JP2002369094A - System and method for acquiring program information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the acquisition of program information for all services which is not included in information to be broadcast without interrupting its viewing, and to realize the highly flexible acquisition of the program information by using a two-way communication path in a digital broadcasting system. SOLUTION: A broadcasting station is provided with a program information server part, and a broadcasting receiver is provided with a program information acquiring part, and they are connected through a two-way communication path. The broadcasting receiver is provided with functions for receiving a first program information multiplexed by broadcasting, and for acquiring a second program information from the program information server part through the two-way communication, and for, when the ranges of those program information are overlapped, using the first program information the priority.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a broadcasting system, and more particularly to a digital broadcasting system environment (digital cable television system, digital broadcasting system using FTTH, satellite broadcasting system with two-way communication, etc.). Electronic Program Guide (EP
G) A method for acquiring program information such as information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital broadcasting system in which a video and audio signal is broadcast as a digital signal, a broadcasting station multiplexes the video and audio signal with program information including tuning information, a program broadcast schedule and program contents, and transmits the multiplexed broadcast. Tuning, electronic program guide (EP
The method used in G) is used to help the viewer easily select desired information from many programs.

As such a multiplexing method, MPEG
2 (Moving Picturecoding Ex
In the parts group 2) standard, a video signal / audio signal is coded, and the coded video signal / audio signal is multiplexed with additional information to perform TS (Transport).
A method of transmitting the data as (t Stream) is standardized.

[0004] In particular, in MPEG2, PSI (Program Specific) is used as additional information to be multiplexed.
c Information: program specification information), and ARIB (Associati)
on of Radio Industries an
d Businesses: The Association of Radio Industries and Businesses)
(Service Information: program arrangement information) is defined. In the present application, PSI and SI are collectively referred to as program information in order to simplify the description.

[0005] The PSI is information for realizing a function of a receiver automatically demultiplexing and multiplexing various multiplexed streams, and the TSI of video and audio constituting a program.
PMT (Program) for specifying an S packet
Map Table), PID (Packet Identificat) of TS packet transmitting PMT
ion: PAT (Pr) for indicating packet identification information
o Program Association Table).

[0006] Further, NIT (Network Information) for specifying information (transmission path information and the like) specific to a broadcasting network (corresponding to transmission paths such as satellites and transponders) specified by ARIB.
Table: Network Information Table) is also classified as PSI. The SI is mainly information for the viewer to identify a service (channel) or an event (program), and is an SDT (SDT) for specifying information unique to the service.
service Description Table:
Service description table), an EI for designating event-specific information (program name, broadcast date and time, description of contents, etc.)
T (Event InformationTable:
Event information table).

FIG. 1 shows an example of a digital broadcasting system that multiplexes such program information and video and audio for broadcasting. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a broadcasting station,
Reference numeral 110 denotes a broadcast receiving device.

A broadcasting station 101 includes a broadcast database 102 for holding program information and program schedule information, a video / audio stream generator 103 for generating video / audio streams of programs, and a program information generator 1 for generating program information.
And a multiplexer (MUX) 105 for multiplexing the video / audio stream and the program information and transmitting a transport stream (TS). Program information creation unit 1
In step 04, program information is created based on the program schedule information obtained from the broadcast database 102, and the program information is divided into TS packets multiplexable by the MUX 105 and repeatedly transmitted.

The MUX 105 converts the video / audio stream generated by the video / audio stream generator and the TS packet of the program information generated by the program information generator 104 into T
Multiplex to S.

On the other hand, the broadcast receiving apparatus 110
1, an information holding unit 112, a display processing unit 113, a program table processing unit 114, and a reservation management unit 115. Receiving section 111 receives the TS transmitted from broadcasting station 101, demodulates the received signal, extracts program information, and sends it to information holding section 112. The information holding unit 112 holds the sent information and extracts it in response to a request from the program guide processing unit 114 and the display processing unit 113.

[0011] Also, when the viewer tunes to a channel (specifies a service number) to view a program being broadcast, the receiving unit 111 acquires program information necessary for tuning from the information holding unit 112, and The tuning to the TS is executed, the packets of the corresponding channel are collected from the TS, the video / audio signals are demodulated, and sent to the display processing unit 113.

The program table processing unit 114 includes an information holding unit 112
The program information stored in the display processing unit 11 is extracted, a program table for display is created, and a request from a viewer or the like is issued.
Send to 3. The display processing unit 113 transmits the received video / audio, the program guide for display, or a combination thereof to the TV monitor 120. TV monitor 1
Reference numeral 20 displays the received video / audio, program guide, or a combination thereof.

The display processing unit 113 manages reservation contents by a reservation / recording reservation operation by specifying a channel / time from a viewer or a viewing / recording reservation operation by specifying a program from a program table. Notify. The reservation management unit 115 manages the program ID and the reservation time of the corresponding program, and starts viewing / recording when the reservation time comes.

The same contents are repeatedly broadcast in the program information. The program information is provided with a version number for each transmission unit. When the contents change, the version number increases. The broadcast receiving apparatus 110 receives the broadcasted program information, checks the version number, and stores the latest program information in the memory.

For this purpose, the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 constantly monitors the program information and updates it whenever the version number increases, acquires the program information when it becomes necessary, or periodically (for example, one day). The program information is acquired once and stored in the program table processing unit 114. Program guide processing unit 1
14 acquires the service numbers and service names of all services (channels) and the event (program) schedule from the held program information, and creates a program table.

The program information is generally stored in the broadcast receiving device 110.
Even if the tuning is fixed to the TS in order to view a certain service, in order to be able to acquire all the program information in the broadcasting network, each TS has the SI (all stations SI) of all the TSs in the broadcasting network. ) Is sent.

Thus, the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 can acquire information on all services in the broadcast network regardless of the received TS, that is, without interrupting program viewing. That is, regardless of which service is selected by the viewer, the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 can acquire all the program information in the broadcast network in parallel, and the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 receives a request for viewing the program table from the viewer. It is possible to return a response quickly. In addition, it is possible to display a video on a small screen, simultaneously display a program table, and browse the program table while continuing to watch.

Further, the program information which has not been acquired at that time is also
The program information can be acquired at the time of displaying the program guide, and by acquiring the program preferentially, it is possible to quickly provide the program information without interrupting the viewing.

However, for example, CATV service and FT
In the broadcasting service in TH, there is a possibility that a plurality of digital broadcasts are received and retransmitted, and a service of a plurality of broadcast networks is provided to a viewer by providing an original digital broadcast. In this case, if the viewer continues to view only the service of one broadcast network, the broadcast receiving device 110 cannot acquire the program information of another broadcast network.

[0020] Further, the receiving apparatus is capable of selecting a program content according to a genre (program content type) in order to make it easy for a viewer to select a desired program. When the genre is specified according to the viewer's request, the display processing unit 113 notifies the program table processing unit 114 of the request, and the program table processing unit 114 transmits the request to the information holding unit 112 according to the given genre condition. From the held program information,
Create an event list by extracting the relevant events,
The display processing unit 113 sends the event list to the TV monitor 120 to provide the event list to the viewer.

Thus, the viewer can more easily select a program listed by genre from a large number of broadcast programs. Further, the classification of the event is not limited to the genre, and can be performed by a keyword specified by the viewer.

In this case, an event list including the specified keyword in the program content included in the program information is created and provided to the viewer. Such a function that facilitates channel selection according to the viewer's preference is called a program search function. In particular, the function of extracting for each genre is called a genre search function.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a portion related to the present application of a digital broadcasting system, and an actual system may further include various functional units. For example, in order to realize a pay broadcast, the broadcast station 101 is provided with a charging information management system, and the reservation management unit 115 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 operates in accordance with the reservation operation of the viewer, for example, through the telephone line or the like. Notify the management system of the billing information.

In order to realize the viewing restriction function, the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 includes a viewing condition management unit, receives the viewing restriction information of the program information from the receiving unit, manages the viewing conditions, and performs a display process. The display processing unit 113 notifies the unit 113 of whether or not viewing is possible, and determines whether to transmit video / audio to the TV monitor 120 based on the result received from the viewing condition management unit.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-276413 discloses a means for acquiring program information in analog broadcasting by bidirectional communication. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-276413, a broadcast receiving apparatus uses a bidirectional communication path (telephone or cable television line), rather than transmitting program information embedded in a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of an NTSC signal of analog broadcasting. This means that the program information can be acquired at a higher speed when the information is actively acquired, and the program information provided by the Internet service or the like can be acquired.

On the other hand, as a communication method in a bidirectional communication path, RFC (Request For Comment) is used.
ts) 791 and other IP (Intern)
et Protocol) is now a de facto standard network protocol, on which protocols having various functions or networks can operate.

For example, NFS (Network File System) defined by RFC1813 and the like
(NFS is a registered trademark or trademark of Sun Microsystems (registered trademark) in the United States and other countries.)
P (Transmission Control Pr)
otocol), U specified in RFC768, etc.
DP (User Datagram Protocol)
1) available over IP.

If a file system via a network represented by NFS is used, a file stored in a remote device via a network is handled in the same manner as a file stored on a local device without a network. It becomes possible. In addition, various DB (Data Base) systems can be used on the IP.

The DB system is an application system that enables a client to inquire and acquire information managed by a server under various conditions. Furthermore, over IP, HTTP (Hypertext Transfer) defined by RFC1945 or the like is used.
Protocol (WoW) (Wo)
(ld Wide Web) system is also available.

In the WWW system, HTML (Hypertext M) capable of expressing various display information is provided.
arkup Language (defined in RFC1866 and the like) and the like, and the display expression can be defined in the server and provided to the client, so that the expression of the program table can be easily made. In addition, CGI
(Common Gateway Interface
If e) or the like is used, it becomes easy to obtain information other than the display information, and it is also easy to provide additional functions in the server.

As a protocol usable on IP, there is IP Multicast. This protocol makes it possible to transfer information to a plurality of receivers at one time, and the receiver receives the information by an address including a layer (data link layer) below IP. Or discard it.

In particular, while the IP layer is generally realized by software, the data link layer is a central processing unit (CPU: Cen) for operating the entire broadcast receiving apparatus.
(Tral Processing Unit) is generally realized by hardware different from that of the broadcast receiving apparatus, even if information to be not received is multicast by determining whether to receive or discard at the data link layer. It is possible to not consume processing resources. Further, by dynamically changing the received Multicast address, it is possible to receive information that is Multicast at a desired Multicast address.

[0033]

The above-mentioned conventional digital broadcasting system has the following problems. First
As described in the above description, when providing services of a plurality of broadcast networks, when a viewer is viewing a program on one broadcast network, unobtained program information for another broadcast network cannot be obtained. Unless the program is interrupted, the program information cannot be provided to the viewer.

Secondly, all program information of all services of all broadcast networks can be provided by using a communication channel different from a communication channel for broadcasting a video program, an audio program, or a data program, and a separate receiving section for that purpose. For example, the first problem can be solved by using a method of transmitting to all broadcast receivers using one-way broadcast. However, in such a method, the cost of the broadcast receiver due to an increase in the number of receivers is reduced. In addition, in order to obtain all the program information within a predetermined time, the bandwidth required to broadcast the all program information is
Depends on the number of services, and as the number of services grows,
There is a problem that it becomes difficult.

Further, according to such a method, it takes a relatively long time to acquire program information necessary for channel selection, or when a viewer tries to use a program reservation function by browsing a program table. There is a problem that it takes a relatively long time to obtain necessary program information.

Third, when program information is broadcast by IP, the reception processing must always be performed by the CPU in the broadcast receiving apparatus, which consumes a relatively large amount of processing resources of the broadcast receiving apparatus. There's a problem.

Fourth, video programs, audio programs,
Alternatively, program information multiplexed with a data program and transmitted contains relatively new information, whereas program information containing all services of all broadcast networks may be composed of relatively old information. There is a problem that there is.

Fifth, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-27641
No. 3 does not disclose a method for acquiring program information using bidirectional communication in a digital broadcasting system. In the digital broadcasting system, not only the program information is transmitted only by two-way communication but also the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 may not be able to select a channel if the program information is not always transmitted. However, this method is not disclosed at all.

Sixth, the event search function has been performed based on the information stored in the information holding unit 112 in the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 in the conventional method. However, it is impossible to search for unacquired program information. Further, there is a problem that more resources (CPU, memory) for operating the broadcast receiving apparatus 110 are required.

[0040]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a broadcast station includes one or a plurality of program information server units, and a broadcast receiving apparatus includes a program information acquisition unit,
A program table processing unit; and a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit. The program information server unit stores program information. Managing, the program information obtaining unit obtains the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path at the request of the program table processing unit, and sends the program information to the program table processing unit; The table processing unit obtains the program information by requesting the program information acquisition unit to acquire the program information when the viewer browses the program table, and uses the program information acquired from the program information acquisition unit to acquire the program table. It is characterized by having a function of creating

According to the first aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on a certain broadcast network, other programs can be broadcast without interruption. Acquisition of unacquired program information for the network is realized. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be effectively used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a broadcast station includes one or a plurality of program information server units, and a broadcast receiving apparatus includes a program information acquisition unit, an information holding unit, and a program table processing unit. Further comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, wherein the program information server unit stores and manages program information; The information acquisition unit acquires the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path at a predetermined timing or at the request of the program table processing unit, sends the program information to the information holding unit, and The holding unit holds the program information obtained by the program information obtaining unit, and the program guide processing unit stores the program information not held by the information holding unit when the viewer browses the program guide. On the other hand, the program information Requests the acquisition to the resulting unit is characterized by having a function of creating a program table by using the program information held in the information holding unit.

According to the second aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on one broadcast network, the other network is not interrupted. Of program information that has not yet been acquired. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. For,
The processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be used effectively. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to acquire program information that has already been acquired, a program guide can be created relatively quickly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a broadcasting station includes one or a plurality of program information server units, and a broadcast receiving apparatus includes a program information acquisition unit, an information holding unit, and a program table processing unit. Further comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, wherein the program information server unit stores and manages program information; The information acquisition unit, at a predetermined timing, or at the request of the program table processing unit, using the communication path, for the program information not held in the information holding unit, from the program information server unit The program information is acquired and sent to the information holding unit. For the program information already held in the information holding unit, the updated information is updated if the program information is updated in the program information server unit. Get and said The report holding unit holds the program information obtained by the program information obtaining unit, and the program table processing unit requests the program information obtaining unit to obtain the program table when the viewer browses the program table, It is characterized by having a function of creating a program table using the program information held in the information holding unit.

According to the third aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on a certain broadcast network, the communication on the other network can be performed without interruption. Of program information that has not yet been acquired. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. For,
The processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be used effectively. Furthermore, it is possible to update program information that has already been obtained, and to obtain program information that has already been obtained only when it has been updated. Furthermore, consumption of processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be suppressed. Further, when the program information acquisition unit sequentially acquires the program information from the program information server unit, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the resources of the communication path.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a broadcasting station includes one or a plurality of transmitting sections and one or a plurality of program information server sections. Unit, a program information acquisition unit, and a program table processing unit, further comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, Multiplexes the video program, audio program, or data program with first program information related to the video program, audio program, or data program, and transmits the multiplexed program information. The program information server unit includes information necessary for the broadcast receiving apparatus to perform a channel selection operation for the video program, the audio program, or the data program from the converted signal, Store and manage information And said second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services,
The receiving unit receives and demultiplexes a multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, sends the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, and the information holding unit Holding the first program information sent from the receiving unit, and acquiring the second program information from the program information server using the communication path at the request of the program table processing unit. When the viewer browses the program guide, the program information of the program being viewed is received by the receiving unit and held by the information holding unit. A program table is created using the first program information, and using the second program information acquired by requesting the program information acquisition unit to acquire program information other than the program being viewed. It is characterized by having a function to perform.

According to the fourth aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on one broadcast network, the other network can be connected without interruption. Of program information that has not yet been acquired is realized. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be effectively used. Further, since the program information necessary for selecting a program to be viewed can be transmitted and obtained in the same manner as in the conventional digital broadcasting system, the broadcast receiving apparatus has a function of selecting the conventional digital broadcasting system. It can be used.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a broadcasting station includes one or a plurality of transmitting units and one or a plurality of program information server units. Unit, a program information acquisition unit, and a program table processing unit, further comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, Multiplexes the video program, audio program, or data program with first program information related to the video program, audio program, or data program, and transmits the multiplexed program information. Information necessary for the broadcast receiving device to perform a channel selection operation on the video program, the audio program, or the data program from the multiplexed signal, and further, the multiplexed video program and the audio There is a program Includes program information for the data program, the program information server section stores and manages second program information, and the second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services. Receiving the multiplexed signal broadcasted by the predetermined method, demultiplexing the same, sending the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, Holds the first program information sent from the receiving unit, the program information obtaining unit, at the request of the program table processing unit,
The second program information obtained from the program information server is obtained using the communication path, and the program guide processing unit is held in the information holding unit when the viewer browses the program guide. A program table is created using the first program information and the second program information obtained by requesting the program information obtaining unit to obtain the first program information, and the first program information and the second program The portion where the information is duplicated is characterized by having a function of using the first program information.

According to the fifth aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on one broadcast network, the other network can be connected without interruption. Of program information that has not yet been acquired is realized. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be effectively used. Further, since the program information necessary for selecting a program to be viewed can be transmitted and obtained in the same manner as in the conventional digital broadcasting system, the broadcast receiving apparatus has a function of selecting the conventional digital broadcasting system. It can be used. Further, it is possible to use relatively new program information which is multiplexed and sent together with a video program or the like.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a broadcasting station includes one or a plurality of transmitting units and one or a plurality of program information server units. Unit, a program information acquisition unit, and a program table processing unit, further comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, Multiplexes the video program, audio program, or data program with first program information related to the video program, audio program, or data program, and transmits the multiplexed program information. Information necessary for the broadcast receiving device to perform a channel selection operation on the video program, the audio program, or the data program from the multiplexed signal, and further, the multiplexed video program and the audio There is a program Includes program information for the data program, the program information server section stores and manages second program information, and the second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services. Receiving the multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, demultiplexing, transmitting the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, and acquiring the program information. The unit obtains the second program information obtained from the program information server using the communication path at a predetermined timing or at the request of the program table processing unit, and sends the second program information to the information holding unit, The information holding unit holds the first program information sent from the reception unit and the second program information sent from the program information acquisition unit, and stores the first program information and the second program information. Part where the program information of Holds only the first program information, and the program guide processing unit acquires the program information for the program information not held by the information holding unit when the viewer browses the program guide. And a function of creating a program table using the program information held in the information holding unit.

