JP2003125414A - Object transmitter and object receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an object transmitter, an object receiver, and an object coding system program which can materialize such service offering that the request of viewers are fulfilled, without preventing viewing the broadcast contents. SOLUTION: This system is composed of the object transmitter 3, which can handle a bit stream by coding the object being image data in optional form concerned with a moving image compression technique, and the object receiver 5, and the object transmitter 3 is equipped with an object generating and coding part 9 and a multiple stream transmitting part 13, and the object receiver 5 is equipped with a multiple stream receiving part 17 and an object decoding part 23.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for transmitting and receiving a bitstream or a compliant file in which an object is encoded, of MPEG-4 which is a moving image compression technique, and various services using the bitstream or the compliant file. The present invention relates to an object transmitting apparatus, an object receiving apparatus, and an object encoding system program that provide the following.

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to provide specific information to a viewer, contents broadcast from a broadcasting station may be overlaid with a superimpose of characters or a subtitle superimposition. is there.

[0002]

However, the conventional superimposing of characters and the like to be overlaid, subtitle superimposing, etc. is a method (compression method of rectangular shape) for compression-encoding the entire overlaid image. MPEG
-2 (ISO / IEC13818-2), and is unilaterally added to the content to be broadcast on the broadcast station side, and there is a problem that the viewing of the content itself may be disturbed.

On the other hand, a viewer wants to provide various services (viewing modes) for the content to be watched. However, in the case of superimposition of characters and the like which can be provided by the conventional method, subtitle superimposition, etc. There is a problem that the person's request is not satisfied.

By the way, in the terrestrial digital broadcasting service which will be started in 2003, MPEG-4 (ISO / IEC 144), which is a moving picture compression technique having multifunctional performance.
96-2) will be adopted. This MPEG-4
Then, a simple video service with a small screen (comparing the entire screen) at a relatively low bit rate will be provided. Due to such circumstances, it is expected that the viewers will realize the service provision that makes the general viewers satisfied by utilizing the multi-functionality of MPEG-4.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, and to provide a service that satisfies the demands of viewers without hindering the viewing of broadcast contents, and an object transmitting device and an object. It is to provide a receiving device and an object encoding system program.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an object transmitting apparatus according to claim 1 encodes an object, which is image data of arbitrary shape, based on a moving image compression technique, and outputs a bit stream. It is characterized by comprising a bitstream generating means for generating and a bitstream transmitting means for transmitting the bitstream.

According to this structure, first, the bit stream generating means encodes an object, which is image data of arbitrary shape, based on the moving image compression technique,
It is regarded as a bit stream. The generated bitstream is transmitted by the bitstream transmitting means.
The moving picture compression technique is represented by MPEG (particularly MPEG-4) which is an international standard coding method defined by ISO for compressing and coding a moving picture (video) signal, and a bit stream is 2 It is a continuous stream of binary data.

An object transmitting apparatus according to a second aspect is the object transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the object is a supermarket including at least one of a character and a logo, and the supermarket is set as a content to be transmitted. It is characterized in that an overlay means for overlaying is provided.

According to this structure, when the object is a supermarket including at least one of a character and a logo, this supermarket is encoded and then overlaid on the transmitted content by the overlay means.

An object transmitting apparatus according to a third aspect is the object transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the object is a commercial message, and overlay means for overlaying the commercial message on the content to be transmitted is provided. It is characterized by that.

According to this structure, when the object is a commercial message, the commercial message is encoded and then overlaid on the content to be transmitted by the overlay means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the object transmission device according to the first aspect, wherein the object is interlocked with the accumulation means for accumulating regional information regarding a receiving side region. This is regional information interlocking data, and an overlay means for overlaying the regional information interlocking data on the content to be transmitted is provided.

According to this structure, when the bitstream is the area information interlocking data interlocking with the area information stored in the storage means, the content transmitted by the overlay means after the area information interlocking data is encoded. Is overlaid on. The regional information refers to geographical information within a certain range (units of municipalities, units of prefectures, units of regions, etc.), and the region information linked data is the current information contained in the region information, for example, , Information such as weather and traffic conditions.

The object transmitting apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the object transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the bit stream generating means is a program in which the content to be transmitted includes a sound generation target for generating sound. In this case, the sound generation target is generated by the bit stream.

According to this structure, the bitstream generated by the bitstream generating means is a person,
It is a voice utterance target of an animal or the like, and the voice utterance target which is bitstreamed during the program is displayed.

