JP2003258802A - Method and program for reserving program video recording by using network - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably perform video recording without failing in reserving video recording a broadcast program performed through a communication network with a plurality of devices connected due to the transmission capacity shortage of the network. <P>SOLUTION: When a program signal received by a broadcasting receiver 4 is supplied to a video recorder 6 through a network 9 and the program signal reserved for video recording by a reservation receiving device is video recorded, a network reservation information managing device 3 manages the data amount of all signals by hour through the network 9 including another device which is reserved and to which the program signal is transmitted, and video recording is reserved on the basis of a capacity transmittable through the managed network, preventing beforehand a failure in video recording of the program reserved for video recording due to the transmission band shortage of the network at the start of and during program broadcasting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program signal received by a broadcast receiving device connected to a network,
The present invention relates to a broadcast program recording reservation method and a program recording reservation program to be supplied to a recording device connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the IEEE (Institute of Ele
ctrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394, US
A broadcast receiving apparatus that connects digital AV (Audio visual) devices using a network such as B (Universal Serial Bus) or Ethernet and transmits digital AV signals or signals related to operation control performed between these AV devices. , And program recording devices have been put to practical use. (Ethernet / ETHERNET is a registered trademark owned by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.)

The IEEE 1394 digital network has a function of preliminarily reserving a use band for data transmission when transmitting digital data through the network.

[0004]

However, for example, in a broadcast receiving apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of recording reservation, which is connected to a network, a reservation function for transmitting data at a reserved time in the future using the network. Using A
Instead of using the recording reservation function for transmitting V digital data, a method is used in which the availability of the network is checked at the time of data transmission for recording and the data is transmitted if it is available.

Then, when there is a margin in the transmission band for transmitting AV data on the network, the reservation is accepted and data is transmitted between these devices.
The reservation is rejected for the reservation request in the state where sufficient transmission capacity cannot be secured in the network resource, so that the data is not transmitted and the reserved program is not recorded.

Further, since network resources between devices connected to the same network are reserved only when they are actually used, when the network resources are occupied by devices connected to another network. Cannot use the network with other devices, for example, the program signal received by the broadcast receiving device is transmitted to the network in real time, and when the transmitted data is recorded by the program recording device, it is transmitted to the network. It was only enough to prevent recording reservations from being executed when there was no free bandwidth available.

Therefore, according to the present invention, viewing and recording of a program via a network is performed by making a viewing reservation or a recording reservation in advance, and the data transmission rate of the network related to the reserved operation. Is managed by the network reservation information management device, and when data transmission exceeding the network capacity is reserved due to program viewing reservation or recording reservation, the user is notified that the network transmission capacity is insufficient. In addition, the data rate transmitted through the network is changed at the time of viewing or recording to ensure recording of the program reserved for recording.

[0008]

The present invention comprises the following means 1) to 4) in order to solve the above problems. That is,

1) Each of a program signal received by a broadcast receiving device, a program signal displayed on a display device, a program signal recorded by a recording device, and a program signal reproduced by a recording device is connected to the network by the network. When configuring the program signal viewing system to be supplied between the devices via the device, any one of the devices configuring the program signal viewing system or any other device connected to the network. In order to supply and record the program signal received at the time reserved by the broadcast receiving device to the recording device, the network managing means for managing the time relating to the data amount of the program signal transmitted via the network. Reservation acceptance means is provided, and the reservation acceptance is performed through the network managed by the network management means. A program recording reservation method using a network for recording a broadcast program set by means, the transmission rate relating to a transmission rate of a network that can be secured for transmission of a program signal at the reserved time. The first step of obtaining information from the network management means (3), the assured transmission rate, or the transmission rate necessary for transmitting the recording reserved program, whichever is smaller, A program recording reservation method using a network, comprising: (2) a second step of reserving the use. 2) The program recording reservation method using the network according to 1) above, wherein the storable transmission rate in the second step is smaller than the transmission rate necessary for transmitting the recording reservation program, A program recording reservation method using a network, characterized by generating a notification signal for notifying a user that a transmission rate necessary for transmitting the recording reservation program is not secured. 3) A program recording reservation method using the network according to 1) or 2) above, wherein at least one of the broadcast receiving device, the display device, and the recording device is:
When a plurality of broadcast receiving devices, display devices, or recording devices are used, and the plurality of broadcast receiving devices, display devices, or recording devices supply program signals using the common network, the network management means Is a program recording reservation method using a network, characterized in that the transmission rate of all program signals between the devices is managed. 4) Each of a program signal received by a broadcast receiving device, a program signal displayed on a display device, a program signal recorded by a recording device, and a program signal reproduced by a recording device, which are connected by a network, is transmitted via the network. When configuring a program signal viewing system to be supplied between devices, a network is provided to any of the respective devices configuring the program signal viewing system, or to a device other than the above connected to the network. Network management means for performing time management relating to the data amount of the program signal transmitted via the network, and reservation reception for supplying and recording the program signal received at the time reserved by the broadcast receiving device to the recording device. Means is provided, and the reservation acceptance means is provided via the network managed by the network management means. A program recording reservation program that uses a network for executing a computer having a function of recording a fixed broadcast program, the network being capable of being secured for transmission of a program signal at the reserved time. A first step (S13) of obtaining transmission rate information related to the transmission rate from the network management means,
The second step (S21) of reserving the use of the network at the transmission rate that is the smaller of the transmission rate that can be secured and the transmission rate necessary for transmitting the recording-scheduled program, whichever is the smaller, A program recording reservation program using a network characterized by being executed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The preferred embodiments of the program recording reservation method using a network and the program recording reservation program using a network according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration example of a program recording / viewing reservation system according to the embodiment.

