JP2005072946A - System, terminal and program for viewing and listening to digital broadcast - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication and broadcast united type terminal and its program for enabling a user to view and listen to only programs or scenes interesting to the user about broadcast contents just for a short period of time. <P>SOLUTION: A system has a terminal 1, a broadcasting server 2 and a communication server 3. The terminal 1 has: a means for transmitting the user's preference information to the communication server 3; a means for receiving a command with at least a channel number designated from the communication server 3; and a means for performing control so as to receive and display broadcast contents corresponding to the channel number on the command. The communication server 3 has: a means for determining whether broadcast contents received from the broadcasting server 2 coincide with the preference information received from the terminal 1; and a means for transmitting the command designated with the channel number corresponding to the broadcast contents to the terminal 1 in the case of their coincidence. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for viewing digital broadcasting, a terminal, and a program thereof.

  Conventionally, there is a Web EPG (Web Electronic Program Guide) as a technology that combines a broadcasting function and a communication function. This technique enables a user to actively browse a program guide from an electronic program guide described in HTML or the like, and make a recording reservation or program search.

  In digital terrestrial broadcasting, in addition to a fixed reception service received by a home set-top box, a mobile reception service received by a mobile phone will be provided. In particular, with regard to reception by a mobile phone, it is expected to realize a high-function and flexible service by utilizing the communication function of the mobile phone as well as viewing programs broadcast on a fixed reception service (for example, “ Non-patent document 1 "and" Non-patent document 2 ").

Kokubu et al., "Prototype of service simulation device for communication and broadcasting integration", Eiji Jikho Technical Report MIP2002-94, March 2002 Isobe et al., “Prototype of Communication / Broadcast Fusion Service and Its Evaluation Experiment”, Eijiho Technical Bulletin MIP2002-95, March 2002

  In the case of a mobile phone terminal having both a broadcasting function and a communication function, it is difficult to always watch a program like a fixed TV because of problems such as power consumption. Therefore, it is desirable to watch only the program or scene that the user is interested in for a short time. However, there is currently no technology for realizing such viewing.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication / broadcasting fusion type terminal capable of viewing only a program or scene of interest to a user for a short time with respect to broadcast content, and a program thereof.

The present invention provides a broadcast server having means for broadcasting broadcast content;
A communication server having means for receiving broadcast content;
The present invention relates to a system having a terminal having means for receiving broadcast content, means for displaying the broadcast content, and communication means for communicating with a communication server.

The system of the present invention
The terminal receives means for transmitting user preference information to the communication server, means for receiving at least a command with a specified channel number from the communication server, and receives broadcast content corresponding to the channel number based on the command. And means for controlling to display,
The communication server has a means for determining whether or not the broadcast content received from the broadcast server matches the preference information received from the terminal, and a command in which a channel number corresponding to the broadcast content is specified when they match. And means for transmitting to the terminal.

  According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, it is also preferable that the display time and / or display condition of the broadcast content is specified in the command.

  Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, the command is also preferably included in the contents of an electronic mail, a short message system or a push distribution of a TCP or UDP socket.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, the terminal stores the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number specified by the command from the time when the command is received until the time when the broadcast content can be displayed. Means,
It is also preferable to further include means for controlling to display from the stored broadcast content when the broadcast content can be displayed.

  The present invention relates to a terminal having means for receiving broadcast content from a broadcast server, means for displaying the broadcast content, and communication means for communicating with a communication server.

  According to the terminal of the present invention, a means for transmitting user preference information to the communication server, a means for receiving at least a command with a specified channel number from the communication server, and corresponding to the channel number based on the command Means for receiving and displaying broadcast content.

  According to another embodiment of the terminal of the present invention, it is also preferable that the display time and / or display condition of the broadcast content is specified in the command.

  According to another embodiment of the terminal of the present invention, the command is also preferably included in the content of an electronic mail, a short message system, or a push-type delivery of a TCP or UDP socket.