An object transmitting apparatus according to claim 6 is the object transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bitstream generating means uses the bitstream to output information about an object included in content to be transmitted. It is characterized by comprising overlay means for overlaying the content to be generated and transmitted.

According to this structure, the bitstream generated by the bitstream generating means is information about the object included in the content,
The overlay means overlays the content to be transmitted. Note that the information about the object means, for example, when the object is a sports player,
Personal data such as career, height and weight of this player.

The object transmitting apparatus according to claim 7 is the object transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising content transmitting means, wherein the bitstream generating means shields a part of the content to be transmitted in advance. Content is generated by the bit stream, and the blocking portion-containing content in which a part of the content transmitted by the content transmitting means is shielded is transmitted.

According to this structure, the part (extracted part) in which a part of the content transmitted by the content transmitting means is shielded is generated in the bit stream, and the shield part-containing content in which a part of the content is shielded is generated. Is transmitted by the content transmitting means.

Further, the object transmitting apparatus according to claim 8 is a compliant file for generating a compliant file having a bit rate according to a bit stream obtained by encoding an object which is image data of arbitrary shape according to a moving image compression technique. It is characterized by comprising a generating means and a conforming file transmitting means for transmitting the conforming file.

According to this structure, the compliant file generating means generates a compliant file having a bit rate conforming to the bit stream, and the compliant file transmitting means transmits the compliant file. The compliant file is a file having a bit rate compliant with MPEG (particularly MPEG-4) which is a moving image compression technique.

Further, an object receiving apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention comprises a bitstream receiving means for receiving a bitstream in which an object is encoded, transmitted from a transmitting side, and a bitstream received by the bitstream receiving means. Bitstream decoding means for decoding the object.

According to this structure, the bitstream receiving means receives the bitstream in which the object is coded on the transmitting side, and the coded bitstream is decoded by the bitstream decoding means to obtain the object. To be

An object receiving apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a content receiving means for receiving the content transmitted from the transmitting side, and a bitstream for receiving the bitstream in which the object is encoded, transmitted from the transmitting side. Receiving means, bitstream decoding means for decoding the bitstream received by the bitstream receiving means into the object, and content received by the content receiving means, with the bitstream received by the bitstream receiving means being overlaid. In the case where the bitstream is decoded, the object is decoded by the bitstream decoding means, and an overlay display selection means for selecting whether to display or not display in the content is provided.

According to this structure, first, the bit stream overlaid on the content is received by the content receiving means and the bit stream receiving means. Then, the overlay display selecting means selects whether or not to display the overlaid bitstream on the content, and when displaying, the bitstream is decoded by the bitstream decoding means to be an object. It

The object receiving apparatus according to claim 11 is the object receiving apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the content transmitted from the transmitting side includes a plurality of the bit streams, these bits are set. It is characterized in that a bit stream selecting means for selecting a stream is provided.

According to this structure, when the content transmitted from the transmitting side includes a plurality of bitstreams, the bitstream selecting means selects an arbitrary bitstream according to the intention of the user of the receiving device. To be selected.

An object receiving apparatus according to a twelfth aspect is the object receiving apparatus according to the tenth aspect or the eleventh aspect, wherein the content transmitted from the transmitting side includes the pay bitstream. A user authentication means for authenticating that the user is a legitimate user who can use the paid bitstream, and a bitstream charging means for charging according to the used bitstream. .

According to this structure, the user authenticating means authenticates that the user is a legitimate user, a pay bitstream is made available, and the bitstream charging means charges a fee according to the bitstream used. To be done. Note that the billing method depends on the number of bitstreams used according to the fee determined for each bitstream,
It is performed depending on the time of viewing the bitstream (decoded object).

Further, the object receiving apparatus according to claim 13 has a bit rate conforming to a bit stream which is transmitted from the transmitting side and which is an image data of arbitrary shape and is encoded based on a moving image compression technique. It is characterized by comprising a compliant file receiving means for receiving a file and a compliant file decoding means for decoding the compliant file received by the compliant file receiving means.

According to this structure, the compliant file receiving unit receives the compliant file encoded by the transmitting side, and the compliant file encoded is decoded by the compliant file decoding unit to obtain the compliant file. .

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. (Configuration of Object Transmission / Reception System (Object Transmission Device and Object Reception Device)) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the object transmission / reception system. As shown in FIG. 1, the object transmission / reception system 1 includes an object transmission device 3 and an object reception device 5.