According to the sixth aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on a certain broadcast network, the communication on the other network is not interrupted. Of program information that has not yet been acquired is realized. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be effectively used. Further, since the program information necessary for selecting a program to be viewed can be transmitted and obtained in the same manner as in the conventional digital broadcasting system, the broadcast receiving apparatus has a function of selecting the conventional digital broadcasting system. It can be used. Furthermore, it is possible to preferentially use relatively new program information that is multiplexed and sent with a video program or the like.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a broadcasting station includes one or a plurality of transmitting sections and one or a plurality of program information server sections. Unit, a program information acquisition unit, and a program table processing unit, further comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, Multiplexes the video program, audio program, or data program with first program information related to the video program, audio program, or data program, and transmits the multiplexed program information. Information necessary for the broadcast receiving device to perform a channel selection operation on the video program, the audio program, or the data program from the multiplexed signal, and further, the multiplexed video program and the audio There is a program Includes program information for the data program, the program information server section stores and manages second program information, and the second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services. Receiving the multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, demultiplexing, transmitting the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, and acquiring the program information. The program information server unit, at a predetermined timing or at the request of the program table processing unit, uses the communication path to perform the second program information that is not held in the information holding unit. The second program information is obtained from the program information and sent to the information holding unit. The second program information already held in the information holding unit is updated by the program information server unit. If you have Obtains updated information for the second program information, the information holding unit,
The first program information sent from the receiving unit and the second program information sent from the program information acquiring unit are held, and the first program information and the second program information overlap. The part to be held holds only the first program information, and the program table processing unit requests the program information obtaining unit to obtain the program table when the viewer browses the program table, and holds the information in the information holding unit. And a function of creating a program guide using the program information.

According to the seventh aspect, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being viewed. Therefore, while viewing a program on a certain broadcast network, the communication on the other network is not interrupted. Of program information that has not yet been acquired is realized. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be effectively used. Further, since the program information necessary for selecting a program to be viewed can be transmitted and obtained in the same manner as in the conventional digital broadcasting system, the broadcast receiving apparatus has a function of selecting the conventional digital broadcasting system. It can be used. Furthermore, it is possible to preferentially use relatively new program information that is multiplexed and sent with a video program or the like.
Further, the program information acquisition unit can also update program information that has already been acquired, and can acquire program information that has already been acquired only when it has been updated. Program guide can be created.

The eighth invention is a first invention and a second invention, respectively.
In the third invention, the third invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention, or the seventh invention, the program information obtaining unit obtains the program information upon request from the program table processing unit.
A feature is provided that the range of the acquired program information is set as a range in which the program guide processing unit creates a program guide.

According to the above-mentioned eighth invention, the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention, or the seventh invention, In addition to the respective effects, the range of the program information acquired by the program information acquisition unit is limited, and the size of the program information acquired at a time is limited, so that the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be more effectively used.
Further, when the program information acquisition unit sequentially acquires the program information from the program information server unit, the resources of the communication path can be effectively used.

The ninth invention is the second invention, the third invention,
In the sixth invention or the seventh invention, when the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information requested by the program table processing unit, the program information processing unit specifies the range of the program information to be acquired by the program table processing unit. And a function of setting a range adjacent to the creation range as a program guide.

According to the ninth aspect, in addition to the respective effects of the second, third, sixth, and seventh aspects, a processing delay occurs in the acquisition of program information. In order to obtain program information that is likely to be used next time, the viewer issues a request to display a program guide, for example, a request to change the display range of the program guide, and The time required to display the table can be reduced.

According to a tenth invention, in the second invention, the third invention, the sixth invention, or the seventh invention, the program information acquiring section is configured to perform the program information acquisition at the predetermined timing for acquiring the program information. It is characterized by having a function including a time determined by a predetermined method.

According to the tenth aspect, the second
In addition to the respective effects of the third invention, the third invention, the sixth invention, or the seventh invention, the program information is acquired in advance in a concentrated manner, such as in the middle of the night when the degree of viewing by the viewer is small. By holding the program guide, it is possible to reduce the time from when the viewer issues a program guide display request to when the program guide is actually displayed.

According to an eleventh aspect, in the tenth aspect,
The time determined by the predetermined method has a function determined for each of the broadcast receiving apparatuses.

According to the eleventh aspect, in addition to the effect of the tenth aspect, by setting the acquisition time at a different time for each broadcast receiving apparatus, the program information acquisition section can sequentially execute the program information server section. When the program information is obtained from the communication channel, the load on the communication path and the program information server can be distributed, and the communication resources and the processing resources of the program information server can be effectively used.

[0062] In a twelfth aspect based on the second aspect, the third aspect, the sixth aspect or the seventh aspect, the program information acquiring section is configured to execute the program information at the predetermined timing for acquiring the program information. The broadcast receiving apparatus has a function including a time when the viewing operation is interrupted.

According to the twelfth aspect, the second
In addition to the effects of each of the inventions of the third, sixth, or seventh invention, the opportunity to acquire program information in advance can be increased, and the viewer issues a program guide display request. It is possible to increase the possibility that the time from when the program guide is actually displayed until it is actually displayed can be reduced.

According to a thirteenth invention, in the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention or the seventh invention, the two-way communication is provided. The communication path that enables IP is Internet Protocol (IP).
(ocol) protocol.

According to the thirteenth invention, each of the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention, and the seventh invention is In addition to the effects described above, the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit can be easily implemented using an existing protocol or application operating on IP,
Further, it is easy to realize other network applications.

According to a fourteenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect,
The program information server unit manages the program information as a file, and the program information obtaining unit obtains the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path, and a file system via a network. It is characterized by being realized by.

According to the fourteenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirteenth aspect, the program information acquisition section performs the same operation as the operation on the file system in the broadcast receiving apparatus via the communication path. Stored in the program information server unit
It is possible to operate the program information to be managed, the operation of the program information acquisition unit becomes relatively simple, and further, the operation check at the time of development of the program information acquisition unit is performed by checking the file system of the broadcast receiving device. Since the program information acquisition unit can be used, the development of the program information acquisition unit is facilitated.

According to a fifteenth aspect, in the fourteenth aspect,
The program information server unit includes: a directory in which the program information to be stored and managed is classified by a first predetermined method;
Is characterized in that it has a function of managing files classified by a predetermined method.

According to the fifteenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the fourteenth aspect, the program information can be hierarchically managed, and the management in the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit Becomes relatively easy.

According to a sixteenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect,
The means for acquiring the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path by the program information acquisition unit is realized by a database system.

According to the sixteenth aspect, in addition to the effects of the thirteenth aspect, the program information acquisition unit can use the functions provided in the database system, so that a function with higher expandability can be easily achieved. realizable.

According to a seventeenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect,
Means for acquiring the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path,
(World Wide Web) system.

According to the seventeenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirteenth aspect, in the program information server unit, it is possible to specify a display format of a program table used in the broadcast receiving apparatus. The display format can be changed relatively easily without changing the broadcast receiving device.

In an eighteenth aspect based on the third aspect or the seventh aspect, the program information server section updates the stored / managed program information when updating the stored / managed program information. Creating difference information between the program information and the updated program information, the program information acquisition unit acquires the difference information as the updated information, and updates the program information in the information holding unit It is characterized by having a function.

According to the eighteenth aspect, each of the third
In addition to the respective effects of the present invention or the seventh invention, even when the program information is updated in the program information server section, updated information can be obtained. Further, the program information acquisition unit, the program information server unit,
Using the two-way communication path, in the case of performing sequential acquisition, by using information to be acquired as difference information, it is possible to suppress the amount of communication, and therefore, it is possible to further effectively use the processing resources of the broadcast receiving apparatus, Communication channel resources can be used more effectively.

According to a nineteenth aspect, in the eighteenth aspect,
The communication path enabling the two-way communication is an IP (Inte
rnet Protocol), and the program information server unit includes:
The program information is managed as a file, a difference information file is created as the difference information, and the program information obtaining unit obtains the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path. The program information server unit realizes the program information to be stored and managed by using a directory classified by a first predetermined method and a directory classified by a second predetermined method. The program information acquisition unit is provided with a function of acquiring the difference information file as the updated information, and updating the program information of the information holding unit.

According to the nineteenth aspect, in addition to the effects of the eighteenth aspect, the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit perform the same operation as the operation on the file system in the broadcast receiving apparatus, Alternatively, the program information stored and managed by the program information server unit via the communication path can be operated or obtained by a file transfer protocol with relatively simple control. Is relatively simple, and the operation check at the time of development of the program information acquisition unit can be realized by using the file system of the broadcast receiving apparatus. Therefore, the development of the program information acquisition unit is facilitated. Further, the program information can be managed in a hierarchical manner, and the management in the program information server unit and the acquisition operation in the program information acquisition unit become relatively easy. Further, even when the program information is updated in the program information server unit,
The updated information can be obtained, and furthermore, the information to be obtained is set as the difference information, whereby the communication amount can be suppressed. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving apparatus can be used more effectively, and the resources of the communication path can be further increased. Can be used effectively. Further, it is easy to realize other network applications.

In a twentieth aspect based on the nineteenth aspect, the file name of the difference information file includes the same character string as the file name of the program information file, and further, at least the name of the program information from which the update is based. It is characterized by including a character string capable of specifying a version, and further including a function including a character string capable of specifying the updated version.

According to the twentieth aspect, in addition to the effects of the nineteenth aspect, when the program information is updated, the difference file can be specified relatively easily, and the update is performed a plurality of times. In this case, it is possible to relatively easily obtain desired latest program information.

A twenty-first invention is the broadcast station according to the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention or the seventh invention. Further comprising one or a plurality of program information format conversion units, wherein the program information format conversion unit converts program information having a format different from the program information managed by the program information server unit to the program information server unit. The program information is converted into a format of the program information managed by the program information server, and transmitted to one or more program information server units. The program information server unit transmits the converted program transmitted from the program information format conversion unit. It is characterized by having a function of receiving, storing and managing information.

According to the twenty-first aspect, the first
In addition to the effects of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh invention, the program information server unit manages the program information. The program information format conversion unit converts program information of a broadcast network that uses a format of program information different from the format of storage and management of program information, so that the program information server unit stores program information of various broadcast networks.・ Can be managed.

A twenty-second invention is a program according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh invention, wherein the program table processing is performed. The unit receives a search request for the program information from the viewer, sends the search request to the program information acquisition unit, the program information acquisition unit transmits the program information search to the program information server, Channel, the program information server transmits the result of the requested search to the program information acquisition unit using the communication path, and the program information acquisition unit includes the program information server A function of providing the viewer with the search result transmitted from the user.

