JP2003052033A - Program information converting method and user station and recording medium with user station program recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user side to call contents based on the re-configuration and link information of a program at the time of distributing a digital program to be transmitted by an MPEG2TS through the Internet. SOLUTION: At the time of converting a digital program to be transmitted by an MPEG2TS, and distributing it through the Internet, a transmitting server distributes the corresponding table of an MPEG2TS dependent identifier, and an MPEG2TS independent identifier with the contents and a program information XML file obtained by mapping the information contents of PSI or SI. A user station converts the MPEG2TS dependent identifier described in the program information XML file, or the contents into the MPEG2TS dependent identifier by using the identifier corresponding table. Thus, it is possible for a user side to view the digital program in the same way, as a plurality of digital programs of component contents configurations are distributed through the Internet by referring to the program configuration information or the contents corresponding to the inter-contents link relation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to MPEG2TS.
When a digital program transmitted by the (MPEG2 Transport Stream) system is distributed on the Internet, the program is reconfigured by using the configuration information of the transmitted program and the mutual link information between the element contents constituting the program. The present invention relates to a program conversion method, a user station, and a recording medium on which a user station program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital broadcasting service, a program is configured as a set of multimedia contents such as video / audio / data and provided to general viewers. Digital program contents are transmitted using MPEG2TS,
In addition to each component content, PSI (Program Specific Informatio) that describes the program structure and transmission method
n: SI (Service) that describes the program identification information and program content
Information: Program information called program arrangement information) is also transmitted.

PSI and SI are important information for linking component contents and constructing an EPG (Electric Program Guide), but MP
Since it is encoded in a format premised on transmission by EG2TS, it has low affinity with distribution on an IP network and a general-purpose PC browser. Therefore, MPEG
When redistributing a digital program delivered by 2TS through an IP-based network such as the Internet, conversion of program information is required in addition to conversion of each component content itself.

There is one that converts program information distributed by MPEG2TS into a description format having a high affinity with the Internet. According to this technique, as shown in FIG.
The SI transmitted by the S method is extracted from the broadcast wave, and the SI information content is HTML or XML based on the original conversion rule.
It maps to the markup language format of.
By converting to HTML or XML, the program content information can be used by a general-purpose browser on a PC and displayed as an EPG.

Among the techniques for converting SI to HTML format and the techniques for converting SI to XML format, XML conversion is more expandable in editing and displaying program content information than HTML conversion.

[0006] These techniques are intended to easily use and display the program content information transmitted as SI on a PC, and the SI information content as it is in HTML or XML.
It is converted into a format.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] During PSI and SI,
In addition to the program content information for EPG display, program configuration information and link information between contents are described. The program structure and link information are described using identifiers that distinguish each content such as video / audio / data, and these content identifiers depend on MPEG2TS transmission. It should be noted that such an identifier is hereinafter referred to as an MPEG2 dependent identifier.

Therefore, the information content of SI is H
It is impossible to describe the configuration of the entire program and the link designation between the contents at the time of digital distribution of the digital program only by the conventional technology of only converting to the TML or XML format, and the user who received the program has a plurality of contents. There is a problem that the program cannot be viewed as a set of.

An object of the present invention is to provide a program information conversion method, a user station, and a recording medium on which a user station program is recorded, which solves the above problems.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a correspondence table (MPEG2TS) distributed from a transmission server by a user station is provided.
The identification information described in the content is translated using the identification information used during transmission and the correspondence relationship between the identification information such as the URL and the delivery destination address used during Internet delivery) and translated on the Internet. By referring to the corresponding contents from the element contents and displaying the plurality of called contents on the screen, MPE can be performed from the element contents distributed via the Internet.
The digital program is reconstructed similarly to the G2TS transmission so that the user can view the program, and is characterized by the following method, device and recording medium.

