JP2009060647A - Transmission method, and reception method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retransmit a digital broadcast signal, through IP broadcast, with a method and apparatus smooth and simple for both transmission and reception. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission apparatus of IP broadcast for retransmitting a terrestrial broadcast signal to an IP network comprises: a means for acquiring and collecting channel selection information and program information from broadcast signals of broadcast stations to be distributed; a means for updating and managing the information; a means for distributing the information independently of IP multicast distribution of the broadcast signals; and a means for distributing a service area channel-selection list describing thereon IP multicast distribution information of broadcast signals, and distribution places of the channel selection information and the program information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast retransmission method and a reception method thereof.
It is devised to reduce the burden on the edge router when performing et Protocol (IP) broadcasting.

In recent years, so-called IP broadcasting using IP multicast distribution technology has started in communication networks. In IP broadcasting, transmission information such as a multicast address for transmitting a broadcast signal is used. The receiver has acquired the transmission information corresponding to the broadcast channel in advance, and notifies the multicast address assigned to the desired program to the edge router on the transmission side via the connected upper router, The program selection operation is performed. For IPv4, the protocol is IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol), IPv6
In this case, a protocol such as MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) is used.

In IP broadcasting, it is expected that terrestrial digital broadcasting will be retransmitted in the future. In digital broadcasting, generally, channel selection information and program information are multiplexed and transmitted as broadcast signals in a format called TS (Transport Stream) stipulated by MPEG-2 systems, together with video and audio signals of programs. The channel transmission information and program information encoding / transmission system is defined by ARIB STD-B10 as program arrangement information, and is composed of various information tables called SI (Service Information).

In particular, the channel selection information describing the transmission frequency etc. is NIT (Network Information Table).
), BIT (Broadcaster Information Table), SDT (Service Description Table), and program information is described in EIT (Event Information Table).

The receiver obtains this information and selects the program tuning process or EPG (Electronic Program Gu
ide: Used to display program information such as an electronic program guide).

Particularly in the case of terrestrial digital broadcasting, each broadcasting station multiplex-transmits only its own SI in its own broadcast signal. For this reason, for example, the receiver sequentially searches for broadcast stations that can be received in the service area, for example, after turning on the power, and acquires and updates SI such as channel selection information and program information. ing. That is, when there are a plurality of receivable broadcast stations in the service area, the receiver performs channel scan of the plurality of broadcast stations and acquires SI of each broadcast station. Here, searching for an unknown channel is referred to as “channel search”, and switching of known broadcast channels sequentially is referred to as “channel scan”.

Now, when retransmitting digital terrestrial broadcasts using an IP broadcast system, the description part such as the transmission frequency of the NIT is described in the IP multicast address or the like on the retransmission side as in the case of transmodulation operation specifications in CATV. It is conceivable to replace it and transmit to the receiver.

However, as in the case of normal on-air reception, if a large number of receivers subject to distribution attempt to perform a channel scan for the above-described SI acquisition / update processing, frequent channel switching requests are made to the sending edge router. Will occur. As the number of receivers under distribution increases, the processing load on the edge router increases, and when the load exceeds the processing capability, the entire distribution system may stop.

As this measure, for example, as seen in Patent Document 1, the current terrestrial broadcast SI transmission operation is changed, and the broadcast signal of each terrestrial broadcast station is also described with the version number of the other station broadcasted. A technique for multicast transmission of SI for all stations via a communication network is shown. However, in this known example, it is not easy to change the current broadcast operation from the viewpoint of the influence on the existing broadcast receiver, and it is necessary to change both broadcasting / communication facilities for each terrestrial broadcasting station. Is very difficult.
JP 2005-38340 A