According to the twenty-second aspect, the first
In addition to the effects of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh invention, the broadcast receiving apparatus performs a search process. Instead, since the processing is performed by the former-stage program information server unit of the former-stage broadcasting station, it is possible to suppress the consumption of processing resources of the broadcast receiving device.

According to a twenty-third aspect, in the twenty-second aspect,
The program information server performs a search according to predetermined search conditions separately from the time when the search request is made from the program information acquisition unit or the time when the search request is made, and holds the result. When the search request from the program information acquisition unit matches the search condition of the held search result, the held search result is
It has a function of transmitting the program information to the program information acquisition unit.

According to the twenty-third aspect, in addition to the effect of the twenty-second aspect, the result of the search process requested by the broadcast receiving apparatus may be acquired and held in advance, so that the program The consumption of information server processing resources can be reduced,
The search result can be transmitted to the broadcast receiving device relatively quickly.

[0086] A twenty-fourth invention is the twelfth invention, wherein
The program information server unit, as the predetermined search condition,
It is characterized in that it has a function of using one registered in advance for each viewer.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the twenty-third aspect, the program information server unit preliminarily registers search conditions that match the viewer's preference, performs a search in advance, and obtains a search result. Since the search result can be held, faster transmission of the search result can be realized.

In a twenty-fifth aspect based on the third or seventh aspect, the information holding unit manages a time at which the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information from the program information server unit. When the acquisition unit uses the program information held in the information holding unit, the acquisition time of the program information held in the information holding unit is a predetermined time determined by a predetermined method. In the former case, the program information server has a function of updating the program information using the communication path. According to the twenty-fifth aspect, in addition to the effects of the third aspect or the seventh aspect, the update frequency of program information is suppressed, and the consumption of processing resources and the deterioration of response performance are suppressed. Can be.

A twenty-sixth aspect is the thirteenth aspect, wherein
The program information server unit manages the program information as a file, and the program information acquisition unit implements a unit for acquiring the program information from the program information server unit using the communication channel by using a file transfer protocol. It is characterized by:

According to the twenty-sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirteenth aspect, the program information stored and managed by the program information server unit via the communication path can be managed by a directory and a file. This enables the program information acquisition unit to acquire program information by acquiring a file in the broadcast receiving device, and the operation of the program information acquisition unit is relatively simplified.

A twenty-seventh aspect is the thirteenth aspect, wherein
The program information server unit manages the program information as a file, and the program information acquisition unit includes a unit that acquires the program information from the program information server unit using the communication channel by using a UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
col) is realized by a transfer method using the same.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirteenth aspect, efficient transfer can be realized on a communication path with relatively few errors or losses.

A twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is the thirteenth aspect, wherein:
The program information server unit manages the program information as a file, and the program information obtaining unit obtains the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path by using a TCP (Transmission Control).
1 Protocol).

According to the twenty-eighth aspect, in addition to the effects of the thirteenth aspect, transfer with less errors can be realized even on a communication path having relatively large errors or losses.

A twenty-ninth aspect is the thirteenth aspect, wherein:
The program information server unit manages the program information as a file, and the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path, and transfers the program information using IP Multicast. It is characterized by being realized by a method.

According to the twenty-ninth aspect, in addition to the effect of the thirteenth aspect, since the maximum transmission load of the program information server can be limited to a predetermined amount, the design of the program information server is easy. become.

[0097] A thirtieth invention is a method according to the twenty-ninth invention, wherein
For each type of program information, a different IP Multica
The transfer is performed using the st address. According to the thirtieth aspect, in addition to the effects of the twenty-ninth aspect, by using a different IP multicast address for each type of program information, for example, for each type of table or included service (channel), In the broadcast receiving apparatus, the IP Multica
By specifying and receiving the st address, it is possible to acquire the program information for each type. In addition, in hardware that realizes a data link layer under the IP protocol, it is possible to discard information that is not received. Since the data link layer is realized by hardware dedicated to network processing, which is separate from the CPU, it is possible to suppress consumption of CPU resources.

A thirty-first aspect is the fourteenth invention, the sixteenth invention, the seventeenth invention, the twenty-sixth invention, or the twenty-seventh invention, wherein the program information acquisition unit uses As means for acquiring the program information from the program information server unit, the present invention is further realized by using a transfer method using IP Multicast.

According to the thirty-first aspect, each of the first to fourth inventions
In addition to the effects of the four inventions, the sixteenth invention, the seventeenth invention, the twenty-sixth invention, and the twenty-seventh invention,
The program information obtaining unit requests and obtains the program information from the program information server unit when necessary while suppressing the load on the program information server unit. Time can be shortened.

[0100]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for simplicity of description, only a video / audio program is described as a program, but the program may be an audio program, a data program, or a mixed program thereof.

Further, when a program table is described above and below, it also includes a program table for displaying counterprogram information or the like during viewing.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention other than the first invention, the fourth invention, and the fifth invention. is there. 2, a broadcast station 201 includes a broadcast database 102 and a video / audio stream generation unit 103.
, A program information creating unit 204, and a multiplexing device (MUX) 1
05, a program information server unit 206, and a program information format conversion unit 207, and the broadcast receiving apparatus 210 includes a receiving unit 111, an information holding unit 212, and a display processing unit 113.
, A program table processing unit 214, a reservation management unit 115, and a program information income unit 216.
Is connected from the display processing unit 113 to the TV monitor 120.

Also, from the MUX 105 of the broadcasting station 201,
The broadcast is broadcast to the receiving unit 111 of the broadcast receiving device 210 via a predetermined broadcast means, for example, satellite broadcast, cable broadcast of cable television, or FTTH broadcast. Also, the program information server unit 206 of the broadcast station 201
And the program information acquisition section 216 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 210 are connected to each other by a two-way communication path 220.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the first invention, the fourth invention,
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the fifth invention. In FIG.
2 is different from the configuration of FIG. 2 in that the information holding unit 112 has a function of holding the program information from the program information obtaining unit 212 in FIG.
In FIG. 6, the information storage unit is the information storage unit 112 used in the conventional digital broadcasting system, and the program information acquisition unit 616 is a program table. In response to a program information acquisition request from the processing unit 614, program information is acquired from the program information server unit 206 using the two-way communication path 220, and the information holding unit 11
2 is that the acquired program information is sent to the program table processing unit 214 without sending the program information to the program table 2.

Note that the first, second, and third inventions do not limit the use of the method for acquiring program information from the receiving unit 111 in the conventional digital broadcasting system.

Examples of the medium of the two-way communication path 220 in FIG. 2 or FIG. 6 include, for example, a telephone line and an Internet line (ISDN (Integrated Se
service Digital Network: integrated service digital communication network, ADSL (Asynchr)
onous Digital SubscriberL
ine: asymmetric digital subscriber line), a two-way communication channel in cable of cable television, a two-way communication channel in FTTH, and furthermore, wireless communication.

Although only one broadcast receiving device 210 is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
There is no limit on the number of ten.

In the following, for the sake of simplicity, description will be made mainly on the configuration shown in FIG.

(Outline of Operation in One Embodiment of the Present Invention) The outline of the operation of the broadcasting station 201 and the broadcast receiving device 210 configured as described above will be described below.

In the broadcast station 201, the broadcast database 102 holds program information and program schedule information. The video / audio stream creation unit 103 generates a video / audio stream of a program based on the program information and the program schedule information of the broadcast database 102, and
Send to 105.

[0111] The program information creating section 204 is configured to transmit the program information from the MUX 105 based on the program information and program schedule information of the broadcast database 102 or the program information from the program information format converting section 207, or a program information server. The program information in a format stored and managed by the unit 206 is created and sent to the MUX 105 and the program information server unit 206.

The MUX 105 multiplexes the video / audio stream from the video / audio stream generator 103 and the repetition of the program information from the program information generator 204 to form a transport stream (TS). Broadcast to a plurality of broadcast receiving devices 210.

The program information server unit 206 accumulates and manages the program information created by the program companion information creating unit 204,
The program information is provided to the program information acquisition unit 216 of the broadcast receiving device 210 via the two-way communication path 220. As a storage medium, the capacity of the stored program information is, for example, generally,
Since it is within 8 days, and not all services provide program information for 8 days, practically several tens MB
Therefore, in addition to secondary storage such as a hard disk, a main memory or the like can be used. By using a main memory or the like, the processing can be speeded up. The program information managed and stored by the program information server unit 206 is not created by the program information creation unit 204,
The information may be directly input from another means, for example, a means for collectively supplying program information.

Also, as shown in the twenty-first aspect, the program information format conversion unit 207 converts the format of program information that is not the format stored and managed by the program information server unit 206, and Is the program information server unit 206
To create program information in a format that is stored and managed in As a result, even when a different program information format is used in another broadcast network, the program information server unit can easily handle it. The details of the format conversion will be described later.

In broadcast receiving apparatus 210, receiving section 11
1 is the TS transmitted from the MUX 105 of the broadcast station 101
And demodulate the received signal to obtain video information, audio information,
The data information is sent to the display processing unit 113. In particular, in the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention, and the seventh invention, the received signal is further demodulated, and the program information is sent to the information holding unit 212.

The information holding section 212 holds the information sent from the receiving section 111. In particular, in the second, third, sixth, and seventh inventions, the information holding section 212 obtains program information. The information sent from the unit 216 is held. The reception and holding unit 112 can suppress the consumption of resources necessary for holding the information in the information holding unit 212 by holding only the latest information of each of the transmitted program information.

As a medium of resources necessary to hold this information, for example, a main memory, a flash memory,
Alternatively, a hard disk or other secondary storage may be used. When the range of the information received from the reception unit 111 and the range of the information received from the program information acquisition unit 216 overlap, the information holding unit 212 validates the newer version of the information. However, in general, the information received from the receiving unit 111 may be a newer version in operation. In this case, as shown in the sixth or seventh invention, the information received from the receiving unit 111 is always updated. By making the information valid, the processing can be simplified.

The display processing section 113 displays the video / audio and data information received from the receiving section 111, the display program table created by the program table processing section 114, or a combination thereof, on the TV monitor 120. Send to
In addition, the display processing unit 113 transmits a channel from a viewer.
The reservation contents are notified to the reservation management unit 115 by the viewing reservation / recording reservation operation by specifying the time or the viewing reservation / recording reservation operation by specifying the program from the program table. Reservation management unit 115
Manages the program ID of the corresponding program and the reservation time, and waits for the reservation time to start viewing / recording.

The program table processing section 114 includes an information holding section 212
The program information held in the step (1) is retrieved, or the program information acquisition unit 216 is requested to acquire the program information, or both are performed, and a program table for display is created from the acquired program information. When a program guide is displayed due to a request or the like, it is sent to the display processing unit 113.

As shown in the fifth invention, the program information acquired by the program information acquiring section 216 is stored in the information holding section 21.
If the program information is not stored in the program table processing unit 114, the program table processing unit 114 may determine whether the program information acquired from the receiving unit 111 and retained in the information retaining unit 212 and the program information acquired from the program information acquisition unit 216 overlap each other. It has a function to determine which one to use. Generally, in operation, when the program information acquired from the receiving unit 111 is newer, the program table processing unit 1
14 may have a function of always using the program information acquired from the receiving unit 111 as the determination criterion.

The program information acquisition unit 216 is provided with a predetermined timing, for example, a program information acquisition request from the program table processing unit 114, a time determined by a predetermined method, when power is turned on, or an operation for interrupting viewing is started. When, for example,
The program information stored and managed by the program information server unit 206 is acquired via the two-way communication path 220. The timing of acquisition by the program information acquisition unit 216 and the range of the acquired program information will be described later in detail.

The type of program information obtained from receiving section 111 and the type of program information obtained from program information obtaining section 216 will be described later.

As shown in the thirteenth invention, the two-way communication path 220 is an IP (Internet Protocol).
col) It is desirable that the network be connected according to the protocol. As a result, an existing protocol or application operating on IP can be used. In the following, the two-way communication path 220
Although a description will be given of the case of a network connected according to a protocol, the network is not necessarily limited to the IP protocol.

In the case where the two-way communication path 220 is a network connected according to the IP protocol, a file system via the network can be relatively easily realized using the existing system as shown in the fourteenth invention. . As a file system via a network, for example, N
FS (registered trademark or trademark), but is not limited thereto.

The file system to be used via which network is mainly determined by the operating system (OS) that operates the software of the broadcast receiving apparatus 210.
system). In addition, NFS is
As a data transfer protocol, UDP (User
Datagram Protocol can be used, and is a method suitable for a case where data loss is small in the two-way communication path 220.

When a file system via such a network is used as a means for acquiring program information, the program information server unit 206 uses the file system as a method for storing and managing program information. In this case, as shown in the fifteenth aspect, a plurality of, multi-level directories,
It is also possible to manage program information hierarchically using a plurality of files.

The program information acquisition section 216 can sequentially acquire the program information stored and managed by the directory file in the program information server section 206 by a file system via a network.

FIG. 3 shows one example of this hierarchical structure. In FIG. 3, a predetermined directory 30
1 is the top directory for managing program information,
Below that, directories (302, 3
03, 304, and 305), and files (306, 307, and 308) classified by service are arranged under a directory 303 classified by date.

As a result, creation / accumulation, update / deletion of program information of a service with a certain date can be relatively easily realized. In addition to the example shown in FIG. 3, a method of arranging files classified by date under a directory classified by service, and a method of arranging a directory further classified by service under a directory classified by date. A method of arranging files classified by segments (a unit obtained by dividing a day by three hours) or a directory further classified by date under a directory classified by service, and First, a method of arranging files classified by segments can be considered.

In general, the minimum unit for creating a program guide is a multiple of the segment unit. Therefore, the minimum unit realized as a file is desirably a unit larger than a segment. However, if the number of hierarchies is too large, the performance of the program information acquisition unit 216 to acquire in a file system via a network may be deteriorated.

It is necessary that the program information server unit 206 and the program information acquisition unit 216 can uniquely specify the names of these directories and files by using the program information server unit 206 and the program information acquisition unit 216. For example, the date or the service ID is included in the directory name or the file name.

In the above description, as an example of a means for acquiring program information, a file system via a network has been described. However, as shown in the sixteenth aspect, the DB (Da
taBase) system can also be used.

In this case, the program information server unit 206 manages the program information in a DB (DataBase) server, and the program information acquisition unit 216 acquires the program information by making an inquiry to the DB. As an inquiry method of the DB system, for example, SQL (Struc
(Toured Query Language) and the like.

If a DB system is used, the program information acquisition section 216 can acquire not only program information but also information provided by processing in the DB server.

Separately, as shown in the seventeenth invention, WWW (World Wide) is used as a means for acquiring program information.
It is also possible to use a Web) system. In this case, the program information server unit 206 provides program information using a Web server, and the program information acquisition unit 216 uses a Web browser to provide HTTP (Hy
The program information is acquired by “pertext Markup Language”. In the description language used in the WWW, it is generally difficult to describe information other than display information, but this is described by CGI (Common G).
For example, it can be obtained by using an interface (e.g.

Using the WWW system makes it possible for the program information server section 206 to specify the display format of the program information displayed by the broadcast receiving device 210.

Further, as shown in the twenty-sixth aspect, a file transfer protocol (FT) is used as a means for acquiring program information.
P: File Transfer Protocol,
Alternatively, it is also possible to use TFTP (Trivial FTP). In this case, the program information server unit 2
In 06, hierarchical management using directories and files is possible as in the case of the file system via the network, and a part of the file cannot be obtained as compared with the file system via the network. However, the processing is simplified.

In addition, the 27th invention or the 28th invention
As shown in the invention of US Pat.
It is also possible to use P or another transfer protocol for transferring using TCP, for example, a protocol that is not standardized. In this case, it is possible to realize a more flexible transfer process according to the purpose. The transfer protocol using UDP can realize efficient transfer over a communication path with relatively few errors or losses. On the other hand, in the transfer protocol using TCP, since TCP itself performs error retransmission control or order assurance control, processing becomes complicated and processing resources of the broadcast receiving apparatus 210 are consumed. Even with a relatively large number of communication paths, transfer with few errors can be realized.

[0139] Alternatively, as shown in the twenty-ninth aspect, IP Multicast can be used as a means for acquiring program information. In this case, the program table processing unit 11
4, the program information acquisition unit 216 does not sequentially acquire the program information from the program information server unit 206, but the program information acquisition unit 216
From the program information sequentially transmitted by the two-way communication path 220 from the server.

According to this method, the program information server unit 20
Since the maximum processing / transmission load of No. 6 can be limited to a predetermined amount, the design of the program information server unit 206 is facilitated. Furthermore, as shown in the thirtieth aspect, broadcast is performed by performing IP multicast using different destination addresses depending on the type of program information, for example, a table type such as NIT or EIT, or a service ID type such as a channel number. The receiving device 210 can acquire the required type of program information relatively easily and without relatively consuming processing resources. However, IP Mul
When using ticast, the total amount of program information is large,
When the bandwidth for acquiring the program information is small in the two-way communication path 220, the time required to acquire the desired program information may be long.

In order to alleviate such a problem, as shown in the thirty-first aspect, as described above, the program table processing unit 11
4, when used in combination with a method of sequentially acquiring the program information from the program information server unit 206 while suppressing the processing / transmission load on the program information server unit 206.
When there is a request from the program guide processing unit 114, it is possible to sequentially acquire even unacquired program information.

When such an acquisition means using IP is used, the broadcast receiving apparatus itself is set as the IP address of the program server unit in the development stage of the broadcast receiving apparatus, and By having the function of imitating the operation of the program server unit, the operation can be checked relatively easily, thereby facilitating the development.

(Type of Program Information) Hereinafter, the fourth invention,
In the fifth invention, the sixth invention, and the seventh invention, the types of the program information acquired from the receiving unit 111 and the types of the program information acquired from the program information acquiring unit 216 will be described with examples.

Here, MPEG2 and ARIB
The program information specified by PSI (Program S
specific Information) and SI
(Service Information) will be described as an example.

Each program information (table) of PSI and SI
Are classified into [actual] indicating program information of the TS and programs multiplexed in the TS, and [other] other than the above. A TS (a)
The program information [actual] becomes program information [other] for the other TS (b).

Also, EIT (Event Information)
[Table] generally represents program information for several days, [schedule] expressing program information currently being broadcasted, and program information of a program [follow] scheduled to be broadcasted next [ p /
f]. Generally, EIT [schedul
The eIT [p / f] is more strictly required to match the program actually broadcast (equal to or newer than the version) than e].

For example, EIT [schedule] is
The program information that was scheduled to be valid until a few days ago.
[P / f] may include the program information of the program that is actually being broadcast and the program that will be broadcast more reliably next. Further, in general, [actual] is the same or newer version than [other]. EIT [p / f] is used for viewing reservation and viewing and recording of a program reserved for recording.

Here, the EIT as the all-station SI is
Includes EIT [other] for all TSs and is described as EIT [all]. Similarly, when [other] information for all TSs is included, it is described as [all].

