided on the broadcast receiving apparatus 1A is operated to instruct acquisition of related information. As a result, the related information acquisition unit 11 that has received the signal indicating the related information acquisition instruction from the input unit 16 first refers to the server information held in the storage unit 17 and checks the server to access to acquire the related information. Check the IP address.

Here, since the IP address of the related information management server 2A is set in the server information 9A held by the broadcast receiving apparatus 1A installed in the area A, the related information acquisition unit 11 sets the access destination. It is assumed that the related information management server 2A.

Then, the broadcast information identification information shown in FIG. 5 is notified to the related information management server 2A via the network communication section 19 and the network (Internet) 4. The related information management server 2A refers to the related information database 21A shown in Table 1 and transmits the related information corresponding to the broadcast information identification information shown in FIG. 5, that is, the broadcast channel described in the broadcast information identification information. The related information (that is, URL) group associated with the broadcast information broadcast on the date and time described in the broadcast information identification information is acquired. As a result, the related information obtained from the related information database 21A shown in Table 1 is http://shopA.xxx.co.jp/products.
The URL will be html. The related information management server 2A transmits the related information to the broadcast receiving device 1A. The related information acquiring unit 11 of the broadcast receiving device 1A transmits the received related information, that is, the URL, to the Internet content browsing unit 18.
Notify. Internet content browsing unit 18
Accesses the WWW server 8 specified by the URL via the network communication unit 19 and the network (Internet) 4 to obtain a home page such as product information specified by the URL, and displays it on the display / reproduction unit 15. It is presented to the viewer 6A.

The viewer 6B who is viewing broadcast information (video) of the broadcast channel 01 using the broadcast receiving apparatus 1B.
However, a case will be described below in which the user operates the related information acquisition instruction button provided on the broadcast receiving device 1B at 18:59:45 on February 21, 2000 to instruct acquisition of related information.

Also in this case, the related information acquisition unit 11 which has received the signal indicating the related information acquisition instruction from the input unit 16 first refers to the server information held in the storage unit 17 to acquire the related information. Check the IP address of the server to access.

Here, since the IP address of the related information management server 2B is set in the server information 9B held by the broadcast receiving device 1B installed in the area B, the related information acquisition unit 11 sets the access destination. It is assumed that the related information management server 2B.

Then, the network communication unit 19, the network
Related information management service via work (Internet) 4
The broadcast information identification information shown in FIG. Seki
In the linked information management server 2B, the related information data shown in Table 2
The broadcast information shown in FIG. 5 notified with reference to the base 21B.
Related information corresponding to the identification information, that is, broadcast information identification
Broadcast information identification information on the broadcast channel described in the information
Associated with the broadcast information broadcast on the date and time described in the
Related information (that is, URL) group obtained. As a result
From the related information database 21B shown in Table 2.
Related information http://shopB.xxx.co.jp/products.
The URL will be html. The related information management server 2B
The related information is transmitted to the broadcast receiving device 2B. Broadcast receiver
The related information acquisition unit 11 of 2B receives the received related information
URL to Internet Content Browsing Department 18
Notify, Internet content browsing unit 18
Network communication unit 19, network (Internet
G) through 4, although not shown in FIG.
L (http: ///shopB.xxx.co.jp/products.html)
Access to the WWW server specified
Acquires homepages such as product information and displays and displays them.
At 15, it is presented to the viewer 6B.

According to the above operation, different related information is provided to viewers 6A and 6B in broadcast receiving apparatus 1A and broadcast receiving apparatus 1B that receive the same broadcast information.

Next, referring to Tables 3 and 4, the related information adding / updating unit 22A,
22B and the operation of the related information sender authentication units 24A and 24B will be described.

In the system configuration example shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the related information sender information database 23A held by the related information management server 2A are shown in Table 3, and the related information sender information held by the related information management server 2B. It is assumed that the contents of the information database 23B are as shown in Table 4.