(1) When a transmission server distributes a digital program transmitted by the MPEG2TS system on the Internet, an identifier used for MFEG2TS transmission together with program constituent contents re-encoded for Internet distribution, In a program information conversion method for generating and distributing a correspondence table of identifiers assigned to re-encoded contents, and for the user station to receive the program, the user station stores the distributed identifier correspondence table. Identifier correspondence table processing step, and a program guide display step of displaying a program guide based on the distributed control information, accepting a program selection from the user, and delivering the identifier of the content that constitutes the corresponding program to the identifier translation process And the video, audio, and data contents that make up the program are displayed on the same screen,
When link designation is described in another content by using an identifier used in MPEG2TS transmission in the content, the identifier is passed to the above-mentioned identifier translation process, and the corresponding content is returned based on the identifier returned from the identifier translation process. Is used to perform switching display, and an identifier used in the Internet distribution by using an identifier correspondence table that stores the identifiers used in the MPEG2TS transmission passed from the program content display process and the program guide display process. Identifier translation that returns the identifier of the content corresponding to the program structure or link in the above-mentioned program content display process, and transfers the identifier used in Internet distribution in the program request transmission process when the content to be displayed is not received. From the process and the above identifier translation process A program request transmission process for making a transmission request of unreceived content to the transmission server using the passed identifier, and program configuration information and content content described in the element content using the identifier correspondence table. By translating the mutual link information of the above and referring to the content, a digital program composed of a plurality of element contents can be viewed through the Internet.

(2) When the transmission server distributes the digital program transmitted by the MPEG2TS system on the Internet, the identifier used for the MFEG2TS transmission together with the program constituent contents re-encoded for the Internet distribution, An identifier correspondence table processing unit that accumulates the distributed identifier correspondence table in a user station that receives a digital program that is distributed by generating a correspondence table of identifiers assigned to re-encoded contents, and distributed control A program guide display unit that displays a program guide based on information, accepts a program selection from the user, and transfers the identifier of the content that composes the corresponding program to the identifier translation unit, and the video, audio, and data contents that compose the program. Is displayed on the same screen, and the identifier used in the MPEG2TS transmission is used in the content. Passing an identifier in the identifier translation unit in the case of content to the link specified is described,
The program content display unit that calls up the corresponding content based on the identifier returned from the identifier translation unit and performs switching display, and the identifier used during the MPEG2TS transmission passed from the program content display unit and the program guide display unit are stored. It is translated into an identifier to be used for Internet distribution by using the generated identifier correspondence table, the identifier of the content corresponding to the program structure and the link is returned to the program content display section, and the program is displayed when the content to be displayed is not received. An identifier translation unit that delivers an identifier used for Internet distribution to the request transmission unit, and a program request transmission unit that makes a transmission request for unreceived content to the transmission server using the identifier passed from the identifier translation unit. Then, the program described in the element content using the above identifier correspondence table Translating mutual link information between adult information and content by referring to the content, wherein the view digital program composed of a plurality element content via the Internet.

(3) When the transmission server distributes a digital program transmitted by the MPEG2TS system on the Internet, the identifier used for the MFEG2TS transmission together with the program constituent contents re-encoded for the Internet distribution, A recording medium in which a computer readable recording of a user station program for the user station to generate and distribute a correspondence table of the identifiers given to the re-encoded contents, and to distribute the digital program Identifier correspondence table processing procedure for accumulating the generated identifier correspondence table, displaying the program guide based on the distributed control information, accepting the program selection from the user, and translating the identifier of the content forming the corresponding program into the identifier translation procedure The program guide display procedure to be delivered to the user and the video, audio, and data contents that make up the program. When the content is displayed on one screen and the link designation is described in another content by using the identifier used in the MPEG2TS transmission in the content, the identifier is passed to the above-mentioned identifier translation procedure and returned from the identifier translation procedure. Using a program content display procedure for calling up the corresponding content based on the identifier and performing switching display, and an identifier correspondence table in which the identifiers used in the MPEG2TS transmission passed from the program content display procedure and the program guide display procedure are accumulated Then, the identifier of the content corresponding to the program structure or the link is returned to the program content display procedure after being translated into the identifier used in the Internet distribution, and if the content to be displayed is not received, the identifier used in the Internet distribution in the program request transmission procedure. Identifier translation procedure to pass and the above identification Using the identifier delivery from the translation procedure, characterized by having a a program request transmission procedure for a transmission request for the content not received to the transmission server.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (1) Description of Outline With reference to FIG. 1 as an example, an outline of the present embodiment for realizing program information conversion suitable for Internet distribution of digital programs will be described.