In the above classification, the receiving unit 111
The program information acquired from NIT [actuua
l], EIT [p / f] [actual], PAT, P
MT and the like. On the other hand, the program information acquired from the program information acquisition unit 216 includes NIT [all] and SDT [a
11], EIT [schedule] [all], EI
T [p / f] [all]. When the program information acquired from the receiving unit 111 and the program information acquired from the program information acquiring unit 216 overlap, as described above, the receiving unit 111
Will be used with priority.

For example, regarding EIT, [p / f]
[Actual] may overlap with the range of [p / f] [all] or [schedule] [all], in which case, [p / f] [actual]
Is used preferentially. Also, [p / f] [all] and [s
schedule] [all] may overlap,
In that case, [p / f] [all] is preferentially used.

Note that the above-described method of selecting an acquisition unit for each category of program information is one example, and may include program information of another category. Note that the program information of the classification described above as acquired from the program information acquisition unit 216 is also included in the program information acquired from the reception unit 111 by [o
ther]. However, in general, it is difficult for the receiving unit 111 to acquire information of [other] for another broadcast network while viewing a program on a certain broadcast network.

As described above, by selecting the acquisition means for each classification, it is possible to acquire programs and program information of a plurality of broadcast networks without interrupting the video / audio and data display being viewed. It is possible to display the program guide without interrupting the video / audio, data display, and the like in the middle.

(Acquisition timing of program information, acquisition range,
Holding Function) Hereinafter, the predetermined timing at which the program information acquisition unit 216 acquires program information from the program information server unit 206, the acquisition range of program information, and the holding function will be further described with examples.

As shown in the eighth invention, when the program information acquisition section 216 receives a program information acquisition request from the program table processing section 114, the program information acquisition section 216 determines the range of the program information acquired, The table processing unit 114 creates a program table and keeps it in a range to be sent to the display processing unit 113, thereby suppressing consumption of processing resources caused by acquisition of program information other than the display range and consumption of communication resources of the two-way communication path 220. can do.

As shown in the second invention, the third invention, the sixth invention, and the seventh invention, the program information acquisition unit 2
In the case where the program information acquired by the information holding unit 212 can be held in the information holding unit 212, the program information obtaining unit 216 does not acquire the program information already held by the information holding unit 212 again, thereby further processing resources. Control of consumption of
In addition, the consumption of communication resources can be suppressed.

In this case, as shown in the ninth invention, the program information acquisition section 216 determines the range of the program information to be acquired when the program information acquisition request is received from the program guide processing section 114, by the requested range. In other words, a method is considered in which the program table processing unit 114 creates a program table and sends it to the display processing unit 113, and further includes a range adjacent to the requested range as the program table (prefetch function). This allows
By suppressing the consumption of the processing resources and the consumption of the communication resources of the two-way communication path 220 in advance, by acquiring the program information which is likely to be used next, the viewer can request the display of the program guide, for example, The time from issuing a request to change the display range of a program guide to actually displaying the program guide can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an acquisition range of the prefetch function. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the acquisition range, and does not limit the method of displaying the program guide itself. In FIG. 4, a row indicates a segment (a unit obtained by dividing a day every three hours), and a column indicates a channel. In addition,
The rows and columns may be reversed. FIG. 4 shows a case where the program guide display range is for two sets of three channels, and in the aspect of FIG. 4, the channel numbers 421 to 423 of 12:00 to 12:00 are displayed.
8:00 is displayed. For convenience of description, one segment per channel will be referred to as a minimum unit of program information. In this case, the adjacent range as the program guide can be defined as follows.

For example, when the broadcast receiving apparatus mainly provides the viewer with means for moving one channel and one segment when moving the display range, the prefetching channel range is one channel on both sides. 4 (in FIG. 4, channel number 420 and channel number 424), and the segment range covers the next one segment (18:00 to 21:00 in FIG. 4). Pre-read range). Thus, when the viewer next moves the display range of the program guide, the program guide can be quickly created using the program information acquired in advance.

In FIG. 4, when moving the display range, means for moving every three channels and every two segments is provided.
An example in which a broadcast receiving device mainly provides to a viewer is shown. In this case, the minimum unit of the 30 pieces of program information is the prefetch range.

In general, the program guide display range is M channels × N segments.
If the broadcast receiving apparatus mainly provides the viewer with means for moving every channel and every n segments (normally, m does not exceed M and n does not exceed N), the channel range for pre-reading is set on both sides. The m channel is targeted, and the segment range covers the next n segments. In this case, the minimum unit of 5 × m × n pieces of program information is a prefetch range.

When the display range is moved after prefetching, the display range for the next display range or the range of program information in the prefetch range may include a portion that has already been acquired. is there. In this case, the update is performed by using information that has already been obtained, or by using a program information update function described later.

Although FIG. 4 shows an example in which the segment is prefetched only in the next segment direction, the preceding segment direction (in FIG.
12 o'clock range). According to this method, the storage resources required for the information holding unit 212 increase, but it is possible to cope with more flexible movement of the display range.

Generally, the program information of the program information server section which provides the program information of all services has a frequency of adding
Mainly once a day. Therefore, the program information acquisition unit 21
As a predetermined timing at which the program information 6 acquires the program information, the information acquired by the program information
Is stored, it is preferable that the information includes a time determined by a predetermined method, as shown in the tenth invention, other than when acquisition of program information from the program guide processing unit 114 is requested.

Since the program information can be preliminarily obtained and held in a concentrated manner, for example, in the middle of the night when the degree of viewing of the program by the viewer is small, the program table display request Can be shortened until is displayed. In this case, the predetermined method includes, for example, a plurality of broadcast receiving devices 210 as described in the eleventh invention.
Is divided into a plurality of sets, and a time is determined for each set. By doing so, the load on the program information server unit 206 and the bidirectional communication path 220 can be temporally distributed, and communication resources and the processing resources of the program information server can be effectively used.

Also, as shown in the twelfth aspect, by starting the acquisition operation when the broadcast receiving device 210 interrupts the viewing operation, when the program information is required, the program information is acquired in advance and the information holding unit 212 is acquired. The program table processing unit 114 can create a program table more quickly.

In the present application, the expression “time from when a program guide display request is made to when the program guide is actually displayed” is included in the program guide even when all the program information included in the program guide is displayed. The time until each of the minimum units of display is displayed can be applied to both.

(Update of program information in broadcast receiving apparatus)
Hereinafter, the update function of the program information in the broadcast receiving apparatus 210 in the third invention and the seventh invention will be described.
The method of using the difference information described in the eighteenth invention, the nineteenth invention, and the twentieth invention will be further described by way of examples.

The program information includes a version (version).
Numbered. When the program information server unit 206 updates not only the addition (creation) and deletion of the program information, the version number is incremented for each update.
In such a case, the program information acquisition unit 216 can confirm whether or not the program information already held in the information holding unit 212 has been updated by checking the version number. For example, when the program information acquisition unit is realized by a file system via a network, it can be realized by attaching a version number to the file name stored and managed by the program information server unit 206.

Further, in the case of realization by a DB system, it can be realized by a DB inquiry. According to such a method, in the third invention or the seventh invention, when the program information is updated, the program information acquiring unit 216 renews the program information held by the information holding unit 212. The program information can be re-acquired from the program information server unit 206 via the two-way communication path 220 and the program information in the information holding unit 212 can be updated.

Checking whether the content held in the information holding unit 212 is updated every time it is used causes consumption of processing resources and deterioration of response performance. For this reason, as shown in the twenty-fifth invention, a use expiration date is provided for the program information, a method of confirming the update only for the expired program information is managed, and the acquired time is managed. By a method such as confirming the update, the update frequency can be suppressed, and the consumption of the processing resources and the deterioration of the response performance can be suppressed.

Generally, the update frequency of the program information of the program information server section which provides the program information of all services is from 0 to several times a day. Therefore, for example, 3
There is a method in which, for example, program information acquired before 12:00 when the time has passed or when it has exceeded 12:00 is to be updated.

[0172] Generally, when the program information is updated, the latest information is the program information received from the receiving section 111, so that the fifth invention, the sixth invention, or the seventh invention has the following features. As described in the present invention, the updating of the program information is performed according to the program information acquisition method of the conventional digital broadcasting system, and is used in preference to the program information acquired from the program information acquisition unit 216, so that at least For a program, the latest program information can be used.

Note that the first invention, the fourth invention, and
As in the fifth invention, the program information acquired by the program information acquisition unit 216 is only passed to the program table processing unit 114,
A method in which the information is not stored in the information storage unit 212 is also conceivable. This makes it possible to reduce the storage resources required by the information holding unit 212.

However, in the first invention, the receiving unit 1
The program information received in 11 is used only for the receiving operation in the receiving unit 111, and the program guide processing unit 114 creates a program guide using only the program information acquired from the program information acquiring unit 216.

In the fifth invention, the program information held in the information holding unit 212 and the program information acquisition unit 216
If the program information obtained from
14 has the ability to use the newer (higher version numbered) program information. As described above, in general, the program information acquired from the information storage unit 212 is often newer than the program information acquired from the program information acquisition unit 216. A method of using the program information obtained from the unit 212 by postal service may be used.

As described in the eighteenth aspect, in updating program information, it is also possible to use difference information. Difference information is the information that can extract the part where the original information and the updated information are different, and create the updated information if there is difference information from the original information. Is shown. When the update of the program information using the difference information is used, the difference information generally has a smaller size than the information after the update, so that the consumption of the processing resources and the communication resources can be suppressed. If there is no corresponding difference information in the program information server unit 206, the updated information is acquired again.

Furthermore, as shown in the nineteenth aspect, when updating is performed using difference information and program information is obtained by a file system via a network,
A difference file can be used. The difference file is a file having difference information for the file.
In this case, as shown in the twentieth aspect, as the file name of the difference file, at least the version number of the original program information can be specified, and further, the version number of the updated program information can be specified. By doing so, the program information acquisition unit 216 can specify a difference file necessary for creating the latest program information from the program information held by the information holding unit 212.

