JP2005072899A - Program guide indicating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a combination of video and audio of subcontents as objects for subscription to be clearly indicated so as to enable users to subscribe the subcontents properly as they intend. <P>SOLUTION: Programs to provide and a fee-charging ES selective screen 40 which is added to the above programs and contains selective items that indicate the video and audio of various kinds of subcontents as objects of charge are indicated. Relations are recognized among the combinations of video and audio, which are integrally combined, inseparable, and selected out of the video and audio of various kinds of subcontents as objects of charge indicated on the fee-charging ES selective screen 40. Relation icons 61 and 62, and 63 indicating the relations are added to the selective items, whereby the relations among the combinations of video and audio are visually specified through the intermediary of the relation icons 61, 62, and 63 and recognized by the users to enable the users to subscribe the subcontents properly as they intend. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a program guide display device, which is suitable for application to, for example, an IRD (Integrated Receiver / Decoder) which is a satellite broadcast receiving device.

  Conventionally, an IRD receives satellite broadcasts via artificial satellites such as broadcasting satellites (BS) and communication satellites (CS), and satellite broadcasts consisting of multiple channels via EPG (Electric Program Guide). A program is provided to a user (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

By the way, in the satellite broadcasting service, it is possible to provide a plurality of types of pay video and audio added as sub contents in addition to the main satellite broadcasting program. At that time, the IRD displays on the monitor a program purchase table display screen for the user to freely select and purchase the main satellite broadcast program and the sub-contents added to the satellite broadcast program. The video and audio of the sub-content selected by the user via the program purchase table display screen are provided together with the main satellite broadcast program.
JP 2002-16854 A

  By the way, in the IRD having such a configuration, when the user selects and purchases the sub-content video and audio via the program purchase table display screen, the video or audio of the sub-content to be purchased is included in the video. And audio are provided in a combined form.

  However, the video and audio of the sub-content presented on the program purchase table display screen must be provided in a combined form even if the video and audio are provided in a combined form. Is not specified, for example, even if the user actually intends to purchase one video of the sub-content, after that know that the audio combined with the video was added, as a result There was a situation where the user noticed that the video and audio were purchased together.

  As described above, since the IRD does not clearly present the relationship between the video and audio of the sub-content provided via the program purchase table display screen, it causes the user to perform an inappropriate purchase operation that is not intended. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and provides a program guide display device capable of executing an appropriate purchase operation intended by a user by clearly presenting a relation between video and audio to be purchased. It is what we are going to propose.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a display for displaying a program purchase table display screen including a program to be provided and selection items indicating a plurality of types of chargeable video and audio added to the program. Recognizing the related relationship of the combination with the video and audio combined together, among the multiple types of video and audio to be charged displayed on the program purchase table display screen, and indicating the related relationship Icon adding means for adding to the selection items of video and audio in which the related relationship icons are combined together is provided.

  Accordingly, it is visually confirmed that the user should purchase the video and audio in a combined form via the related relationship icon displayed in addition to the video and audio selection items. Since it can be recognized intuitively, it is possible to prevent an improper purchase operation in which even video and audio that are not assumed by the user are eventually purchased.

  Further, in the present invention, a display step for displaying a program purchase table display screen including a program to be provided and selection items indicating a plurality of types of chargeable video and audio added to the program, and the display Recognizing the related relationship of the combination of the video and audio to be combined together among the multiple types of video and audio to be charged displayed on the program purchase table display screen in the step, An icon adding step for adding each of the related relationship icons shown to the selected items of video and audio combined together is provided.

  This allows the user to visually and intuitively understand that the video and audio should be purchased in a combined form via the related relationship icon displayed in addition to the video and audio selection items. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an improper purchase operation in which even video and audio that are not assumed by the user are eventually purchased.

