JP2003134478A - Distribution contents-related information transmission format and data receiver for receiving and utilizing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a receiver side to automatically discriminate a program recommended by a broadcasting carrier side and notify a user that the program matches with the user's attribute if the program matches with or is close to the user's attribute. SOLUTION: This receiver comprises a means for receiving and decoding an SDT including a descriptor inserted with a viewer attribute intended by a program producer, a means for inputting and storing the attribute of the user himself/herself, a means for comparing the both attributes and notifying the results of the comparison and its related information, or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distribution content related information transmission format and a data signal receiving apparatus for receiving and using the same, and particularly to SI (Service Information) and program information data transmitted by digital TV broadcasting. (EPG; E
lectronic Program Guide).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Communication satellites (CS; Comm
In digital satellite TV broadcasting using the unication satellite), program information data is part of the viewer service.
(EPG: Electronic Program Guide) is transmitted together with other video data. In addition, broadcasting satellites that are under consideration
Digital satellite TV using (BS: Broadcast Satellite)
Similar services are considered to be provided for broadcasting and terrestrial digital satellite broadcasting. (Hereinafter, it is simply referred to as "digital TV broadcasting" including digital satellite TV broadcasting and terrestrial digital satellite broadcasting).

This EPG data is received by the receiver and
Program information related to PG data is displayed on the display unit and the display device. The EPG data includes information such as channel name, program name, broadcast date and time, program content, etc., and the user can judge the viewing value of the program from such information.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The syntax structure (section) of the data necessary for constructing the EPG will be described below.
And the description content. This explanation is based on the contents described in "Radio Industry Association Standards" (ARIB STD-B10) "Program arrangement information used for digital broadcasting", but it is the minimum necessary to explain the present invention. It should be noted that the above description only describes the data of the above, and does not describe the structure of all the data described in the standard.

FIG. 2 shows a service description table (SDT; Serv) which is one of the data required to configure the EPG.
Data structure of ice description table) is shown. Below, SD
The contents described in T are explained. A service corresponds to a channel.

2- (1) table # id; an identification number individually assigned to each table in order to identify various tables, and 0x42 and 0x46 are assigned in the SDT.

2- (2) section_syntax_indicator; 1 is always described.

2- (3) section_length; The first 2 bits are always "00", and specify the number of bytes of the section immediately after this field to the end of the section including CRC32 described later.

2- (4) transport_stream_id; an identification number assigned to identify a transport stream in which the service described by SDT is transmitted from other transport streams.

2- (5) version_number; Version number of sub-table. In SDT, the same table_id, transport_stream_id, and original_ described later as the sub-table.
network_id, and refers to the collection of sections that have this version_nunlber.

2- (6) current_next_indicator; 1 indicates that the sub-table is valid, and conversely 0 indicates that it is not applied yet.

2- (7) section_number; indicates the section number, and the same table_id, transport_stream_id, origi
One is added for each addition of the section having nal_network_id.

2- (8) last_section_number; The last section of the sub-table to which the section belongs (ie,
The section with the highest section number).

2- (9) origina_network_id; An identification number assigned to identify the network of the distribution system transmitting the transport stream in which the service described by SDT is transmitted.

2- (10) service_id; An identification number assigned to identify this service from other services in the transport stream. Generally, service_id
= Channel number.

2- (11) EIT_schedule_flag; of the event information table (EIT; Event_Information_Table) described later.
A flag that indicates whether the Schedule information is in the current transport stream.

2- (12) EIT_present_following_flag;
A flag that indicates whether the EIT [current and next] information described below is in the current transport stream.

2- (13) running_status; This 3-bit field indicates the status of the service, such as whether the service is being executed, not present, or started within a few seconds.

2- (14) free_CA_mode; When 1 indicates that access to the stream is restricted and controlled by the CA (Conditional Access) system, and when 0 indicates that it is not scrambled. .

2- (15) descriptors_loop_length; Specifies the total byte length of the descriptors (descriptors) which will be described later.

2- (16) descriptor; service_de described later
scriptor (service descriptor), a time_shifted_service_descri used to replace the service descriptor and represents a time-shifted copy of another service
ptor (time shift service descriptor), conditional access system
A field in which various descriptors such as a CA identification descriptor indicating whether or not they are related to (CA_system) are described.

2- (17) CRC32; In the decoder for decoding this table, a 32-bit field containing a CRC value such that the register output becomes zero after processing the entire section.

FIG. 3 shows service, which is one of the descriptors described above.
The structure of _descriptor (service descriptor) is shown. The service descriptor represents the organization channel name, its broadcaster name, and the like, together with the service format description, in character code.

3- (1) descriptor_tag; An identification number (tag value) individually assigned to each descriptor to identify various descriptors, and 0x48 in the service descriptor.
Has been assigned.

3- (2) descriptor_length; Specifies the total byte length of the data portion of the descriptor immediately following this field.

3- (3) service_type: Indicates the type of service, and defines whether it is, for example, "digital TV service", "digital voice service", "data service" or the like.

3- (4) service_provider_name_length;
This field represents the byte length of the business operator name which will be described later.

3- (5) char; A series of encoded character information fields representing a business name or a service name.

3- (6) service_name_length; represents the byte length of the subsequent service name described later.

FIG. 4 shows an event information table (EIT; Eve) which is one of the data required to configure the EPG.
nt Information Table) data structure. Below, EI
The contents described in T are explained. An event corresponds to a program.

4- (1) table_id; an identification number individually assigned to each table in order to identify various tables. In the EIT, it is further divided into 4 classes and distinguished by this table_id.

1) Own transport stream, current and next event information, table_id = 0x4E 2) Other transport stream, current and next event information, table_id = 0x4F 3) Own transport stream, schedule information, ta
ble_id = 0x50-0x5F 4) Other transport streams, schedule information, ta
ble_id = 0x60 to 0x6F 4- (2) section_syntax_indicator; 1 is always described.

4- (3) section_length; The first 2 bits are always "00", and CRC3, which will be described later, starts immediately after this field.
Specifies the number of bytes in the section up to the end of the section including 2.

4- (4) service_id; An identification number assigned to identify this service from other services in the transport stream. Generally, service_id
= Channel number.

4- (5) version_number; Version number of sub-table. In the EIT, the sub table is the same table_id, service_id, and transport_stream_ described later.
Refers to a group of sections with id, original_network_id, and this version_number.

4- (6) current_next_indicator; A value of 1 indicates that the sub-table is valid, and a value of 0 indicates that the sub-table is not yet applied.

4- (7) section_number; indicates the section number, and has the same table_id, service_id, transport_
One is added for each addition of a section having stream_id and original_network_id.

4- (8) last_section_number; The last section of the sub-table to which the section belongs (ie,
The section with the highest section number).

4- (9) transport_stream_id; An identification number assigned to identify the transport stream in which the event described by the EIT is transmitted from other transport streams.

4- (10) originalJetwork_id; The identification number assigned to identify the network of the distribution system transmitting the transport stream in which the event described by the EIT is transmitted.

4- (11) segment_last_section_uumber
Specifies the number of the last section of this segment of the subtable. A segment is a set of multiple sections in a sub table.

4- (12) last_table_id; Indicates the table_id of the last table used.

4- (13) event_id; Indicates the identification number of an event described in this table (uniquely assigned within one service).

4- (14) start_time; The start time of the event is indicated by Japan Standard Time (JST) and Modified Julian Day (MJD).

4- (15) duration; The duration of the event is expressed in hours, minutes and seconds.

4- (16) running_status; This 3-bit field indicates the status of the service, such as whether the service is being executed, not present, or started within a few seconds.

4- (17) free_CA_mode; When 1 indicates that access to the stream is restricted and controlled by the CA (Conditional Access) system, and when 0 indicates that it is not scrambled. .

4- (18) descriptors_loop_length; Specifies the total byte length of the descriptors (descriptors) that will be described later.

4- (19) descriptor; content_de described later
scriptor (content descriptor), parental_rating_desc
riptor (parental rate descriptor), short_event_desc
A field that describes various descriptors such as riptor (short format event descriptor).

4- (20) CRC32; A 32-bit field containing a CRC value such that the register output becomes zero after the entire section is processed in the decoder for decoding this table.

In FIG. 5, content, which is one of the descriptors described above,
The structure of _descriptor (content descriptor) is shown.

The content descriptor indicates the genre of the event.

5- (1) descriptor_tag; An identification number (tag value) individually assigned to each descriptor to identify various descriptors, and 0x in the content descriptor.
54 is assigned.

5- (2) descriptor_length; Specifies the total byte length of the data part of the descriptor immediately following this field.

5- (3) content_nibble_level_1; field indicating the first stage classification of content identification.

5- (4) content_nibble_1eve_2; A field representing the second stage classification of content identification.

5- (5) user_nibble; A field defined by the broadcaster and representing a user genre.

FIG. 6 shows one of the descriptors, parental.
The structure of _rating_descriptor (parental rate descriptor) is shown. The parental rate descriptor represents the parental control based on the age of the event.

6- (1) descriptor_tag; This is an identification number (tag value) individually assigned to each descriptor to identify various descriptors, and 0x55 is assigned to the parental rate descriptor. ing.

6- (2) descriptor_length; Specifies the total byte length of the data portion of the descriptor immediately following this field.

6- (3) country_code; A country name is represented using a three-letter alphabet code defined by ISO3166.

6- (4) rating; represents the recommended minimum age of the viewer.

FIG. 7 shows one of the above descriptors, short_e
This shows the structure of vent_descriptor (short format event descriptor). The short format event descriptor represents the event name and a short description of the event in text format.

7- (1) descriptor_tag; Identification number (tag value) individually assigned to each descriptor to identify various descriptors. In short format event rate descriptor, 0x4D is assigned. Has been.

7- (2) descriptor_length; Specifies the total byte length of the data part of the descriptor immediately following this field.

7- (3) ISO_639_language_code; The language of the subsequent character information field, which will be described later, is represented by the three-letter alphabet code defined in IS0639-2.

7- (4) event_name_length; It represents the byte length of the subsequent program name which will be described later.

7- (5) event_name_char; A series of character information fields indicating the program name.

7- (6) text_length; represents the byte length of the subsequent program description, which will be described later.

7- (7) text_char; A series of character information fields describing the description of the program.

FIG. 8 shows a time and date table (TDT; Time and Date) which is one of the data required to configure the EPG.
Data structure of Date Table) is shown. The contents described in the TDT will be described below.

8- (1) table_id; an identification number individually assigned to each table in order to identify various tables, and table_id = 0x70 is assigned in the TDT.

8- (2) section_syntax_indicator; 1 is always described.

8- (3) section_length; The first 2 bits are always "00", and the CRC32, which will be described later, starts immediately after this field.
Specifies the number of bytes in the section up to the end of the section including.

8- (4) JST_time; A field representing the current date and time according to Japan Standard Time (JST) and Modified Julian Day (MJD).

As described at the beginning of this item [Problems to be solved by the invention], in this item, the syntax structure of the data of all tables described in the standard will be described. Not not. In addition to the above, table data sent from broadcasters is mainly ・ PAT; Pr
ogram Association Table: PMT; Program Map Table and NIT; Networ, which will be described later, corresponding to each multiplexed service.
k PID of Information Table; Packet Identifier.

CAT; Conditional Access Table: Provides information on the conditional access system of each multiplexed service.

PMT; Program Map Table: represents PIDs and the like of streams constituting each service.

NIT; Network Information Table: Provides information about the physical network (satellite position, modulation method, etc.).

, Etc. exist, but each is identified by the above table_id. table_id = 0x90 to 0xBF is the range that can be selected as the ID value of the table set by the operator, and by defining the syntax structure of the table data according to the purpose, the information used for EPG, etc. can be specified. It can also be expanded.

Similarly, for the descriptors described above,
A wide variety of descriptors are described in the standard, all identified by the descriptor_tag mentioned above. d
escriptor_tag = 0x80 to 0xBF is the range that can be selected as the tag value of the descriptor set by the operator, and the EPG is defined by defining the syntax structure of the descriptor according to the purpose.
It is also possible to extend the information used for etc.

The description above has been centered on the matters described in "ARIB STD-B10 Program Sequence Information Used for Digital Broadcasting".
In broadcasting, almost the same data structure is used, and they are referred to as "ETS 300 468 Specification for Service".
Information (SI) in DVB systems ”.

In FIG. 9, by receiving and decoding the above-mentioned tables, an EPG screen constituted by the receiver is shown in FIG. 10 as an example of the remote controller used by the user to operate the EPG screen and the receiver. The operation panel which may be equipped is shown.

In FIG. 9, the reference numerals indicate the service (channel) number, service name 901, and event.
(Program) name 902, broadcast date / time 903, program information introduction column 90
4, a current date and time 905, a selection cursor 906, an up movement arrow 907, and a down movement arrow 908. The service number and service name 901 are respectively described in the above-mentioned SDT.
Display is performed based on the contents of (11) service_id and 3- (5) char. The event name 902 is displayed from the content of 7- (5) event_name_char described in the above EIT. The broadcast date and time 903 is described in the above EIT 4-
(14) start_time, 4- (15) duration is displayed. Each of the program information introduction columns 904 shows the program content introduction from the content of 7- (7) text_char described in the above EIT, and the genre from the content of 5- (3) and (4) content_nibble_level to 4- (17). ) From free_CA_mode, 6- (4) rating, other information such as PPV (Pay Per view: pay-per-view broadcasting) and viewing age restriction information is displayed.

In FIG. 10, the reference numerals indicate a ten key 1001, an EPG display button 1002, a cursor movement key 1003, and an enter button 1004.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the user
The operation for displaying the EPG screen and selecting a desired channel will be described.

First, the user uses the EPG display button 1 shown in FIG.
002 is used to display the EPG screen as shown in FIG.
The user operates the cursor movement key 1003 and moves the selection cursor 906 of FIG. 9 on the EPG screen to refer to the program information introduction column for a desired program,
Perform a search.

If the desired program does not exist on the display screen, the display channel can be changed by moving the cursor to the moving arrows 907 and 908.
If the up move arrow 907 is selected, for example, the 99ch program guide is displayed, and if the down move arrow 908 is selected, the 106ch program guide is displayed.

If a desired program exists on the display screen, for example, if "Drama 1" in FIG. 9 is selected, move the cursor to the drama 1 portion as shown in the figure and press the enter button. A channel can be selected by pressing the enter button 1004.

It is also possible to select the channel by directly inputting the channel number using the ten keys 1001 and pressing the enter button 1004.

In digital TV broadcasting, a very large number of hundreds of channels are broadcast, so that the amount of information displayed on the EPG screen becomes enormous. In the receiver, as shown in FIG. 9, the enormous amount of information is arranged and sorted according to, for example, channel and time, and displayed so that a user can easily find a desired program.

However, finally, as described above, the user himself / herself must perform a complicated screen operation, see the program information provided, etc., and select the program to be viewed,
Finding a program that suits the taste of the user is very troublesome both in terms of time and effort.

In addition, as described above, since the number of programs being broadcast is huge, the program information cannot be found even though the programs that match the tastes of the user are being broadcast, and the program information can be overlooked. There was a problem that it would end up.

Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above problems.

[0095]

For the above-mentioned purpose, in the distribution content related information transmission format described in the present claims and the data signal receiver for receiving and using the same, the distribution on the data distribution side is performed. In the content-related information transmission format, the information describing the attributes of the data receiver intended or recommended by the producer or distributor of the program is inserted, and the receiver receives them and sets them in advance. By comparing with the attribute of the receiver user and notifying the user of the result, it becomes possible to easily search and detect a program that suits the user's own taste.

That is, the technical contents of the present invention can solve the above problems by having the following constitutions.

(1) In the distribution content related information transmission format on the data distribution side for transmitting the channel information on each channel broadcast to the data receiving side through the data transfer means and the program related information related to each program, A distribution content related information transmission format, wherein information describing attributes of a data receiver intended or recommended by the producer or distributor of the program is inserted into the channel information.

(2) The program-related information is "ETS 300 468
Specification for Service Information (SI) in DVB
SDT (Service Description Tabl
e), the information describing the attributes of the data receiver intended or recommended by the program producer and distributor is described in the SD.
The delivery content related information transmission format according to claim 1, which is inserted as a descriptor described in T.

(3) The program related information is "ARIB STD-B1
0 Service description table (SDT: Service Description Tab) described in "Program Arrangement Information Used for Digital Broadcasting"
le), which was intended by the program producer and distributor.
Or, a descriptor that describes information that describes the attributes of the recommended data receiver in the service description table
The delivery content related information transmission format according to (1) above, which is inserted as.

(4) In the service description table (SDT), information to be associated with the program-related information is inserted as a descriptor (descriptor), according to any one of (1) to (3) above. Information transmission format related to delivery contents.

(5) The program-related information is “ETS 300 468
Specification for Service Information (SI) in DVB
is an EIT (Event Information Table) described in “systems”, and the information to be associated is the sub_of the EIT.
The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (4) above, which is information relating to a table.

(6) The program-related information is an event information table (EIT; Event Information Table) described in "ARIB STD-B10 Program Sequence Information Used for Digital Broadcasting". Sub_ of the EIT
The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (4) above, which is information relating to a table.

(7) The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the attribute of the recipient is the gender of the recipient.

(8) The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the attribute of the recipient is the age or age group of the recipient.

(9) The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the attribute of the recipient is a relationship in the family of the recipient.

(10) The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the attribute of the recipient is the occupation of the recipient.

(11) The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the attribute of the recipient is the job category of the recipient.

(12) A preset attribute of the receiver is compared with the information described in the received descriptor, and if there is a program or a part of the program that matches them, or A data signal receiving apparatus, which informs a receiver when a program or a part of a program which is close to them exists.

(13) The preset attribute of the receiver is compared with the information described in the received descriptor, and if there is a program or a part of the program that matches them, or If there is a program, or part of a program, that they are close to, inform the recipient and obtain the information of each section of the EIT, which is the information that the association is performed, and describe it. A data signal receiving device characterized in that it informs a receiver of detailed information of the program.

(14) The data signal receiving apparatus according to (12) or (13), wherein the attribute of the receiver is the gender of the receiver.

(15) The data signal receiving apparatus according to (12) or (13), wherein the attribute of the receiver is the age or age group of the receiver.

(16) The data signal receiving apparatus according to (12) or (13), wherein the attribute of the receiver is a relationship in the family of the receiver.

(17) The data signal receiving device according to (12) or (13), wherein the attribute of the receiver is the occupation of the receiver.

(18) The data signal receiving apparatus as described in (12) or (13) above, wherein the attribute of the receiver is the occupation of the receiver.

[0115]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital TV broadcast receiver to which the present invention is applied as the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a signal received by an antenna (not shown) is input to tuner section 101. The tuner unit 101 demodulates an input signal,
Processing such as error correction is performed to generate transport stream data. Further, the generated transport stream (TS) data is output to the descrambler 102.

The descrambler 102 receives the key information for descramble included in the TS data and the IC card control unit 117 from the tuner unit 101 when the TS data scrambled for viewing restriction is input from the tuner unit 101. Descrambling is performed based on the entered key information,
Output to the demultiplexer 103.

Here, the IC card control unit 117 includes an IC card in which the key information for unlocking the user contract information and the key information for descrambling included in the TS data is stored. When there is the key information for unlocking the key information for the descrambled, the key information is output to the descrambler 102.

When the descrambler 102 receives TS data that has not been scrambled from the tuner section 101, it outputs the TS data as it is to the demultiplexer 103.

The demultiplexer 103 selects the operation unit 114 or the remote controller 116 from the TS data in which the video, audio data, EPG data and the like for a plurality of channels input from the descrambler 102 are time-division multiplexed. The video data D1 and the audio data D2 relating to the program currently being broadcast on the channel selected by the operation are taken out,
Each is output to the video decoder 104 and the audio decoder 105. In addition, the demultiplexer 103 is
The EPG data D3 is extracted from the above-mentioned TS data and output to the memory 107. The memory 107 stores the EPG data D3 from the demultiplexer 103.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, each block is connected to a common bus 120.

Also, the TS data is transmitted in bucket units, and a PID (Packet Identifier) is provided at the beginning of the packet.
Has been added. The demultiplexer 103 uses this PI
By reading D, video data D1, audio data D2, E
The PG data D3 is identified.

First, the video data will be described. The video decoder 104 performs decoding processing such as MPEG2 on the video data D1 input from the demultiplexer 103, and outputs the decoded video data to the display control unit 109. The display control unit 109 includes a video decoder 104,
The image data input from the EPG screen configuration unit 108 and the UI screen configuration unit 111 is displayed on the image display unit 112 by switching the screens or multiplexing them according to the operation of the operation unit 114 or the remote controller 116. Here, EPG screen configuration unit 1
08, the UI screen configuration unit 111 will be described later. The image display unit 112 also includes a monitor and a video signal input terminal (not shown).

Next, the audio data will be described. The audio decoder 105 performs a decoding process such as MPEG1 or MPEG2 on the audio data D2 input from the demultiplexer 103, and outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 11
Output to 0. The DAC 110 is the audio decoder 10
The D / A conversion process is performed on the voice data input from the No. 5, and the voice data is output to the voice output unit 113. The audio output unit 113 also includes a speaker and an audio signal input terminal (not shown).

Next, the EPG data will be described. When an operation for displaying an EPG is performed on the operation unit 114 or the remote controller 116, an EPG display instruction from the operation unit 114 or the remote controller 1 received by the light receiving unit 115.
The EPG display instruction from 16 is input to the system control unit 118.

The system control unit 118 includes an operation unit 114,
Alternatively, when an EPG display instruction is input from the light receiving unit 115, necessary information is read from the memory 107, and EPG is displayed.
Output to the decoder 106.

The information read here is the operation unit 114.
Alternatively, it is the program information on the channel selected in accordance with the operation of the remote controller 116 as described later.

The EPG data D3 contains SDT and EI as described above.
It includes data such as T and TDT. EPG decoder 106
First, the TDT is read, the information of the current time is acquired, and the information of the current time is output to the system control unit 118. The system control unit 118 inputs the information of the current time, determines the time zone of the EPG display corresponding to the current time, and outputs appropriate time zone information to the EPG decoder 106.

Next, based on the time zone information input from the system control unit 118, the SDT is read from the memory 107 and the information such as the channel name and the channel number is acquired.

Further, the EIT is read from the memory 107,
The program name of the program included in each channel, its start time,
Information such as genre and explanation of program content is acquired. Then, the EPG decoder 106 performs a decoding process on the EPG data D3 read from these memories 107 and outputs the decoded EPG data D4 to the EPG screen configuration unit 108.
Output to.

The EPG screen construction unit 108 is used by the EPG decoder 10
A character signal for forming a normal EPG screen is sent to the display control unit 109 based on the EPG data D4 input from S6.

The display control unit 109, in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 114 and the remote controller 116, displays the video data relating to the video data output from the video decoder 104, the EPG screen construction unit 1
A video signal is output to the image display unit 112 so that the normal EPG screen related to the character signal output from 18 and the UI screen related to the character signal output from the UI screen configuration unit 111 described later are switched and displayed. To do. When a normal EPG screen display instruction operation is performed on the operation unit 114 and the remote controller 116, the character signal output by the EPG screen configuration unit 108 is output to the image display unit 112.

Next, the description of the “recommended viewer descriptor: recommended_audience_descriptor”, which is the descriptor included in the SDT that well represents the first embodiment of the present invention, and the user information discriminating unit 121 is described. To do.

FIG. 11 shows the recommended viewer descriptor: recommend.
The data structure of ed_audience_descriptor is shown. Less than,
The contents described in recommended_audience_descriptor will be explained. This descriptor is a range that can be selected as the tag value of the descriptor set by the operator.
It is assumed that one of or_tag = 0x80 to 0xBF is used and sent as one of the SDT descriptors. The receiver side uses the descriptor to judge the viewer attributes intended (recommended) by the broadcaster for each program or corner in the program sent from the broadcaster, The purpose is to inform the user of the information on the program and corner when the receiver user attributes match. The attributes of the receiver user include, for example, sex, age group, family relationships, occupations, occupations, and the like.

11- (1) descriptor_tag; An identification number (tag value) individually assigned to each descriptor in order to identify various descriptors. Here, as described above, descriptor_tag
One of tag = 0x80 to 0xBF is assigned and used (for example, descriptor_tag = 0xAC).

11- (2) descriptors_length; Specifies the total byte length of the data portion of the descriptor immediately following this field.

11- (3) descriptors_inner_loop_lengt
h; Specifies the byte length of one loop (assuming one program or one corner is described as one loop) in this descriptor immediately following this field.

11- (4) event &corner_name_length; Indicates the byte length of the succeeding program or the corner name in the program.

11- (5) event &corner_name_char; A series of coded character information fields representing a recommended program and a corner name in the program.

11- (6) event_id; The identification number of the event including the recommended program or the corner in the program is shown.

11- (7) start_time; The start time of the recommended program and the corner in the program is set to Japan Standard Time (JST).
And modified Julian Day (MJD).

11- (8) duration; The recommended programs and the durations of the corners in the programs are expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds.

11- (9) eit_table_id; In the case of the recommended program or corner, the table_id of the EIT relating to the program including the corner is shown.

11- (10) eit_version_number; The above eit
Indicates the version_number of the EIT indicated by _table_id.

11- (11) first_section_number; above ei
Indicates the section_number of the EIT indicated by t_table_id.
By describing this, it is possible to identify the recommended section above and the first section number of the EIT only for the part related to the corners in the section.

11- (12) section_quantity; EI of only the part related to the recommended programs and corners in the program
Indicates the required section number of T. Above first_section_number
Calculate from the section number indicated by.

11- (13) sex_distinction; Indicates the gender of the viewer intended by the broadcaster. Of all 2 bits, 1 bit each is assigned to male and female in the order of MSB to LSB.

(Example) When sex_distinction = 10, the recommended gender of the viewer is male.

11- (14) minimum_age; Indicates the minimum age of the viewer intended by the broadcaster. When used together with age_width below, it indicates the age group of the recommended viewer.

11- (15) age_width; Indicates the age range of the viewer. When combined with the above minimum_age, it represents the age group of recommended viewers.

(Example) Minimum age indicated by minimum_age = 2
In the case of 4 years old (minimum_age = 011000) and age range indicated by age_width = 16 years old (age_width = 010000), the recommended viewer age group is 24 to 40 years old.

11- (16) family_relationship; Shows the family relationships of recommended viewers. Of the total 8 bits, 1 bit for each of the grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, in the order of MSB-LSB.
Assign sons and daughters. The lower 2 bits are reserved bits.

(Example) When family_relationship = 00101000, the recommended genders of the viewer are father and son.

11- (17) job; Indicates the occupation of the recommended viewer.
Of the total 8 bits, 1 bit each is allocated in the order of MSB to LSB as shown in FIG.

(Example) When job = 00110000, it means that the recommended profession of the viewer is office worker and self-employed.

11- (18) occupationa1_category; Indicates the occupation type of the recommended viewer. Of the total 24 bits, 1 bit each is allocated in the order of MSB to LSB as shown in FIG.

(Example) occupationa1_category = 0x003050 (he
In the case of x), the recommended job categories of viewers are those related to manufacturing / construction, schools / labs, and soft houses.

Next, the user information discriminating section shown at 121 in FIG. 1 will be described. User information determination unit 12
No. 1 compares the attributes of the receiver user included in the recommended viewer descriptor transmitted from the business side and received and decoded by the receiver side with the attributes of the user input in advance, and they match. If it does, or is very close, it has a function to notify the user. The recommended viewer descriptor is decoded by the EPG decoder 106 of FIG.
21.

FIG. 14 shows a remote controller (corresponding to the remote controller 116 in FIG. 1) and an operation panel (corresponding to the operation unit 114 in FIG. 1) used by the user for channel selection, EPG screen operation, and user interface screen operation to be described later in this embodiment. ) Is shown. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 10 have the same functions as those of the conventional one.

The user has a UI (User Interface) button 14
By pressing 01, the menu screen shown in FIG. 15 can be displayed. This menu screen is configured by the UI screen configuration unit 111 of FIG. In FIG. 15, 1501
1 is displayed to support the user's operation, the remote control 116 in FIG. 1 or the operation guide screen of the operation unit 114, and 1502 is a function introduction for introducing the function of the next operation selection candidate. A screen portion 1503 is a next operation selection candidate screen portion showing the next operation that can be performed from this menu screen, and a reference numeral 1504 is a cursor for selecting the next operation. When the user performs an operation of inputting his / her own attribute to the receiver, the remote controller 11 is displayed according to the display on the operation guide screen 1501
6, while operating the operation unit 114, 15 of FIG.
The cursor is moved to the position of “user individual setting” indicated by 04, and the enter button 1004 of FIG. 14 is pressed. By performing the above operation, the user attribute input screen 1 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. The screen is configured by the UI screen configuration unit 111 of FIG. The user uses the ten keys and the cursor keys of the remote control 116 or the operation unit 114 while looking at the screen of FIG.
Enter your gender, age, and family relationships.
Also, by selecting "no consideration" for all items,
It can be set not to consider that item. Figure 1
7 shows a user attribute input screen 2. This screen is displayed by pressing the enter button after inputting the items of the user attribute input screen 1, and this screen is also configured by the UI screen configuration unit 111 of FIG. While looking at the screen of FIG. 17, the user uses the ten keys and cursor keys of the remote controller 116 or the operation unit 114 to input his / her occupation and job category. Also, by selecting "no consideration" for all items, it is possible to set not to consider that item.
The attributes of the user input as described above are once passed through the system control unit of FIG. 1 and then, together with the user identification number,
It is stored in the memory 107.

FIG. 18 shows the user information discriminating unit 121 of FIG.
The functional block diagram of is shown. The same symbols as in FIG.
It has the same function as described above. The descriptor reading unit 1801
The decoding result of the recommended viewer descriptor sent from the EPG decoder 106 is read and stored in the descriptor storage unit 1802. The user attributes stored in the memory 107 as described above are fetched by the user attribute reading unit 1804, and the descriptor storage unit 1 is read by the user attribute comparing unit.
A comparison is made with the recommended viewer information stored in 802, and if they match or are very close,
Through the recommendation notifying unit 1805, the fact is notified to the EPG screen composing unit 108 together with the information on the program and the corner described in the descriptor. Information on programs and corners described in the descriptor is the recommended audience_
It is the information of 11- (5) to (8) described in the descriptor. The EPG screen configuration unit that received the information and the notification is shown in FIG.
The EPG screen is displayed as shown in and the user is notified that there is a recommended viewing program.

In FIG. 19, the reference numeral 1901 indicates a means 1902 for clearly indicating to the user that the program is a program recommended by the user in the program information introduction column and transmitting the content to the user. Things are EPG
This is a means for clearly indicating that a program recommended by the user exists on the entire screen (hereinafter referred to as a recommended flag). On this EPG screen, the user can operate
14, using the cursor keys on the remote control 116, FIG.
By moving the cursor 906 of, it is possible to see information on other recommended viewing programs, for example, "Sports 2".
The EPG screen is shown in FIG. This figure shows that the entire "Sports 2" program is not a recommended viewing program,
For example, a display example in the case where one corner in the program is recommended is shown. Reference numeral 2001 is a means for clearly indicating to the user that a part of the program is a program recommended by the user in the program information introduction section. On the receiver side, 11- (7) start_time, 11- of FIG.
(8) Grasp the start time and duration indicated by duration,
Display is performed in the portion indicated by reference numeral 2001 in FIG. The user can easily discern that they are different by reading the program duration of "Sports 2" and the working hours, and thus it can be seen that the 1st corner of "Sports 2" is recommended. Also, on the receiver side, start_time and duration (4- (14), 4- (15) in FIG. 4) described in the EIT and 11- (7) start_time, 11- (8 in FIG. 11 are described. ) By comparing with duration, if they do not match, it is easy to determine that the entire program is not recommended for viewing. Therefore, for a program in which the entire program is recommended and a program in which only a part of the program is recommended, for example, in FIG.
It is also possible to notify the user whether or not the entire program is recommended by changing the display color of the recommendation flag 1902 in 20 and displaying it in a blinking manner.

As described above, in the distribution content related information transmission format and the data signal receiver which receives and uses the distribution content related information transmission format, in the distribution content related information transmission format on the data distribution side, the program producer or distributor side Insert information that describes the intended or recommended data receiver attributes, and at the receiver side, receive them, compare them with the preset receiver user attributes, and notify the user of the results. By doing so, it becomes possible to easily search and detect a program that suits the user's own taste.

OTHER EXAMPLE 1 Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital TV broadcast receiver to which the present invention is applied as the second embodiment. In FIG. 1, what is indicated by the reference numeral is FIG.
The thing equivalent to has the same function. Further, the user information discriminating unit 2101 and the UI screen composing unit 2102 also have substantially the same functions.

FIG. 22 shows the user information discriminating section 21 of FIG.
The functional block diagram of 01 is shown. Descriptor reading unit 2201
Reads the decoding result of the recommended viewer descriptor sent from the EPG decoder 106, and the descriptor storage unit 220
Store in 2. As described above, the user attribute stored in the memory 107 is fetched by the user attribute reading unit 2204, and the user attribute comparison unit compares it with the recommended viewer information stored in the descriptor storage unit 2202, If they match or are very close,
Through the recommendation notifying section 2205, a message to that effect is displayed on the UI screen configuration section 2
Notify 102. In that case, the descriptor reading unit 220
1 is the recommended_audien, which is the EIT link information.
11- (9) to (1 in FIG. 11 described in ce_descriptor
2) information and transport_stream_id in SDT, origin
EIT information of the program based on etwork_id, service_id, etc.
(For example, the contents of the descriptor shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7) are read, and the UI screen configuration unit 2102 is notified via the descriptor storage unit 2202 and the recommendation notifying unit 2205 together with the comparison result. The UI screen configuration unit 2102 that has received the information and the notification
Configure the screen to inform the user,
To the display control unit 109. The display control unit 109
By displaying 0SD on the screen currently being viewed by the user together with the screen from the UI screen configuration unit 2102, if there is a recommended program while the user is watching another program, It is possible to inform the user to that effect.

FIG. 23 shows an example of the screen display. The screen shown in this figure is a screen for informing the recommended program of the programs currently being performed at the current time indicated by the above-mentioned TDT. In the figure, reference numeral 2301 indicates a television screen that the user is watching, reference numeral 2302 indicates a program content introduction screen of a recommended program which is configured by the UI screen configuration unit 2102 and is displayed by the display control unit 109 as 0SD. In the screen of the program content introduction screen 2302, what is indicated by 2303 is a display prompting the user to switch from the program currently being viewed to the recommended program. The cursor in this display is moved to the operation unit 11 in FIG.
4 or by operating a cursor key or the like of the remote controller 116, it is possible to select whether to switch.

Further, FIG. 24 shows a screen for informing a recommended program for a program to be performed in the future with respect to the current time indicated by the above-mentioned TDT. 24 in the figure
What is indicated by 01 is a display prompting the user to make a viewing reservation for the recommended program. The cursor in this display is moved to the operation unit 114 of FIG. 21 or the remote controller 11
By operating the cursor keys 6 and the like, it becomes possible to select whether or not to make a viewing reservation. Here, if the viewing reservation is made, the viewing reservation information is stored in the memory 1 of FIG.
When the time indicated by the TDT matches the start time of the program reserved for viewing, the system controller 118 automatically switches the screen display.

As described above, in the distribution content related information transmission format and the data signal receiver that receives and uses the distribution content related information transmission format, in the distribution content related information transmission format on the data distribution side, the program producer or distributor side Insert information that describes the intended or recommended data receiver attributes, and at the receiver side, receive them, compare them with the preset receiver user attributes, and notify the user of the results. By doing so, it becomes possible to easily search and detect a program that suits the user's own taste.

[Other Embodiment 2] FIG. 25 shows a display screen which allows the user to be informed that there is a recommended program even while the user is watching another program. Other examples are shown. In the figure, reference numeral 2501 indicates 0SD display from the UI screen configuration unit 2102 for notifying the user 1 that a recommended program exists, via the display control unit 109. When this screen is displayed, the user has the EPG of the operation unit 114 or the remote controller 116 of FIG.
The EPG screen as shown in FIGS. 19 and 21 may be displayed by pressing the display button. It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments can be obtained also by this.

[0172]

As described above, in the distribution content related information transmission format and the data signal receiver for receiving and using the distribution content related information transmission format, in the distribution content related information transmission format on the data distribution side, the program producer or distribution By inserting information describing the attributes of the data receiver intended or recommended by the person side, the receiver side receives them and compares them with the preset attributes of the receiver user,
By notifying the user of the result, it becomes possible to easily search and detect a program that suits the user's own taste.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a first embodiment of a digital TV broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 Syntax structure of service description table

[Fig. 3] Service descriptor syntax structure

[Fig. 4] Syntax structure of event information table

[Fig. 5] Content descriptor syntax structure

Fig. 6 Syntax structure of parental code descriptor

[Fig. 7] Syntax structure of short format descriptor

[Figure 8] Time date table syntax structure

[Figure 9] Normal EPG screen

FIG. 10 Remote control and operation panel

FIG. 11: Syntax structure of recommended viewer descriptor

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing occupation codes.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing job codes.

FIG. 14 Remote control and operation panel

[Figure 15] Menu screen

[FIG. 16] User individual setting screen 1

[FIG. 17] User individual setting screen 2

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of a user information discriminating unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an EPG screen 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 20 EPG screen 2 according to the first embodiment

FIG. 21 is a configuration block diagram showing a second embodiment of the digital TV broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of a user information discriminating unit according to the second embodiment.

[FIG. 23] Recommended program notification screen 1

[Fig. 24] Recommended program notification screen 2

[FIG. 25] Recommended program notification screen 3

[Explanation of symbols] 101 Tuner section 102 descrambler 103 Demultiplexer 104 video decoder 105 audio decoder 106 EPG decoder 107 memory 108 EPG screen component 109 display control unit 110 DAC 111 UI screen configuration unit 112 Image display section 113 voice output section 114 Operation part 115 Light receiving part 116 remote control 117 IC card controller 118 system control unit 119 Cursor control section 120 system bus

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/035 H04N 7/08 A 7/08 Z 7/081 7/173 630 640 F term (reference) 5C025 BA25 BA30 CA09 CB10 DA01 DA05 5C063 AA01 AB03 AB07 AC01 AC05 AC10 CA11 CA23 CA36 DA03 DA07 DA13 DB10 5C064 BA01 BB10 BC06 BC17 BC18 BC22 BC23 BD02 BD03 BD08 BD09 BD13

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A distribution content related information transmission format on a data distribution side for transmitting channel information about each channel broadcast to a data receiving side through a data transfer means and program related information related to each program, wherein A distribution content related information transmission format characterized in that information describing attributes of a data receiver intended or recommended by the producer or distributor of the program is inserted in the information. 2. The program-related information is “ETS 300 468 Spe
cification for Service Information (SI) in DVB syst
SDT (Service Description Table) described in `` ems '', a descriptor (descriptor) that describes in the SDT the information that describes the attributes of the data receiver intended or recommended by the program producer and distributor. The delivery content related information transmission format according to claim 1, wherein the delivery content related information transmission format is inserted as. 3. The program description information is a service description table (SDT) described in "ARIB STD-B10 program arrangement information used for digital broadcasting".
The information describing the attribute of the data receiver intended or recommended by the program producer and the distributor side is inserted as a descriptor described in the service description table. The transmission content related information transmission format described in 1. 4. The service description table (SDT), wherein information for associating with the program related information is inserted as a descriptor.
3 to 3, the delivery content related information transmission format. 5. The program-related information is “ETS 300 468 Spe
cification for Service Information (SI) in DVB syst
It is an EIT (Event Information Table) described in "ems", and the information to be associated is the sub # tab of the EIT.
The delivery content related information transmission format according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is information regarding le. 6. The program-related information is an event information table (EIT; Event Information Table) described in “ARIB STD-B10 program arrangement information used for digital broadcasting”. EIT sub # t
5. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information is related to able.
The transmission format for the information related to the distribution content described in any of the above. 7. The delivery content related information transmission format according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the recipient is the gender of the recipient. 8. The attribute of the recipient is the age of the recipient,
7. The distribution content related information transmission format according to claim 1, wherein the transmission content related information transmission format is an age group. 9. The delivery content related information transmission format according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the recipient is a relationship in the family of the recipient. 10. The delivery content related information transmission format according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the recipient is the occupation of the recipient. 11. The delivery content related information transmission format according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the recipient is a job category of the recipient. 12. An attribute of a recipient set in advance,
The information described in the received descriptor is compared, and if there is a program or a part of the program to which they match, or if there is a program to which they are close, or a part of the program, it is detected. A data signal receiving device characterized by informing a receiver. 13. An attribute of a recipient set in advance,
The information described in the received descriptor is compared, and if there is a program or a part of the program to which they match, or if there is a program to which they are close, or a part of the program, it is detected. In addition to informing the receiver, the information of each section of the EIT, which is the information related to the association, is acquired, and the detailed information of the program described therein is notified to the receiver. Data signal receiving device. 14. The data signal receiving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the attribute of the receiver is the gender of the receiver. 15. The attribute of the recipient is the age or age group of the recipient.
3. The data signal receiving device according to 3. 16. The attribute of the recipient is a relationship in the family of the recipient.
The data signal receiving device described. 17. The data signal receiving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the attribute of the receiver is the occupation of the receiver. 18. The data signal receiving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the attribute of the recipient is a job category of the recipient.