The object transmission / reception system 1 encodes and transmits an object, which is an image data of arbitrary shape according to a moving image compression technique (especially MPEG-4), at the transmission side, receives it at the reception side, and then decodes and uses it. It is a system that does. The object transmission device 3 includes a normal content generation encoding unit 7, an object generation encoding unit 9, a normal content object multiplexing unit 11, a multiple stream transmission unit 13, and a storage unit 15. There is.

The normal content generation / encoding unit 7 compression-encodes a broadcast program (normal content) used for normal broadcasting by a conventional encoding method (method of encoding a rectangular image) to generate a normal content bitstream (normal content). Hereinafter, a normal content bitstream signal A) is generated and output to the normal content / object multiplexing unit 11.

The object generation / encoding unit 9 uses an extension type encoding method (a method of decoding an image of an arbitrary shape; for example, MPEG) for an object image of an arbitrary shape, which is an extension type content with respect to a normal content. -4 cores
The object bit stream (hereinafter, referred to as an object bit stream signal B) is generated by compression-encoding with a profile) and output to the normal content / object multiplexing unit 11. The object generation / encoding unit 9 corresponds to the bitstream generation means described in the claims.

Normal content / object multiplexing unit 1
1 is a normal content / object multiplex that multiplexes the normal content bitstream signal A generated by the normal content generation encoding unit 7 and the object bitstream signal B generated by the object generation encoding unit 9 into one stream. A stream (hereinafter, referred to as a normal content object multiple stream signal C) is generated and is output to the multiple stream transmission unit 13. As an example of the multiplexing method, an MPEG-2 transport stream (ISO / IEC 13818-
There is a method using 1).

The normal content / object multiplexing unit 11 corresponds to overlay means described in the claims. Further, when the object bit stream signal B is not input to the normal content / object multiplexing unit 11, only the normal content bit stream signal A is converted into a multiplexed stream according to the conventional multiplexing method.

The multi-stream transmitting unit 13 modulates the input normal content / object multi-stream signal C and transmits it to the object receiving device 5 as a multi-stream (hereinafter, multi-stream signal D). The multiple stream transmitting unit 13 corresponds to the bit stream transmitting unit and the content transmitting unit described in the claims.

The storage unit 15 stores information about the object receiving device 5 (region information, region information interlocking data), and the like. The object transmission device 3 includes a main control unit (not shown), and a control information generation unit (program) that generates control information is deployed in the main control unit. The control information generated by the control information generating means controls the display of the transmitted (broadcast) content and the object (object bitstream) in the object receiving device 5 on the receiving side. Then, this control information is multiplexed with the multiple stream signal D as a control signal and transmitted.

Next, the object receiving device 5 will be described. The object receiving device 5 includes a multiple stream receiving unit 17 and a normal content / object separating unit 1.
9, a normal content decryption unit 21, an object decryption unit 23, a normal content / object synthesis display unit 2
5, a composite display control signal accumulation and generation unit 27, and a storage unit 2
9 and 9.

The multi-stream receiving section 17 receives the multi-stream signal D transmitted from the object transmitting device 3 and demodulates it into a normal content / object multi-stream (hereinafter referred to as a normal content / object multi-stream signal E), It is output to the normal content / object separation unit 19.

Normal content / object separating unit 19
Separates the input normal content / object multiplex stream signal E into a normal content stream (hereinafter, referred to as normal content stream signal F) and an object stream (hereinafter, referred to as object stream signal G). F is output to the normal content decoding unit 21 and the object stream signal G is output to the object decoding unit 23. When there are a plurality of separated object streams in the normal content / object separation unit 19, the storage unit 29 stores the object stream based on the control information (control signal) generated by the object transmission device 3.

The normal content decoding section 21 decodes the normal content stream signal F separated and input by the normal content / object separating section 19 to obtain a normal content which is a video signal (hereinafter referred to as a normal content signal H). ) Is normally output to the content / object combination display unit 25.

The object decoding unit 23 decodes the object stream signal G separated and input by the normal content / object separating unit 19 to obtain an object which is a video signal (hereinafter referred to as an object signal I).
As a normal content / object combination display unit 25
Is output to.

The normal content / object synthesis display unit 25 synthesizes the normal content signal H input after being decoded by the normal content decoding unit 21 and the object signal I input after being decoded by the object decoding unit 23 to produce a video image. It is output as a signal K.