  Further, in the present invention, a program purchase table including selection items indicating a program to be provided and a plurality of types of chargeable video and audio added to the program for a receiving apparatus that receives a broadcast program. The display step for displaying the display screen, and the combination of the video and audio that are combined together among the multiple types of video and audio to be charged displayed on the program purchase table display screen in the display step The program table display program executes an icon addition step of recognizing the relationship and adding the related relationship icon indicating the related relationship to the video and audio selection items combined together.

  This allows the user to visually and intuitively understand that the video and audio should be purchased in a combined form via the related relationship icon displayed in addition to the video and audio selection items. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an improper purchase operation in which even video and audio that are not assumed by the user are eventually purchased.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the video and audio should be purchased in a combined form with the user via the related relationship icon displayed in addition to the video and audio selection items. Can be recognized visually and intuitively, so it is possible to prevent improper purchase operations that result in the purchase of video and audio that are not assumed by the user. It is possible to realize a program guide display device, a program guide display method, and a program guide display program that can execute an appropriate purchase operation intended by a user.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Satellite Broadcast Receiving System In FIG. 1, 1 indicates a satellite broadcast receiving system as a whole, and broadcast waves of a program transmitted from a content supply source 2 are transmitted via an artificial satellite 3 such as a broadcasting satellite or a communication satellite. The relayed broadcast wave is received via the parabolic antenna 4 of the IRD 5.

  The IRD 5 demodulates a channel program selected via a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 6 among the received signals received via the parabolic antenna 4 and outputs video and audio related to the program. The data is output from the monitor device 7.

(2) IRD Circuit Configuration As shown in FIG. 2, the IRD 5 is configured to perform overall control by a control unit 18 having a CPU configuration having a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). A channel tuning process or the like according to the remote control signal S2 received from the remote control 6 via the remote control light receiving unit 19 is executed.

  In practice, the IRD 5 sends the reception data stream D1 received from the artificial satellite 3 by the parabolic antenna 4 to the front end unit 11 and the channel tuning signal S2 received from the remote control 6 via the remote control light receiving unit 19 as a control unit 18. Is sent to the front end unit 11.

  The front end unit 11 extracts only the reception data stream D2 of the channel corresponding to the channel selection signal S2 from the reception data stream D1 and sends it to the demultiplexer 12.

  The demultiplexer 12 divides the received data stream D2 into a plurality of TS (Transport Stream) packets, sequentially transmits a plurality of video packet data D3 including a video data portion to the MPEG2 video decoder 13, and includes a sound data portion. A plurality of audio packet data D4 are sequentially sent to the MPEG audio decoder 14.

  The MPEG2 video decoder 13 decodes a plurality of video packet data D3 composed of video data parts to convert them into video data D5 before compression encoding, and sends them to an NTSC (National Television System Committee) converter 15. The NTSC converter 15 converts the video data D5 into a video signal S6 and outputs it to the monitor device 7 to display it as a program video.

  The MPEG audio decoder 14 decodes a plurality of audio packet data D4 comprising the audio data portion to convert it into audio data D7 before compression encoding, and converts it into an analog audio signal S8 via the digital / analog converter 16. After that, the program audio is output from a speaker (not shown) of the monitor device 7.

  By the way, when EPG information which is an electronic program guide is multiplexed and provided on the broadcast wave from the artificial satellite 3, the IRD 5 receives the EPG information from the received data stream D1 via the front end unit 11 and the demultiplexer 12. It is extracted and displayed on the monitor device 7 as an EPG screen based on the EPG information via the MPEG2 video decoder 13 and the NTSC conversion unit 15, so that a user-desired program can be selected from the EPG screen. Has been made.

(3) Sub-Content Program Purchase Processing Procedure Next, the sub-content program purchase processing procedure in the IRD 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control unit 18 of the IRD 5 enters from the start step of the routine RT1 and proceeds to the next step SP1.

  In step SP1, the control unit 18 selects a main program of satellite broadcasting according to the remote control signal S2 from the remote controller 6, and proceeds to the next step SP2.

  In step SP2, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the main program selected according to the remote control signal S2 has passed the purchase time. Here, the purchase time is a time used as a reference for value judgment when the user purchases the main program. For example, when the user selects the main program, the main program has already passed a predetermined time or more from the start of broadcasting. If there is not enough time to watch even if it is purchased, it is determined that there is no purchase value. If the predetermined time or more has not passed, there is enough time to view and it is worth buying. Judgment is made.

  Therefore, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the purchase time of the main program has already passed the predetermined time and it is not worth buying for the user. It is determined that the program cannot be purchased, the process proceeds to step SP10, and the sub-contents program purchase process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the purchase time of the selected main program has not exceeded the predetermined time, or the main program has not yet started broadcasting and is sufficiently watched. In this case, the control unit 18 proceeds to the next step SP3.

  In step SP3, the control unit 18 generates a purchase procedure guidance screen 30 for purchasing the selected main program as shown in FIG. 4, displays it on the monitor device 7, and proceeds to the next step SP4.

  In the purchase procedure guide screen 30, for example, the title display column 31 has a title of “128ch comics / Japan fairy tales”, the date / time display column 32 has “month and date and broadcast time”, “age restriction”, and “charge amount”. In addition to the program information, for example, the message display column 33 displays guidance information and the like when the viewer purchases the program, such as “notes and operation method at the time of purchase” and “purchase procedure” button 34, and the like. 18, when it is detected that the “Purchase Procedure” button 34 has been pressed by the user, the purchase process of the main program (“Manga / Nippon Otogibanashi”) is executed.

  In step SP4, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the “purchase procedure” button 34 on the purchase procedure guide screen 30 is pressed. If a negative result is obtained, the control unit 18 continues until the “purchase procedure” button 34 is pressed in step SP4. If a positive result is obtained, the process proceeds to the next step SP5.

  In step SP5, the control unit 18 refers to the PMT (Program Map Table) of the TS packet obtained by dividing by the demultiplexer 12, and pays for the main program to be purchased ("Manga / Nippon Otogibanashi"). It is determined whether or not the video and audio are added as sub-contents, and the relationship between the video and audio is recognized. The PMT includes ECM_PID (Error Correction Mode_Program ID) necessary for descrambling, copy restriction information, viewing age restriction information, and the like in addition to these pieces of information.

  If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that paid video or audio is not added as sub-content to the main program purchased by the user, and at this time, the control unit 18 performs the next step SP7. Move on.

  On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP5, this indicates that paid video and audio are added as sub-contents to the main program purchased by the user. Moves to the next step SP6.

  In step SP6, the control unit 18 generates a pay ES selection screen 40 according to the program guide display program as shown in FIG. 5, displays the pay ES selection screen 40 on the monitor device 7 instead of the purchase procedure guidance screen 30, The process proceeds to next step SP7.

  In the pay ES selection screen 40, for example, the title display column 41 has a title of “128ch comics / Japan fairy tales” and the date / time display column 42 has “month and date and broadcast time” as in the purchase procedure guidance screen 30 (FIG. 4). Various items necessary for the user to purchase a program such as “age restriction” and “charge amount” are displayed.

  In the paid ES selection field 43 of the paid ES selection screen 40, video selection items (a plurality of types of sub-contents that can be added for a fee to the main program items (video 1 and audio 1) to be purchased) For example, “video 2” to “video 4”) and audio selection items (for example, “audio 2” to “audio 4”) indicating a plurality of types of sub-contents are presented, and the user can select any video from these Items and voice selection items can be selected and purchased.

  In this case, since the control unit 18 is the main program purchased by “Video 1” and “Audio 1”, the already-selected icons 60 and 61 are added and displayed.

  The user referring to this pay ES selection screen 40 can select sub-content video selection items (“Video 2” to “Video 1” and “Audio 1”) that can be added to the main programs “Video 1” and “Audio 1”. Any or all of “video 4”) and audio selection items (“audio 2” to “audio 4”) can be arbitrarily selected.

  Here, for example, the control unit 18 can be purchased as a sub-content only in a combination of a video selection item of “Video 2” and audio selection items of “Audio 2” and “Audio 3”. Thus, it is clearly indicated by a related relationship icon 61 indicated by A that each cannot be purchased alone.

  Similarly, the control unit 18 can purchase as a sub-content only in a combination of the video selection item of “Video 4” and the audio selection item of “Audio 4”, and each of them can be purchased alone. It is clearly indicated by a related relationship icon 62 indicated by B that it cannot be performed.

  Further, the control unit 18 can purchase the video selection item of “video 3” as a sub-content only without any combination with the other, and only the video selection item of “video 3” Is added to the video selection item of “Video 3” to indicate that there is no other selection item having a related relationship.

  Note that the control unit 18 may not display any icon instead of the related relationship icon 63 when there is no related selection item. In this case, the user can intuitively recognize that there is no selection item related to the video selection item of “video 3” because no icon is displayed.

  As described above, the control unit 18 relates to the pay video selection items “Video 2” to “Video 4” and the audio selection items “Audio 2” to “Audio 4” displayed in the pay ES selection field 43. Since the combinations as sub-contents that can be purchased are specified via 61-63, the user can execute the sub-content purchase operation after recognizing the combination.

  For example, when the video selection item “Video 2” is selected, the selected icon 65 is added to the video selection item “Video 2”. For the audio selection item “3”, the same relationship icon 61 as that of the video selection item for “Video 2” is attached. Therefore, the selected icon 65 is added to the audio selection item for “Audio 2” and “Audio 3”. It will never be done.

  The video selection item “Video 3” has already been selected and confirmed to be purchased, and a completed icon 68 is added next to the related relationship icon 63.

  It should be noted that the pay ES selection field 43 of the pay ES selection screen 40 is charged with respect to the video selection items “Video 2” and “Audio 2” and “Audio 3” selected in the charge display field 47. To be confirmed (in this case, “200 yen”), and to confirm that the video selection item of “Video 2” and the audio selection items of “Audio 2” and “Audio 3” are purchased. A “confirm” button 45 and a “cancel” button 46 for canceling it are displayed, and an additional amount is displayed in the additional signal total amount display field 48 (video selection of “video 2” in addition to the video selection item of “video 3”) The total amount of items added (in this case “500 yen”) is displayed.

  The paid ES selection screen 40 includes a “return” button 49 and a “decision” button 50. When the “return” button 49 is pressed, the screen returns to the previous purchase procedure guidance screen 30, and “ The process proceeds to the next purchase decision screen 80 (FIG. 7) in response to the pressing operation of the “decide” button 50.

  In step SP7, the control unit 18 selects the “confirm” button in a state where any one of the paid video selection items “video 2” to “video 4” and the audio selection items “audio 2” to “audio 4” is selected. It is determined whether or not 45 is pressed, and if a negative result is obtained, it waits until the “confirm” button 45 is pressed.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP7, this means that either a paid video selection item of “video 2” to “video 4” or an audio selection item of “audio 2” to “audio 4” is selected. This indicates that the “confirm” button 45 has been pressed to make a purchase. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 18 selects the video selection items “video 2”, “audio 3”, and “audio 4”. After the selected icon 71 indicating that it is already selected is added to the voice selection item “”, the process proceeds to the next step SP 8 according to the pressing operation of the “OK” button 50.

  In step SP8, since the video selection item of “Video 2” and the audio selection items of “Audio 2” and “Audio 3” to be purchased are determined, the control unit 18 generates a purchase determination screen 80 as shown in FIG. This is displayed instead of the paid ES selection screen 40, and the process proceeds to the next step SP9.

  In the purchase decision screen 80, the title display column 81 has the title “128ch comics / Japan fairy tales”, the date / time display column 82 “month and date and broadcast time”, “age” as in the purchase procedure guidance screen 30 (FIG. 4). “Limit” and “Billing amount” are displayed.

