JP2022126748A - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcasting receiver capable of executing higher value-added functions.

SOLUTION: A broadcast receiver receives broadcast waves of a digital broadcasting service, controls an operation including activation and termination of an application on the basis of application control information, and selects control related to an operation including activation and termination of plural types of applications on the basis of a user operation. When activation of a second application (broadcast managed application) is requested during the execution of a first application (non-broadcast application or general application), the broadcast receiver controls at least one of terminating or continuing the first application and activating or deactivating the second application in accordance with the selection of control by the user.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 28

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiver.

One of the extended functions of digital broadcasting services is data broadcasting that transmits digital data by broadcast waves and displays various information such as weather forecasts, news, and recommended programs. A large number of television receivers capable of receiving data broadcasting are already on the market, and a large number of technologies related to data broadcasting reception, including the following patent document 1, have been published.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-186486

One of the characteristics of data broadcasting is that a television receiver compatible with digital broadcasting services can receive data broadcasting by itself and can acquire/display various information. On the other hand, data broadcasting limits the amount of data that can be transmitted due to radio band limitations, making it difficult to obtain high-definition screen displays and highly functional effects. The problem was that it was difficult to implement in a broadcast receiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions with higher added value.

As means for solving the above problems, the technology described in the claims is used.
As an example, the technology described in claim 1 is used.

By using the technology of the present invention, it is possible to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions with higher added value.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiver according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; 3 is a block diagram of a broadcasting station server according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a service provider server according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile information terminal according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment; 4 is a data configuration diagram of application control information according to the embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when an application is started; FIG. 4 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when an application is started; FIG. 4 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when an application is started; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when the portable information terminals according to the embodiment are linked; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when the portable information terminals according to the embodiment are linked; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when the portable information terminals according to the embodiment are linked; FIG. 4 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus and the mobile information terminal according to the embodiment when an application is started; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a basic screen of the cooperative control application of the portable information terminal according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a basic screen of the cooperative control application of the portable information terminal according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a screen display diagram of a data broadcast screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a screen display diagram of a notification screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a broadcast cooperation application launcher of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. The screen display figure of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus which concerns on an Example. The screen display figure of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus which concerns on an Example. The screen display figure of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus which concerns on an Example. The screen display figure of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus which concerns on an Example. FIG. 5 is a screen display diagram of an error display screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; The screen display figure of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen of the portable information terminal which concerns on an Example. FIG. 4 is a screen display diagram of an EPG display screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram of detailed information on an EPG display screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment acquires a broadcast cooperation application; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when terminals are linked according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when terminals are linked according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when terminals are linked according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram when terminals are linked according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a broadcast cooperation application launcher of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a broadcast cooperation application launcher of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a broadcast cooperation application launcher of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a broadcast cooperation application launcher of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a screen display diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; The screen display figure of the broadcast cooperation application launcher of the portable information terminal which concerns on an Example. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment and a usage example; FIG. FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when the broadcast cooperation application is started; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when the broadcast cooperation application is started; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when the broadcast cooperation application is started; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of a bootability confirmation screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a screen display diagram of a user setting screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration including a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment and a usage example; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing examples of a plurality of types of applications and transitions between applications according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment when the broadcast cooperation application is started; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of control of reproduction of a broadcast program and execution of an application according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of an example of a start-up selection screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of an example of a start-up selection screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of an example of a multiple application execution screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram of an example of a multiple application execution screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment;

Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an example of a digital broadcast service that can be received by the broadcast receiver of this embodiment will be described.
For example, in an example of BS/terrestrial digital broadcasting that can be received by the broadcast receiver of this embodiment, a plurality of transport streams (TS) can be multiplexed and transmitted in one transponder (frequency channel). TS is a predetermined length obtained by dividing a data string such as video/audio elementary stream (ES) and program specific information (PSI)/service information (Service Information: SI) and adding a TS header. is a series of TS packets.

The PSI is a unique information table for identifying which program each ES included in the TS belongs to, defined by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-2 system standard. PSI is composed of PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table), CAT (Conditional Access Table), and the like. The PAT defines a list of programs included in the TS with the PID (Packet Identifier) of the PMT. The PMT defines, for example, the PIDs of the constituent elements of each program. The CAT contains information about conditional access.

In addition, SI is an extension of PSI to include program information, etc., and is an electronic program guide defined by ARIB STD-B10 by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB). EPG). The SI includes a BIT (Broadcaster Information Table), an SDT (Service Description Table), an EIT (Event Information Table), a TOT (Time Offset Table), and the like. The BIT includes broadcasting station identification information, affiliated information, broadcasting station SI transmission information, and the like. The SDT includes information such as a network ID for identifying a network, a TS ID for identifying a TS, and a service ID (so-called channel number) for identifying each service (so-called channel) within the network. The EIT includes service IDs for identifying individual services within the network, and event-related information such as the name of each event (so-called program), broadcast date and time, and broadcast content. The TOT contains information about the current date and time.

In addition, the TS includes PCR (Program Clock Reference) information that serves as a reference for playback timing in the decoder, and BML documents that are subsets based on the BML (Broadcast Markup Language) specifications stipulated by ARIB STD-B24. .

The broadcast receiving apparatus of the present embodiment receives and decodes the TS composed of the video/audio ES and various information, thereby allowing the user to view data broadcast screens produced using broadcast programs, EPG, and BML. can be provided to

In addition, the broadcast receiving apparatus of the present embodiment links digital broadcasting services with functions using a broadband network, acquires additional content via the broadband network, performs arithmetic processing in a server device, and presents processing in cooperation with a mobile terminal device. It is possible to correspond to a broadcasting and communication cooperation system that combines such as digital broadcasting service. In order to realize the broadcast-communication cooperation system, the broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment shall be capable of executing an application described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like. In addition, in the broadcast-communication collaboration system that this broadcast receiver supports, the extended PSI/ SI information is used. Note that the AIT is information for providing or disseminating various information necessary for starting an application, such as an application acquisition destination, and control information for controlling the starting/terminating of an application.

The above description is based on the digital broadcasting service in Japan, but it is not limited to application only in Japan, including the broadcast communication cooperation system to which the broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment is compatible.

Next, a specific configuration example of the embodiment in this example will be described.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a communication system according to the present embodiment that realizes a broadcast-communication cooperation system. The communication system of this embodiment includes a broadcast receiving device 100 and an antenna 100a, a broadband network 200 such as the Internet, a router device 210, a broadcasting station radio tower 300t, a broadcasting station server 300, a service provider server 400, and other application servers 500. , a mobile telephone communication server 600, a mobile telephone communication network base station 600b, and a mobile information terminal 700. FIG.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is a television receiver having a function corresponding to the above-mentioned broadcast-communication cooperation system in addition to an existing digital broadcast receiving function. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t via the antenna 100a. Also, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can be connected to the Internet 200 via the router apparatus 210 and can transmit and receive data through communication with each server apparatus on the Internet 200 .

The router device 210 is connected to the Internet 200 by wireless or wired communication, is connected to the broadcast receiving device 100 by wireless or wired communication, and is connected to the portable information terminal 700 by wireless communication. As a result, each server device on the Internet 200 , the broadcast receiving device 100 , and the mobile information terminal 700 can mutually transmit and receive data via the router device 210 . Note that the communication between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 may be performed directly by a method such as BlueTooth (registered trademark) or NFC (Near Field Communication) without going through the router device 210 .

The radio tower 300t transmits a broadcast wave including a digital broadcast signal, AIT, control information related to application presentation, etc., from the broadcasting facility of the broadcasting station. The control information related to application presentation is control information related to superimposition of a broadcast program and an application on a television receiver and whether or not to present an application. Also, the broadcasting station is assumed to have a broadcasting station server 300 . The broadcasting station server 300 stores broadcast programs (video content, etc.) and metadata such as program titles, program IDs, program summaries, performers, broadcast dates, etc. of each broadcast program, and stores the video content and each metadata, Based on the contract, it shall be possible to provide it to the service provider. The video content and each metadata may be provided to the service provider through an API (Application Programming Interface) of the broadcasting station server 300 .

The service provider server 400 is a server device prepared by the service provider to provide services by the broadcast-communication cooperation system. The service provider server 400 stores, manages, and distributes moving image content and metadata provided by the broadcasting station server 300, and content and applications created for the broadcast-communication cooperation system. It also has a function of searching for applications that can be provided and providing a list in response to an inquiry from a television receiver. Note that the storage, management, and distribution of the content and metadata and the storage, management, and distribution of the application may be performed by different server devices. The broadcasting station and the service provider may be the same or may be different providers. A plurality of service provider servers 400 may be prepared for different services. Also, the functions of the service provider server 400 may be provided by the broadcasting station server 300 .

The other application server 500 is a known server device that stores, manages, and distributes general applications, operating programs, contents, and data other than those related to the broadcast-communication cooperation system.

A mobile phone communication server 600 is connected to the Internet 200, and is connected to a mobile information terminal 700 via a base station 600b. The mobile phone communication server 600 manages telephone communication (call) and data transmission/reception via the mobile phone communication network of the mobile information terminal 700, and transfers data through communication between the mobile information terminal 700 and each server device on the Internet 200. Enables sending and receiving. Communication between mobile information terminal 700 and broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be performed via base station 600 b , mobile telephone communication server 600 , Internet 200 and router apparatus 210 .

[Hardware Configuration of Broadcast Receiver]
FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. Broadcast receiver 100 includes main control unit 101, system bus 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, storage unit 110, LAN communication unit 121, expansion interface unit 124, digital interface unit 125, tuner/demodulation unit 131, first separation unit 132, First video decoding unit 133, first audio decoding unit 134, first caption decoding unit 135, data broadcasting reception processing unit 141, data broadcasting engine 142, streaming reception processing unit 151, second separation unit 152, second video decoding unit 153, second audio decoding unit 154, second subtitle decoding unit 155, application control unit 161, application engine 162, video superimposition unit 171, audio selection unit 172, video display unit 173, speaker 174, video output unit 175, audio output It is composed of a unit 176 , a presentation synchronization control unit 181 , and a terminal cooperation control unit 191 .

The main control section 101 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to a predetermined operation program. A system bus 102 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 101 and each operation block in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 .

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a memory that stores a basic operation program such as an operating system and other operation programs. For example, a rewritable ROM such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or flash ROM is used. . A RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 serves as a work area for executing the basic operating program and other operating programs. The ROM 103 and RAM 104 may be configured integrally with the main control unit 101 . Also, the ROM 103 may use a partial storage area in the storage section 110 instead of having an independent configuration as shown in FIG. 2A.

The storage unit 110 stores an operation program and operation setting values of the broadcast receiving device 100, personal information of the user of the broadcast receiving device 100, and the like. Further, it is possible to store an operation program downloaded from a network, various data created by the operation program, and the like. In addition, it is also possible to store content such as moving images, still images, and audio obtained from broadcast waves or downloaded from networks. All or part of the functions of the ROM 103 may be replaced by a partial area of the storage unit 110 . Moreover, the storage unit 110 needs to retain the stored information even when power is not supplied to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from the outside. Therefore, for example, devices such as semiconductor element memories such as flash ROMs and SSDs (Solid State Drives), and magnetic disk drives such as HDDs (Hard Disc Drives) are used.

It should be noted that each operation program stored in the ROM 103 and the storage unit 110 can be updated and expanded in function by downloading from each server device on the Internet 200 .

A LAN (Local Area Network) communication unit 121 is connected to the Internet 200 via a router device 210 and transmits and receives data to and from each server device on the Internet 200 . The connection with the router device 210 may be a wired connection or a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). It is assumed that the LAN communication unit 121 includes an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like. Also, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may further include other communication units such as a BlueTooth (registered trademark) communication unit, an NFC communication unit, an infrared communication unit, and the like.

The tuner/demodulator 131 receives broadcast waves from the radio tower 300t via the antenna 100a, and tunes (selects) to a service channel desired by the user under the control of the main controller 101. FIG. Further, the tuner/demodulator 131 demodulates the received broadcast signal to acquire the TS. Although the example shown in FIG. 2A exemplifies a configuration in which there is one tuner/demodulator, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may include a tuner/demodulator for the purpose of simultaneous display of multiple screens, recording of counterprograms, and the like. It is good also as a structure which mounts more than one. Also, based on the control of the main control unit 101, control of access restriction to the demodulated TS, etc. may be performed.

The first separation unit 132 receives the TS output from the tuner/demodulation unit 131, and separates each data such as a video data string, an audio data string, a caption data string, a program information data string, an AIT data string, a BML data string, and the like. Separate the output into columns. These data strings may be in ES format, for example. The first video decoding unit 133 decodes the video data string input from the first separating unit 132 and outputs video information. The first audio decoding unit 134 decodes the audio data string input from the first separating unit 132 and outputs audio information. The first caption decoding unit 135 decodes the caption data string input from the first separation unit 132 and outputs caption information.

The data broadcast reception processing unit 141 decodes the BML data string input from the first separation unit 132 and reproduces the BML document. The data broadcasting engine 142 is a BML browser that executes BML documents, executes the BML documents reproduced by the data broadcasting reception processing unit 141, and outputs data broadcasting screen information.

Under the control of the main control unit 101, the streaming reception processing unit 151 accesses the moving image content stored in each server device on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121, and receives the program stream ( Program Stream: PS). Also, based on the control of the main control unit 101, control of DRM (Digital Rights Management) processing for the acquired PS may be performed.

The second separation unit 152 receives the PS output from the streaming reception processing unit 151, separates it into data strings such as a video data string, an audio data string, a caption data string, and outputs the data strings. These data strings may be in ES format, for example. The second video decoding unit 153, the second audio decoding unit 154, and the second caption decoding unit 155 perform the same processing as the first video decoding unit 133, the first audio decoding unit 134, and the first caption decoding unit 135, respectively. Therefore, the description is omitted.

Note that the first separating unit 132 and the second separating unit 152, the first video decoding unit 133 and the second video decoding unit 153, the first audio decoding unit 134 and the second audio decoding unit 154, the first caption decoding unit 135 and the second The two-caption decoding unit 155 may be used in common.

Based on the AIT data string input from the first separation unit or the AIT file obtained from each server device on the Internet 200, the application control unit 161 works on the application engine 162 regarding the application created for the broadcasting and communication cooperation system, Control and manage the lifecycle and events of each application. Also, depending on the state of the application and the instructions of the AIT, it appropriately controls the functional restrictions of the application. The application engine 162 is an HTML browser that acquires and executes an application created for the broadcast-communication cooperation system under the control of the application control unit 161 .

The video superimposing unit 171 combines the video information output from the first video decoding unit 133, the subtitle information output from the first subtitle decoding unit 135, the data broadcasting screen information output from the data broadcasting engine 142, and the second video decoding unit. The video information output from 153, the subtitle information output from the second subtitle decoding unit 155, and the application execution screen information output from the application engine 162 are input, and processing such as selection and/or superimposition is performed. The image superimposing unit 171 includes a video RAM (not shown), and the image display unit 173 and the like are driven based on the image information input to the video RAM. In addition, the video superimposing unit 171 superimposes EPG screen information created based on scaling processing and the program information data string output from the first separating unit 132 as necessary based on the control of the main control unit 101. processing, etc.

The audio selection unit 172 receives audio information output from the first audio decoding unit 134, audio information output from the second audio decoding unit 154, and application execution audio information output from the application engine 162, and performs main control. The voice information is appropriately selected and output according to the control of the unit 101 .

The video display unit 173 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, for example, and provides the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 with video information selected and/or superimposed by the video superimposing unit 171 . Speaker 174 provides the user of broadcast receiving apparatus 100 with the audio information output from audio selector 172 . The video output unit 175 is a video output interface that outputs video information selected and/or superimposed by the video superimposition unit 171 . The audio output unit 176 is an audio output interface that outputs audio information output from the audio selection unit 172 . As described above, when the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is a television receiver or the like, the video output section 175 and the audio output section 176 are not essential components of the present invention.

The presentation synchronization control unit 181 combines video information, audio information, etc. obtained by decoding the TS obtained from the broadcast wave, and video information obtained by decoding the PS obtained from each server device on the Internet 200. , audio information, etc., and application execution screen information and application execution audio information output from the application engine 162, on the video display unit 173 and the speaker 174, or on the video output unit 175 and the audio output unit 176. Synchronous control of presentation is performed based on, for example, PCR information.

When cooperating with an external mobile terminal device, the terminal cooperation control unit 191 performs functions such as discovery and authentication of a cooperating device (mobile terminal device), connection between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the cooperating device, application cooperation, and the like. Manage and control.

The extension interface unit 124 is a group of interfaces for extending the functions of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and in this embodiment, it is assumed to be composed of an analog video/audio interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a memory interface, and the like. do. The analog video/audio interface inputs analog video/audio signals from an external video/audio output device, outputs analog video/audio signals to an external video/audio input device, and the like. The USB interface is connected to a PC or the like to transmit and receive data. Broadcast programs and contents may be recorded by connecting an HDD. Also, a keyboard or other USB devices may be connected. A memory interface connects a memory card or other memory medium to transmit and receive data.

The digital interface unit 125 is an interface that outputs or inputs encoded digital video data and/or digital audio data. The digital interface unit 125 can directly output the TS acquired by the tuner/demodulator 131 and the PS acquired by the streaming reception processing unit 151 . Also, the TS and PS input from the digital interface unit 125 may be controlled to be input to the first separation unit 132 and the second separation unit 152 . Output of digital content stored in the storage unit 110 or storage of digital content in the storage unit 110 may be performed via the digital interface unit 125 . The digital interface unit 125 is a DVI terminal, an HDMI terminal, or the like, and may output or input data in a format conforming to the DVI specification, the HDMI specification, or the like. It may be output or input in the form of serial data conforming to the IEEE1394 specification or the like.

Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be a television receiver, an optical disk drive recorder such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder, a magnetic disk drive recorder such as an HDD recorder, a STB (Set Top Box), or the like. A PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, a game machine, or the like having a digital broadcast reception function and a broadcast communication cooperation function may be used. If the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is a DVD recorder, HDD recorder, STB, or the like, the video display section 173 and speaker 174 may not be provided. By connecting an external monitor and an external speaker to the video output unit 175 and the audio output unit 176, the same operation as that of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment is possible.

[Software Configuration of Broadcast Receiver]
FIG. 2B is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, and shows the software configuration in the ROM 103, RAM 104, and storage unit 110. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the ROM 103 stores a basic operating program 1001 and other operating programs, and the storage unit 110 stores a receiving function program 1002, a BML browser program 1003, an HTML browser program 1004 and other operating programs. there is The storage unit 110 also includes a content storage area 1011 that stores content such as moving images, still images, and audio, an authentication information storage area 1012 that stores authentication information used when linking with an external mobile terminal device, and the like. Various information storage areas for storing various other information are provided.