[0062]

[Table 3]

[0063]

[Table 4]

In the examples shown in Tables 3 and 4, the related information sender information databases 23A and 23B store related information including a name, an address, and a telephone number (TEL) as information for identifying the related information sender that can be updated. It is configured to hold a password as information sender information and information for authenticating a related information sender. Although not shown, each related information management server 2A, 2B stores a related information sender for registering and updating the above-mentioned information on the related information sender in the related information sender information database 23A, 23B. It has an information database registration unit.

Here, the information of the related information sender 7A is stored in the related information sender information database 23A as shown in Table 3.
Is registered. Therefore, related information sender 7A
Can access the related information management server 2A and perform an operation of adding related information to the related information database 2A or updating the already added related information.

When the related information sender 7A adds related information to the related information database 21A, first, the related information sender 7A connects to the information terminal 5A connected to the network 4.
Is used to access the related information management server 2A.
At this time, the related information sender authentication unit 24A performs an authentication process on the related information sender 7A. More specifically, for example, it is requested to input the registered name to the related information sender 7A who has accessed, and further, the user is required to input a password, and the input information is registered in the related information sender information database 23A. Authentication is performed by checking whether the information matches the information. As a result of the authentication processing, if the user is authenticated, the related information adding / updating unit 22A transmits the related information
, A screen for adding and updating related information is presented.
The screen for adding and updating related information is, specifically, a user interface for adding and updating related information corresponding to arbitrary broadcast information identification information. If the configuration is as shown in, at least the broadcast channel and broadcast date and time,
The screen has a function of selecting a time length and inputting a URL as corresponding related information.

On the other hand, the information of the related information sender 7A is shown in Table 4.
Are not registered in the related information sender information database 23B. Therefore, related information sender 7A
Cannot access the related information management server 2B and perform an operation of adding related information to the related information database 21B or updating the already added related information.

When the related information sender 7A attempts to add related information to the related information database 2B, the related information sender 7A first uses the information terminal 5A connected to the network 4 to manage the related information. Access server 2B. At this time, the related information sender authentication unit 24B performs an authentication process on the related information sender 7A. In particular,
For example, a request is made to input the registered name to the related information sender 7A who has accessed, and further, a password is input, and the entered information matches the information registered in the related information sender information database 23B. Authentication is performed by confirming whether or not to perform authentication. In this case, since the related information sender 7A is not authenticated, the related information sender 7A cannot access the related information database 21B held by the related information management server 2B and perform the related information adding process.

[0069]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, since each broadcast receiving apparatus differs in the related information database to be referred to by changing the related information management server of the access destination designated by the server information, The related information selected correspondingly differs for each broadcast receiving device, and as a result, it is possible to acquire different related information for each broadcast receiving device and provide it to the viewer. In addition, since the related information is provided via the network, the related information sender does not need to bear the distribution cost for distributing the related information using the broadcast channel.

2) A fourth aspect of the present invention is to provide a related information management server that allows a viewer using each broadcast receiving apparatus to freely set server information, thereby holding related information that meets his or her own needs. Can be selected and used.

3) The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the server information held by the broadcast receiving device differs for each area where the broadcast receiving device is installed, so that the viewer using each broadcast receiving device can obtain the related information. Is different for each region, the relevant information is acquired by accessing a related information management server that provides related information directed to the region to which the user belongs, that is, the region where the broadcast receiving device is installed. . As a result, while receiving the same broadcast information, each broadcast receiving device can acquire different related information for each region and provide the related information to the viewer.

4) The invention according to claims 6 and 7 is characterized in that the related information providing server is provided with a related information adding / updating means, etc., so that the related information providing server can be connected to a predetermined two-way network such as the Internet. Using the connected information terminal, any related information sender who intends to send related information can freely register and send related information.

5) In addition to the related information adding / updating means, the invention according to claim 8 identifies a related information sender accessing the related information management server and associates the related information sender only with a specific registered related information sender. By providing related information sender authentication means that allows additional updating of the information database,
A mechanism is realized that allows only specific related information senders to transmit related information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a broadcast-related information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a broadcast-related information providing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an application example of the broadcast-related information providing system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of broadcast receiving apparatuses 1, 1A, and 1B.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of broadcast information identification information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B broadcast receiver _{2 1, 2 2, 2 3} , 2A, 2B related information management server 3 broadcast station 4 network _{(Internet) 5 1, 5 2, 5A} , 5B information terminal 6, 6A, 6B viewers 7 ₁ , 7 ₂ , 7 A, 7 B Related information sender 8 WWW server 9, 9 A, 9 B server information 11 Related information acquisition section 12 Server information setting section 13 Broadcast reception section 14 Broadcast information demodulation / decoding section 15 Display reproduction section 16 Input section 17 storage unit 18 Internet content browser unit 19 network communication unit 21, 21A, 21B related information database 22, 22A, 22B related information addition and updating unit 23, 23A, 23B related information sender information database 24, 24A, 24B related information sender Certification department A, B area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/173 630 H04N 7/08 Z 640 (72) Inventor Yoshinobu Tonomura 2-chome Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No.3-1 F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5C025 CA02 CA09 CB10 DA01 DA04 5C063 AA20 AB03 AB07 AC01 DA13 5C064 BA07 BB05 BB07 BC07 BC16 BC20 BD02 BD07 BD08

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A function of receiving broadcast information broadcasted from a broadcasting station and providing it to a viewer, and a function of connecting to a predetermined network and providing information obtained through the network to the viewer. And a plurality of related information management servers that are connected to the network and manage a related information database that includes a related information group that is information related to broadcast information. At least includes table information in which broadcast information identification information, which is information for identifying each broadcast information, and related information related to the broadcast information are associated with each other. A database is managed, and each of the broadcast receiving apparatuses includes a service including information for accessing one of the plurality of related information management servers. Server information, and accesses the related information management server designated by the server information via the network, and is included in the related information database managed by the related information management server designated by the server information. A broadcast related information providing system having related information acquiring means for determining and acquiring related information corresponding to arbitrary broadcast information identification information with reference to the table information and providing the related information to a viewer. 2. The broadcast-related information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast information identification information is configured using a part of the broadcast information. 3. The broadcast information identification information includes information for identifying a broadcast channel on which broadcast information specified by the broadcast information identification information is broadcast, and a broadcast date and time of the broadcast information. Or the broadcast-related information providing system according to 2. 4. The broadcast receiving apparatus sets server information held by the broadcast receiving apparatus to a related information management server that is accessed by a viewer using the broadcast receiving apparatus to obtain related information. The broadcast-related information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a server information setting unit that can be changed. 5. The broadcast-related information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the server information held by the broadcast receiving device is different for each area where the broadcast receiving device is installed. 6. The plurality of related information management servers, wherein any related information sender accesses the related information database managed by the related information management server using an information terminal connected to the network, 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a related information adding / updating unit for adding / updating information.
6. The broadcast-related information providing system according to any one of items 1 to 5. 7. A function of receiving broadcast information broadcast from a broadcasting station and providing the information to a viewer, and a function of being connected to a predetermined network and providing the viewer with information obtained via the network. One or more broadcast receiving devices,
A related information management server that is connected to the network and manages a related information database including a related information group that is information related to broadcast information; and the related information database includes at least information for identifying each broadcast information. And broadcast information identification information and table information in which the related information related to the broadcast information is associated, the related information management server, any related information sender,
An access terminal for accessing the related information database managed by the related information management server using an information terminal connected to the network, and a related information adding / updating unit for adding / updating information; Accesses the related information management server via the network, refers to the table information included in the related information database managed by the related information management server, and obtains related information corresponding to arbitrary broadcast information identification information. A broadcast-related information providing system having related information acquiring means for determining, acquiring, and providing to a viewer. 8. The related information management server registers information for identifying a related information sender who can access the related information database to add and update information and information for authenticating the related information sender. A related information sender information database to be stored and, when an arbitrary related information sender is accessed using an information terminal connected to the network, the related information sender information database is referred to, and the related information is referred to. Check whether the information sender is registered in the related information sender information database, and access the related information database using the related information addition / update means only for the registered related information sender, 8. A broadcast-related information providing system according to claim 6, further comprising a related information sender authentication means for permitting addition and updating of the broadcast information. M