JP2011147073A - Encoder management system, encoder control apparatus, encoder management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an encoder management system, along with an encoder control apparatus, an encoder management method and a program, in which the degree of satisfaction of a user is improved. <P>SOLUTION: The encoder management system has a plurality of broadcast receivers each including at least one encoder, and has an encoder control device for selecting one encoder from among the plurality of encoders on the basis of predetermined rules, and reserving program video-recording or viewing to the one encoder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an encoder management system, an encoder control device, an encoder management method, and a program.

  Scheduling of reservations for recording or viewing of television broadcasts or Internet broadcasts is centrally managed, and reservations are shared by a plurality of recording devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 is an invention of a broadcast storage system that records and stores a broadcast program from a plurality of channels, and when a program recording reservation is instructed, the program recording reservation is set, At the time when the program is broadcast, the slave device that records the program, and the slave device and its own device each know the program reserved for recording, and when the program to be recorded is determined, the same device at the same time Select a device that records a program so that multiple recording reservations are not set. If you select your own device, set the recording reservation on your own device. If you select one of the subordinate devices, select the subordinate device. It has a main apparatus for instructing recording reservation of the program and recording the program when it is time to broadcast the program reserved for recording to its own apparatus.

  When the main device described in Patent Document 1 is instructed to start recording a program without reservation, the main device does not perform recording at that time in the own device and subordinate devices, and starts the first recording reserved for recording. Decide to record on the device with the longest time until the time, start recording the program if you decide to be your own device, and start recording the program on the dependent device if you decide to be any slave device When the subordinate apparatus receives the instruction to start recording, the subordinate apparatus immediately starts recording the instructed program.

  According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, a user can view a past program with the same operation feeling as viewing a program in real time, and can advance or return the time. The operability for viewing is improved.

Japanese Patent No. 3950632

  A broadcast receiving apparatus and a recording apparatus that have an encoder and are connected to a network are assumed to have functional differences depending on generations and apparatus grades.

  Here, an encoder is an apparatus that generates program data by encoding a channel signal obtained by a tuner that extracts a desired channel signal from a received broadcast signal.

In addition, from the viewpoint of content protection under the Copyright Law and Unfair Competition Prevention Law, etc., data cannot be freely written or rewritten between devices, so when reserving recorded content, It is necessary to allocate a reservation in consideration of the recording medium and image quality corresponding to the device.
In particular, when recording a series program, it is desirable to distribute reservations to the same device.
Here, the series program is a program having contents produced as a continuation, and is identified by a serial number of a program name, a series descriptor of program arrangement information in digital broadcasting, or the like.
The program arrangement information is digital data describing the distribution system, contents, schedule / timing, etc. of the broadcast data stream.

However, in the ordinary technique, the importance is placed on the scheduling of the broadcast receiving apparatus, and no consideration is given to which device is explicitly assigned according to the program.
For this reason, the series program may be recorded on a different device, and when the user views the recorded program, there is the trouble of switching the device each time, there is a difference in image quality and image size due to different devices, In some cases, sufficient satisfaction could not be obtained.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an encoder management system, an encoder control device, an encoder management method, and a program that improve user satisfaction.

  The first device of the present invention includes a plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder, selects one encoder from the plurality of encoders based on a predetermined rule, and selects the one encoder as the one encoder. On the other hand, an encoder control device that reserves recording or viewing of a program is provided.

  A second device of the present invention is used in an encoder management system, selects one encoder from a plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder based on a predetermined rule, and selects the one encoder as the one encoder. On the other hand, the recording or viewing of a program is reserved.

  The method of the present invention is used in an encoder management system, and selects one encoder from a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses including at least one encoder based on a predetermined rule. The recording or viewing of the program is reserved.

  The program according to the present invention provides a computer of an encoder management system having a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses including at least one encoder and an encoder control apparatus, based on a predetermined rule, one encoder among the plurality of encoders And a procedure for causing the one encoder to reserve recording or viewing of a program.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an encoder management system, an encoder control device, and an encoder management method that improve user satisfaction.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows one Embodiment of the encoder management system which concerns on this invention. It is an example of the block diagram of the encoder management system shown in FIG. It is an example of the block diagram of the main broadcast receiver 11 used for the encoder management system 10 shown in FIG. It is an example of the block diagram of the subordinate broadcast receivers 12-1 to 12-n used for the encoder management system 10 shown in FIG. It is an example of the flowchart which shows operation | movement of the encoder management system shown in FIG. It is an example of the flowchart for demonstrating in detail step S2 shown in FIG. It is another example of the flowchart which shows operation | movement of the encoder management system shown in FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of an encoder management system according to the present invention.
The encoder management system includes broadcast receiving apparatuses 11, 12-1 to 12-n, a viewing terminal 13, and an encoder control apparatus 14.
The encoder control device 14 includes a resource management unit 41, a reservation management unit 42, and an encoder usage priority determination unit 43. The resource management unit 41 has a resource limit database for each encoder. The reservation management unit 42 has a reserved program database for each encoder.

  These resource management unit 41, reservation management unit 42, and encoder use priority determination unit 43 are included in, for example, a personal computer. That is, the resource management unit 41 and the reservation management unit 42 are realized by a storage unit such as a hard disk and a part of the control program, and the encoder use priority determination unit 43 is realized by a part of the control program.

Here, it is assumed that each device is connected to the network.
In order for the user to grasp the resource limit of the broadcast receiving apparatus and manage resources, a resource limit database is created for each broadcast receiving apparatus (examples of database attributes: terrestrial / BS / CS / CATV, contract information, video distribution availability, Viewing terminal presence / absence, installation location, TS input / output availability, recording availability, recordable image quality, compatible recording medium, medium writing mode, etc.).

  BS is an abbreviation for Broadcasting Satellites and means a broadcasting satellite. CS is an abbreviation for Communication Satellites and means a communication satellite. CATV is an abbreviation for Community Antenna TeleVision, which means a television cable broadcasting service.

  It is also assumed that the resource limit of each broadcast receiving apparatus is retained and automatically passed to the resource management unit 41 when connected to the network.

FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram of the encoder management system shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a broadcast receiving system, which includes a main broadcast receiving device 11 and a plurality of subordinate broadcast receiving devices 12-1 to 12-n. The main broadcast receiver 11 is connected to a television receiver (hereinafter referred to as TV) 13 as a viewing terminal. The main broadcast receiving device 11 and the subordinate broadcast receiving devices 12-1 to 12-n are connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 14 and an antenna 15 as encoder control devices.

  The main broadcast receiving device 11 and the subordinate broadcast receiving device 12 are connected by a communication line 16. A PC 14 may be further connected to the communication line 16.

FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram of the main broadcast receiving apparatus 11 used in the encoder management system 10 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, the main broadcast storage device 11 includes a tuner 21, an encoder 22, a storage unit 23, a control unit 24, a communication processing unit 25, a selector 26, and a decoder 27.

  The tuner 21 is a circuit that extracts a signal of a desired channel from the signal from the antenna 15.

  The encoder 22 is a circuit that encodes the image and audio signals of the channel extracted by the tuner 21 and outputs them as image and audio data. Examples of the encoding method include MPEG2 (a standard determined by the Moving Picture Experts Group of ISO / IEC JTC 1 in July 1995).

  The storage unit 23 is a circuit that stores the image and audio data encoded by the encoder 22, and includes, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory.

  The communication processing unit 25 is a circuit that transmits and receives control information and receives image and audio data via the communication line 16.

  The control unit 24 is a circuit that generates and analyzes control information that the communication processing unit 25 transmits and receives via the communication line 16 and controls operations of each unit such as the tuner 21, the encoder 22, and the storage unit 23. And a microprocessor.

  The selector 26 is a circuit that selects one of the image data and audio data stored in the storage unit 23 and the image data and audio data received by the communication processing unit 25, and examples thereof include an analog switch and a multiplexer. .

  The decoder 27 is a circuit that decodes the image and audio data input from the selector 26 and inputs the decoded image and audio data to the TV 13 that is an output device that outputs the video and audio of the program.

FIG. 4 is an example of a block diagram of the subordinate broadcast receiving devices 12-1 to 12-n used in the encoder management system 10 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 4, the subordinate broadcast receiving apparatus 12 includes a tuner 31, an encoder 32, a storage unit 33, a control unit 34, and a communication processing unit 35.

  The tuner 31 is a circuit that extracts a signal of a desired channel from the broadcast signal from the antenna 15.

  The encoder 32 encodes the image signal and audio signal of the channel extracted by the tuner 31 and outputs them as image data and audio data. Examples of the encoding method include MPEG2.

  The storage unit 33 is a circuit that stores image data and audio data encoded by the encoder 32, and includes, for example, an HDD or a flash memory.

  The communication processing unit 35 transmits and receives control information and transmits image and audio data via the communication line 16.

  The control unit 34 is a circuit that generates and analyzes control information that the communication processing unit 35 transmits and receives via the communication line 16 and controls the operation of each unit such as the tuner 31, the encoder 32, and the storage unit 33. A microprocessor is mentioned.

  In the present embodiment, the main broadcast receiving device 11 and the subordinate broadcast receiving device 12 have different configurations from each other, but may have the same configuration.

Next, the operation of the encoder management system 10 will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Operation 1>
FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart showing the operation of the encoder management system shown in FIG.
In FIG. 5, when the user accesses the reservation management unit 42 (see FIG. 1) from the viewing terminal (TV 13) and changes the reservation (input / deletion / correction) (step S <b> 1), the CPU 14 (not shown) of the PC 14 (Central Processing) Unit) determines the encoder usage priority by the encoder usage priority determination unit 43 (see FIG. 1), which is a feature of the present application (step S2).

  The CPU of the PC 14 (hereinafter referred to as CPU) updates the reservation based on the determination result, and displays that fact on the viewing terminal (TV 13) (step S3).

  Each broadcast receiving device 11, 12-1 to 12-n of the encoder management system 10 enters a standby state immediately before reservation (step S4).

  The CPU determines whether reservation execution is possible (step S5). When the CPU determines that the reservation can be executed (step S5 / YES), the CPU executes the reservation (step S6). When the CPU determines that the reservation cannot be executed (step S5 / NO), the process returns to step S2.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart for explaining step S2 shown in FIG. 5 in detail.

  In FIG. 6, following step S1 (see FIG. 5), the CPU determines whether the entered reservation is a series program (step S100), and if it is determined that the reservation is a series program (step S100 / YES), The CPU determines whether or not there is a reservation record in the past (step S101).

When the CPU determines that there is a reservation record in the past (step S101 / YES), it determines whether the reservation is excessive in the broadcast receiving apparatus having the reservation record (step S102), and determines that the reservation is excessive. If so (step S102 / YES), it is determined whether or not there is a viewing reservation (step S103).
In the present invention, excessive duplication means a state in which there is a time slot in which the number of reserved reservations is larger than the number of reservations that can be made for each broadcast receiving apparatus.

  If the CPU determines that there is a viewing reservation (step S103 / YES), it determines whether there is a broadcast receiving device in the same room (step S104), and if it determines that there is no broadcast receiving device in the same room (step S104). S101 / NO), it is determined whether there is a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of distributing video (step S105).

  If the CPU determines that there is no broadcast receiver capable of distributing video (step S105 / NO), the CPU determines whether there is a broadcast receiver capable of recording reservation (step S106).

  If the CPU determines that there is no broadcast receiving apparatus that can be reserved for recording (step S106 / NO), it determines whether there is another broadcast receiving apparatus that can be reserved for viewing (step S107).

  When the CPU determines that there is no other broadcast receiving apparatus that can be reserved for viewing (step S107), it determines that reservation is not possible (step S112), and proceeds to step S3.

  If the CPU determines that the entered reservation is not a series program (step S100 / NO), or if it has been determined that there is no reservation record in the past (step S101 / NO), it selects a free broadcast receiving device that can receive the program. Then, it is determined that the reservation can be made by the corresponding idle broadcast receiving apparatus (step S113), and the process proceeds to step S3 (see FIG. 5).

  When the CPU determines that the reservation is not excessive in the broadcast receiving apparatus having the reservation record (step S102), the CPU determines that the reservation is possible in the corresponding empty broadcast receiving apparatus (step S113), and proceeds to step S3.

  If the CPU determines that there is no viewing reservation (step S103 / NO), it determines whether there is a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of TS input / output (step S108) and determines that there is no broadcast input apparatus capable of TS input / output. If so (step S108 / NO), it is determined whether there is a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of writing out the medium (step S109).

  If the CPU determines that there is no broadcast receiving apparatus capable of writing out the medium (step S109 / NO), the free broadcast reception that can be recorded with the image quality of the broadcast receiving apparatus at the time of reservation or the image quality of the recorded broadcast receiving apparatus is the same. It is determined whether there is a device (step S110).

  When the CPU determines that there is no empty broadcast receiving device capable of recording with the image quality of the broadcast receiving device at the time of reservation or the image quality of the recorded broadcast receiving device (step S110 / NO), the other recordable broadcasts It is determined whether there is a receiving device (step S111).

When the CPU determines that there is a broadcast receiving device in the room (step S104 / YES), and when it determines that there is a broadcast receiving device capable of video distribution (step S105 / YES), there is a broadcast receiving device capable of recording reservation. (Step S106 / YES), when it is determined that there is another broadcast receiving apparatus that can be reserved for viewing (step S107 / YES), when it is determined that there is a broadcast receiving apparatus that can input and output TS (step S108). / YES), when it is determined that there is a broadcast receiving device capable of writing out the medium (step S109 / YES), a free space that can be recorded with the image quality of the broadcast receiving device at the time of reservation or the image quality of the recorded broadcast receiving device When it is determined that there is a broadcast receiver (step S110 / YES), or there is another broadcast receiver that can be reserved for recording. If it is determined (step S 111 / YES), it determines that the booking at appropriate free broadcast receiving apparatus (step S113), the process proceeds to step S3 (see FIG. 5).
With the above operation, the series program can be recorded on the same device.

<Operation 2>
FIG. 7 is another example of a flowchart showing the operation of the encoder management system shown in FIG.
As a premise, the reservation management unit 41 (see FIG. 5) holds how the reservation is input (if the reservation route is automatic recording, it is held as a set with a keyword, and the reservation route is stored in the program guide. For keyword searches for, it should be kept as a set with keywords). When the program name is registered in the favorite program table, it is assumed that the category (drama, movie, variety, news, culture, music, sports, documentary, etc.) of the program is held.

  Here, the “favorite program guide” is a user-specific program guide created by the broadcast receiving apparatus based on the past reservation results extracted by the same keyword in the program guide keyword search, and can be rewritten in software format. Stored in the device.

  Here, “automatic recording” is a function for automatically searching for a program including a keyword registered in the broadcast receiving apparatus, recording it by recording “keyword” in the broadcast receiving apparatus, Also called “automatic recording” or “automatic reservation”.

  In FIG. 7, following step S1 (see FIG. 5), the CPU determines whether or not the input reservation is a series program (step S200), and determines that the input reservation is a series program (step S200). / YES), it is determined whether or not there is a reservation record in the past (step S201).

  When the CPU determines that the input reservation is not a series program (step S200 / NO), or when it is determined that there is no record of reservation in the past (step S201 / NO), the past extracted by the same keyword in the automatic recording It is determined whether or not there is a reservation record (step S202).

  When the CPU determines that there is no past reservation record extracted by the same keyword in the automatic recording (step S202 / NO), the CPU determines whether there is a past reservation record extracted by the same keyword in the program guide keyword search. (Step S203).

  When the CPU determines that there is no past reservation record extracted by the same keyword in the keyword search of the program guide (step S203 / NO), it is determined whether or not there is a past reservation record by the same keyword registered in the favorite program guide. Determination is made (step S204).

  When the CPU determines that there is no past reservation record based on the same keyword registered in the favorite program table (step S204 / NO), it is regarded as irrelevant content (step S218), and a free broadcast receiving apparatus capable of receiving the program Is selected (step S219), it is determined that reservation is possible in the corresponding vacant broadcast receiving apparatus (step S217), and the process proceeds to step S3 (see FIG. 5).

  When the CPU determines that there is a past reservation record (step S201 / YES), or when it is determined that there is a past reservation record extracted by the same keyword in automatic recording (step S202 / YES), the program table keyword When it is determined that there is a past reservation record extracted with the same keyword in the search (step S203 / YES), or when it is determined that there is a past reservation record with the same keyword registered in the favorite program table (step S204 / YES) ), It is regarded as related content (step S205), and it is determined whether or not there is an excessive number of reservations in the broadcast receiving apparatus having a reservation record (step S206).

  Hereinafter, steps S207 to S216 are the same as steps S103 to S112 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  By the above operation, it can be applied to programs other than series programs. In other words, it corresponds to reservations extracted by inputting proper nouns (person names, places, organization names, etc.) in automatic recording or keyword search for program guides, or related categories such as the same category of favorite program guides. Can do.

<Program>
The encoder management system according to the present invention described above is realized by a program that causes a computer to execute processing. Examples of the computer include general-purpose computers such as personal computers and workstations, but the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, as an example, a case where the present invention is realized by a program will be described below.

A computer of an encoder management system having a plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder and an encoder control device,
A procedure for selecting one encoder from a plurality of encoders based on predetermined rules;
A procedure for making a recording or viewing of a program reserved for one encoder;
A program that executes

  Accordingly, the encoder management system according to the present invention can be realized anywhere as long as there is a computer environment capable of executing the program.

<Storage medium>
Such a program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
Here, examples of the storage medium include computer-readable storage media such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (CD Recordable), and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Semiconductor memory such as flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), FeRAM (ferroelectric memory), and HDD.

  The above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Encoder management system 11 Main broadcast receiver 12-1 to 12-n Dependent broadcast receiver 13 Viewing terminal (TV)
14 Personal computer (PC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Antenna 16 Communication line 21, 31 Tuner 22, 32 Encoder 23, 33 Storage part 24, 34 Control part 25 Communication processing part 26 Selector 27 Decoder 41 Resource management part 42 Reservation management part 43 Encoder use priority determination part

Claims (10)

A plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder;
Based on a predetermined rule, one encoder is selected from the plurality of encoders,
An encoder management system comprising an encoder control device that reserves recording or viewing of a program for the one encoder.   2. The encoder management system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule includes selecting the same encoder among the plurality of encoders and reserving a series program.   3. The predetermined rule according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule includes selecting the same encoder among the plurality of encoders and reserving a plurality of programs extracted by the same keyword. Encoder management system characterized by   The encoder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a vacant broadcast receiving apparatus capable of recording with the same image quality as that at the time of reservation or recorded.   The encoder management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the broadcast receiving apparatus is arranged in one room.   4. The encoder management system according to claim 1, further comprising a vacant broadcast receiving apparatus capable of distributing video.   4. The encoder management system according to claim 1, further comprising a vacant broadcast receiving apparatus capable of TS input / output. Used in the encoder management system, based on a predetermined rule, selects one encoder from a plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder,
An encoder control apparatus that reserves recording or viewing of a program for the one encoder. Used in the encoder management system, based on a predetermined rule, selects one encoder from a plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder,
An encoder management method, wherein a recording or viewing of a program is reserved for the one encoder. A computer of an encoder management system having a plurality of broadcast receiving devices including at least one encoder and an encoder control device,
A procedure for selecting one encoder from a plurality of the encoders based on a predetermined rule;
A procedure for causing the one encoder to reserve recording or viewing of a program;
A program characterized by having executed.

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