JP2007129762A - Information providing apparatus and method, display controller and method, and information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hierarchize and effectively provide information of a program guide or the like. <P>SOLUTION: Data of an electronic program guide to be provided are hierarchized into data (A1 data) which may possibly be changed such as the broadcasting date, the start time and the end time, data (A2 data) which are not changed at all such as a program name, and data (A3 data) composed of still pictures, moving pictures, voice and so forth which have comparatively large data amounts, and for each medium, data of a hierarchy suitable for the medium are provided. Each A3 data are referred to by one or a plurality of A2 data, and each A2 data are referred to by one or a plurality of A1 data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and method, a display control apparatus and method, and an information providing system. For example, when transmitting program guide data composed of characters and images, the amount of data to be transmitted is reduced, and The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and method, a display control apparatus and method, and an information providing system capable of quickly responding to a change.

  Conventionally, in order to obtain a TV program guide, a TV program column of a newspaper or magazine is viewed. In recent years, program guides have been provided via the Internet. In this case, the program guide is described in a description language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). The user can view the program guide using a predetermined browser. It is also conceivable to provide the program guide data via media such as broadcast radio waves.

  However, the program guide provided via the Internet is described in a description language such as HTML and may include image data. Further, for example, when there is a rebroadcast program in the program guide, there is a problem that the data amount is increased due to data duplication, and a considerable time is required for data transmission and reading.

  Furthermore, when the broadcast date or time of a predetermined program in the program table or the program content is changed, it is necessary to change all the parts related to the program and retransmit the data of the changed part. There were problems that required time and effort.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. When transmitting data such as a program guide composed of characters and images, the present invention reduces the amount of data to be transmitted and responds quickly to changes in data contents. Is to be able to.

  The information providing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to refer to EPG information to be provided by referring to first information including at least a program start time, which includes data in units of programs, and the first information. Hierarchization means for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including second information as program identification information and detailed information of the program identified by the second information, and hierarchization A first providing means for providing at least one of the first to third information, and a layout for displaying a program guide on a screen based on the information provided by the first providing means. Second providing means for providing layout information.

  The first providing means provides at least one of the first to third information via a wireless or wired or recording medium, and the second providing means includes the layout information. Can be provided wirelessly or wired or via a recording medium.

  The first providing means can provide the first information wirelessly or by wire when the program start time is changed.

  The first providing means can provide the first information by superimposing it on a vertical blanking period of a television signal.

  The first providing means can digitally superimpose the first information on a television signal.

  The first providing means and the second providing means can provide the first information, the second information, and the layout information digitally, wirelessly or in a wired manner.

  The hierarchizing means can make the information changed between the regular broadcast and the rebroadcast in the EPG information as the first information and the information not changed as the second information. .

  The hierarchizing means causes the EPG information to change information that changes between key station broadcasting and local station broadcasting as the first information and information that does not change as the second information. Can do.

  In the information providing method of the present invention, the EPG information to be provided is referred to by the first information composed of program unit data including at least the program start time, and the other information referred to by the first information. A hierarchization step for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including second information as program identification information and detailed information of the program identified by the second information; A first provision step for providing at least one of the first to third information, and a program guide displayed on the screen based on the information provided by the processing of the first provision step. A second providing step of providing layout information relating to the layout.

  The display control apparatus according to the present invention includes first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and program identification information referred to by the first information and referring to other data. Information on at least one of second information and EPG information hierarchized into third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the second information First acquisition means for acquiring, second acquisition means for acquiring layout information relating to a layout when the program guide is displayed on the screen, information acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second acquisition Generating means for generating display information for displaying the program guide from the layout information acquired by the means.

  Display means for displaying the program guide may be further provided.

  In response to the layout information, the generating means searches for information necessary for display from the first to third information, and corresponds to the searched information and the layout information. The display information can be generated.

  The generating means refers to the searched information by the first intermediate information related to the contents displayed at each layout position based on the layout information and the first intermediate information, and the first information Can be hierarchized into second intermediate information that designates the information.

  The generation means can sort the first information specified as the second intermediate information.

  Command means for instructing sorting of the first information specified as the second intermediate information can be further provided.