Further, according to another embodiment of the terminal of the present invention, means for storing broadcast content corresponding to the channel number specified by the command from the time when the command is received until the time when the broadcast content can be displayed;
It is also preferable to further include means for controlling to display from the stored broadcast content when the broadcast content can be displayed.

  The present invention relates to a program in a terminal having means for receiving broadcast content from a broadcast server, means for displaying the broadcast content, and communication means for communicating with a communication server.

  According to the program of the present invention, a means for transmitting user preference information to the communication server, a means for receiving at least a command with a specified channel number from the communication server, and corresponding to the channel number based on the command The computer is made to function as a means for controlling to receive and display broadcast content.

  According to another embodiment of the program of the present invention, it is also preferable that the display time and / or display condition of the broadcast content is specified in the command.

  Further, according to another embodiment of the program of the present invention, the command is preferably included in the contents of the electronic mail, the short message system, or the push type distribution of the TCP or UDP socket.

  Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the program of the present invention, means for storing broadcast content corresponding to the channel number specified by the command from the time when the command is received until the time when the broadcast content can be displayed, It is also preferable to cause the computer to function as means for controlling to display from the stored broadcast content when the broadcast content can be displayed.

  According to the communication / broadcasting integrated terminal and the program thereof according to the present invention, the user registers the preference information in the communication server in advance, so that the user can always watch all the programs and find the program that matches the preferences. Even if it is not searched, if it is viewed only when notified from the server, it is possible to view only the program or scene that the user is interested in. In addition, since not only TV but also radio can be made to function in the same way, it can be listened only when the music of interest is played.

  In addition, since only programs or scenes that are of interest to the user can be viewed for a short time, there is no need for power consumption to be a problem even with a mobile phone terminal.

  Furthermore, in the event of an emergency such as an earthquake, it is possible to forcibly guide viewing of an emergency TV program by a command from a communication server, and this is a very effective method for a user to obtain highly real-time information. is there.

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

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to the present invention.

  According to FIG. 1, the system according to the present invention includes a communication / broadcasting integrated terminal 1, a broadcast server 2, and a communication server 3. The broadcast server 2 is assumed to be a terrestrial digital broadcasting station, and always broadcasts broadcast content. Broadcast content includes not only moving images, audio and data, but also EPG information. In addition, the communication server 3 and the terminal 1 have means for receiving the broadcast content of the broadcast server 1 and means for communicating via a communication network such as the Internet. In particular, according to terrestrial digital broadcasting, the terminal 1 can receive signals at any location and antenna angle.

  According to the present invention, the terminal 1 can transmit preference information to the communication server 3 and register it. If the user desires “the scene of Matsui's home run that is active in the Yankees”, the user can specify preference information such as “Yankees”, “Matsui”, and “home run” and input them to the terminal 1. The terminal 1 transmits these preference information to the communication server 3 as a registration request message. For example, it may be transmitted by inputting preference information into an HTML form, or may be transmitted by writing preference information in an email.

  The communication server 3 has a table composed of terminal identifiers and preference information. In the table, the terminal identifier and preference information received by the registration request message are registered. In addition, the communication server 3 always receives broadcast contents of all programs from the broadcast server 2 and also receives WebEPG. Then, the communication server 3 always monitors whether the broadcast content matches the preference information registered in the table.

  When the communication server 3 receives broadcast content that matches, for example, “Yankees”, “Matsui”, and “Home Run”, the following command is transmitted to the terminal 1.

<command>
<switch>
<case requiredCondition = "homerun">
<masssee> Matsui! Home run! </ massege>
<process begin = "0s"> start_tv </ process>
<process begin = "300s"> stop_tv </ process>
<channel> 1 </ channel>
</ case>
<case>
<process begin = "wallclock (2003/08/08 12:00:00)"> start_tv </ process>
<channel> 3 </ channel>
</ case>
</ switch>
</ command>

begin: When the specified control is started
channel: Channel number to start
requiredCondition: Condition to start (for example, home run)
message: Message to be presented by the box before starting the TV

  The communication server 3 transmits the above command by including it in an e-mail, a short message system (SMS), or a TCP or UDP socket. This command allows control such as “display what channel for what day, what minute” or “display what channel now”.