The synthetic display control signal accumulation / generating section 27 controls the display / non-display of the object signal I generated by the object transmitting device 3 and the control information relating to the selection method when a plurality of object signals I are included. (Hereinafter, referred to as a control signal J) is accumulated, and this control signal J is output to the normal content / object combination display unit 25. In other words, the control signal J includes information for allowing the viewer to select the display or non-display of the object signal I, and the control signal J can reflect the intention of the viewer. The composite display of the normal content signal H and the object signal I will be described in detail in an example described later. The composite display control signal accumulation / generation unit 27 corresponds to the bit stream selection unit described in the claims.

The storage unit 29 stores the normal content signal H and the object signal I. This storage unit 2
9 from the normal content signal H and the object signal I on the basis of the control signal J from the composite display control signal accumulation and generation unit 27.
Is output to.

The object receiving device 5 is provided with a main control unit (not shown), and this main control unit includes
A user authenticating means (program) for authenticating an authorized user and a bitstream charging means (program) for charging according to the used object bitstream signal B are developed.

(Operation of Object Transmitting Device) Next, the operation of the object transmitting device 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether the information (broadcast program (normal content)) input to the object transmission device 3 includes extended content (S).
1). When it is determined that the extended content is included (Yes), the normal content of the input information is compression-encoded by the normal content generation encoding unit 7, and the normal content bitstream signal A is output. At the same time, the extended content (object video of arbitrary shape) of the input information is compression-encoded by the object generation encoding unit 9 and the object bitstream signal B is output (S2).

If it is not determined that the extended content is included (No), the input information is considered to be normal content, and the normal content generation / encoding unit 7 compression-encodes the normal content bitstream. The signal A is output (S3). Normal content bitstream signal A and object bitstream signal B compression-encoded by the normal content generation encoding unit 7 and object generation encoding unit 9 or normal content compression-encoded by the normal content generation encoding unit 7 Only the bitstream signal A contains normal content.
The object multiplexing unit 11 multiplexes and generates a normal content / object multiplex stream signal C (normal content multiplex stream signal) (S4). And
The multiplexed normal content object multiple stream signal C (normal content multiple stream signal) is modulated by the multiple stream transmission unit 13 and transmitted as a multiple stream signal D (S5).

(Operation of Object Receiving Device) Next, the operation of the object receiving device 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the multiplex stream signal D transmitted from the object transmitting device 3 is received by the multiplex stream receiving unit 17 (S11), the received multiplex stream signal D is demodulated, and the normal content / object multiplex stream signal E (normal content multiplex) is received. Stream) and normal content / object separation unit 1
9 is output. The normal content / object separation unit 19 separates the input normal content / object multiplex stream signal E into a normal content stream signal F and an object stream signal G (S1).
2). When the normal content / object multiplex stream signal E does not include the object stream signal G, the normal content / object multiplex stream signal E is the same as the normal content stream signal F.

Then, it is judged whether or not the separated normal content stream signal F and object stream signal G include encoded extended contents (S13). When it is determined that the encoded extended content is included (Yes), the normal content stream signal F is output to the normal content decoding unit 21, is decoded as the normal content signal H, and is the object stream signal. G is output to the object decoding unit 23 and decoded as the object signal I (S14).

When the normal content / object multiplex stream signal E is separated and only the normal content stream signal F is obtained (when it is not judged that the extended content is included (No)), The normal content stream signal F is output to the normal content decoding unit 21 and decoded (S15), and displayed as the normal content signal H (S16).

On the other hand, it is judged whether or not the object signal I decoded in S14 includes the control signal J for combining (S17). When it is determined that the control signal J is included (Yes), along the control signal J,
The decoded normal content signal H and object signal I are combined and displayed (S18). When it is not determined that the control signal J is included (No), the decoded object signal I is simply combined with the decoded content signal H and displayed (S19).

Next, examples (Examples 1 to 8) using the object transmission / reception system 1 will be described. (Example 1, superimposition of characters, logo, etc.) Referring to FIG. 4, a super (small moving image of a small screen) on which characters and logos are drawn is encoded by the object transmission device 3 of the object transmission / reception system 1. A case will be described in which the data is transmitted to the object receiving device 5 and is decrypted by the object receiving device 5.

Conventionally, when a supermarket (a simple moving image of a small screen) on which characters and logos are drawn is overlaid on a screen of a conventional normal content (normal screen) and then compression-encoded by the MPEG-2 system, If the characters drawn in the simple moving image on the small screen are small due to deterioration in compression encoding, it may be difficult to read the characters.