One aspect of the present invention is that a digital broadcasting signal can be retransmitted by IP broadcasting without any current terrestrial broadcasting operation or equipment change, and the object is to realize a smooth and simple method and apparatus for both transmission and reception. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a received broadcast signal is multicast-distributed to a receiving terminal via a transmission-side edge router as a broadcast signal transport stream in the form of a transport stream. And an SI transport stream that multiplexes SI (Service Information) acquired from the received broadcast signal from each broadcast station, and is different from the broadcast signal transport stream in the form of a transport stream as in the broadcast signal A multicast distribution to a receiving terminal via the transmitting-side edge router, and a transmission of a service area tuning list which is information necessary for receiving the SI transport stream in response to a request from the receiving terminal To the receiving terminal via the edge router And a step to cast delivery.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is necessary to receive an SI transport stream in which SI (Service Information) acquired from broadcast signals from broadcast stations is multiplexed. Requesting a service area tuning list, which is a sensible information, from the transmitting server via the transmitting edge router, and unicast distribution from the transmitting server via the edge router in response to this request Receiving the service area tuning list, and using the received service area tuning list, an SI transport stream in which a broadcast signal is multicast-distributed from the server on the transmission side in the form of a transport stream By requesting acquisition to the edge router,
Using the step of receiving the SI transport stream from the edge router and SI information obtained from the received SI transport stream, a broadcast signal is multicast-distributed from the transmitting server in the form of a transport stream. Receiving a broadcast signal transport stream from the edge router.

The present invention relating to the apparatus is also established as an invention relating to a method, and the present invention relating to a method is also established as an invention relating to an apparatus.

According to the above-described means, it is possible to reduce the load of channel switching request processing by channel scanning from each receiver in the edge router on the transmission side of the IP broadcasting device without accompanying current terrestrial broadcasting operation or equipment change. . In addition, at the same time, information acquisition / update management for channel selection and program information display can be simplified in the receiver, and the processing load can be reduced.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration example of an IP broadcast system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a transmitting apparatus that performs IP broadcasting. The transmitting device 20 distributes S
In order to ensure the real-time property of I, the digital broadcast signal of each terrestrial broadcast station to be distributed is received. In general, it has a plurality of terrestrial broadcast signal receivers 21 and a plurality of SI separators 22 corresponding thereto. That is, as many terrestrial broadcast signal receivers and SI separators as the number of broadcast stations are prepared. The terrestrial broadcast signal receiving unit 21 receives a digital broadcast signal of a target broadcast station. As a reception method, reception is performed directly on the air, or through a dedicated land line or a dedicated line via a satellite. The terrestrial broadcast signal reception unit 21 performs demodulation processing and error correction decoding processing, and outputs the demodulated transport stream (TS) to the SI separation unit 22.

The SI separation unit 22 outputs the input TS as it is to the program distribution server 23. Further, the SI separation unit 22 separates NIT, BIT, and SDT from the TS as channel tuning information and outputs the channel selection information to the tuning control server 24 when the control unit 28 detects an update.
Are separated as program information, and if the control unit 28 detects an update of the information, the ETI
Is output to the program information server 25.

The program distribution server 23 performs processing necessary for IP transmission including IP packetization on the input TS, and generates a transmission signal for multicast distribution. This transmission signal is output to the edge router 26. In addition, the tuning control server 24 is configured to send the NIT,
Each information of BIT and SDT is filed and managed as channel selection information. Also,
Based on the channel tuning information, a service area tuning list generated by a service area tuning list generation unit 27 (described later) is managed. Furthermore, according to the request from the receiving terminal 31, these are unicasted by, for example, the HTTP (S) protocol,
Output to the edge router 26.

The program information distribution server 25 converts each piece of EIT information of each broadcasting station into a file. The file information is updated and managed as program information, and the latest information is output to the edge router 26 in accordance with a request from the receiving terminal 31.

Further, as will be described later, the control unit 28 monitors the version numbers of the NIT, BIT, and SDT information of each separated broadcast station. When “update” is detected, the channel selection control server 24 and the program information distribution server 25 are instructed to rewrite the file to the latest one. In addition, when there is a version check list table and there is an update, for example, an update flag or update date / time information is described in the table.

Broadcast signals of each broadcast station multicast-distributed to the IP network 11 via the edge router 26, service area tuning list unicast-distributed, channel tuning information,
The program information is supplied to the connected receiving terminal 31 through an access line such as an optical line or an ADSL line. Note that the receiving terminal 31 is usually a line terminating device or A
They are connected through a DSL modem and a router (both not shown).