  The terminal 1 analyzes and executes this command received from the communication server 3 (for example, the terminal 1 may inquire whether or not to execute the command). At this time, the terminal 1 enables the broadcast content of the channel number designated by the command to be activated or displayed with priority over other broadcast content at the designated time.

  It is preferable that the terminal 1 further stores the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number designated by the command from the time when the command is received until the time when the broadcast content can be displayed. For example, if the command is “display now”, the command may be received, but when the broadcast content can actually be displayed, it may be immediately after the scene desired by the user. Because. In addition, when a message that recommends viewing is displayed on the terminal screen when a command is received and broadcast content is displayed under the confirmation of the user, the user may not be aware of the message. That is, it is useful to store designated broadcast content from when a command is received, regardless of whether the user views or not for a certain period of time designated by the command. According to the command example described above, it can be understood that the TV is stopped in 300 seconds. By storing the broadcast content in this way, the terminal 1 can display the broadcast content retroactively so that the broadcast content can be displayed when the broadcast content can be displayed.

  FIG. 2 is a specific functional configuration diagram of the terminal 1.

  According to FIG. 2, the terminal 1 has, as a hardware configuration, an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) module 11 that receives broadcast content from the broadcast server 1, a communication module 12 that communicates with the communication server 3, a video RAM 17, And an audio RAM 18. For example, the terminal 1 can use μiTRON-based “T-Engine”, which is an open development environment for embedded device systems. This makes it possible to shorten the period required for system prototyping and reduce costs. The OFDM module 11 may be a broadcast receiving PCMCIA card (compliant with IEEE802.11b), and the communication module 12 may be a communication card PCMCIA card (wireless LAN, PHS, CDMA). The video RAM 17 and the audio RAM 18 may store broadcast content for a predetermined time.

  According to FIG. 2, the terminal 1 has, as a software configuration, an OS 10, a command analysis engine 13 that analyzes a command received from the communication server 2, an application management unit 14, a TS (broadcast content) control unit 15, and XHTML. And a basic browser 16.

  As the OS 10, for example, a real-time OS T-kernel (based on μiTRON) can be used. Task control can be performed in fine time units, and commands can be received and controlled from the communication server while sequentially playing the received broadcast content.

  The command analysis engine 13 has a function of analyzing a command received by the communication module 12. In particular, the “time when TV is started”, “channel number to start”, “condition to start”, and the like are extracted from the command and notified to the application management unit 14, the TS control unit 15, and the XHTML basic browser 16.

  The application management unit 14 controls the tasks of the entire terminal. As a first function, TS packets received by the OFDM module 11 are transferred to the TS control unit 15 by a certain amount, and communication contents such as XHTML are transferred to the XHTML basic browser 16. As a second function, a GUI (Graphic User Interface) provided to the user or an event from the user is controlled. As a third function, XTM content included in the DSM-CC carousel of the TS is analyzed by the DSM-CC decoder under the TS control unit 15. In response to the notification, the content is transferred to the content cache or XHTML basic browser. With this function, XHTML content browsing performance and usability are improved.

  The TS control unit 15 analyzes the TS packet received from the application management unit 14 and performs synchronized playback of MPEG4Video and MPEG2AAC. The demultiplexer 151 separates the TS received from the TS controller 15 into DSM-CC, MPEG4Video, and MPEG2AAC streams. The MPEG2 AAC decoder 152 reproduces the MPEG2 AAC stream received from the TS control unit 15. The MPEG4 video decoder 153 reproduces the MPEG4Video stream received from the TS control unit 15. The DSM-CC carousel decoder 154 analyzes the DSM-CC carousel stream received from the TS control unit 15, and notifies the application management unit 14 of the analysis result and notification when new content is found. .