Therefore, the simple moving image of the small screen is treated as an object different from the normal screen, and the object transmitting device 3
Then, the object receiving device 5 decodes and then overlays. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a small-sized simple moving image (“◯ Δ ×” in FIG. 4) is encoded by the object generation encoding 9 of the object transmission device 3, and a normal screen (“female in FIG. 4” is displayed). The caster ") is encoded by the normal content generation / encoding unit 7, these are multiplexed by the normal content / object multiplexing unit 11, and transmitted from the multiplex stream transmitting unit 13. At this time, a control signal that can be operated on the object receiving device 5 side, for example, a control signal for displaying or hiding a small screen simple moving image, a display position control, a control for enlarging or reducing to an arbitrary size, and the like. Send together.

Then, after being received by the multiplex stream receiving section 17 of the object receiving apparatus 5, the normal content / object separating section 19 separates it, and the normal content decoding section 21.
Then, the “female caster” on the normal screen is decoded, the object decoding unit 23 decodes the simple moving image “◯ Δ ×” on the small screen, and the normal content / object combination display unit 25 combines (overlays).

For this reason, the user (viewer) of the object receiving device 5 operates the control signal transmitted from the object transmitting device 3 to display "○ Δ ×" of the simple moving image of the small screen.
To hide (hide), change the display position,
It can be enlarged when "○ △ x" is small and difficult to see. In addition, the small-screen simple video to be overlaid includes, for example, news subtitles, weather forecasts, sports scores, athlete formations, and the like.

(Example 2, Local Overlay) With reference to FIG. 5, local (region-specific) information is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 of the object transmitting / receiving system 1, transmitted to the object receiving device 5, and the object is received. The case of decoding by the device 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, a video of a city (normal content)
The "weather mark" (object) used in the weather forecast is overlaid on.

The position information of the user (viewer) of the object receiving device 5 is stored in the storage unit 1 of the object transmitting device 3.
Area information stored in 5 (previously registered), area information interlocking data (weather forecast (weather, precipitation probability, etc.) and various information (event information, etc.) at that location are overlaid, and viewing is further performed. The user can control the display or non-display of the overlay and the enlargement.

If the object receiving device 5 is of a portable size, the GPS (Glab)
Al Positioning Systems) etc., the current position information of the viewer who possesses the portable object receiving device 5 is grasped by the object transmitting device 3 side, and the object transmitting device 3 determines the current position information based on the current position. Send the regional information linked data.

(Example 3, character object) FIG.
Character object (character
Object transmission / reception system 1
A case will be described in which the object transmission device 3 of FIG.

The object transmitting device 3 broadcasts (transmits) an animation character or an object moving image of a talent as shown in FIG. The user (viewer) of the object receiving device 5 stores the broadcasted object moving image in the storage unit 29, and displays the portable receiver (the portable object receiving device 5 or a display typified by a mobile phone). It can be used as a standby screen of a mobile terminal with a screen). In this case, each object is transmitted as a single file (bitstream), and charges are made for each object, so that the copyright of each file can be protected.

(Example 4, Favorite caster) Referring to FIG. 7, a caster (corresponding to a voice generation target described in the claims) is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 of the object transmitting / receiving system 1, and the object receiving device is encoded. A case will be described in which the data is transmitted to the mobile terminal 5 and is decrypted by the object receiving device 5.

First, the images of a plurality of casters of a news program are stored in the storage unit 15 of the object transmitting device 3 in advance. It is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 to generate an object moving image. Then, the object moving image is combined with the video (normal content) of the broadcast news program.

Then, the user (viewer) of the object receiving apparatus 5 selects a favorite caster (male or female, age of caster (20s, 30s, 40s, etc.), virtual caster by CG, etc.). be able to. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a male caster and a female caster can be selected on the object receiving device 5 side.

(Example 5, foreign language sign language) Referring to FIG. 8, an object moving image corresponding to a foreign language sign language is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 of the object transmitting / receiving system 1 and transmitted to the object receiving device 5. The case of decoding by the object receiving device 5 will be described.

First, a moving image corresponding to a foreign language sign language, for example, English or Chinese sign language is generated, and this moving image is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 to generate an object moving image. Then, the object moving image is combined with the video (normal content) of the broadcast program. Furthermore, a foreign language (English, Chinese, Korean, Italian, French ...) that can be selected is used as the object receiving device 5.
The control signal to be displayed on is transmitted together with the object moving image.

Then, on the user (viewer) side of the object receiving apparatus 5, a list of selectable foreign languages is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the object receiving apparatus 5, and the user of the object receiving apparatus 5 is displayed. The (viewer) can select an object moving image corresponding to a foreign language sign language.