A basic operation program 1001 stored in the ROM 103 is loaded into the RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 executes the loaded basic operation program to configure a basic operation execution unit 1101. FIG. Also, the receiving function program 1002, the BML browser program 1003, and the HTML browser program 1004 stored in the storage unit 110 are expanded in the RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 executes the expanded operation programs to receive the data. A function execution unit 1102, a BML browser engine 1103, and an HTML browser engine 1104 are configured. The RAM 104 is also assumed to have a temporary storage area for temporarily holding data created during execution of each operating program as needed.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the basic operation program 1001 stored in the ROM 103 is loaded into the RAM 104 and executed by the main control unit 101 to control each operation block. It is assumed that the unit 1101 controls each operation block. Similar descriptions are made for other operating programs.

The receiving function executing unit 1102 controls each operation block of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in order to realize the broadcast receiving function and the broadcast communication cooperation function. In particular, the broadcast program reproduction unit 1102a includes a tuner/demodulation unit 131, a first separation unit 132, a first video decoding unit 133, a first audio decoding unit 134, a first caption decoding unit 135, a data broadcasting reception processing unit 141, and a data It primarily controls the broadcast engine 142 . Incidentally, the data broadcasting engine 142 may be replaced by the BML browser engine 1103 developed on the RAM 104 . The broadband content reproduction unit 1102 b mainly controls the streaming reception processing unit 151 , the second separation unit 152 , the second video decoding unit 153 , the second audio decoding unit 154 and the second caption decoding unit 155 . The cooperative application control unit 1102 c mainly controls the application control unit 161 and the application engine 162 . Note that the application engine 162 may be replaced by the HTML browser engine 1104 developed on the RAM 104 . The terminal cooperation management unit 1102 d mainly controls the terminal cooperation control unit 191 .

Each operating program may be stored in the ROM 103 and/or the storage unit 110 in advance at the time of product shipment. It may be acquired from other application servers 500 or the like on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121 after product shipment. Further, each operation program stored in a memory card, an optical disc, or the like may be obtained through the expansion interface section 124 or the like.

[Broadcast station server configuration]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcasting station server 300. As shown in FIG. The broadcasting station server 300 is composed of a main control section 301 , a system bus 302 , a RAM 304 , a storage section 310 and a LAN communication section 321 .

The main control section 301 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcasting station server 300 according to a predetermined operation program. A system bus 302 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 301 and each operation block in the broadcasting station server 300 . A RAM 304 serves as a work area when each operation program is executed.

The storage unit 310 stores a basic operation program 3001 and a content management/distribution program 3002, and further includes a video content storage area 3011 and a metadata storage area 3012. A moving image content storage area 3011 stores moving image content of each broadcast program broadcast by a broadcasting station. The metadata storage area 3012 stores metadata such as the program title, program ID, program outline, performers, broadcast date and time of each broadcast program.

Further, the basic operation program 3001 and the content management/distribution program 3002 stored in the storage unit 310 are developed in the RAM 304, and the main control unit 301 executes the expanded basic operation program and content management/distribution program. Thus, a basic operation execution unit 3101 and a content management/distribution execution unit 3102 are configured.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the basic operation program 3001 stored in the storage unit 310 is loaded into the RAM 304 and executed by the main control unit 301 to control each operation block. It is assumed that the action execution unit 3101 controls each action block. Similar descriptions are made for other operating programs.

The content management/distribution execution unit 3102 manages the video content and the like stored in the video content storage area 3011 and the metadata storage area 3012 and metadata, and distributes the video content and the metadata to service business based on the contract. control the provision of information to users. Furthermore, the content management/distribution execution unit 3102 authenticates the service provider server 400 based on the contract as necessary when providing the video content and each metadata to the service provider. Processing is also performed.

The LAN communication unit 321 is connected to the Internet 200 and communicates with the service provider server 400 and the like on the Internet 200 . It is assumed that the LAN communication unit 321 includes an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like.

[Configuration of service provider server]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the service provider server 400. As shown in FIG. The service provider server 400 is composed of a main control unit 401, a system bus 402, a RAM 404, a storage unit 410, and a LAN communication unit 421.

The main control unit 401 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire service provider server 400 according to a predetermined operating program. A system bus 402 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 401 and each operation block in the service provider server 400 . A RAM 404 serves as a work area when each operation program is executed.

The storage unit 410 stores a basic operation program 4001 , a content management/distribution program 4002 and an application management/distribution program 4003 . The moving image content storage area 4011 and the metadata storage area 4012 store the moving image content and the like provided by the broadcasting station server 300 and each metadata, the content produced by the service provider and the metadata related to the content, and the like. The application storage area 4013 stores applications necessary for realizing each service of the broadcast-communication cooperation system to be distributed in response to requests from each television receiver.

Further, the basic operation program 4001, the content management/distribution program 4002, and the application management/distribution program 4003 stored in the storage unit 410 are expanded in the RAM 404, and furthermore, the main control unit 401 executes the expanded basic operation program and content management program. By executing the /distribution program and the application management/distribution program, a basic operation execution unit 4101, a content management/distribution execution unit 4102, and an application management/distribution execution unit 4103 are configured.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the basic operation program 4001 stored in the storage unit 410 is loaded into the RAM 404 and executed by the main control unit 401 to control each operation block. It is assumed that the action execution unit 4101 controls each action block. Similar descriptions are made for other operating programs.

The content management/distribution execution unit 4102 acquires video content and the like from the broadcasting station server 300 and metadata, manages the video content and the metadata accumulated in the video content storage area 4011 and the metadata storage area 4012, And it controls the distribution of the moving image content etc. and each metadata to each television receiver. Also, the application management/distribution execution unit 4103 manages each application stored in the application storage area 4013 and controls when each application is distributed in response to a request from each television receiver. Furthermore, the application management/distribution executing unit 4103 performs authentication processing of each television receiver, etc., as necessary when distributing each application to each television receiver.

The LAN communication unit 421 is connected to the Internet 200 and communicates with the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 via the broadcasting station server 300 on the Internet 200 and the router device 210 . It is assumed that the LAN communication unit 421 includes an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like.

[Hardware configuration of portable information terminal]
FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of portable information terminal 700. As shown in FIG. The portable information terminal 700 includes a main control unit 701, a system bus 702, a ROM 703, a RAM 704, a storage unit 710, a communication processing unit 720, an extended interface unit 724, an operation unit 730, an image processing unit 740, an audio processing unit 750, and a sensor unit 760. , consists of

A main control unit 701 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire portable information terminal 700 . A system bus 702 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 701 and each operation block in the portable information terminal 700 .

A ROM 703 is a memory storing a basic operation program such as an operating system and other operation programs, and a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM or a flash ROM is used. A RAM 704 serves as a work area for executing the basic operation program and other operation programs. The ROM 703 and RAM 704 may be configured integrally with the main control section 701 . Also, the ROM 703 may use a partial storage area in the storage section 710 instead of having an independent configuration as shown in FIG. 5A.

The storage unit 710 stores an operation program and operation setting values of the mobile information terminal 700, personal information of the user of the mobile information terminal 700, and the like. Further, it is possible to store an operation program downloaded from a network, various data created by the operation program, and the like. In addition, it is possible to store contents such as moving images, still images, and sounds downloaded from the network. All or part of the functions of the ROM 703 may be replaced by a partial area of the storage unit 710 . Moreover, the storage unit 710 needs to retain stored information even when power is not supplied to the portable information terminal 700 from the outside. Therefore, for example, devices such as flash ROMs, SSDs, and HDDs are used.

It should be noted that each operation program stored in the ROM 703 and storage unit 710 can be updated and expanded in function by downloading from each server device on the Internet 200 .

The communication processing unit 720 is composed of a LAN communication unit 721 , a mobile telephone network communication unit 722 and an NFC communication unit 723 . The LAN communication unit 721 is connected to the Internet 200 via the router device 210 and transmits and receives data to and from each server device on the Internet 200 . It is assumed that the connection with the router device 210 is performed by wireless connection such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The mobile phone network communication unit 722 performs telephone communication (phone call) and data transmission/reception by wireless communication with the base station 600b of the mobile phone network. The NFC communication unit 723 performs wireless communication with a corresponding reader/writer when in close proximity. The LAN communication unit 721, the mobile phone network communication unit 722, and the NFC communication unit 723 are each provided with an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, an antenna, and the like. Also, the communication processing unit 720 may further include other communication units such as a BlueTooth (registered trademark) communication unit and an infrared communication unit.

The extended interface unit 724 is a group of interfaces for extending the functions of the mobile information terminal 700, and in this embodiment, it is assumed to be composed of a video/audio interface, a USB interface, a memory interface, and the like. The video/audio interface inputs video/audio signals from an external video/audio output device, outputs video/audio signals to an external video/audio input device, and the like. The USB interface is connected to a PC or the like to transmit and receive data. Also, a keyboard or other USB devices may be connected. A memory interface connects a memory card or other memory medium to transmit and receive data.

The operation unit 730 is an instruction input unit for inputting an operation instruction to the portable information terminal 700, and in this embodiment, it is composed of a touch panel 730t arranged over the display unit 741 and an operation key 730k arranged with button switches. shall be Only one of them may be used. The portable information terminal 700 may be operated using a keyboard or the like connected to the extended interface section 724 . The mobile information terminal 700 may be operated using a separate mobile terminal device connected by wired communication or wireless communication. Also, the touch panel function may be provided by the display unit 741 .

The image processing section 740 is composed of a display section 741 , an image signal processing section 742 , a first image input section 743 and a second image input section 744 . The display unit 741 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and provides the user of the mobile information terminal 700 with image data processed by the image signal processing unit 742 . The image signal processing unit 742 includes a video RAM (not shown), and the display unit 741 is driven based on the image data input to the video RAM. Also, the image signal processing unit 742 has functions such as format conversion and superimposition processing of menus and other OSD (On Screen Display) signals, if necessary. The first image input unit 743 and the second image input unit 744 convert the light input from the lens into an electrical signal using an electronic device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. , is a camera unit that inputs image data of surroundings and objects.

The audio processing unit 750 is composed of an audio output unit 751 , an audio signal processing unit 752 and an audio input unit 753 . The audio output unit 751 is a speaker, and provides the user of the portable information terminal 700 with the audio signal processed by the audio signal processing unit 752 . A voice input unit 753 is a microphone that converts a user's voice or the like into voice data and inputs the voice data.

The sensor unit 760 is a group of sensors for detecting the state of the mobile information terminal 700, and in this embodiment includes a GPS receiver unit 761, a gyro sensor 762, a geomagnetic sensor 763, an acceleration sensor 764, an illuminance sensor 765, and a proximity sensor 766. , consists of These sensors make it possible to detect the position, tilt, direction, movement of the mobile information terminal 700, the brightness of the surroundings, the proximity of surrounding objects, and the like. Moreover, the mobile information terminal 700 may further include other sensors such as an air pressure sensor.

The mobile information terminal 700 may be a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, or the like. A PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a notebook PC may be used. It may also be a digital still camera, a video camera capable of shooting moving images, a portable game machine, or other portable digital equipment.

Note that the configuration example of the mobile information terminal 700 shown in FIG. 5A includes many components such as the sensor unit 760 that are not essential to the present embodiment, but even if the configuration does not include these components, the present embodiment without compromising the effect of In addition, a configuration (not shown) such as a digital broadcast reception function, an electronic money payment function, and the like may be added.

[Software configuration of portable information terminal]
FIG. 5B is a software configuration diagram of the portable information terminal 700 of this embodiment, and shows the software configuration in the ROM 703, the RAM 704, and the storage unit 710. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the ROM 703 stores a basic operating program 7001 and other operating programs, and the storage unit 710 stores a cooperation control program 7002, an HTML browser program 7003 and other operating programs. In addition, the storage unit 710 includes a content storage area 7011 for storing content such as moving images, still images, and audio, an authentication information storage area 7012 for storing authentication information used for cooperative operation with a television receiver, and other information. It is assumed that various information storage areas for storing various information are provided.

A basic operation program 7001 stored in the ROM 703 is loaded into the RAM 704, and the main control unit 701 executes the loaded basic operation program to configure a basic operation execution unit 7101. FIG. In addition, the cooperation control program 7002 and the HTML browser program 7003 stored in the storage unit 710 are developed in the RAM 704, respectively, and the main control unit 701 executes the expanded operation programs, thereby executing the cooperation control execution unit 7102 and the HTML browser program 7003. Configure HTML browser engine 7103 . The RAM 704 also has a temporary storage area for temporarily holding data created during execution of each operation program as needed.

In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the basic operation program 7001 stored in the ROM 703 is loaded into the RAM 704 and executed by the main control unit 701 to control each operation block. It is assumed that the unit 7101 controls each operation block. Similar descriptions are made for other operating programs.

The cooperation control execution unit 7102 manages device authentication, connection, transmission and reception of each data, etc. when the portable information terminal 700 performs cooperative operation with the television receiver. The HTML browser engine 7103 is an HTML browser that executes an application created for the broadcast-communication cooperation system on the mobile information terminal 700 .

Each operation program may be stored in the ROM 703 and/or the storage unit 710 in advance at the time of product shipment. It may be obtained from other application servers 500 or the like on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication section 721 or the mobile telephone network communication section 722 after product shipment. Further, each operation program stored in a memory card, an optical disc, or the like may be acquired via the expansion interface section 724 or the like.

[Overview of application control information (AIT)]
The application control information (AIT) of this embodiment is an application ( Hereafter, it may be referred to as a broadcast cooperation application.) and is information intended to instruct its control. In addition, the broadcast cooperation application is (1) a broadcast managed system that operates only in a broadcast reception state based on a control signal such as start/end contained in a broadcast signal, and is permitted to access broadcast resources based on the control signal. applications, (2) non-broadcast managed applications that are allowed to access broadcast resources based on means such as application authentication in an operation mode in which activation/termination, etc. are not controlled by broadcast signals, and (3) broadcast resources. It may be distinguished from other general applications for which access is not permitted.

AIT transmission methods include a method of transmitting AIT in section format or XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format by broadcasting waves using a data carousel (DC) method or the like, and a method of transmitting AIT files in section format or XML format over the Internet. 200 server device using http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or https (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). Other methods may be adopted.

FIG. 6 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of the data configuration of AIT. AIT mainly includes application type 901, application identifier 902, application control code 903, application profile 904, application acquisition source information 905, application boundary and access authority setting 906, activation priority 907, cache information 908, server access distribution parameter 909. , etc. Furthermore, other information may be included.

The application type 901 defines the application description method. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the description method of the application is HTML. The application identifier 902 is identification information composed of an organization identification for identifying a business and an application identification numbered for each business, for identifying an application unit. Note that an application unit is a set of HTML documents and their reference resources, each of which has an HTML document existing at a location specified by the application acquisition source information 905 as an entry document. The application control code 903 defines operation control for the target application, and describes one of (1) automatic activation, (2) operable, (3) termination, and (4) prefetch. . The application profile 904 is a value indicating the functions of the television receiver required by the application, and indicates a combination of functions that the television receiver has as options. Whether or not the application can be used is determined by referring to this value.

The application acquisition destination information 905 is information specifying the acquisition destination of the application, and is location information for acquiring the HTML document to be referred to first when the application is started. Since applications are assumed to be transmitted by broadcasting and stored on a server device on a communication network, the location information specified by the application acquisition destination information 905 also corresponds to both cases of acquisition by broadcasting and acquisition by communication. Regulations are made. The application boundary and access restriction setting 906 is information indicating an operable range as a broadcast managed application as a set of one or more areas (URL: Uniform Resource Locator). Also, access restrictions to broadcast resources for each area are set for each function. Application boundary and access restriction settings 906 specify the range of document transitions to prevent unexpected document transitions and access to inappropriate broadcast resources due to the chain of document transitions from the entry document when the application is started. do. In addition, it is possible to set access authority to specific broadcast resources for each area within the range of the document transition.

Activation priority 907 defines which of the data broadcast by the broadcast service and the broadcast managed application by the HTML document should be preferentially activated when they exist at the same time. unconditionally designating data broadcasting as top priority on the PMT, designating the startup priority of a specific application type on the PMT, and designating the startup priority of the target application with the startup priority 907; shall be possible. The cache information 908 is information used for cache control when holding application resources in preparation for reuse of the application. With this information, it is possible to cache application resources assuming reuse even after the application ends. The server access distribution parameter 909 is a parameter set for distributing access for the purpose of reducing the load on the server where access is concentrated at the acquisition destination of the application. The television receiver may operate to stochastically delay the application of application control codes according to the setting of this parameter.

The operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described below.

[Operation sequence at application startup]
First, the process of activating the broadcast cooperation application based on the AIT transmitted by the broadcast wave in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described. In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, when the data broadcast by the broadcast service and the broadcast cooperation application exist at the same time, which one is prioritized based on the information on the PMT, the application control code 903 of the AIT, the activation priority 907, and the like. It is possible to specify whether to start with

FIG. 7A is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence of the broadcast-linked application when it is specified that the broadcast-linked application should be preferentially activated. The figure shows a series of flows until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms the PMT and AIT as appropriate and activates a predetermined broadcast cooperation application.

When the tuner/demodulator 131 of the broadcast receiver 100 selects the channel desired by the user and acquires the TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data string separated by the first separator 132. (S101), the startup priority described in the PMT is confirmed. When it is confirmed in the process of S101 that the activation priority of the broadcast-linked application is high (S102), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S103), and the acquired AIT The application control code 903 in the data string is confirmed (S104). In the process of S104, if the application control code 903 is "automatic start", furthermore, the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data string is confirmed (S105), and execution of the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT is confirmed. When it is confirmed that it is possible, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application is transmitted to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121. (S106).

Service provider server 400 that has received the transmission request of the broadcast cooperation application, based on the control of application management / distribution execution unit 4103, after performing authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary, in application storage area 4013 Distribution of the stored predetermined broadcast cooperation application is performed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S107). Note that a known method may be used for the authentication process, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Next, under the control of the application control unit 161, the application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving device 100 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400, received via the LAN communication unit 121. (S108).

FIG. 7B is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application when it is specified that the data broadcast by the broadcast service should be preferentially activated. The figure shows a series of flows until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms the PMT and AIT as appropriate and activates a predetermined broadcast cooperation application.

When the tuner/demodulator 131 of the broadcast receiver 100 selects the channel desired by the user and acquires the TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data string separated by the first separator 132. (S201), the activation priority described in the PMT is confirmed. When it is confirmed in the process of S201 that the data broadcast by the broadcast service has a high activation priority (S202), the data broadcast reception processing unit 141 acquires the BML data string separated by the first separation unit 132 and converts it into a BML document. Play back (S203). When automatic activation of data broadcasting is set by the BML document, and when the user uses an operation terminal (portable information terminal 700, remote controller, etc.) to request activation of data broadcasting (S204), the data broadcasting engine 142 generates data broadcasting screen information by executing the reproduced BML document, and displays it on the video display unit 173 (S205).

After the process of S205 or simultaneously with the process of S205, the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S206), and confirms the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data string. (S207). In the process of S207, when it is confirmed that the broadcast-linked application specified by the AIT can be executed, an entry button to the executable broadcast-linked application is displayed on the data broadcasting screen. The entry button may always be displayed, and the color scheme may be changed from the inactive color to the active color only when the broadcast cooperation application can be executed. By changing the shape, the entry button may be switched between an inactive state and an active state.

When the user selects the entry button using the operation terminal (S208), the data broadcasting engine 142 ends the process of executing the BML document and generating data broadcasting screen information (S209). Subsequently, the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S210), and confirms the application acquisition destination information 905 of the acquired AIT data string. Further, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 confirmed in S210, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application is transmitted to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 (S211).

Service provider server 400 that has received the transmission request of the broadcast cooperation application, based on the control of application management / distribution execution unit 4103, after performing authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary, in application storage area 4013 Distribution of the stored predetermined broadcast cooperation application is performed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S212). Next, under the control of the application control unit 161, the application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving device 100 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400, received via the LAN communication unit 121. (S213).

FIG. 7C is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application when no priority activation is specified. The figure shows a series of flows until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms the PMT and AIT as appropriate and activates a predetermined broadcast cooperation application.

When the tuner/demodulator 131 of the broadcast receiver 100 selects the channel desired by the user and acquires the TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data string separated by the first separator 132. (S301), the startup priority described in the PMT is confirmed. When it is confirmed in the process of S301 that the broadcast-linked application has a high activation priority (S302), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S303), and the acquired AIT The application control code 903 in the data string is confirmed (S304). In the process of S304, if the application control code 903 is "startable" instead of "automatic start", the display of the broadcast program is continued without starting neither the data broadcasting by the broadcasting service nor the broadcast cooperation application.

In the state after the processing of S304 is completed, when the user uses the operation terminal to request the activation of data broadcasting (S305), the acquisition of the BML data string and the processing of the BML Reproduction of documents, generation of data broadcasting screen information, etc. are performed (not shown). On the other hand, when the user uses the operation terminal to request activation of the broadcast-linked application launcher after the processing of S304 is finished (S306), the application control unit 161 separates the AIT data separated by the first separation unit 132. A string is obtained (S307), and the application profile 904 of the obtained AIT data string is confirmed (S308). Furthermore, the application control unit 161 displays a list of executable broadcast-linked applications as a broadcast-linked application launcher on the video display unit 173 (S309).

When the user selects a predetermined broadcast-linked application from the broadcast-linked application launcher displayed in S309 using the operation terminal (S310), the application control unit 161 separates the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 into (S311), and confirms the application acquisition destination information 905 of the acquired AIT data string. Further, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 confirmed in S311, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application is transmitted to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 (S312).

Service provider server 400 that has received the transmission request of the broadcast cooperation application, based on the control of application management / distribution execution unit 4103, after performing authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary, in application storage area 4013 Distribution of the stored predetermined broadcast cooperation application is performed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S313). Next, under the control of the application control unit 161, the application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving device 100 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400, received via the LAN communication unit 121. (S314).

In addition, in the activation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, an example of acquiring AIT from broadcast waves is described. Alternatively, the AIT file may be acquired from. Also, the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application may be performed not from the server device (service provider server 400) on the network but from the broadcast wave. That is, when the location information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of AIT indicates a broadcast wave, the application control unit 161 transmits the HTML data string by the data carousel method or the like and is separated and output by the first separating unit 132. , and the application engine 162 executes the reproduced HTML document (broadcast-linked application).

It should be noted that if there is no information specifying the activation priority when the data broadcast by the broadcasting service and the broadcast cooperation application exist simultaneously on the PMT, the activation is performed only by information such as the application control code 903 and the activation priority 907 of the AIT. You may make it confirm a priority. Similarly, even if the acquisition of the information on the PMT fails, the activation priority may be confirmed only by information such as the application control code 903 of the AIT and the activation priority 907 . That is, regardless of the information on the PMT, the AIT is periodically checked, and if there is a broadcast-linked application specified by "automatic start" in the application control code 903 of the AIT, the broadcast-linked application Activation is prioritized, and if there is no broadcast-linked application designated by "automatic activation" in the application control code 903 of the AIT, activation of data broadcasting by the broadcasting service may be prioritized.

Further, when there is no response from the service provider server 400 for a predetermined period of time or more when the distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application is made in S106, S211, or S312, a message such as "Please wait for a while" is displayed on the video display unit 173. You may make it display. Alternatively, in this case, a message may be displayed asking the user to stop executing the broadcast cooperation application.

Further, the activation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application is not limited to the three patterns described above, and it goes without saying that the activation sequence may be different.

[Operational sequence when linking mobile information terminals]
In the broadcast receiving device 100 of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the functions of the broadcast communication cooperation service can be expanded by cooperative operation between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 . For example, by installing an application (cooperation control application) prepared by the television receiver maker, the portable information terminal 700 can be used as a high-performance remote control for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 . Also, the broadcast cooperation application can be executed on the portable information terminal 700, and for example, a service linked to the broadcast program being displayed on the broadcast receiving device 100 can be displayed on the portable information terminal 700 as well. It should be noted that in order to extend the functions by cooperative operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700, it is desirable that the cooperation control application is activated on the mobile information terminal 700, and the operation on the mobile information terminal 700 is performed. It is assumed that the broadcast cooperation application to operate is controlled by the cooperation control application.

FIG. 8A is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of an operation sequence when the cooperative control application is activated on the mobile information terminal 700. FIG. This figure shows a series of flows (first time) from when the portable information terminal 700 performs authentication processing with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to when the cooperative operation becomes possible. It is assumed that the cooperative control application is installed in the storage unit 710 of the mobile information terminal 700 in advance as the cooperative control program 7002 .

When the user instructs the activation of the cooperative control application on the portable information terminal 700 (S401), the cooperative control execution unit 7102 of the portable information terminal 700 searches for a television receiver capable of communication (cooperative operation) on the network ( S402), the search result is displayed on the display unit 741 as a television receiver list. If a communicable television receiver cannot be found, a message to that effect is displayed and the process ends. When the user selects an arbitrary television receiver (broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment) from the television receiver list, the cooperation control execution unit 7102 displays a login screen for connecting to the broadcast receiving device 100 on the display unit 741. do. When the user inputs authentication information (login name and password specified by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, etc.) to the login screen via the operation unit 730 (S403), the cooperation control execution unit 7102 receives the input authentication information. is stored in the authentication information storage area 7012 and simultaneously transmitted to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S404). The process of transmitting the authentication information to the broadcast receiving device 100 may be performed via the LAN communication unit 721 and the router device 210, or may be performed directly to the broadcast receiving device 100 via the NFC communication unit 723. .

Terminal cooperation control section 191 of broadcast receiving apparatus 100 that has received the authentication information via LAN communication section 121 refers to authentication information storage area 1012 to check whether the received authentication information is correct. (S405). When the received authentication information is confirmed to be correct by the process of S405, the information of the mobile information terminal 700 is stored in the authentication information storage area 1012, and the mobile information terminal 700 is authenticated (S406). The portable information terminal 700 that has obtained the authentication of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays the basic screen of the cooperative control application (for example, the advanced remote control screen) on the display unit 741 (S407). In S<b>405 , if the received authentication information is not confirmed to be correct, the terminal cooperation control section 191 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 returns an error to the mobile information terminal 700 . By the above processing, the cooperative operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 becomes possible.

FIG. 8B is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of an operation sequence when the cooperative control application is activated on the mobile information terminal 700. As shown in FIG. This figure shows a series of flows (second and subsequent times) from when the portable information terminal 700 performs the authentication process with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 until the cooperative operation becomes possible.

When the user gives an instruction to start the cooperative control application on the mobile information terminal 700 (S501), the cooperative control execution unit 7102 of the mobile information terminal 700 searches for a communicable television receiver on the network, and displays the search result on the television. A list of receivers is displayed on the display unit 741 . If a communicable television receiver cannot be found, a message to that effect is displayed and the process ends. The user selects an arbitrary television receiver (broadcast receiving device 100 of the present embodiment) from the television receiver list (S502), and the selected broadcast receiving device 100 has performed connection (cooperation operation) in the past. If it is a certain device, the cooperative control execution unit 7102 reads the authentication information of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from the authentication information storage area 7012 and transmits it to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S503).

Terminal cooperation control section 191 of broadcast receiving apparatus 100 that has received the authentication information via LAN communication section 121 refers to authentication information storage area 1012 to check whether the received authentication information is correct. (S504). When the received authentication information is confirmed to be correct by the process of S504, the portable information terminal 700 is authenticated (S505). The portable information terminal 700 that has obtained the authentication of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays the basic screen of the cooperation control application on the display unit 741 (S506). By the above processing, the cooperative operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 becomes possible.

8A and 8B, when the broadcast cooperation application is activated in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the processes of FIGS. 7A and 7C may be performed after the processes of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 8C is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of an operation sequence when the cooperative control application is activated on the mobile information terminal 700. As shown in FIG. This figure shows a series of flows (second and subsequent times) from when the portable information terminal 700 performs the authentication process with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 until the cooperative operation becomes possible. However, in the same figure, it is an example of a case where activation of the cooperation control application on the mobile information terminal 700 is requested by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 that executes the activation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application.

When the tuner/demodulator 131 of the broadcast receiver 100 selects the channel desired by the user and acquires the TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data string separated by the first separator 132. (S601), the activation priority described in the PMT is confirmed. When it is confirmed in the process of S601 that the activation priority of the broadcast cooperation application is high (S602), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S603), and the acquired AIT The application control code 903 in the data string is confirmed (S604). In the process of S604, if the application control code 903 is "automatic start", the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data string is confirmed (S605). In the process of S605, when it is confirmed that the broadcast cooperation application specified by the AIT can be executed, and furthermore, when it is determined that cooperation control of the mobile terminal device is necessary, the terminal cooperation control unit 191 performs authentication. By referring to the information storage area 1012, the portable information terminal 700 is selected as the portable terminal device, and a cooperative control application activation request is transmitted to the selected portable information terminal 700 (S606).

The selection of the portable information terminal 700 by referring to the authentication information storage area 1012 is based on the latest information in the authentication information storage area 1012 or based on the information with the highest frequency of use in the authentication information storage area 1012. You should do it like this.

Further, in the processing of S606, if the mobile terminal device to which the cooperative control application activation request should be sent cannot be found, a message to that effect may be displayed on the video display unit 173. FIG. Alternatively, in this case, a message may be displayed asking the user to stop executing the broadcast cooperation application.

The main control unit 701 of the portable information terminal 700 activates the cooperation control application (cooperation control execution unit 7102) in response to the cooperation control application activation request received via the LAN communication unit 721 (S607). The executing unit 7102 reads the authentication information of the broadcast receiving device 100 from the authentication information storage area 7012 and transmits it to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S608).

Terminal cooperation control section 191 of broadcast receiving apparatus 100 that has received the authentication information via LAN communication section 121 refers to authentication information storage area 1012 to check whether the received authentication information is correct. (S609). When the received authentication information is confirmed to be correct by the process of S609, the portable information terminal 700 is authenticated (S610). The portable information terminal 700 that has obtained the authentication of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays the basic screen of the cooperation control application on the display unit 741 (S611). By the above processing, the cooperative operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 becomes possible.

Note that when the broadcast cooperation application is executed in both the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 following the above-described processing, the processing shown in FIG. 9 may be performed. FIG. 9 is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the activation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700. As shown in FIG.

8C, the application control unit 161 of the broadcast receiving device 100 obtains the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S612), and the application of the obtained AIT data string Confirm the acquisition source information 905 . Further, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 confirmed in S612, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application (TV side) is transmitted to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121. (S613).

Service provider server 400, which has received the transmission request of the broadcast cooperation application (television side), performs authentication processing of broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as necessary based on the control of application management/distribution execution unit 4103, and then performs application A predetermined broadcast cooperation application (TV side) stored in the storage area 4013 is distributed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S614). The application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving device 100, based on the control of the application control unit 161, receives the predetermined broadcast cooperation application (TV side) distributed from the service provider server 400, received via the LAN communication unit 121. Start up (S615).

Next, the terminal cooperation control unit 191 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) to be executed on the mobile information terminal 700, which is acquired from the AIT or the broadcast cooperation application (TV side) executed in S615. URL information and the like are transmitted to the portable information terminal 700 (S616). Linkage control execution unit 7102 of mobile information terminal 700 receives via LAN communication unit 721 based on the acquisition destination URL information of the broadcast collaboration application (terminal side), etc., via LAN communication unit 721, a predetermined service business A transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) is transmitted to the personal server 400 (S617).

Service provider server 400, which has received the transmission request of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side), performs authentication processing of portable information terminal 700 as necessary based on the control of application management/distribution execution unit 4103, and then performs application The predetermined broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) stored in the storage area 4013 is distributed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S618). The HTML browser engine 7103 of the portable information terminal 700 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) received via the LAN communication unit 721 and distributed from the service provider server 400 (S619).

It should be noted that the AIT file can be obtained from a predetermined server device, the broadcast-linked application can be obtained not from a server device on the network but from broadcast waves, etc., are the same as the operation sequences of FIGS. 7A to 7C. be. In addition, when the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application is performed from the broadcast wave, the broadcast reception apparatus 100 acquires the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) to be executed on the mobile information terminal 700 from the broadcast wave, and the acquired broadcast cooperation application (terminal side ) to the portable information terminal 700 via the communication unit 121 . Alternatively, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) to be executed on the mobile information terminal 700 from the broadcast wave, stores it in the storage unit 110, and transmits it to the mobile information terminal 700 in the process of S616 in FIG. As URL information to be transmitted, location information of the storage unit 110 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be transmitted. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may acquire the broadcast cooperation application (TV side) from broadcast waves, and the portable information terminal 700 may acquire the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) from a server device on the network. Using the digital broadcasting reception function of the portable information terminal 700, the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) may be acquired directly from the broadcast wave.

7A to 7C, 8A to 8C, and 9 can be partially combined as appropriate, and some operation steps can be replaced with other operation steps as appropriate. , simultaneous operation, etc.

[Basic screen of cooperative control application for mobile information terminal]
FIG. 10A is a screen display diagram showing an example of the basic screen of the cooperative control application displayed by the processing of S407 of FIG. 8A, the processing of S506 of FIG. 8B, the processing of S611 of FIG. 8C, and the like. In this embodiment, the basic screen 741 a of the cooperative control application is assumed to have a function as a high-performance remote control corresponding to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 .

The basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application includes, as shown in FIG. Channel up/down key 741a5, input switching key 741a6, program guide key 741a7, data key 741a8, cooperative application key 741a9, menu key 741aa, return key 741ab, cursor keys (up, down, left, right) 741ac, decision key 741ad , color keys (blue, red, green, yellow) 741ae. Other operation keys may also be displayed.

The operation keys described above are easy to use if they are arranged and operated in the same manner as the dedicated remote control attached to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 . Also, the power key 741a1, the network selection key 741a2, the numeric keys 741a3, etc. are assumed to have the same functions as the operation keys of a known TV remote control, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The cooperation application key 741a9 is an operation key prepared for the broadcast communication cooperation function of this embodiment.

In addition, in the processing of S204 in FIG. 7B and S305 in FIG. 7C, it is possible to start/end the data broadcasting by selecting the data key 741a8. Further, in the processing of S208 of FIG. 7B and S310 of FIG. 7C, it is assumed that the executable broadcast-linked application can be selected by operating the cursor key 741ac and the decision key 741ad. Also, in the process of S306 in FIG. 7C, it is assumed that a request to activate the broadcast cooperation application launcher can be made by selecting the cooperation application key 741a9.

If the cooperative application key 741a9 or other operation keys having similar functions are prepared on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application, each broadcast cooperative application used in the broadcast cooperative system of the present embodiment can be easily selected/selected. It is possible to start. Also, the dedicated remote control attached to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be provided with the cooperative application key 741 a 9 or other operation keys having similar functions.

FIG. 10B is a screen display diagram showing an example of the basic screen of the cooperative control application displayed by the processing of S407 of FIG. 8A, the processing of S506 of FIG. 8B, the processing of S611 of FIG. 8C, and the like. A different example.

The basic screen 741b of the cooperation control application includes a message 741b1 during cooperation control and a cooperation control application operation screen 741b2. Other objects may also be displayed. The cooperative control in progress message 741b1 is a message display for making the user aware that the portable information terminal 700 is in cooperative operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. FIG. The cooperative control application operation screen 741b2 is an area where arbitrary screen display is performed by the cooperative control application, and detailed description thereof will be omitted in this embodiment. For example, the configuration within the cooperative control application operation screen 741b2 may be the same as the basic screen 741a of the aforementioned cooperative control application. A sub-screen or the like of the broadcast program being displayed on the broadcast receiving device 100 may be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 10B, by displaying the cooperation control in progress message 741b1, the user of the mobile information terminal 700 can easily understand that the mobile information terminal 700 is currently operating in cooperation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. become. Note that the message 741b1 during cooperation control is not limited to character display, and may be symbol display, graphic display, or the like. The message 741b1 may be substituted for the cooperation control in progress message 741b1 by changing the background color or the like.

[Data Broadcast Screen of Broadcast Receiver]
FIG. 11 is a screen display diagram showing an example of the data broadcast screen displayed by the process of S205 in FIG. 7B. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that three broadcast cooperation applications, cooperation application A, cooperation application B, and cooperation application C, can be executed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the description of the AIT or the like. In this case, the entry button 173a2 of the cooperative application A, the entry button 173a3 of the cooperative application B, and the entry button 173a4 of the cooperative application C are displayed at arbitrary positions on the data broadcasting screen 173a.

On the data broadcast screen 173a as shown in FIG. 11, when the entry button 173a2, the entry button 173a3, the entry button 173a4, etc. are selected using the cursor key 741ac and enter key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application, the data broadcast When the display of the screen 173a ends, under the control of the application control unit 161 and the application engine 162, the cooperative application A, the cooperative application B, the cooperative application C, etc. are activated.

When the data broadcasting screen 173a is displayed, the frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking state, etc. of each entry button may be appropriately changed according to the type of broadcast cooperation application, security status, etc. You can do it. For example, if the cooperative application A is a broadcast managed application, the frame color of the entry button 173a2 is set to blue, and if the cooperative application B is a non-broadcast managed application, the frame color of the entry button 173a3 is set to yellow. For example, if the cooperative application C is a general application, the frame color of the entry button 173a4 is red. Alternatively, the frame color of the entry button 173a2 is set to blue when the cooperative application A is determined to be reliable for security, and the entry button is displayed when it is determined that the cooperative application B is not necessarily reliable for security. For example, the frame color of the entry button 173a3 is set to yellow, and the frame color of the entry button 173a4 is set to red when it is determined that the cooperative application C is dangerous in terms of security.

In addition, frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking status, etc. of each entry button, depending on the function and genre of the broadcast collaboration application, or depending on the expiration date of use of each broadcast collaboration application. may be changed as appropriate. The frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking state, etc. of each entry button may be appropriately changed depending on whether the broadcast cooperation application has been acquired from the network. . For example, if the cooperative application A has already been acquired from the network (cached in the RAM 104 or the storage 110), the frame color of the entry button 173a2 is blue, and if the cooperative application B is being acquired, the entry button 173a2 is displayed. For example, the frame color of the button 173a3 is set to yellow, and the frame color of the entry button 173a4 is set to red when the cooperative application C has not yet been obtained.

In this way, the user of the broadcast receiving device 100 can easily grasp the types of broadcast cooperation applications that can be executed by the broadcast receiving device 100, the security status, and the like.

[Broadcast-linked application launcher screen of broadcast receiver]
FIG. 12A is a screen display diagram showing an example of a notification screen for making the user aware that there is a broadcast cooperation application that can be activated in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment.

For example, in the operation sequence shown in FIG. 7C, after the process of S304, the display of the broadcast program is continued without activating either the data broadcast by the broadcast service or the broadcast cooperation application. On the other hand, in this case, if an icon 173b0 as shown in FIG. 12A is displayed in order to make the user aware that there is a broadcast cooperation application that can be started, the usability of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is improved. That is, by displaying the icon 173b0, it is possible to prevent the user from overlooking the existence of the broadcast cooperation application that can be activated.

The icon 173b0 may be displayed at any position on the screen, but it is desirable that the icon 173b0 be displayed at a position that does not interfere with the viewing of the broadcast program. For example, four corners of the screen. Also, the icon 173b0 may be a character display as shown in FIG. 12A, or may be a symbol, a figure, or the like. Also, the icon 173b0 may be displayed all the time, or may be displayed for a predetermined period of time after the power is turned on or after the channel is switched. Alternatively, it may be displayed at the same time when the program information, channel number, etc. are displayed.

FIG. 12B is a screen display diagram showing an example of a broadcast-linked application launcher displayed by the process of S306 in FIG. 7C. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that three broadcast cooperation applications, cooperation application A, cooperation application B, and cooperation application C, can be executed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the description of the AIT or the like. In this case, a broadcast-linked application launcher 173b1 is displayed at an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173b. Entry button 173b4 and Return button 173b5 are displayed.

While the broadcast collaboration application launcher 173b1 as shown in FIG. 12B is displayed, use the cursor key 741ac and enter key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the collaboration control application to select the entry button 173b2, the entry button 173b3, the entry button 173b4, and the entry button 173b3. When , etc. are selected, under the control of the application control unit 161 and the application engine 162, the cooperative application A, the cooperative application B, the cooperative application C, etc. are activated. When the return button 173b5 is selected, the display of the broadcast-linked application launcher 173b1 ends.

In addition, when displaying the broadcast-linked application launcher 173b1 on the broadcast program screen 173b, depending on the type and security status of the broadcast-linked application, the function and genre of the broadcast-linked application, the acquisition status of the broadcast application from the network, etc. , the frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking state, etc. of each entry button may be changed as appropriate. is the same as displaying

Further, when there is no broadcast-linked application that can be executed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the broadcast-linked application launcher 173b1 may not be displayed. Alternatively, in this case, a message such as "There is no usable application" may be displayed inside the broadcast-linked application launcher 173b1.

[Broadcast cooperation application execution screen of broadcast receiving device]
13A is a screen display diagram showing an example of a broadcast-linked application execution screen displayed in the process of S108 of FIG. 7A, the process of S213 of FIG. 7B, the process of S314 of FIG. 7C, the process of S615 of FIG. 9, and the like. be. It is assumed that the broadcast cooperation application of the present embodiment has graphics performance, effect performance, etc. based on HTML description, and can be overlaid on the video display unit 173 with the broadcast program screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, a broadcast cooperation application section 173c1 that displays information such as weather forecast and news is overlaid on an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173c. The broadcast cooperation application section 173c1 is composed of a first main object 173c2, a second main object 173c3, a third main object 173c4, a background object 173c5, and the like. Other objects may also be displayed.

By selecting the data key 741a8 on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application in a state where the broadcast cooperation application section 173c1 is overlaid on the broadcast program screen 173c, the execution of the broadcast cooperation application is ended and the data broadcasting screen is displayed. It shall be possible to move to Also, by selecting the cooperative application key 741a9 on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application, it is possible to end the execution of the broadcast cooperative application and return to display only the broadcast program screen 173c. The processing may be realized by different operation keys.

In addition, while the broadcast cooperation application section 173c1 is overlaid on the broadcast program screen 173c, by operating each operation key on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, the transparency of the broadcast cooperation application section 173c1 is changed. shall be possible. The change processing of the degree of transparency may be performed collectively for the entire broadcast cooperation application section 173c1, or may be performed for the first main object 173c2, the second main object 173c3, the third main object 173c4, and the background object 173c5. It may be performed alone. It may be performed for each predetermined group (for example, multiple objects existing in the same graphics layer).

When performing the transparency change process, for example, the cursor key 741ac on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application is used to select an object, and the "blue" key of the color key 741ae is used to increase the transparency of the object. Use the "yellow" key to reduce the transparency of the object. A different operation key may be used to change the transparency. If the transparency of the entire broadcast-linked application section 173c1 is collectively set to 100%, the broadcast-linked application section 173c1 can be temporarily hidden. For example, when an emergency broadcast is distributed by airwaves, it is also possible to display only the broadcast program screen of the emergency broadcast on the video display unit 173 by setting the transparency of the entire broadcast cooperation application unit to 100%. Alternatively, the CM detection unit (not shown) detects that the broadcast program has changed from the main video to the CM video, and collectively sets the transparency of the entire broadcast cooperation application unit 173c1 to 100% (or the broadcast program video is clearly displayed). It may be controlled so as to have a degree of transparency that can be confirmed directly.

By performing the above-described processing, if it is desired to check the broadcast program screen in the background while the broadcast cooperation application is running, it is possible to confirm the broadcast program screen without terminating the broadcast cooperation application. Become.

FIG. 13B shows an example different from the above of the broadcast-linked application execution screen displayed in the process of S108 of FIG. 7A, the process of S213 of FIG. 7B, the process of S314 of FIG. 7C, the process of S615 of FIG. is a screen display diagram showing. In the example shown in FIG. 13B, a broadcast cooperation application section 173c6 that introduces recommended programs is overlaid on an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173c. First recommended program information 173c7, second recommended program information 173c8, third recommended program information 173c9, and the like are displayed in the broadcast cooperation application section 173c6. A larger amount of recommended program information may be displayed by scrolling, page switching, or the like.

Each of the recommended program information may be information of a program recommended in relation to the currently displayed broadcast program (broadcast program screen 173c), or information of a program recommended based on the viewing history of the user. Alternatively, the information may be information about a program that has become a hot topic on the Internet or the like. Information on recommended programs sent to the user by a friend of the user of the broadcast receiving device 100 may also be used. Further, the recommended program may be a program transmitted by a broadcast wave of a digital broadcasting service, or may be a VOD (Video On Demand) program distributed from each server device on the Internet 200. good. An information screen such as a home page prepared in a server device on the Internet 200 may be used.

While the broadcast cooperation application unit 173c6 is overlaid on the broadcast program screen 173c, the first recommended program information 173c7 and the second recommended program are displayed using the cursor key 741ac and the enter key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application. By selecting information 173c8, third recommended program information 173c9, etc., each program image recommended by first recommended program information 173c7, second recommended program information 173c8, third recommended program information 173c9, etc. is displayed on the display section 173. to be displayed.

FIG. 13C is a screen display diagram showing an example when a program video recommended by the broadcast cooperation application unit 173c6 for introducing recommended programs is displayed. For example, when the first recommended program information 173c7 of the broadcast cooperation application section 173c6 is selected using the cursor key 741ac and the enter key 741ad of the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, the first recommended program information 173c7 is displayed on the display section 173. A program video 173ca of the program to be played is displayed. The program image 173ca may be paused, jumped at a specified time, or the like by the user's operation of the operation terminal. Moreover, when displaying the program image 173ca, the original broadcast program screen 173c may be displayed at an arbitrary position in PIP (Picture In Picture) format. In this case, it may be possible to change which of the program video 173ca of the recommended program and the original broadcast program screen 173c should be used as the main screen by the user's operation on the operation terminal. The size of the window of the original broadcast program screen 173c may be adjusted by the user's operation on the operating terminal.

In addition, an icon display 173cb indicating that the program video 173ca of the recommended program is a video displayed by selecting any of the recommended program information displayed in the broadcast cooperation application section 173c6 is displayed at an arbitrary position on the screen. , the convenience of the user can be improved. Needless to say, the degree of transparency of the broadcast-linked application section 173c6 may be changed on the broadcast-linked application execution screen shown in FIG. 13B as well, as described above.

FIG. 13D shows an example different from the above of the broadcast-linked application execution screen displayed in the process of S108 of FIG. 7A, the process of S213 of FIG. 7B, the process of S314 of FIG. 7C, the process of S615 of FIG. is a screen display diagram showing. In the example shown in FIG. 13D, a broadcast cooperation application section 173cc serving as a portal for SNS (Social Networking Service) services is overlaid on an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173c. The broadcast cooperation application unit 173cc displays a first SNS service entry button 173cd, a second SNS service entry button 173ce, a third SNS service entry button 173cf, and the like. Entry buttons for more SNS services may be displayed by scrolling, page switching, or the like.

While the broadcast cooperation application section 173cc is overlaid on the broadcast program screen 173c, the entry button 173cd of the first SNS service, the entry button 173cd of the second SNS service, and the second By selecting the entry button 173ce of the SNS service, the entry button 173cf of the third SNS service, and the like, the functions assigned to each entry button, such as the chat function, the bulletin board function, and the Internet phone function, are activated. This makes it possible to enjoy the broadcast program being displayed (broadcast program screen 173c) while exchanging information with others. At the same time, the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application on the mobile information terminal 700 may be changed to a character input screen such as a software keyboard or a voice input screen for chatting or posting on a bulletin board by voice input. good.

In addition to the above examples, as a broadcast cooperation application that can be executed by the broadcast receiving device 100 of the present embodiment, using the cooperation function between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700, it is possible to further synchronize with the broadcast timing of CM. Then, the related CM application may be presented on both the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 . Alternatively, in a paid service available in the broadcast receiving device 100, the broadcast cooperation application checks whether the user of the broadcast receiving device 100 has subscribed to a paid service, and depending on the result, the broadcast receiving device 100 and/or the mobile information terminal 700 It may be something like changing the display of. In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the effects described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B and the like can be obtained regardless of which broadcast cooperation application is executed.

[Error display screen of broadcast receiver]
FIG. 14 shows the processing of S105 in FIG. 7A, the processing of S207 in FIG. 7B, the processing of S308 in FIG. 7C, the processing of S605 in FIG. FIG. 10 is a screen display diagram showing an example of an error display screen when it is determined that the application cannot be executed, when the description of the AIT is insufficient, or when acquisition of the AIT fails.

In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, when it is determined that the broadcast cooperation application cannot be executed, the reason why the broadcast cooperation application cannot be executed, such as the confirmation result of the application profile 904, is It is displayed in the error message 173d1. For example, as a result of checking the application profile 904, if a predetermined optional function is lacking on the television receiver side, an error message 173d1 to that effect is displayed. It is also possible to display an error code and a guide (URL or the like) of the home page of the television receiver maker in which an explanation of the error code is described. Alternatively, when the broadcast-linked application is acquired from the network, the network connection status is of course confirmed in advance. If it is not possible, an error message 173d1 to that effect is displayed. Also, the error message 173d1 may be displayed when the broadcast cooperation application cannot be correctly acquired due to a bad error situation, even though the network connection is established. An error message 173d1 may be displayed when acquisition of a broadcast-linked application is being executed and the broadcast-linked application cannot be executed yet. In addition, the error message 173d1 is also displayed when the reception of the broadcast wave is unstable and the information such as AIT can be received at first, but the information such as AIT cannot be received halfway through. good. In such a case, if the broadcast cooperation application acquired from each server device is cached as it is, it can be used as it is after the reception condition of the broadcast wave is recovered.

Also, if the result of checking the application profile 904 is that the television receiver lacks a predetermined optional function, an error message 173d1 is displayed to the effect that confirmation or update of the latest firmware for the television receiver is recommended. You can do it. Alternatively, the confirmation or update of the latest firmware may be automatically performed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 . Alternatively, if the broadcast cooperation application can be executed by adding paid optional hardware or optional software to the television receiver, a guide for the paid optional hardware or optional software may be displayed. good. Note that the error message 173d1 may be displayed on the mobile information terminal 700 instead of the broadcast receiving device 100. FIG.

[Broadcast-linked application execution screen on mobile information terminal]
FIG. 15 is a screen display diagram showing an example of a broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) execution screen displayed in the process of S619 of FIG. The broadcast-linked application execution screen 741c shown in FIG. 15 includes a main window 741c1, a sub-window 741c2, a selection marker 741c3, cursor keys 741c4 and 741c5, an explanation display section 741c6, and an end button 741c7. Other objects may be added as well.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) executed on the mobile information terminal 700 is an application for confirming the details of the broadcast program being displayed on the broadcast receiving device 100 . The main window 741c1 displays the same image as the broadcast program screen displayed on the broadcast receiver 100, and the sub-window 741c2 displays an enlarged image of the position designated by the selection marker 741c3. By selecting the cursor keys 741c4 and 741c5, it is possible to change the position of the selection marker 741c3. The commentary display section 714c6 displays the commentary subtitles regarding the broadcast program being displayed in the main window 741c1, comments posted by other users regarding the broadcast program, and the like. The end button 741c7 is a button for ending the operation of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side).

By operating the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) on the mobile information terminal 700, it is possible to expand the function of the broadcast communication cooperation service by the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700. FIG.

[EPG screen of broadcast receiving device]
FIG. 16A is a screen display diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide (EPG) display screen in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment. The EPG display screen 173e is a distribution schedule of broadcast programs in the digital broadcasting service of this embodiment, which is created by the main control unit 101 based on the program information data string output from the first separation unit 132. FIG. It is assumed that the EPG display screen 173e is displayed on the video display unit 173 by selecting the program guide key 741a7 on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application.

In this embodiment, the EPG display screen 173e is in a matrix form with the vertical axis representing time and the horizontal axis representing service IDs (channels). indicate. Detailed information 173e1 of each broadcast program is mainly composed of a title area 173e2 and a detailed description area 173e3, as shown in FIG. 16A.

The title area 173e2 displays the program title of each broadcast program, symbols representing attributes of each broadcast program, and the like. The symbols and the like representing the attributes of each broadcast program are, for example, a symbol that symbolizes "New" that means that it is a new program, a symbol that symbolizes "Replay" that means that it is a rebroadcast program, etc. Alternatively, a mark or the like that symbolizes "data", which means that data broadcasting by a broadcasting service is supported, may be used. Further, in the case of a broadcast program for which a broadcast cooperation application that can be executed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is prepared, a mark or the like that symbolizes "Linkage" to that effect may be used. The detailed explanation area 173e3 displays related information such as the contents of each broadcast program, the performers, the URL of the homepage introducing each broadcast program, and the like.

It should be noted that even if a broadcast cooperation application is prepared for the broadcast program, the mark or the like symbolizing the "Linkage" displayed in the title area 173e2 is displayed on the information display device as a result of checking the application profile 904. If execution by 100 is not possible, it may not be displayed. In addition, the mark symbolized by "Linkage", which is displayed in the title area 173e2 and indicates that the broadcast program is prepared with the executable broadcast-linked application, furthermore, the linked operation with the portable terminal device is possible. The color, shape, font, etc. may be changed depending on whether or not it is. If the linked operation with the portable terminal device is possible, the symbol symbolized "Mobile" may be displayed together with the symbol symbolized "Linkage".

The presence or absence of the mark symbolizing "Linkage" and the symbol symbolizing "Mobile" is indicated in advance in the EIT information including detailed information of each broadcast program. Whether or not the broadcast program has a broadcast cooperation application that can be executed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the embodiment, whether or not the executable broadcast cooperation application can perform cooperative operation with a mobile terminal device, It may be controlled by acquiring information such as. Alternatively, the information obtained from the program distribution information of the digital broadcast programs prepared in a predetermined server device on the Internet 200 is stored in an electronic program guide created based on the program information data string obtained from the broadcast waves of the digital broadcast service. You may make it add.

As described above, on the EPG display screen 173e, there is a symbolic mark of "Linkage" indicating that the broadcast program is prepared with an executable broadcast-linked application, and that linkage operation with a mobile terminal device is possible. By displaying a mark that symbolizes "Mobile" indicating , the user can easily grasp the correspondence status of each broadcast program in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the broadcast-communication cooperation service. Needless to say, the marks obtained by symbolizing the predetermined characters representing the attributes of each broadcast program may be replaced with the characters themselves, sentences, or the like. By changing the background color of the detailed information 173e1 of each broadcast program, the correspondence status of each broadcast program to the broadcast-communication cooperation service may be indicated. In addition, the symbolized mark of "Linkage" and the symbolized mark of "Mobile" are not usually displayed in the title area 173e2. It may be made to be displayed.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a function of making viewing reservation and/or recording reservation for each broadcast program from the EPG display screen 173e. For example, while the EPG display screen 173e is displayed, the cursor key 741ac on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application is used to move the program selection cursor 173e4 on the EPG display screen 173e, and the enter key 741ad selects an arbitrary broadcast program. is selected, reservation for viewing and/or recording of the selected broadcast program is made.

In the above-described process, if the broadcast program for which the viewing reservation and/or the recording reservation has been made is a broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast and communication cooperation service, the broadcasting is triggered by the viewing reservation and/or the recording reservation. Acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application prepared for the broadcast program may be started without waiting for the broadcast start time of the program. That is, information (location information such as URL) designating the acquisition destination of the broadcast cooperation application is described in the EIT information including detailed information of each broadcast program. In this way, the broadcast receiving device 100 can grasp the information of the acquisition destination of the broadcast cooperation application prepared for each broadcast program at the time when the broadcast program is selected with the program selection cursor 173e4. Become. Therefore, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can start acquiring the broadcast cooperation application before the broadcast start time of the broadcast program.

In addition, if the broadcast program for which the viewing reservation and/or recording reservation has been made is a broadcast program compatible with the broadcast and communication cooperation service and is a broadcast program that can be operated in cooperation with the mobile terminal device, The broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) provided in the above may also start acquiring before the broadcast start time of the broadcast program by the same processing as described above. Also, as shown in FIG. 16B, a two-dimensional barcode 173e5 or the like indicating the information (location information such as URL) of the acquisition source of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) prepared for the mobile terminal device is displayed on the EPG display screen 173e. may be displayed to prompt the user to download the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) prepared for the mobile terminal device.

In this way, if the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 refers to the acquisition destination information of the broadcast-linked application included in the EPG information and starts acquiring the broadcast-linked application before the broadcast start time of the broadcast program. , it becomes possible to distribute the load on the service provider server 400 that stores the broadcast cooperation application. Also, even if the communication speed of the network between the service provider server 400 and the information display terminal 100 is insufficient, the broadcast cooperation application can be effectively used immediately after the broadcast program starts broadcasting. become.

FIG. 17 is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of a broadcast cooperation application acquisition sequence when a broadcast program viewing reservation and/or recording reservation is made on the EPG display screen 173e.

While viewing a digital broadcast service, the main control unit 101 of the broadcast receiving device 100 acquires the program information data string output from the first separating unit 132 (S701). When the user uses the operating terminal to request activation of the EPG screen (S702), an EPG display screen 173e is displayed on the video display unit 173 (S703). When the user selects an arbitrary broadcast program using the operation terminal on the EPG display screen 173e to make a viewing reservation and/or recording reservation for the broadcast program (S704), the main control unit 101 performs the first separation The program information data string acquired from the unit 132 is confirmed (S705), and further, the location of the acquisition destination of the broadcast cooperation application linked to the broadcast program for which the viewing reservation and/or recording reservation has been made is confirmed (S706).

After the process of S706, the application control unit 161 transmits a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the confirmed URL (S707). Service provider server 400 that has received the transmission request of the broadcast cooperation application, based on the control of application management / distribution execution unit 4103, after performing authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary, in application storage area 4013 Distribution of the stored predetermined broadcast cooperation application is performed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S708). Subsequently, the application control unit 161 caches the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400, which is received via the LAN communication unit 121, in the RAM 104 or the storage 110 (S709).

According to the transmitting/receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to execute functions with higher added value.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It should be noted that the configuration and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described below, and descriptions of common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication.

Although Embodiment 1 has also described an embodiment in which mobile information terminal cooperation processing (hereinafter referred to as terminal cooperation) is performed, a more detailed embodiment will be described.

When performing mobile information terminal cooperation, there are cases where it is desired to restrict the use of terminal cooperation to only mobile information terminal 700 in the same home as broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (this restriction is hereinafter referred to as same-home restriction). For example, in an application for using broadcast cooperation (hereinafter referred to as a broadcast cooperation application), when the display screen of the broadcast receiving device 100 and the display screen of the mobile information terminal 700 are closely related, or when the broadcast receiving device 100 This is the case, for example, when it is desired that the user of the mobile information terminal 700 certainly views the displayed advertisement video.

A point that must be considered as a procedure is a judgment as to whether or not the target broadcast-linked application imposes same-home restrictions. If it is assumed that all broadcast-linked applications are restricted within the same home, this determination is not necessary. will need to acquire and change operating procedures. The control information regarding the presence or absence of this restriction may be acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, described as an item of AIT) or may be acquired from a server designated by the broadcasting station.

In this embodiment, including the above procedure, the procedure for ensuring that the portable information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 are in the same home will be described.

Generally, devices existing in the same home exist on a local network connected to the same router device 210 . Therefore, it can be determined that the mobile information terminal 700 is connected to the same local network as the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and that the mobile information terminal 700 exists in the same house. A well-known method may be used to determine whether or not the target device is connected to the local network, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Also, even if the portable information terminal 700 is not on the local network, it can be determined that it exists in the same home by directly communicating with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 using NFC, BlueTooth, infrared communication, or the like. In this case, the communication for acquiring the broadcast-linked application or the like may be the above-described direct communication or mobile phone communication.

As described above, there are a plurality of possible methods for confirming the presence in the same home.

Furthermore, once it is confirmed that the portable information terminal 700 exists in the same home, it may be assumed that it exists in the same home until the end of the program. is assumed to exist in the same house, but if the valid time has passed, it is not assumed to exist in the same house unless a new confirmation is made. This valid time is described in AIT, for example, and read by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 .

Furthermore, for example, an event signal may be set in the broadcast signal at an arbitrary point during program progress, and the presence of the portable information terminal 700 in the same home may be confirmed each time the event signal is received. can also

It is also possible to use a combination of the former two methods.

Next, a specific procedure for permitting terminal cooperation only to portable information terminals 700 existing in the same home will be described. In this embodiment, restrictions are set when the mobile information terminal 700 acquires a broadcast-linked application or acquires information used by the broadcast-linked application (hereinafter referred to as a broadcast-linked application and information used by the broadcast-linked application, specifically Typically, it is an HTML document, streaming video, etc., but they are collectively called broadcast link information). There are two methods for obtaining the broadcast linkage information: communication acquisition, which acquires from the broadcasting station server 300 or the provider server 400, and broadcast acquisition, which acquires from broadcast waves. In the case of communication acquisition, there are two methods: acquisition after the start of broadcast reception and acquisition before the start of broadcast reception. Furthermore, in the case of communication acquisition, when the broadcast receiving device 100 acquires once and the mobile information terminal 700 acquires from the broadcast receiving device 100, and when the mobile information terminal 700 acquires directly from the broadcast station server 300 or the operator server 400 There is There are various methods, but when viewed from the portable information terminal 700 , it can be roughly divided into two cases: acquisition from the broadcast receiving device 100 and acquisition from the broadcast station server 300 or the provider server 400 .

In this embodiment, a case where the mobile information terminal 700 acquires the broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 will be described, and a case where it is acquired from the server will be described in the next embodiment.

FIG. 18A shows the procedure of this example.

First, before performing terminal cooperation, a cooperation control application, which is an application for controlling terminal cooperation, is activated in each of the mobile information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10001, S10002). In this state, the portable information terminal 700 makes a terminal cooperation request to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10003). Next, AIT is obtained from the broadcast signal (S10004). From this AIT information, it is determined whether or not the application for the target mobile information terminal has restrictions within the same home (S10006). Then, the process proceeds to step S10009, and it is determined whether or not the mobile information terminal 700 that requested terminal cooperation is in the same home as the broadcast receiver 100 (S10009). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the device is not in the same home, a response of non-permission of cooperation is sent to the cooperation control application on the portable information terminal side, and the process ends (S10011).

Here, in the case of the premise that all broadcast cooperation applications have the same in-house restriction, the determination in S10006 is skipped without being performed. S10006 is determined when there are both applications with and without the same in-house restriction.

If it is determined that mobile information terminal 700 is in the same home, or if the application does not have same-home restrictions, the process advances to S10012 to perform broadcast-linked application-related services. In this service (S10012), the broadcast cooperation information distribution request (S10013) from the mobile information terminal 700 is processed, and the broadcast cooperation information is distributed to the mobile information terminal 700 (S10018). This broadcast cooperation information includes information received by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from a distribution server, which is the provider server 300 (S10014, S10015, S10016), information acquired from the broadcast signal (S10017), and information stored in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. There are things that have been done. The reception of the broadcast cooperation information by the broadcast receiving device 100 (S10016, S10017) is not limited to the broadcast cooperation information delivery request (S10013) from the mobile information terminal 700, but the broadcast receiving device 100 autonomously obtains it, There may be cases where acquisition is based on occurrence of events from broadcast signals. Also, the distribution of the broadcast linkage information to the portable information terminal 700 (S10018) may be voluntarily performed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 side.

After a series of reception (acquisition) and distribution processing of the broadcast cooperation information is completed, it is determined whether or not the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 continues viewing the same program (S10019). A response of cooperation disapproval is sent to the cooperation control application, and the process ends (S10020).

If the viewing is continued, the procedure returns to S10005, and if there is an in-home restriction, it is checked whether the mobile information terminal 700 is in the same home (S10009). or whether there has been a confirmation request (S10007) from the broadcast signal or distribution server since the previous confirmation (S10008). Confirmation (S10009) is not performed, and execution of the next broadcast-linked application-related service (S10012) is performed via S10010. Here, it is described that the confirmation request (S10007) from the broadcast signal is obtained from the broadcast cooperation information, but here, the event message is also included in the broadcast cooperation information. Furthermore, this confirmation request may be written in the AIT.

The procedure described above is a loop processing procedure for the entire broadcast signal, broadcast receiving apparatus 100, mobile information terminal 700, and distribution server in the section indicated by the arrow in S10022. The confirmation request in S10007 may be made at any timing within the loop.

Furthermore, the authentication information described in the AIT may be incorporated into the authentication key used for authentication in the distribution server (S10015). This makes it possible to confirm that the authentication request is valid. In addition, if the authentication information described in the AIT is changed as the program progresses, and if the delivery server does not perform authentication unless the authentication key incorporates information synchronized with the progress of the program, then the same program You can confirm that you continue to watch. In this case, the AIT information is appropriately read and updated (S10021). Note that the authentication information to be incorporated into the broadcast signal may be incorporated as broadcast cooperation information instead of being described in the AIT. Furthermore, as a method of substantially changing the authentication information, it is also possible to use a method of changing the URL itself of the distribution server according to the progress of the program.

In this way, while executing the broadcast-linked application-related service (S10012), the portable information terminal 700 receives the broadcast at each preset effective time, or at each broadcast signal or confirmation request from the distribution server. By confirming whether or not the device 100 is in the same home as the device 100, it is possible to appropriately execute broadcast-related applications with same-home restrictions. Furthermore, by using the authentication information embedded in the broadcast signal for authentication in the distribution server, it is possible to ensure the validity of the distribution request. You can also confirm that you are still watching.

According to the mobile information terminal linking technology according to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to implement the same home restriction for the mobile information terminal linked with the broadcast receiving apparatus.

In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the mobile information terminal 700 acquires the broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server.

FIG. 18B shows the procedure of this example.

First, before performing terminal cooperation, a cooperation control application, which is an application for controlling terminal cooperation, is activated in each of the mobile information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10101, S10102). In this state, the mobile information terminal 700 makes a terminal cooperation request to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10103). Next, AIT is obtained from the broadcast signal (S10104). Information such as the URL of the distribution server is obtained from this AIT information, and the information is transmitted to the portable information terminal 700 (S10105). Next, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 issues a time confirmation request to the distribution server (S10106), and based on this request, the distribution server transmits time information to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10107). As a result, the subsequent authentication key issuance (S10115) can be performed according to the time of the distribution server.

Thereafter, loop control indicated by an arrow in S10127 is entered.

First, portable information terminal 700 issues an authentication key issuance request or a broadcast cooperation information distribution request to broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10109). The authentication key is used in the broadcast cooperation information distribution request to the distribution server in the latter stage (S10125). The broadcast cooperation distribution request in S10109 is a distribution request for information acquired from the broadcast signal, and corresponds to the procedure of S10126 in the latter stage.

In any case, when the request of S10109 is issued from the portable information terminal, it is determined whether or not the broadcast collaboration application has restrictions within the same home (S10111). Skip to S10114. If all the broadcast cooperation applications have the same in-home restriction, the determination in S10111 is not performed, and the process proceeds to S10112. In S10112, it is determined whether or not the portable information terminal that has issued the request is in the same home, and if not, terminal cooperation is terminated (S10113). If it is in the same house, the requested procedure, acquisition of broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server (S10125) or acquisition of broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast signal (S10126), is performed. The procedure of S10126 is also described because acquisition from the broadcast signal may be performed in addition to the acquisition from the distribution server.

First, the acquisition procedure (S10125) of the broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server will be described.

First, the broadcasting receiver 100 issues an authentication key requested by the information linking terminal 700 . At this time, it is assumed that the authentication key includes time information at the time of issuance and is valid only within a predetermined period of time (for example, 10 minutes). The distribution server confirms the authentication information including whether the authentication key is within the validity period, and permits distribution of the broadcast cooperation information if the authentication is OK. After that, the distribution of information is permitted within the effective time, but the distribution is stopped when the effective time expires. For example, the streaming video cannot be viewed after the effective time has passed.

The preset valid time may be held in the distribution server, or may be obtained by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from the broadcast signal (for example, AIT), and the valid time information may be incorporated into the authentication key. The valid time information is notified to the mobile information terminal 700 in advance so that the issuance of the authentication key is requested before the valid time expires. Alternatively, the valid time is managed by the broadcast receiving device 100, and after confirming that the mobile information terminal 700 is in the same home before the valid time expires, the broadcast receiving device 100 automatically sends the mobile information terminal 700. You may issue an authentication key to it.

The valid time may be the same in one program, or may be changed according to the progress of the program. Also, if there is no valid time setting, once authentication is performed, the authentication may be valid while the program is being viewed.

Furthermore, the authentication information described in the AIT may be incorporated into the authentication key used for authentication on the distribution server (S10117). This makes it possible to confirm that the authentication request is legitimate. In addition, if the authentication information described in the AIT is changed as the program progresses, and if the delivery server does not perform authentication unless the authentication key incorporates information synchronized with the progress of the program, then the same program You can confirm that you continue to watch. In this case, the AIT information is appropriately read and updated (S10124). Note that the authentication information to be incorporated into the broadcast signal may be incorporated as broadcast cooperation information instead of being described in the AIT. Furthermore, as a method of substantially changing the authentication information, it is also possible to use a method of changing the URL itself of the distribution server according to the progress of the program. In this case, the URL is changed when the distribution server is the same but the entrance is different. In this case, the procedures of transmitting distribution server information (S10105), requesting time confirmation (S10106), and transmitting time information (S10107) are performed each time the change is made.

Next, a procedure (S10126) for acquiring broadcast cooperation information from a broadcast signal will be described.

In this case, after confirming that mobile information terminal 700 is in the same home, broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast signal (S10119), and then distributes the information to mobile information terminal 700. (S10120).

When the broadcast cooperation information is changed as the program progresses, a change notification may be issued from the broadcast signal (S10110), and the broadcast cooperation information may be acquired with the notification as a trigger. In this case, if it is acquired from the distribution server, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 issues an authentication key to the portable information terminal (S10115) and notifies that there has been a change notification. If it is within the validity period, the issuance of the authentication key may be omitted and only the change notification may be sent. In the case of acquisition from a broadcast signal, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires information (S10119) and distributes it to the mobile information terminal (S10120). In addition, in the case of acquisition from a broadcast signal, it may be confirmed that the mobile information terminal 700 is in the same home for each change notification. I don't mind. Here, it is described that the notification of change from the broadcast signal (S10110) is obtained from the broadcast linkage information, but here it is described that the event message is also included in the broadcast linkage information. Furthermore, this change notification may be written in the AIT.

After a series of reception (acquisition) and distribution processing of the broadcast cooperation information is completed, it is determined whether or not the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 continues viewing the same program (S10121). A response of cooperation disapproval is sent to the cooperation control application, and the process ends (S10123). If viewing is continued, the process returns to S10108 to continue loop processing S10127.

In this way, by including the time information in the authentication key used for authentication of the distribution server and managing the validity period, it is possible to periodically confirm that the portable information terminal 700 is in the same home as the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. It is possible to appropriately execute the broadcast cooperation application with the same in-house restriction. Furthermore, by using the authentication information embedded in the broadcast signal for authentication in the distribution server, it is possible to ensure the validity of the distribution request. You can also confirm that you are still watching.

According to the mobile information terminal cooperation technology according to the present embodiment described above, even when the mobile information terminal that cooperates with the broadcast receiving apparatus acquires the broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server, it is possible to realize the same home restriction. .

In Embodiments 2 and 3, the procedure for realizing the intra-house restriction in terminal cooperation has been described, but depending on the broadcast cooperation application, use from outside the home may also be permitted. This embodiment will explain such a case. For example, when a program such as television shopping is publicity/advertisement, it is desirable for broadcasters to be able to use the broadcast cooperation application regardless of whether it is inside or outside the home. In the case of such a program, once registered in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, use of the broadcast cooperation application may be permitted regardless of whether the mobile information terminal 700 is at home. In this case, if there is a broadcast cooperation application that converts the broadcast video itself into streaming data and distributes it from the broadcast receiving device 100 to the mobile information terminal 700 via the Internet, the convenience will be further enhanced. Streaming data may be encrypted in broadcast receiving apparatus 100 for copyright protection. Whether or not the broadcast cooperation application permits use from outside the home, including distribution of broadcast video outside the home, is described in data (for example, AIT) in the broadcast signal.

A specific procedure is shown in FIG. 18C. Since a part of the procedure is common to the second and third embodiments, the description of the parts overlapping with the second and third embodiments will be omitted. When there is a terminal cooperation request (S10203) from outside the home, if the application is permitted to be used outside the home, the broadcast receiving device 100 confirms whether the request source is a registered portable information terminal ( S10205) allows cooperation. If necessary, personal digital assistant 700 and broadcast receiver 100 may be authenticated for copyright protection of broadcast video and broadcast link information (S10207). At that time, the authentication may be authentication in the distribution server (S10207). Information on whether or not copyright protection is required and information on the authentication method for copyright protection are acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT), and control is performed accordingly. If such information is not stored in the broadcast signal, a predetermined method predetermined in broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is followed. For example, predetermined copyright protection processing may be performed. Further, it may be determined in advance that the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 does not perform copyright protection processing when such information is not stored in the broadcast signal.

A specific example of authentication for copyright protection is shown below. Only one of each of the following authentications may be performed. Alternatively, a plurality of authentications exemplified below may be combined. Also, the authentication illustrated below may be combined with other authentication processing not illustrated below.

[Authentication by ID and password]
When the mobile information terminal 700 is registered with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, an ID and password are issued, and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms the ID and password and permits cooperation.

[Use encryption key]
In addition to authentication by the above ID and password, an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data or the like is transmitted from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the portable information terminal. This encryption key may be acquired from a broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT).

[Use of distribution server]
A method in which a distribution server issues an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data. Portable information terminal 700 transmits the ID and password to the distribution server and acquires the encryption key. In this case, the location information (specifically, the URL) of the distribution server is acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, described in the AIT), and by transmitting this location information from the broadcast receiving device 100 to the mobile information terminal 700, More safety. If the mobile information terminal 700 cannot obtain the encryption key, it cannot decrypt the video or the like. Authentication may be completed by notifying broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from 700 that the encryption key has been obtained. Note that billing may be performed by the distribution server.

[Mutual Authentication of Encryption Key]
The encryption keys possessed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700 are mutually authenticated, and copyright protection is authenticated by obtaining confirmation.

When information stored in a broadcast signal indicates that copyright protection is required by a prescribed method, terminal cooperation is not permitted if copyright protection cannot be authenticated by the prescribed method. Moreover, even if there is no designation in the broadcast signal and authentication is performed by the default method of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, terminal cooperation is not permitted if copyright protection cannot be authenticated by the default method.

When terminal cooperation is permitted, it is not confirmed whether or not the mobile information terminal 700 exists in the same house thereafter, and the request from the mobile information terminal 700 (S10211), the autonomous control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the broadcast signal In accordance with the request (S10210) from (S10210), broadcast cooperation information is distributed to the mobile information terminal 700 (S10217), and an authentication key for the distribution server is issued (S10212). In this case, it is not necessary to perform control in which the valid time is set. Portable information terminal 700 outside the home acquires the broadcast cooperation information from broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the distribution server using the issued authentication key (S10215). Also, the authentication information obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, described in the AIT) is embedded in the authentication key issued by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and the distribution server uses the authentication key in which the authentication information obtained from the broadcast signal is embedded. If access is permitted if there is, it is possible to further optimize the use outside the home.

Furthermore, there are cases where it is better not to allow unlimited use of broadcast-linked apps, such as when discounting premiums for watching programs. After that, it is preferable to permit the use of the distribution server even if it is not in the same house. In this case, mobile information terminal 700 does not have to be registered with broadcast receiving apparatus 100 .

A specific procedure in this case is shown in FIG. 18D. Since this procedure is partly the same as that of FIG. 18C, the explanation of the overlapping parts is omitted. First, in a state where mobile information terminal 700 is in the same home as broadcast receiving apparatus 100, mobile information terminal 700 issues a terminal cooperation request to broadcast receiving apparatus 100. (S10305) and permits cooperation. If necessary, personal digital assistant 700 and broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be authenticated for copyright protection of broadcast video and broadcast link information (S10307). At that time, the authentication may be performed by an external distribution server. Information on whether or not copyright protection is required and information on the authentication method for copyright protection are acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT), and control is performed accordingly. If such information is not stored in the broadcast signal, a predetermined method predetermined in broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is followed. For example, predetermined copyright protection processing may be performed. Further, it may be determined in advance that the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 does not perform copyright protection processing when such information is not stored in the broadcast signal.

A specific example of authentication for copyright protection is shown below. Only one of each of the following authentications may be performed. Alternatively, a plurality of authentications exemplified below may be combined. Also, the authentication illustrated below may be combined with other authentication processing not illustrated below.

[Use encryption key]
While portable information terminal 700 is in the same home, broadcast receiving apparatus 100 transmits an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data and the like to the portable information terminal. This encryption key may be acquired from a broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT). Authentication is achieved by handing over this encryption key within the same home. Furthermore, if the encryption key cannot be obtained from the broadcast signal until a certain point in the program, and the transfer of the encryption key to the portable information terminal 700 is limited to within the same home, the user must be in the same home at that time. Limits can be set and can be used to award premiums for viewing.

[Use of distribution server]
A method in which a distribution server issues an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data. Portable information terminal 700 transmits the ID and password to the distribution server and acquires the encryption key. In this case, the location information (specifically, the URL) of the distribution server is acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, described in the AIT), and by transmitting this location information from the broadcast receiving device 100 to the mobile information terminal 700, More safety. If the mobile information terminal 700 cannot obtain the encryption key, it cannot decrypt the video or the like. Authentication may be completed by notifying broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from 700 that the encryption key has been obtained. Access to the distribution server may be performed inside or outside the home, but the location information of the distribution server cannot be obtained from the broadcast signal until a certain point in the program. If the delivery of the content is limited to within the same home, it is possible to set a restriction that the user must be in the same home at that time, which can be used to give a premium to viewing. Note that billing may be performed by the distribution server.

[Mutual Authentication of Encryption Key]
The encryption keys possessed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700 are mutually authenticated, and copyright protection is authenticated by obtaining confirmation. This authentication may be performed inside the house or outside the house.

When information stored in a broadcast signal indicates that copyright protection is required by a prescribed method, terminal cooperation is not permitted if copyright protection cannot be authenticated by the prescribed method. Moreover, even if there is no designation in the broadcast signal and authentication is performed by the default method of the broadcast receiver 100, terminal cooperation is not permitted if copyright protection cannot be authenticated by the default method. The procedure after terminal cooperation is permitted is the same as the procedure in FIG. 18C, so the explanation is omitted.

According to the mobile information terminal cooperation technology according to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to use the mobile information terminal that cooperates with the broadcast receiving apparatus from outside the home while paying attention to copyright protection.

In an actual usage situation, it is more desirable to easily know whether or not there is a terminal-linked application for each program and which terminal-linked application can be used. In this embodiment, a method for displaying the availability of terminal-linked applications will be described. A terminal cooperation application refers to a broadcast cooperation application used in terminal cooperation.

FIG. 19A is an example of the launcher screen (173b11) of the broadcast cooperation application when there is a terminal cooperation application. The broadcast-linked application is displayed as a framed character icon. Broadcast cooperation applications (173b12 to 173b14) for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and broadcast cooperation applications (173b15 to 173b17) for the portable information terminal, which are associated with the program being viewed, are displayed. In this example, the application status is indicated by the thickness of the border surrounding the character string and the color of the border. Main body applications A, B (173b12, 173b13) and terminal applications A, B (173b15, 173b16) are available, and main body application C (173b14) and terminal application C (173b17) are unavailable. . A state in which the terminal application cannot be used means that none of the mobile information terminals 700 that are in a state of being able to communicate with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 have the function to execute the application.

FIG. 19B is a screen after terminal application A is selected in FIG. 19A. The state of each mobile information terminal 700 related to terminal application A is shown. The portable information terminals displayed on this screen are terminals that have been linked with or registered with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in the past.

Mobile terminal 1 (173b22) and mobile terminal 2 (173b23) whose icons have a solid line frame are in a state capable of communicating with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and mobile terminal 3 (173b24) whose icon frame has a dotted line. and mobile terminal 4 (173b25) are not in a state where communication with broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is possible. Mobile terminal 1 (173b22) and mobile terminal 3 (173b24) whose icon frames are white have the function of executing terminal application A, and mobile terminal 2 (173b23) and mobile terminal 4 whose icon frames are gray. (173b25) indicates that the terminal application A does not have the function to execute. Furthermore, if the app is already running on the device, you may use an icon with a design that indicates that.

In addition, the icon is visually easier to understand if a pattern is used, so an example is shown below.

FIG. 19C is an example of a launcher screen (173b31) showing a list of broadcast cooperation applications. Icons are shown for each type of mobile information terminal 700 in addition to the broadcast receiving device 100 . Icons 173b32 and 173b33 indicate the broadcast receiver 100, icons 173b34 and 173b35 indicate the smart phone type mobile information terminal 700, and icon 173b36 indicates the head mounted display type mobile information terminal 700. FIG. Each app is for the device indicated by the icon.

In FIG. 19C, when the application cannot be used, a mark (in this case, a circle with diagonal lines) is displayed superimposed on the image of the device to indicate that the application is not available. Also, regarding the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, if the application is already running, a mark indicating that fact (in this case, a circle with a dot) may be superimposed and displayed. With this display, it is possible to prevent the unnecessary operation of advancing the launcher procedure even though it has already been executed. In the case of the portable information terminal 700, it is also possible to display a mark indicating that the application is being executed when the application is being executed on all terminals that are capable of communicating with the broadcast receiver and that can execute the application.

FIG. 19D is the screen (173b41) after selecting application C (173b34) in FIG. 19C. The state of the portable information terminal 700 of the type corresponding to the application C is shown. On this screen, if the mobile information terminal 700 does not have the function of executing the broadcast-linked application, if it is not in a state capable of communicating with the broadcast receiving device 100, or if the broadcast-linked application is already being executed, it is displayed. A mark representing the object is superimposed on the icon. In this example, a circle is marked with a slash (173b44, 173b46) if it does not have an execution function, a triangle is marked with an exclamation mark (173b45, 173b46) if communication is not possible, and a circle is marked if it is already running. mark (173b43) is displayed.

Furthermore, it is desirable to have a display method that shows that there is a broadcast cooperation application when the situation changes without having to activate the launcher each time. For example, when the power is turned on, when the channel is changed, when the broadcast cooperation application is changed at the beginning of the program or during the program, there is a change in the communication state between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the portable information terminal 700. In this case, when the execution status of the application changes, the icon is displayed only for a predetermined time, and the status at that time is displayed.

FIG. 19E shows an example of such a case. When an icon indicating the type of each device is displayed, it indicates that there is a broadcast cooperation application corresponding to that type of device. In this case, a circle with a slash indicates that there are no devices of that type that are enabled to run the app. A dot in a circle indicates that the app is running on all enabled devices of that type.

FIG. 19F is a display screen (10401) on the portable information terminal 700. FIG. When requesting terminal cooperation from the portable information terminal 700, it is more convenient to use a list that shows which broadcast cooperation application can be used in which broadcast receiving device 100. FIG. FIG. 19F shows an example of the list (10402). This table shows which broadcast receiver 100 at home can use the broadcast cooperation application corresponding to the program to be checked. In addition, if the status of each broadcast receiving device 100 is also displayed, the convenience will be enhanced especially when the device is used from outside the home. This example shows display examples such as the program being received, another program being received, empty, and another program reserved (when recording of another program is reserved from the middle of the program). Here, if a plurality of tuners exist in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, displaying the status for each of the plurality of tuners will further enhance convenience. In Table 10202, branch numbers indicate tuners in the same device. For example, the receiving device B-1 and the receiving device B-2 are tuners in the same broadcast receiving device 100. FIG. In the case of terminal cooperation, if broadcast video and audio can be distributed as streaming data, there is no need to use the video unit of the broadcast receiving device 100, and if the tuner in the broadcast receiving device 100 can be used, broadcasting can be used. Therefore, it is convenient to know the usage status of each tuner.

In addition, in order to perform the display described in this embodiment, information indicating whether the application corresponds to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or what type of portable information terminal 700 the application corresponds to is required for each broadcast-linked application. must be Also, broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and mobile information terminal 700 require information for executing corresponding applications. These pieces of information can be obtained by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 by describing them in the AIT, for example.

According to the portable information terminal cooperation technology according to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to use a more convenient broadcast cooperation service by displaying information about the broadcast cooperation application, the broadcast receiving device 100, and the portable information terminal 700. becomes.

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It should be noted that the configuration and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described below, and descriptions of common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication.

In this embodiment, the operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in the following cases, particularly the activation process of the broadcast cooperation application based on the AIT transmitted by the broadcast wave, will be described by way of example. In this case, the broadcast-linked application is a broadcast-managed application, and information on the PMT and information such as the application control code 903 of the AIT and the activation priority 907 ( FIG. This is the case where it is specified and instructed that the application should be preferentially automatically started. In addition, below, a broadcast managed application may be called a "broadcast managed application."

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the sixth embodiment has a function of controlling, according to a user's selection, the activation process of the broadcast-linked application specified for automatic activation in the digital broadcasting service. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the sixth embodiment, when there is a provision or instruction of the automatic start, instead of automatically starting the broadcast cooperation application unconditionally, under conditions such as the following (1) ~ (3) Control to autostart only when applicable. (1) When the user setting of the broadcast receiving device allows automatic start-up. (2) When a user who owns a predetermined terminal that cooperates with the broadcast receiving apparatus is viewing, in other words, when the user setting of the terminal that cooperates allows automatic activation. (3) When confirmation of activation is executed for the user each time, and the confirmation is affirmative.

FIG. 20 shows a system configuration including the broadcast receiving device 100 of the sixth embodiment and a usage example. The broadcast receiver 100 receives broadcast waves from the broadcast station server 300 via the radio tower 300t, and separates the video of the broadcast program from information such as AIT. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately acquires a broadcast cooperation application from service provider server 400 based on information such as AIT. AIT may include information for instructing automatic activation of a broadcast cooperation application that cooperates with a broadcast program.

There are one or more portable information terminals 700 that perform terminal cooperation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 . For example, one broadcast receiving device 100 can cooperate with each of the mobile information terminals 700 of two users and is shared. For example, a terminal A owned by a user A and a terminal B owned by a user B are available. Not limited to this, one user may use a plurality of mobile information terminals 700 .

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6 has application activation control means 2000 including user selection means 2001 . The user selection means 2001 is a means for selecting whether or not to permit the activation and execution of the broadcast cooperation application based on the user's operation of the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 . The user selection means 2001 is composed of, for example, an instruction input section, a user setting section, etc. in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 . When automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is instructed by the AIT, the application activation control means 2000 selects whether the broadcast-linked application is permitted to be activated and executed by the user and the user selection means 2001. Control the startup of linked apps.

[For automatic start of broadcast managed application]
In the sixth embodiment, when it is specified that the broadcast managed application is preferentially automatically started, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately confirms information such as PMT and AIT and starts the broadcast managed application. is the same as the description using FIG. 7A in the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 7A, it is confirmed by checking the application profile 904 of the AIT whether or not the target broadcast managed application can be executed in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S105). When the executability is confirmed, the broadcast managed application is always automatically started regardless of the user's selection of the broadcast receiving device 100 .

However, it should be considered that the user of the broadcast receiving device 100 does not want the broadcast managed application to start automatically because he/she wants to concentrate on watching the broadcast program, for example. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6 has application activation control means 2000 as a function of control considering this possibility. That is, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the sixth embodiment receives an instruction to automatically start the broadcast managed application with priority based on the information such as the PMT and AIT, and when it is confirmed that the broadcast managed application can be executed based on the information such as the AIT. , the activation of the application is controlled according to the user's selection of whether or not to permit activation. An example in which whether or not to automatically start a broadcast managed application is controlled will be described below.

[Operation sequence when the broadcast managed application is started (1)]
FIG. 21 shows, as a first configuration example and processing example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the sixth embodiment, activation of a broadcast-linked application when it is specified that a broadcast-managed application, which is a broadcast-linked application, is preferentially activated. An example of an operation sequence at time is shown. FIG. 21 shows a series of flow until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately confirms the information of the PMT and AIT, and further controls whether or not to automatically start a predetermined broadcast cooperation application according to the user's selection. The first configuration example uses the user setting in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as the user selection means 2000 .

In FIG. 21, broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires a TS by performing channel selection processing for a channel desired by the user by tuner/demodulator 131 in FIG. 2A. Next, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the PMT data string separated by the first separation section 132 by the main control section 101 (S1101), and confirms the activation priority described in the acquired PMT (S1102). The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms in the processes of S1101 and S1102 that the start priority of the broadcast managed application, which is the broadcast cooperation application, is high.

After confirming the above, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 by the application control unit 161 (S1103), and confirms the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data string (S1104). . In the processing of S1103 and S1104, when the application control code 903 is "automatic start", that is, when the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is specified, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further starts the application of the acquired AIT data string. Check the profile 904 (S1105).

In S1105, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms by confirming the information of the application profile 904 that the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can execute the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT. When the execution is confirmed, the broadcast receiving device 100 further refers to the operation setting values stored in the storage unit 110 by the application control unit 161 . Thereby, the broadcast receiving device 100 confirms whether or not the user setting of the broadcast receiving device 100 allows the automatic activation of the broadcast cooperation application (S1106).

An operation setting value indicating whether or not to automatically start the broadcast cooperation application can be selected and set by the user according to preference using the function setting menu or the like of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 . Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 serves as user selection means 2001 to provide a user with a function setting menu on a screen or the like. The user can make user settings related to various functions by operating the remote control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the linked portable information terminal 700 or the like using the function setting menu on the screen. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 stores the user setting information in the function setting menu in the memory within the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as operation setting values.

In the processing of S1106, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms that the automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is not permitted (“No”), that is, the user does not desire the automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application (S1107 -No), the process of FIG. 21 is terminated. That is, the application control unit 161 neither acquires nor activates the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT.

On the other hand, in the process of S1106, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms that the automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is permitted ("possible"), that is, the user wishes to automatically activate the broadcast-linked application. (S1107-Yes), and proceeds to S1108. In the process of S1108, the application control unit 161 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 broadcasts to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of the AIT. Send a distribution request for a linked app.

The service provider server 400, which has received the distribution request for the broadcast-linked application in S1108, authenticates the broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary based on the control of the application management/distribution execution unit 4103 in FIG. A predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 is distributed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1109). Note that a known method may be used for the authentication process, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the broadcast receiving device 100 receives the application engine 162 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161, and activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 ( S1110). As a result, the broadcast cooperation application is executed and the execution screen of the application is displayed.

As a modification, the processing of S1106-S1107 may be performed after the broadcast cooperation application is acquired in the processing of S1108-S1109.

As in the first configuration example of FIG. 21 described above, in the sixth embodiment, the broadcast cooperation application can be activated when it is confirmed that the user setting of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 permits automatic activation.

[Operation sequence when the broadcast managed application is started (2)]
FIG. 22 shows, as a second configuration example and processing example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the sixth embodiment, a case in which a broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast cooperation application, is specified to be preferentially started, unlike FIG. An example of an operation sequence when different broadcast cooperation applications are activated is shown. 22 shows whether or not the broadcast cooperation application can be automatically started by referring to the operation setting value stored in the portable information terminal 700 that performs the cooperation operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, that is, the user setting information. This is an example of confirming. The second configuration example uses user settings in the mobile information terminal 700 as the user selection means 2000 . The user selects and sets whether or not to permit the automatic activation of the broadcast cooperation application on the portable information terminal 700 .

In FIG. 22, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 first performs the processes of S1201 to S1205 which are the same as the processes of S1101 to S1105 in FIG. If the application profile 904 is checked in S1205 to confirm that the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT can be executed, then the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 performs processing in S1206. In S1206, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 uses the application control unit 161 to transmit a user setting confirmation request to the portable information terminal 700 in cooperative operation. Here, it is assumed that there is terminal A in FIG. 20, for example, as the portable information terminal 700 that is in a cooperative operation or capable of terminal cooperation.

Portable information terminal 700, in response to the user setting confirmation request received via LAN communication unit 721 by cooperation control execution unit 7102 in FIG. See As a result, the mobile information terminal 700 confirms whether or not automatic activation of the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is possible in the user settings of the mobile information terminal 700 (S1207). The mobile information terminal 700 transmits the confirmation result of whether or not the automatic activation is possible to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 via the LAN communication unit 721 as a user setting confirmation result by the cooperation control execution unit 7102 (S1208).

It should be noted that the operation setting value for enabling/disabling automatic activation of the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, which is the user setting information of the portable information terminal 700, can be set by the following means, for example. That is, in the cooperative operation state between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700, the user selects and sets according to his/her preference using the cooperative function setting menu or the like, which is one item in the function setting menu of the portable information terminal 700. can. The mobile information terminal 700 provides the user with the function setting menu on a screen or the like. The user selects the link function setting menu from the function setting menu. The link function setting menu is a menu that allows setting related to link operation. The user can set whether or not to automatically start the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 by performing a selection operation from the cooperation function setting menu. The portable information terminal 700 stores the user setting information in the function setting menu in the memory within the portable information terminal 700 as operation setting values.

Through the processing of S1206 to S1208, the broadcast receiving device 100 determines that the automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is not permitted, that is, the user who owns the mobile information terminal 700 automatically activates the broadcast-linked application on the broadcast receiving device 100. If it is confirmed that it is not desired (S1209-No), the process of FIG. 22 is terminated. That is, the application control unit 161 neither acquires nor activates the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT.

On the other hand, the broadcast receiving device 100 confirms that automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is permitted, that is, that the user who owns the mobile information terminal 700 desires automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application on the broadcast receiving device 100. If confirmed (S1209-Yes), the process proceeds to S1210.

In S1210, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 requests the predetermined service provider server 400 to distribute the broadcast cooperation application via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of the AIT by the application control unit 161. to send.

Service provider server 400, which has received the distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application in S1210, performs authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary based on the control of application management/distribution execution unit 4103, and then stores the application. A predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in area 4013 is distributed via LAN communication unit 421 (S1211).

Next, the broadcast receiving device 100 receives the application engine 162 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161, and activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 ( S1212).

As in the second configuration example of FIG. 22 described above, in the sixth embodiment, there is a mobile information terminal 700 that cooperates with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and it is confirmed that the user setting of the mobile information terminal 700 allows automatic activation. When it is done, the broadcast cooperation application can be started.

As a modification, when the user setting is confirmed in FIG. 22, if the mobile information terminal 700 is not in cooperative operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, S606 to S611 in FIG. may be performed. As a result, in this modification, the process of activating the cooperative control application is performed to cause the portable information terminal 700 to start the cooperative operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and the user setting confirmation is performed in this state.

As a modification, in the following cases, an embodiment in which control is performed to select the Yes side in S1209 or an embodiment in which control is performed to select the No side in S1209 is possible. This case includes cases such as when there is no mobile information terminal 700 to which the user setting confirmation request is sent in S1206, when there is no response to the request, and when the user setting confirmation result cannot be correctly acquired in S1208. This case corresponds to a situation in which there is no portable information terminal 700 capable of terminal cooperation at that time, a situation in which communication between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700 is temporarily disabled, and the like. In the former embodiment, the broadcast cooperation application is started although permission for activation by user setting could not be confirmed. In the latter example, the broadcast cooperation application is not started because it was not possible to confirm the permission for activation by the user setting. Which control operation is adopted in the modified example is specified by the specifications of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, or can be set by the user.

As a modification, the processing of S1206 to S1209 may be performed after acquiring the broadcast cooperation application in the processing of S1210 to S1211.

[Operation sequence (3) when the broadcast managed application is started]
FIG. 23 shows, as a third configuration example and processing example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the sixth embodiment, further different broadcast linkage when it is specified that a broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast linkage application, is preferentially started. 4 shows an example of an operation sequence when an application is started. FIG. 23 shows an example of confirming whether or not the broadcast-linked application can be started with a message or the like on the screen to the user in real time each time. In the third configuration example, an instruction input from the mobile information terminal 700 to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is used as the user selection means 2000 .

In FIG. 23, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 first performs the processes of S1301 to S1305 which are the same as the processes of S1101 to S1105 in FIG. If the application profile 904 is checked in S1205 to confirm that the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT can be executed, then the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 performs processing in S1306. In S1306, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 causes the application control unit 161 to display, on the video display unit 173, an activation confirmation screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to permit activation of the broadcast cooperation application.

The user selects whether or not to allow the activation of the broadcast-linked application using the mobile information terminal 700, remote control, or the like, which is an operation means, on the confirmation screen displayed in S1306 (S1307). Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives the selection information as an instruction input.

Broadcast receiving apparatus 100, if the activation of the broadcast cooperation application is not selected according to the result of the activation permission selection by the user in S1307, that is, if the user does not allow activation at this point (S1308-No), This processing of FIG. 23 is terminated. That is, the application control unit 161 neither acquires nor activates the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT.

On the other hand, if the user selects activation of the broadcast cooperation application in S1307, that is, if the user permits activation at this point (S1308-Yes), the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 proceeds to S1309. In the process of S1309, the application control unit 161 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 requests the predetermined service provider server 400 to distribute the broadcast cooperation application via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905. to send.

Service provider server 400, which has received the distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application, performs authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary based on the control of application management/distribution execution unit 4103, and then performs application storage area 4013. , is distributed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1310).

Next, the broadcast receiving device 100 receives the application engine 162 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161, and activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 ( S1311).

As a modification, the processing of S1306 to S1308 may be performed after the broadcast cooperation application is acquired in the processing of S1309 to S1310.

As in the above-described third configuration example of FIG. 23, in the sixth embodiment, the user is asked to confirm activation on the screen each time, and the broadcast cooperation application can be activated when permission is confirmed.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, the portable information terminal 700 is caused to function as an operating means for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 through terminal cooperation, and selection is made as to whether or not activation is possible. Not limited to this, it is also possible to use a remote controller or the like provided in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, which is the main body, to select whether or not to start the above.

[Activation confirmation screen]
FIG. 24 shows an example of a bootability confirmation screen for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displayed by the process of S1306 in FIG. In this embodiment, a message box 173f1 is displayed on the screen of the video display unit 173 in FIG. The message box 173f1 includes a message to the effect that a predetermined broadcast-linked application can be used, and a display of "yes" and "no" buttons for selecting whether or not to activate the broadcast-linked application. An example of the message is "Broadcast-linked application XXX is available. Do you want to start broadcast-linked application XXX?" Another example of the message is "Activation of broadcast-linked application XXX has been specified, and activation is possible. Do you want to permit activation?"

In the state where the message box 173f1 shown in FIG. 24 is displayed, the user selects activation propriety using the operation means (S1307). For example, the user selects "yes" or "no" using the cursor key 741ac, enter key 741ad, etc. on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application of the mobile information terminal 700 of FIG. 10A. Thereby, the user can select whether or not to permit the launch of the broadcast-linked application presented in the message box 173f1 on the broadcast receiving device 100 according to his/her own convenience and situation at that time.

As a modified example, instead of the message box 173f1, an icon 173b0 representing the existence of the cooperative application as shown in FIG. good too. In this case, the user presses the cooperative application key 741a9 on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application, for example. As a result, a predetermined broadcast cooperation application is activated. Also, if the cooperative application key 741a9 corresponding to the selection of the icon 173b0 is not pressed for a predetermined time or longer, the display of the icon 173b0 may be erased.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, according to each configuration example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the sixth embodiment, it has been confirmed that there is a provision and an instruction for automatic activation of the broadcast managed application with priority by the PMT and the AIT, and that the broadcast managed application can be executed by the AIT. Even in this case, activation of the broadcast managed application can be appropriately controlled according to the user's selection. That is, according to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to perform functions with higher added value.

It should be noted that which of the above first to third configuration examples and various modifications is adopted is defined as the specification of the broadcast receiving device 100 or the like, or is set by the user for the broadcast receiving device 100 or the like. make it possible. For example, in the configuration examples of FIGS. 21 and 22, the operation setting values according to the user settings are (a) "Allow (allow) start-up of the broadcast managed application" and (b) "Do not allow (disable) start-up of the broadcast managed application". )” can be selected from two values. Not limited to this, as a modified example, in addition to the above (a) and (b), the user settings may include values such as (c) "inquiry to the terminal" and (d) "check on the screen each time". It may be possible to select from The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this modified example performs control operations according to the first to third configuration examples in accordance with the set values selected by the user. In the case of setting (c), the processing of the second configuration example is performed, and in the case of setting (d), the processing of the third configuration example is performed.

In particular, in the first configuration example of FIG. 21, it is possible to control activation of the broadcast cooperation application according to the user's settings for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in advance. Users can change the settings according to their convenience and use the broadcast cooperation application.

FIG. 25 shows an example of displaying a menu for user settings on the screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 . A menu 173f2 for user setting is displayed on the screen according to the operation of the remote controller or the like by the user. In the case of the first configuration example, the menu 173f2 has "Allow activation of broadcast managed application" as one of the setting items. This item corresponds to "whether or not to permit automatic activation when automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is specified". The user can set whether or not to correspond to the above (a) and (b) by turning on/off the button in the corresponding setting item of the menu 173f2. A similar function can be realized on the screen of the portable information terminal 700 .

In particular, in the second configuration example of FIG. 22, it is possible to set whether or not to automatically start the broadcast managed application for each user who owns the mobile information terminal 700, and furthermore, it is possible to broadcast according to the presence or absence of the mobile information terminal 700 that performs the cooperative operation. It is also possible to select whether or not to automatically start the managed application.

An example of the above setting and use will be described with reference to FIG. 20 described above. As user settings in the mobile information terminal 700, user A's terminal A has a setting A, and user B's terminal B has a different setting B. FIG. For example, the setting A indicates that the automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is "allowed", and the setting B indicates that the automatic activation of the broadcast-linked application is "disabled". At the time of the processing of S1206 to S1209 in FIG. 22, for example, if only terminal A of user A is operating in cooperation, the terminal A is confirmed and activation is permitted. If only the terminal B of the user B is operating in cooperation, the terminal B is checked and the start-up is not permitted. In this way, it is possible to set whether or not to start the broadcast cooperation application for each mobile information terminal 700 of each user, and it is possible to start and use the broadcast cooperation application according to the presence or absence of the mobile information terminal 700 that cooperates in the situation at that time. be.

As a modified example, it is possible to perform a control operation in consideration of a combination of specifications or user settings in broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and specifications or user settings in mobile information terminal 700 . For example, an embodiment in which user settings in the mobile information terminal 700 are prioritized over user settings in the broadcast receiver 100, and user settings in the broadcast receiver 100 are prioritized over user settings in the mobile information terminal 700. Any of the embodiments are possible.

Also, in the second configuration example, it may be possible for the user to set whether or not to inquire of the portable information terminal 700 to confirm whether or not to start the broadcast cooperation application. In that case, the user setting menu 173f2 in FIG. 25 is provided with a setting item corresponding to the above (c) "ask the terminal".

In particular, in the third configuration example of FIG. 23, it is possible to control whether or not to start each broadcast managed application prepared for each broadcast program. The user can see the broadcast managed application and confirmation information presented on the screen, and if he/she wants to start the app at that time, he/she can allow the start, and if he/she does not want to start the app at that time, he/she can disallow the start. .

In addition, in the third configuration example, it may be possible for the user to set whether or not to confirm on the screen whether or not to start the broadcast cooperation application each time. In that case, the user setting menu 173f2 in FIG. 25 is provided with setting items corresponding to the above (d) "confirm on the screen each time".

Other examples include the following. In another embodiment, in the configuration examples shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, even if the above (b) is selected and set in advance by the user setting, the broadcast managed application is forced regardless of the setting value. Prepare an option to start automatically. In this embodiment, for example, in the data structure of the AIT shown in FIG. 6, in addition to (1) to (4), the setting value of (5) "forced start" is prepared as the parameter setting value of the application control code 903. do. Alternatively, as one of the AIT parameters (one of the "other information" in FIG. 6), an item "forced activation setting" may be prepared separately. For these setting values, for example, "valid" or "invalid" can be selected.

Furthermore, when the setting value of the application control code 903 is (5) "forced activation", or when the value of the item "forced activation setting" is "valid", the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 Control as follows. That is, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 controls to forcibly start the broadcast managed application even when the operation setting value is set to (b) NO. In other words, in the control of this embodiment, forced activation is provided as an item of higher order and priority than the item of user selection regarding automatic activation described above. In the case of the embodiment with the option of forced activation as described above, for example, applications for displaying emergency information from the broadcasting station side, applications required for specific commercial production, etc. The application can be conveniently displayed and provided to the user.

As another example, when a broadcast cooperation application is pre-installed inside the broadcast receiving device 100, processing such as acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application for the service provider server 400 (for example, S1108 to S1110 in FIG. 21 ) becomes unnecessary.

Information for controlling a broadcast-linked application included in broadcast waves is not limited to PAT, AIT, or the like, and can be applied. For example, one of the AIT parameters (901-909) of FIG. 6 may be separated and configured and provided as independent control information. The control information may be provided in a form included in the broadcast wave, or may be provided in a form separate from the broadcast wave. The control information may be preset in the device.

A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It should be noted that the configuration and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described below, and descriptions of common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication.

Since the broadcast cooperation application, which is an application used in the broadcast-communications cooperation system of this embodiment, is composed of HTML documents, it can be linked to other HTML documents on the network. The broadcast managed application is controlled in operations such as activation/termination based on the AIT application control code 903 included in the broadcast signal. Non-broadcasting managed applications and general applications are not controlled by the above broadcast signals in their operations such as activation/termination. Hereinafter, the non-broadcast managed application may be referred to as "non-broadcast application", and the general application may be referred to as "general application".

Since it is possible to link in the HTML document that constitutes the broadcast cooperation application, in the seventh embodiment, it is possible to transition from the broadcast managed application to the non-broadcast application or general application. Further, in the seventh embodiment, non-broadcast applications and general applications can be directly started from the above-described broadcast-linked application launcher screen or the like in accordance with a user's instruction operation. For example, broadcasting stations, service providers, etc., include information for instructing transition to other HTML documents that constitute non-broadcast applications, etc., by describing links such as URLs in the HTML documents of broadcast managed applications. . In such a case, a transition from the broadcast managed application to a non-broadcast application or the like may occur.

Since the above non-broadcast applications and general applications are not controlled by broadcast signals such as activation/termination, users may sometimes execute non-broadcast applications and general applications while watching broadcast programs. Then, when the user is executing a non-broadcast application or the like while watching a broadcast program, there may be a further request to activate a broadcast managed application that cooperates with the broadcast program. The request includes, for example, an activation instruction by the AIT application control code 903 included in the broadcast signal. That is, in this case, it is required to execute non-broadcast applications, general applications, and broadcast managed applications in parallel, or to select one of them. Although it is technically possible to run multiple applications of different types in parallel in this manner, it may be undesirable from a control point of view and may be inconvenient for the user.

Therefore, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the seventh embodiment has a function of controlling the duplication or parallel activation of the relevant applications or the activation and termination of each application so that the above situation can be dealt with appropriately. This function controls operations including activation and termination of the second application according to the user's selection when the activation and execution of the second application is requested while the first application is running. In particular, when a request to launch a broadcast managed application is received while a non-broadcast application, etc. is running, this function will terminate the non-broadcast application, etc. and start the broadcast managed application according to the user's instruction input and settings. Control. In the seventh embodiment, an example of control operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in the above cases and situations will be described.

Examples of controls according to user selection by the above functions are as follows. (1) The above function activates and executes the target broadcast managed application while continuing the non-broadcast application and general application being executed at the time of the request. (2) The function terminates the non-broadcasting application or general application being executed at the time of the request, and activates and executes the target broadcast managed application. (3) The above function keeps the non-broadcast application and general application being executed at the time of the request, and does not start and execute the target broadcast managed application.

The means of user selection by the above functions are as follows. (a) When the above request comes, the above function is information that informs the user that a request to start a broadcast managed application separate from the non-broadcast application that is being executed has been received, and the application to be started or terminated Alternatively, information for allowing the user to select the above control operation is displayed on the screen. This function accepts a selection instruction input operation by the user on the screen. The function executes the contents of control selected from, for example, (1) to (3) above according to the user's selection. (b) The above function accepts a user setting operation in advance by the user. When the request comes, the function executes the contents of control selected from (1) to (3) above, for example, according to confirmation of the user setting information.

FIG. 26 shows a system configuration and a usage example including the broadcast receiving device 100 of the seventh embodiment. The broadcast receiver 100 receives broadcast waves from the broadcast station server 300 via the radio tower 300t, and separates the video of the broadcast program from information such as AIT. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately acquires a broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast cooperation application, from service provider server 400 or the like based on information such as AIT. Further, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires non-broadcast applications and general applications from the service provider server 400, other application servers 500, and the like as appropriate. Moreover, there may be a portable information terminal 700 that performs terminal cooperation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and various applications are acquired and executed in the state of terminal cooperation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700. good too.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 7 has multiple application execution control means 2600 including user selection means 2601 . The user selection means 2601 is a means for selecting contents of control such as operations including activation and termination of a plurality of types of applications, parallel execution, etc., based on the user's operation of the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700. . The user selection means 2601 includes, for example, an instruction input unit that receives and processes instruction input in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the portable information terminal 700, etc., related to (a) above. The user selection unit 2601 includes, for example, a user setting unit that receives and processes user settings related to (b) above.

Multiple application execution control means 2600, for example, during the execution of non-broadcast applications and general applications while watching a broadcast program, when the broadcast managed application is instructed to start by the AIT of the broadcast wave, the user and the user selection means 2601 , depending on the selection of the control operation corresponding to the case, it controls the end of the non-broadcast application and the like, the activation of the broadcast managed application, and the like.

[Examples of multiple types of apps]
FIG. 27 shows examples of document configurations of multiple types of applications, activation of each application, transitions between applications, and the like. The broadcast wave 2010 includes video of broadcast programs, information such as AIT, and information such as BML. As described above, in the broadcast-communication cooperation function, the AIT notifies the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the presence of the broadcast cooperation application and instructs control such as activation and termination thereof. For example, AIT information included in the broadcast wave 2010 activates the broadcast managed application 2011 .

In the seventh embodiment, broadcast-linked applications are roughly classified into (a) broadcast managed applications, (b) non-broadcast applications, and (c) general applications. A broadcast managed application operates in a broadcast reception state based on a control signal included in a broadcast signal, and is permitted to access broadcast resources. The non-broadcast application operates without being controlled by the broadcast signal such as start/end, and is permitted to access the broadcast resource based on authentication or the like. General applications operate independently of broadcast signals and are not permitted access to broadcast resources.

In FIG. 27, App1, which is the broadcast managed application 2011, is composed of four documents, HTML11 to HTML14, for example. App2, which is the non-broadcast application 2012, is composed of, for example, two documents, HTML21 and HTML22. App3, which is the general application 2013, is composed of, for example, two documents of HTML31 and HTML32. Each HTML document can be transitioned by links indicated by solid-line arrows. For example, it is possible to transition from HTML13 of App1 to HTML21 of App2 or HTML31 of App3. Dashed arrows indicate examples of transitions between HTML documents.

In FIG. 27, App2 as non-broadcast application 2012 and App3 as general application 2013 can be activated, for example, according to user operation 2020 on the broadcast-linked application launcher screen described above. App2 is executed by reading HTML21, for example, and App3 is executed by reading HTML31, for example.

An example of executing each application independently during reproduction of a broadcast program (for example, broadcast program A) by the broadcast wave 2010 is as follows. (a1) The AIT instructs to start App1, which is the broadcast managed application 2011, and App1 is started and executed. App1 is granted access to broadcast program A. When the same AIT instructs to terminate App1, App1 is terminated.

(a2) Based on the selection operation such as the user's instruction input, the start of App2, which is the non-broadcast application 2012, is instructed by the broadcast-linked application launcher screen, the link from the HTML 13 of App1, etc., and App2 is started and executed. be done. App2 is granted access to broadcast program A. When the end of App2 is instructed, App2 is ended. (a3) Similarly, based on the user's selection operation, the launch of App3, which is a general application 2013, is instructed by the broadcast-linked app launcher screen, the link from App1's HTML 13, etc., and App3 is launched and executed. . App3 is not allowed to access broadcast program A. When the end of App3 is instructed, App3 is ended.

[Operation sequence when broadcasting managed application is started]
FIG. 28 shows a control operation sequence in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the seventh embodiment when a broadcast managed application is requested to be started by AIT of a broadcast signal or the like while a broadcast program is being viewed and a non-broadcast application is being executed. show. In addition, although the case of non-broadcast applications will be described below, the same is possible in the case of general applications. In FIG. 28, it is assumed that the information on the PMT and the information such as the application control code 903 and the activation priority 907 of the AIT prescribe and instruct the broadcast managed application to be preferentially activated.

In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the activation of the non-broadcast application is instructed in response to the user's operation of selecting any desired non-broadcast application from the broadcast-linked application launcher screen, for example, while the user is viewing the broadcast program. Then, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 superimposes the execution screen of the non-broadcast application on the broadcast program screen and displays it (S1401). When the broadcast program is switched in the state of S1401, the contents of information such as PMT and AIT in the broadcast signal are updated. Even if the update is performed, the non-broadcast application continues to be executed because its operation such as activation/termination is not controlled by the broadcast signal.

Next, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the PMT data string separated by the first separation section 132 by the main control section 101 (S1402), and confirms the activation priority described in the PMT (S1403). In the process of S1403, for example, it is confirmed that the start priority of the broadcast managed application is high. Then, the broadcast receiver 100 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 by the application control unit 161 (S1404), and confirms the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data string (S1405). In the process of S1405, if the application control code 903 is "automatic start", the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further confirms the application profile 904 of the AIT data string (S1406). In S1406, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms whether the broadcast managed application specified in the AIT can be executed.

When the execution is confirmed, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 causes the application control unit 161 to display a startup selection screen (FIG. 30, etc., which will be described later) on the video display unit 173 (S1407). The start selection screen is used to allow the user to select the control operation related to the start/end of the non-broadcast application that is being executed and the broadcast managed application that is requested to be automatically started. is a screen containing information on In the seventh embodiment, as the selection of the above control operation, it is possible to select whether to continue or terminate the execution of the non-broadcast application, whether to start the broadcast managed application, and the like, on the activation selection screen. In other words, it is possible to select whether or not to allow the non-broadcast application and the broadcast managed application to be executed in parallel.

On the activation selection screen displayed in S1407, the user uses the personal digital assistant 700, the remote control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, or the like, which is his or her own operation means, to perform control operations related to activation and termination of the plurality of types of applications. Select (S1408). Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives the user's selection result as an instruction input. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 terminates the present process of FIG. 28 when activation of the broadcast managed application is not selected according to the user's selection result in S1408 (S1409-No). That is, the application control unit 161 does not acquire or start the broadcast managed application designated by the AIT. The non-broadcast application continues to run.

On the other hand, if activation of the broadcast managed application is selected (S1409-Yes), the process proceeds to S1410. In S1410, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 causes the application control unit 161 to end the operation of the non-broadcast application being executed.

Next, the transmitting/receiving device 100 transmits a broadcast managed application distribution request to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the AIT application acquisition destination information 905 (S1412). Service provider server 400, which has received the distribution request in S1412, performs authentication processing of broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary based on the control of application management/distribution executing unit 4103, and then stores it in application storage area 4013. Then, the predetermined broadcast managed application is distributed via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1412). Then, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 activates the broadcast managed application received via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161 by the application engine 162 (S1413).

In the above embodiment, control is performed to end the non-broadcast application in S1410 when activation of the broadcast managed application is selected in S1409. The control is not limited to this, and the following control is also possible. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 checks whether termination of the non-broadcast application is selected during S1409 or in a subsequent step. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 executes S1410 if termination of the non-broadcast application is selected according to the user's selection result in this step, and proceeds to S1411 if not selected.

As a modified example, the processes such as confirmation of activation in S1407 to S1410 and termination of the non-broadcast application may be performed after acquiring the broadcast managed application in S1411 to S1412.

[Control example]
FIG. 29 shows a control example of reproduction and execution of a broadcast program and a plurality of types of applications corresponding to the processing of FIG. 28 of the seventh embodiment. The horizontal axis indicates time. In the vertical direction, reproduction of video of a broadcast program by broadcast signals of broadcast waves and control instructions by AIT, (A) first control, (B) second control, and (C) third control are shown in association with each other. (A) First control indicates (A1) execution of App2, which is a non-broadcast application, and (A2) execution of App1, which is a broadcast managed application. Similarly, (B) second control indicates execution of (B1) App2 and (B2) execution of App1. (C) Third control indicates (C1) execution of App2 and (C2) execution of App1. Note that, as described above, App1, which is a broadcast managed application, has a higher activation priority than App2, which is a non-broadcast application.

First, as an example of reproduction of a broadcast program, a broadcast program A is reproduced during the period from time t1 to t3. The program is switched to the broadcast program B from t3 to t4, and the broadcast program B is reproduced during the period from t4 to t6. Along with the switching to the broadcast program B, the AIT instructs to start App1, which is a broadcast managed application linked to the broadcast program B. FIG.

(A) In the case of the first control, as in (A1), for example, at time t2, App2, which is a non-broadcast application, is activated by a user operation or the like, and is executed from t2. Assume that an instruction to start App1 is issued at t3 while App2 is being executed. At this time, from t3 to t4, as user selection by the user selection means 2601, continuation of App2 and activation of App1 are selected. The plural application execution control means 2600 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 starts App1 at t4 as shown in (A2) while continuing execution of App2 according to the user's selection, and changes the screen display state accordingly. Control. After that, App1 and App2 are executed in parallel during a period from t4 to t5, for example, and App2 is terminated by a user operation or the like at t5. During the period from t5 to t6, the execution of App1 continues, and at time t6, App1 is terminated in accordance with the termination instruction of App1 from AIT.

(B) In the case of the second control, App2 is being executed in the period from t2 to t3 as in (B1), and in accordance with the instruction to start App1 at t3, the user selects to end App2 and start App1. selected. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 terminates execution of App2 according to the user's selection, and activates App1 at t4 as shown in (B2). After that, App1 is executed during the period from t4 to t6.

(C) In the case of the third control, App2 is being executed in the period from t2 to t3 as in (C1), and following the instruction to start App1 at t3, the user selects to continue App2 and not to start App1. is selected. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 continues execution of App2 according to the user's selection, and does not start or execute App1 at t4 as in (C2). After that, App2 is executed during the period from t4 to t5.

[Startup selection screen]
FIG. 30 shows an example of the activation selection screen displayed by the process of S1407 in FIG. 28 in the seventh embodiment. This screen displays a message box 173g1. The message box 173g1 confirms with the user that the non-broadcast application is currently being executed, that the broadcast managed application has been instructed to start and can be started, and whether or not to perform the start. including the display of a message to the effect that The message box 173g1 of this example includes "Yes" and "No" buttons for allowing the user to select whether or not to allow the activation.

With the message box 173g1 displayed, the user selects "yes" or "no" using, for example, the cursor key 741ac and decision key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application. That is, the user selects "Yes" if he wants to start the broadcast managed application at that time, and selects "No" if he wants to continue executing the non-broadcast application. With this screen, the user can easily decide whether or not to start a new broadcast managed application on the broadcast receiving device 100 that is executing any desired non-broadcast application according to his/her convenience and desire at that time. You can choose. The above control is also possible in the case of general applications.

Instead of the message box 173g1, the icon 173b0 of FIG. 12A and other marks are displayed to prompt a predetermined user operation, and the operation controls the activation of the broadcast managed application and the termination of the non-broadcast application. It may be in the form of For example, a mark, a message, or the like indicating that there is a request to start the broadcast managed application may be displayed on the OSD in the corner of the screen. If the predetermined user operation is not performed after the icon or the like is displayed, the display is erased.

FIG. 31 shows an example of another activation selection screen. A message box 173g2 is displayed on the activation selection screen of FIG. The message box 173g2 includes a display of a message or the like for allowing the user to select a control operation regarding activation, termination, etc. of a plurality of types of applications including the non-broadcast application and the broadcast managed application. The message box 173g2 displays, as specific control option information, (1) starting the broadcast managed application while the non-broadcast application is running, (2) ending the non-broadcast application and starting the broadcast managed application, ( 3) Including not launching the broadcast managed application.

With the message box 173g2 displayed, the user selects from the above options using, for example, the color keys 741ae on the basic screen 741a of the cooperative control application. For example, blue corresponds to control (1), red corresponds to control (2), and yellow corresponds to control (3). The above screen also allows the user to easily select termination or activation of each application according to the situation at that time.

The activation selection screen is not limited to being displayed when a request is generated, and may be displayed when user settings are made. In this case, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays a user setting menu on the screen of the video display unit 173, for example, in the same manner as in FIG. , allowing the user to set preferences. Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 executes control according to this user setting information when a request occurs.

[Multiple application execution screen]
In the case of control to terminate the non-broadcast application and start and execute the broadcast managed application, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 controls display on the screen of the video display unit 173 in the same manner as in the above example. That is, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays, on the screen of the video display unit 173, for example, the execution screen of the non-broadcast application displayed in an area different from the screen of the broadcast program or in an area partially overlapping the screen of the broadcast program. Terminate it and display a new execution screen of the broadcast managed application.

In addition, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 starts the broadcast managed application while continuing the execution of the non-broadcast application, that is, in the case of control to execute both applications in parallel, the screen display of the video display unit 173 is as follows. can be controlled to Broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately adjusts the size and display position of the execution screens of both or one of the applications so that, for example, the execution screen of the non-broadcast application and the execution screen of the broadcast managed application do not overlap as a whole. Alternatively, both execution screens may be adjusted so that they partially overlap each other.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may, for example, reduce the size of the execution screen of the non-broadcast application being executed so as not to interfere with the display of the execution screen of the newly started broadcast managed application. Conversely, the size of the execution screen of the newly launched broadcast managed application may be reduced so as not to interfere with the display of the execution screen of the non-broadcast application being executed. Also, even if the non-broadcast application is temporarily iconized, only the execution screen of the broadcast managed application is displayed, and the display of the non-broadcast application execution screen is restored by the user's operation of selecting the icon of the non-broadcast application. good. Alternatively, both applications may be icons, and the execution screen may be displayed according to the selection of the icons by the user.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays, for example, a broadcast program playback screen on the screen of the video display unit 173, displays an execution screen of the non-broadcast application superimposed on a part of the broadcast program playback screen, and further A broadcast managed application execution screen or the like may be superimposed and displayed on a part of the non-broadcast application execution screen. Further, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may divide all or part of the screen of the video display unit 173 to display the broadcast program and the execution screens of both applications in parallel.

FIG. 32 shows a screen example of the image display unit 173 corresponding to the control example of parallel execution of the plurality of applications. In the screen of FIG. 32, the execution screen of the newly started broadcast managed application is displayed in a partial area 173g3 on the screen 173g for displaying the broadcast program. At the same time, the execution screen of the non-broadcast application being executed is reduced or displayed as an icon or the like in a partial area 173g4 within the area 173g3. When the user selects and operates 173g4, the execution screen of the non-broadcast application is enlarged and displayed in the area 173g3, and conversely, the execution screen of the broadcast managed application is reduced or displayed as an icon in the area 173g4. The area 173g4 may display a mark, a message, or the like indicating that there is an instruction to start the broadcast managed application.

A screen such as the above example allows the user to easily grasp and recognize the execution status of broadcast programs and a plurality of types of applications.

FIG. 33 shows another screen example of the video display unit 173 corresponding to the control example of parallel execution of the plurality of applications. The screen of FIG. 33 is divided into a plurality of divided areas, including a broadcast program screen 173g, a non-broadcast application execution screen 173g5, a newly started broadcast managed application execution screen 173g6, and a screen for selection of startup. An area 173g7 for displaying information is displayed in parallel. The area 173g7 may display a mark, a message, or the like indicating that there is an instruction to start the broadcast managed application, or may display information of an application list such as the broadcast-linked application launcher in FIG. 12B. Furthermore, when there are two or more non-broadcast applications, general applications, and two or more broadcast managed applications, the execution screens of each application may be displayed in parallel on this screen.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, according to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the seventh embodiment, even when a request to start a broadcast managed application is generated by the AIT or the like while the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is executing a non-broadcast application or a general application, various multiple It is possible to appropriately control the activation and termination of the application according to the user's selection. That is, according to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to perform functions with higher added value. Users can select and use non-broadcasting apps or broadcast managed apps according to the situation and convenience at the time of request.

It should be noted that which of the controls, modifications, screen display control method, etc. of the seventh embodiment is to be adopted is defined as the specifications of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like, or is determined by the user's selection of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like. Configurable.

As modifications of the seventh embodiment, the following is possible. As a first modification, after the processing up to S1406 in FIG. 28, without confirming the user selection by S1407 to S1408, automatically terminate the non-broadcast application in S1410 to S1413 and start the broadcast managed application. You can do it. Similarly, after the processing up to S1406, control may be performed so that the broadcast managed application is automatically started while the non-broadcast application continues, without confirming the user's selection. Similarly, during the execution of non-broadcast applications and general applications, it may be controlled not to automatically start the broadcast managed application without confirming the user's selection. In the case of the modification, the user does not have much time and effort to operate.

As a second modification, not only confirming the user selection instruction input on the activation confirmation screen, but also using the user settings in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700, as in the sixth embodiment described above, a plurality of You may realize the control of the execution of the type of application. For example, the user can select and set whether or not to start a broadcast managed application during execution of a non-broadcast application or a general application by using user setting information such as the function setting menu described above. Broadcast receiving device 100 stores the setting value in storage unit 110 . The broadcast receiving device 100 refers to and confirms the content of the user setting information of the broadcast receiving device 100 when the start of the broadcast managed application is requested during the execution of the non-broadcast application, for example, during the processing of S1407 to S1409. . The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 determines and determines control such as the activation according to the content. In the case of this modified example, the user can appropriately change the user settings according to his or her convenience, etc., and use multiple types of broadcast cooperation applications.

The same can be achieved when the user setting of the portable information terminal 700 is used. As in the sixth embodiment, it is possible to flexibly control activation, termination, etc. of the plurality of types of applications according to the presence or absence of the mobile information terminal 700 to be linked or user setting for each mobile information terminal 700 to be linked.

As another modified example, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays information indicating that the non-broadcast application has been terminated in the middle and the broadcast managed application has been started, as a control example related to the second control in (B) of FIG. 29 above. After terminating the broadcast managed application, the non-broadcast application that was terminated in the middle may be started and executed again automatically or by a predetermined user operation. In the case of this modified example, the user can easily return to using the non-broadcast application.

As another modified example, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, as a control example related to the third control (C) in FIG. Put it on hold without starting it, and continue the non-broadcast application that is running. After that, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 activates the suspended broadcast managed application after the non-broadcast application ends, for example. As an example of screen display control in this case, a message, mark, or the like indicating that there is a request to start the broadcast managed application or that the start is pending is displayed in the corner of the execution screen of the non-broadcast application. This prompts the user to terminate the non-broadcast application and start the broadcast managed application. In the case of this modified example, the user can move on to using the broadcast managed application at a convenient time.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above using Examples 1 to 7, the configuration for realizing the technique of the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and various modifications are possible. For example, 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. These all belong to the scope of the present invention. Numerical values, messages, and the like appearing in the sentences and drawings are only examples, and the effect of the present invention can be achieved even if different ones are used. Some or all of the functions and the like of the present invention described above may be realized by hardware by designing an integrated circuit, etc., or a microprocessor unit or the like may interpret an operation program for realizing each function or the like. It may be realized by software by executing it by executing it, or it may be realized by using hardware and software together. In addition, the control lines and information lines shown in the figure show what is considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all the control lines and information lines on the product. You can think of them as being interconnected.

The above-described software for controlling the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be stored in advance in the ROM 103, the storage unit 110, or the like of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 at the time of product shipment. It may be obtained from other application servers 500 or the like on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication section 121 after product shipment. Also, software stored in a memory card, an optical disc, or the like may be acquired via the extended interface section 124 or the like. Similarly, the software that controls the mobile information terminal 700 may be stored in the ROM 703, the storage unit 710, etc. of the mobile information terminal 700 in advance at the time of product shipment. It may be obtained from another application server 500 or the like on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication section 721 or the mobile telephone network communication section 722 or the like after product shipment. Also, software stored in a memory card, an optical disc, or the like may be acquired via the extended interface section 724 or the like.

100: broadcast receiving device, 132: first separating unit, 133: first video decoding unit, 134: first audio decoding unit, 135: first caption decoding unit, 141: data broadcasting reception processing unit, 142: data broadcasting engine , 151: streaming reception processing unit, 152: second separation unit, 153: second video decoding unit, 154: second audio decoding unit, 155: second subtitle decoding unit, 161: application control unit, 162: application engine, 171: video superimposition unit 172: audio selection unit 173: video display unit 174: speaker 175: video output unit 176: audio output unit 181: presentation synchronization control unit 191: terminal cooperation control unit 300: Broadcast station server 400: service provider server 500: other application server 600: mobile phone communication server 600b: base station 700: portable information terminal 2600: multiple application execution control means 2601: user selection means , 2010: broadcast wave, 2011: broadcast managed application, 2012: non-broadcast application, 2013: general application, 2020: user operation.

Claims (1)

A broadcast receiver capable of cooperating with a portable information terminal,
a communication unit communicable with the portable information terminal;
a broadcast receiving unit that receives a digital broadcast signal;
a display unit for displaying video of a broadcast program included in the digital broadcast signal received by the broadcast reception unit;
an application control unit that controls execution of a cooperative application that cooperates with a broadcast program based on application-related information included in the digital broadcast signal received by the broadcast receiving unit;
a data broadcast processing unit that controls execution of data broadcast based on the digital broadcast signal received by the broadcast receiving unit;
with
When the communication unit receives an instruction to start the cooperative application transmitted from the portable information terminal while the data broadcasting is being executed by the data broadcasting processing unit, the data broadcasting being executed is terminated, launching the cooperative application based on the application-related information by the application control unit;
Broadcast receiver.

Images