JP2006262330A - Broadcasting system, broadcast content providing method, and broadcast transmitting apparatus and broadcast receiving apparatus for broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcasting system capable of sufficiently presenting a security function of information transmission in providing broadcast contents, further improving amusement property for a user and expanding the utilization of broadcast content providing services. <P>SOLUTION: In the present broadcasting system, when transmitting broadcast contents requested from the user from a broadcasting station BS to a personal computer PC, the broadcast contents are transmitted after inserting into a video signal thereof an IP tag given to the personal computer PC at the time of contract by the broadcasting station. In the personal computer PC, an IP tag owned by the PC itself is compared with the IP tag inserted into the broadcast contents and only when they are matched, the broadcast contents can be viewed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a terrestrial broadcasting / communication system, a broadcasting system that provides broadcasting content from a broadcasting station to a broadcasting receiver via a communication network, a broadcasting content providing method using the broadcasting system, and a broadcasting system using the broadcasting system. The present invention relates to a broadcast transmission device and a broadcast reception device that are used.

In recent years, digital broadcasting has been started in a terrestrial broadcasting system. In such digital broadcasting, there is a system that transmits broadcast contents in response to a request from a user of the broadcast receiving apparatus via the Internet or the like in addition to transmitting broadcast contents by broadcast waves from the broadcasting station to the broadcast receiving apparatus. It has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-260638 A.

  However, in the above system, simple encryption processing and authentication processing are usually performed. However, at present, the security of the Internet is not sufficient, and an illegal third party has altered or fictitiously broadcast content addressed to a legitimate user. There is a problem that illegal acquisition of broadcast content by the user information occurs.

  Therefore, the present invention can sufficiently exhibit the information transmission security function in the provision of broadcast content, and further improve the entertainment of the user and expand the use of the broadcast content provision service, It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast content providing method using the broadcast system, and a broadcast transmitting apparatus and a broadcast receiving apparatus used in the broadcast system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
A broadcast transmitting apparatus that broadcasts broadcast content including at least a video signal; a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and reproduces broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast transmitting apparatus and is connected to the broadcast transmitting apparatus via a communication network; When a broadcast content acquisition request is sent from the broadcast receiving device via the communication network, the broadcast transmitting device transmits the broadcast signal in the video signal to the requesting broadcast receiving device in response to the acquisition request. Broadcast content transmitting means for transmitting the corresponding broadcast content into which the individual identification information for identifying the receiving device is inserted via the communication network, and the broadcast receiving device receives the individual identification information given at the time of contract with the broadcast transmitting device. A broadcast content acquisition request is sent to the storage means stored in the recording medium and the broadcast transmission apparatus via the communication network. A request transmitting means for receiving the broadcast content transmitted from the broadcast transmitting device via the communication network in response to the transmission of the acquisition request, and the individual identification information in the broadcast content and the individual identification information stored in the recording medium, And a control means for reproducing the broadcast content based on the comparison result.

  According to this configuration, when the requested broadcast content is transmitted to the requesting broadcast receiving apparatus, the individual identification information given to the broadcast receiving apparatus at the time of contract is inserted into the video signal. For this reason, when the requested broadcast content is mistakenly transferred to a different broadcast receiving device, or another user intentionally steals the broadcast content addressed to another broadcast receiving device and tries to play it on his / her own broadcast receiving device. In addition, unless the individual identification information matches, it is possible to prevent erroneous broadcast content reproduction or illegal broadcast content reproduction.

  In addition, since the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus can selectively reproduce the broadcast content with high reliability, not only the entertainment of the user can be improved, but also the subscription of the broadcast service user can be promoted. .

  And a plurality of retransmission devices connected to the broadcast transmission device via a communication network for receiving the broadcast content and retransmitting the broadcast content to a specific area. In response to a broadcast content acquisition request sent from the broadcast receiving device, the corresponding broadcast content in which individual identification information for identifying the broadcast receiving device is inserted into the video signal is sent to the corresponding retransmission device, and the request is sent from the retransmission device. It transmits to an original broadcast receiving apparatus via a communication network, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, for each reception area of the retransmission device, a broadcast content acquisition request from a user of each broadcast reception device is collected, and the broadcast content corresponding to the collected acquisition request is sent to the corresponding retransmission device to request Since the transmission is made to the original broadcast receiving apparatus, the optimum broadcast content can be provided even for users in a remote area outside the broadcast service area.

  The control means plays back the broadcast content based on a preset condition when the individual identification information in the broadcast content matches the individual identification information stored in the recording medium. Note that the control means uses viewing restriction information for restricting viewing according to the broadcast content in determining the condition.

  According to this configuration, even if authentication is obtained on the broadcast receiving device side by the individual identification information, for example, when an adult or a child shares one broadcast receiving device, the broadcast content provided according to age is restricted. Can do.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the security function of information transmission in providing broadcast content can be sufficiently exhibited, and further, the user's entertainment can be improved and the use of the broadcast content providing service can be expanded. It is possible to provide a broadcast system, a broadcast content providing method using the broadcast system, and a broadcast transmitting apparatus and a broadcast receiving apparatus used in the broadcast system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a broadcasting system according to the present invention, in which BS indicates a broadcasting station as a broadcasting transmitting apparatus, and PC indicates a personal computer as a user's broadcasting receiving apparatus. Yes.

  The broadcasting station BS and the personal computer PC can be connected via the Internet INW, thereby enabling communication between the broadcasting station BS and the personal computer PC. Further, the broadcasting station BS can be connected to a broadcasting station CS as a retransmission device arranged in a region, overseas, etc. via a dedicated line PN.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the broadcasting station BS.
The broadcast station BS connects a broadcast program production unit 11, a storage unit 12, a broadcast program transmission unit 13, and a communication control unit 14 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 15. The broadcast program production device 11 produces a broadcast program and stores the data of the broadcast program in the storage unit 12. The storage unit 12 stores not only broadcast program data broadcast by broadcast waves, but also broadcast program data not broadcast by broadcast waves and broadcast program data of the past several years.

  The broadcast program sending unit 13 converts the broadcast program produced by the broadcast program production unit 11 into a TS (Transport Stream) of MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2), and outputs it to the multiplexing unit 16.

  The multiplexing unit 16 multiplexes the TS output from the broadcast program transmission unit 13 with other TS. Then, the multiplexed TS is transmitted by broadcast waves by the transmission unit 17.

  The communication control unit 14 performs communication with the personal computer PC via the Internet INW. The communication control unit 14 receives a broadcast content acquisition request sent from the personal computer PC, and stores the memory in response to the acquisition request. The broadcast program data stored in the unit 12 is converted to TS and transmitted. In this case, the communication control unit 14 inserts an IP tag into one TS packet (ancillary packet) out of a plurality of TS packets and transmits it to the requesting personal computer PC. That is, the IP tag is inserted into the video signal in the broadcast content. The IP tag includes individual identification information assigned to the user of the personal computer PC at the time of contract.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the personal computer PC.
The personal computer PC is a personal computer with a broadcast receiving function, and includes a receiving antenna 21, a receiving unit 22, a control unit 23, and a display unit 24 using a CRT.

  Among these, the receiving unit 22 receives the broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast station BS via the reception antenna 21, and reproduces the broadcast content by demodulating using a frequency conversion circuit, a demodulation circuit, and the like. The control unit 23 supplies the video signal included in the reproduced broadcast content to the display unit 24 for display, and outputs the audio signal from a speaker (not shown).

  The personal computer PC has a broadcast content request transmission function and a broadcast content reproduction function acquired via the Internet INW in addition to the broadcast reception function. These functions are realized by the control unit 23, the storage unit 25, the input unit 26 including a keyboard or a mouse, and the modem 27.

  Among these, the input unit 26 is used to input various operation instructions to the personal computer PC. The input unit 26 inputs an IP tag registration instruction given at the time of contract with the broadcasting station BS, and the broadcasting station BS. It is also used to input a transmission instruction for a broadcast content acquisition request for. When an IP tag registration instruction is input by the input unit 26, the control unit 23 stores the input IP tag in the storage unit 25.

  Further, when an arbitrary broadcast content acquisition request is input from the input unit 26, the control unit 23 sends out a broadcast content acquisition request to the broadcasting station BS via the Internet INW by the modem 27. Then, the TS transmitted from the broadcasting station BS is received via the modem 27 in response to the acquisition request. Thereafter, the control unit 23 specifies an IP tag included in the TS packet based on the PID (Packet ID) of the received TS packet, and the IP tag and the IP tag stored and held in the storage unit 25 If they match, the TS is demodulated to reproduce the broadcast content, the video signal included in the reproduced broadcast content is supplied to the display unit 24 for display, and the audio signal is output from a speaker (not shown). Let Note that a dedicated codec is set in the control unit 23 in order to reproduce the TS via the Internet INW.

  Next, a broadcast content providing method in the system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing an outline thereof.

  A viewer (user) who wishes to view any broadcast content provided via the Internet INW enters into a contract with the broadcasting station BS via the Internet INW. At that time, the broadcaster registers the attribute information such as the user name and address, the telephone number or mail address of the contact, the user ID, the password, and the IP tag in the customer database of the storage unit 12. At the same time, the broadcaster sends an IP tag assigned to the user and an application tool for setting a dedicated codec to the user.

  The user sets the IP tag and application tool sent from the broadcaster on the personal computer PC. Note that the IP tag and application tool can be sent as an attached file of an electronic mail via the Internet INW or by mail.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure and operation details of the personal computer PC for implementing the broadcast content providing method, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure and operation details of the broadcasting station BS.