In order to realize the description of the program structure and the description of the link information between the component contents, this system introduces a content identifier (hereinafter referred to as an independent identifier) that does not depend on MPEG2TS, and the transmission server transmits it by MPEG2TS. Correspondence table of MPEG2TS independent identifiers used by PSI, SI, etc. and newly added MPEG2TS independent identifiers by assigning MPEG2TS independent identifiers to component contents such as video / audio / data, which are constituent elements of digital programs Is transmitted together with the content and program information XML file,
MPEG2T described in the content and program information XML received through the Internet at the user station
MPE in which the S-dependent identifier is described in the identifier correspondence table
The program information X can be translated into G2TS independent identifier.
This is a system that can hold the configuration of programs and link relationships and view digital programs as a set of a plurality of component contents without rewriting the information contents of ML files and data contents.

(2) Description of Configuration In the system configuration shown in FIG. 1, it comprises a transmission server 1, an Internet network 2, and a user station 3.

The transmission server 1 uses the MP assigned in advance to each component content that constitutes a digital program.
It has a function of extracting an EG2TS dependent identifier, a function of newly adding an MPEG2TS independent identifier to each component content, and a function of creating a correspondence table of the extracted MPEG2TS dependent identifier and the added MPEG2TS independent identifier and delivering it to the user station. .

The user station 3 uses the MPEG2TS dependent identifier described in the received content or program information XML file and the MPEG2T described in the identifier correspondence table.
It has a function of displaying and receiving contents by translating them into S independent identifiers.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the user station. The user station includes a program receiving unit 2a, a video / audio processing unit 2b, a data processing unit 2c, a program information XML file processing unit 2d, an identifier correspondence table processing unit 2e, a program display / processing unit 2f, and an EPG.
The display / processing unit 2g, the identifier translation unit 2h, and the program request transmission unit 2i are included.

(3) Description of functions Each function of the user station will be described.

The main function of the program receiving unit 2a is to receive the program content distributed via the Internet and extract the IP packet storing the audiovisual data, the data, the program information XML file and the identifier correspondence table. ,
The same as before.

The main function of the video / audio processing section 2b is to decode the extracted video / audio, and to store the program content storage device 2 therein.
This is the same function as the conventional one.

The main function of the data processing unit 2c is a function of decoding the extracted data and storing it in the program content storage device 2j, which is the same as the conventional one.

The main function of the program information XML file processing section 2d is a function of decoding the extracted program information XML file, which is the same as the conventional one.

The main function of the identifier correspondence table processing section 2e is a function of decoding the extracted identifier correspondence table and storing it in the identifier table storage device 2k.

The main function of the program display / processing unit 2f is to display video and audio, data, and contents which compose a program on the same screen, and further specify a link from one content to another content using the MPEG2TS-dependent identifier. Is described, the identifier is passed to the identifier translation unit 2h, the corresponding content is called based on the MPEG2TS independent identifier returned from the identifier translation unit, and switching display is performed.

The main function of the EPG display / processing unit 2g is to display the EPG based on the information content of the program information XML file, accept the program selection from the user, and compose a corresponding program content identifier (MPEG2TS dependent identifier). ) Is passed to the identifier translation unit.

The main function of the identifier translation unit 2h is to translate the MPEG2TS dependent identifiers passed from the program display / processing unit 2f and the EPG display / processing unit 2g into MPEG2TS independent identifiers using the stored identifier correspondence table 2k. The function is to return the identifier of the content corresponding to the program structure and the link to the program display / processing unit 2f. The identifier translation unit 2h also has a function of passing the MPEG2TS independent identifier to the program request transmission unit 2i when the content displayed by the program display / processing unit 2f has not been received.

