JP2002330454A - Audiovisual data notification system for digital broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a audiovisual data notification system for digital broadcast ing where a digital broadcast receiver provided with a data storage means such as an HDD that informs a broadcasting enterprise about a request of a viewer such as rebroadcast and informs the broadcasting enterprise about data with respect to an audiovisual program even when a program recorded on the HDD is reproduced and viewed and the broadcasting enterprise efficiently generates program guide information for viewers and transmits the information to the viewers. SOLUTION: Each digital broadcast receiver is provided with a request processing means that processes requests of a viewer and a program data supervisory means, and informs a broadcasting enterprise about the request of the viewer and program data acquired by the program data supervisory means via a communication means so as to allow the broadcasting enterprise to more effectively organize programs based on the received data and the broadcasting enterprise generates program guide information or the like so as to make an incentive for viewers to view broadcast programs of the broadcasting enterprise.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the acquisition of viewing state data of a digital broadcast program, the acquisition of a viewer's request, and the notification of the acquired data. The present invention relates to a digital broadcast viewing data notification device that acquires and notifies viewing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of digital broadcasting has rapidly progressed, and the services of BS digital broadcasting using broadcasting satellites have been provided following CS digital broadcasting using communication satellites. In digital broadcasting, program data is digitized, so that video and audio data of a program and various data represented by electronic program guide data can be handled in the same row. It is possible to perform various processes intended by the broadcaster. Further, a digital broadcast receiver generally includes a communication means such as a modem for notifying a broadcaster of billing information or the like relating to viewing of a pay program or receiving communication from the broadcaster. It has become.

[0003] In this way, the broadcaster uses the communication means such as the above-described modem to acquire the viewer's program viewing tendency, creates and transmits program guide information based on the tendency, and allows the user to control his / her own station. May be motivated to watch the program. Such a conventional example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-27616.
One is known. In this method, the viewing data of a program actually viewed by a viewer is notified to a broadcasting station, and the broadcasting station creates program guide information based on the received viewing data and transmits the information to the viewer.

[0004]

Since program data is compressed in digital broadcasting, a hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD) or the like, whose recording capacity has been rapidly increasing in recent years, requires more than ten hours. It has become possible to record programs for minutes or longer.
Since the HDD can record a program for a long time, regardless of whether the user wants to view a broadcasted program or not, he / she performs recording for a long time and then plays back only the desired program in the program for viewing. The form can be considered. In the case of reproduction from the HDD, it is also possible to view and listen in special reproduction such as partial reproduction and fast forward reproduction.

[0005] In the above-mentioned conventional example, no consideration has been given to a method of acquiring program viewing data in the case where the data is stored in the HDD and then played back, or in the case of special playback and viewing from the HDD.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention
And then acquire the viewing data of the program viewed by the reproduction including the special reproduction, and acquire and notify the data such as the request of the viewer to rebroadcast the program reproduced in this manner. It is intended to be used by a user as a guideline for programming or for creating guide data for motivating viewers to view programs of their own station.

[0007]

A data separating means for separating specified program data from input digital data, a data storing means for recording and reproducing output program data of the data separating means, and an output of the data separating means. Decoding means for decoding data or output data of the data storage means, data monitoring means for monitoring the contents of input data to the decoding means, operating means for a user to input data, and at least the data monitoring means Memory means for recording output data, notifying means for notifying data via a predetermined communication line, the data separating means, the data accumulating means, the decoding means, the data monitoring means, the memory means, and the notifying means Control means for controlling the program-related information separated from the input digital data. And the data monitoring means monitors input data to the decoding means based on the program-related data input to the control means and control information of the control means, wherein the control means comprises: The program identification data output from the controller is acquired and recorded in the memory means, data corresponding to the input from the operation means is recorded in the memory means, and the program identification data recorded in the memory means is read out. Controlling the notifying means to notify the program identification data and the user input data as audience rating data and user input data.

[0008] Also, data separation means for separating specified program data from input digital data, data storage means for recording and reproducing output program data of the data separation means, output data of the data separation means or the data. Decoding means for decoding output data of the storage means, data monitoring means for monitoring the contents of input data to the decoding means, memory means for recording at least output data of the data monitoring means, and a predetermined communication line Notifying means for notifying data, control means for controlling the data separating means, the data accumulating means, the data monitoring means, the memory means, and the notifying means, wherein the data separating means is separated from the input digital data. The program-related information is output to the control means, and the data monitoring means outputs the program-related information to the control means. Monitoring the input data to the decoding means based on the data and control information of the control means, the control means acquires program identification data output from the data monitoring means, records the program identification data in the memory means, The program identification data recorded in the memory means is read out, and the notifying means is controlled to notify the program identification data.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a data input unit, 20 is a demultiplexer that separates specified data from input data, 30 is a data storage / reproduction unit such as a hard disk device (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD), 40 is a reproduction data monitoring unit, 50 is a flash memory, 60 is control means, 70 is communication data processing means such as a modem, 80
Is a communication line such as a telephone line, 90 is a switching means, 100 is a decoder for decoding input digital data, 110 is a data output terminal, 120 is user operation means such as a so-called remote controller, and 130 is a user's request input through the operation means. Is request processing means for processing.

In FIG. 1, data input from a data input unit 10 is input to a demultiplexer 20. In the present embodiment, the input data is video data, audio data of a program obtained by receiving a digital broadcast,
These are data for data broadcasting and various data to be used for operation control of a receiver and the like.

The demultiplexer 20 operates in accordance with a user's operation from the operation unit 110 processed by the control unit 60.
Separates specified data from input data.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an input data format input to the demultiplexer 20. Figure 2 shows ISO / IEC1
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data array of a transport stream packet (hereinafter abbreviated as TSP) in 3818-1 (commonly known as MPEG2 system standard). In FIG. 2, T
The first four bytes of the SP are a part called a TS header and a part indicating the attribute of the TSP. A packet ID (hereinafter abbreviated as PID) used for identifying a packet is arranged in the TS header. The portion following the TS header is the payload, in which video data, audio data, data for data broadcasting, various control data, and the like are arranged. The control means 60 determines the PI of the TSP to be separated.
D is set in the demultiplexer 20. The demultiplexer 20 determines the set PID and the input PI of the TSP.
D is compared, and only the TSP having the matching PID is separated and output. T output from the demultiplexer 20
The switching means 9 controlled by the control means 70
0 to the decoder 100 or the HDD 3
Recorded as 0.

The data recorded in the HDD 30 is read out from the HDD 30 under the control of the control means 70 and input to the decoder 100 when a viewer's reproduction operation is performed by the operation means 120. The decoder 100 decodes the input digital data and outputs it from an output terminal 110.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the entire digital broadcast viewing data notification device including the configuration of FIG. 1, and the operation of the entire digital broadcast viewing data notification device including the processing of data read from the HDD 30 will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 500 denotes a signal input terminal from an antenna (not shown),
Is a tuner that selects and demodulates an input signal from an antenna and outputs a transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as TS) in which a TSP is time-division multiplexed.
A descrambler 540 for decrypting S decrypts various processes such as enlargement / reduction and a on-screen display (hereinafter referred to as O) for a video signal output from the decoder 100.
A video processing means 550 for adding a digital video signal output from the decoder 100 to an analog signal; 550, a video signal output terminal; 560, an audio signal output terminal; Is a RAM for data processing, and 600 is an IC card used for billing processing and decryption of a descrambling key. Data exchange and control between the above-described components are performed via a data bus 590. The signal input from the signal input terminal 500 is QPSK
The signal is a signal modulated by a modulation method such as modulation or 8PSK modulation. The TS is reproduced by selecting and demodulating the input signal with the tuner 510. Played TS
Contains a TSP encrypted for the purpose of charging for a pay program. The descrambling process described below is performed on such a TSP. The control means 60 controls the demultiplexer 20 to control the input TSP
And separates the encrypted key data from the
0 is read and set on the IC card 600. The IC card outputs decrypted key data for the set encrypted key data. The control means 60 sets the decrypted key data in the descrambler 520. As a result, the program data is descrambled by the descrambler 520. Output TS of descrambler 520
Is input to the demultiplexer 20. The demultiplexer 20 outputs a PID that matches a preset value.
100 or HD
Output to D30. The processing of the TSP output to the HDD 30 is as described above. The output TS of the demultiplexer 20 or the HDD 30 is input to the decoder 100. The decoder 100 decodes the video signal and the audio signal included in the input TS, and outputs
/ A converter 550. Video processing means 550
Performs video signal processing according to preset contents, and outputs the processed video signal from a video signal output terminal 560. D /
The A converter 550 converts the input digital audio signal into an analog signal, and outputs the analog signal from an audio output terminal 570. The RAM 580 is used for data processing when performing the various processes described above.

As described above, the received video data and audio data are reproduced, decoded and output, and can be viewed on a monitor or a television (not shown).

The data monitoring means 40 monitors program data input to the decoding means based on the program-related information output from the demultiplexer 20 to the control means 60 after being separated. If the preset program data satisfies a preset condition such as continuous input for 10 minutes or more, data for identifying a program such as a PID of a TSP constituting the input program is acquired. The acquired program identification data is stored in the flash memory 50 via the control means 60. Thus, the viewed program can be confirmed by referring to the data recorded in the flash memory 50. When the user desires, for example, to rebroadcast the viewed program, the request processing unit 130 transmits the user's rebroadcast request input by the operation unit 120 to the request processing unit 130.
And store it in the flash memory.

A case where a user's rebroadcast request is acquired will be described. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show examples of programs in which data for instructing acquisition of a rebroadcast request is added to a received program. FIG. 4 shows an example in which data indicating a rebroadcast request survey is added at the beginning of a program time slot. At the timing indicated by the data, a request for rebroadcast as shown in FIG. Is displayed, and the presence or absence of a request for rebroadcasting of the program is acquired by input from the operation unit 110. FIG.
Is an example showing a case where the display instruction data of the rebroadcast request investigation screen is added to the time position where the rebroadcast request is acquired during the program time. In the case of the example of FIG. 5, similarly to the case of the example of FIG. 4, the OSD screen as shown in the example of FIG. 6 is displayed to obtain the presence / absence of the user's request for rebroadcast. Here, a case has been described where data indicating a rebroadcast request acquisition is added to a received program. However, the method for instructing rebroadcast request acquisition is not limited to this example. In the case of a program (movie, drama, etc.) of a genre set in advance by the user, a request for rebroadcasting may be always investigated.

In the present invention, the flash memory 50
Stores not only the above-mentioned program identification data but also a control program for controlling the entire receiver. The data monitoring means 40 and the request processing means 130 in FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a function realized by a part of.

The data recorded in the flash memory 50 is stored in a control unit 60 according to a preset frequency.
Is read out, subjected to data processing for transmission to a telephone line together with previously prepared viewer identification data, and transmitted to a telephone line 80 via a modem 70. The data transmitted to the telephone line is received by a broadcaster (not shown).

Thus, the broadcaster can grasp the needs of the viewer and the preference of the program on the basis of the received data. For example, guidance of a recommended program for the viewer as shown in the example of FIG. And the like can be transmitted to individual viewers. Here, the guidance transmitted from the broadcaster to the individual viewers may be transmitted to the receiver via a broadcast wave, or may be transmitted to the receiver via a telephone line.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a configuration for displaying a program guide or the like transmitted from a broadcasting company by broadcast waves. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 610 denotes a message arrival confirming means for confirming that a guidance from a broadcaster has arrived;
Is a message notification method setting means for setting a method of notifying a viewer when a message notification is confirmed, and 541 is O
SD means. 8, the message arrival confirmation means 610 and the message notification method setting means 620 are a part of the function of the control program similarly to the reproduction data monitoring unit 50, and the OSD 541 is the video processing means 54 in FIG.
0 is part of the function. The viewer is displayed by the message notification method setting means 620 and the OSD 541 in FIG.
The message notification method is selected in advance through the operation screen as in the example of (1). The demultiplexer 20 inputs data having a pattern that matches the preset data for identifying the guidance from the broadcaster, to the message arrival confirmation means 610. The control unit 60 controls the OSD 541 to create a message image according to the previously set message notification method. As a result, an image indicating the arrival of the message as shown in the example of FIG. 10 is displayed. In the present invention, the guide transmission means for the viewer is not limited to the broadcast wave or the telephone line by the above description. Alternatively, other means may be used as long as the communication means can transmit the guidance.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the output of the demultiplexer 20 and the output of the HDD 30 are switched by the switching means 90 and output to the decoder 100. However, as shown in FIG. And the decoder 100 may always receive the output data of the demultiplexer 20. Since the data monitoring means 40 obtains the data output from the demultiplexer 20 via the control means 60, it is clear that the same effects as those of the configuration of FIG. 1 can be obtained even with the configuration of FIG. .

Further, FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the output data of the demultiplexer 20 and the output data of the HDD 30 are selected by the switching means 90 and input to the decoder 100. However, as shown in FIG. HDD3
Even if only the output of 0 is input, the same effect as the configuration of FIG. 1 can be obtained. Since the HDD 30 has a high access speed for recording / reproducing data, the operation of recording the data input from the demultiplexer 20 and reproducing the recorded data can be apparently performed almost simultaneously. Thus, even the real-time program viewing can be performed with the configuration shown in FIG.

As described above, a broadcaster can efficiently motivate an individual viewer to view a program by transmitting a guide to the viewer based on the transmitted data. , It is possible to increase the chance that the program is viewed.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the data of the program reproduced from the HDD 30 is recorded not in the flash memory 50 but in the HDD 30.

When a viewer performs an operation of reproducing program data from the HDD 30, the control means 60
Read the program identification data via the. The control means 60
The read data is recorded on the HDD 30.

According to a predetermined frequency,
The control means 60 reads out the program identification data recorded in the HDD 30, performs data conversion for transmitting the data to the telephone line 80, and then transmits the data to the telephone line 80 via the modem 70.

As a result, the broadcaster can efficiently motivate individual viewers to watch the program as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, in the digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention, the program identification information of the viewed program can be recorded without using the flash memory 50, so that the cost can be reduced, or The capacity of the flash memory can be reduced.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In the embodiment, reference numeral 140 denotes a program playback state monitoring unit that monitors a playback state such as whether or not special playback such as partial playback or fast-forward playback has been performed when a program recorded on the HDD 30 is played back. .

When a viewer reproduces and views a program from the HDD 30, in addition to reproduction at a normal speed, the viewer may view the program in a fast-forward manner or when viewing only a still image on a characteristic screen. That case is conceivable. The playback state monitoring unit 140 monitors the playback state as described above,
From 0, data relating to the reproduction state is recorded in the flash memory 50 together with the program identification data of the program reproduced. The data of the viewing format and the program identification data recorded in the flash memory 50 are read out to the control means 60 according to a preset frequency, and are sent to the telephone line 80 together with the prepared audience identification data. Is transmitted to the telephone line 80 via the modem 70. The data transmitted to the telephone line 80 is received by a broadcaster (not shown).

As described above, by transmitting the viewing mode as data to the broadcaster together with the program viewing data recorded in the HDD 30, the broadcaster can provide the contents of the guidance to be transmitted to the individual viewers. , Can be created based on more abundant data, so that the viewer can be more efficiently motivated to view the program.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to notify viewing data including data relating to a program once recorded, reproduced and viewed in the data storage means.
The broadcaster can create and provide information for motivating program viewing more efficiently based on the notified data, and the viewer can receive program information that suits his or her taste. In addition, since the broadcaster can be notified of a viewer's direct request such as a rebroadcast request, the broadcaster can organize broadcast contents more in accordance with the viewer's request based on this.