The program recording / viewing reservation system 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a reservation acceptance device 2, a network reservation information management device 3, a broadcast reception data transmission device 4, a display device 5, a recording device 6, and a network 9.

Next, the operation of the program recording / viewing reservation system 1 having such a configuration will be described. First, an electronic program guide is displayed by the reservation acceptance device 2, and a viewing reservation operation for a program desired by the user or a recording reservation operation for a program desired for recording is performed.

The program reservation information for which the recording reservation has been made or the viewing reservation has been made is transmitted to the broadcast reception data transmission device 4, the display device 5, and the recording device 6 through the network 9 and the network 9 thereof. The network reservation information management device 3 acquires the time information about the program signal transmitted via the network and the data transmission rate information.

That is, the network reservation information management device 3 calculates the total transmission rate information concerning all the transmitted program signals for each time reserved and supplied to the network by the method described later, and calculates the total transmission rate information. It is detected whether the total transmission rate is a data rate amount that can be transmitted by the network 9.

When the total transmission rate thus detected exceeds the data rate that can be transmitted by the network 9, the network 9 may overflow to the user, and the reserved program viewing or recording may fail. Is displayed on the display of the reservation acceptance device 2,
Or, a warning sound is emitted through a speaker or the like installed in the device.

As described above, in the program recording / viewing reservation system 1 described here, the broadcast reception data relating to the program reserved for recording by the reservation reception device 2 is received and received by the broadcast reception data transmission device 4. The signal thus obtained is supplied to the recording device 6 via the network 9.

The broadcast program reception data for which a program viewing reservation is made by the reservation acceptance device 2 is received by the broadcast reception data transmission device 4, and the program signal obtained by reception is supplied to the display device 5 via the network 9. To be done.

Further, the program signal thus transmitted via the network 9 has a failure in the recording operation, the viewing operation, etc. which are caused based on the data transmission exceeding the transmittable bit rate of the network 9. In order to prevent this from occurring, the network reservation information management device 3 manages the total transmission rate of data transmitted on the network 9.

The system configuration example and the operation in the case where each of the display device 5 and the recording device 6 in the program recording / viewing reservation system 1 are connected to the network 9 have been described above. The same operation is performed even when each of the display devices 5 or the recording devices 6 is connected to the plurality of networks 9 and configured.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a program recording / viewing reservation system in which two recording devices and two display devices are used. Compared with the program recording / viewing reservation system 1 described above, the program recording / viewing reservation system 1a shown in the figure includes a display device A5a and a display device B5b instead of the display device 5, and a recording device instead of the recording device 6. A6a and recording device B6b
Are connected to the network 9 and configured.

Next, the operation of the program recording / viewing reservation system 1a configured as described above will be described mainly with respect to the operation different from that of the program recording / viewing reservation system 1 described above. That is, in the program recording / viewing reservation system 1a, the signal of the broadcast program received by the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 is supplied to the display device A5a, the display device B5b, the recording device A6a, or the recording device B6b via the network 9. It

The broadcast reception data recorded by the recording device A6a is displayed on the display device A5a or the display device B5b.
In addition to being supplied to the recording device B6b via the network 9, the program signal recorded in the recording device B6b is similarly supplied to the display device B5b and the recording device A6.
a or the recording device B6b.

As described above, there are many combinations of program signals supplied via the network 9, and variations in the transmission rate of the program signals transmitted via the network 9 are associated with program recording and program viewing. It will be big. Therefore, the network reservation information management device 3 manages the total transmission data rate by obtaining the amount of data to be transferred by the network 9 relating to the program viewing and program recording in which all the reservations are made.

The configuration and operation of the program recording / viewing reservation system 1 and the program recording / reserving system 1a have been outlined above. Next, respective devices constituting those systems will be further described. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the reservation receiving device.

The reservation acceptance device 2 shown in FIG.
1, information inquiry means 22, display means 23, display 2
4, input means 25, and pointing device 26.

Next, the operation of the reservation accepting device 2 thus constructed will be described. First, when a user performs a program viewing operation or a recording reservation operation, the user operates the pointing device 26 to issue an electronic program guide acquisition command. Information is acquired based on the acquisition command. Inquiry means 22 is communication means 2
1 through the network 9, the electronic program guide information received by the broadcast reception data sending device 4 or the electronic program guide information provided by the service provider through the connection means to the Internet (not shown) from the network. Is obtained.

The electronic program guide information thus obtained is converted by the display means 23 into an image signal of a format displayed on the display 24, and the converted image signal is displayed on the display 24. Then, a program desired to be viewed or recorded is designated by using the program guide operated and displayed by the user, and program viewing and recording reservation setting operations are performed.

When the normally set program viewing is set such that the received broadcast wave is a digital broadcast, the program signal obtained by receiving the broadcast is, for example, M.
It is a coded signal of a predetermined bit rate that is compression coded by a moving picture experts group (PEG), and the coded signal is supplied via a network 9.

When the broadcast received by the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 is an analog broadcast signal, the program signal received and converted is converted into a digital video signal of a predetermined bit rate or a predetermined compression code. The converted digital signal is supplied to the network 9. Then, the information inquiry unit 22 inquires of the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 about the encoding rate of the supplied digital video signal.

With respect to the program for which the viewing reservation or the recording reservation is set in this way, the information inquiry means 22 uses the broadcast time, the broadcast program name, or the program ID of the broadcast program.
(Identification) code and the like are acquired from the electronic program guide data, and the network 9 is associated with the broadcast program.
The signal format of the program signal transmitted in step 1 and the transmission speed information of the signal are acquired, and the acquired information is supplied to the network reservation information management device 3.

Next, the network reservation information management device will be described. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the network reservation information management device 3. The network reservation information management device 3 shown in the figure includes a communication unit 31, a network reservation information response unit 32, and a network bandwidth reservation table 33.
1 is configured by the internal information storage means 33.

Next, the operation of the network reservation information management device 3 having such a configuration will be described. First, information such as a broadcast time, a program name, a program ID code, a signal format, and a transmission speed relating to viewing or recording reservation of a broadcast supplied from the reservation accepting device 2 via the network 9 is obtained by the network reservation information response means. Acquired,
The acquired information is stored in the network bandwidth reservation table 331 which is a recording area of the internal information storage means 33.

The network bandwidth reservation table 331
Stores information supplied in the past by operating the reservation accepting device 2 or the like, and the network reservation information responding means 32 has already stored the program watching at the duplicated time, or Information relating to the recording reservation is read. Then, it is discriminated whether or not the read-out reserved programs are within the capacity of the bandwidth of the network 9 in which the transmission rate of all data in the network 9 used during the operation for viewing or recording. .

As a result of such identification, when it is determined that all program information is transmitted within the transmission capability of the network 9, a reply signal for permitting the program viewing or recording reservation operation is given. The reply signal thus generated is transmitted to the reservation acceptance device 2.

In this way, on the reservation acceptance device 2 side,
A program viewing reservation or a program recording reservation is set based on the reply signal transmitted from the network reservation information management device 3 side.

On the contrary, when it is detected that the transmission capacity of the network 9 is not secured, the network reservation information response means 32 side informs the reservation acceptance means 2 side of
Network 9 has a problem in transferring program data,
Information indicating that program viewing or program recording reservation is not normally executed is transmitted as a reply signal.

In order to solve the trouble, the reservation accepting device 2 side which has obtained the operation trouble information changes the transmission rate of the program reserved this time or the already reserved program or makes a reservation. It is changed so as to reduce the burden on the network 9 by canceling it,
The changed contents are the network reservation information management device 3
Is transmitted to the network reservation information management device 3, the network bandwidth reservation table 331 is changed, and the network 9
Data transmission is managed.

Network 9 managed in this way
, The program data received and obtained by the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 is supplied to the network 9. Next, the configuration and operation of the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the broadcast reception data transmission device. The broadcast reception data transmission device 4 shown in the figure comprises a broadcast reception means 41, a format conversion means 42, an internal information response means 43, a communication means 44, and an internal information storage means 45.

The internal information storage means 45 is configured to store a program reservation table 451, a communication reservation table 452, a receivable channel 453, a sendable bandwidth 454, and a convertible format table 455. ing.

Next, the operation of the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 configured as above will be described. First, the information regarding the broadcast program to be received, which is reserved for viewing or recording by the reservation accepting device 2, is supplied to the network reservation management device 3 and the broadcast reception data transmitting device 4.

In the broadcast reception data transmission device 4, a signal of a bit stream, which is normally obtained by receiving the digital broadcast by the broadcast reception means 41, is supplied to the network 9 through the communication means 44.

Further, for example, when the reservation reception device 2 requests the transmission of a broadcast reception signal of a low transmission rate, or a video signal obtained by receiving an analog broadcast is converted into a digital signal and supplied to the network 9. In such a case, the received data obtained by receiving, or the analog video signal obtained by receiving is converted into program signal data of a specified format by the format conversion means 42, and the program obtained by conversion is obtained. The signal data is supplied to the network 9 via the communication means 44.

In this way, the received signal is supplied from the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 after being converted into a program signal of a required predetermined format and a predetermined transmission rate. Since the signal is converted and supplied only in the format that can be generated by the conversion means 42, the format of the desired program signal to be transmitted while communicating with the reservation reception apparatus 2 and the network reservation information management apparatus 3 according to the format. Is defined as

That is, the request signal supplied from the reservation accepting device 2 or the network reservation information managing device 3 is supplied to the internal information responding means 43, in which, for example, the reception of the broadcast related to the requested receiving channel is received by the broadcast receiving means. The reception channel information receivable by 41 is referred to by the receivable channel table 453, and the channel information is returned to the reservation acceptance device 2 as a reply signal.

With respect to the received program signal of the receivable channel, the program signal is set to be supplied to the network 9 as the program signal of the required signal format at the required transmission rate. A format that can be converted by the format conversion means 42 at that time,
Regarding the transmission rate, the transmission rate information described in the convertible format table 455 and the transmittable bandwidth table 454 is supplied as a reply signal.

In this way, the signal negotiated among the reservation acceptance device 2, the network reservation information management device 3 and the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 is supplied to the network 9 when the reserved time arrives. The program reservation information negotiated by the request and the reply in this way is stored in the program reservation table, and the information on the transmission rate is stored in the communication reservation table 452.

The description contents of the table thus stored are added or changed when a new program is reserved for viewing or recording, but at different reception channels at the same time. When a request is made, a reply signal that the signal of the requested channel cannot be received is supplied to the reservation acceptance device 2.

When the reserved time described in these tables arrives, the broadcast reception data transmitting device 4 converts the program signal received according to the information described in those tables into a signal of a predetermined format. And is supplied to the network 9.

The program signal thus supplied to the network 9 is displayed on the display device 5. Next, the display device 5 will be described. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the display device.