The receiving terminal 31 uses a service area tuning list, channel tuning information, and program information acquired independently through unicast distribution or the like. The receiving terminal 31 performs channel selection processing and program information display processing such as EPG using the acquired information. The receiving terminal 31 reproduces the broadcast signal and performs display processing basically in the same manner as in the case of on-air reception, except for performing IP processing of the received broadcast signal.

The service area tuning list is information describing IP multicast distribution information of broadcast signals, channel tuning information, and distribution locations of program information. The receiving terminal 31 can extract IP multicast distribution information from the service area tuning list and set reception conditions. Furthermore, the receiving terminal 31 can acquire the channel tuning information and the program information by referring to the channel tuning information and the information on the distribution location of the program information from the service area tuning list.

FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of the receiving terminal 31. In this embodiment, the broadcast signal is broadcast (
Although it is configured to be able to receive via on-air), the description will focus on the case of receiving via a communication path (IP network).

In FIG. 2, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 101 includes a tuner unit 102, a descrambler 1.
03, TS decoding unit 104, video / audio decoding unit 105, display processing unit 106, control unit 1
07, key input unit 108, IC card I / F unit 110, memory unit 112, communication processing unit 11
1 is comprised.

The tuner unit 102 selects a desired channel from the broadcast wave input to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 101, and outputs a transport stream (TS) of the selected channel to the descrambler 103. The payload part of TS is generally scrambled for content protection.

The communication processing unit 111 is connected to a network line such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and performs transmission / reception processing of IP packet data via the network. Similar to the tuner unit 102, the communication processing unit 111 receives an IP packetized broadcast signal from the program distribution server 23, decodes an error correction code applied in IP transmission, and converts the TS signal from the IP packet. Are extracted and output to the descrambler 103.

The descrambler 103 descrambles the TS input from the communication processing unit 111 or the tuner unit 102 and outputs the descrambled TS to the TS decoding unit 104.

The TS decoding unit 104 converts the TS input from the descrambler 103 from the PSI (Progr
necessary packets are separated based on am Specific Information, and broadcast program signals (video, audio) are extracted from the separated packets and various multiplexed data (various SI (Service Informat)
ion) data, ECM, EMM, etc.). In addition, the TS decoding unit 104 outputs the separated broadcast program signal (video and audio) to the video / audio decoding unit 105.

In the present embodiment, in addition to this, SI of service area channel selection list, channel channel selection information, and program information acquired independently through unicast distribution or the like is used.

The video / audio decoding unit 105 decodes the broadcast program signal (video, audio) input from the TS decoding unit 104 and outputs the decoded signal to the display processing unit 106.

The display processing unit 106 receives a broadcast program signal (video, video) input from the video / audio decoding unit 105.
(Sound) is output to an external monitor (not shown) for display / sound reproduction. The display processing unit 10
6 generates a display image signal of various error information in order to perform an interface function with the user, and outputs the generated image signal instead of the broadcast program signal (video, audio) or broadcast program signal (video, audio). ) And output the result. In addition, the display processing unit 106
Generates an EPG image signal composed of SI separated by the TS decoding unit 104 and SI acquired independently through unicast distribution or the like, and converts the generated image signal into a broadcast program signal (video, audio). Instead, it has a function of outputting or synthesizing and outputting with a broadcast program signal (video, audio).

The key input unit 108 has a function of receiving a remote operation signal by infrared rays or the like from a user interface device such as a remote controller (remote controller) 109. Memory unit 1
Reference numeral 12 denotes a RAM and a nonvolatile memory. For example, part of channel selection information and program information is stored in the nonvolatile memory.

The control unit 107 has a function of controlling the above functions in an integrated manner, and controls each functional block by bus connection, serial communication connection, or the like.

The IC card I / F unit 110 is an IC card interface conforming to ISO 7816, which is an ISO standard.