  The XHTML basic browser 16 displays the XHTML content received from the application management unit 14.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the terminal 1 in the present invention.

(S1) When receiving a command, the terminal 1 analyzes the command. For example, according to the above-described command, it can be analyzed that “TV display is immediately activated for channel 1”.
(S2) The terminal 1 currently receives the broadcast content and determines whether or not the TV is being displayed.
(S3) If the TV is not being displayed (NO), the TV is first activated.
(S4) Thereafter, the OFDM module 11 is requested to receive channel 1.
(S5) If the TV is being displayed (YES), it is determined whether or not the broadcast content of channel 1 is currently being received. If channel 1 is being received (YES), no operation is required.
(S6) If the broadcast content of channel 1 is not being received (NO), a channel switching request is made to the OFDM module 11 to receive channel 1.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a communication / broadcasting integrated terminal capable of viewing terrestrial digital broadcasting in a timely manner.

1 is a system configuration diagram according to the present invention. 3 is a specific functional configuration diagram of a terminal 1. FIG. It is a flowchart of the terminal 1 in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal, communication broadcasting integrated terminal 10 Operating system 11 OFDM module 12 Communication module 13 Command analysis engine 14 Application management part 15 TS control part 151 Demultiplexer 152 MPEG2 AAC decoder 153 MPEG4 video decoder 154 DSM-CC carousel decoder 16 XHTML basic browser 17 Video RAM
18 Voice RAM
2 Broadcast server 3 Communication server

Claims (12)

A broadcast server having means for broadcasting broadcast content;
A communication server having means for receiving the broadcast content;
A system comprising: a terminal having means for receiving the broadcast content; means for displaying the broadcast content; and communication means for communicating with the communication server,
The terminal includes means for transmitting user preference information to the communication server, means for receiving at least a command with a specified channel number from the communication server, and the terminal corresponding to the channel number based on the command. Means for receiving and displaying broadcast content;
The communication server includes means for determining whether or not the broadcast content received from the broadcast server matches the preference information received from the terminal, and a channel number corresponding to the broadcast content when matched. The system further comprising means for transmitting the command designated by the terminal to the terminal.   The system according to claim 1, wherein a display time and / or a display condition of the broadcast content is specified in the command.   The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the command is included in the contents of an electronic mail, a short message system, or a push type distribution of a TCP or UDP socket. The terminal
Means for storing the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number designated by the command from when the command is received until when the broadcast content can be displayed;
4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to display the broadcast content from the stored broadcast content when the broadcast content can be displayed. 5. . A terminal having means for receiving broadcast content from a broadcast server, means for displaying the broadcast content, and communication means for communicating with a communication server,
Means for transmitting user preference information to the communication server, means for receiving at least a command with a specified channel number from the communication server, and receiving the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number based on the command And a means for controlling to display the terminal.   6. The terminal according to claim 5, wherein a display time and / or display condition of the broadcast content is specified in the command.   The terminal according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the command is included in the content of push-type delivery of an e-mail, a short message system, or a TCP or UDP socket. Means for storing the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number designated by the command from when the command is received until when the broadcast content can be displayed;
The terminal according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising means for controlling the broadcast content to be displayed from the stored broadcast content when the broadcast content can be displayed. . A program in a terminal having means for receiving broadcast content from a broadcast server, means for displaying the broadcast content, and communication means for communicating with a communication server,
Means for transmitting user preference information to the communication server, means for receiving at least a command with a specified channel number from the communication server, and receiving the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number based on the command And a program that causes the computer to function as a means for controlling the display.   The program according to claim 9, wherein a display time and / or display condition of the broadcast content is specified in the command.   The terminal according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the command is included in the content of push-type delivery of an e-mail, a short message system, or a TCP or UDP socket. Means for storing the broadcast content corresponding to the channel number designated by the command from when the command is received until when the broadcast content can be displayed;
12. The computer according to claim 9, wherein when the broadcast content can be displayed, a computer is caused to function as a unit for controlling the display from the stored broadcast content. program.

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