(Example 6, Overlay CM) Referring to FIG. 9, a CM to be overlaid on the screen during broadcasting of normal contents is encoded by the object transmitter 3 of the object transceiver system 1 and transmitted to the object receiver 5. The case of decoding by the object receiving device 5 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram in which CMs showing a Christmas sale of a company (for example, a department store) which is one of the sponsors of the broadcast program are overlaid on the screen of the broadcast program which is being relayed by sports (boxing). . In addition, a company that wants to broadcast a commercial contracts with a broadcaster (the owner of the object transmitting device 3) to match the timing of overlaying the commercial with a specific scene of the program, separately from the content of the program. For example, a commercial directly connected to a specific scene,
For example, C of clothes worn by performers in a drama
M, CM of a children's game machine used in a specific scene in a suspense drama can be displayed on the screen of a broadcast program. In other words, commercials along a specific scene of the program,
A CM that cannot be predicted from the program title can be played during the program.

Further, when the user of the object receiving device 5 purchases a commercial product overlaid on the program, for example, at the beginning of the program, the object transmitting device 3 side requests the sponsor of the product provider. List the
Control for transmitting as an object moving image (encoded bit stream) and removing the CM of the sponsor with a check mark in this list by the user of the device 5 (control by the control signal of the object transmitting device 3) Is also possible. Alternatively, it is possible to perform control (control by a control signal of the object transmission device 3) to provide additional services such as points accumulating as the CM of a specific company is viewed.

(Example 7, Information Protection) Referring to FIG. 10, another image on the screen of normal content is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 of the object transmitting / receiving system 1 and transmitted to the object receiving device 5. A case where the object receiving device 5 decrypts the data will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, the face portion of a person (important portion Imp on the screen of normal content)
Then, another object (so-called “mosaic image”) is overlaid and transmitted. The "mosaic image" corresponds to the "blocked partial content" described in the claims.

According to this, for the unpaid viewers in the case of pay broadcasting and the viewers using the conventional receiving device (not shown) who cannot view the extended contents, the broadcast program ( You can hide important parts of regular content. Then, when an unpaid viewer pays a fee or when a viewer who uses a conventional receiver purchases a new receiver (object receiver 5), another object is sent on the object transmitter 3 side. You can watch the important part where the image is overlaid. In other words, as a new form of scrambled broadcasting,
It is controlled on the object transmitting device 3 side and can also be used as a parental lock.

(Example 8, Information Enhancement) Referring to FIG. 11, information enhancement (navigation information) is encoded by the object transmitting device 3 of the object transmitting / receiving system 1 and transmitted to the object receiving device 5. The case of decoding with No. 5 will be described. In sports programs that broadcast sports such as baseball and soccer, the entire stadium where sports are actually played is not always displayed, so the position of the ball and the movements of the players are displayed on the screen viewed by the viewer. It may be difficult to grasp. Furthermore, there is a case where the player wants to know the name of a player who participates while watching a sports program and the career of this player.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, navigation information is displayed above the goalkeeper, the defending player, and the attacking player of the opponent team appearing on the screen showing the vicinity of the soccer goal. (Player names, etc .;
Object moving image) is overlaid. Also, an object moving image that highlights and emphasizes the periphery of the soccer ball is added. In addition, images of individual players can be displayed with pointers (object receiving device 5
(Not shown)), detailed information (player's personal data, career, etc.) other than the player's name can be displayed. The navigation information is displayed following the movement of the player.

This embodiment has the following effects. First, the object generation encoding unit 9 of the object transmission device 3 encodes an object, which is image data of an arbitrary shape according to the moving image compression technique, into a bitstream. The generated bitstream is transmitted by the multiplex stream transmitter 13. Then, the object receiving apparatus 5 receives the bit stream in which the object is encoded and is transmitted by the multiple stream receiving unit 17, and the bit stream received by the multiple stream receiving unit 17 is converted into an object by the object decoding unit 23. Be decrypted. Therefore, the conventional overlay hinders the viewing of the content itself, and the problem that the conventional moving image compression technology cannot provide various services for the viewed content prevents the viewing of the broadcast content. Can be eliminated.

Further, as the object to be encoded, superimpose of characters or logo, local information related to area information, animated character, favorite caster, foreign language sign language, CM, information protection, information enhancement are used. As a result, it is possible to provide services that meet the needs of viewers.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this. Note that instead of the object to be encoded, a compliant file having a bit rate (low compression) according to the object may be encoded and decoded at the time of compression encoding.