The main function of the program request transmission unit 2i is a function of transmitting a transmission request for unreceived content to the transmission server 1 by using the MPEG2TS independent identifier passed from the identifier translation unit.

(4) Description of Operation FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the user station in this embodiment.

(S1) The user station displays the EPG from the program information XML file.

(S2) The user station selects a program from the EPG, and the result of the program selection is passed to the identifier translation section as an MPEG2TS-dependent identifier of each component content forming the program.

(S3) MP2TS dependent identifier is MP
It is translated into an EG2TS independent identifier and the component content that constitutes the program is called.

(S4) If the contents of the program have already been received, they are presented to the user.

(S5, S6, S7) If the content forming the program has not been received, a content transmission request is transmitted to the transmission server using the MPEG2TS independent identifier,
After receiving and accumulating the content, the program is presented to the user.

(S8) When a link reference from one content to another content is selected during program display, the link destination designated by the MPEG2TS dependent identifier is translated into an MPEG2TS independent identifier, and the corresponding content is selected. In order to call, the processing of (S3) to (S7) is executed again.

(S9) If another program is selected during program display, the processes of (S2) to (S7) are executed again.

With the above operation, when a digital program distributed by MPEG2TS is distributed on the Internet,
It is possible to hold a program structure and a link relationship and view a digital program as a set of a plurality of component contents without rewriting the information contents of the program information XML file and the data contents.

In the present invention, a part or all of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the procedure shown in FIG. 3 is described in a computer program so that it can be executed, and the computer can read it. Recording medium, eg F
D (floppy disk: trademark registration), MO, RO
M, memory card, CD, DVD, removable disk, etc. can be recorded, provided, and distributed.

[0040]

According to the present invention, when a digital program transmitted by MPEG2TS is converted and distributed on the Internet, a table of correspondence between MPEG2TS dependent identifiers and MPEG2TS independent identifiers of contents and PSI or SI is stored in a transmission server. The information is distributed together with the program information XML file to which the information content is mapped, and the user station transmits the MPE described in the program information XML file or the content.
The G2TS dependent identifier is converted into M using the identifier correspondence table.
By converting to a PEG2TS independent identifier so that the content corresponding to the program configuration information and the link relationship between the contents can be referenced correctly, a digital program composed of a plurality of component contents is distributed by MPEG2TS via the Internet. You can watch it in the same way as when viewing.

Further, according to the present invention, the user station translates the identifiers based on the identifier correspondence table, thereby using the MPEG2TS-dependent identifiers in the program information XML file and the data contents, and between the program configurations and contents. When describing the link designation, it is possible to normally recognize the program configuration information and the link relationship between the contents without having to rewrite the information contents of the program information XML file and the data contents in the transmission server.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration of a user station according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a processing flow of a user station according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conventional program information conversion system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Sending server 2 ... Internet 3 ... User station 2a ... Program receiver 2b ... A / V processing unit 2b 2c ... Data processing unit 2d ... Program information XML file processing unit 2e ... Identifier correspondence table processing unit 2f ... Program display / processing unit 2g ... EPG display / processing unit 2h ... Identifier translation unit 2i ... Program request transmission unit

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Hirose             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Takehiko Kawazoe             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kazama             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5C064 BA07 BB10 BC20 BD07