The display device 5 shown in the figure comprises a display reservation table 51, a communication reservation table 52, a display means 53, a communication means 54, an internal information response means 55, and an internal information storage means 56, and its internal information storage means. A displayable format table 561 and a communicable bandwidth table 562 are stored in 56.

Next, the operation of the display device 5 having such a configuration will be described. First, the viewing reservation information made by the reservation receiving device 2 is the network 9 and the communication means 54.
The program viewing information is supplied to the internal information response means 55 via the, and stored in the display reservation table 51.

Similarly, the format information obtained as a result of the negotiations among the reservation accepting device 2, the network reservation information managing device 3 and the broadcast reception data transmitting device 4 is stored in the communication reservation table 52. To be done.

Then, when the display time stored in the display reservation table arrives, the power supply (not shown) of the display means 53 is automatically turned on, and the predetermined power is supplied via the network 9 and the communication means 54. The program signal of the format and the transmission rate is supplied to the display means 53, the program signal of the predetermined format is displayed as a video signal obtained by decoding, and the accompanying audio signal is built in the display device 5. Sound is produced by an audio device (not shown).

Further, in the display means 53, the information about the format of the decodable video signal and the decodable transmission rate is stored in the displayable format table 561 and the communicable band table 562, respectively. The information described in the table is referred to as a video signal format that can be displayed by the display device 5 at the time of the above-mentioned negotiation.

In this way, the display device 5 displays the signal supplied from the broadcast reception data transmission device 4,
On the display device 5, the program signal recorded by the recording device 6 is supplied, and the recorded signal is also reproduced and displayed.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of the recording apparatus. The recording device 6 shown in FIG.
2. Internal information response means 63 and internal information storage means 64
The internal information storage means 64 stores a total storage capacity table 641, a remaining storage capacity table 642, a recordable bandwidth table 643, a communicable bandwidth table 644, a communication reservation table 645, and a recording / reproducing reservation table 646. It is configured in this way.

Next, the operation of the recording device 6 having such a configuration will be described. First, the communication reservation information obtained as a result of the negotiations among the reservation acceptance device 2, the network reservation information management device 3, and the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 described above is stored in the communication reservation table 645 and in the reservation of the recorded program. The related information is the recording / reservation table 646.
Stored in.

Then, when the recording start time stored in the recording / playback reservation table arrives, the encoded digital program signal supplied from the broadcast reception data transmitting device 4 via the network 9 is recorded by the recording / reproducing means 61. Will be recorded.

Further, the recorded program signal is obtained by reproducing and reproducing the recording medium (not shown) stored in the recording / reproducing means 61 when the reproduction time described in the recording / reproducing reservation table 646 arrives. The digital program signal is supplied to the network 9 via the communication means 62.

The signal which is reproduced and reserved in this way is a signal of a data rate which is managed by the network reservation information management device 3 and can be transmitted by the network 9, and the reproduction operation is normally performed on the display device 5. Done.

As described above, each of the reservation reception device 2, the network reservation information management device 3, and the broadcast reception data transmission device 4 has a network 9 having a predetermined transmission capacity.
With the signal below the transmission rate of
Also, the configuration and operation of the program recording / viewing reservation system in which recording reservation is made and operated are described.

A plurality of broadcast reception data transmission devices,
A program is used in which a plurality of display devices and a plurality of recording devices are used by a plurality of users, and for example, a common home network installed in a home is used to connect AV devices installed in each room. When the recording and viewing reservation system is configured, each device operates at the same time,
A recording reservation operation in which a normal signal is not recorded or the recording reservation may be interrupted due to the fact that data transmission that exceeds the transmission capacity of the network is not performed, etc. It can be prevented.

In this way, the program recording / viewing reservation system described above can be constructed as a system in which mistakes in reserved recording particularly caused by giving an excessive load to the network are prevented.

The interruption of such a reserved recording operation also occurs due to a shortage of the remaining recording area of the recording medium used in the recording apparatus, but when the recording reservation is set, the remaining recording capacity and recording capacity of the recording medium are set. Information such as a data rate that can be recorded by the device and a data rate that can be communicated is obtained, and it is confirmed whether or not the entire program can be recorded, and a recording reservation is made.

When a plurality of recording devices are connected to the network, one of the recording devices is selected and recorded by referring to the value of the total recording capacity of the recording medium loaded in the recording device. Make a reservation.

As described above, since the program signal is viewed and recorded by the viewing reservation or the recording reservation, the coding rate is urgently set for the user due to the lack of the network capacity especially at the time of recording. It is possible to prevent a recording error such as a request for re-writing or a recording failure from the beginning of the program.

The management of the operating capacity of the network in such a program recording / viewing reservation system is performed by the network reservation information response means 32 of the network reservation information management device 3 shown in FIG. A computer is built in the response means 32, and the amount of data transmitted via the network is controlled by operating the computer.

Next, a recording reservation method performed by operating a computer to manage the amount of information on the network will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation related to network management performed by operating the computer.

First, in S (step) 11, when the user selects a recording reserved program based on the electronic program guide or the like, the program reserved in S12 is recorded by the recording device. The user is requested to set the transmission rate of the signal, and the value of the transmission rate desired by the user is input by operation.

Next, in S13, the computer acquires the recording reservation already made and the program information for which the viewing reservation has been made at the reserved time so that the recording reservation made this time is reserved in the network. The information of the transmission rate that is enabled is calculated.

Next, in S14, it is checked whether or not the transmission rate that can be secured by the network is sufficient to transmit the reserved recording program, and if it is sufficiently secured, the network is reserved in S21. If not sufficiently secured, the information that the transmission capacity of the network is insufficient is transmitted to the display means of the reservation acceptance device 2 by S15 and displayed there.