  The first or second acquisition unit can acquire at least one of the first to third information and the layout information from a recording medium.

  The first or second acquisition means can capture at least one of the first to third information and layout information from data transmitted via wireless or wired communication.

  The display control method of the present invention includes first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and program identification information referred to by the first information and referring to other data. Information on at least one of second information and EPG information hierarchized into third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the second information A first obtaining step to obtain, a second obtaining step to obtain layout information relating to a layout when the program guide is displayed on the screen, the information obtained by the processing of the first obtaining step, and the second A generation step of generating display information for displaying the program guide from the layout information acquired by the processing of the acquisition step.

  The information providing system of the present invention is configured to refer to EPG information to be provided by referring to first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and the other information referred to by the first information. Hierarchization means for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including second information as program identification information and detailed information of the program identified by the second information, and hierarchization A first providing means for providing at least one of the first to third information, and a layout for displaying a program guide on a screen based on the information provided by the first providing means. Second providing means for providing layout information; first acquiring means for acquiring information provided by the first providing means; and acquiring the layout information provided by the second providing means. A second acquisition unit; and a generation unit configured to generate display information for displaying the program guide from the information acquired by the first acquisition unit and the layout information acquired by the second acquisition unit. Prepare.

  In the information providing method of the present invention, the EPG information to be provided is referred to by the first information composed of program unit data including at least the program start time, and the other information referred to by the first information. A hierarchization step for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including second information as program identification information and detailed information of the program identified by the second information; A first provision step for providing at least one of the first to third information, and a program guide displayed on the screen based on the information provided by the processing of the first provision step. A second providing step for providing layout information relating to a layout; a first obtaining step for obtaining information provided by the process of the first providing step; and a process of the second providing step. From the second acquisition step of acquiring the layout information provided by the information, the information acquired by the process of the first acquisition step, and the layout information acquired by the process of the second acquisition step, Generating a display information for displaying the program guide.

  In the information providing apparatus and method of the present invention, the EPG information to be provided is referred to by the first information including at least the program start data including at least the program start time, and the first information, and other data is referred to. Is layered into the third data as the other data including the second information that is the identification information of the program to be performed and the detailed information of the program identified by the second information. At least one of the first to third information is provided. Further, layout information relating to the layout when displaying the program guide on the screen based on the provided information is provided.

  In the display control apparatus and method of the present invention, first information including at least a program start time and including program start data, and identification of a program that is referred to by the first information and refers to other data At least one of EPG information hierarchized into third data as the other data, including second information that is information and detailed information of the program identified by the second information And the layout information related to the layout when the program guide is displayed on the screen. Further, display information for displaying the program guide is generated from the acquired information and layout information.

  In the information providing system and method of the present invention, the EPG information to be provided is referred to by the first information consisting of program unit data including at least the program start time and the first information, and other data is referred to. Is layered into the third data as the other data including the second information that is the identification information of the program to be performed and the detailed information of the program identified by the second information. In addition, at least one of the first to third information and layout information related to the layout when displaying the program guide on the screen based on the provided information are provided. Further, the provided information and the layout information are acquired, and display information for displaying the program guide is generated from the acquired information and the layout information.

  According to the information providing apparatus and method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of data to be provided in the case where rebroadcasting or program change has occurred.

  According to the display control apparatus and method of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently acquire data and display it quickly. Therefore, even when there is a change in the broadcast time or the like, it is possible to respond quickly.

  According to the information providing system and method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of data to be provided in the case of rebroadcasting or program change. Accordingly, even when there is a change in the broadcast time or the like, it is possible to respond quickly.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of an AV (audio visual) system to which the information providing system of the present invention is applied. In this specification, the term system refers to the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of functional units. A CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) drive 1 is recorded on, for example, an electronic program guide CD-ROM 6 (hereinafter abbreviated as CD-ROM 6 as appropriate) in which an electronic program guide issued weekly is recorded. Data related to program information and program table layout is read.