Further, for a program reproduced from the data storage means by special reproduction, program viewing data can be created and notified in consideration of the viewing mode, so that the broadcaster can provide program guide information based on more detailed data. Can be created and notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of transport stream packets processed in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a digital broadcasting form according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a digital broadcasting form according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a viewer request acquisition screen of the digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a program guide information display screen of the digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for setting a program information display method of the digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display for setting a program information display method of the digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display showing the arrival of program information in the digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... data input terminal, 20 ... demultiplexer, 30 ...
Data storage means, 40 playback data monitoring means, 50 flash memory, 60 control means, 70 modem, 80
... telephone line, 90 ... switching means, 100 ... decoder, 1
10 output terminal, 120 operating means, 130 request processing means, 140 playback state monitoring unit, 500 signal input terminal, 5
Reference Signs List 10: tuner, 520: descrambler, 530: decoder, 540: video processing means, 550: D / A converter, 560: video signal output terminal, 560: audio signal output terminal, 570: RAM for data processing, 590: data bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/93 H04N 7/173 630 7/173 620 5/91 L 630 5/93 E (72) Inventor Satoshi Iimuro 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Digital Media Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd. 72) Inventor Kenji Katsumata 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) 5D025 BA27 CA09 CB10 DA01 DA04 5C053 FA20 FA23 FA29 GA11 GB38 HA21 HA24 JA01 JA16 KA03 5C061 BB13 5C064 BB01 BB07 BC07 BC17 BC22 BC25 BD02 BD03 BD04 BD08

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. Data separating means for separating specified program data and program-related data from input digital data, data storing means for recording and reproducing program data separated by said data separating means, Decoding means for decoding output data from the separating means or output data from the data accumulating means; data monitoring means for monitoring contents of input data to the decoding means based on the program-related data; A notifying means for notifying the data monitored in (1) via a predetermined communication line. 2. A data separating means for separating designated program data and program-related data from input digital data; a data storage means for recording and reproducing the program data separated by the data separating means; Decoding means for decoding output data from the separating means or output data from the data storage means; data monitoring for monitoring contents of input data to the decoding means based on the program-related data and outputting program identification data Means, an operation means for allowing a user to input data, a memory means for recording output data of the data monitoring means, a notifying means for notifying data via a predetermined communication line, and an output from the data monitoring means. The program identification data is obtained and recorded in the memory means, and the user input data corresponding to the input from the operation means is acquired. Control means for recording data in the memory means, reading the program identification data recorded in the memory means, and controlling the notifying means to notify the program identification data and the user input data. Digital broadcast viewing data notification device. 3. A data separating means for separating specified program data and program-related data from input digital data; a data storage means for recording and reproducing the program data separated by the data separating means; Decoding means for decoding output data from the separation means or output data from the data storage means; data monitoring means for monitoring the contents of input data to the decoding means based on the program-related data and outputting program identification data Memory means for recording output data of the data monitoring means, notifying means for notifying data via a predetermined communication line, and acquiring program identification data output from the data monitoring means to the memory means Recording the program identification data recorded in the memory means, and controlling the notifying means to control the program identification data. Viewing data notification device of a digital broadcasting which is characterized in that a control means for notifying the data. 4. Receiving a broadcast including message data created based on the notified program identification data or user input data, the data separation means separates and outputs the message data, and the control means 4. The digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to claim 2, wherein the message data output from the data separation unit is analyzed, and a message is notified to a user based on the analysis result. 5. Message data created based on the notified program identification data or user input data is received via the communication means, and the control means analyzes the received message data, and The digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to claim 2, wherein the user is notified of a message based on the message. 6. The digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to claim 2, wherein the program identification data obtained by the data monitoring means is recorded in the data storage means. 7. The data monitoring means according to claim 1, wherein said data input to said decoding means is data output from a serial data separation means or data output from said data storage means. The digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the device outputs the data. 8. The digital broadcast according to claim 2, wherein an output of said data separation means is input only to a data storage means, and an output to said decoding means is only an output of said data storage means. Viewing data notification device. 9. A program data input status monitoring means for monitoring a time-dependent program data input status to the decoding means, wherein the program data input status monitoring means is adapted to output program-related data output from the data separation means. The control unit obtains and outputs temporal input status data of a program input to the decoding unit based on the program data input status monitoring unit and records the data output by the program data input status monitoring unit in the memory unit. 4. The digital broadcast viewing data notification device according to claim 2, wherein data recorded in said memory means is read out, and said data is notified by controlling said notifying means.