Next, in S16, the reserved recording programs and viewing reserved programs are presented in a list, and when the reserved transmission rate can be changed in S17, the transmission rate changing operation is performed. .

Then, in S18, it is checked whether or not the capacity of the network is sufficient due to the resetting. If it is sufficient, the network is reserved in S21, and if it is not sufficient, the network is further reserved in S19. It is checked whether the rate change of the program already set is impossible.

As a result, when it is determined that the transmission rate of the reserved program cannot be changed, the steps from S16 are executed again, and when it is determined that the transmission rate of the program reserved in S11 can be reserved in S20. The rate is changed so that a program recording reservation is made as a signal at a different transmission rate, the transmission rate is set at S21, and the network is reserved at that rate at S21. The setting is completed.

In this way, by executing the computer, the recording reservation of the program or the viewing reservation of the program made by connecting a plurality of devices to the network is performed.

In this way, recording of the reserved program,
And the viewing is done normally. However, since the recorded program may be reproduced without any reservation for viewing, the program recording / viewing reservation system may not normally perform the reproduction operation of the program started without reservation. It is desirable that action be taken.

The reproduction which is performed without making a reservation is, for example, a case where the user operates the display device to watch the program being broadcast or reproduces the recorded program. In these cases, the network reservation information management device 3 side checks whether or not a program recording reservation or a program viewing reservation is set in the near future, and when the network capacity is secured, the receiving device or the recording device The reproduction signal to be supplied is supplied to the display device, and when there is a possibility that the network capacity will be insufficient in the near future, the fact is displayed on the display device to notify the user in advance.

When the program recording reservation time or the program viewing reservation time arrives, the band used for reproduction is limited, and for example, the above-mentioned FIG.
The signal is transmitted via the format conversion means shown in FIG. 2 so that the recording of the already reserved program or the viewing of the reserved program can be normally executed.

Information relating to the network reservation is exchanged as described above.
Further, the method of bandwidth reservation of the network will be further described. FIG. 9 shows the configurations of the network bandwidth reservation table and the recording reservation table.

The respective tables shown in the figure are tables relating to the information transmitted between the respective devices connected to the network for making the network reservation and the recording reservation, and the network bandwidth reservation shown in (a). The table is made up of entries NI, entries N2, N3, ..., Each of which has a program ID, a program start time, a program end time, a transmission rate, and a transmission side device ID.

Then, in the recording reservation table shown in (b), entry RI, entry R2, and entry R
.., and each entry includes a program ID, a program start time, a program end time, a transmission rate, a transmission side device ID, and a data format.

Further, as a viewing reservation table (not shown), entry PI, entry P2, entry P3,
・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Consists of each entry in Program I
D, a viewing start time, a viewing end time, a transmission rate, a transmission side device ID, and a data format are also used.

Information relating to these tables is set so that a request signal is transmitted between the respective devices via a network, and a reply signal to the request signal is returned so that network reservation and viewing or recording reservation can be made. The information relating to the above is exchanged. Next, the transmission of the signal relating to the reservation thus made will be described.

First, when the user makes a recording reservation operation for a program having a predetermined program ID with respect to the reservation accepting device, the reservation accepting device transmits the network band reservation table to the network reservation information management device. At the same time, a request for establishing a reservation is made by transmitting the recording reservation table information related to the recording reservation of the program to the network.

Then, the request signal including the transmitted recording reservation table is received by the broadcast reception data transmitting device, the recording device, and the like, and the start time, the end time, and the recording time of the program associated with the program ID are transmitted. The information about the signal format of the program signal to be used, the bandwidth used by the network (transmission speed of the information signal), etc. is acquired and stored in the internal information storage area, and the network reservation table is acquired by the network reservation information management device. It

The network reservation information management device is concerned with the recording reservation request and stores in the internal information storage area of the management device whether or not a communication reservation has already been made by another device during the time period when the program signal is transmitted. The network bandwidth reservation table that is referred to is looked up, and when the signal in the requested bandwidth is transmitted by the network, a reply signal indicating that transmission is possible is not returned, and the transmission capacity is When it is considered to be insufficient, bandwidth information related to the transmission capacity that can be secured is returned as a reply signal.

In this way, the reply signal relating to the reservation of the network is returned from the network reservation information management device, but the reply signal relating to the supply of the broadcast reception signal reserved for recording is returned from the broadcast reception data transmitting device.

That is, the reply signal relates to the supply of the program signal for which the recording reservation request has been made, and whether or not the program has a receiving function and whether or not another channel has already been reserved for reception. The program reservation table stored in the internal information storage means of the device is checked, and it is also checked whether the signal format of the program to be transmitted and whether the signal can be generated at the required transmission rate. When it is determined that the transmission is possible, the reply signal indicating that the signal of the requested format can be supplied to the reservation accepting device is returned.

Further, the program signal thus transmitted from the broadcast reception data transmission device is supplied to the recording device for recording, but the request signal is also transmitted to the recording device side and the recording device side. A reply signal is sent back from.

That is, although the recording device A and the recording device B are connected to the network, the free space of the recording medium in the internal recording means is checked on the side of each recording device, and all the supplied program signal When the recording is enabled, a reply signal indicating that all programs can be recorded is returned from the recording device side to the reservation receiving device side.

Then, on the reservation accepting device side to which the reply signal is returned, when the reply signal which enables recording is returned from both the recording device A and the recording device B, for example, the recording of the medium recording remaining capacity which is larger is performed. When a device is selected and a reply signal for enabling recording is sent back from one of the recording devices, the recording device is selected and the recording reservation of the broadcast program is made.