The IC card 115 performs contract management and viewing control, and includes a CPU 119 and a ROM 11.
6, a RAM 117, a nonvolatile memory 120, an I / F unit 118, and the like. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 101 is connected to an interface conforming to ISO 7816, which is an ISO standard. The nonvolatile memory 120 in the IC card 115 includes at least the card I.
D, a card-specific key is preset.

The control unit 107 converts the EMM or ECM separated from the TS by the TS decoding unit 104 into the IC
The data is output to the IC card 115 via the card I / F unit 110. IC card 115 is an IC
When the EMM is input from the card I / F unit 110, decryption is performed using a key unique to the card, and information acquired by contract such as a work key (Kw) is stored in the nonvolatile memory 120 in the IC card 115. In addition, when the ECM is input from the IC card I / F unit 110, the IC card 115 can decrypt the work key (Kw) stored in the nonvolatile memory 120 in the IC card 115 and view the program. After the determination, whether or not viewing is possible, a scramble key (Ks) for unscrambling is output to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 101.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 101, the control unit 107 sets the scramble key (Ks) input from the IC card 115 in the descrambler 103 so that the descrambler 103 can descramble the content and view the program. It becomes.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a processing sequence executed through the IP network in this IP broadcast system. The receiving terminal 31 can request the service area tuning list from the tuning control server 24 (processing S1). When this request is made, the channel selection control server 24 unicasts the service area channel selection list generated by the service area channel selection list generation unit 27 (processing S2). In addition, the receiving terminal 31 can request the NIT, BIT, and SDT information files of each broadcasting station managed as channel tuning information from the tuning control server 24 (processing S3). In response to this request, the tuning control server
NIT, BIT, and SDT files are unicasted (process S4).

Process 1 to process 4 are executed, for example, when the receiving terminal 31 is powered on.
After that, it is not necessary to execute almost all, but the receiving terminal 31 may be set so as to be executed when a certain time elapses, for example.

Using the service area tuning list and channel tuning information, the receiving terminal 31 performs channel tuning notification through a higher-level router (not shown) when a tuning instruction is received from the user by a remote controller or the like. The distribution route from the edge router 26 is determined. (
Process S5). Then, the program distribution server 23 distributes the broadcast signal (program) of the channel in response to the channel selection notification (processing S6).

Furthermore, the receiving terminal 31 can request an EIT file from the program information distribution server 25 (processing S7). In response to this request, the program information distribution server 25 receives the EI
The T file is unicasted (process S8). The processes S7 and S8 are executed when, for example, the version check list is checked and it is determined that the program guide has been updated. Alternatively, for example, it is executed when the receiving terminal 31 is turned on. Alternatively, the receiving terminal 31 may be set to be executed when a certain time has elapsed.

The receiving terminal 31 can request a version check list from the channel selection control server 24 (processing S8). In response to this request, the channel selection control server 24 can distribute the version check list (processing S9). The processes S8 and S9 are also executed when the receiving terminal 31 is turned on, for example. Alternatively, the receiving terminal 31 may be set to be executed when a certain time has elapsed.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the data structure of the service area tuning list. Information in the service area tuning list includes service area identification (4-1), version number (4-2) of the list itself, and the number of channels transmitted in this area (4-3).

Further, there is a list (4-4) of broadcast stations (networks) that can be received for each service area. This list includes a correspondence table (4-7) between each broadcast signal (TS) identification (4-5) and transmission information (4-6) necessary for IP multicast distribution. Information necessary for IP multicast distribution includes a multicast address, a source address, and a port number.

Furthermore, as information in the service area tuning list, NIT / BIT / SDT / EIT
(4-8), (4-9), (4-10), and (4-11) are described. Further, (4-12) is the location of the version check list.

Moreover, flag information (4-13) and (4-14) may be included. Flag information (4-13)
Is used, for example, as a flag indicating whether or not error correction information is included. In other words, in the case of IP broadcasting, broadcast signals may be transmitted with an IP-specific error correction code added to the broadcast signal, or transmitted with an error correction code attached to the broadcast signal with different strength depending on the line conditions. It is because it may be done. Moreover, flag information (4-14) is information which shows whether the emergency broadcast is performed, for example.

For example, the receiving terminal 31 acquires the above-described list after the first power-on, and makes it possible to receive a broadcast signal for retransmission by IP multicast based on the correspondence table. NIT / BIT
These pieces of information are acquired based on the location of each / SDT / EIT file. Further, the NIT / BIT / S is obtained by acquiring the version check list based on the location of the version check list of each file (sub-table) described in the same manner and confirming this.
It is possible to perform efficient update detection processing and acquisition management processing of each file of DT / EIT.

Note that the service area tuning list itself may be updated, for example, by adding a broadcasting station to be distributed. For this update detection process and acquisition management process, the version number of the list itself (4-2) Is confirmed by the receiving terminal 31.

FIG. 5 further shows an example of the data structure of the version check list. Fig. 5 (A) shows NIT
, BIT, and SDT files are created and managed. In this example, for each file, each information table of all broadcast stations to be distributed is collectively managed, and the version number assigned to this file itself is held. Based on this, the receiving terminal can perform efficient update detection processing and acquisition management processing. In the example of FIG. 5A, the area code (5-1A), the overall version number of the list itself (5-2A), each NIT, BIT, S
The version number (5-3A) of each file of DT is described. Where each NIT,
If even one version of each file of BIT and SDT changes, the general version number (5-2A) of the list itself changes. This is because if the receiving terminal 31 checks only the list version number (5-2A), it can recognize that the version of any file has changed.

When the receiving terminal 31 detects that the list version number (5-2A) has changed,
Re-obtain NIT, BIT, SDT files or on-air signal (
That is, it may be obtained directly from the output signal of the tuner unit). NIT, BI
Even if the version numbers of the T and SDT sub-tables are enumerated, the receiving terminal may detect the update and acquire only the necessary sub-tables.

FIG. 5B shows how the EIT creates and manages files for each table type. Similarly, the receiving terminal 31 can perform efficient update detection processing and acquisition management processing based on this. Therefore, the area code (5-1B) and the general version number (5-2B) of the list itself are defined here. (5-3B), (5-4B), (5-5B)
This is the EIT version number. For example, there are a plurality of broadcast program information recorded three days ahead, a one-week broadcast program information recorded, a three-week broadcast program information recorded, etc. Because there is.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which a service channel selection list and a version check list in the XML description format are acquired and processed based on bidirectional communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this environment and format. For example, it may be acquired via broadcasting, and the data structure may be described in, for example, a section format in broadcasting.

In addition, the IP network 11 has a CDN (Content D) suitable for high-rate content distribution.
(elivery Network), usually a closed network configuration. IP version is v4
Or v6 is not particularly limited.

Next, an additional description will be given of the NIT that is sent in packets included in the TS in terrestrial digital broadcasting. The NIT includes various information necessary for receiving a program. The NIT may include information indicating the physical condition of the terrestrial transmission line called a terrestrial distribution system descriptor as it is. In this case, the receiving terminal 31 must appropriately disregard this. In addition, a remote control key id is included. The remote control key id is normally used to assign a remote controller key number for program selection. For example, if the remote control key id sent by a certain TS is “1”, the key number “1” of the remote controller is the key number for receiving the representative program in the transport stream corresponding to the key id. Are associated with each other. In NIT,
Service identification (service_id) information is included, and this service identification information is included in the service list (se
rvice list). The service list is, for example, the genre of the program broadcast on the TS of the received channel (if there are a plurality of genres) and the program (including representative programs).
It is a list | wrist which shows the selection number for selecting.

As described above, the NIT sets the key number of the remote controller for the on-air broadcast signal as described above. However, if the channel selection information such as this NIT is used as it is for the IP broadcast, the user may be confused. is there. Therefore, in the case of IP broadcast, in the process of setting the key number of the remote controller, it may be preferable that the key operation of the remote controller is in a form unique to the reception of the IP broadcast. This will be further described later when the control unit 107 of the receiving terminal 31 is described.