Further, the processing of each component of the object transmitting device 3 and the object receiving device 5 can be regarded as a program written in a general-purpose programming language. In this case, the same effects as those obtained by the object transmitting device 3 and the object receiving device 5 can be obtained. Furthermore, each configuration of the object transmitting device 3 and the object receiving device 5 can be regarded as an object transmitting method and an object receiving method, which are regarded as respective processing steps. Also in this case, the same effects as those obtained by the object transmitting device 3 and the object receiving device 5 can be obtained.

[0083]

According to the invention described in claim 1, since an object which is image data of arbitrary shape according to the moving picture compression technique is encoded and transmitted, the receiving side broadcasts this object by broadcasting. You can watch the program (content) without disturbing it.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the object is a super including at least one of a character and a logo, and the super is overlaid on the content to be transmitted by the overlay means after encoding, the reception is performed. The viewer on the side can select, for example, display or non-display of this supermarket according to the taste of the viewer, so that service provision that satisfies the viewer's request can be realized.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the object is a commercial message and the commercial message is encoded and then overlaid on the content to be transmitted by the overlay means, the viewer on the receiving side receives the commercial message. Since it is possible to select, for example, whether to display or not display the commercial message according to the taste of the viewer, it is possible to provide a service that satisfies the viewer's request.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the bit stream is area information interlocking data interlocking with the area information accumulated in the accumulating means, and the area information interlocking data is transmitted by the overlay means after being encoded. The viewer on the receiving side can use the regional information linked data to check the weather at the resort and then go to the destination to meet the viewer's request. Service can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the bitstream generated by the bitstream generation means is the voice utterance target of a person, an animal, etc., and the voice utterance target converted into the bitstream is displayed during the program. So
The viewer on the receiving side can view the content by utilizing the sound generation target, and the service provision that satisfies the viewer's request can be realized.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the bitstream generated by the bitstream generation means is information about the object included in the content, and is overlaid on the transmitted content by the overlay means. Therefore, the viewer on the receiving side can view the content by utilizing the information about the object included in the content, and the service provision that satisfies the viewer's request can be realized.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the part (extracted part) in which a part of the content transmitted by the content transmission means is shielded is generated in the bit stream and the part of the content is shielded. The blocking portion-containing content is transmitted by the content transmitting means. Therefore, the viewer on the receiving side views the content in which a part of the content is blocked, and the viewer can view the blocked part unless a special contract is made with the transmitting side. Can not. Therefore, the broadcasting company on the transmitting side can provide a new form of content viewing (a part of the content is charged).

According to the invention described in claim 8, since the compliant file having the bit rate conforming to the bit stream is generated by the compliant file generating means and is transmitted by the compliant file transmitting means, the compliant file is received at the receiving side. Can be viewed without disturbing the viewing of the broadcast program (content) to be broadcast.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the bitstream receiving means receives the bitstream in which the object is encoded on the transmitting side, and the encoded bitstream is decoded by the bitstream decoding means. Since the object is obtained, the object can be viewed without disturbing the viewing of the broadcast program (content) to be broadcast.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the bitstream received by the content receiving means and the bitstream receiving means, which is overlaid on the content, is displayed by the overlay display selecting means so as to be superimposed on the content or displayed. When it is selected whether or not to display, and when it is displayed, the bitstream is decoded by the bitstream decoding means to be an object. Therefore, this object can be viewed without disturbing the viewing of the broadcast program (content) to be broadcast.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, when the content transmitted from the transmitting side includes a plurality of bitstreams, the bitstream selecting means allows the user of the receiving apparatus to select an arbitrary content. Since the bitstream is selected, it is possible to provide services that meet the needs of viewers.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the user authenticating means authenticates that the user is an authorized user,
A pay bitstream is made available, and the bitstream charging means charges a fee according to the bitstream used. The user can pay an appropriate usage fee, for example, receive a bitstream in which an animated object is encoded, and decode and use the bitstream.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the compliant file receiving means receives the compliant file encoded on the transmitting side, and the encoded compliant file is decoded by the compliant file decoding means to obtain the compliant file. Since the file is obtained, this compliant file can be viewed without disturbing the viewing of the broadcast program (content) to be broadcast.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an object transmitting / receiving system (object transmitting device and object receiving device) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the object transmission device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the object receiving device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example using an object transmission / reception system (superimposing characters, logos, etc. on an object to be encoded).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of using an object transmission / reception system (region information linked data in an object to be encoded).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example using an object transmission / reception system (a character object as an object to be encoded).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example (caster for an object to be encoded) using the object transmission / reception system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of using an object transmission / reception system (foreign language sign language for an object to be encoded).