FIG. 5 shows the program on the program server unit 206.
An example of a directory name and a file name of program information is shown. In the example of FIG. 5, the leading “/” indicates the root directory, and indicates that the directory does not belong under any directory.

The other "/" indicates a delimiter from a directory name or a file name. In the example of FIG. 5, the program information server unit 206 stores “E” under the “export” directory under the root directory.
PG "directory, which is used as a program information root directory as a broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a network.
10, a directory classified by date is configured under the directory, and a file classified by the service ID is configured under the directory.

However, the file name includes a version number, and the file also includes a difference file indicating difference information between versions. An example of the notation of the directory name classified by date shown in FIG. 5 is “XXXX_Y
Y_ZZ ". Here, “_” is a delimiter, XXXX is the year, YY is the two-digit display of the month, and ZZ is the two-digit display of the day. Next, an example of the notation of the file name including the version number, classified by the service ID shown in FIG. 5, is “AAA_B”. However, AAA is a three-digit display of the channel number, and B is a version number having an arbitrary number of digits.

The notation of the difference file name shown in FIG. 5 is “AAA_C_D.diff”. However,
AAA is a three-digit display of the channel number, C is the version number of the original program information, D is the version number of the updated program information, and ".diff" indicates that it is a difference file. . In the above description, the number of digits is fixed or arbitrarily set.
D. If the version number can be specified, the number of digits need not be limited.

(Conversion of Program Information Format)
The format conversion method in the program information format conversion unit 207 shown in the invention of the present invention will be further described by way of examples.

As an example of a different format, for example, in the format of program information used in a certain first broadcast network (hereinafter, referred to as a first format), the information included in the NIT contains some information. In the format of the program information used in the broadcast network of No. 2 (hereinafter referred to as a second format), P
There is a case where it is included in the MT. In this case, for example, in the case where the first format is used, the program information server unit 206 reads the corresponding information of the PMT from the program information of the second broadcast network and reads the corresponding information in the NIT of the first format. Place it in place.

Also, although included in the first format, the second format
If there is information that is not included in the format, a predetermined value that is predetermined is arranged at a predetermined location in the first format.
Further, if there is information that is not included in the first format but is included in the second format, the information is not included in the first format.

As described above, by performing the format conversion, the program information can be stored and managed in the program information server unit 206 in a unified format.
Also in 14, it is possible to create a program table using a unified format.

(Search of Program Information) The method of searching for program information in the twenty-second invention, the twenty-third invention and the twenty-fourth invention will be described below with reference to examples.

As a method of searching for program information, the program table processing unit 114 or the program information obtaining unit 216
There is a method for searching from the program information held in the information holding unit 212, and a method for the program information obtaining unit 216 to request the program information server unit to search for the program information via the two-way communication path 220. According to the latter method, the information holding unit 2
It is also possible to search for unacquired program information that is not stored in step S12.

As a method of realizing a search request and a response of a search result between the program information acquisition unit 216 and the program information server unit 206, the program information server unit 206 has a search server, and the program information acquisition unit 216 This can be realized by providing a client function of the search server. When a DB system and a WWW system are used as program information acquisition means, such a function of the search server / client is
It can be implemented as a function of a DB system or a WWW system.

[0189] Such a search function is provided by the program information server unit 2.
06, as shown in the twenty-third invention, the program information server unit 206 holds the search condition and the search result, so that the next time there is an inquiry about the same search condition, the result is quickly obtained. Can be returned.

Further, the search condition is set in advance in the program information server unit 206 by a predetermined method, the search is performed in advance, and the search condition and the search result are held. The frequency of retaining search results having search conditions that match the search conditions of the request is improved, and the results can be returned more quickly.

Further, as shown in the twenty-fourth aspect, a search condition for executing a search in the program information server unit 206 in advance is:
By providing a function for registering in the program information server unit 206 for each viewer who uses the broadcast receiving apparatus 210, it becomes possible to execute more complicated search conditions for each viewer in advance.

As an example of the search condition, when the genre is included in the program information, for example, there is a method of searching by the genre "sports". In addition, there is a method of searching for a character string included in the detailed program contents included in the program information, for example, by a cast name or the like.

Further, the plurality of search conditions are combined, for example, a search for a program whose genre is “variety” and whose performer includes “MEI”, and a search for a program scheduled to be broadcast from 19:00 to 21:00. Or, a search condition that the performer includes “PANA” but does not include “NATIO” can be used. Such a search
For example, search conditions can be expressed using SQL or the like, and the search conditions can be requested.

The digital broadcasting system provided with yesterday's program information acquisition using the two-way communication path enables flexible and high-speed acquisition of program information.

[0195]

As described above, according to the present invention, the communication for acquiring the program information does not depend on the broadcast network being watched. Of unacquired program information for the broadcast network is realized. Also, the program information server does not broadcast to each of the program information acquisition units, but the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information through the two-way communication path to the program information server only when necessary. Therefore, the processing resources of the broadcast receiving device can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a broadcasting station, a broadcast receiving device, and their connections according to a conventional digital broadcasting system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a method for managing program information in a program information server unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a concept of a range obtained by a prefetch function in a program information obtaining unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a concept of a method for managing program information in a program information server unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 broadcast station 102 broadcast database 103 video / audio stream generator 104 program information generator 105 multiplexer (MUX) 110 broadcast receiver 111 receiver 112 information storage unit 113 display processing unit 114 program table processing unit 115 reservation management unit 120 TV monitor 201 broadcast station 204 program information creation unit 206 program information server unit 207 program information format conversion unit 210 broadcast receiving device 212 information holding unit 216 program information acquisition unit 220 two-way communication path 301 program information root directory 302 directory 303 directory 304 directory 305 directory 306 file 307 file 308 file 616 program information acquisition unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/025 H04N 7/173 630 7/03 7/08 A 7/035 7/173 630 (72) Invention Person Tetsuji Maeda 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (reference) EB32 EB33 EB37 5C064 BB10 BC16 BC23 BC25 BD02 BD08 BD09 BD14