  Further, the CD-ROM drive 1 receives data read from the CD-ROM 6 or data for displaying on a screen a program guide superimposed on a television signal of a predetermined channel supplied from an antenna (not shown). The signal is supplied to the John receiver 5. The mouse 2 is operated when the user selects a channel or makes a recording reservation while viewing the program guide displayed on the television receiver 5.

  As will be described later, the data relating to the program table includes original data (hereinafter referred to as A data), intermediate data (hereinafter referred to as B data), display data (hereinafter referred to as C data), and screens corresponding to the respective display screens. Consists of layout data.

  A PDA (personal digital assistants) 4 reads program guide data from the electronic program guide CD-ROM 8, displays the program guide on the PDA screen, selects a channel while viewing the program guide, and makes a recording reservation. Operation contents are transmitted to the television receiver 5 by infrared rays or the like. The television receiver 5 displays a normal broadcast program, or displays a program guide screen based on data supplied from the CD-ROM drive 1 or the PDA 4.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration example of the CD-ROM drive 1 of FIG. The CD-ROM drive unit 11 reproduces the CD-ROM 6 and outputs data relating to program information and screen layout data.

  A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 15 includes a memory 18, a browser control unit 19, a data conversion unit 20, a graphic engine 17, a user interface control unit 21, a VRAM (video RAM) 16, and the like, and is a CD-ROM. Data output from the drive unit 11 is input, and data for displaying a screen such as a program guide is generated and output. The memory 18 stores application programs and other data necessary for processing as appropriate.

  The data converter 20 converts the data into program language (EPG processing language) such as HTML on the basis of the program information data and screen layout data supplied from the CD-ROM driver 11. . The browser control unit 19 generates display data for an EPG screen based on an EPG processing language such as HTML converted by the data conversion unit 20 and writes the generated data to the VRAM 16. The user interface control unit 21 receives various commands from the user and outputs corresponding signals to each unit.

  The graphic engine 17 reads / writes image data and font data from / to the VRAM 16 at a high speed, and performs a high-speed drawing process of the graphic data. The TEL module 14 is composed of a modem or the like, converts an analog signal supplied via a telephone line into digital data, and supplies it to the microcomputer 15 or converts digital data supplied from the microcomputer 15 into analog data. Then, it is transmitted via a telephone line.

  FIG. 3 shows a procedure in which input information and screen layout data for displaying it are created, provided to the user, and finally an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) corresponding to the provided data is generated. Show. First, program information is input by the data editor 31, and A data (original data) composed of A1 data, A2 data, and A3 data is created. Next, the layout of the screen for displaying the program guide and detailed information of the program is input using the layout editor 32 to create screen layout data. Here, it is assumed that program information and screen layout data for displaying the program information are input. Of course, other information may be input.

  For example, when a program with the program name “Himawari” is broadcast at 12:00 and rebroadcast at 17:00, the data editor 31 inputs program information “Himawari”, and is used for regular broadcasting and rebroadcasting. Two pieces of A1 data are created, and A2 data that is commonly referenced by the A1 data is created. In addition, A3 data composed of more detailed data referred to by A2 data is also created.

  The A1 data consists of program unit data that may be changed such as the broadcast date and broadcast start time, and the A2 data includes performers, detailed program information, still images, audio, in addition to the program name and subtitle. And fixed information that cannot be changed, such as a serial number for referring to each data in A3 data such as a moving image. A2 data is referenced by A1 data. Furthermore, the A3 data is substantial data such as a still image, sound, and moving image, and the amount of data can be increased or decreased by changing the combination according to the media that provides them. A3 data is referenced by A2 data.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the A1 data includes types for regular broadcasting (for key station broadcasting), rebroadcasting (for local station broadcasting), and the like. In addition to “A1 data tag”, “A1 data serial NO” indicating the serial number of the A1 data, “A2 data serial NO” for designating the A2 data to be referred to, the “broadcast date”, “ It consists of data representing “start time”, “end time”, “broadcast station”, “program category”, and “broadcast format”. Here, “program category” represents the type of program such as news, entertainment, movie, etc., and “broadcast format” represents, for example, stereo, bilingual, clear vision, or the like.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, the A2 data is “A2 data tag” indicating A2 data, “A2 data serial NO” indicating the serial number of A2 data, and “program name”. "Performer name NO [0]" for designating A3 data to be referred to in addition to "Subtitle", etc., "Performer name NO [N]", "Detailed program information NO", "Still image" It consists of data representing “NO”, “speech NO”, and “moving picture NO”.

  When the A3 data is data related to performers, the A3 data includes “A3 data tag”, “performer NO”, “performer name”, and “performer information” indicating A3 data. In the case of program detailed information data, it is composed of “A3 data tag”, “program detailed information NO”, and “program detailed information”. Further, in the case of still image data, it is composed of “A3 data tag”, “still image NO”, and “still image” data. In the case of voice data, it is composed of “A3 data tag”, “voice NO”, and “voice data”. In the case of moving image data, the moving image data includes “A3 data tag”, “moving image NO”, and “moving image data”.

  In addition, the A3 data includes a producer name such as a director and a script, producer information, CM information (audio, still image, or moving image).

  These A data (at least one of A1 to A3 data) is provided to the user via media such as broadcast radio waves (antenna 41), telephone line 42, CD-ROM 43, DVD 44 and the like. The screen layout data is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM 43 or DVD 44 on which an electronic program guide is recorded, and is provided to the user. Of course, it can also be provided by transmission media such as broadcast radio waves (antenna 41) or telephone line 42, but the above method is desirable in view of speeding up the display.

  The user owns the AV system as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and the A data and the screen layout data provided through the above media are the antenna 41, the telephone line 42, and the CD-ROM drive. The data is input via the unit 11 and the like, and is taken in by the A data processing unit 51 of the data conversion unit 20 of the microcomputer 15 and stored in the memory 18. The A1 data, A2 data, and A3 data stored in the memory 18 are read by the B data processing unit 52 of the data conversion unit 20, and necessary items are extracted from the data corresponding to the layout of the display screen. , B data is created.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the B data is composed of B1 data and B2 data. The configuration of B1 data and B2 data and the data contents thereof vary depending on the screen layout. For example, in the case of a program guide screen displaying a program on a predetermined broadcast day, as shown in FIG. A program frame for 24 hours is taken.

  That is, the B1 data is “B1 data tag” indicating that it is B1 data, “B1 data serial NO” that is the serial number of B1 data, and the serial number of B2 data that corresponds to (refers to) B1 data “ “B2 data serial NO”, “broadcast date”, “broadcast station”, program frame “0:00 program frame”, “0:10 program frame” set at predetermined time intervals, “23:50” It consists of “program frame” and the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the B2 data is “B2 data tag” indicating B2 data, “B2 data serial NO” indicating the serial number of B2 data, and “2” indicating the capacity of B2 data “ In addition to “B2 data capacity”, the stack is composed of “stack # 1” to “stack #N” in which the serial number of the referenced A1 data is described. When the program guide screen having the screen layout as shown in FIG. 5C is displayed, for example, in the stacks # 1 to #N, the serial numbers of the A1 data corresponding to each time of the program guide are sorted. Can be put in.

  On the other hand, when displaying the detailed program information screen for each category as shown in FIG. 6C, the B data processing unit 52 of the data conversion unit 20 searches for the program to be displayed in the detailed program information for each category, The serial numbers of the A1 data corresponding to the category are sorted and put in each stack of B2 data. The format of the B2 data is the same as that of the program guide screen shown in FIG. 5B, as shown in FIG. 6B. Further, the B1 data has a frame of program detailed information corresponding to the number of displayed programs, and a stack NO of B2 data to be referred to is inserted in the corresponding frame of the program detailed information.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, B1 data corresponds to “B1 data tag” indicating B1 data, “B1 data serial NO” which is a serial number of B1 data, and B1 data (see The B2 data serial number is “B2 data serial NO”, “category”, “page”, “program detailed information # 1”,... “Program detailed information # 6”. Here, the number of frames of program detailed information is set to six in accordance with the layout of the program detailed information screen, but may be variable according to the layout.

  Even if the screen layout data is common, the display contents are changed. For example, even in the screen layout shown in FIG. 6C, if the program category or page changes, the display content changes.