  In the purchase amount display field 83 of the purchase decision screen 80, the charge amount “400 yen” for the selection items of “Video 1” and “Audio 1” of “128ch Manga / Nippon Otogibanashi” which is the main program, and sub contents The total amount “900 yen” obtained by adding the additional signal total amount “500 yen” of “Video 2” and “Video 3” added for a fee is displayed in the total amount display column 88.

  Further, a “Purchase” button 84 and a “Cancel” button 85 are displayed in the purchase amount display field 83 of the purchase decision screen 80, and the control unit 18 confirms that the “Purchase” button 84 has been pressed with the amount. If confirmed, the charging process is executed, and if it is confirmed that the “cancel” button 85 has been pressed, the purchase process is canceled without executing the charging process.

  The control unit 18 returns to the previous paid ES selection screen 40 (FIG. 5 or FIG. 6) when the “return” button 86 is pressed, and the next step when the “decision” button 87 is pressed. The process proceeds to SP10 and all the sub-contents program purchase processing procedures are completed.

  The control unit 18 transits between the purchase procedure guidance screen 30, the pay ES selection screen 40, and the purchase decision screen 80 in accordance with the screen transition sequence shown in FIG.

(4) Operation and Effect In the above configuration, the control unit 18 of the IRD 5 displays video selection items (for example, “video 2” to “video 4”) indicating a plurality of types of sub-contents in the paid ES selection field 43 of the paid ES selection screen 40. ) Or audio selection items (for example, “audio 2” to “audio 4”) indicating a plurality of types of sub-contents, for example, video selection items of “video 2”, “audio 2”, and “audio 3”. Recognizing that it can be purchased as sub-contents only in combination with the audio selection items of "Video 2", and the audio selection items of "Video 2" and "Audio 2" and "Audio 3" respectively. The same relationship icon 61 is added to the item.

  In addition, the control unit 18 recognizes that the video selection item of “Video 4” and the audio selection item of “Audio 4” can be purchased as sub-contents only in an integrated combination. The same related relationship icon 62 is added to the video selection item of “Video 4” and the audio selection item of “Audio 4”.

  Further, the control unit 18 recognizes that the video selection item of “video 3” is not combined with others and can be purchased as a sub-content only by itself, and only the video selection item of “video 3” is available. A related relationship icon 63 is added to.

  In this way, the control unit 18 adds the related relationship icons 61, 62, and 63 indicating combinations that can be provided as sub-contents to the video selection item and the audio selection item, respectively. It is possible to make the user visually and intuitively recognize that it is possible to purchase only with the sub-contents combined with the selection item as a unit through the related relationship icons 61, 62, 63.

  As a result, the user can execute the sub-content purchase operation after sufficiently recognizing the combination of the sub-contents via the related relationship icons 61, 62, and 63, and the inappropriate purchase operation that is not intended by the user. Can be reliably prevented and an appropriate purchase operation can be executed.

  Further, the control unit 18 displays the sub-content fee via the fee display column 47 of the pay ES selection column 43, or displays the total amount added in the additional signal total amount display column 48, so that the sub-contents are displayed. The fee in the charge display column 47 and the total amount in the additional signal total amount display column 48 can be provided to the user as judgment materials for selecting and determining the sub-content from both the type and the purchase amount.

  According to the above configuration, the control unit 18 of the IRD 5 includes a plurality of types of video selection items (“Video 2” to “Video 4”) and a plurality of types of audio selection items in the pay ES selection field 43 of the pay ES selection screen 40. (“Voice 2” to “Voice 4”), by displaying the combination of sub-contents to be purchased via the related relationship icons 61, 62, 63, an appropriate purchase operation for the user is performed. Can be executed.

(5) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the related relationship icons 61, 62, and 63 are indicated by the icons of ○ A, ○ B, and ○ C has been described. Not only this but you may make it show with the icon which consists of other various shapes, patterns, etc.