FIG. 6 shows each block of the control unit 28 on the transmission apparatus side in more detail. The SI acquisition unit 282 acquires and manages the latest necessary SI such as NIT / SDT / BIT and EIT.
The update processing unit 283 performs channel tuning information and program information updating processing, and includes a channel tuning information management unit 283a and a program information management unit 283b.

The SI distribution command unit 284, together with the channel selection control server 24 and the program information distribution server 25, unicasts channel selection information and program information independently of IP multicast distribution of broadcast signals. The service area channel selection list control unit 285 and the service area channel selection list generation unit 27 generate a service area channel selection list that describes IP multicast distribution information of broadcast signals, channel channel selection information, and distribution locations of the program information. At the same time, it is delivered to the requested receiving terminal 31.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation of the control unit 28. SI is extracted and update is detected (SA3). If the SI has been updated, SI update processing and version check list correction processing are performed (step SA4).

Further, it is determined whether or not there is an interrupt (request from the receiving terminal) (step SA5),
If there is, the request content is judged. The request contents are step SA6 (request for service area tuning list), SA7 (request for NIT / BIT / SDT file), SA8 (EIT).
File request), SA9 (version check list request), SA10 (channel selection notification)
Are sequentially determined, and processing corresponding to each operation is executed. Note that the order of these steps is an example, and is not limited to this order.

As described above, the transmission device transmits the terrestrial broadcast signal to the Internet Protocol (IP).
Resend to the network. It has channel tuning information and program information means for acquiring and collecting channel tuning information and program information from broadcast signals of each broadcasting station to be distributed. In addition, it has an update management means for updating and managing these channel selection information and program information. Furthermore, it has channel selection information and program information distribution means for distributing these channel selection information and program information independently of IP multicast distribution of the broadcast signal. In addition, service area channel selection list distribution means for distributing a service area channel selection list describing the IP multicast distribution information of the broadcast signal, the channel channel selection information, and the distribution location of the program information is provided.

FIG. 8 shows the control block in the receiving terminal 31 in more detail. That is, the control unit 107 includes a service area channel selection list request unit 107a, an NIT / BIT / SDT file request unit 107b, an EIT file request unit 107c, a version check list request unit 107d, and a channel selection notification unit 107g.

Further, there are an acquisition method control unit 107e for channel selection information and program information, and an acquisition control unit 107f for channel selection information and program information. The control units 107e and 107f are connected to the IP
This control unit is necessary because it receives a broadcast signal. For example, when an IP broadcast signal is received, the version check list may be detected as a result of checking the version check list, for example. In that case, it is possible to obtain the updated program information from the server, but it may be obtained directly from the multiplexed on-air broadcast signal as long as it is the program information of the currently receiving broadcast station. . In this case, for example,
When the acquisition of channel selection information and program information is updated, it can be set to acquire from the on-air broadcast signal. The block that realizes this setting process is the channel selection information and program information acquisition method control unit 107e, and the block that operates according to the setting of the control unit 107e is the channel selection information and program information acquisition control unit 107f. is there.

Furthermore, the control unit 107 includes a time information processing unit 107h. In on-air digital broadcasting, current time information TOT (Time Offset Table) is sent together with a broadcast signal. However, since the IP broadcast signal is once taken into the server and distributed from the server, the current time information sent naturally represents a time delayed from the current time. As a result, the time information may not be displayed as it is. Therefore,
The time information processing unit 107h performs processing for correcting or displaying the time information.

Furthermore, the control unit 107 is provided with an error correction code related flag processing unit 107i. When the IP broadcast signal to which the error correction code is added is sent, the processing unit 107i detects a flag that is a mark. Then, the error correction processing function is activated to execute the error correction processing for the IP broadcast signal. In the case of IP broadcasting, unlike on-air broadcasting, the signal transmission environment is different. This is because an error correction code unique to IP broadcasting is added to the broadcast signal.

Furthermore, the control unit 107 is provided with an emergency broadcast related flag processing unit 107j. The processing unit 107j can detect a flag (explained in FIG. 4) indicating that emergency broadcast transmission is in progress through the IP broadcast signal. When a flag is detected, in the case of an emergency broadcast compatible receiver, the processing unit 107j is configured to forcibly set the reception channel of the receiving terminal to the emergency broadcast channel and the program.

The control unit 107 also has a control input from the remote controller and a menu screen (
An operation input determination unit 107k for determining a control input from (GUI) is provided. In addition, the control unit 107 is provided with a menu screen control unit 107m for displaying a response to an operation and an operation status of the apparatus on the screen.

A channel selection information processing unit 107n is also provided. As described above, NIT sets the key number of the remote controller when it is an on-air broadcast signal.
If this NIT is used as it is in the case of IP broadcasting, confusion may occur. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable to perform processing so as to select a channel, a program, etc. after positioning the IP broadcast equivalent to terrestrial / BS or the like and switching the transmission media. In this case, at the time of IP broadcast reception, the channel selection information processing unit 107n ignores the NIT terrestrial distribution system descriptor or performs appropriate processing different from that at the time of on-air reception, as a GUI for EPG display or banner display. It operates in cooperation with the menu screen control unit 107m. By clearly displaying that the broadcast is via IP broadcast and selecting the channel, it is possible to prevent user operation confusion.

9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C, FIG. 10A, and FIG.
This operation is realized mainly by the control unit 107 that performs overall control of the apparatus. FIG. 9A is a flowchart that operates when the power of the receiving terminal 31 is turned on (step SB1). A service area tuning list request is made to the server (step SB2) and acquired (step SB3). Then, it is determined whether the receiving terminal already holds this channel selection list (step SB4). If it is held, it is further determined whether the service area identification is the same (step SB5). If they are the same, it is further checked whether the version numbers of the lists are the same (step SB6). If they are the same, the list obtained is discarded without performing update processing. However, it does not maintain the tuning list itself,
If it is determined that the service area identification is different even if it is held, or the version number is updated even if it is held and the service area identification is the same, the acquired tuning list is updated / held. In addition, by appropriately updating the service area tuning list based on the service area identification as described above, for example, a process corresponding to rescanning when the receiving terminal is re-installed at the time of moving or the like can be smoothly performed. it can.

In this example, the description is based on the time when the power is turned on. However, the service may be connected to the network.

FIG. 9C is a flowchart showing NIT / BIT / SDT acquisition processing. Refer to the acquired service area tuning list (step SF1), specify the location of each file (step SF2), and request NIT / BIT / SDT file (step SF3).
And obtain (step SF4). EIT file is obtained in the same way (Step S
F5 to SF7) and store.

FIG. 9B is an operation flow when checking the version check list. A version check list is requested (steps SC1 and SC2), and when a version change is detected (step SC3), for example, channel selection information and program information are acquired from an on-air broadcast signal (step SC4).

FIG. 10A shows an operation flow when the channel selection notification is performed. When there is a program selection by the user (step SD1), a channel selection notification is made (step SD2), and an IP broadcast signal is received. At this time, if an error correction related flag exists in the service area tuning list (step SD4), error correction processing is performed on the received signal (step SD5).
Then, the video / audio signal of the program is decoded (step SD6). Further, time information obtained from the TOT is appropriately processed for each receiver (step SD3).

FIG. 10B is an operation flow when the emergency broadcast related flag is detected (step SE1). Forcibly receive and process on-air or network specific channel information,
An emergency broadcast is presented (steps SE2 and SE3).

At this time, an emergency flag for identifying whether the predetermined channel is broadcast on air or network may be sent. In other words, in the case of on-air broadcasting, the emergency state covers a wide range, and in the case of IP broadcasting, it is properly used as a local emergency state.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment. For example, in an actual system, the channel selection control server and the program information distribution server may be physically configured by one server. In addition, regarding SI files to be distributed, for example, NIT / BIT / SDT may be collectively distributed as one file.

The above embodiment is referred to as a first embodiment, and a second embodiment will be described below. Parts corresponding to the blocks of the respective parts of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case where SI is multicast is described. FIG. 11 shows an example of the system configuration.