  When a user wishes to view broadcast content via the Internet INW, the user accesses the broadcast station BS via the Internet INW using the personal computer PC, and follows the guidance on the screen downloaded from the broadcast station BS. Program list information scheduled to be broadcast is acquired from the BS and displayed on the display unit 24 (steps ST5a and ST5b).

  In this state, when the user selects and designates a program desired to be acquired by the input unit 26, the personal computer PC shifts from step ST5c to step ST5d, where a broadcast content acquisition request is sent to the broadcast station BS via the Internet INW. Send. This acquisition request includes the contents of the broadcast program desired to be acquired, the user ID, the password, and the IP tag.

  On the other hand, when receiving an acquisition request from the personal computer PC (step S6a), the broadcasting station BS receives the user ID and password included in the acquisition request and the user ID and password registered in the customer database of the storage unit 12. By comparing, authentication is performed (step ST6b).

  Here, when the authentication is not obtained (No), the broadcasting station BS transmits an error message to the requesting personal computer PC. On the other hand, when the authentication is obtained (Yes), the broadcast station BS reads the broadcast content of the corresponding broadcast program from the storage unit 12 (step ST6c). Then, the broadcast station BS converts the read broadcast content into a TS, inserts an IP tag into one of a plurality of TS packets (step ST6d), and requests the personal computer via the Internet INW. Transmitting to the PC (step ST6e).

  The personal computer PC receives the TS sent from the broadcasting station BS via the Internet INW (step ST5e), and is registered in the IP tag included in the TS and the storage unit 25 using a dedicated codec. The IP tag is compared to determine whether or not they match (step ST5f).

  If the IP tags match (Yes), the personal computer PC reproduces the desired broadcast content from the TS (step ST5g). Thus, the user of the personal computer PC can view a favorite broadcast content. On the other hand, if the IP tags do not match (No), the personal computer PC discards the broadcast content.

  In step ST5c, when the user does not input an acquisition instruction as in the case where the user temporarily stops acquiring broadcast content, the process ends.

  Even when the IP tags match, the personal computer PC can also restrict viewing according to the content of the broadcast content based on the viewing restriction information set in the own device. In this way, for example, when an adult or a child shares one personal computer PC, it is possible to restrict broadcast contents provided according to age.

  As described above, in the above embodiment, when the broadcast content requested by the user is transmitted from the broadcast station BS to the personal computer PC, the IP tag assigned to the personal computer PC at the time of the contract is broadcast by the broadcast station BS. It is inserted into the content video signal and transmitted.

  Therefore, if the requested broadcast content is mistakenly transferred to a different broadcast receiving device, or if another user intentionally steals the broadcast content addressed to the personal computer PC and plays it back on his / her own broadcast receiving device, As long as the IP tags in the video signal do not match, it is possible to prevent erroneous broadcast content or illegal broadcast content from being reproduced, thereby improving content protection.

  In addition, since the user of the personal computer PC can selectively view the broadcast content with high reliability, the user can view the broadcast content that the user likes. On the other hand, for broadcasters, it is possible to increase the number of broadcast service subscribers.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, broadcast contents desired to be acquired are received by another broadcast station CS via a dedicated line PN and retransmitted to that area for overseas countries or areas where the broadcast content provided by the broadcast station BS cannot be received. You can also In this way, it is possible to provide optimal broadcast content to users in overseas or remote areas.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which an IP tag is inserted into one packet among a plurality of TS packets constituting broadcast content. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 7, an IP tag may be inserted into the payload following the TS header and the adaptation field for each TS packet.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which viewing restriction of broadcast content is performed using viewing restriction information after the IP tags match. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and viewing of broadcast content may be restricted according to other conditions.

  In addition, the system configuration, broadcast station configuration, personal computer configuration, broadcast content provision procedure, IP tag type, and the like can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the broadcast system concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the broadcasting station in the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the personal computer in the embodiment. The system diagram for demonstrating the broadcast content provision method in the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure and operation details of a personal computer for implementing the broadcast content providing method in the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure and operation details of a broadcasting station BS for implementing the broadcast content providing method in the embodiment. The figure which shows TS structure of MPEG2 which inserts an IP tag in other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Broadcast program production part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Broadcast program transmission part, 14 ... Communication control part, 15 ... LAN (Local Area Network), 16 ... Multiplexing part, 17 ... Transmission part, 21 ... Reception antenna, 22 ... receiving unit, 23 ... control unit, 24 ... display unit, 25 ... storage unit, 26 ... input unit, 27 ... modem, BS, CS ... broadcasting station, PC ... personal computer, INW ... internet, PN ... dedicated line .

Claims (9)

A broadcast transmitting apparatus that broadcasts broadcast content including at least a video signal; a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and reproduces broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast transmitting apparatus and is connected to the broadcast transmitting apparatus via a communication network; Comprising
The broadcast transmitting device is:
When a broadcast content acquisition request is sent from the broadcast receiving apparatus via a communication network, an individual for identifying the broadcast receiving apparatus in the video signal to the requesting broadcast receiving apparatus in response to the acquisition request Broadcast content transmitting means for transmitting the broadcast content into which the identification information is inserted via the communication network,
The broadcast receiving device is:
Storage means for storing the individual identification information given at the time of a contract with the broadcast transmitting apparatus in a recording medium;
Request transmission means for transmitting the broadcast content acquisition request to the broadcast transmission device via the communication network;
In response to transmission of the acquisition request, broadcast content transmitted from the broadcast transmission device via the communication network is received, and individual identification information in the broadcast content is compared with individual identification information stored in the recording medium And a control means for reproducing the broadcast content based on the comparison result. When the broadcast content is TS (Transport Stream) defined by MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2),
2. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast content transmitting means inserts the individual identification information into a payload portion in the corresponding TS and transmits the inserted information to the requesting broadcast receiving apparatus. When the broadcast content is TS (Transport Stream) defined by MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2),
2. The broadcast system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast content transmitting means inserts a specific packet into which the individual identification information is inserted between a plurality of TS packets and transmits the specific packet to a requesting broadcast receiving apparatus. . And a plurality of retransmission devices connected to the broadcast transmission device via the communication network for receiving the broadcast content and retransmitting the broadcast content to a specific area,
The broadcast content transmitting means inserts individual identification information for identifying the broadcast receiving device into the video signal in response to a broadcast content acquisition request sent from the broadcast receiving device in the receiving area of each of the plurality of retransmission devices. 2. The broadcast system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast content is sent to a corresponding retransmission device and transmitted from the retransmission device to a requesting broadcast reception device via a communication network. The control means reproduces the broadcast content based on a preset condition when the individual identification information in the broadcast content matches the individual identification information stored in the recording medium. The broadcasting system according to claim 1. 6. The broadcasting system according to claim 5, wherein the control means uses viewing restriction information for restricting viewing according to broadcast content in the determination of the condition. A broadcast transmitting apparatus that broadcasts broadcast content including at least a video signal; a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and reproduces broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast transmitting apparatus and is connected to the broadcast transmitting apparatus via a communication network; A broadcast content providing method for transmitting arbitrary broadcast content from the broadcast transmission device to the broadcast reception device via the communication network,
In the broadcast receiving device, the individual identification information given at the time of contract with the broadcast transmitting device is stored in a recording medium,
Sending the broadcast content acquisition request from the broadcast receiver to the broadcast transmitter via the communication network,
In the broadcast transmitting device, when a broadcast content acquisition request is sent from the broadcast receiving device via a communication network, the individual identification information in the video signal is sent to the requesting broadcast receiving device in response to the acquisition request. Transmitting the corresponding broadcast content inserted through the communication network,
In the broadcast receiving apparatus, the broadcast content transmitted from the broadcast transmitting apparatus via the communication network is received, and the individual identification information in the broadcast content is compared with the individual identification information stored in the recording medium. The broadcast content providing method, wherein the broadcast content is reproduced based on the comparison result. A broadcast transmitting apparatus that broadcasts broadcast content including at least a video signal; a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and reproduces broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast transmitting apparatus and is connected to the broadcast transmitting apparatus via a communication network; A broadcast transmission device used in a broadcast system comprising:
When a broadcast content acquisition request is sent from the broadcast receiving apparatus via a communication network, an individual for identifying the broadcast receiving apparatus in the video signal to the requesting broadcast receiving apparatus in response to the acquisition request Broadcast content transmitting means for transmitting the broadcast content into which the identification information is inserted via the communication network,
A broadcast transmission apparatus of a broadcast system, wherein the broadcast reception apparatus can reproduce the broadcast content based on the individual identification information inserted into the video signal of the broadcast content. A broadcast transmitting apparatus that broadcasts broadcast content including at least a video signal; a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives and reproduces broadcast content broadcast from the broadcast transmitting apparatus and is connected to the broadcast transmitting apparatus via a communication network; A broadcast receiving device used in a broadcasting system comprising:
Storage means for storing the individual identification information given at the time of a contract with the broadcast transmitting apparatus in a recording medium;
Request transmission means for transmitting the broadcast content acquisition request to the broadcast transmission device via the communication network;
In response to transmission of the acquisition request, the broadcast content transmitted from the broadcast transmission device via the communication network is received, and the individual identification information inserted into the video signal of the broadcast content by the broadcast transmission device and the recording medium A broadcast receiving apparatus of a broadcast system, comprising: control means for comparing the individual identification information stored in the information and reproducing the broadcast content based on the comparison result.

Images