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of using an object transmission / reception system (CM as an object to be encoded).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example (information protection) using an object transmission / reception system.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example (information enhancement) using an object transmission / reception system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Object transmission / reception system 3 Object transmitter 5 Object receiver 7 Normal content generation encoding unit 9 Object generation coding unit 11 Normal Content / Object Multiplexing Unit 13 Multiple stream transmitter 15, 29 Storage 17 Multiple stream receiver 19 Normal content / object separation unit 21 Normal Content Decoding Unit 23 Object Decoding Unit 25 Normal Content / Object Composite Display 27 Composite display control signal accumulation generator

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuhisa Iguchi             1-10-11 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan             Broadcasting Association Broadcast Technology Institute (72) Inventor Osamu Mizuno             1-1 Odori Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido Japan             Sending Association Sapporo Broadcasting Station (72) Inventor Masahide Naemura             1-10-11 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan             Broadcasting Association Broadcast Technology Institute (72) Inventor Chung Wen             1-10-11 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan             Broadcasting Association Broadcast Technology Institute (72) Inventor Toshihiko Misu             1-10-11 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan             Broadcasting Association Broadcast Technology Institute F-term (reference) 5C023 AA18 AA38 BA02 BA11 CA01                       CA05                 5C059 KK37 MA00 MB01 MB21 PP04                       PP20 PP24 PP28 SS10 UA02                       UA05                 5C063 AA01 AB03 AB07 AC01 CA11                       CA12 DA03 DA13

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A bitstream generation unit that encodes an object, which is image data of arbitrary shape, to generate a bitstream based on a moving image compression technique, and a bitstream transmission unit that transmits the bitstream. An object transmission device characterized by the above. 2. The object is a supermarket including at least one of a character and a logo, and an overlay means for overlaying the supermarket on content to be transmitted is provided.
The object transmission device according to 1. 3. The object transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object is a commercial message, and an overlay means for overlaying the commercial message on a content to be transmitted is provided. 4. An accumulating unit for accumulating area information on an area on the receiving side, the object being area information interlocking data interlocking with the area information, and overlaying the area information interlocking data on the content to be transmitted. Means and
The object transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The bitstream generating means, when the content to be transmitted is a program including a sound generation target that generates sound, generates the sound generation target by the bitstream. The object transmission device according to 1. 6. The bitstream generation means comprises overlay means for generating information about an object included in the content to be transmitted in the bitstream and overlaying the information on the content to be transmitted. 1. The object transmission device according to 1. 7. A content transmission means is provided, wherein the bitstream generation means generates a content of a portion in which a part of the content to be transmitted in advance is shielded by the bitstream, and a part of the content transmitted by the content transmission means. The object transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding unit-containing content that shields the object is transmitted. 8. A compliant file generating means for generating a compliant file having a bit rate according to a bit stream obtained by encoding an object, which is image data of arbitrary shape, based on a moving image compression technique, and the compliant file. Compliant file sending means to send,
An object transmitting apparatus comprising: 9. A bitstream receiving means for receiving an object-encoded bitstream transmitted from a transmitting side, and a bitstream decoding means for decoding the bitstream received by the bitstream receiving means into the object. An object receiving device comprising: 10. A content receiving means for receiving content transmitted from a transmitting side, a bitstream receiving means for receiving a bitstream in which an object is encoded, transmitted from a transmitting side, and the bitstream receiving means. Bitstream decoding means for decoding the received bitstream into the object, and when the bitstream received by the bitstream receiving means is overlaid on the content received by the content receiving means, the bitstream is converted into the bitstream. An object receiving apparatus, comprising: an overlay display selecting unit that selects whether to display or hide the content as the object decoded by the decoding unit. 11. The bitstream selecting means for selecting a plurality of bitstreams when the content transmitted from the transmitting side includes a plurality of the bitstreams, according to claim 10. Object receiving device. 12. A user authenticating means for authenticating that the content transmitted from the transmitting side includes the pay bitstream and is a legitimate user who can use the pay bitstream. The object receiving apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: a bitstream charging unit that charges according to the bitstream used. 13. A conforming file receiving means for receiving a conforming file having a bit rate conforming to a bit stream obtained by encoding an object, which is image data of arbitrary shape, based on a moving image compression technique, from a transmitting side, An object receiving device, comprising: a conforming file decoding means for decoding the conforming file received by the conforming file receiving means. [0001]