  Note that the detailed program information differs for each program category as shown in FIG. 7, for example. For example, when the program category is “movie”, the detailed program information is “commentary”, “summary”, “shooting location information”, “related information (video)”, “next notice”, and the like.

  For example, detailed program information for each performer can be displayed in the same manner. In this case, for example, by operating the mouse 2, the user moves the cursor on the GUI displayed on the television receiver 5 to a predetermined position, thereby instructing sorting of the program detailed information for each performer. . This command is commanded from the user interface control unit 21 to the data conversion unit 20 as a cursor position signal. In response to this command, the data conversion unit 20 sorts the program detail information for each performer in the same manner as described above, and arranges it in the B2 data stack.

  The screen layout obtained by the B1 data and the B2 data created in this way, the CD-ROM 6 (CD-ROM 43 in FIG. 3), etc., and acquired by the screen layout data processing unit 53 of the data conversion unit 20 Using the data, the C data processing unit 54 of the data conversion unit 20 creates C data (display data) that is the basis for conversion into the EPG processing language. In addition, in a case where screen layout data is not supplied from the CD-ROM 6 or the like, standard screen layout data may be recorded in advance in the memory 18 of the microcomputer 15. This C data refers to A1 data, A2 data, and A3 data via B1 data and B2 data.

  8 and 9 show examples of C data. FIG. 8 shows C data corresponding to the screen layout of FIG. Similarly, FIG. 9 shows C data corresponding to the screen layout of FIG.

  The C data created in this way is subjected to display conversion processing by the display conversion processing unit 61 of the data conversion unit 20, and EPG display is performed on the screen of the television receiver 5 or the like under the control of the browser control unit 19. At this time, an EPG corresponding to the medium providing the program information to the user is created and displayed. For example, when program information is provided via a CD-ROM, an EPG including still images in addition to characters is displayed. When the program information superimposed on the television signal is received by broadcast radio waves, an EPG consisting of simple text information is displayed.

  FIG. 10 shows how C data is created from A data, B data, and screen layout data as described above. Arrows indicate the direction in which data is referenced. That is, A3 data is referenced by A2 data, and A2 data is referenced by A1 data. A1 data is referenced by B2 data, and B2 data is referenced by B1 data. The B1 data and the screen layout data are referred to by the C data. Therefore, C data can refer to A3 data via B1 data, B2 data, A1 data, and A2 data.

  FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the data amount of A data and the transmission method. As shown in the figure, for example, only A1 data and A2 data can be provided to the user superimposed on the vertical blanking period (VBI) of the television signal. Information including CM information, performer information, program detailed information, and other text information constituting A3 data can be provided by a floppy disk (FD) or a telephone line. Information including a still image of CM, a still image of a performer, a still image of a program, and other still images can be recorded and provided on a CD-ROM. In addition, information including data such as CM moving image and sound and program moving image and sound can be provided on a DVD or the like, and data can be used individually or in combination.

  Since the amount of data of these pieces of information changes depending on the combination, different EPGs can be created by changing the combination of media. For example, the data to be provided differs depending on the combination of the television signal VBI, telephone line, floppy disk, CD-ROM, and DVD. Therefore, the displayed EPG varies depending on the provided data.

  Also in the PDA 4, an EPG is created basically in the same manner as described above and displayed on a screen such as an LCD.

  As described above, on the basis of the program table displayed on the screen of the television receiver 5 and the program detailed information, the user operates the mouse 2 or the like to select a desired program or make a recording reservation. Can do. Similarly, based on the program guide displayed on the screen of the PDA 4 and the detailed program information, the user can select a desired program or make a recording reservation by operating a predetermined operation unit.

  Various media can be used and shared individually. For example, EPG display is performed using only program information transmitted superimposed on the VBI of a television signal, or EPG display is normally performed using program information stored on a CD-ROM. When the broadcast time is changed due to program delay, etc., or when broadcasting is provided from the key station to the local station and the broadcast station, broadcast date, broadcast time, sponsor, etc. are changed, information on the changed program Only the (change information) (for example, A1 data for rebroadcasting or local station broadcasting shown in FIG. 4A) is superimposed on the VBI of the television signal, or transmitted via a telephone line. can do.

  In addition, when A1 data (other A2 data, A3 data, or B data, C data is also the same as previously transmitted data) is changed, for example, it is changed data during A1 data serial NO. An identification bit for recognition can be provided in advance, and the identification bit can be changed. On the receiving side, the A1 data of the corresponding A1 data serial NO is updated based on this identification bit.

  In addition, the creation date, transmission date, etc. of A1 data are written, and when the latest data is sent based on the date, the contents of the received data are currently stored. If the content has changed compared to the content of the existing data, the old content data can be updated with the newly received content data.

  In the above embodiment, the actual data is stored as A1 to A3 data one by one. Therefore, since there is no duplication of data shared by a plurality of screens, a large amount of information can be stored with a relatively small capacity. Since data is stored in a card format for each type of information (in this case, it is stored in a hierarchy of A1 data, A2 data, and A3 data), it is possible to transmit as much information as necessary. .

  In addition, since an EPG screen that matches the transmitted information can be created, in order to provide the user with program guide and detailed program information data, a plurality of media are used, and these media coexist. Even if they are used individually or individually, an EPG screen corresponding to the provided data can be created.

  Recently, digital television broadcasting using satellites or CATV systems is becoming popular. Digital television signals (hereinafter abbreviated as DTV as necessary) include 720 × 480 pixel standard definition TV (720 × 480 pixel standard definition TV), 720 × 960 × 480 pixel EDTV (resolution of the same level as current terrestrial broadcasting) Extented Definition TV) and 1920 × 1080 pixel HDTV (Hight Definition TV). For example, as shown in system A of FIG. 12, there is a case where four SDTVs are distributed by one carrier wave. Therefore, for example, in the same figure, as shown by method B, one of the four SDTV bands may be used for EPG, and the remaining three bands may be allocated to one HDTV. Alternatively, as shown in the methods C and D, EPG may be assigned to one band, and three SDTVs or two EDTVs may be assigned to the remaining three bands.

  As described above, when a digital television signal is used, since the band is wide, all of the A1 data to A3 data and the screen layout data can be transmitted to the user wirelessly or by wire.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the electronic program guide is provided and displayed via the media has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and by changing the provided information, for example, It can also be applied to catalog shopping, karaoke books, pictorial books, travel magazines, etc. In addition to text information, it provides information such as photographs, pictures, sounds, and videos, which are displayed on the screen of a television receiver or display. Can be used.

  Note that as a transmission medium for transmitting a program for performing the processing as described above to a user, a communication medium such as a network or a satellite can be used in addition to a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, or a solid-state memory.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of AV system to which this invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a CD-ROM drive 1 in FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure which converts the data of a program schedule, and the data of a screen layout into an EPG processing language, and displays EPG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of A data for an electronic program guide. It is a figure which shows the structural example of B data for displaying an electronic program guide. It is a figure which shows the structural example of B data for displaying a program detailed information screen. It is a figure which shows the example of program detailed information. It is a figure which shows the structural example of C data corresponding to the screen layout of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of C data corresponding to the screen layout of FIG. It is a figure explaining the reference relationship of A data, B data, C data, and data of a screen layout. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the kind of information provided via a medium, and a medium. It is a figure explaining the zone | band of a digital television signal.

Explanation of symbols

  1 CD-ROM drive, 2 mouse, 4 PDA, 5 television receiver, 6, 8 CD-ROM, 11 CD-ROM drive, 14 TEL module, 15 microcomputer, 16 VRAM, 17 graphic engine, 18 memory, 19 Browser control unit, 20 data conversion unit

Claims (20)