In this way, the reply signal which enables recording reservation is returned from the network reservation information management device, the broadcast reception data transmission device, and the recording device, thereby recording the designated program. The reservation settings will be established.

In this way, the transmission band in the network is secured in advance for future communication, and the devices to which the program data is supplied are assigned to the sending device side and the recording device side, and recording is performed. Since the program signal to be recorded is also confirmed, for example, the reserved broadcast program can be appropriately recorded without the lack of the bandwidth of the network being found immediately before the start time of the reserved recorded program. Is.

Although the recording reservation of the program to be broadcast is made as described above, the recording reservation of the program to be broadcast or the reproduction reservation of the recorded program is also reserved and displayed by the same method. The transmitted signal will be transmitted through the network without being broken.

Next, a program viewing reservation made using a display device connected to such a network will be described. In the viewing reservation, the user operates the reservation accepting device to make a viewing reservation of a predetermined program. The request signal for the program viewing reservation generated by the operation of the viewing reservation is transmitted from the reservation accepting device side to the network. Be broadcast to.

Then, on the side of the network reservation information management device, for the recording reservation request signal transmitted and received, it is determined whether the communication reservation has already been made in the reserved time zone or not in the device. The table is referred to and checked, and if the transmission band can be secured, a reply signal that indicates that the transmission is possible is generated and transmitted, and when the transmission band cannot be secured,
Information regarding the transmission band that can be secured is returned as a reply signal.

Also, the reply signal is checked from the broadcast reception data transmission device side based on the internal information whether the program has a receiving function for the viewing reservation request or whether the reception reservation of another channel is made at the same time. It is also checked whether or not it is possible to supply the received program signal to the network in a predetermined signal format according to the required transmission rate. A reply signal is returned.

The reply signal is returned to the reservation accepting device also from the display device side. That is, on the display device side, it is checked whether there is a performance of receiving the designated program data, whether the received data can be decoded, and whether there is another reservation for use during that time period. When a request is made, a reply signal is returned to the reservation acceptance device.

On the reservation accepting device side, when a reply signal indicating that the reservation is possible is received from all of the device sides, the network reservation information managing device is reserved for the network band and Reception reservation and use reservation are set in the broadcast reception data transmission device and the display device.

Then, if the available bandwidth information based on the transmission bandwidth shortage is returned as a reply signal from the network reservation information management device at that time, the reservation receiving device sends out broadcast reception data based on the available bandwidth information. The reservation request signal with the changed new transmission rate signal is retransmitted to the device and the display device.

On the side of the broadcast data receiving device that has received the retransmitted request signal, it is possible to supply data to the network as a signal converted into a predetermined data format at a transmission rate that is less than or equal to the specified bandwidth. When it is determined, the receiving device returns a format ID indicating the signal format that can be supplied to the reservation receiving device.

Similarly, on the display device side, when it is possible to decode and display a program signal having a specified bandwidth or less in the same manner, the data format ID related to the signal format is returned as a reply signal.

On the reservation reception device side which has received the reply signal returned from the reception device side and the display device side in this way, the plurality of format IDs returned from the broadcast reception data transmission device and the return from the display device side are returned. A format ID that can be used in common is selected from among the plurality of format IDs that have been set, and a viewing reservation for viewing the program signal transmitted by the format ID is set on the receiving apparatus side and the display apparatus side. By viewing the program, the reserved program can be viewed appropriately.

The operation relating to the viewing reservation of the broadcast program has been described above. However, the viewing reservation of the program recorded by the recording device is mounted on the recording / reproducing device side with the format conversion means or the like of the broadcast reception data transmitting device. By
In the same manner, a request relating to the viewing reservation of the recorded program and a reply operation are performed, so that the reproduced recording and viewing of the recorded program can be suitably performed.

Further, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described above, the network reservation information management device is described as a single device having its function, but the network reservation information management device may be incorporated in another device connected to the network. The same operation is performed even with this configuration.

Further, regarding the reservation accepting device, the operation performed by a single device configuration has been described, but the reservation accepting device is also configured to be built in another device such as a display device or a recording device connected to the network, The same suitable recording reservation or viewing reservation operation can be performed.

As described in detail above, according to the program recording / viewing reservation system described in the above embodiment, [1]
A broadcast reception data transmission device that receives a broadcast and transmits the broadcast program data obtained by the reception, a network for transmitting the broadcast program data supplied by the broadcast reception data transmission device, and a network for transmitting the broadcast program data. A network reservation management device that manages a transmission band related to a signal transmission rate, a recording device that acquires broadcast program data transmitted by the network and records the acquired broadcast program data, and is operated by a user. The reservation accepting device for setting the recording reservation is configured. The reservation accepting device executes the recording reservation for each device connected to the network in relation to the program reservation generated by the user's operation. A program recording reservation request signal having a designated program ID for The reception data transmission device responds to a request signal indicating that the program data designated by the other network connection device can be transmitted, a receivable broadcast channel, a signal format related to a transmission signal that can be transmitted to the network, reception reservation information, and It refers to internal information such as communication reservation information, and when it is possible to send it, it sends back a reply signal indicating that it can be sent, and the recording device sends a request signal asking whether it is possible to record the designated program data from another device. On the other hand, by referring to the internal information such as the remaining recording capacity of the recording medium, the communicable band, the recordable band, the recording reservation information, and the communication reservation information, when it is determined that the recording is possible, the recording of the designated program data is performed. The reply signal relating to the possibility that the reservation acceptance device is connected to the network. A reply signal for returning a communication band from the network reservation information management device according to the program recording reservation request having the designated program ID, which is returned from any of these devices, and a recording device side. From the broadcast reception data transmitting device and a reply signal relating to the program reception data transmitting device from the broadcast reception data transmitting device, and the network reservation information management device based on the obtained reply signals. On the other hand, the configuration of the program recording reservation system is realized by reserving the network band in the reserved program time zone, making a recording reservation and a communication reservation in the recording device, and making a communication reservation and a program reservation in the broadcast reception data transmitting device. be able to.

In the program recording reservation system thus realized, the network reservation information management device reserves the communication band, and the designation is made based on the information such as the transmission of the broadcast program data and the free space of the recording device. In order to reserve the recording of the program, the band shortage at the beginning and during the program broadcasting,
Alternatively, it is possible to prevent failure of recording reservation due to insufficient storage capacity of the recording medium in the recording device.

Further, according to the program recording / viewing reservation system described in the embodiment, [2] a broadcast reception data transmission device for receiving a broadcast and transmitting the broadcast program data obtained by the reception, and the broadcast reception data thereof. A network for transmitting broadcast program data supplied by a sending device, a network reservation management device for managing a transmission band related to a transmission rate of a signal transmitted by the network, and the broadcast program data transmitted by the network And a display device for displaying the acquired broadcast program data,
The reservation accepting device operated by the user to set the viewing reservation, and the reservation accepting device side is concerned with the viewing reservation generated by the user's operation.
A program viewing reservation request signal having a designated program ID for executing a viewing reservation for each device connected to the network is transmitted to the network, and the broadcast reception data transmission device is designated from the other network connection device. In response to a request as to whether or not the transmitted program data can be transmitted, it can be transmitted by referring to internal information such as receivable broadcast channels, signal formats related to transmission signals that can be transmitted to the network, reception reservation information, and communication reservation information. When it is, it sends back a reply signal relating to the transmission possibility, and the display device responds to the request signal as to whether the designated program data can be displayed from another device, the communicable band, the displayable band, the display reservation information, Also, refer to internal information such as communication reservation information, and if it is possible to display it, the designated program data A reply signal related to the possibility of display is sent back, and the reservation reception device side returns a network reservation related to a program viewing reservation request having a designated program ID, which is returned from each device connected to the network. A reply signal for securing a communication band in a time zone related to viewing of a reserved program from the information management device side, and a reply signal for displayable from the display device side,
Obtain each reply signal of the reply signals relating to the program reception data transmission from the broadcast reception data transmission device side,
When these reply signals are obtained, the network reservation information management device is reserved for the network band in the reserved program time zone, the display device is reserved for viewing and communication, and the broadcast reception data transmission device is reserved for communication and program. By doing so, the configuration of the program viewing reservation system can be realized.

The program viewing reservation system thus realized reserves the communication band by the network reservation information management device, and based on the information on the broadcast program data transmission and the reproducible signal of the display device, Since the viewing reservation of the designated program is made, it is possible to prevent the failure of the viewing operation at the start of the program broadcasting and the insufficient bandwidth during the viewing.

Furthermore, [3] In the program viewing reservation system described in [2] above, the network reservation information management device acquires the program reservation request signal transmitted from the reservation reception device, and at the same time as the reserved time period. When there is not enough free bandwidth on the network,
Information that the transmission band is insufficient and information related to the available bandwidth are returned as a reply signal, and the broadcast reception data transmission device side transmits the data in a signal format for transmission at the required bandwidth or less. In response to a request indicating whether it is possible, it has a function of referring to corresponding format information stored as internal information and communication band information, and transmitting one or more format IDs related to a signal format that can be transmitted as a reply signal. However, on the display device side, with respect to the viewing reservation request of the program signal transmitted with the small transmission bandwidth specified, the displayable format table relating to the decoding and display of the signal provided as internal information is referred to, It has a function of replying the signal format ID that can be displayed, and the reservation reception device side has a program viewing preview operated by the user. By sending a request signal to generate a viewing reservation request signal to the information,
When the information about the communication bandwidth shortage and the information about the available bandwidth from the network reservation management device side is returned as a reply signal, the available bandwidth is specified together with the program ID, and the program viewing reservation request signal is given again. The reservation reception device side replies to the transmitted request signal from the broadcast reception data transmission device side and sends back from the display device side a format ID related to a signal format that can be communicated within a predetermined bandwidth. By comparing the format ID related to the displayable signal format, the common format ID is selected from the format IDs, and the selected format I is selected.
To realize a configuration of a program viewing reservation system that transmits D to the network and makes a program viewing reservation and a communication reservation by making a bandwidth reservation with a bandwidth that can be reserved for the network reservation information management device. You can

In the program recording reservation system thus realized, the network reservation information management apparatus reserves a reservable communication band, and based on the format ID related to the signal format that can be transmitted in the reserved band. Since viewing reservation of the specified program is made based on the information related to the transmission of broadcast program data and the reproducible signal of the display device, failure of the viewing operation due to insufficient bandwidth at the start of the program broadcast or during viewing is prevented. be able to.

As described above, by preliminarily reserving the transmission rate of the data transmitted through the network, a program recording / viewing reservation system capable of reliably recording a program broadcast at a predetermined time is configured. You can And
Such a reservation system can be applied to the recording of digital data for download which is supplied only at a predetermined time in addition to the broadcast program.

The digital data corresponds to, for example, CG software relating to animation, or data for downloading which has a relatively large capacity and is not transmitted immediately after requested by the user.

In this way, in this reservation system, in addition to the present program broadcasting form, when it is realized as a digital data download system to be carried out at a fixed time to be carried out in the future, the digital data is stored. The reservation system described above is used to ensure the download.

As a matter of course, the recording device used at that time is a data recorder or a data streamer, and the display device has a function of decoding and displaying CG data or a function of executing the supplied download data. Will be used.

[0118]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the transmission rate information relating to the transmission rate of the network which can be secured for the transmission of the program signal at the reserved time is obtained from the network management means, and the obtained information is obtained. The program signal reserved for recording is transmitted to the network on the basis of the transmitted transmission speed information so that the reserved program is recorded. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a program recording reservation method using a network that can prevent failure of reserved recording due to insufficient bandwidth.

According to the second aspect of the invention, especially when the transmission rate that can be secured in the network is smaller than the required transmission rate, the user can secure the transmission rate necessary for transmitting the recording reserved program. Since the notification is made, the program recording reservation method using the network capable of recording with a preferable quality can be provided in addition to the effect described in claim 1.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when there are a plurality of broadcast receiving devices, display devices, or recording devices connected to the network, the network management means is provided between the devices. In addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, since the transmission speed of the signals transmitted by the network of all program signals is controlled by the network of the program broadcasting at the start or during the broadcasting. Schedule recording failure caused by insufficient bandwidth,
There is an effect that it is possible to provide a program recording reservation method using a network that can be prevented in advance.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the transmission speed information relating to the transmission rate of the network which can be secured for the transmission of the program signal at the reserved time is obtained from the network management means, and is obtained. At the start of the program broadcast to be recorded, the computer is used to manage the operation of recording the reserved program by transmitting the reserved program signal to the network based on the transmission speed information. It is also possible to provide a program recording reservation program for executing a program recording reservation using a network by a computer, which can prevent failure of reserved recording which occurs due to insufficient bandwidth of the network during broadcasting. Have an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of a program recording / viewing reservation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of a program recording / viewing reservation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a reservation receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network reservation information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast reception data transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation example related to network management according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a table relating to network management and recording reservation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a Program recording and viewing reservation system 2 Reservation acceptance device 3 Network reservation information management device 4 Broadcast reception data transmission device 5 Display device 6 Recording device 9 network 5a Display device A 5b Display device B 6a Recording device A 6b Recording device B 21 Communication means 22 Information inquiry method 23 Display means 24 display 25 Input means 26 pointing devices 31 Communication means 32 Network Reservation Information Response Means 33 Internal information storage means 41 Broadcast receiving means 42 Format conversion means 43 Internal information response means 44 Communication means 45 internal information storage means 51 Display reservation table 52 Communication reservation table 53 display means 54 Communication means 55 Internal information response means 56 internal information storage means 61 recording / reproducing means 62 communication means 63 Internal information response means 64 internal information storage means 331 network bandwidth reservation table 561 Displayable format table 562 communicable bandwidth table 641 Total storage capacity table 642 Remaining storage capacity table 643 recordable bandwidth table 644 Communication bandwidth table 645 Communication reservation table 646 Recording / Reservation Table

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A program signal received by a broadcast receiving device, which is connected by a network, and a program signal displayed on a display device,
When configuring a program signal viewing system in which a program signal recorded by the recording device and a program signal reproduced by the recording device are supplied between the devices via the network, the program signal viewing system is provided. Network management means for performing time management relating to the data amount of a program signal transmitted via a network to any of the respective devices constituting the above or a device other than the above connected to the network, and the broadcast. Reservation accepting means for supplying and recording the program signal received at the time reserved by the receiving device to the recording device is provided, and is set by the reservation accepting means via the network managed by the network managing means. A program recording reservation method using a network for recording a broadcast program, comprising: At a predetermined time, the first step of obtaining transmission rate information relating to a transmission rate of a network that can be secured for transmission of a program signal from the network management means, the storable transmission rate, and the recording reserved program. And a second step of reserving the use of the network at a transmission rate which is the smaller of the transmission rates required for the transmission of the program recording reservation method using a network. 2. A program recording reservation method using the network according to claim 1, wherein the transmission rate that can be secured in the second step is
When the transmission rate is lower than the transmission rate required for transmitting the recording reserved program, a notification signal for notifying the user that the transmission rate required for transmitting the recording reserved program is not secured is generated. Program recording reservation method using network. 3. A program recording reservation method using the network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the broadcast receiving device, the display device, and the recording device is a plurality of broadcast receiving devices. Display device,
Alternatively, when the plurality of broadcast receiving devices, display devices, or recording devices are recording devices and supply a program signal using the common network, the network management means is provided between these devices. A program recording reservation method using a network, characterized in that the transmission speed of all program signals is managed. 4. A program signal received by a broadcast receiving device and connected by a network, and a program signal displayed on a display device,
When configuring a program signal viewing system in which a program signal recorded by the recording device and a program signal reproduced by the recording device are supplied between the devices via the network, the program signal viewing system is provided. Network management means for performing time management relating to the data amount of a program signal transmitted via a network to any of the respective devices constituting the above or a device other than the above connected to the network, and the broadcast. Reservation accepting means for supplying and recording the program signal received at the time reserved by the receiving device to the recording device is provided, and is set by the reservation accepting means via the network managed by the network managing means. Program recording using a network that has the function of recording broadcast programs and runs a computer A first step for obtaining from the network management means transmission rate information relating to a transmission rate of a network, which is a reservation program and can be ensured for transmission of a program signal at the reserved time; A second transmission rate and a second transmission rate required to transmit the recording reserved program, whichever is smaller, and a second step of reserving the use of the network is executed by at least the computer. Program for program recording reservation using network.