As shown in FIG. 11, the program information distribution server 25 of the first embodiment is changed to a channel tuning information / program information distribution server 25. This channel channel selection information / program information distribution server 25 re-multiplexes the SI acquired from the broadcast signal of each broadcast station, and similarly to the broadcast signal, TS
Multicast distribution is performed in the form of (SI-dedicated TS). In this case, the service area tuning list is, for example, a URL (4-8 to 4) indicating the location of each SI in FIG.
−11) in place of the transport stream identifier TSid (
4-5) and corresponding IP transmission information (corresponding to 4-6).

FIG. 12 shows a processing sequence example of the method of FIG. When compared with the sequence of FIG. 3, in step S3 and S4, the channel selection notification of the SI dedicated TS is performed based on the service area channel selection list. Then, the SI is acquired from the information distributed by multicast from the server in the same manner as the on-air processing. This is different from the sequence of FIG. In SI distribution (multicast) in process S4, acquisition of channel tuning information is main in the receiving terminal, and in SI distribution (multicast) in process S8, acquisition of program information is main in the receiving terminal.

In this embodiment, the frequency of switching channels for obtaining SI is reduced by re-multiplexing the SI of each broadcasting station into one TS and performing multicast distribution all at once.
When re-multiplexing the SI acquired by this technique without rewriting (for example, actual → other) as it is, the receiver itself is the SI of the other TS (other TS). It is transmitted in the form of (actual TS). Depending on the mounting state of the receiver corresponding to such a TS, it may be necessary to pay attention to this TS transmission and to perform processing different from that for on-air reception. However, it is necessary to change the broadcasting operation on the ground wave. There is no adverse effect on existing broadcast receivers. Note that the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of FIG. 11 may be used in combination. That is, channel selection information and program information may be stored in the channel selection control server 24, and may be unitcasted from here.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the broadcast system to which this invention was applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural block example of the receiving terminal 31 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the mutual exchange of the signal between the receiving terminal 31 of FIG. 1, and the server of the transmission side. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the service area tuning list used by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data structure of the version check list | wrist used by this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the control part by the side of the transmitter shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example on the transmission device side illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the control part of the receiving terminal shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the receiving terminal illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of operation of the receiving terminal shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a mutual exchange of the signal between the receiving terminal 31 of FIG. 11, and the server of the transmission side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... IP network, 20 ... Transmitter, 21 ... Terrestrial broadcast signal receiver, 22 ... SI
Separation unit, 23 ... program distribution server, 24 ... channel selection control server, 25 ... program information distribution server, 2
6 ... edge router, 27 ... service area tuning list generation unit, 31 ... receiving terminal.

Claims (3)

Multicast distribution of the received broadcast signal as a broadcast signal transport stream in the form of a transport stream to the receiving terminal via the transmitting-side edge router;
The SI (Service Information) acquired from the received broadcast signal from each broadcast station is multiplexed, and the transmission is performed as an SI transport stream different from the broadcast signal transport stream in the form of a transport stream similar to the broadcast signal. Multicast distribution to the receiving terminal via the side edge router;
And unicasting a service area tuning list, which is information necessary for receiving the SI transport stream in response to a request from the receiving terminal, to the receiving terminal via the edge router on the transmitting side. An IP broadcast transmission method characterized by the above. SI in which SI (Service Information) acquired from broadcast signals from each broadcasting station is multiplexed
Requesting a service area tuning list, which is information necessary for receiving a transport stream, from a sender server via a sender edge router;
In response to this request, receiving the service area tuning list that has been unicast distributed from the transmitting server via the edge router;
Using this received service area tuning list, the edge router is requested to acquire an SI transport stream in which a broadcast signal is multicast from the transmission server in the form of a transport stream. S to the router
Receiving an I transport stream;
Using the SI information obtained from the received SI transport stream, receiving from the edge router a broadcast signal transport stream in which a broadcast signal is multicast-distributed from the transmitting server in the form of a transport stream. An IP broadcast receiving method comprising: 3. The method for receiving an IP broadcast according to claim 2, further comprising a step of displaying a program obtained by reproducing the received broadcast signal transport stream on a display means.

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