  In the above-described embodiment, the names of the video selection items “Video 2” to “Video 4” and the audio selection items “Audio 2” to “Audio 4” as sub-contents are assigned to the pay ES selection field 43 by numbers. Although the case where it was made to display was described, this invention is not restricted to this, For example, if a main program is a baseball broadcast, it will consist of the name of "video from an outfield"-"video from a back net" etc. You may make it display the audio | voice selection item which consists of a video selection item, the name of "English audio | voice"-"Chinese audio | voice", etc.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, “Video 2”, “Audio 2”, and “Audio 3” are combined together, and “Video 4” and “Audio 4” are integrated. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and the combination is arbitrary for the content providing source 2, and “video 2”, “audio 2”, “audio 3”, and “audio 4” are integrated. Other combinations such as a combination of “video 4”, “audio 2”, and “audio 3” may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the IRD 5 that receives a satellite broadcast program has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and terrestrial television broadcasting or terrestrial digital television is described. It may be applied to a receiving device that receives broadcasts, and moreover, “a type in which multiple types of audio data and video data are added to a single program and can be purchased according to user preferences. ", It does not depend on the distribution form, and may be applied to a receiving device that receives Internet distribution or the like.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the IRD 5 as the program guide display device of the present invention is configured by the control unit 18 and monitor device 17 as display means and the control unit 18 as icon addition means. As described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the program guide display device of the present invention may be configured by display means and icon addition means having various other circuit configurations.

  The program guide display device of the present invention can be applied to an application that allows a user to easily recognize a combination of a plurality of types of sub contents added to a satellite broadcast program for a fee, for example.

It is an approximate line conceptual diagram showing the whole satellite broadcast receiving system composition. It is a rough block diagram which shows the circuit structure of IRD to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the program purchase processing procedure of a subcontent. It is a basic diagram which shows a purchase procedure guidance screen. It is a basic diagram which shows a pay ES selection screen (1). It is a basic diagram which shows a pay ES selection screen (2). It is a basic diagram which shows a purchase decision screen. It is a basic diagram used for description of a screen transition.

Explanation of symbols

  1 …… Satellite broadcast receiving system, 2 …… Content supply source, 3 …… Artificial satellite, 4 …… Parabolic antenna, 5 …… IRD, 6 …… Remote control, 7 …… Monitor device, 11 …… Front end unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Demultiplexer, 13 ... MPEG2 video decoder, 14 ... MPEG audio decoder, 15 ... NTSC converter, 16 ... D / A converter, 18 ... Control part, 19 ... Remote control light-receiving part, 30 ... Program procedure guide screen, 40 ... Paid ES selection screen, 80 ... Purchase decision screen.

Claims (5)

A display means for displaying a program purchase table display screen including a selection item indicating a program to be provided and a plurality of types of chargeable video and audio added to the program;
A relationship that recognizes the related relationship of the combination of the multiple types of video and audio to be charged displayed on the program purchase table display screen for the combined video and audio, and indicates the related relationship A program guide display device comprising: icon adding means for adding a related icon to each of the integrally combined video and audio selection items. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a charge amount on the program purchase table display screen together with the related relationship icon when the video and audio selection items combined together are selected. Program guide display device. The control means adds a selected icon to the selection item when the integrally selected video or audio selection item is selected, and selects the selection item when the selection item is confirmed as a purchase target. The program guide display device according to claim 1, wherein an icon is added instead of a purchased icon. A display step of displaying a program purchase table display screen including a selection item indicating a program to be provided and a plurality of types of chargeable video and audio added to the program;
Recognizing the related relationship of the combination of the video and audio to be billed together among the multiple types of video and audio to be charged displayed on the program purchase table display screen in the display step, A program guide display method comprising: an icon addition step of adding a related relationship icon indicating a relationship to the integrally selected video and audio selection items. For receiving devices that receive broadcast programs,
A display step of displaying a program purchase table display screen including a selection item indicating a program to be provided and a plurality of types of chargeable video and audio added to the program;
Recognizing the related relationship of the combination of the video and audio to be billed together among the multiple types of video and audio to be charged displayed on the program purchase table display screen in the display step, A program guide display program for executing an icon adding step of adding a related relation icon indicating a relation to the integrally selected video and audio selection items.

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