JP3277473B2 - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus for transmitting a receiver's response to a broadcast program through a predetermined network such as a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in interactive television broadcasting such as television shopping, questionnaire surveys, and quiz programs in which viewers participate, replies from viewers are made by telephone or facsimile.

[0003]

In the above-described interactive broadcast program, if the viewer accesses continuously, the number of responses is unexpectedly increased, and the line usage fee may increase. Yes, it is necessary to notify the viewer of the accumulated line usage fee.

[0004] By the way, some telephones are equipped with a liquid crystal display element and are adapted to sequentially display the transition of the usage fee of the currently used line. However, the calculation of the telephone call charge is complicated because it differs depending on the time zone and the call area, and also in the case of a long distance, depending on the telephone company.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of easily calculating an accumulated line usage fee associated with a response to a broadcast program and informing the viewer of the same.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a means for receiving a broadcast program, a display means for displaying the broadcast program, and a user receiving the broadcast program. Means for receiving response information, transmission means for transmitting the received response information to the broadcasting side via a communication line, transmission history storage means for storing a transmission history of the transmission means, and transmission history storage means a calculating means for calculating the cumulative charge for a predetermined period of said communication line based on the transmission history stored in said cumulative usage
1st mode and 2nd mode
Means for receiving any one of the selection settings;
When the mode is set, for each operation of the transmission means, the calculation means notifies the display means of the cumulative usage fee calculated based on the transmission history up to the operation of the transmission means, When the second mode is set, at the end of the broadcast program, the accumulated usage fee and the transmission history calculated by the calculation means based on the transmission history up to that time are displayed on the display means. Notification means.

[0007]

[Effect] For example, the answer to the quiz program or the selection information of the television shopping may be transmitted with the selection number or the like as a response, and the response takes only a few seconds. Therefore, the cumulative usage fee can be calculated at a unit price of 10 yen per response.

In the present invention, attention is paid to this point, and transmission history such as the number of responses is stored in the storage means 33, and the accumulated line usage fee can be easily calculated based on the transmission history. It can be displayed and displayed so that it can be surely recognized by the viewer.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. In this example, in the case of an interactive broadcast program, data related to the interactive broadcast program, such as a response reply, is multiplexed with the main broadcast information as sub broadcast information and broadcast. In the case of this example, the sub broadcast information uses a DTMF signal.

That is, the broadcasting station multiplexes (mixes) and broadcasts the main broadcast audio signal with the program-related information as the sub-broadcast information in the form of a signal in the DTMF signal format. On the other hand, the receiving side separates and decodes the DTMF signal from the received broadcast audio signal, reproduces the program-related information, stores it in the memory, and uses it for telephone communication with a service station or the like or program reservation.

First, the DTMF signal will be described with reference to FIG.

[DTMF signal] The DTMF signal method is 1
One is an audio band signaling system that simultaneously sends two tones of a low frequency group (low group) and a high frequency group (high group). Each of these low and high frequency groups consists of tones of four audio band frequencies, no two of which are articulated.

In the DTMF signal, the four frequencies in the low group are, for example, 697 Hz, 770 Hz, 852 Hz, 941H
z, and the four frequencies of the high group are, for example, 1209 Hz,
They are 1336 Hz, 1477 Hz and 1633 Hz. Then, one frequency of each of the low group and the high group is combined, and each DTMF formed by the combination is combined.
Signals (each of these DTMF signals are hereinafter referred to as function signals) are assigned to push buttons “0” to “D” arranged in four rows and four columns as shown in FIG.

In telephone communication, only 12 out of 16 function signals of the DTMF signal are generally used as signals for subscriber addresses (telephone numbers). That is,
"0" used as so-called numeric keypad on telephones
The function signals of the above twelve combinations correspond to the numerals of “〜” and “9” and the symbols of “*” and “#”. FIG.
The function signals corresponding to the letters "A", "B", "C", and "D" indicated by broken lines are not generally used in Japan, and are data using a push button (PB) dial. It is only used for transmission.

When a line is selected by telephone number using such a DTMF signal, the signal transmission conditions are as shown in FIG.
It is defined as shown below.

The DTMF signal rarely occurs in the natural world due to the combination of the two frequencies and the transmission conditions as described above, and can be clearly distinguished from natural sounds such as human voices. Can be multiplexed (mixed) and broadcast on the broadcast audio signal, and separation on the receiving side can be relatively easily performed using a widely used telephone DTMF decoder.

Incidentally, the DTMF signal is also used in a multi-function telephone. By operating a push-button telephone from outside, the user can play back the recorded message on the telephone at home or record the recorded message. You can record and play back the response message, and delete the message.

[Broadcasting of a Plurality of Sub Broadcast Information] On the transmitting side of this embodiment, that is, the broadcasting station side, when transmitting the sub broadcast information, “A”, which is not used for PB line selection as described above, Among the function signals meaning “B”, “C”, and “D”, the function signals “A”, “B”, and “C” are used as transmission start information of sub broadcast information, and the function signal “D” is used. The signal is used as transmission end information.

Since there are three types of transmission start information, in this example, three types of sub-broadcast information can be transmitted separately. In other words, the three types of sub broadcast information are
One of the function signals “A”, “B”, “C”;
The broadcast is separated from the function signal “D”.

For example, information on response access to a two-way program, for example, sub-broadcast information such as a telephone number of an access destination (accepting telephone number) and a transmission rate, uses a function signal of "A" as transmission start information and ends transmission It is transmitted between the information and the function signal of “D”. Similarly, for example, sub-broadcast information relating to environment settings such as the end restriction of the telephone number of the answering side and the current time setting includes clearing of received data between the function signal “B” and the function signal “D”. The information related to the “C” function signal and the “D” function signal is multiplexed and broadcast as a signal sandwiched between the “C” function signal and the “D” function signal.

On the receiving side, a numerical value sandwiched between any of the function signals “A”, “B”, and “C” as transmission start information and the function signal “D” as transmission end information And the symbol data are regarded as a sub-broadcast data string (information group), and are stored separately in a predetermined storage area of the memory.

For example, as information on the response access, a reception telephone number 0990 is set for a receiver whose interactive television standard version is 00.
In the case where access is permitted to -1234-1234 at a transmission rate of 300 bps, the sub-broadcast information has a data string composed of each function signal of a DTMF signal such as 00 # 0990 * 1234 * 1234 as "A". The signal is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted while being sandwiched between the function signal and the “D” function signal. Here, the first 00 in the data sequence is
The interactive (interactive) television standard version indicates 00 (transmission rate 300 bps), and the numerical data after the symbol “#” is the reception telephone number.

Also, for a receiver whose interactive television standard version is 01, a telephone number 0990-
In the case where access is permitted to the 1234-1235 at a transmission rate of 1200 bps, a data string composed of each function signal of a DTMF signal such as 01 # 0990 * 1234 * 1235 is composed of a function signal of "A" and a function signal of "D". Are multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted. Here, the first 01 in the data sequence is
The interactive (interactive) television standard version indicates 01 (transmission rate 1200 bps), and the numerical data after the symbol "#" is the reception telephone number.

In the data string relating to the response access as described above, the symbol "#" represents a separator (separation of individual data), and the symbol "*" represents a pause.

As information relating to the environment setting, if access is restricted only to a viewer having a specific telephone number (subscriber number), for example, if access is permitted only to a telephone number ending in 0, 0 When a data string constituted by each function signal of the DTMF signal such as # 0 permits access to only a number having a telephone number ending in 1, a function string of the DTMF signal such as 0 # 1 is used. Each of the composed data strings is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted while being sandwiched between the “B” function signal and the “D” function signal. In this case, the number “0” before the symbol “#” means that access from a telephone number having the number following the symbol “#” as the end is permitted.

When access is permitted to only an even-numbered telephone number at the end, a function signal of a DTMF signal such as 0 # 0 * 0 # 2 * 0 # 4 * 0 # 6 * 0 # 8 is used. The configured data string is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted while being sandwiched between the “B” function signal and the “D” function signal. Here, the symbol “*” means a logical sum.

Further, as time information for a broadcast program reception reservation, a recording reservation, etc., for example, the current time is 199.
In the case of 7:00 on Tuesday, December 15, 3rd, a data string composed of the function signals of the DTMF signal such as 1 # 1993121520700 is composed of the function signal of "B" and the function signal of "D". It is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted in a state sandwiched therebetween.

Also, when a broadcast program is viewed from the present time,
When the broadcast is performed from 7:00 to 7:29 on the next Sunday, the data string composed of the function signals of the DTMF signal such as 10 # 07000729 is composed of the function signal of “B” and the function signal of “D”. When another broadcast program is broadcasted between 12:00 and 14:15 on the following Monday, it is transmitted by being sandwiched between the function signal and each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 11 # 12001415. The configured data string is transmitted between the “B” function signal and the “D” function signal.

In the data string relating to the environment setting as described above, the symbol "#" represents a separator, and the symbol "*" represents "OR (logical sum)".

As the information (command) relating to the clearing of the received data, for example, when the access number restriction is cleared, the data string composed of the respective functional signals of the DTMF signal such as 99 # 0 is represented by “C”. And between the function signal "D" and the function signal "D".

When clearing the reception telephone number, a data string composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 99 # 1 is composed of a function signal of "C" and a function signal of "D". It is sent at the end of the program, sandwiched between.

On the other hand, the current time of the timer is
In the case of setting at 7:00 on Tuesday, March 15th, a data string constituted by each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 0 # 1993121520700 is a combination of the function signal of “C” and the function signal of “D”. It is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted in a state sandwiched therebetween. The receiving device can adjust the time of the built-in clock circuit using the data of the current time for the timer.

As described above, the function signals "A", "B", "C";"D", which are not used as telephone line selection signals, are transmitted as sub broadcast information transmission start information and transmission end information. By doing so, for example, even if a DTMF sound is transmitted in a drama call, the DTMF sound is not confused with the program-related information. Also, the sub broadcast information can be transmitted and received reliably.

[Configuration of Receiving Apparatus] Next, an embodiment of a bidirectional broadcasting receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the two-way broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a signal system of a television receiver, and reference numeral 20 denotes a control system thereof.

The broadcast wave received by the antenna 1 is supplied to a tuner 11. A tuning signal is supplied from the control system 20 to the tuner 11, and a broadcast signal of a desired channel is selected in the tuner 11 and converted into an intermediate frequency signal. This intermediate frequency signal is supplied to the intermediate frequency circuit 12. The intermediate frequency circuit 12 includes a video demodulator 13 and an audio demodulator 14, and demodulates a video signal and an audio signal.

The video signal S13 from the video demodulator 13 is supplied to the picture tube 16 via the video signal processing circuit 15.
The audio signal S14 from the audio demodulator 14 is supplied to the audio multiplex decoder 17, and the bilingual signal or the stereo signals SL and SR are decoded. These signals SL and SR are supplied to left and right speakers 19L and 19R through amplifiers 18L and 18R, respectively.

The audio signal S14 from the audio demodulator 14
DTMF decoder 3 via pre-processing circuit 31
2 is supplied. The DTMF decoder 32 constantly searches for a DTMF signal in the input signal and, when detecting the DTMF signal, decodes which function signal the DTMF signal is. That is, the numbers “0” to “9”, “#”, “*”, and “A” to “D” are decoded. Then, the decoded data is supplied to the control system 20.

In the case of this example, a commercially available DTMF decoder which is widely used is used as the DTMF decoder 32. The pre-processing circuit 31 is provided to perform pre-processing for enabling more accurate decoding of a DTMF signal even when a commercially available DTMF decoder is used as the DTMF decoder 32 as described above. That is, the pre-processing circuit 31 outputs the audio signal S14
For, removing frequency components other than the DTMF signal,
The input signal of the DTMF decoder 32 is a signal allowed by a commercially available DTMF decoder, and includes a filter circuit.

In this embodiment, a modem (modulator / demodulator) 33 for data communication is provided in order to cope with a two-way broadcast program such as a response to a viewer participation type program. The telephone line 2 is connected to the line connection terminal Line of the modem 33, and the telephone 3 is connected to the telephone terminal Tel. This modem 33 is connected to the system bus 200 of the control system 20. Also, data from the modem 33 is supplied to the DTMF decoder 32, and the DTMF signal transmitted via the telephone line 2 is decoded by the DTMF decoder 32 and can be taken into the control system 20. Have been.

The control system 20 includes a CPU 21 and a ROM 22
, A DRAM 23, an SRAM 24, and a VRAM 25, each of which is connected to the system bus 200.
The ROM 22 stores various control programs, in addition to a DTMF data reception and capture processing program described later, and also stores font and graphic data used for display. The DRAM 23 is mainly used as a work area for calculations, and the SRAM 24 stores setting information and ID information of the receiving apparatus itself. And V
The RAM 25 is used for display.

The control system 20 has an I / O port 26
1, 262, 263, 264 and a control port 27 of the VTR. The control signal is transmitted to the video signal processing circuit 15 and the audio multiplex decoder 17 through the I / O port 261.
Supplied to Also, a remote control transmitter (commander) 34
From the remote control receiver 3
5, the received remote control signal is decoded by the remote control decoding circuit 36, and the decoded remote control signal is taken into the control system 20 from the I / O port 261.

Then, control according to the user's operation on the commander 34 is performed by the CPU 21 according to the program in the ROM 22. For example, in the case of remote control operations such as channel selection and volume control, font data for displaying necessary characters and symbols are read from the ROM 22 and VRA
Transferred to M25. Then, the data in the VRAM 25 is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 15, and the video signal S13
(For example, superimposed), the image is displayed on the screen of the picture tube 16 for an appropriate time.

Data such as channel selection and volume control are as follows:
When each operation is written to the nonvolatile SRAM 24 and the power is once turned off and then turned on again, a so-called last memory function of listening to the same channel at the same volume as immediately before the power is turned off is realized. .

When the remote controller commander 34 operates a response to the interactive program, an automatic call is sent to the reply destination specified by the reply destination telephone number included in the sub broadcast information multiplexed into the interactive broadcast program. Then, the response information is transmitted through the modem 33 and the telephone line 2. At this time, the transmission history is registered and stored in the DRAM 23 by transmitting the response. From this transmission history, the accumulated value of the number of transmissions up to that time is obtained. Also,
The cumulative value of the number of transmissions may be stored in the DRAM 23.

A tuning signal is supplied from the control system 20 to the tuner 11 through the I / O port 263. Also,
In this embodiment, the time data from the timer circuit 37 for notifying the real time and generating an interrupt for a predetermined time is input to the I / O.
The data is input to the control system 20 through the port 264.

The VTR control port 27
Is configured to be able to control three VTRs 1, 2 and 3 in this example. The control system 20 supplies a control signal to the VTR through the control port 27, and also takes in a status signal from the VTR to perform desired control on the VTR.

Each VTR has a built-in tuner and an intermediate frequency circuit.
, And can make a scheduled recording under the control of the control system 20.

[Line Usage Fee Display Processing] Next, the line usage fee display processing in the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, there are a sequential display mode in which the line usage fee is displayed each time a response is transmitted, and an end display mode in which the line usage fee is displayed at the end of the interactive broadcast program. Is set.

When the display mode is set to the sequential display mode, when the viewer performs a response operation to the interactive program by the commander 34 in step 101 of FIG.
Is received by the remote control receiver 35. Then, the required response information is transmitted to a predetermined telephone number stored in the DRAM 23 via the modem 33 at the communication speed set in accordance with the above-mentioned reply destination information (step 102).

In the next step 103, it is determined whether or not the transmission has succeeded. If the transmission has been normally completed, the current time indicated by the timer 37 is registered in the transmission log area set on the DRAM 23 as the transmission history. (Step 1
04). Also, if the transmission was unsuccessful,
Font data for displaying characters and symbols is read out from 22 and transferred to the VRAM 25 to form an image of an error message, and displayed on the screen of the picture tube 16 via the video signal processing circuit 15 (step). 10
5).

In step 106, it is determined whether or not the viewer is set to the sequential display mode. If not, the process ends. Then, in the case of the sequential display mode, the accumulated line usage fee is calculated based on the transmission history registered in the transmission log area from the power-on to the present (step 107). Similarly, it is formed using the font data from the ROM 22, and is displayed in superimposed on, for example, the lower right of the screen of the picture tube 16 as shown in FIG. 5 (step 108).

In this embodiment, once the line is connected, even if the communication speed of the modem 33 is as low as, for example, about 300 bps, at most 10 bits can be transmitted for normal response information transmission.
Focusing on the fact that seconds are enough, the line usage fee is
It is calculated as the product of the minimum unit price of the call charge of 10 yen and the number of transmissions.

The display of the line usage fee in step 108 or the display of the error message in step 105 is erased by clearing the image on the VRAM 25 after a predetermined time has elapsed (steps 111 and 11).
2), the process ends.

When the end-time display mode is set, when the clear signal of the reception telephone number is received in step 121 of FIG.
With reference to the transmission history registered in the upper transmission log area, an accumulated line usage fee corresponding to the number of transmissions from power-on to the present is calculated (step 122). As described above, the image of the line usage fee and the transmission history is R
It is formed using the font data from the OM 22 and is displayed in superimposed on the screen of the picture tube 16 as shown in FIG. 7 (step 123). This display is deleted by clearing the image on the VRAM 25 after a predetermined time has elapsed (steps 124 and 12).
5), the process ends.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, since the transmission log area is set on the DRAM 23, the transmission history is cleared when the power is turned off, but the transmission log area is stored on the nonvolatile SRAM 24. By setting, the accumulated usage fee of the telephone line can be calculated, for example, on a monthly basis. In this case, the transmission log area is cleared at the end of the month, for example, based on a clock built in the CPU 21.

In the above-described embodiment, the picture tube is used as the image display device. However, a liquid crystal display device or another display device may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sub-broadcast information relating to the interactive broadcast program is constituted by using the DTMF signal and is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and is broadcast. Like the broadcast, the broadcast may be multiplexed in the vertical blanking period of the television broadcast.

In this case, the receiving apparatus replaces the pre-processing circuit 31 and the DTMF decoder 32 of the embodiment of FIG.
A character multiplex decoder is mounted, and an output signal S13 of the video demodulation circuit 13 is supplied to the decoder.

On the broadcast station side, for example, selection procedure information for each problem such as a quiz program is created and prepared for broadcasting of the program. In the case of a three-choice question, a selection procedure is created in which three answers are displayed on a menu and the viewer selects one of them.

In the case of a quiz program, the reply destination is, for example, the receiving system of the broadcasting station, and the communication protocol for the receiving system of the broadcasting station and the telephone number of the receiving system are set as the reply destination information.

During the broadcast of a quiz program or the like, the time information, the selection procedure information, and the return destination information are replaced by the vertical retrace of the video signal, as shown in FIG. It is multiplexed and broadcast during the period.

In this embodiment, the time information is updated for each field, and has an accuracy of 1/60 second in the case of the NTSC system. In the conventional text multiplex broadcasting, the accuracy is updated every frame, and in the case of the NTSC system, the accuracy is 1/30 second. This time information may be broadcast all the time, or may be broadcast only during a period in which a viewer's response is expected in a viewer participation program.

The selection procedure information is, like a communication protocol, a so-called chunk of a program, and is composed of selection procedure identification information, selection procedure, display data, time limit information, and the like, and can be a considerable amount of information. , May be multiplexed over multiple fields.

The selection procedure identification information is an identifier indicating which selection procedure, ie, which question, questionnaire, or answer to the quiz question, is added to the viewer's selection result and transmitted to the reply destination. Previously, answers are classified for each selection procedure based on this information. The selection procedure is a menu selection program based on an intermediate language description, and is displayed on the screen by images, character strings, moving images, and the like according to the flow described here. In addition, response processing such as reception of an operation from a viewer and switching of a screen in response to the operation is also performed. The display data includes fonts, graphics, animations,
This is data such as video. The time limit information is the valid time of reply to the selected content, indicated by the identifier as described above, and the time until the display is automatically stopped on the receiving side when there is no operation on the menu display. . When the display is stopped on the receiving side, a scheduled time until the correct answer is broadcast is set. In addition, the validity time of the reply to the selection,
In consideration of the above-mentioned congestion of the telephone line, a slight margin time is added to the scheduled time until the correct answer is broadcast.

The reply destination information includes communication environment setting information such as the communication speed at the time of reply, presence / absence of parity, use / non-use of NMP, X modem system, etc., and the telephone number of the reply destination. On the other hand, according to the set environment,
Reply information as shown in FIG. 2 is returned from the viewer.

In response to the broadcast of the selection procedure information and the like as described above, the receiving device creates reply information as shown in FIG. 9 and transmits it through the telephone line.

The first reply data identification information is an identifier for discriminating whether the data received by the broadcast station is reply data or another access.

The next check data is for checking whether the data has not changed due to bit omission or noise at the time of transmission, and for matching by checking sum or the like.

In the reply data, the selection procedure identification information is
This is the value shown in FIG. 1 described above, and from this, it is determined which menu and which question the answer from the viewer is to answer. Even if the broadcast station broadcasts in the order of Question 1 and Question 2 回答, the answer from the viewer is not always returned in the same order as the broadcast depending on the situation of the telephone line. Identification information is required.

As the selection result information, information indicating the menu item finally selected, the time at which the selection operation was performed, and the like are returned. As the reply source identification information following the reply data, a number unique to the viewer, for example, a telephone number or a manufacturing number of the receiving device is used.

Although the above example is a case where the present invention is applied to television broadcasting, it is also applicable to radio broadcasting. Further, the means for informing the line usage fee is not limited to the method of displaying on the display, but a means for informing by voice may be used.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, a received interactive broadcast program is displayed on a display element, and information on a response to a question on the broadcast side is transmitted by a modem to the broadcast side via a telephone line. In a two-way broadcast receiving apparatus configured to transmit to, the transmission history is stored, and based on this transmission history, the accumulated usage fee of the telephone line is calculated at a predetermined unit price, and for each response of the two-way broadcast program, Alternatively, at the end of the program, the calculated cumulative usage fee can be displayed on the display element to notify the viewer, and the viewer can be surely recognized the cumulative line usage fee.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a two-way broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a DTMF signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining transmission conditions of a DTMF signal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for explaining another operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 signal system 14 audio demodulator 16 picture tube 20 control system 21 CPU 23 DRAM 24 SRAM 31 pre-processing circuit 32 DTMF decoder 33 modem 34 commander

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-5-103119 (JP, A) JP-A-57-112189 (JP, A) JP-A-4-127688 (JP, A) JP-A-60-187192 (JP) JP-A-61-156992 (JP, A) JP-A-60-117958 (JP, A) JP-A-6-6789 (JP, A) JP-A-5-63854 (JP, A) 5-122407 (JP, A) JP-A-5-56195 (JP, A) JP-A-3-179970 (JP, A) JP-A-5-114961 (JP, A) JP-A-5-167526 (JP, A A) JP-A-5-284123 (JP, A) JP-A-59-86783 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04H 1/00-3/00 H04N 7 / 173

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A means for receiving a broadcast program, a display means for displaying the broadcast program, a means for receiving information on a user response to the received broadcast program, and a communication line for transmitting the received response information to a communication line. Transmission means for transmitting to the broadcasting side via the transmission means, transmission history storage means for storing the transmission history of the transmission means, and cumulative use of the communication line for a predetermined period based on the transmission history stored in the transmission history storage means Calculating means for calculating a fee, and a first mode and a second mode regarding the notification of the cumulative usage fee.
For accepting any one of the above modes
And when the first mode is set, for each operation of the transmission means, the calculation means displays the cumulative usage fee calculated based on the transmission history up to the operation of the transmission means. Means, when the second mode is set, at the end of the broadcast program, the cumulative usage fee calculated by the calculation means based on the transmission history up to that time and the transmission history And a means for notifying the display means of the above.