JP2016167849A - Program information transmitter, program information receiver, and program information transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program information transmitter for receiving digital broadcasting containing program information.MEANS: A program information processing section 411 acquires program information such as a broadcasting schedule and a program title from PES or ES containing broadcasting program information and constructs a program information table. A program table generation section 410 generates an electronic program table for providing a user interface (UI) containing a reservation button enabling video recording of a desired program and reservation of viewing by using broadcasting program information acquired by referencing to the program information processing section 411.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

  As a background art in this technical field, there is JP-T-2007-510330 (Patent Document 1). This publication provides: “A method is provided that allows establishing a connection between a plurality of UpnP compliant resources. Each resource has a separate connection manager service. Having each connection manager service to allow the UpnP control point to use its individual service to negotiate a connection between each established resource. " (See summary).

Special Table 2007-510330

  Patent Document 1 describes a method that enables scheduled recording. However, Patent Document 1 does not describe a method for providing program information of content to be scheduled for recording. Therefore, the present invention provides a program information transmitting apparatus that provides program information via a network.

  In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the program information transmitter which provides program information via a network, or the program information receiver which acquires program information via a network can be provided.

  Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a system. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a program information transmitter. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a program information receiver. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of a program information transmitter. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of a program information receiver. It is a figure which shows an example of apparatus description information. It is a figure which shows an example of the action list | wrist of the detailed information of a service. It is a figure which shows an example of the service status table of the detailed information of a service. It is a figure which shows an example of FeatureList. It is a figure which shows the structural example of EPG information. It is a figure which shows an example of the request | requirement of an "X_EPG_ChannelLineup" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the response of "X_EPG_ChannelLineup" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows the example which described the property definition with the XML document. It is a figure which shows the example which described the property definition with the XML document. It is a figure which shows the example which described the argument Result of the response with the XML document. It is a figure which shows an example of an EPG server search sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of an EPG information acquisition sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of a reservation video recording sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic program guide which the acquisition program guide production | generation part 510 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of a genre large classification value and description content. It is a figure which shows an example of the request | requirement and response of a "reservation video recording object creation request" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the request | requirement and response of a "reservation video recording object creation request" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the input argument of a "reservation video recording object creation request" action request. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a program information receiver. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic program guide which the integrated program guide production | generation application 2610 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the starting process flow of the integrated program schedule production | generation application 2610. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the EPG production | generation processing flow by the integrated program schedule production | generation application 2610. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of an operating device. It is a figure which shows an example of the EPG display processing flow by the integrated program schedule production | generation application 2610. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the state transition table of the integrated program schedule production | generation application 2610. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the request | requirement of an "X_EPG_Program" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic program guide which the integrated program guide production | generation application 2610 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of each program column of the electronic program guide which the integrated program guide production | generation application 2610 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of apparatus description information. It is a figure which shows an example of a recording server search sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of a video recording sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic program guide which the integrated program guide production | generation application 2610 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the request | requirement of a "reservation video recording object creation request" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the request | requirement of a "reservation video recording object creation request" action. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of property information. It is a figure which shows an example of a reservation video recording sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of a reservation video recording sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of the action list of the detailed information of a reservation video recording service. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation recording confirmation screen which an integrated program schedule production | generation application produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation recording confirmation screen which an integrated program schedule production | generation application produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation list which an integrated program schedule production | generation application produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation deletion confirmation screen which an integrated program schedule production | generation application produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation recording confirmation screen which an integrated program schedule production | generation application produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the display processing flow by an integrated program schedule production | generation application. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of a program information transmitter. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of a program information receiver. It is a figure which shows an example of apparatus description information. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic program guide which the Web program guide production | generation part 5311 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of each program column of the electronic program guide which the Web program guide production | generation part 5311 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of the HTML tag which comprises "WebEpg". It is a figure which shows an example of the definition of the HTML tag which comprises "WebEpg". It is a figure which shows an example of a "service search" message. It is a figure which shows an example of the "response" message with respect to a "service search" message.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Further, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.
Example 1

  The present embodiment describes a reservation recording method via a network in which a program information receiving apparatus performs reservation recording setting of a broadcast program to the program information transmitting apparatus using program information acquired from the program information transmitting apparatus via the network. To do.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the system configuration of this embodiment.

  1 is a user's home that receives the broadcast, 2 and 3 are broadcast stations, 4 is an external network, and 5 is a transmission path for transmitting broadcasts sent by the broadcast station 3.

  In this embodiment, the broadcast station 2 and the broadcast station 3 send out broadcasts using different broadcast methods. Here, a case will be described as an example in which the broadcasting station 2 transmits terrestrial digital broadcasting using terrestrial waves, and the broadcasting station 3 transmits digital cable television (CATV) broadcasting via the transmission path 3. The broadcasting systems of the broadcasting station 2 and the broadcasting station 3 may be different from each other, and may be a combination of BS digital broadcasting and CATV broadcasting transmitted by satellite waves.

  The user home 1, the broadcast station 2, and the broadcast station 3 may be connected to the external network 4. When connected to the external network 4, the broadcast stations 2 and 3 can provide content related to broadcast programs using a content server (not shown). The user home 1 can connect to the content server from the external network 4 and use the content provided by the broadcasting stations 2 and 3.

  In user home 1, 11 is a broadcast receiving antenna, 12 and 13 are distributors, 14 is a router, 15 is an access point, 16 is a hub, 110 and 120 are digital broadcast receivers that receive CATV broadcasts sent by the broadcast station 3. , 130, 140, and 150 are digital broadcast receivers that receive terrestrial digital broadcasts transmitted from the broadcast station 2, and 160 is a mobile device. Reference numeral 20 denotes a room boundary line of the user home 1. Here, the lower side of the boundary line 20 is the first floor of the user home 1 and the upper floor is the second floor.

  The broadcast receiving antenna 11 receives the terrestrial digital broadcast transmitted from the broadcast station 2, and the received digital broadcast is distributed to the digital broadcast receiving devices 130, 140, and 150 that can receive the terrestrial digital broadcast via the distributor 12. Here, as an example of a terrestrial digital broadcast receiving apparatus, 130 is a digital television (DTV), 140 is a digital television having a recording function (DTV with a recording function), and 150 is a recorder.

  The CATV broadcast transmitted from the broadcasting station 3 is transmitted to the user's home 1 via the transmission path 5 and distributed to the digital broadcast receiving apparatuses 110 and 120 that can receive the CATV broadcast via the distributor 13. Here, as an example of a CATV broadcast receiving apparatus, 110 is a set top box (STB with a recording function) having a recording function, and 120 is a set top box (STB). The digital broadcast received by the STB 110 with recording function and the STB 120 and the content reproduced by the STB 110 with recording function are output to the DTV 130 and displayed.

  The digital broadcast receiving devices 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 in the user home 1 can be connected to each other via the hub 16. The home network of the user home 1 is constructed by the devices connected to the hub 16, and the router 14. You can also connect to an external network via The mobile device 160 is connected to the hub 16 via the access point 15 and becomes a device constituting a home network. The digital broadcast receivers 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 can be connected to each other via the hub 16 and can also be connected to an external network via the router 14.

  In the system of FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 operates as a program information transmitting apparatus according to the present embodiment, and has an “EPG server function” that provides broadcast program information via a network. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 140 operates as a program information receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG client function” that acquires program information via a network and provides it to a user. Hereinafter, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 is referred to as a program information transmitting apparatus 110, and the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 140 is referred to as a program information receiving apparatus 140.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment.

  The program information transmitting apparatus 110 includes a tuner unit 201, a demodulation / decoding unit 202, a demax unit 203, an audio decoding unit 205, a video decoding unit 206, a data decoding unit 207, a synthesis unit 208, a network connection unit 209, a recording / playback unit 210, and a control. 211, memory 213, input / output unit 214, operation I / F unit 215, limited reception I / F unit 216, limited reception information storage unit 217, antenna connection terminal 221, digital audio signal output terminal 222, digital video signal output terminal 223 , A digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a network terminal 224 and an operation signal receiving unit 226 and receiving a CATV broadcast.

  The CATV broadcast is input from the antenna connection terminal 221 to the tuner 201. The tuner 201 extracts the channel frequency band of the channel to be received, and outputs the extracted channel frequency band to the demodulation and decoding unit 202 as a baseband signal by orthogonal demodulation.

  The demodulation / decoding unit 202 performs synchronous demodulation using, for example, 8PSK (Phase Shift Keying) on the baseband signal, performs error correction such as Viterbi decoding and RS (Reed-Solomon) decoding, and decodes the digital broadcast signal. And output to the demux unit 203.

  Here, as a digital broadcast signal, a case will be described in which MPEG2-TS compressed and encoded by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method and multiplexed by the TS (Transport Stream) method is described.

  The demux unit 203 separates and extracts audio signals, video signals, captions, and data broadcast signals used in the subsequent stage from the multiplexed MPEG2-TS. Then, the key information held in the limited reception information storage unit 217 is acquired via the limited reception I / F unit 217, and the scramble applied to the MPEG2-TS for copyright protection is obtained using this information. The PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) or ES (Elementary Stream), which is a video signal, audio signal, or subtitle signal stream that constitutes a content such as a broadcast program, data broadcasting, or the like is output.

  The audio decoding unit 205 decodes the PES or ES of the audio signal separated and extracted by the demux unit 203 and outputs the decoded PES or ES to the digital audio signal output terminal 222. The video decoding unit 206 decodes the PES or ES of the video signal separated and extracted by the demax unit 203 and outputs the decoded PES or ES to the synthesis unit 208. The data decoding unit 207 decodes the subtitles and data broadcast signals separated / extracted by the demax unit 203 and outputs them to the synthesis unit 208. The combining unit 208 combines the signals input from the video decoding unit 206 and the data decoding unit 207 to form a display screen, and outputs the display screen to the digital video signal output terminal 223.

  The network connection unit 209 includes a communication processing unit and a transmission content protection unit, and transmits / receives data and content to / from other devices connected to the hub 16 via the network terminal 224 and servers outside the home connected to the network 3. . The communication processing unit interprets communication protocols and performs communication data flow control. The transmission content protection unit performs device authentication processing according to copyright protection imposed on the content, performs encryption processing of content output to the network, and decryption processing of content received from the network.

  The recording / playback unit 210 includes a recording medium and an encryption / decryption processing unit. The recording / playback unit 210 includes a recording process for writing content such as a received broadcast program or content acquired via a network to the recording medium, and reading and outputting the recorded content from the recording medium. Responsible for playback processing and recorded content deletion processing. Further, when the content is recorded on the recording medium, an appropriate encryption process is performed by the encryption / decryption processing unit. When the content is read from the recording medium, the encryption applied at the time of recording is decrypted and output. The recording medium includes a removable recording medium such as a hard disk, a removable recording medium such as an optical disk, a removable hard disk, or a memory card, or both. Moreover, you may provide several types of recording media like a hard disk, an optical disk, and a memory card.

  The control unit 211 performs an OS (Operating System) and application execution process, and causes the program information transmission apparatus 110 to function.

  The memory 213 includes a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile memory stores software for operating the program information transmitting apparatus 110 such as an OS or an application. The volatile memory temporarily stores data necessary for software operation.

  The operation I / F unit 215 receives an input signal from the operation device 230 via the operation signal reception unit 226 and outputs the input signal to the control unit 211. The operation device 230 is, for example, a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or the like. The operation signal receiving unit 226 may receive an input signal from the operation device 230 wirelessly using infrared rays or the like, or may receive the input signal by connecting the operation device 230 via a connection terminal.

  A system bus 227 is a data bus connected to the components of the program information transmitting apparatus 110. It is used for communication of control signals and data signals between each component.

  The limited reception I / F unit 216 is an interface for connecting the limited reception information storage unit 217. The limited reception information storage unit 217 holds key information for releasing scramble.

  The digital audio signal output terminal 222 and the digital video signal output terminal 223 are uncompressed digital audio signals for an external television or the like in order to view contents such as broadcast programs received by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and recorded broadcast programs. An output terminal for outputting a digital video signal. The digital audio signal output terminal 222 and the digital video signal output terminal 223 may be output from physically separated connectors, or may be mounted so as to be output from one connector using a connector having a plurality of output terminals. May be. Further, a control signal output terminal may be assigned to the connector, and a display device control signal for controlling an externally connected display device such as a display may be output.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the program information receiving apparatus 140 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.

  In addition to the configuration of the program information transmitting device 110, the program information receiving device 140 includes an audio output unit 301, a video display unit 302, an audio input switching unit 303, a video input switching unit 304, a digital audio signal input terminal 305, and a digital video signal input terminal. 306.

  The audio signal decoded by the audio decoding unit 205 is output to the digital audio signal output terminal 222 and the audio input switching unit 303.

  The video signal output from the combining unit 306 is output to the digital video signal output terminal 223 and the video input switching unit 304.

  A digital audio signal input terminal 305 and a digital video signal input terminal 306 are terminals for inputting an external audio signal and video signal. The input signal is output to the audio output unit 301 and the video display unit 302 via the audio input switching unit 303 and the video input switching unit 304.

  The audio input switching unit 303 and the video input switching unit 304 are configured to switch between outputting an externally input signal or an internally generated signal to the audio output unit 310 and the video display unit 302. 211.

  The digital audio signal output terminal 222 and the digital video signal output terminal 223 may be output from physically separated connectors, or may be output from one connector using a connector having a plurality of output terminals. May be implemented. Further, a control signal output terminal may be assigned to the connector, and a display device control signal for controlling an externally connected display device such as a display may be output.

  Also, the digital audio signal input terminal 305 and the digital video signal input terminal 306 may be output from physically separated connectors, or may be output from one connector using a connector having a plurality of output terminals. May be implemented. Further, a control signal input terminal may be assigned to the connector, and a display device control signal for controlling the program information receiving apparatus 140 as a display device may be input. The control unit 211 decrypts the encryption for copyright protection based on the input control signal, determines the number of gradations of the input video signal, and determines whether the video is 2D video or 3D (stereoscopic) video. Judgment and control the display and sound to be output.

  4 is a diagram showing a software configuration example of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 shown in FIG.

  The control software 400 that realizes the function of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is expanded in the memory 213 of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and executed by the control unit 211.

  The control software 400 includes a program guide generator 410, a program information processor 411, a program information converter 412, a content manager 413, a reservation manager 414, a network communication processor 420, a message analyzer 421, a message generator 422, and media distribution. The service 423, the device information service 424, the content directory service 425, the program information providing unit 426, the content information providing unit 427, the streaming connection service 428, the reserved recording service 429, and the application management unit 450 are configured.

  The application management unit 450 has a relationship such as control and data reference with almost all software blocks constituting the control software 400. However, since the figure becomes complicated, relationship lines for other software blocks are omitted.

  The program guide generation unit 410 uses the broadcast program information acquired with reference to the program information processing unit 411 to browse the information of the program scheduled to be broadcast by the user, select a desired program, select a channel, or select a desired program An electronic program guide providing a user interface (UI) that enables recording and viewing reservations of the programs is generated.

  The program information processing unit 411 obtains program information such as a broadcast schedule and a program title from a PES or ES including information of a broadcast program separated and extracted by the demax unit 203, forms a program information table, and stores the memory 213 or Recording is performed in the recording / reproducing unit 210.

  The program information processing unit 411 acquires broadcast station program information that can be received by the receiving device. When the obtained program information is changed or new program information is acquired, the program information table is updated each time. The program information is inserted into, for example, MPEG-TS program specific information (PSI: Program Specific Information) or program arrangement information (SI: Service Information).

  The program information conversion unit 412 converts the program information from a format used in digital broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as a broadcast format) to a format used in network transmission (hereinafter referred to as a network format), and converts it into a network format program table. Data is recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / reproducing unit 210. The network format program guide data is updated in synchronization with the update of the program information table. In addition, the program information conversion unit 412 extracts program information that satisfies the inquiry condition in response to an inquiry from the program information service 426, and outputs the program information in a network format.

  When the content management unit 413 records content in the recording / playback unit 210, the content management unit 413 generates content information of the content and records the content information in the memory 213 or the recording / playback unit 210. The content information is, for example, program information such as an identifier (content ID) that uniquely defines the content, file name, size, content type, data format, recording date and time, title name, genre, and copy control information. Here, the content type indicates video, audio, image, and the like, and the data format indicates a content encoding system such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) or MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3). The content information is acquired from the program information processing unit 411 when the content to be recorded is a broadcast program, and is acquired from the content transmission source when the content is acquired via a network. Also, it associates content with content information, updates content information when content is deleted or moved, and manages the number of copies for content with a limited number of copies. Also, a UI for presenting a list of contents recorded based on the content information is generated and presented to the user. Further, according to the user's instruction, the content selected by the user is reproduced, and the process of copying or moving is performed.

  The reservation management unit 414 receives reservations for recording and viewing set by the user by operating an electronic program guide and the like, and reservations for recording designated from the reservation recording service 429, and manages reservation information. The reservation information is recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / reproducing unit 210. Further, the start time of the reserved program is monitored, and the channel received by the channel unit 201 is appropriately set. In the case of recording reservation, the stream constituting the content such as a broadcast program is transmitted from the demax unit 203 to the recording / reproducing unit 210. Setting processing when executing a reservation is also performed, such as setting to be output to.

  The network communication processing unit 420 processes communication data in accordance with a communication protocol when content and control messages are transmitted / received to / from other devices connected via a network.

  The message analysis unit 421 interprets a message such as a control request generated according to a predetermined format transmitted / received between devices on the network, and distributes the request to a service that processes the requested control.

  A service is a function that a device provides to another device, and the other device can use a service provided by the device by remote operation via a network. In FIG. 4, the media distribution service 423, the device information service 424, the content directory service 425, the streaming connection service 428, and the reserved recording service 429 correspond to this.

  The message generation unit 422 outputs a response to a control request from another device output by various services or a control request to another device according to a predetermined format used between devices on the network. Generate with The generated message is created, for example, in a format as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, and is transmitted to another device via the network communication processing unit 420 with an appropriate communication protocol.

  The media distribution service 423 provides a service for sending designated content to other devices via the home network or the public network 4. The media distribution service 423 outputs content such as a broadcast program received by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and a broadcast program recorded in the recording / playback unit 210 to the network communication processing unit 420 in accordance with a request from another device. It also provides an interface for controlling the distribution of contents such as start, stop, pause, and skip distribution via the network. In addition, information on the corresponding transfer protocol is recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / reproducing unit 210. The transfer protocol is HTTP GET, RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), or the like.

  The device information service 424 provides other device with device description information describing its own device, service detailed information describing details of a service provided by its own device, and the like. In addition, when its own device connects to the network, leaves the home network when it leaves the network, or responds to device searches from other devices. Device description information and detailed service information will be described later.

  The content directory service 425 provides metadata information such as the title and genre of content for all content that the program information transmitting apparatus 110 can provide to other devices. The content directory service 425 collects metadata information from the content information providing unit 427 for content recorded in the recording / playback unit 210 and from the program information providing unit 426 for broadcast EPG information.

  The program information providing unit 426 refers to the program information converting unit 412 and provides organized channel list information, designated channel program list information, information on each program, and the like according to a request from the content directory service 425.

  In response to a request from the content directory service 425, the content information providing unit 427 refers to the content information created by the content management unit 413, and provides recorded program list information, detailed information on the designated recorded program, and the like.

  The streaming connection service 428 provides information on the transfer protocol, content type, and data format supported by the distribution service 423. The transfer protocol is acquired from the media distribution service 423, and the content type and data format are acquired with reference to the content information created by the content management unit 413.

  The reservation recording service 429 sets registration or deletion of reservation recordings via the network in the reservation management unit 414, acquires list information of reserved recordings, and the like from the reservation management unit 414 and provides them.

  The application management unit 450 manages the operation of each software operating on the program information receiving device 140. The application management unit 450 performs control such as starting a predetermined application when receiving an input of a signal indicating pressing of a predetermined operation button from the operation device 230.

  FIG. 5 is a software configuration diagram of the program information receiving apparatus 140 shown in FIG. 3. Control software 500 that realizes the functions of the program information receiving apparatus 140 is expanded in the memory 213 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 and executed by the control unit 211. Is done.

  The control software 500 includes a program guide generation unit 410, a program information processing unit 411, a content management unit 413, a network communication processing unit 420, a message analysis unit 421, a message generation unit 422, a device information service 424, a network reservation recording application 501, and an acquired program. Table generation unit 510, reservation setting management unit 514, media reception controller 523, content directory controller 525, program information acquisition unit 526, content information acquisition unit 527, streaming connection controller 528, reservation recording setting controller 529, device detection unit 530, application The management unit 450 is configured.

  In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 indicate the same or corresponding parts, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The network reservation recording application 501 is an application that provides a user with a reservation recording function via a network that makes a recording reservation to other devices on the home network. The network reservation recording application 501 controls the device detection unit 530, the content directory controller 525, the reservation recording setting controller 529, etc., searches for other devices on the home network, acquires program information from the devices, and performs reservation recording. Set. Details of the processing of the scheduled recording function via the network will be described later.

  Note that the application management unit 450 and the network reservation recording application 501 have a relationship such as control and data reference with almost all software blocks constituting the control software 500, but the relationship with other software blocks because the figure becomes complicated. Lines are omitted.

  The acquired program guide generation unit 510 refers to the program information acquisition unit 526 to generate an electronic program guide for broadcasts acquired from other devices. As a result, a user interface (UI) is provided that enables a user to select a broadcast program received by another device and select a channel, or record a desired program or reserve a viewing.

  The reservation setting management unit 514 holds and manages information on the reservation recording settings set for other devices via the reservation recording setting controller 529.

  The media reception controller 523 receives the content transmitted via the home network or the public network 4 and records it in the recording / reproducing unit 210 or outputs it to the demax unit 203. In addition, a command for controlling distribution of content such as start, stop, pause, or skip of distribution is sent to the content distribution source by a user operation. In addition, information on the corresponding transfer protocol is recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / reproducing unit 210.

  The content directory controller 525 requests and acquires metadata information such as the title and genre of the content according to an instruction from the network reservation recording application 501 or the like. When EPG metadata information is acquired, it is output to the program number information acquisition unit 526, and when metadata information of other contents such as video, audio, and images is acquired, it is output to the content information acquisition unit 527.

  The program information acquisition unit 526 records program guide data acquired from other devices in the memory 213 or the recording / playback unit 210. At this time, the program information providing device is recorded in association with a network ID for uniquely identifying on the home network. Also, the program information is output to the acquired program guide generation unit 510 in response to the reference request.

  The content information acquisition unit 527 stores the metadata information of the content acquired by the content directory controller 525, and generates a UI screen that provides the user with information on the content that can be acquired via the network.

  The streaming connection controller 528 requests the transfer protocol, content type, and data format information from other devices.

  The reserved recording setting controller 529 requests other devices to register or delete reserved recordings, list information of reserved recordings, and the like.

  When the device detection unit 530 detects a connection or disconnection notification of another device to the network and detects the connection of the device to be controlled, the device detection unit 530 acquires device description information and service detailed information of the device, and The data is recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / reproducing unit 210 in a format that can be referred to by an ID, a device type, or the like. Further, as connection state management information, connection state information indicating the connection state, update time information (a value indicating the date of connection or disconnection), and the like are recorded in a format that can be referred to by a network ID that identifies the device. Further, a device search request for searching for a desired control target device on the home network is transmitted as necessary. When a disconnection notification is detected, the connection state is updated to a value indicating disconnection, and the update time information is updated to the time when the disconnection notification is detected. The device description information and the service detailed information of the detached device may be deleted when the separation is detected, or may be deleted after a predetermined time (24 hours or the like) has elapsed since the departure.

  Here, details of the device description information provided by the device information service 424 will be described. The device description information includes information such as device information and a service information list.

  The device information describes basic information about the device, and includes information such as device type, device name, manufacturer name, model name, serial number, network ID, version, and icon information.

  The device type indicates a function that the device provides to the network. For example, a device having a function of distributing content such as video, audio, and EPG information is defined as a media server (MediaServer), and a device having a function of receiving and playing content via a network is defined as a media renderer (MediaRenderer). To do.

  The network ID is an ID for uniquely identifying a device on the home network and is held in the nonvolatile memory of the memory 213.

  The service information list is list information of services provided to the network according to the device type implemented by the device. Each service includes a service type, a service ID, a service description URL (Uniform Resource Locator), a control URL, an event URL, and the like.

  When the device type is a media server (MediaServer), services such as a content directory service (ContentDirectoryService), a streaming connection service (ConnectionManagerService), and a scheduled recording service (ScheduledRecordingService) are provided.

  The service type indicates the function of each service, and the content directory described above corresponds to this. The service ID is an ID that uniquely identifies the service within the range of the device description information. The service description URL is an access destination for acquiring detailed service information describing details of a control method (action) for using control provided by the service. The control URL is a transmission destination of an action command for performing control using a service. The event URL is a registration destination to which event distribution registration is transmitted in order to receive notification when an event occurs in the service.

  The service detailed information has information such as an action list and a service status table. The action list is a list including information on one or more actions. An action is a description of the control method for using the control provided by the service. The action name and argument list that is the list information that defines the argument name, argument input / output direction, type definition name for each argument, etc. With information. The service state table is a table including one or more state variable information. The state variable information includes information such as a type definition name of an argument used for an action, a data type of an argument such as string and ui4, a default value, a list of settable values, and a range of settable values as necessary.

  FIG. 6 is an example of device description information of the program information transmitting apparatus 110. In this embodiment, the device description information 600 has an additional function list 630 in addition to the device information 610 and the service information list 620, and the device defined by the device type 611 provides the additional function.

  In FIG. 6, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is defined by the description 611 in the device information 610 that the device type is “MediaServer”. The service information list 620 describes service information for each service provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  In this embodiment, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides services 621 and 622. The service 621 indicates that the service type 625 is “ContentDirectory”, and the “ContentDirectoryURL” described in the service description URL 626 can be accessed to obtain service detailed information.

  “CDControlURL” described in the control URL 627 indicates a transmission destination of the action request.

  The additional function list 630 describes an additional function added to the basic function of the device defined by the device type 611 as an additional function type. “EpgServer” 631 indicates that the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides an EPG server function for providing broadcast program information. “EpgDirectScheduledRecorder” 632 indicates that an Epg direct scheduled recording function capable of setting scheduled recording of a program to be performed via the network using an ID property of a program item provided by the EPG server is provided.

  In this way, by adding the additional function list 630 to the device description information 600, the other device is a media server to which the program information transmitting apparatus 110 distributes content only by acquiring the device description information 600. It can be known that the EPG server function and the Epg direct reserved recording function are provided to other devices on the network as functions. Here, a method for realizing the EPG server function in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 will be described. The EPG server function is provided by the content directory service 425. The content directory service 425 provides content metadata distributed to the network by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 to a device receiving the service, and provides a control method (action) of the provided metadata as service detailed information.

  Examples of content distributed to the network include AV content such as broadcast programs and photos recorded in the recording / playback unit 210, information content such as program information and tuner information, and the like. The metadata is property information related to the content such as the title, genre, and copy control information of the content.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the action list of the service detailed information of the content directory service 425. As shown in the figure, an action name and an argument list are set for each action. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, and 770 denote the actions. The action name of the action 710 is 711, and the argument list is 712. The argument list lists information for one or more arguments.

  FIG. 7 shows information of one argument per line. A column 791 indicates an argument name, a column 792 indicates an input / output direction (IN or OUT), and a column 793 indicates a type definition name. Detailed information on the type (status variable) indicated by the type definition name is described in the service status table of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a service status table of service detailed information of the content directory service 425. In FIG. 8, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860 are detailed information of the state variables. The detailed information of the state variable includes a state variable name 831, a data type 832, and a permitted value list 833 including one or more value definitions (permitted values) 834 and 835 that can be set as necessary.

  An apparatus using the content directory service 425 can acquire detailed information such as the data type name of the argument by referring to the service state table using the type definition name of the action argument. As an example, the type definition name of the argument “BrowseFlag” of “Browse” of the action 720 is “A_ARG_TYPE_BrowseFlag”. When the type definition name is A_ARG_TYPE_BrowseFlag, this apparatus refers to the service state table (FIG. 8), and the argument data type is string from the state variable detailed information 830 with the matching name, and the settable value is “BrowseMetadata”. , “BrowseDirectChildren”.

  The action request message and the response message are encapsulated in a SOAP message using, for example, the HTTP protocol and transmitted. At this time, the action name and input / output arguments are described in the SOAP body in an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. The destination of the action request is described as a control URL 627 for each service in the service information list 620 of the device description information 600.

  Hereinafter, the action 710 related to the transmission of the program information according to the present embodiment among the actions shown in FIG. 7 will be described.

  GetFeatureList 711 is an action for providing information such as the name of information content that can be provided when the content directory service 425 provides information content in addition to AV content. FIG. 9 is an example of a FeatureList transmitted as a response message from the content directory service 425 in response to an action request for the action GetFeatureList.

  Reference numeral 910 denotes an XML document describing the FeatureList. 920 is an XML header. As shown at 930, a list of information of information content provided by the content directory service 425 is described by a <Features> tag. Information of each information content is described by <Feature> tags as indicated by 931 and 932. The name attribute of the <Feature> tag indicates the name of the information content. “EPG” indicates that program information is provided, and “TUNER” indicates that tuner information is provided. In the <objectIDs> tag, an ID for specifying the information content specified by the name attribute is described. When providing a plurality of information contents, IDs are enumerated by separating them with “, (comma)” as shown at 932.

  The object ID of “EPG” corresponds to the @id property (FIG. 12) of the EPG container that is the root container of the program information to be provided. The EPG container is provided in units of broadcasting systems such as CATV broadcasting, digital terrestrial broadcasting, and BS broadcasting. By providing each broadcast system, a device having an EPG client function can easily search for a device that provides an EPG of a desired broadcast system even when there are a plurality of devices having an EPG server function on the network. The EPG container is a container that holds information on the broadcasting system.

  Here, an overall configuration example of program information provided by the EPG server function will be described with reference to FIG. An EPG container (epg container) 1001 is a top-level root container of program information, and holds information on a broadcasting system. The EPG container 1001 has as many channel containers as the number of organized channels provided in this broadcasting system. In the channel container, a video channel container (epgVideoChannel container) 1010 and 1020 indicating video broadcasting such as television broadcasting, and an audio channel container (epgAudioChannel container) 1030 indicating audio broadcasting such as radio broadcasting are defined. Further, the channel container has a program item that provides information on a program broadcast on the channel. The program items define EPG video program items (video program items) 1011, 1012, 1013, 1021, 1022, and 1023 indicating video programs, and EPG audio program items (audio program items) 1031 and 1032 indicating audio programs. In this embodiment, the EPG container, channel container, and program item are collectively referred to as an EPG object.

  Details of property information defined in each container and item are shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15. FIG. The property defined here is used for an EPG object which is program information in a network format. The program information conversion unit 412 converts the program information using the broadcast format program information used in digital broadcasting and generates the program information.

  FIG. 12 shows properties that are commonly defined for containers and items that provide program information. “@” Indicates that this property is attribute information. Hereinafter, when “attribute id” is described, it represents “@id” in FIG. Similarly, when “attribute parentID” is described, it is “@restricted” in FIG. 12, and when “attribute restricted” is described, it indicates “@restricted” in FIG. In the program item, the attribute id is identification information for uniquely specifying the program described in the program item. The attribute parentID indicates the attribute id of the channel container having the program item. FIG. 13 shows an EPG container, FIGS. 14A to 14B show video channel containers, and FIGS. 15A to 15H show property information of EPG video program items. The property information of the audio channel container is omitted because the property of the video channel container in FIG. 14 is different from the value of the “catv: class” property.

  In the audio channel container, “object.container.epgContainer.epgAudioChannel” is described as a single-byte character string. The property information of the EPG audio program item is omitted because the property of the EPG video program item in FIG. 15 is different from the value of the “upnp: class” property. In an EPG audio program item, “object.item.epgItem.audioProgram” is described as a single-byte character string.

  FIG. 16 shows a case where the property definition is described in an XML document, taking an EPG container as an example. Reference numeral 1610 denotes an EPG container XML document. Since the EPG container is a container object, it is enclosed in <container> </ container> tags as shown in 1611 and 1615. Then, as indicated by a dotted line 1620, property information of the EPG container defined in FIG. 13 is listed in a <container> </ container> tag. As shown in the figure, each property name is described as an XML tag.

  The id of 1162, the parent ID of 1163, and the restricted of 1164 are attribute information common to the containers and items defined in FIG. In the EPG container, id (attribute id) 1162 describes a network_id (network identification) value included in the NIT as an identifier for uniquely identifying a broadcasting system that provides the EPG. In parentID (attribute parentID), the attribute ID of the parent container is described. In the case of the highest level container (root container), “−1” is described. In the example of FIG. 16, the attribute id of the upper container of the EPG container is described as “epgTop”, assuming a system that can provide EPGs of a plurality of broadcasting systems. “restricted” (attribute “restricted”) 1164 describes whether or not the object can be changed. EPG information is basically information that can be obtained from program identification information (PSI) or program arrangement information (SI) included in a received broadcast PES or ES and cannot be changed. Therefore, “1” indicating that the change is not permitted is specified for the EPG object.

  The program identification information (PSI) includes a network information table (NIT) that describes transmission path information and the like, and the program arrangement information (SI) includes information on services (organization channels) such as broadcasting stations. Service description table (SDT: Service Description Table) describing the program, broadcast time of the program used in the electronic program guide, program name (event name), event information describing information about the program such as program description explaining the contents of the program There is a table (EIT: Event Information Table).

  Other container objects such as video channel containers have the same configuration. The <container> </ container> tag becomes the <item> </ item> tag. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

  In the video channel container, the attribute id describes a service_id (service identification) value included in the SDT as an identifier for uniquely identifying the organization channel. The attribute parentID describes the attribute id of the parent container, that is, the EPG container of the broadcasting system that provides the organization channel. Referring to FIG. 10, in the attribute parentID of the video channel container 1010, the attribute id of the EPG container 1001 is described.

  In the EPG video program item, the attribute id describes an event_id (event identification) value included in the EIT as an identifier for uniquely identifying the program. The attribute parentID describes the attribute id of the parent container, that is, the channel container of the channel that provides the program. 10, the attribute id of the EPG video program item 1011, 1012, 1013 describes the attribute id of the video channel container 1010.

  A container can include one or more containers or items.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of an XML document when the EPG container includes a channel container and program items. In the figure, a solid line indicates a container or item, and a broken line enumerates property information of the container or item property information. A container or item has one or more property information.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1710 denotes an EPG container 1001, which includes a plurality of channel containers 1712, 1718 and the like. Further, the channel container 1712 includes a plurality of program items 1714, 1716, and the like. In this way, the hierarchical structure of program information can be represented by an XML document.

  In FIG. 7, 740, 750, 760, and 770 are actions defined to provide program information as an EPG server function. Details of each action are described below.

  X_EPG_ChannelLineup 741 of 740 is an action that returns list information of the organization channels provided by the broadcasting system. For the input argument ObjectID, the identifier of the EPG container acquired by the “GetFeatureList” action is designated.

  FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show an example of a request message and a response message of the “X_EPG_ChannelLineup” action. FIG. 11A shows the request message “Request”, and FIG. 11B shows the response message “Response”.

  1101 is an argument objectID given to the request message. In this example, the identifier “catvEPG” 931 of the EPG container acquired by the “GetFeatureList” action is designated. Reference numeral 1110 denotes an XML document describing a Result obtained by the request message. Reference numeral 1120 denotes an XML header. Reference numerals 1130, 1140, and 1150 denote channel containers. One channel container is expressed by enclosing it in <container> </ container> tags, and is listed by the number of organized channels provided by the broadcasting system.

  The container id attribute is an identifier that uniquely identifies the container. The parentID attribute is an identifier that identifies the parent container of this container. That is, it shows a broadcasting system that provides this channel. The <restricted> attribute indicates whether the object can be changed. Here, “1” indicating that the program information acquisition side is not allowed to change is designated. If it is permitted to change, “0” is specified. X_EPG_Program 751 returns information of a broadcast program provided in the broadcast system. When a broadcast system ID is specified as the input argument ObjectID, a list of information on all programs provided by the broadcast system is returned. When a channel ID is specified, a list of information on all programs provided on the channel is returned.

  The broadcast system ID is “catvEPG” (description of the objectIDs tag in FIGS. 9 and 931) acquired by the “GetFeatureList” action, and the channel ID is “ch-001” (FIG. 11) acquired by the “X_EPG_ChannelLineup” action. (B) 1130 container tag id attribute 1132).

  In the input argument TermCriteria, a filtering condition of program information to be acquired is input. For example, when it is desired to acquire program information of a program including soccer in the program name, it is described as “dc: title contents“ soccer ””. When the input argument TermCriteria is not specified, information on all programs provided by the object specified by the input argument ObjectID is returned.

  FIG. 18 is an example of an XML document describing a Result obtained by a response message to the “X_EPG_Program” action. FIG. 18 shows an example in which the channel ID “ch-001” is designated as the input argument ObjectID. In the figure, solid lines indicate items as in FIG. 17, and broken lines indicate item property information. An item has one or more property information.

  Reference numeral 1820 denotes an XML header. As shown in the figure, in the response message to the “X_EPG_Program” action, a program item that is broadcast program information provided by the channel ID “ch-001” specified by the input argument ObjectID is represented by an <Item> tag. Enumerate. Reference numerals 1831, 1833, and 1835 are program items.

  The attribute id of the <Item> tag is an ID that uniquely identifies the item. The attribute parentID is the ID of the parent container. That is, it indicates that this program is provided on the channel “ch-001”. The <restricted> attribute indicates whether the object can be changed. Here, “1” indicating that the program information acquisition side is not allowed to change is designated.

  Program items 1831, 1833, and 1835 have respective property information as indicated by 1832, 1834, and 1836. The <dc: title> tag 1832 is the event name (program title) of the program as described with reference to FIG. The <upnp: class> tag defines the classification of an object, in this example, the classification of a program item, as described with reference to FIG. object.item. epgItem. The videoProgram indicates that this item is an EPG video program item. Property information listed in 1832 is an example of program item property information, and not all. Further, although no specific example is given in 1834 and 1836, the configuration is the same as 1832.

  X_EPG_CurrentNextProgram 761 returns information on a program that is currently being broadcast and a broadcast program of a program that is scheduled to be broadcast next. When the broadcast system ID is specified as the input argument ObjectID, for all channels provided by the broadcast system, when the channel ID is specified, a list of broadcast program property information of the current and next programs is displayed for that channel. return. The response message has the same format as that of FIG. 18 except that the program item included in the output argument Result is composed of the current broadcast program and the next broadcast-scheduled program.

  X_EPG_KeywordSearchProgram 771 returns property information of a program that satisfies a keyword. When the broadcast system ID is specified as the input argument ObjectID, for all the channels provided by the broadcast system, when the channel ID is specified, a list of property information of all broadcast programs of the program satisfying the keyword for the channel is specified. return. The response message has the same format as that in FIG. 18 except that the program item included in the output argument Result is composed of a program that satisfies the keyword.

  The input / output arguments of actions 740, 750, 760, and 770 are examples. For example, an argument for limiting the number of <container> or <item> included in the response may be added as an input argument in order to limit the data amount of the response.

  As described above, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 implements an EPG server function by providing an action for returning program information by the content directory service 425.

  Next, a procedure in which the program information receiving apparatus 140 searches for the program information transmitting apparatus 110 connected to the network and sets the reserved recording in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 via the network will be described.

  FIG. 19 shows a procedure in which the program information receiving apparatus 140 searches for the program information transmitting apparatus 110 on the network and acquires EPG server information. The search process in the program information receiving apparatus 140 is executed as an EPG server search sequence of the network reservation recording application 501.

  S1910: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving device 140 provides an EPG server function to search for an EPG server on the network via the message generation unit 422 and the network communication processing unit 420 according to the instruction of the network reservation recording application 501. A “device search” message for searching for a MediaServer (DMS) to be transmitted is transmitted to all devices constituting the home network.

  S 1911: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the “device search” message for searching for a DMS processes the message with the device information service 424. Since the device type of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is MediaServer, the apparatus information service 424 generates a message including a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) indicating the acquisition destination of its own apparatus description information, and responds to the program information receiving apparatus 140. .

  S 1912: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving device 140 that has received the response accesses the URI included in the response message, and transmits a “device information request” message requesting device description information to the program information transmitting device 110.

  S 1913: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the “device information request” message to the URI where the device description information is acquired processes the message in the device information service 424. Then, a message including the device description information shown in FIG. 6 is generated and responded to the program information receiving apparatus 140. The device description information is described in the response message in a format such as XML.

  S1914: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 that has received the response interprets the response message, and the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the content directory service 425 (ContentDirectoryService), the scheduled recording service 429 (ScheduledRecordingService), and the like. , Access the service description URL of each service, and transmit a “service information request” message requesting detailed information of the service to the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  S 1915: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the “service information request” message for the service description URLs of the content directory service 425 and the scheduled recording service 429 processes the messages with the device information service 424. Then, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a response message is generated using the detailed information of the service including the action list and the service state table, and the response is made to the program information receiving apparatus 140.

  S 1916: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 that has received the response passes the service detailed information of the content directory service to the content directory controller 525. The service detail information of the scheduled recording service is transferred to the scheduled recording setting controller 529. Each controller interprets the detailed service information and recognizes the action provided by each service. Then, the content directory controller 525 transmits a FeatureList action to confirm whether the content directory service of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides EPG according to the instruction of the network reservation recording application 501.

  S1917: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the FeatureList action processes the message with the content directory service 425. Then, a message for returning information content list information provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 as shown in FIG. 9 is generated and responded to the program information receiving apparatus 140. The content directory controller 525 that has received the response message provides the program information transmission apparatus 110 because the <Features> 931 and 932 included in the <Features> tag 930 include “EPG” in the name attribute. The ID for acquiring the EPG is obtained from the <objectIDs> tag (931). The network reservation recording application 501 stores EPG server information such as device description information of the searched EPG server (program information transmission device) 110, detailed service information, and information content list information acquired by the FeatureList action. It is stored in the memory 213 in a format that can be referred to by a network ID or the like.

  When there is a response from a plurality of program information transmitting apparatuses in response to the “device search” message in S1910, the EPG of the EPG server (program information transmitting apparatus) is performed by performing the sequence from S1912 to S1917 for each program information transmitting apparatus. Server information is acquired and stored in the memory 213. Further, the number of discovered EPG servers is also stored in the memory 213.

  With the above procedure, the program information receiving device 140 searches for the program information transmitting device 110. The search procedure may be executed when the program information receiving apparatus 140 is connected to the network or when the user requests a search for an EPG server on the network. Regardless of the user's request, when searching when connected to the network, there is an advantage that the search result can be presented without waiting for the user when requested by the user.

  FIG. 20 shows a procedure in which the program information receiving apparatus 140 acquires EPG information from the program information transmitting apparatus 110 on the network. The EPG information acquisition process in the program information receiving apparatus 140 is executed by the network reservation recording application 501 as an EPG information acquisition sequence.

  S2010: The content directory controller 525 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits an X_EPG_ChannelLineup action to acquire list information of the EPG organization channels provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the instruction of the network reservation recording application 501. At this time, <objectIDs> of an element whose <Features> name attribute is “EPG” included in the information content list information acquired in S1917 of FIG. 19 is used as the input argument ObjectID. The action message is transmitted via the message generation unit 422 and the network communication processing unit 420. An example of the action message is shown in FIG.

  S2011: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the X_EPG_ChannelLineup action processes the message with the content directory service 425. Then, a response message as shown in FIG. 11B is generated and responded to the program information receiving apparatus 140. The content directory controller 525 that has received the response message obtains information such as the number of EPG organization channels to be provided, the type of broadcast of a television broadcast channel or a radio broadcast channel, and the ID of the organization channel from the response message.

  S2012: The content directory controller 525 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits an X_EPG_Program action in order to acquire program information provided in each organized channel in accordance with an instruction from the network reservation recording application 501. At this time, the channel container id attribute (1132 in FIG. 11B), which is the ID of the organization channel acquired in S2011, is used as the input argument ObjectID.

  S2013: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the X_EPG_Program action processes the message in the content directory service 425. Then, a response message as shown in FIG. 18 is generated and responded to the program information receiving apparatus 140. The content directory controller 525 that has received the response message obtains information such as the title (event name) and genre of each program and an ID for identifying the program from the response message.

  The network reservation recording application 501 repeats the processes of S1712, S1713 for all the organized channels provided by the EPG server, acquires program information of all programs provided by the EPG server, and records them in the memory 213 or the recording / playback unit 210. Using the program information acquired by the above procedure, the acquired program guide generation unit 510 generates a program guide. The network reservation recording application 501 presents the generated program guide to the user and selects a program to be reserved for recording.

  When the information content list information acquired in S1917 includes a plurality of EPG IDs, the sequence of FIG. 20 is repeated in order to acquire information on all the EPGs. FIG. 22 is an example of an electronic program guide generated by the acquired program guide generator 510. The electronic program table 2200 includes a broadcast type column 2210, a broadcast system column 2211, a program table providing apparatus column 2212, a broadcast date column 2213, a channel column 2216, time columns 2217 and 2218, and a program column 2219.

  The broadcast type column 2210 is a column for displaying a broadcast type such as a television broadcast or a radio broadcast. Whether it is a television broadcast or a radio broadcast can be determined by the catv: class property of the channel container. In the case of a television broadcast, “object.container.epgContainer.epgVideoChannel” is set, and in the case of a radio broadcast, “object.container.epgContainer.epgAudioChannel” is set.

  In this embodiment, the screen configuration is such that the display is separated when both the television broadcast and the radio broadcast exist. The user switches between displaying a television broadcast electronic program guide or a radio broadcast electronic program guide with a broadcast switching button assigned to the remote controller. The broadcast type column 2210 shows a state where an electronic program guide for television is selected. In this way, display is performed so that it can be visually determined which is selected. If there is only one of them, only that broadcast type is displayed.

  The broadcast system column 2211 represents the name of the broadcast system of the displayed electronic program guide, such as cable television or terrestrial digital broadcast. The name of the broadcasting system is acquired from the dc: title property of the EPG container. 2211 is an example when only the program information of one broadcasting system is acquired. When the program information for a plurality of broadcast systems is acquired, similarly to the broadcast type column 2210, the user can select a broadcast system and switch the display.

  The program guide providing apparatus column 2212 is the name of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provided the program information. As the name of the program information transmitting apparatus 110, for example, the name of the device included in the device information 610 of the device description information 600 is displayed. By indicating the name of the program information provider, it is possible to explicitly notify the user that the program information is acquired via the network.

  The broadcast date column 2213 is a column for displaying the broadcast date provided by the program information, and allows selection for a predetermined number of days from that day. The selection method and display format are the same as in the broadcast type column 2210.

  The channel column 2216 is a column for presenting a list of channels provided by the broadcasting system. Below the column of each channel column, program information of programs broadcast on the channel is arranged. As described above, the channel list information is obtained using the X_EPG_ChannelLineup action. The channel column 2220 for one channel is composed of a channel name column 2221, an icon column 2222, and a channel number column 2223. The channel column 2220 displays the organization channel name acquired from the upnp: channelName property of the channel container of the channel. In the icon column 2222, the logo of the organization channel acquired by the upnp: icon property of the channel container is displayed. The logo size is obtained from the upnp: icon @ arib: resolution property. If the channel container does not have the upnp: icon property, the channel number column 2223 is not displayed.

  The time columns 2217 and 2218 are columns for displaying the broadcast time. When displaying the electronic program guide, the display time is arranged at the top. The display time zone can be moved by a user's remote control operation or the like as in a general electronic program guide. In this embodiment, one time column is arranged on each side of the electronic program guide, but one or three or more time columns may be arranged depending on the size of the screen.

  The program column 2219 is a column for displaying each program column 2230 which is program information of each program. As shown in the figure, each program column 2230 is arranged in a grid in the program column 2219. Each program column 2230 is arranged in a channel column column of a channel on which the program is broadcast. The position of the vertical axis is determined by the program start time. For example, the 1-hour column is divided into four in 15-minute units, and the start from 0 to 15 minutes (not including 15 minutes) is the top position of the 4-division, from 15 to 30 minutes (not including 30 minutes) The start is arranged at the second position from the top of the four divisions.

  The program start time is obtained from the upnp: scheduledStartTime property of the program item. When the upnp: scheduledStartTime property does not exist, each program column 2230 of the corresponding program is not displayed. The length 2234 in the time direction of each program column 2230 is calculated using either the upnp: scheduledEndTime property indicating the program end time or the res @ duration property indicating the time length of the program as the property information of the program item. To do. For example, if the length of the program time is 2 hours, two lengths in the 1 hour column are allocated, and if it is 30 minutes, half the length of the 1 hour column is allocated.

  If neither the upnp: scheduledEndTime property nor the res @ duration property is provided, the length 2234 in the time direction is taken until the program start time of the next program.

  Each program column 2230 includes a program start time display column 2231, a program name display column 2232, a program description display column 2233, and the like. In the program start time display field 2231, a value corresponding to the program start time such as “15” is set. Since the time value can be determined from the position of the vertical axis of each program column 2230, it is not displayed in the program start time display column 2231. The program start time is acquired from the upnp: scheduledStartTime property. In the program name display field 2232, the program name acquired from the dc: title property of the program item is displayed. The program description display field 2233 displays the program description acquired from the dc: description property of the program item. In both the program name display field 2232 and the program description display field 2233, when the number of characters of the acquired information is larger than the number of characters that can be displayed, information up to the number of characters that can be displayed is displayed. Each program column 2230 may display an icon or the like indicating that the program content is charged. Whether a program is paid or free can be acquired with the arib: caProgramInfo property of the program item. Further, the background color of the program name display field 2232 may be set for each genre of a program such as drama and sports so that the program can be displayed more easily. The genre information of the program can be acquired from the upnp: genre property of the program item.

  The configuration of the electronic program guide 2200 shown in FIG. 22 is an example. The arrangement of the time column 2217 and the channel column 2216 may be exchanged, or a program information for a predetermined number of days may be displayed for one channel.

  As described above, the acquired program guide generating unit 510 generates an electronic program guide using the program information acquired from the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  FIG. 21 shows a procedure for setting the reserved recording that the user has pre-arranged in the program information transmitting apparatus 110. The timer recording setting process in the program information receiving apparatus 140 is executed as a timer recording sequence by the network timer recording application 501.

  S2110: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reserved recording object creation request” message for setting reserved recording of the program selected by the user in accordance with an instruction from the network reserved recording application 501. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user. The argument of the “reserved recording object creation request” message is “reservation information” describing information of the program to be reserved. In this embodiment, since the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the Epg direct reserved recording function, it is possible to make a reservation setting only with the title and ID property of the program item.

  S2111: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the “reserved recording object creation request” message processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. With reference to the reservation management unit 414, if there is no overlapping reservation, the program reservation is set in the reservation management unit 414. When a reservation is received, a reservation ID that is an identifier for referring to reservation recording and a Result that is information on the reservation result are returned.

  FIG. 24 shows an example of a request message and a response message of the “scheduled recording object creation request” action when Epg direct scheduled recording is performed.

  “Request” is a request message. Reference numeral 2410 denotes an XML document describing an argument “reservation information” to be given to the request message. 2411 is an XML header, and 2412 is an item object representing the value of the argument “reservation information”. The item id (attribute id) is a reservation ID that uniquely specifies the reserved recording. Since the attribute id is set by the program information transmitting apparatus 110, no value is specified in the request message of the “reserved recording object creation request” action for requesting reserved recording. A <title> tag 2413 is a program name of a program to be reserved and recorded. The value of the dc: title property of the program item of the program selected by the user from the electronic program guide 2200 is set. A <class> tag 2414 indicates the classification of the item object 2412. “Object.recordschedule.direct.cdspg” 2414 represents an item object for setting Epg direct scheduled recording. In the <scheduled CDSO object ID> tag 2415, an ID for specifying a program to be recorded by the EPG server that provided the program information is set. Therefore, the attribute id of the program item of the program selected by the user is set.

  “Response” is a response message. Reference numeral 2420 denotes an output argument “reservation ID”, in which an ID for uniquely specifying reservation recording is set. This reservation ID is used when the set reservation recording is deleted. Reference numeral 2430 denotes an XML document in which “Result” that is information on a reservation result is described. Reference numeral 2431 denotes an XML header, and 2432 denotes an item object representing a “Result” value. The attribute id is set to a reservation ID that uniquely specifies the reserved recording. This value is equal to the value set at 2420. The <title> tag 2433 is the same as 2413, the <class> tag 2434 is the same as 2414, and the <scheduledCDSOObjectID> tag 2435 is the same as the 2415. The <mediaRemainAlertID> tag 2436 is used to notify a warning about the shortage of the remaining amount of media when the program information transmission apparatus 110 that is set for reserved recording executes reserved recording. As an example, the value “0” indicates that there is no fear of insufficient remaining capacity, and the value “1” indicates that recording may not be possible due to insufficient remaining capacity.

  FIG. 25A shows an example of a request message and a response message of a “reserved recording object creation request” action when standard reserved recording that is not Epg Direct is performed. In the case of a program information transmitting apparatus that provides only the EPG server function and does not provide Epg direct scheduled recording, the format is set in this format.

  “Request” is a request message. Reference numeral 2510 denotes an XML document describing an argument “reservation information” to be given to the request message. 2511 is an XML header, and 2512 is an item object representing the value of the argument “reservation information”. The attribute id is a reservation ID that uniquely specifies the reserved recording. Since the attribute id is set by the program information transmitting apparatus 110, no value is specified in the request message of the “reserved recording object creation request” action for requesting reserved recording. A <title> tag 2513 is the same as 2413. In the <class> tag 2514, “object.recordschedule.direct.cdsNonepg” indicating standard recording that is not Epg direct is set. Since the standard recording that is not Epg Direct is requested, there is no <scheduledCDSOObjectID> tag, and a program to be reserved for recording is designated by the channel number, program start time, and program time length.

  The <scheduledChannelID> tag 2515 designates the channel number of the program selected by the user, and sets the upnp: channelNr property of the program item. A <scheduledStartDateTime> tag 2516 is a program start time, and sets an upnp: scheduledStartTime property of the program item. A <scheduledDuration> tag 2517 is the length of the program time, and sets the res @ duration property of the program item.

  The configuration of “Response” is the same as that of “Response” in FIG. The only difference is that the value of the <class> tag is “object.recordschedule.direct.cdsNonepg”.

  FIG. 25B shows another format of the argument “reservation information” of standard reservation recording. Use this format when the res @ duration property is not provided. In FIG. 25B, not the <scheduledDuration> tag 2517 but the program end time is set. An upnp: scheduledEndTime property of a program item is set in a <scheduledEndDateTime> tag 2518.

As described above, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment provides EPG information to other devices on the network, and uses the program information obtained from the EPG information to perform reservation recording on the program information transmitting apparatus 110. Provides an interface to configure. Further, the program information receiving apparatus 140 that is an EPG client-equipped device according to the present embodiment searches for the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that is an EPG server-equipped device connected to the network, acquires EPG information, and electronically obtains the EPG information from the information. A program guide screen is generated and presented to the user. Then, the user is given a means for selecting and recording the presented program. Therefore, the user can set the reserved recording in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 via the network with the same feeling as when the reserved recording is set to the operated device. In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.
Example 2

  In this embodiment, a method in which a program information receiving apparatus operates an operation device 230 such as a user's remote controller to acquire program information from a program information transmitting apparatus connected via a network, generates an electronic program guide, and presents it to the user. explain.

  The configurations of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and the program information receiving apparatus 140 are the same as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The software configuration of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 26 is a software configuration diagram of the program information receiving apparatus 140 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 26, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.

  Control software 2600 that realizes the function of the program information receiving apparatus 140 is expanded in the memory 213 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 and executed by the control unit 211.

  In FIG. 26, an integrated program guide generation application 2610 is added to the software configuration of the program information receiving apparatus 140 shown in FIG.

  The integrated program guide generation application 2610 receives an electronic program guide of the broadcast system received by the program information receiving device 140 itself generated by the program guide generator 410 and the electronic program guide acquired from the program information transmitter 110 and generated by the acquired program guide generator 510. This is an application that allows a user to select a program guide without being aware of the difference in the provider of electronic program guide information.

  Similar to the network reservation recording application 501 of FIG. 5 described above, the network reservation recording application 2611 is an application that provides a user with a reservation recording function via a network that makes a recording reservation to other devices on the home network. In the network reservation recording application 501, processing for searching for an EPG server and processing for acquiring EPG information are also performed, but in this embodiment, these processing are performed by the integrated program guide generation application 2610. The network reservation recording application 2611 is responsible for processing to set reservation recording of the program selected by the user in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 in accordance with a request from the integrated program guide generation application 2610.

  The application management unit 450, the integrated program guide generation application 2610, and the network reservation recording application 2611 have a relationship such as control and data reference with each software block constituting the control software 500. The relationship line for the block is omitted.

  FIG. 27 shows an example of an electronic program guide generated by the integrated program guide generation application 2610. In FIG. 27, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.

  In the electronic program guide 2700 generated by the integrated program guide generation application 2610, an integrated EPG column 2701 is added to the electronic program guide of FIG.

  The integrated EPG column 2701 presents the types of available EPGs to the user. In FIG. 27, the “main body EPG”, which is an electronic program guide of a broadcasting system that can be received by the program information receiving apparatus 140 itself, is a digital terrestrial broadcast and a BS digital broadcast, and an electronic program guide generated by acquiring program information via a network. The user is presented with an icon that a certain “net EPG” can be used. Reference numeral 2702 denotes a net EPG icon indicating that “net EPG” can be used. The electronic program guide to be displayed is selected by the user operating the operating device 230 and giving an instruction. In this embodiment, “main body EPG” may be described as “EPG”.

  FIG. 30 is an example of the operation device 230. A program guide button 3001 displays an electronic program guide. When the program guide button 3001 is pressed during display, the electronic program guide is not displayed. Reference numeral 3002 denotes an enter button. This is used when a reserved recording program is determined. Reference numeral 3003 denotes a return button. Used to cancel the operation and return to the previous operation screen. Reference numerals 3004, 3005, 3006, and 3007 denote cursor operation buttons used for moving the cursor position on the operation screen. 3004 is an upper button, 3005 is a lower button, 3006 is a left button, and 3007 is a right button. Reference numeral 3008 denotes a date button for selecting a display date of the electronic program guide. For example, the display of the electronic program guide is switched on the previous day on the upper side (Δ) and on the next day on the lower side (）). Reference numeral 3009 denotes a page button for selecting a display time zone of the electronic program guide. For example, the display of the electronic program guide is switched to the previous time zone on the upper side (Δ) and to the later time zone on the lower side (▽). A terrestrial digital button 3011 and a BS button 3012 are buttons for selecting a broadcasting system. A net EPG button 3013 for selecting a net EPG is a button for selecting a net EPG.

  Next, the operation of the integrated program guide generation application 2610 will be described. First, the activation process of the integrated program guide generation application 2610 will be described. The activation process is triggered by an activation request from the application management unit 450. The application management unit 450 monitors the pressing of the operation button of the operation device 230, and issues a start request for the integrated program table generation application 2610 when detecting the pressing of the program table button 3001 or the net EPG button 3013. At this time, the activation mode of the integrated program guide generation application 2610 is set according to the pressed button. When the program guide button 3001 is pressed, the start mode is set to “EPG mode”, and when the net EPG button 3013 is pressed, the start mode is set to “net EPG mode”. The “EPG mode” is a mode for displaying “main body EPG” which is an electronic program guide of the broadcasting system received by the program information receiving apparatus 140. The “net EPG mode” is a mode for displaying “net EPG” that is an electronic program guide generated using program information acquired from the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart of activation processing of the integrated program guide generation application 2610. S2801: First, the integrated program guide generation application 2610 searches for an EPG server on the home network. The EPG server search is the same process as the EPG server search sequence described in FIG. By the EPG server search, the number of EPG servers on the home network and the EPG server information of each EPG server are acquired.

  S2802: Next, an electronic program guide to be generated is determined based on the activation mode and the number of EPG servers. When the start mode is “Net EPG mode” and the number of EPG servers is 1 or more, the operation state of the integrated program guide generation application 2610 is changed to “Net EPG generation” for generating a net EPG, and the start processing flow is ended. (S2803). In other cases, the operation state of the integrated program guide generation application 2610 is changed to “EPG generation” for generating the main body EPG, and the activation process flow is ended (S2804). That is, even when the net EPG button 3013 is pressed, the main body EPG is generated when there is no EPG server on the home network.

  FIG. 29 is an EPG generation processing flow by the integrated program guide generation application 2610. The EPG generation process flow is executed when the operation state is “EPG generation” or “net EPG generation”.

  S2901: Integrated program guide generation application 2610 confirms its own operating state. In the case of “EPG generation”, the process branches to S2902. In the case of “net EPG generation”, the process branches to S2904.

  S2902: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 requests the program guide generation unit 410 to generate a program guide, and the process proceeds to S2903.

  S2903: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 changes its own operation state to “EPG display” for displaying an EPG, and ends the EPG generation processing flow.

  S2904: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 refers to the memory 213 and confirms the number of EPG servers. The number of EPG servers is obtained in the activation process flow described above with reference to FIG. If the number of EPG servers> 1, that is, if there are a plurality of EPG servers on the home network, the flow shifts to S2905. In other cases, the process proceeds to S2906.

  S2905: A UI (User Interface) screen that presents the name of the device of the EPG server is displayed, and the user is allowed to select an EPG server that displays an electronic program guide.

  S2906: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 requests the content directory controller 525 to acquire program information from the EPG server. The content directory controller 525 acquires program information in the EPG information acquisition sequence shown in FIG. If there are a plurality of EPG servers on the home network, in step S2906, acquisition of program information from the EPG server selected by the user is requested.

  S2907: The integrated program guide production | generation application 2610 requests | requires the production | generation of a program guide to the acquisition program guide production | generation part 510, and changes to S2908.

  S2908: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 changes its own operating state to “net EPG display” for displaying the net EPG, and ends the EPG generation processing flow.

  FIG. 31 is an EPG display processing flow by the integrated program guide generation application 2610. The EPG display processing flow is executed when the operation state is “EPG display” or “net EPG display”.

  S3101: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 refers to the number of EPG servers stored in the memory 213 and determines the display state of the integrated EPG column 2701. When the number of EPG servers is 0, that is, when there is no EPG server on the home network, the net EPG icon 2702 in the integrated EPG column 2701 is grayed out to indicate to the user that the net EPG cannot be used (S3102). If the number of EPG servers is not 0, the network EPG icon 2702 is displayed to indicate to the user that the network EPG can be used (S3103).

  S3104: Next, an electronic program guide to be displayed is determined according to the state of the integrated program guide generation application 2610. If the status is “EPG display”, the process proceeds to S3105 to perform main body EPG display processing. If the status is “net EPG display”, the process proceeds to S3107 to perform net EPG display processing.

  S3105: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 displays the main body EPG generated by the program guide generation unit 410. At this time, the display is performed so that the layer of the integrated EPG column 2701 is the upper layer than the layer of the main body EPG.

  S3106: Then, the integrated program guide generation application 2610 changes its own state to “EPG display in progress” and ends the EPG display processing flow.

  S3107: The integrated program guide generation application 2610 displays the net EPG generated by the acquired program guide generation unit 510. At this time, the display is performed so that the layer of the integrated EPG column 2701 is higher than the layer of the net EPG.

  S3108: Then, the integrated program guide generation application 2610 changes its own state to “net EPG being displayed” and ends the EPG display processing flow.

  FIG. 32 is an example of a state transition table of the integrated program guide generation application 2610. The figure shows a state in which when the state of the integrated program guide generation application 2610 is “EPG being displayed” or “Net EPG is being displayed”, an input from the operation device 230, that is, a state of transition by pressing a button. Reference numeral 3211 denotes a state during EPG display, and reference numeral 3212 denotes a state during net EPG display. Reference numerals 3221, 3222, 3223, 3224, 3325 and 3226 denote push buttons of the operation device 230. A slash (“/”) means “OR”.

  When the program guide button or the return button is pressed in the state “displaying EPG” 3211 (3221), the integrated program guide generation application 2610 hides the displayed EPG and ends the integrated program guide generation processing. . When the net EPG button is pressed (3222), the state is changed to “net EPG generation” and the EPG generation processing flow described with reference to FIG. 29 is executed. When the terrestrial digital button or the BS button is pressed (3223), the display of the EPG is switched as necessary. For example, when the BS button is pressed during the EPG display of the BS, the current EPG display is maintained. When the enter button is pressed (3224), if a program at the current time is selected, the tuner 201 is requested to select a channel, the displayed EPG is hidden, and the integrated program table generation process is terminated. To do. When a future program is selected, the reservation setting management unit 514 is requested to perform reservation processing. When the date button is pressed (3325), the display date of the EPG display is switched to the previous day or the next day. When the page button is pressed (3326), the display time zone of the EPG display is switched to the previous time zone or the next time zone.

  When the program guide button or the return button is pressed in the state “net EPG being displayed” 3212 (3221), the integrated program guide generation application 2610 hides the displayed EPG and ends the integrated program guide generation processing. To do. Similarly, when the net EPG button is pressed (3222), the integrated program guide generation process is terminated. When the terrestrial digital button or the BS button is pressed (3223), the state is changed to “EPG generation”, and the EPG generation processing flow described in FIG. 29 is executed. When the enter button is pressed (3224), a recording reservation request is made to set the reserved recording of the selected program to the EPG server that is displaying the network EPG in the network reservation recording application 2611. The network reservation recording application 2611 executes the setting of reservation recording for the program selected by the reservation recording sequence shown in FIG. When the date button is pressed (3325), when the page button is pressed (3326), the date and time zone range to be displayed are specified and the process proceeds to “EPG generation”, and the EPG generation process described with reference to FIG. Run the flow. At this time, the date and time range are specified in the program information acquisition request to the content directory controller 525 in S2906.

  FIG. 33 shows an example of an “X_EPG_Program” action 751 request when the content directory controller 525 designates a date and time range in response to a program information acquisition request. As indicated by 3301, a condition is described in the second argument. In 3301, a time range of a program start time is set as a condition. By setting as 3301, it is possible to acquire only program information of a program that satisfies a specified condition from program information provided by the EPG server.

  It should be noted that the date / time range may be set even when a display condition such as a date button or a page button is pressed is not specified. For example, if a condition is specified to acquire program information for a time that can be displayed on one screen of an electronic program guide, the amount of information transmitted is reduced, so the time from a user request for net EPG display to presentation is reduced. There is an effect of shortening.

  As described above, the program information receiving apparatus 140 according to the present embodiment generates the “main body EPG” and the “net EPG” with a configuration in which the display can be switched bidirectionally by the operation of the operation device 230. Therefore, the user can use the “net EPG” without distinguishing it from the “main body EPG”.

  In addition, since the program information is acquired when the net EPG button of the operation device 230 is pressed as a trigger, the “net EPG” can provide an electronic program guide composed of the newest information as in the “main body EPG”. .

Further, similarly to the program information receiving apparatus 140 of the first embodiment, the user is provided with means for selecting and recording the presented program. Therefore, the user can set the reserved recording in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 via the network with the same feeling as when the reserved recording is set to the operated device.
Example 3

  In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a case in which the reserved recording information set for a program is also added when the program information transmitting apparatus 110 transmits the program information.

  FIG. 34 shows properties related to scheduled recording to be added to the property information of the EPG video program item shown in FIG.

  When the program information providing unit 426 provides the program information, the program information providing unit 426 refers to the reservation management unit 414 to check whether the reserved recording is set for the program. In the case of a program for which scheduled recording is set, the value of catv: recordSchedule, which is a scheduled recording setting property, is set to “1”, and the value of catv: recordSchedule @ id is set in the scheduled recording sequence (FIG. 21). A reservation ID (FIG. 24, 2420) is set.

  FIG. 35 is an example of an electronic program guide generated by the acquired program guide generator 510 when a property relating to reserved recording is added. 35, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 27 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Reference numerals 3502 and 3501 are examples of reserved recording icons indicating reserved recording programs. catv: A timer recording icon is displayed in each program column of a program for which the value of the recordSchedule property is set to “1”. As described above, since the setting information of the reserved recording of the program can be acquired from the program information transmitting apparatus 110, the state of the reserved recording can be displayed even when the network EPG acquired from the EPG server is displayed. Since the user can check the program that has been reserved and recorded by the operation of displaying the EPG, it is easy to use.

  FIG. 36 shows an example of each program column 2230 generated by the acquired program guide generation unit 510 when a property related to reserved recording is added. In the example of FIG. 36, an icon column 3601 is provided, and a scheduled recording icon 3602 is arranged there. In the case of this example, there is no need to change the reserved recording icon 3602 even if the height of each program column 2230 changes, so that the process of the acquired program guide generation unit 510 can be simplified.

As described above, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment also provides a reserved recording setting property as program information for a program for which reserved recording is set. As a result, the program information receiving apparatus 140 can display the reserved recording setting state on the electronic program guide, improving the usability for the user.
Example 4

  In this embodiment, the program information receiving device uses the program information acquired from the program information transmitting device via the network, and the program information receiving device performs the reserved recording setting for recording the broadcast program to the recording device. A description will be given of the reservation recording method via the route.

  In the system of FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 operates as a program information transmitting apparatus according to the present embodiment, and has an “EPG server function” that provides broadcast program information via a network. The recorder 150 operates as a program information receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG client function” that acquires program information via a network and provides it to a user. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 140 operates as a recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and includes a “recording server function” that acquires and records broadcast content via a network.

  The configurations of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and the recording apparatus 140 are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  The configuration of the recorder 150 is the same as the example shown in FIG.

  The software configuration of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is the same as the example shown in FIG.

  Since the software configuration of the program information receiving apparatus 150 and the recording apparatus 140 is the same as the example shown in FIG.

  Next, the program information receiving apparatus 150 searches for the program information transmitting apparatus 110 connected to the network, searches for the recording apparatus 140 connected to the network, and sends the program information transmitting apparatus 110 to the recording apparatus 140 via the network. A procedure for setting reservation recording for recording via a network will be described.

  The procedure for searching for the program information transmitting device 110 on the network by the program information receiving device 150 is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 38 shows an example of a procedure in which the program information receiving apparatus 150 searches for the recording apparatus 140 on the network. The search process in the program information receiving apparatus 150 is executed as a recording server search sequence of the network reservation recording application 501.

  S3810: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving apparatus 150 provides a recording server function to search for a recording server on the network via the message generation unit 422 and the network communication processing unit 420 according to the instruction of the network reservation recording application 501. A “device search” message for searching for a MediaServer (DMS) to be transmitted is transmitted to all devices constituting the home network.

  S3811: Upon receiving the “device search” message for searching for DMS, the recording apparatus 140 processes the message with the device information service 424. Since the device type of the recording device 140 is MediaServer, the device information service 424 generates a message including a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) indicating the acquisition destination of its device description information, and responds to the program information receiving device 150.

  S3812: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving device 150 that has received the response accesses the URI included in the response message, and transmits a “device information request” message requesting device description information to the recording device 140.

  S3813: The recording apparatus 140 that has received the “device information request” message for the device description information acquisition destination URI processes the message in the device information service 424. Then, a message including the device description information shown in FIG. 6 is generated and responded to the program information receiving apparatus 150. The device description information is described in the response message in a format such as XML.

  FIG. 37 is an example of device description information of the recording device 150. The device description information of the recording device 140 is the same as that shown in FIG. “Av-upload” 3701 indicates that an upload option function for receiving video / audio content via the network and recording it in the recording / playback unit 210 is provided.

  S3814: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving device 150 that has received the response interprets the response message, and the recording device 140 performs a content directory service (ContentDirectoryService), a scheduled recording service (ScheduledRecordingService), and an upload option function (av-upload). And the like, the service description URL of each service is accessed, and a “service information request” message requesting detailed information on the service is transmitted to the recording device 140.

  S3815: Upon receiving the “service information request” message for the function service description URL of the content directory service and the scheduled recording service, the recording device 110 processes the message with the device information service 424. Then, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a response message is generated with the detailed information of the service including the action list and the service state table, and the response is made to the program information receiving apparatus 150.

  S3816: The device detection unit 530 of the program information receiving apparatus 150 that has received the response passes the service directory information of the content directory service to the content directory controller 525 and the service schedule information of the scheduled recording service to the scheduled recording setting controller 529. Each controller interprets the detailed service information and recognizes the action provided by each service. Then, the content directory controller 525 transmits a FeatureList action to confirm whether the content directory service of the recording device 140 provides EPG according to the instruction of the network reservation recording application 501.

  S3817: The recording apparatus 140 that has received the FeatureList action processes the message with the content directory service 425. Then, the recording device 140 generates a message for returning the information content list information provided by the recording device 140 as shown in FIG. 9 and responds to the program information receiving device 150 with the content directory service 425. The content directory controller 525 that has received the response message includes an EPG that includes “EPG” in the name attribute of <Feature> 931 and 932 included in the <Features> tag 930, and thus the EPG that provides the program information by the recording device 140. It recognizes that it is a server, and obtains an ID for acquiring an EPG from its <objectIDs> tag (931).

  The network reservation recording application 501 records the recording server information such as the device description information of the searched recording server (recording apparatus) 140, the detailed information of the service, and the information content list information acquired by the FeatureList action, by the network ID of the recording apparatus 140 or the like. It is stored in the memory 213 in a format that can be referred to.

  When there are responses from a plurality of recording devices in response to the “device search” message in S3810, the recording server information of the recording server (recording device) is obtained by performing the sequence from S3812 to S3817 for each recording device, and the memory Store in 213. In addition, the number of found recording servers is also stored in the memory 213.

  The program information receiving device 150 searches for the recording device 140 by the above procedure. This search procedure may be executed when the program information receiving apparatus 150 is connected to the network or when the user requests a search for a recording server on the network. Regardless of the user's request, when searching when connected to the network, there is an advantage that the search result can be presented without waiting for the user when requested by the user.

  Since the procedure for acquiring EPG information from the program information transmitting apparatus 110 on the network by the program information receiving apparatus 150 is the same as that in FIG. The procedure for setting the reserved recording reserved by the user in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 41 shows an example of a request message for a “reserved recording object creation request” action when EPG direct reserved recording is performed. 41, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 24 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  A <recordDestination> tag 4101 indicates a recording destination device name for reserved recording. The name of the device shown in FIG. 6 is specified by the character string specified by the <recordDestination> tag.

  The recording quality is specified by the character string specified by the <desiredRecordQuality> tag 4102.

  FIG. 42 shows an example of a request message for a “scheduled recording object creation request” action when standard scheduled recording that is not EPG direct is performed. In FIG. 42, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.

  The recording destination when the recording apparatus 140 has a plurality of recording units is specified by the character string specified by the <recordDestination @ mediaType> tag 4201. The URL of the recording device 140 is specified by the character string specified by the <recordDestination @ targetURL> tag 4202.

  The recording quality is specified by the character string specified by the <desiredRecordQuality @ type> tag 4203. When DEFAULT is set as the recording quality, recording is performed with the recording quality set in the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  FIG. 39 shows a procedure in which the program information transmitting apparatus 110 performs upload recording on the recording apparatus 140 on the network.

  S3910: When the recording reservation time managed by the reservation management unit is reached, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is connected to the recording server 140 on the network via the message generation unit 422 and the network communication processing unit 420 based on the information received as the reserved recording object. Request to create a recording object.

  S3911: The recording server 140 generates a recording ID and URL in the content management unit in accordance with the received recording object creation request, and the program information on the network through the message generation unit 422 and the network communication processing unit 420 together with the result (Result). Responds to the transmitter 110.

  S3912: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the response transmits only the HTTP protocol header to the URL included in the response message via the media distribution service 423 and the network communication processing unit 420 to confirm the recording (POST). )

  S3913: The recording apparatus 140 that has received the header indicates normal (100 continue) as a response of the HTTP protocol via the media reception controller 523 and the network communication processing unit 420 in order to notify that the recording can be normally performed. Send.

  S3914: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the response transmits (POST) an HTTP protocol body to the URL included in the response message via the media distribution service 423 and the network communication processing unit 420 to perform recording. .

  S3915: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 notifies the end of transmission of the HTTP protocol body (POST End) to the URL included in the response message via the media distribution service 423 and the network communication processing unit 420 in order to end the reserved recording. To do.

  S3916: The recording apparatus 140 that has received the POST End transmits an HTTP protocol POST response via the media reception controller 523 and the network communication processing unit 420 to notify that the recording has ended normally. .

  FIG. 40 is an example of an electronic program guide generated by the acquired program guide generator 510. In FIG. 40, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.

  The reservation dialog 4000 includes reservation time information 4001, program information 4002, recording destination information 4003, recording mode information 4004, and the like.

  The reservation time information 4001 displays the date and time information of the program for which the user has specified reservation. It is also possible for the user to change the time information.

  The program information 4002 displays the channel and program name.

  In the recording destination information 4003, UPnP friendly names are displayed for recordable devices, and the user can select which device to record. The friendly name is information for identifying a recordable device.

  When the STB 110 with a recording function is selected by a user instruction, a recording reservation is made to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and recording is performed by the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  When a DTV with a recording function is selected by a user instruction, a recording reservation is made to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and a network recording is made to the recording apparatus 140.

  When the DTV 130 is selected by a user instruction, a recording reservation is made to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and the program information receiving apparatus 150, and network recording is performed to the program information receiving apparatus 150. If the program can be received by the DTV 150 itself, the program information receiving device 150 makes a recording reservation and the program information transmitting device 110 records the program.

  The recording mode information 4004 displays recording modes such as high-definition image quality (HD) and standard image quality (XP), and can be changed by the user.

  The “information regarding the program” selected in the reservation dialog 4000 is reflected in the reservation recording object creation request, and the information is further reflected in the recording object creation request. In this case, in the case of EPG direct reservation, “program information” includes a program name 2413, an attribute id 2415 of the program, a recording destination device name 4101, and a recording quality 4102. Further, the “information relating to the program” here may include a recording destination 4201 and a URL 4202 of the recording apparatus in the case of standard reserved recording that is not EPG direct reservation, and further when the recording apparatus has a plurality of recording units. In FIG. 42, elements with numbers common to those in FIG. 25 are the same as those in FIG.

  As described above, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment provides EPG information to other devices on the network, and uses the program information obtained from the EPG information to perform reservation recording on the program information transmitting apparatus 110. Provides an interface to configure.

Also, the program information receiving apparatus 150 that is an EPG client-equipped device according to the present embodiment searches for the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that is an EPG server-equipped device connected to the network, acquires EPG information, and is connected to the network. The recording device 140 that is the recording server-equipped device is searched, and an electronic program guide screen is generated from the information and presented to the user. Then, the user is given a means for selecting and recording the presented program. Therefore, the user can set the reserved recording for performing the network recording to the recording device 140 to the program information transmitting device 110 via the network, in the same manner as when the reserved recording is set to the operated device.
Example 5

  In this embodiment, the program information receiving device operates the operation device 230 such as a user's remote controller to acquire program information from the program information transmitting device connected via the network, and the property information of the program registered in the acquired EPG object The program information is acquired and the program is recorded based on the above. In the present embodiment, property information to be added to the property information described in the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15 will be described, and processing using the added property information will be described.

  In the system of FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 operates as the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG server function” that provides broadcast program information via a network. The DTV 140 with a recording function operates as the program information receiving apparatus 140 according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG client function” that acquires program information via a network and provides it to the user. Here, for convenience of explanation, the DTV 140 with a recording function will be described as an example of the program information receiving apparatus, but the recorder 150 may be used as the program information receiving apparatus of this embodiment.

  The configurations of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and the program information receiving apparatus 140 are the same as those shown in FIGS. Further, since the software configuration of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is the same as the example shown in FIG. The software configuration of the program information receiving apparatus 140 is the same as the example shown in FIG. 26 when presenting the program guide, and the same as the example shown in FIG. .

  43A to 43G show details of property information defined for each container and item. The property defined here is used for an EPG object which is program information in a network format. A program information conversion unit 412 converts program information in a broadcast format used in digital broadcasting, and generates program information in a network format.

  Here, for example, the “upnp: seriesTitle” property shown in FIG. 43B will be described. The “upnp: seriesTitle” property is a title defined with respect to a set of programs having the same property, for example, a program name of a continuous drama (referred to as AAAA). When the property information is transmitted from the program information transmitting apparatus 110 to the program information receiving apparatus 140, the following is added to the program item 1834 shown in the XML document of FIG. <Upnp: seriesTitle> AAAAA </ upnp: seriesTitle> should be added under <upnp: genre> drama </ upnp: genre> already registered in the program item 1834 shown in the XML document of FIG. . The processing sequence is shown in FIG. 20 when the other party is the program information transmitting apparatus 110 on the network. Since each process has been described above, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The program information receiving apparatus 140 receives the XML document shown in FIG. 18 in the above sequence, and acquires information on the program item 1834. For example, if <upnp: seriesTitle> AAAAAA </ upnp: seriesTitle> exists in the received XML document, it is understood that the TV series is drama of the program name “AAAAAA”. For example, when the user wants to display a series of program information of a drama with a program name “AAAAAA” by operating the program information receiving device 140 with the operation device 230, the attribute “upnp: seriesTitle” is “AAAAA” in the received XML document. If the program information having the EPG video item is read from the place where the program information is stored (such as the recording / reproducing unit 210 or the memory 213), TV series dramas can be displayed collectively. Further, if the program information receiving apparatus 140 is connected to the recording server via a network, the TV series drama with the program name “AAAAA” can be reserved for recording in a lump. In order to make a recording reservation for TV series dramas in a batch, the program information receiving device 140 uses an EPG video program item whose property “upnp: seriesTitle” is “AAAAAA” in accordance with the user's designation of the program “AAAAAA”. It suffices to request the program information transmitting apparatus 110 to create as many reserved recording objects as the number. To specify each program in each scheduled recording object, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 41, the attribute id of the read EPG video program item is set in the attribute “scheduledCDSOobjectID” of each created scheduled recording object. Good. Alternatively, as another method for specifying each program to be recorded for reservation in the reservation recording object, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 42, the program name (dc: Title) of the read EPG video program item and the program start time (ScheduledStartTime) and the length of the program time (res @ duration) can also be set in the scheduled recording object. As another method for making a recording reservation for TV series dramas at once, “upnp: seriesTitle” can be specified in the reservation recording object. In this case, while the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the received reservation recording object creation request, “AAAAAA” is obtained from the program information stored in advance using the search condition that “upnp: seriesTitle” is “AAAAA”. It is also possible to read out an EPG video program item related to “and create each scheduled recording object.

  The “upnp: seriesID” property shown in FIG. 43B is obtained by assigning a unique ID to the series drama of the program name “AAAAA” introduced as an example above. As described above, batch acquisition of program information and batch recording reservation are possible based on a unique ID. The procedure may be replaced with “upnp: seriesID” in place of “upnp: seriesTitle” in the description of the procedure for batch acquisition of program information and batch recording reservation.

  FIG. 43 (c) to FIG. 43 (d) register names of program performers, producers, original authors, and the like. For example, when <upnp: artist> BBBB </ upnp: artist> is added to the XML document shown in FIG. 18 using the upnp: artist property, the program information receiving apparatus 140 displays the program information of the performer “BBBB”. Acquisition and recording reservation can be performed. Further, it is possible to collect program information in which “BBBB” is appearing and to make a batch recording reservation based on the performer “BBBB”. In addition, it is possible to collect program information by other properties and to perform batch recording. The procedure for batch acquisition or batch recording may be replaced with “upnp: artist” or other properties in place of “upnp: seriesTitle” in the description of the procedure for batch acquisition of program information. In the batch recording, the program information receiving apparatus 140 displays a dialog for accepting designation of a desired program of the viewer from the program information acquired in a batch, and the viewer is selected from the programs displayed in the dialog box. A recording reservation object creation request may be transmitted to the program information transmitting apparatus for the program selected in (1).

  Heretofore, some of the property information defined for each container and item shown in FIGS. 43 (a) to 43 (g) has been described. For example, if the upnp: seriesTitle property and the upnp: artist property described in this embodiment are used at the same time, the performer “BBBB” shown in the upnp: artist property of the program name “AAAAA” shown in the upnp: seriesTitle property Further, it becomes possible to obtain more limited program information and make a recording reservation. In this example, the program name of the continuous drama is specified by the upnp: seriesTitle property, and the performer is specified by the upnp: artist property. By combining the property information shown in FIGS. 43 (a) to 43 (g), It is possible to acquire program information and make a recording reservation according to the user's preference.

As described above, in this embodiment, the program information receiving apparatus has property information for specifying a program, so that the operation apparatus 230 such as a remote controller can be operated according to the user's preference.
Example 6

  In this embodiment, when the program information receiving apparatus sets the reserved recording for the program information transmitting apparatus using the program information acquired from the program information transmitting apparatus via the network, the reserved recording to be set is different from the other reserved recording. The reservation recording method in the case of duplication will be described.

  In the system of FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 operates as the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG server function” that provides broadcast program information via a network. The recorder 150 operates as the program information receiving apparatus 140 according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG client function” that acquires program information via a network and provides it to the user.

  Since the hardware configurations of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and the program information receiving apparatus 140 are the same as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, description thereof will be omitted.

  The software configuration of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is the same as the example shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, in addition to the functions shown in the first embodiment, the reservation management unit 414 receives a recording reservation designated from the reservation recording service 429 and detects the presence or absence of overlapping reservations.

  In addition to the functions shown in the first embodiment, the scheduled recording service 429 confirms whether or not the scheduled recording service 429 has detected the overlapping reservation when the reservation management unit 414 is set to register the scheduled recording via the network. When there is an overlap of reservations, information indicating that the reservations are overlapped or information of the overlapping reserved programs acquired from the reservation management unit 414 is provided to the device that transmitted the reservation recording request. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The software configuration of the program information receiving apparatus 140 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Next, the program information receiving device 140 searches for the program information transmitting device 110 connected to the network, and sets reservation recording (reserved recording 2) in the program information transmitting device 110 for the program information transmitting device 110 via the network. In this case, a reservation recording method in the case where it overlaps with another reservation recording (reservation recording 1) already set in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 will be described.

  FIG. 44 shows a procedure for setting the reserved recording that the user has pre-arranged in the program information transmitting apparatus 110. The program information transmitting apparatus 110 has a function of responding only to the presence of duplication when making a reservation duplication response. It is a procedure. The timer recording setting process in the program information receiving apparatus 140 is executed as a timer recording sequence by the network timer recording application 2611.

  S4410: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reserved recording object creation request” message for setting the reserved recording 1 of the program selected by the user according to the instruction of the network reserved recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user. The argument of the “reserved recording object creation request” message is “reservation information 1” describing the information of the program to be reserved. In this embodiment, since the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the Epg direct reserved recording function, it is possible to make a reservation setting only with the title and ID property of the program item.

  S4411: The program information transmitting apparatus 110 that has received the “reserved recording object creation request” message processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and sets the program reservation in the reservation management unit 414 if there is no overlapping reservation. When the reservation is received, the reservation ID 1 that is an identifier for referring to the reserved recording 1 and the Result that is information of the reservation result are returned to the program information receiving apparatus 140.

  S4412: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reserved recording object creation request” message for setting the reserved recording 2 of the program selected by the user according to the instruction of the network reserved recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user. The argument of the “reserved recording object creation request” message is “reservation information 2” describing the information of the program to be reserved. In this embodiment, since the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the Epg direct reserved recording function, it is possible to make a reservation setting only with the title and ID property of the program item.

  S4413: Receiving the “reserved recording object creation request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414, and since the reservation recording 2 has an overlap of reservation with the reservation recording 1, the program reservation is not set in the reservation management unit 414, and the reservation is made to the program information receiving apparatus 140. Return duplicate responses. The program information receiving apparatus 140 that has received the response outputs a screen shown in FIG. 47 described later, and accepts an instruction from the user via the operation signal receiving unit 226. If the user selects “end 4704”, the timer recording setting process in FIG. 44 is ended, and if the user selects “reservation list 4703”, the process advances to step S4414.

  S4414: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reservation list request” message for requesting a reservation list in accordance with an instruction from the network reservation recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user.

  S4415: Receiving the “reservation list request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and returns a reservation list including the reservation ID and reservation recording time of the set reservation to the program information receiving apparatus 140 as a response. The reservation list includes information on each property shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 43. The program information receiving apparatus 140 that has received the reservation list response displays the screens shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, which will be described later, and accepts the input of the scheduled recording to be deleted via the operation signal receiving unit 226. In the screen shown in FIG. 49, when the user selects “Cancel 4904”, the reservation recording setting process in FIG. 44 is ended, and when the specific reservation recording described in the reservation list is selected, the screen shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  In the screen shown in FIG. 50, the information on the reserved recording selected by the user in the screen of FIG. 49 is displayed. In FIG. 50, if the user selects “Cancel 5002”, the scheduled recording setting process in FIG. 44 is terminated, and if “Delete 5003” is selected, the process proceeds to S4416.

  S4416: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 designates the reservation ID 1 of the reserved recording 1 that overlaps with the selected reserved recording 2, and transmits a “reservation deletion request” message to the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  S4417: Receiving the “reservation deletion request” message, program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in reserved recording service 429. The reserved recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and deletes the reserved object with the specified reservation ID 1. When the deletion is executed, a response indicating that the reservation has been deleted is returned to the program information receiving apparatus 140.

  S4418: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reserved recording object creation request” message for setting reserved recording of the program selected by the user in accordance with an instruction from the network reserved recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user. The argument of the “reserved recording object creation request” message is “reservation information 2” describing the information of the program to be reserved. In this embodiment, since the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the Epg direct reserved recording function, it is possible to make a reservation setting only with the title and ID property of the program item.

  S4419: Receiving the “reserved recording object creation request” message, program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in reserved recording service 429. Also, referring to the reservation management unit 414, if there is no overlapping reservation, the program reservation is set in the reservation management unit 414. When the reservation is received, the reservation ID 2 that is an identifier for referring to the reservation recording and the Result that is information of the reservation result are returned.

  As described above, the reservation information 1 overlapping with the reservation information 2 can be deleted and the reservation information 2 can be set.

  FIG. 45 is a procedure for setting the reserved recording that the user has pre-arranged in the program information transmitting apparatus 110, and the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is a procedure in the case of having a function of responding together with an overlapping reservation at the time of reservation overlapping response. is there. The timer recording setting process in the program information receiving apparatus 140 is executed as a timer recording sequence by the network timer recording application 2611.

  S4510: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reserved recording object creation request” message for setting the reserved recording 1 of the program selected by the user in accordance with the instruction of the network reserved recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user. The argument of the “reserved recording object creation request” message is “reservation information 1” describing the information of the program to be reserved. In this embodiment, since the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the Epg direct reserved recording function, it is possible to make a reservation setting only with the title and ID property of the program item.

  S4511: Receiving the “reserved recording object creation request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and sets the program reservation in the reservation management unit 414 if there is no overlapping reservation. When the reservation is received, the reservation ID 1 that is an identifier for referring to the reserved recording and the Result that is information of the reservation result are returned to the program information receiving apparatus 140.

  S4512: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “reserved recording object creation request” message for setting the reserved recording 2 of the program selected by the user in accordance with the instruction of the network reserved recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user. The argument of the “reserved recording object creation request” message is “reservation information 2” describing the information of the program to be reserved. In this embodiment, since the program information transmitting apparatus 110 provides the Epg direct reserved recording function, it is possible to make a reservation setting only with the title and ID property of the program item.

  S4513: Receiving the “reserved recording object creation request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414, and since the reservation recording 2 has a reservation overlapping with the reservation recording 1, the program reservation corresponding to the reservation information 2 is set in the reservation management unit 414, and the program information receiving device To 140, a response indicating that the reservation is duplicated with reservation ID 2 which is an identifier for referring to the reserved recording is returned.

  S4514: The reservation recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits a “duplicate reservation ID request” message for requesting a reservation ID of the reservation recording overlapping with the reservation ID 2 in accordance with the instruction of the network reservation recording application 2611. The message is sent to the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides information on the program selected by the user.

  S4515: Receiving the “duplicate reservation ID request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message with the reservation recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and returns the reservation ID 1 overlapping with the reservation ID 2 to the program information receiving apparatus 140 as a response.

  S4516: The reserved recording setting controller 529 of the program information receiving apparatus 140 that has received the duplicate reservation response designates the reservation ID 1 and transmits a “reservation information request” message to the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  S4517: Receiving the “reservation information request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in the reservation recording service 429. The reservation recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and acquires reservation information including the program information of the specified reservation ID 1 and start / end times. The reservation information of the acquired reservation ID 1 is returned to the program information receiving device 140. The reservation information includes information on each property shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 43. The program information receiving apparatus 140 that has received the reservation list response displays a screen shown in FIG. 48 to be described later, and receives an input as to whether or not to delete the scheduled recording 1 via the operation signal receiving unit 226. In the screen shown in FIG. 48, when the user selects “Cancel 5002”, the timer recording setting process in FIG. 45 is terminated, and when “Delete 5003” is selected, the process proceeds to S4518. S4518: Program information receiving apparatus 140 designates reservation ID 1 of reserved recording 1 that overlaps reserved recording 2, and transmits a “reservation deletion request” message to program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  S4419: Receiving the “reservation deletion request” message, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 processes the message in the reserved recording service 429. The reserved recording service 429 refers to the reservation management unit 414 and deletes the reserved object with the specified reservation ID 1. When the deletion is executed, a response indicating that the reservation has been deleted is returned to the program information receiving apparatus 140.

  As described above, the reservation information 1 overlapping with the reservation information 2 can be deleted and the reservation information 2 can be set.

  FIG. 46 shows an example of an action list of detailed service information of the scheduled recording service 429.

   As shown in the figure, an action name and an argument list are set for each action. In FIG. 46, 4610, 4620, 4630, 4640, and 4650 indicate each action. The action 4610 has an action name 4611 and an argument list 4612. The argument list lists information for one or more arguments.

  In FIG. 46, information of one argument is shown in one line. A column 4691 indicates an argument name, a column 4692 indicates an input / output direction (IN or OUT), and a column 4493 indicates a type definition name. CreateRecordSchedule 4611 is a reservation recording object creation request. Delete Record Schedule 4621 is a reservation deletion request. GetRecordSchedule 4631 is a reservation information request for reservation recording specified by RecordScheduleID which is a reservation ID. GetScheduleConfigures4641 is a duplicate reservation ID request for acquiring a reservation ID that overlaps with RecordScheduleID that is a reservation ID. BrowseRecordSchedule 4651 is a reservation list request.

  FIG. 47 is an example of a screen of the program information receiving apparatus 140 when a reservation overlap is received in S4413 of FIG. When the reservation recording setting controller receives a reservation overlap, the integrated program guide generation application 2611 displays a reservation overlap dialog 4700. 4701 is program information corresponding to the reservation information designated in S4412. If the end 4704 is specified, the program schedule is returned without setting a reservation. If 4703 is specified, the integrated program guide generation application 2611 requests the reservation recording controller to acquire the reservation list in order to display the reservation list.

  FIG. 48 is an example of a screen of the program information receiving apparatus 140 when the reservation information of the reservation ID with the reservation overlapping in S4517 of FIG. 45 is received. When the reservation recording setting controller 529 receives a reservation overlap, the integrated program guide generation application 2611 displays a reservation overlap dialog 4700.

  4804 and 4805 are timer recording information included in the timer information 1 corresponding to the timer ID 1 received in step S4517. When the end 4807 is designated, the program table is returned, and when 4806 is designated, the integrated program guide generation application 2611 requests the reservation recording controller to acquire the reservation list in order to display the reservation list.

  FIG. 49 is an example of a screen of the program information receiving apparatus 140 when the reservation list is received in S4415 of FIG. In the reservation list 4900, in addition to reservation recording information, duplicate marks 4902 and 4903 indicating that the reservation is duplicated are displayed in the information 4910 column, and the user designates a reservation to be corrected by operating the remote controller 230.

  FIG. 50 is an example of a screen of the program information receiving apparatus 140 that displays the reserved recording to be deleted designated in FIG. In the reservation deletion dialog 5000, the scheduled recording information 5001 to be deleted is displayed, and if cancel 5002 is specified, the reservation list is returned without being deleted, and if deletion 5003 is specified, the reservation ID corresponding to the specified reservation recording information is displayed. The reservation deletion request S4416 is executed as an argument.

  FIG. 51 is an example of a screen different from FIG. 48 of the screen of the program information receiving apparatus 140 when the reservation information of the reservation ID having the reservation overlapping in S4517 of FIG. 45 is received. When the reservation recording setting controller 529 receives a reservation overlap, the integrated program guide generation application 2611 displays a reservation overlap dialog 5100.

  Reference numeral 5101 denotes timer recording information corresponding to the timer ID 2 transmitted in step S4512. Reference numeral 5102 denotes timer recording information included in the timer information 1 corresponding to the timer ID 1 received in step S4517. When the end 4807 is designated, the program guide is returned to. When 4806 is designated, the integrated program guide generation application 2611 requests the reservation recording controller 529 to acquire the reservation list in order to display the reservation list.

  If the user designates cancel 5105 by operating the remote controller 230, the scheduled recording is not deleted, the program returns to the program table 3500 with the reservations being duplicated, and 5103, 5104 is selected to designate the scheduled recording to be deleted, and the decision 5106. Is designated, the timer recording controller 529 executes a reservation deletion request for deleting the reservation ID 1.

  FIG. 52 is a processing flow of the program information receiving apparatus 140 when the reservation overlap response of the procedure shown in FIGS. S5201: A timer recording object creation request response is received in S4413 in FIG. 44 and 4513 in FIG. S5202: The reservation overlap is confirmed, and if there is no overlap, the process ends. S5203: When a reservation overlap is detected in S5202, it is confirmed whether there is a reservation ID in the response. S5204: When there is no reservation ID in S5203, it is confirmed whether or not a reservation list is displayed to the user. If the user does not request a reservation list, the process ends. S5205: When a user requests a reservation list in S5204, a reservation list request is transmitted. S5206: A reservation list acquired as a response is displayed.

  S5207: When there is a reservation ID in S5203, a duplicate reservation request is transmitted, a reservation ID of a reservation recording that overlaps with the received reservation ID is acquired, a reservation information request is transmitted with the acquired reservation ID as an argument, and the specified reservation Reservation information corresponding to the ID is acquired as a response. S5208: The reservation information acquired as a response is displayed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the program information receiving device 140 that is an EPG client-equipped device searches the program information transmitting device 110 that is an EPG server-equipped device connected to the network, acquires EPG information, and the network. The recording device 140 that is a recording server-equipped device connected to is searched, an electronic program guide screen is generated from the information, and presented to the user. Then, the user is provided with a means for selecting and recording the program that has been presented, and the user is provided with a means for correcting the reservation recording when the reservation recording overlaps. Therefore, the user can set the reserved recording for performing the network recording to the recording device 140 to the program information transmitting device 110 via the network, in the same manner as when the reserved recording is set to the operated device.
Example 7

  In this embodiment, a program information transmitting apparatus that provides a program guide in a format that can be browsed by a web browser to other apparatuses on the network, its program information providing method, and reserved recording of a broadcast program using this program guide The reservation recording method via the network for setting will be described.

  In the system of FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 operates as a program information transmitting apparatus according to the present embodiment, and has an “EPG server function” that provides broadcast program information via a network. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 140 operates as a program information receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment, and includes an “EPG client function” that acquires program information via a network and provides it to a user. Hereinafter, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 110 is referred to as a program information transmitting apparatus 110, and the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 140 is referred to as a program information receiving apparatus 140.

  The configurations of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 and the program information receiving apparatus 140 are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 53 shows a software configuration of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 53, components providing functions equivalent to those in FIG. In the present embodiment, a Web server 5310 and a Web program guide generation unit 5311 are added to the components of the control software 400 with respect to FIG.

  In response to a request from a client such as a Web browser, the Web server 5310 transmits information such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document, an image such as a still image or a moving image, and audio via the network communication processing unit 420. In this embodiment, the Web server 5310 provides “WebEPG”, which is an electronic program guide generated by the Web program guide generator 5311, as one piece of information to be transmitted.

  The Web program guide generation unit 5311 generates “WebEPG”, which is an electronic program guide in a format that can be browsed by a Web browser, using broadcast program information acquired by referring to the program information processing unit 411. With “WebEPG”, the user can browse the broadcast program guide received by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 via the network using the Web browser of the program information receiving apparatus 140. In “WebEPG” generated by the Web program guide generation unit 5311, the user selects and selects a desired program, or performs recording of a desired program and execution of reservation for viewing, and the display format of the program guide Includes control script to customize. A typical Web page document that can be browsed by a Web browser is an HTML document written in HTML, which is one of the markup languages.

  As described in the first embodiment, the program information processing unit 411 receives a program such as a broadcast schedule and a program title from a PES or ES that includes broadcast program information separated and extracted from the digital broadcast signal by the demax unit 203. Get information. Then, a program information table is constituted by the acquired program information and recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / reproducing unit 210. When program information change information or new program information is received, the program information table is updated each time, and the latest program information is held in the program information table.

  FIG. 54 shows a software configuration of the program information receiving apparatus 150. In FIG. 54, components providing functions equivalent to those in FIG. In this embodiment, a Web browser 5410 is added to the software components in FIG.

  The web browser 5410 is software for browsing web pages. Connect to a web server on the home network or an external web server to download images, sounds, etc. such as HTML, still images, and moving images, analyze the layout, and display / playback. In the present embodiment, “WebEpg” provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is acquired and presented to the user in accordance with a request from the integrated program guide generation application 2610.

  The integrated program guide generation application 2610 includes an electronic program guide generated from the digital broadcast signal received by the program information receiver 140 generated by the program guide generator 410, and an electronic program acquired from the program information transmitter 110 via the network. It is an application that displays the program guide in an integrated manner. In the second embodiment, the program guide acquired via the network is “net EPG” which is an electronic program guide generated by the program information receiving device 140 using the program information acquired from the program information transmitting device 110. In the present embodiment, in addition to this, “WebEpg” provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is also the target of overall display. When the integrated program guide generation application 2610 accepts a display request for “WebEpg” by a user's remote control operation or the like, the Web browser 5410 is activated, and an acquisition destination URL of “WebEpg” provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110 to the Web browser 5410 To display a digital broadcast program guide received by the program information transmitting apparatus 110.

  Here, a specific method for the Web program guide generation unit 5311 of the program information transmission apparatus 110 to generate “WebEpg” from the program information extracted from the PES or ES including the broadcast program information by the program information processing unit 411 Will be described.

  FIG. 56 is an example of a screen of a “WebEpg” page which is an electronic program guide generated by the Web program guide generator 5311. FIG. 57 is one specific example of each program column arranged in the electronic program guide. FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating an example of the definition of an HTML tag constituting “WebEpg”.

  As shown in FIG. 56, the “WebEpg” screen 5600 includes a broadcast system column 5611, a program table providing device column 5612, broadcast date columns 5651, 5852, 5653, 5654, 5655, 5656, 5657, 5658, 5659, and a channel column 5616. , Time columns 5617 and 5618, and a program column 5619. The definition of the HTML tag of each component is shown in FIGS. For some elements, the properties shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are used as the description of the HTML tag.

  The arrangement of each element on the “WebEpg” screen 5600 is described by writing an arrangement program in the script language on the “WebEpg” page, or by dynamically generating a “WebEpg” page by calling a program on the server. Can be used. As a method for calling a desired program in response to a request from a Web browser and returning the execution result to the browser, for example, CGI (Comm Gateway Interface) is used. Examples of script languages include JavaScript (registered trademark) and PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor). In this embodiment, the Web program guide generation unit 5311 dynamically generates a “WebEpg” page and returns it to the program information receiving apparatus 140.

  Here, the definition of the HTML tag which comprises each component, and the acquisition method of the content of a tag are demonstrated. FIG. 58 shows a list of tag definitions and their acquisition methods.

  The broadcast system column 5611 is a column that displays the name of the broadcast system of the electronic program guide being displayed, such as cable television or terrestrial digital broadcast. The name of the broadcasting system is defined as a tag <EpgTitle>. <EpgTitle> is acquired from the char field of the network name descriptor included in the first loop (network loop) of NIT (Network Information Table).

  The program guide providing device column 5612 is a column for displaying the name of the program information transmitting device 110 that provided the program information, and is defined by a <WebEpgServerName> tag as shown in FIG. In the <WebEpgServerName> tag, “device name” included in the device information 610 of the device description information 600 is described.

  Reference numerals 5651, 5652, 5653, 5654, 5655, 5656, 5657 and 5658 are broadcast date columns. You can select several days from now. In this embodiment, eight broadcast date columns are prepared so that program information for eight days transmitted by the television service can be selected. The broadcast date column is defined as an <EpgDate> tag as shown in FIG.

  The <EpgDate> tag includes a character string indicating the date and day of the week, such as “21 (Sat)”, and the content is displayed in the broadcast date column. The date information when “WebEpg” is requested is inserted in the contents of <EpgDate> in the broadcast date column 5651, and the dates and days of the week from the next day to the eighth day are displayed in the other broadcast date columns 5562 to 5658. The character information shown is inserted. <EpgDate> has an attribute “href” and an attribute “viewflag”. In the attribute href, the acquisition URL of the WebEpg of the day represented by <EpgDate> is described. In this embodiment, a case where CGI is used is described as an example. Date date and time time are set as arguments. In this embodiment, the Web program guide generation unit 5311 automatically sets the date and time when “WebEpg” is requested. For example, in the case of the broadcast date column 5653, in “WebEpg” in FIG. 56, the display start time is 6 pm and the date in the broadcast date column 5653 is “23 (month)”, so the attribute href is href = “http: //”. /WebEpg_uuid/epg.cgi?date=20120123&time=18 ". The attribute “viewflag” indicates whether or not the program guide for the date indicated by <EpgDate> is being displayed. In FIG. 56, since the program table of the broadcast date column 5651 is displayed, the value of the attribute “viewflag” of the broadcast date column 5651 is “1”, and the others are described as “0”. This attribute value is used for the purpose of displaying the date of the currently displayed program table in an easy-to-understand manner, as shown only in the broadcast date column 5651 in the broadcast date column in FIG. By adopting a configuration in which the broadcast date column has the attribute href, the user of the program information receiving apparatus 140 displays a program table specifying the date and time simply by selecting a desired one from the broadcast date column displayed on the screen. be able to.

  The channel column 5616 is a column for presenting a list of channels provided in the broadcasting system, and the channel columns 5620 are arranged side by side. Below the column of each channel column 5620, program information of programs broadcast on the channel is arranged.

  Each channel column 5620 of one channel includes a channel name column 5621, an icon column 5622, and a channel number column 5623.

  The channel name column 5621 displays the organization channel name. Also, <upnp: channelName> defined in FIG. 14B is used as a tag to indicate the channel name column 5621. In <upnp: channelName>, the information of the char included in the second loop of the “service descriptor” included in the service description table of SDT (Service Description Table) is inserted.

  The icon column 5622 displays a logo of the organization channel. Further, <upnp: icon> defined in FIG. 14A is used as a tag to indicate the icon column 5622. An icon column 5622 displays a logo of the service (organization channel). The information on the logo is held by the program information transmitting apparatus 110, and the Web program guide generation unit 5311 generates a URL for acquiring the logo, and describes it in the <channelIcon> tag.

  In the channel number column 5623, a channel number for identifying the composition channel is displayed. Further, <upnp: channelNr> defined in FIG. 14B is used as a tag to indicate the channel number column 5623. As described in FIG. 14B, the channel numbers are represented by [one-touch channel selection number] and [three-digit number]. [3-digit number] uses service_id of the “service list descriptor” included in the second loop (TS loop) of NIT (Network Information Table).

  Time columns 5617 and 5618 are columns for displaying the broadcast time. When displaying the electronic program guide, the display time is arranged at the top. The display time zone can be moved by a user's remote control operation or the like as in a general electronic program guide. In this embodiment, one time column is arranged on each side of the electronic program guide, but one or three or more time columns may be arranged depending on the size of the screen.

  A program column 5619 is a column for displaying each program column 5630 which is program information of each program. As shown in the figure, each program column 5630 is arranged in a grid pattern in the program column 5619.

  A tag describing each program column 5630 will be described with reference to FIG. Each program column 5630 includes a program start time display column 5731, a program name display column 5732, a program description display column 5733, a reservation icon column 5720, a record button 5741, a view button 5742, and the like.

  An event name (program name) is displayed in the program name display field 5732. <EventName> is defined as a tag indicating an event name. In the <eventName> tag, information of event_name_char included in the first loop of the “short format event descriptor” included in the event loop of the EIT (Event Information Table) is inserted. The <eventName> tag has an attribute “eventId” and an attribute “serviceID” as attribute information. The attribute “eventId” is an identifier that uniquely identifies a program within a service (channel) that provides the event (program). The attribute “serviceID” is a channel number for identifying a composition channel. Event_id and service_id included in the EIT to which <eventName> belongs are used.

  The program start time display field 5731 is defined by a <startTime> tag. Contents indicating the minute portion of the program start time are held in the MM format. For example, a program that starts at 10:15 is expressed as <startTime> 15 </ startTime>. The <startTime> tag has an attribute “scheduledStartTime” and an attribute “scheduledEndTime”. The attribute “scheduledStartTime” represents the start time of the program. The value of start_time corresponding to eventName @ eventId is acquired from the EIT and inserted. <StartTime> is obtained by extracting a part representing minutes from start_time. The attribute “scheduledEndTime” generates and inserts an end time from the start_time corresponding to eventName @ eventId from the EIT and the duration representing the length of time of the target event.

  In the program explanation display field 5733, an explanation about the event (program) is described. Further, <dc: description> defined in FIG. 15B is used as a tag to indicate the program description display field 5733. The text_char included in the second loop of the short format event descriptor included in the event loop of the EIT to which <eventName> belongs is inserted.

  The reservation icon column 5720 is a column for displaying a reservation set for the program shown in each program column, and describes a URL for referring to an icon indicating a recording reservation or a viewing reservation. The reservation setting state is acquired by the Web program guide generation unit 410 with reference to the reservation management unit 414. The reservation management unit 414 manages reservation information in such a manner that reservations can be referred to by the attribute “serviceID” and the attribute “eventId” of the <eventName> tag. Icons indicating recording reservations and viewing reservations are recorded in the memory 213 or the recording / playback unit 210.

  The record button 5741 is defined by a <recordReq> tag. A recording reservation request for the target event (program) is described as “http: //WebEpg_uid/recReq.cgi? ServiceID = 103 & eventID = 123”. The Web program guide generation unit 5311 that has received a request from the Web browser 5410 via the Web server 5310 uses the service ID = 103 and the event ID = 123 added as arguments of the recording reservation request to record the recording reservation to the reservation management unit 414. Request setting. The Web program guide generation unit 5311 receives the recording reservation setting result from the reservation management unit 414, generates a screen to be displayed as a result, and returns it to the Web browser 5410.

  The view button 5742 is defined by a <playReq> tag. The viewing reservation request for the target event (program) is described as “http: //WebEpg_uid/playReq.cgi? ServiceID = 103 & eventID = 123”. Upon receiving a request from the Web browser 5410 via the Web server 5310, the Web program guide generation unit 5311 is currently broadcasting the corresponding program using serviceID = 103 and eventID = 123 added as arguments of the viewing reservation request. Judge whether there is. When broadcasting, a URL for acquiring the program is returned as a response. Otherwise, it requests viewing reservation from the reservation management unit 414 using serviceID = 103 and eventID = 123 added as arguments. The Web program guide generation unit 5311 receives the viewing reservation setting result from the reservation management unit 414, generates a screen to be displayed as a result, and returns it to the Web browser 5410.

  Each program column 2230 is arranged in a channel column column of a channel on which the program is broadcast. The column of the channel column 5616 where each program column 5630 is arranged is associated with the attribute “serviceID” of the <eventName> tag and the value of the <upnp: channelNr> tag (FIG. 14B). The position of the vertical axis is determined by the program start time. For example, the 1-hour column is divided into four in 15-minute units, and the start from 0 to 15 minutes (not including 15 minutes) is the top position of the 4-division, from 15 to 30 minutes (not including 30 minutes) The start is arranged at the second position from the top of the four divisions.

  Next, a procedure for searching for a program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides an apparatus on the network that provides “WebEPG” will be described.

  FIG. 55 shows device description information of the program information transmitting apparatus 110 in this embodiment. In FIG. 55, elements equivalent to those in FIG. In this embodiment, a “WebEPG” function is added as a service provided by the program information transmitting apparatus 110. Then, as shown by 5510 in FIG. 55, the WebEPG service 5510 is added to the service information list 620 of the device description information. The description of the service related to the WebEPG service 5510 includes a service type, a service ID, and an access page URL.

  The WebEPG service 5510 defines the service type as “WebStyleEpg” as indicated by 5511. The WebEPG service 5510 does not have a service description URL and a control URL in the service description, and having an access page URL 5512 indicates that the service is provided in a format that can be browsed by a Web browser instead of an operation by a control command. . “WebStyleEpgURL” described in the access page URL 5512 indicates an access destination for browsing “WebEPG”.

  Here, two examples of how the program information receiving apparatus 140 searches for the program information transmitting apparatus 110 that provides “WebEPG” will be described.

  The first method is a method of performing “device search” for searching for MediaServer (DMS) that provides the EPG server function shown in FIG. When receiving the response (1911) to the “device search” (S1910) for DMS search, the program information receiving apparatus 140 transmits the device information request in S1912 to the apparatus that has transmitted the response. And device description information shown in FIG. 55 is acquired by response S1913 with respect to it. Then, by interpreting the service information list 620 and detecting a service whose service type is “WebStyleEpg”, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 knows that “WebEPG” is provided, and the access destination of “WebEPG” is accessed from the access page URL 5512. Information can be acquired. Further, by proceeding with the process of FIG. 19 and executing the processes after S1914, it is possible to detect that the program information transmitting apparatus 110 is an EPG server that also provides “Net Epg”.

  Thus, the first method has an advantage that “WebEPG” can be searched by the same method as that for searching “Net Epg”.

  The second method is a method of “service search” in which the service type searches for “WebStyleEpg”. FIGS. 59A and 59B show an example of a “service search” message and a “response” message for searching for “WebStyleEpg”.

  FIG. 59A shows a “service search” message.

  “M-SEARCH” indicates that this message is a search request.

  “HOST: 239.255.255.250:1900” indicates that this message is a multicast message to be transmitted to all devices constituting the home network. “MAN:“ ssdp: discover ”” indicates that SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) is used as a search protocol. “MX:” is an element that describes the maximum waiting time for a response to this message, and “MX: 1” indicates that the maximum waiting time is 1 second. “ST:” is an element that describes a search target (Search Target). Here, “service: WebStyleEpg” indicating that a device having the service type “WebStyleEpg” is searched is described. In the case of “device search” for DMS search, “device: MediaServer” is described as an element of “ST:”.

  FIG. 59B shows a “response” message for the “service search” message. “HTTP / 1.1 200 OK” indicates that this message is a “response” message. “CACHE-CONTROL: max-age = 1800” represents the validity period (seconds) of the content of this message. In this example, it is specified as 1800 seconds. “LOCATION:” is an element that describes a URL indicating a transmission destination of a device information request for acquiring device description information of a device that is a transmission source of a “response” message. “Content-Location:” is an element added when a service with the service type “WebStyleEpg” is searched. The contents of the access page URL (FIGS. 55 and 5512) are described here. “SERVER:” is an element that describes information about a device that is a transmission source of a “response” message, such as an OS version. “ST:” is an element that describes a search target (Search Target). In the case of the present embodiment, “service: WebStyleEpg” as a search target is described in FIG. “USN:” describes a uid (Universally Unique Identifier) that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the device that is the transmission source of the “response” message.

  As described above, in the method of “service search” that searches for “WebStyleEpg” as the second method, the “response page URL” provided by the “WebStyleEpg” service is included in the “response” message. In the first method, after “device search” is performed to acquire the access destination URL of “WebEPG”, a device information request is transmitted to the URL indicated by “LOCATION:” obtained in the response, and the device It was necessary to obtain descriptive information. On the other hand, in the second method, the “access page URL” provided by the “WebStyleEpg” service can be acquired by “Content-Location:” included in the “response” message of “service search”. Therefore, the access destination of “WebEPG” can be acquired more easily, and the software of the program information receiving apparatus 140 can be further simplified.

  As described above, the program information transmitting apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment provides EPG information to other devices on the network using a Web browser, and uses the program information obtained from the EPG information to the program information transmitting apparatus 110. Provides an interface for setting scheduled recordings. Therefore, the user can set the reserved recording in the program information transmitting apparatus 110 via the network with the same feeling as when the reserved recording is set to the operated device.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User's house 2, 3 Broadcasting station 4 Public network 5 Broadcast cable 11 Broadcast receiving antenna 12, 13 Divider 14 Router 15 Access point 16 Hub 110 Program information transmitting device (digital broadcast receiving device) 120 Digital broadcast receiving device (STB) 130 Digital broadcast receiving device (DTV) 140 Program information receiving device (digital broadcast receiving device) 150 Digital broadcast receiving device (recorder) 160 Mobile device 201 Tuner unit 202 Demodulation decoding unit 203 Demax unit 205 Audio decoding unit 206 Video decoding unit 205 Data decoding unit 208 Combining unit 209 Network connecting unit 210 Recording / reproducing unit 211 Control unit 213 Memory 214 Input / output unit 215 Operation I / F unit 216 Conditional reception I / F unit 217 Fixed reception information storage unit 221 Antenna connection terminal 222 Digital audio signal output terminal 223 Digital video signal output terminal 224 Network terminal 225 Input output terminal 226 Operation signal reception unit 230 Operation device 301 Audio output unit 302 Video display unit 303 Input switching unit 304 Input Switching unit 305 Digital audio signal input terminal 306 Digital video signal input terminal 400, 500, 2600 Control software 410 Program table generation unit 411 Program information processing unit 412 Program information conversion unit 413 Content management unit 414 Reservation management unit 420 Network communication processing unit 421 Message analysis unit 422 Message generation unit 423 Media distribution service 424 Device information service 425 Content directory service 426 Program information provision unit 427 Content information providing unit 428 streaming connection service 429 reserved recording service 450 application management unit 501, 2611 network reservation recording application 510 acquired program table generation unit 514 reservation setting management unit 523 media reception controller 525 content detection controller 526 program information acquisition unit 527 content Information acquisition unit 528 Streaming connection controller 529 Scheduled recording setting controller 530 Device detection unit 2210 Broadcast type column 2211, 5611 Broadcast system column 2212, 5612 Program table providing device column 2213 Broadcasting day 2216, 5616 Channel column 2217, 2218 Time column 2219 Program Field 2221, 5621 Channel name field 2222, 5622 Icon field 2223, 5623 Channel Number column 2230, 5630 Program column 2231, 5731 Program start time display column 2232, 5732 Program name display column 2233, 5733 Program description display column 2610 Integrated program table generation application 2701 Integrated EPG column 2702 Net EPG icon 4000 Reservation dialog 5310 Web Server 5311 Web program guide generation unit 5410 Web browser 5620 Each channel field 5720 Reservation icon field 5741 Record button 5742 View button

Claims (3)

A program information transmitting apparatus for receiving a digital broadcast including program information describing attributes of a program,
A program information processing unit for obtaining the program information from a digital broadcast signal;
Using the program information, a Web program guide generating unit that generates a Web program guide having a reservation button in a format that can be viewed by a Web browser for a broadcast received by the digital broadcast;
A device information providing unit that provides access destination information for another device to acquire the Web program guide;
A reservation management unit that stores identifier information that uniquely identifies a program selected for reservation when it is detected that the reservation button is selected;
A program information transmitting apparatus comprising: A program information receiving device for controlling other devices via a network,
A device detection unit that holds access destination information for acquiring a Web program guide received from another device;
The Web program guide provided by the other device is acquired and displayed using the access destination information for acquiring the Web program guide, and the reservation is selected when the reservation button included in the Web program guide is selected. A web browser for transmitting a reservation request including identification information for uniquely identifying the program
A program information receiving apparatus comprising: A program information transmission method for receiving a digital broadcast including program information describing attributes of a program,
A program information processing step for obtaining the program information from a digital broadcast signal;
A Web program guide generating step for generating a Web program guide having a reservation button in a format that can be browsed by a Web browser for the broadcast received by the digital broadcast, using the program information;
A device information providing step for providing access destination information for another device to acquire the Web program guide;
Reservation management step of setting a reservation by storing identifier information that uniquely identifies a program for which a reservation is selected when detecting that the reservation button is selected;
A program information transmission method comprising: