JP3209423B2 - Receiver and data output method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus, a receiving method, a transmitting apparatus, a transmitting method, an editing apparatus, and an editing method for digital data such as character multiplexed data to be multiplexed with main broadcast information and transmitted. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image information composed of characters and figures is multiplexed into a television signal in the form of a digital signal and transmitted, and this signal is decoded on the receiving side and displayed on a television receiver. Multiplex broadcasting is known.

On the transmitting side, a text broadcast screen is produced by combining a character or graphic screen with an additional sound as necessary. Each teletext screen is encoded, and data specifying a program number, a page number, a display mode, and the like is added.

Further, a synchronization signal, an error correction code, and the like are added to form a character signal, which is transmitted while being superimposed on the 14H (H is a horizontal section) to 16H and the 21H in the vertical blanking period of the television signal. Is done.

On the receiving side, a character signal is separated from the demodulated video signal, and after error correction processing, the character broadcast data is decoded. In accordance with this data, pattern data and graphic data read from a character generator such as a ROM are written to a display memory, converted into video signals, and displayed on a picture tube.

The image information can be printed as a hard copy by a printer. Further, the electronic sound is reproduced from the speaker according to the additional sound data.

In teletext broadcasting, a data line of layer 2 superimposed in one horizontal scanning period is divided into a 24-bit synchronization section and a data packet of 272 bits (layer 3).

[0008] As shown in FIG. 6, the program data of the hierarchy 5 is composed of program management data and each page data.
The program data header includes a number for identifying the program,
There is a number for identifying a group of programs.

[0009]

Conventionally, in commercial television broadcasting (terrestrial broadcasting) and broadcasting by a communication satellite (CS), the broadcasting of commercial messages (CM) consists of the same video and audio as those of ordinary programs. Of course, it is displayed on the screen simultaneously with the broadcast and provided to the viewer. At this time, the entire area (at least the prefecture area or the whole country) of the service area SA of the broadcasting station becomes the target area ZCM of the CM broadcast (see FIG. 7).

In recent years, a multi-channel CATV system, which has been rapidly increasing, retransmits VHF and UHF terrestrial television broadcast programs through a transmission medium such as a coaxial cable. Independent programs are transmitted by CS distribution and distributed to a large number of subscribers. CMs are broadcast on a prefecture-wide or nationwide scale in the same way as the ordinary television broadcasts described above, and are displayed on the screen simultaneously with the broadcast. And provided to the audience.

[0011] For this reason, the advertisement fee of the conventional television broadcasting is inevitably high. There was a problem that the target burden was too large to be used.

In the conventional television broadcasting, for example, area-related information such as weather information, road information, etc.
It was broadcast sequentially on a nationwide or regional scale, and could not provide more detailed information that varies by region.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method that can provide regional information such as a community-based CM that is significant only in a specific area.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving apparatus for receiving transmitted digital data, wherein the receiving apparatus receives user area information using a zip code or a telephone number. Remember the first
1 and the digital data from the received data.
Means for detecting a signal indicating uptake preparation, the de
A signal instructing preparation for digital data capture is detected.
Write received digital data based on
A second storage unit for reading from the second storage unit
A regional information is information corresponding to up to a predetermined digit from the most significant digit that is specified by the sender of the A information said added to the digital data ZIP or the telephone number, the Comparing means for comparing the user area information read from the first storage unit; and, based on the comparison result of the comparing means, the area indicated by the user area information or the area indicated by the user area information. the regional information extracting added the digital data, and means for temporarily storing converted into data that can provide the digital data to the extracted user, the received data in that specifies the region including the region indicated said means for detecting a signal indicating a timing for outputting the digital data, when the signal for instructing the timing of the output is detected, the from the temporary And output means for outputting pre-Symbol data reads that resides, characterized in that it comprises a.

[0015]

[0016]

According to the receiving apparatus according to the invention as claimed in claim 1, the receiving device, rather than providing the user received digital data in real stores in the storage means, a start signal from the transmitting side arrives When it is detected that the information has been read, the information is read from the storage means and provided to the user.
Therefore, it is possible to provide digital data according to the intention of the transmitting side to provide.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Limiting Broadcasting Area] First, referring to FIG. 2, a description will be given of limiting a broadcasting area in an embodiment of a transmitting apparatus and an editing apparatus according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a regional code corresponding to a broadcast target area is added to regional information such as a community-based CM as regional limited information, and the format of the text multiplex broadcast image information as described above is provided. Broadcast on

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in a service area SA of one broadcasting station, areas Za, Z
Information of A, B, and C is broadcast only for b and Zc. Further, the information of D is broadcasted on the area Zd including the areas Zb and Zc.

Each piece of information includes, in order to limit the broadcasting area,
For example, an area code of a target area such as information area area code A Za 12345 B Zb 23456 C Zc 24567 D Zd (= Zb + Zc) 2XXXX is assigned as a part of the program management data as shown in FIG. Is done.

As described above, the area code is designated from the highest digit to the highest digit, or a plurality of area codes are designated by "&" (and, that is, logical product) or "OR" (OR, OR).
That is, by combining with a code such as OR
The broadcast range can be controlled appropriately.

As the above-mentioned area code, in order to clearly define the target area in a hierarchical manner, to collectively manage information, and to strictly update the information, a zip code is used in Japan, and a zip code is used in the United States. Code (Zip Code)
It is desirable to use the postal code of each country as a reference. The area can be limited by the area code of the telephone and the area code. However, the postal code has the advantage that the limited area can be made smaller.

As described above, the area can be limited by using part of the telephone number instead of all digits of the telephone number. In addition, as described later, even in the case of a postal code, broadcasting in a limited area can be performed by using a partial number instead of all digits.

[Regional CM Broadcast] On the broadcast station side, C
For example, several tens of seconds before the timing of broadcasting M, a preparation signal (signal) for text multiplex CM broadcasting is broadcast as text multiplex data several tens of seconds before, and subsequently, the above-described area code is added. A plurality of character-multiplexed CM data is repeatedly inserted (multiplexed) into a plurality of frames and broadcast.

Next, at the timing of broadcasting the CM,
A display start signal (cue) is broadcast as character multiplexed data. The start signal is provided with an identification number corresponding to the preparation signal.

Then, when the broadcast time of the CM ends, the CM
The display end signal (signal) is broadcast as character multiplexed data. The end signal is also provided with an identification number corresponding to the preparation signal.

When the CM is continuously broadcast, the process from the transmission of the preparation signal to the transmission of the start signal as described above is repeated a plurality of times, and one of the broadcasts is displayed on the receiver side. Will be.

In consideration of the possibility of the signal being missed on the receiver side, each signal of the signal is broadcast a plurality of times. In particular, the end signal is broadcast for a while.

[Configuration of Receiving Apparatus] Next, an example of a receiving apparatus for a multiplex broadcast transmitted by the transmission method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a receiving apparatus for teletext broadcasting, on which a tuner 11 is mounted, and a video signal Sv11 and an audio signal Sa11 from the tuner 11 are supplied to a video signal processing circuit 12 and an audio signal processing circuit, respectively. Through 13, it is supplied to the receiver 1 connected as an external device.

When the receiving apparatus 10 is, for example, a receiving terminal (also called a cable box or a home terminal) provided in accordance with a contract with a CATV system, pay broadcast programs such as so-called pay television and pay-per-view are scrambled. The tuner 11 includes a descrambler because it is hung. The receiving device 10
However, the same applies to a satellite pay-broadcast decoder.

14 is a character multiplexed data extraction circuit,
The video signal Sv11 is supplied from the tuner 11, and the character multiplex data D14 as described above is extracted. Then, the data D14 is supplied to the CPU 21 of the character signal decoder 20.

The character signal decoder 20 includes, in addition to the CPU 21, a ROM 22, a DRAM 23, an SRAM 24, a VR
And a CRT output port 27 and an additional sound generation circuit 2.
8 are connected to the VRAM 25 and the bus 26, respectively.

CRT output port 27, additional sound generation circuit 2
The output of 8 is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 12 and the audio signal processing circuit 13, respectively. Further, a remote control receiver 31 is connected to the bus 26, and control data by operation of a remote control transmitter (commander) 32 is input to the CPU 21 through the receiver 31. Note that, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1, each unit of the receiving device 10 is controlled by the CPU 21.

The ROM 22 stores a control program for each unit, and also stores font and graphic data used for display. The DRAM 23 is mainly used as a work area, and the SRAM 24 stores an area code or the like as user area information. And V
The RAM 25 is used for display.

[Registration of User Area Information] Next, the registration of the area code as the registration of the user area information in the receiving apparatus of the example of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the registration of the area code, as shown in FIG.
Is activated (step S)
1) Using the same program on the ROM 22, the same ROM
Combining font and graphic data on 22
As shown in FIG. 4, an input screen image including the guidance for inputting the area code is generated on the VRAM 25, and this image is merged with the video signal via the CRT output port 27 and converted into a signal to be displayed on the display as an overlay. Then, it is displayed on the receiver 1 (step S2).

The area code registration process may be automatically started at the time of initial setting after the installation of the cable box.

The set area code stored in the SRAM 24 is displayed by transferring the font data to the VRAM 25 and merging it with the video signal via the CRT output port 27 in the same manner as described above. Is performed (step S3). Note that lower-order digits not set by the set area code are displayed in a font such as “*”.

Then, in accordance with the guidance displayed on the receiver 1 in step S2, the numeric key of the commander 32,
For example, an area code is input by operating a function key such as a channel key (step S4).
The entered number is displayed in the same manner as in step S3.

The input processing in step S4 is performed, for example, by using a CH11 key (channel number No. 11) as a stop key.
Key, the same applies hereinafter) until one of the CH10 keys as a decision key is pressed (steps S5 and S5).
6). The CH12 key is used as the clear key.

When the enter key is pressed, the input area code is converted into a BCD code and stored in the SRAM 24, and then the input screen display is terminated (steps S7 and S7).
8). When the cancel key is pressed, the input screen display is terminated without saving the input area code.

As described above, in the receiving apparatus of this example, the user can easily set the area code of the installation location of the receiving apparatus according to the guidance displayed on the receiver 1, so that the user can move home. , Or when the area code of the installation location is changed, it is possible to reliably cope with the situation.

[Reception of Regional Limited CM] Next, referring also to FIG. 5, the regional limited CM in the receiving apparatus of the example of FIG. 1 will be described.
The reception will be described.

As described above, in the receiving apparatus 10 in which the area code is registered, the character multiplexed data extracting circuit 14 always functions, and the CPU 21 monitors the character multiplexed data of the selected channel.

Then, in the reception of the regional limited CM, as shown in FIG. 5, a preparation signal to be broadcasted prior to the CM data is waited for (step S11). The CM data is taken into the DRAM 23 (step S12).

In the next step S13, it is determined whether or not the received CM data corresponds to the preparation signal, and whether or not the area code of the CM data matches the area code stored in the SRAM 24. If they do not match, steps S12 and S13 are repeated, and although not shown, processing such as timeout is performed an appropriate number of times to avoid an infinite loop.

When the area code of the CM data coincides with the set area code, the display image and the additional sound data from the character multiplexed data can be displayed as a character string, a still image, an animation, etc., or output as an additional sound. And prepared on the DRAM 23 (step S1).
4) Wait for a display start signal assigned the same identification number as the preparation signal (step S15).

Although illustration is omitted, a timeout process for avoiding an infinite loop and a termination process when a display start signal is missed are required here.

When a display start signal having the same identification number as the preparation signal is received, the data prepared on the DRAM 23 in step S14 is used, and in the same manner as the text multiplex broadcasting,
A CM image such as an animation is displayed on almost the entire area or a part of the screen of the receiver 1 in a mode usually using a raster as a background, and additional sound is output (step S16).

When the CM is continuously broadcast, the preparation signal and the start signal are repeatedly broadcast in this order, so that the receiving side continuously performs the processing of steps S11 to S16. Will be.

When a display end signal having the same identification number as the preparation signal is received (step S17), the display of the CM by character multiplexing is erased, and the display returns to a normal broadcast image (step S18).

If the end signal has not been received in step S17, the process returns to the first step S11 and returns to step S11.
If the end signal is not received within a predetermined time from the start of the display of No. 16, the CM display is forcibly ended. The same applies when the channel is switched.

Note that steps S11 and S1 as described above are performed.
Teletext broadcasting can be watched even during the processing of step 2. However, there is a slight delay in taking in data because the CM data is being broadcast.

Further, as the CM data, data obtained by compressing moving picture information can be multiplexed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the broadcasting station adds a hierarchical area code to a CM and broadcasts it in a text multiplex broadcast format. On the receiving side, a specific area corresponding to the receiving area is provided. The code is set as an ID, and only the received CMs assigned with the same area code as the ID are output. Therefore, the receiving area of the CM is limited, and a plurality of CMs having different target areas are output. Can be broadcast simultaneously.

[0058] Therefore, the advertising fee can be reduced compared with the conventional television broadcasting. Limited advertisements can be easily used.

The conditions for matching the ID on the receiving side with the area code given to the CM on the broadcasting station are the same up to the digit designated by “X” on the station side, compared with the highest digit. If it is determined that all the digits are the same, it is determined that they match. The same applies to a plurality of area codes connected by “&” or the like.

The cable box ID given to the cable box of the CATV system is for receiving a descrambling signal, and is usually numbered in the contract order.
Even if it is possible to know the area where the subscriber lives, it is practically impossible to use it for the purpose of limiting the area. However, if a correspondence conversion table between the cable box ID and the installation location of the cable box is created, that is, the area where the cable box is installed is always registered corresponding to the box ID, and the conversion table is created. In this case, the area can be limited by the box ID through the conversion table.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a regional limited CM is broadcast in a text multiplex broadcast format. And information broadcast on a local scale, for example, by limiting the area to neighboring prefectures,
It can provide more detailed information that varies from region to region.

It should be noted that, among such area-related information, information that should be dealt with urgently is desirably displayed in a super fixed mode with television broadcast video as a background.

As described above, the present invention has been described for the case where the area-related information is broadcast in the text multiplex broadcasting format. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to the data broadcasting and the digital broadcasting. Also in this case, the same effect can be expected by adding the area limitation code to the broadcast data.

For example, in satellite television broadcasting, PC
The M-voice signal is transmitted in the A mode or the B mode, and utilizes bits not used for the transmission of the voice signal.
Various data can be transmitted by a so-called data channel.

In this data channel, data is transmitted in a packet format, and since the service can be identified in the header portion of each packet, various data can be transmitted at the same time. By assigning an area code to the area, for example, the target area can be limited to each prefecture area, and newspaper data of each prefecture version can be downloaded.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, digital data can be provided to the user on the receiving side at the providing timing determined by the transmitting side. Provision is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a receiving device of digital data transmitted by an embodiment of a transmission method and an editing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an operation when broadcasting is performed according to an embodiment of a transmission method and an editing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an area code registration process in the receiving device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the transmission method and the editing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the receiving device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Receiving apparatus 14 Character multiplex data extraction circuit 20 Character multiplex decoder 21 CPU 22 ROM 24 SRAM

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-50-2408 (JP, A) JP-A-59-226530 (JP, A) JP-A-4-21252 (JP, A) JP-A-4-120583 (JP, A) JP-A-5-122756 (JP, A) JP-A-5-206784 (JP, A) JP-A-5-196473 (JP, A) JP-A-60-214127 (JP, A) 1-302978 (JP, A) JP-A-59-121437 (JP, A) JP-A-56-19135 (JP, A) JP-A-1-31128 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. H04N ⁷ /025-7/10 H04N 7/16-7/173 H04H 1/00 H04N 5/38-5/46

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving apparatus for receiving transmitted digital data, comprising: a first storage unit for storing user area information using a zip code or a telephone number; and a preparation for taking in the digital data from the received data.
A means for detecting a signal to instruct and a signal to instruct preparation for taking in the digital data are detected.
The received digital data is written based on the
A second storage unit for burn them, is specified in the sender of the second of said zip code is information that is added to the digital data read out from the storage unit or the telephone number Area-limited information that is information corresponding to a predetermined digit from the highest digit
A comparing unit that compares the user area information read from the first storage unit; and, based on a comparison result of the comparing unit, an area indicated by the user area information or an area indicated by the user area information. wherein the regional information is added to extract the digital data is converted into data that can provide the digital data to the extracted user to specify the area including
Means for temporarily storing, means for detecting a signal indicating a timing for outputting the digital data from being the received data, when the signal for instructing the timing of the output is detected, SL before stored at the one An output unit that reads and outputs data, and a receiving device. 2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital data is area-specific information specified by the area limitation information. 3. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the digital data is data corresponding to advertisement information. 4. A data output method for receiving and outputting digital data transmitted, the user local information using the zip code or telephone number
And storing the digital data from the received data.
A first detection step of detecting a signal to be instructed , and capturing of the digital data in the first detection step
Receiving a signal instructing
Writing the received digital data to the second storage unit.
And up until a predetermined digit from the most significant digit that is specified by the sender of said a second information added to the digital data read out from the storage unit zip code or the telephone number Region-limited information that is information corresponding to
A comparing step of comparing the user area information read from the first storage unit; and, based on a comparison result of the comparing step, an area indicated by the user area information or an area indicated by the user area information. Extracting the digital data to which the area limitation information specifying the area to be included is added, and converting the extracted digital data into data that can be provided to a user
A step of temporarily storing in a second detecting step <br/> of detecting a signal indicating timing for outputting the digital data from being the received data, the timing of said output in said second detecting step when the signal for instructing is detected, the data output method characterized by and an output step of outputting reads before Symbol data stored at the one. 5. The data output method according to claim 4, wherein the digital data is information unique to an area specified by the area limitation information. 6. The data output method according to claim 4, wherein the digital data is data corresponding to advertisement information.