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A video station, an audio program, or a data program, which is multiplexed as a digital signal and broadcasted by a predetermined method, and a multiplex signal broadcast by the predetermined method is received, and the video program, the A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. In the system, the broadcasting station includes one or a plurality of program information server units, the broadcast receiving device includes a program information acquisition unit, a program table processing unit, the program information server unit A communication path that enables two-way communication with the program information acquisition unit is provided, the program information server unit stores and manages program information, and the program information acquisition unit includes:
At the request of the program table processing unit, using the communication path,
The program information is acquired from the program information server unit and sent to the program table processing unit. The program table processing unit transmits the program information to the program information acquisition unit when the viewer browses the program table. A system comprising a function of requesting acquisition, acquiring the program information, and creating a program table using the program information acquired from the program information acquisition unit. 2. A video station, an audio program, or a data program is multiplexed as a digital signal, and a broadcasting station that broadcasts by a predetermined method, and a multiplex signal broadcast by the predetermined method are received, and the video program, A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. In the system, the broadcast station includes one or a plurality of program information server unit, the broadcast receiving device includes a program information acquisition unit, an information holding unit, a program table processing unit, A communication path that enables two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit; the program information server unit stores and manages program information; At the timing, or at the request of the program guide processing unit, using the communication path, obtains the program information from the program information server unit and sends it to the information holding unit, and the information holding unit Holding the program information acquired by the acquisition unit, the program table processing unit, when the viewer browses the program table, for the program information that is not held by the information storage unit, the program information acquisition unit And a function of creating a program guide using the program information held in the information holding unit. 3. A video station, an audio program, or a data program, which is multiplexed as a digital signal and broadcasted by a predetermined method, and a multiplex signal broadcast by the predetermined method is received, and the video program, the A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. In the system, the broadcast station includes one or a plurality of program information server unit, the broadcast receiving device includes a program information acquisition unit, an information holding unit, a program table processing unit, A communication path that enables two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit; the program information server unit stores and manages program information; At the timing, or at the request of the program table processing unit, using the communication path, for the program information not held in the information holding unit, obtains the program information from the program information server unit The program information sent to the information holding unit, and for the program information already held in the information holding unit, if the program information has been updated in the program information server unit, the updated information is acquired, and the information holding The unit holds the program information acquired by the program information acquisition unit, the program table processing unit, when the viewer browses the program table, requests the program information acquisition unit to acquire, the information holding A function of creating a program table using the program information stored in the section. 4. A video station, an audio program, or a data program, which is multiplexed as a digital signal and broadcasted by a predetermined method, and a multiplex signal broadcast by the predetermined method is received, and the video program, the A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. The system, wherein the broadcast station includes one or a plurality of transmission units, and one or a plurality of program information server units, wherein the broadcast reception device includes a reception unit, an information holding unit, An information acquisition unit, comprising a program table processing unit, comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, the transmission unit, the video program, Voice turn And multiplexes the data program and first program information related to the video program, the audio program, or the data program, and transmits the multiplexed signal. For a program, the audio program, or the data program, the broadcast receiving device includes information necessary for performing a channel selection operation, the program information server unit stores and manages second program information, The second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services, and the receiving unit receives and demultiplexes a multiplex signal broadcast by the predetermined method, and demultiplexes the received multiplex signal. The first program information obtained by the above is sent to the information holding unit, and the information holding unit holds the first program information sent from the receiving unit. Table processing department request Acquiring the second program information acquired from the program information server using the communication path, wherein the program guide processing unit executes the program of the program being viewed when the viewer browses the program guide. The information uses the first program information received by the receiving unit and held in the information holding unit, and requests the program information obtaining unit to obtain program information other than the program being viewed. A function of creating a program guide using the second program information acquired as described above. 5. A video station, an audio program, or a data program, which is multiplexed as a digital signal and received by a broadcasting station broadcasting by a predetermined method, and a multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, and A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. The system, wherein the broadcast station includes one or a plurality of transmission units, and one or a plurality of program information server units, wherein the broadcast reception device includes a reception unit, an information holding unit, An information acquisition unit, comprising a program table processing unit, comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, the transmission unit, the video program, Voice turn And multiplexes the data program and first program information related to the video program, the audio program, or the data program, and transmits the multiplexed signal. Information necessary for the broadcast receiving apparatus to perform a channel selection operation on a program, the audio program, or the data program, and further, information on the multiplexed video program, the audio program, or the data program. The program information server unit stores and manages second program information, the second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services, and the receiving unit includes Receiving the multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, demultiplexing the multiplexed signal, sending the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, the information holding unit Holding the first program information sent from the program unit, the program information obtaining unit is configured to obtain the second program information from the program information server using the communication path at the request of the program table processing unit The program table processing unit, when the viewer browses the program table, the first program information held in the information holding unit, requesting the program information obtaining unit to obtain A program table is created using the acquired second program information, and a portion where the first program information and the second program information overlap has a function of using the first program information. A system characterized in that: 6. A broadcast station that multiplexes a video program, an audio program, or a data program as a digital signal and broadcasts by a predetermined method, and receives a multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, and receives the video program, A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. The system, wherein the broadcast station includes one or a plurality of transmission units, and one or a plurality of program information server units, wherein the broadcast reception device includes a reception unit, an information holding unit, An information acquisition unit, comprising a program table processing unit, comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, the transmission unit, the video program, Voice turn And multiplexes the data program and first program information related to the video program, the audio program, or the data program, and transmits the multiplexed signal. Information necessary for the broadcast receiving apparatus to perform a channel selection operation on a program, the audio program, or the data program, and further, information on the multiplexed video program, the audio program, or the data program. The program information server unit stores and manages second program information, the second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services, and the receiving unit includes Receiving the multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, demultiplexing the signal, sending the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, and Timing or at the request of the program table processing unit, the second acquired from the program information server by using the communication channel
Of the first program information sent from the receiving unit and the second program sent from the program information acquiring unit. Information, and a portion where the first program information and the second program information overlap each other holds only the first program information. When browsing, for the program information not held by the information holding unit, request the program information obtaining unit to obtain the program information, and create a program table using the program information held in the information holding unit A system having a function to perform. 7. A video station, an audio program, or a data program, which is multiplexed as a digital signal and received by a broadcasting station broadcasting by a predetermined method, and a multiplex signal broadcast by the predetermined method, and A digital broadcast comprising one or a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses for providing an audio program or the data program to a viewer, and providing a program guide to the viewer using program information acquired by a predetermined method. The system, wherein the broadcast station includes one or a plurality of transmission units, and one or a plurality of program information server units, wherein the broadcast reception device includes a reception unit, an information holding unit, An information acquisition unit, comprising a program table processing unit, comprising a communication path enabling two-way communication between the program information server unit and the program information acquisition unit, the transmission unit, the video program, Voice turn And multiplexes the data program and first program information related to the video program, the audio program, or the data program, and transmits the multiplexed signal. Information necessary for the broadcast receiving apparatus to perform a channel selection operation on a program, the audio program, or the data program, and further, information on the multiplexed video program, the audio program, or the data program. The program information server unit stores and manages second program information, the second program information includes information for creating an electronic program guide for all services, and the receiving unit includes Receiving the multiplexed signal broadcast by the predetermined method, demultiplexing the signal, sending the first program information obtained by demultiplexing to the information holding unit, and At the timing of, or at the request of the program table processing unit, using the communication path, for the second program information not held in the information holding unit, the program information server unit sends the second 2 and sends the acquired program information to the information holding unit. If the second program information already held in the information holding unit is updated by the program information server unit, Acquiring updated information for the second program information, the information holding unit includes the first program information sent from the receiving unit and the second program information sent from the program information acquiring unit. And the portion where the first program information and the second program information overlap each other holds only the first program information, and the program table processing unit allows the viewer to view the program table. The program information acquisition unit And, a system characterized in that it comprises the function of creating a program table by using the program information held in the information holding unit. 8. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein the program information acquisition unit comprises:
A system having a function of setting the range of the program information to be acquired as a range in which the program guide processing unit creates a program guide when acquiring the program information requested by the program guide processing unit. 9. The digital broadcast system according to claim 2, wherein the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information upon request from the program table processing unit. And a function of setting the range of the program information to be acquired to a range in which the program guide processing unit creates a program guide and a range adjacent to the creation range as a program guide. 10. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 2, claim 3, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein
The system according to claim 1, wherein the program information acquisition unit has a function of including the time determined by a predetermined method at the predetermined timing of acquiring the program information. 11. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 10, wherein the time determined by the predetermined method has a function determined for each broadcast receiving device. 12. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 2, claim 3, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein
The system according to claim 1, wherein the program information acquisition unit has a function including, at the predetermined timing of acquiring the program information, a time including a time when the broadcast receiving apparatus interrupts a viewing operation. 13. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein said two-way communication is enabled. The communication channel to perform is IP (Internet Proto
col) a system connected according to a protocol. 14. The digital broadcast system according to claim 13, wherein the program information server manages the program information as a file, and the program information acquisition unit uses the communication path to transmit the program information. A system wherein the means for acquiring the program information from a server unit is realized by a file system via a network. 15. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 14, wherein the program information server section stores a directory in which the program information to be stored and managed is classified by a first predetermined method, and a second predetermined directory. A system that has a function of managing files classified according to the method of (1). 16. The digital broadcast system according to claim 13, wherein said program information acquiring unit acquires said program information from said program information server unit using said communication path, realized by a database system. A system characterized in that: 17. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 13, wherein said program information obtaining unit includes means for obtaining said program information from said program information server unit using said communication path, by using WWW (World Wide). A system characterized by being realized by a Web system. 18. The digital broadcast system according to claim 3, wherein the program information server unit updates the stored / managed program information when updating the stored / managed program information. Creating difference information between the program information and the updated program information, the program information acquisition unit acquires the difference information as the updated information, and stores the program information in the information holding unit. A system having a function of updating. 19. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 18, wherein the communication path enabling the two-way communication includes:
A network connected according to an IP (Internet Protocol) protocol, wherein the program information server manages the program information as a file;
As the difference information, a difference information file is created, the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path, a file system via a network, or a file. Realized by a transfer protocol, the program information server unit,
The program information to be stored / managed is managed by a directory classified by a first predetermined method and a file classified by a second predetermined method, and the program information obtaining unit sets the program information as the updated information. Get the difference information file,
A system comprising a function of updating the program information of the information holding unit. 20. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 19, wherein a file name of the difference information file is:
The program information file includes the same character string as the file name, and further includes a character string that can specify at least the version of the program information that is the source of the update, and further includes a character that can specify the updated version A system comprising a function including a column. 21. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein:
Further, one or a plurality of program information format conversion unit, the program information format conversion unit, the program information format different from the program information managed by the program information server unit,
Converted to the format of the program information managed by the program information server unit, and transmitted to one or a plurality of the program information server unit, the program information server unit, transmitted from the program information format conversion unit, A system having a function of receiving the converted program information and storing and managing the converted program information. 22. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein the program table processing unit comprises:
Receiving a search request for the program information from the viewer,
The program information acquiring unit sends the search request, the program information acquiring unit requests the program information server to search for the program information using the communication path, and the program information server receives the requested information. A search result is transmitted to the program information acquisition unit using the communication path, and the program information acquisition unit has a function of providing the search result transmitted from the program information server to the viewer. A system characterized in that: 23. The digital broadcast system according to claim 22, wherein the program information server is configured to execute the search request or the search request from the program information acquisition unit. Separately, a search is performed according to a predetermined search condition, the result is held, and when the search request from the program information acquisition unit matches the search condition of the held search result, A system having a function of transmitting a held search result to the program information acquisition unit. 24. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 23, wherein the program information server unit has a function of using a program registered in advance for each viewer as the predetermined search condition. Features system. 25. The digital broadcast system according to claim 3, wherein the information holding unit manages a time at which the program information obtaining unit obtains the time from the program information server unit. When the program information acquisition unit uses the program information held in the information holding unit, the acquisition time of the program information held in the information holding unit is a predetermined time determined by a predetermined method. If the time is before the time, using the communication path from the program information server unit,
A system having a function of updating the program information. 26. The digital broadcast system according to claim 13, wherein the program information server manages the program information as a file, and the program information obtaining unit uses the communication path to execute the program information. A system wherein the means for acquiring the program information from a server unit is realized by a file transfer protocol. 27. The digital broadcast system according to claim 13, wherein the program information server manages the program information as a file, and the program information obtaining unit uses the communication path to execute the program information. Means for acquiring the program information from the server unit is a UDP (User Datagram).
m Protocol). 28. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 13, wherein the program information server manages the program information as a file, and the program information obtaining unit uses the communication path to execute the program information. Means for acquiring the program information from the server unit is a TCP (Transmission)
A system realized by a transfer method using Control Protocol (Control Protocol). 29. The digital broadcast system according to claim 13, wherein the program information server manages the program information as a file, and the program information acquisition unit uses the communication path to transmit the program information. A system wherein the means for acquiring the program information from a server unit is realized by a transfer method using IP Multicast. 30. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 29, wherein a different IP is used for each type of the program information.
A system, wherein the transfer is performed using a Multicast address. 31. Claims 14, 16, and 1
7. The digital broadcast system according to claim 26, wherein the program information acquisition unit acquires the program information from the program information server unit using the communication path, further comprising: IP Multicas
A system realized by using a transfer method using t.