The EPG information to be provided is first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and second information which is referred to by the first information and is program identification information for referring to other data. And hierarchizing means for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the second information,
First providing means for providing at least one of the first to third information in a hierarchy;
An information providing apparatus comprising: second providing means for providing layout information relating to a layout when a program guide is displayed on a screen based on information provided by the first providing means. The first providing means provides at least one of the first to third information via a wireless or wired or recording medium,
The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second providing unit provides the layout information wirelessly, wired, or via a recording medium. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first providing unit provides the first information wirelessly or by wire when a program start time is changed. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first providing unit provides the first information by superimposing the first information on a vertical blanking period of a television signal. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first providing means provides the first information by digitally superposing it on a television signal. The first providing means and the second providing means provide the first information, the second information, and the layout information digitally, wirelessly or in a wired manner. The information providing device according to 1. The hierarchizing means is characterized in that, of the EPG information, information that changes between regular broadcast and rebroadcast is the first information, and information that is not changed is the second information. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1. In the EPG information, the hierarchizing means sets information to be changed between key station broadcasting and local station broadcasting as the first information, and information not changed as the second information. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1. The EPG information to be provided is first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and second information which is referred to by the first information and is program identification information for referring to other data. And a hierarchizing step for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the second information,
A first providing step of providing at least one of the first to third information in a hierarchy;
An information providing method comprising: a second providing step of providing layout information relating to a layout when a program guide is displayed on a screen based on information provided by the processing of the first providing step. First information comprising at least program-unit data including at least a program start time; second information that is referred to by the first information and is program identification information for referring to other data; First acquisition means for acquiring at least one of the EPG information hierarchized in the third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the information of 2; ,
Second acquisition means for acquiring layout information relating to a layout for displaying a program guide on a screen;
Display control comprising: generating means for generating display information for displaying the program guide from the information acquired by the first acquisition means and the layout information acquired by the second acquisition means apparatus. The display control apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising display means for displaying the program guide. The generation unit searches for information necessary for display from the first to third information corresponding to the layout information, and corresponds to the searched information and the layout information. Display information is produced | generated. The display control apparatus of Claim 10 characterized by the above-mentioned. The generation means refers to the searched information by first intermediate information related to contents displayed at each layout position based on the layout information and the first intermediate information, and the first information The display control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display control apparatus is hierarchized into second intermediate information designating information. The display control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the generation unit sorts the first information designated as the second intermediate information. The display control apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising command means for commanding sorting of the first information designated as the second intermediate information. The display control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first or second acquisition unit acquires at least one of the first to third information and layout information from a recording medium. The said 1st or 2nd acquisition means takes in at least 1 of the said 1st thru | or 3rd information and layout information from the data transmitted via the radio | wireless or a wire, The 10th aspect is characterized by the above-mentioned. The display control apparatus described. First information comprising at least program-unit data including at least a program start time; second information that is referred to by the first information and is program identification information for referring to other data; A first acquisition step of acquiring at least one of the EPG information hierarchized in the third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the information of 2; ,
A second acquisition step of acquiring layout information relating to a layout when the program guide is displayed on the screen;
A generation step of generating display information for displaying the program guide from the information acquired by the process of the first acquisition step and the layout information acquired by the process of the second acquisition step. Display control method. The EPG information to be provided is first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and second information which is referred to by the first information and is program identification information for referring to other data. And hierarchizing means for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the second information,
First providing means for providing at least one of the first to third information in a hierarchy;
Second providing means for providing layout information relating to a layout when a program guide is displayed on the screen based on the information provided by the first providing means;
First acquisition means for acquiring information provided by the first providing means;
Second obtaining means for obtaining the layout information provided by the second providing means;
Generation means for generating display information for displaying the program guide from the information acquired by the first acquisition means and the layout information acquired by the second acquisition means. Offer system. The EPG information to be provided is first information composed of program unit data including at least a program start time, and second information which is referred to by the first information and is program identification information for referring to other data. And a hierarchizing step for hierarchizing into third data as the other data, including detailed information of the program identified by the second information,
A first providing step of providing at least one of the first to third information in a hierarchy;
A second providing step of providing layout information relating to a layout when displaying the program guide on the screen based on the information provided by the processing of the first providing step;
A first acquisition step of acquiring information provided by the processing of the first provision step;
A second acquisition step of acquiring the layout information provided by the processing of the second provision step;
Generating a display information for displaying the program guide from the information acquired by the process of the first acquisition step and the layout information acquired by the process of the second acquisition step. A characteristic information providing method.

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