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. When a transmission server distributes a digital program transmitted by the MPEG2TS system on the Internet,
Along with the program structure contents re-encoded for Internet distribution, a correspondence table of the identifiers used for MFEG2TS transmission and the identifiers given to the re-encoded contents is generated and distributed. In the program information conversion method for receiving a program by the user station, the user station displays the program table based on the identifier correspondence table processing process of accumulating the distributed identifier correspondence table and the distributed control information. The program guide display process that accepts program selection and passes the identifier of the content that composes the corresponding program to the identifier translation process, and the video, audio, and data content that compose the program are displayed on the same screen, and MPEG2TS transmission is performed in the content. The above identifier when the link designation is described in other contents using the identifier used at times The program content display step of passing an identifier to the translation step, calling up the corresponding content based on the identifier returned from the identifier translation step, and performing switching display, and the MPEG2TS transmission passed from the program content display step and the program guide display step The identifiers used at times are translated into identifiers used for Internet distribution using the stored identifier correspondence table, and the identifiers of contents corresponding to the program structure and links are returned in the process of displaying the program contents, and the contents to be displayed are received. If not, the transmission request for the unreceived content is made to the transmission server by using the identifier translation process of passing the identifier used in the Internet distribution in the program request transmission process and the identifier passed from the identifier translation process. And a program request transmission process. A digital program composed of multiple element contents can be viewed via the Internet by translating the program configuration information described in the element content and the mutual link information between the contents by using the bull and referencing the content. And program information conversion method. 2. When the transmission server distributes a digital program transmitted by the MPEG2TS system on the Internet,
Receiving a digital program delivered by generating a correspondence table of identifiers used for MFEG2TS transmission and identifiers assigned to the re-encoded contents, together with program constituent contents re-encoded for Internet distribution In the user station, the identifier correspondence table processing unit for accumulating the distributed identifier correspondence table and the program guide based on the distributed control information are displayed, the program selection from the user is accepted, and the context that composes the corresponding program is received. The program guide display section that delivers the identifier of the program to the identifier translation section and the video, audio, and data contents that make up the program are displayed on the same screen, and the other contents are displayed by using the identifier used during MPEG2TS transmission in the content. When the link designation is described, the identifier is passed to the identifier translation unit and returned from the identifier translation unit. A program content display section that calls up the corresponding content based on the identified identifier and performs switching display, and an identifier correspondence table that stores the identifiers used during the MPEG2TS transmission passed from the program content display section and the program guide display section To the identifier used in the Internet distribution, and returns the identifier of the content corresponding to the program structure and the link to the program content display section, and if the content to be displayed is not received, the program request transmission section sends it to the Internet. It has an identifier translation unit that delivers an identifier used in distribution, and a program request transmission unit that makes a transmission request for unreceived content to the transmission server using the identifier passed from the identifier translation unit. Program configuration information and contents described in element contents using a table Translating mutual link information between Ntsu By referring to content, the user station, characterized in that view digital program composed of a plurality element content via the Internet. 3. When the transmission server distributes a digital program transmitted by the MPEG2TS system on the Internet,
Along with the program constituent contents re-encoded for Internet distribution, a correspondence table of identifiers used for MFEG2TS transmission and identifiers given to the re-encoded contents is generated and distributed, and this digital program is distributed. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a user station program to be received by a user station, the identifier correspondence table processing procedure for accumulating a distributed identifier correspondence table, and a program guide based on the distributed control information. Is displayed, the program selection display from the user is received, and the program guide display procedure that passes the identifier of the content that composes the corresponding program to the identifier translation procedure and the video, audio, and data content that composes the program are displayed on the same screen. And link to other content by using the identifier used in MPEG2TS transmission in the content If a specified content is described, the identifier is passed to the above-mentioned identifier translation procedure, the corresponding content is called based on the identifier returned from the identifier translation procedure, and the program content display procedure for performing switching display and the above-mentioned program content display procedure And an identifier used in MPEG2TS transmission passed from the program guide display procedure is translated into an identifier used in Internet distribution by using an accumulated identifier correspondence table, and an identifier of content corresponding to the program structure or link in the program content display procedure. When the content to be displayed is not received, an identifier translation procedure that delivers an identifier used in Internet distribution to the program request transmission procedure, and an identifier passed from the identifier translation procedure are used to send to the transmission server. Program request transmission to request transmission of unreceived content A recording medium on which a user station program is recorded, which comprises: