JP3309316B2 - Service introduction information transfer method and system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a system for transferring service introduction information, and more particularly, to the use of a high-speed communication network such as an ATM network to transfer bidirectional still picture / moving picture / data / voice information to a home or the like. The present invention relates to a service introduction information transfer method and system in multimedia service technology for realizing movie watching, home shopping, etc.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a service introduction information transfer method and system for introducing multimedia information provided by a multimedia information provider to an access device possessed by a customer.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art As this kind of technology which has been realized, a common communication protocol utilizes the fact that computer networks all over the world form a network called the Internet. There is a method of accessing and downloading data such as images provided by the information processing device to the own access device and viewing the data.

[0004] Specifically, there are many types of multimedia information provided by a multimedia information provider, and when a customer uses such information, the customer recognizes what kind of information is provided. In order to do so, a title or the like of multimedia information is downloaded to the access device via a service management node that connects the access device of the customer and the information processing device of the multimedia information provider. For example,
Image information such as a movie is stored in a service management node, and when a service provision request is issued from an access device, the service management node transfers a corresponding service (movie) to the access device based on the request. is there.

[0005] Further, in the case of selecting a desired service from the menu screen in the access device, the service management node similarly downloads all stored menu information to the access device. This allows
The access device displays the downloaded menu information, selects a desired service, and issues it as a service request to the service management node.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, all multimedia information such as images, sounds, texts, etc., must be temporarily loaded into the memory of the own access device. Requires a significant amount of memory. Since a compressed image by the international standard MPEG2 coding requires an encoding speed of about 3 Mbit / s, in order to temporarily store long-time data such as a movie, it takes about 135 minutes per movie. 3GB
And requires a large load on the access device.

Although the access device can directly access the information processing device, it is difficult to know what services are provided without actually accessing the service. This unnecessarily increases the number of searches for access devices, and is a waste of time. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and solves the above-described problems that are considered to be an obstacle when applying these services to a high-speed communication network that is expected to be deployed worldwide in the future. Service introduction information that allows a service provider to send only a necessary amount of information at a time when providing a multimedia information service to a customer without sending information necessary to provide a service such as a moving image to an access device at one time. It is an object to provide a transfer method and system.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a service introduction information transfer method and system capable of reducing the memory capacity of the access device and performing high-speed processing on the development side of the access device.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a plurality of information processing apparatuses for providing a two-way multimedia service including a moving image, and a process for accessing the information processing apparatus to receive a signal including a moving image. , An access device that connects the access device and the information processing device based on service selection information from the access device, and a connection between the information processing device, the access device, and the service management node In a service introduction information transfer method for providing a service in response to a service request from an access device, the service management node includes:
Multimedia service guidance for access devices
At the beginning, correspond to the multimedia service and keywords
When a service request is issued from the access device
On the screen of the access device stored in advance.
The amount of information that can be obtained, and access keywords according to the amount of information.
To access device and select keywords from access device
When the selected keyword selection information is received, the keyword selection
Get service introduction information based on selection information and buffer
Is temporarily stored in the
At the time of publication, it can be displayed on one screen based on the amount of information
Transfer service introduction information of the maximum amount of information to the access device
The access device issues a request to change the transfer order
In the case where the access device has been
Change the order in which service introduction information is transferred to
You.

[0010] The present invention provides a two-way multimedia system including moving images.
Information processing apparatus for providing a security service, and the information
Access to the processing unit to enable reception of signals containing moving images
Access device that performs the
The access device and the information processing based on service selection information.
A service management node for connecting the device and the information processing device;
Device, the access device and the service management node.
Communication network and responds to service requests from access devices.
Service introduction information transfer system to provide services
In the stem, service management node, multi-media
All service introduction information provided for service introduction
Only information necessary for access device requests
Selection means for selecting, Sir selected by the selection means
Temporary holding means for temporarily holding service introduction information,
When guiding multimedia to the access device,
Provide information on keywords necessary for selecting a service
Guidance setting means and keywords set by the guidance setting means
Keyword information transfer means for transferring information to an access device
And the keyword transferred by the keyword information transfer means
Of service introduction information selected by the access device from
Based on keyword selection information including information to change the order
The order of the service introduction information sent to the access device.
The transfer order determination means to be determined and the information are displayed on one screen of the access device.
Means for temporarily storing only service introduction information of the indicated amount of information
From the transfer order and in the order determined by the transfer order determining means.
And an information transfer means for transferring the information as needed.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

According to the present invention, at the start of guidance of a multimedia service to an access device, a service management node first gives keyword information necessary for selection of a multimedia service to an access device. Then, the specification of the access device is retrieved from the customer information database and recorded in the buffer. Subsequently, all service types are read from the service introduction information database and recorded in the buffer. Next, the amount of information that the access device can display on one screen is checked from the specifications of the access device recorded in the buffer. Further, all the service types recorded in the buffer are transferred to the access device for each amount of information that can be displayed on one screen and displayed.

When the access device requests screen scrolling, the information for the next one screen is read and transferred to the access device. When a certain service is requested from the access device, the service management node records all programs of the service read from the service introduction information database in a buffer, and transfers only the first one screen to the access device.

Each program has keyword information as guide information for the customer to select it. On the service screen, the keyword information is displayed as an interface to the customer. When the access device specifies a certain keyword, the service management node changes the display order of all programs according to the keyword and transfers only the first one screen.

As described above, according to the present invention, only necessary information is selected from all the introduction information and stored in a buffer.
Only information that can be displayed on one screen is sent to the access device at any time, so the memory load on the access device is reduced and the frequency of accessing the database is reduced throughout the entire process, so high-speed processing is possible. Become.

[0020]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The system shown in FIG. 1 includes a service management node 1, a plurality of access devices 2, and a plurality of information processing devices 3.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of an access device and a service management node according to an embodiment of the present invention. The access device 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes an input unit 21 and a display unit 22 that displays information transferred from the service management node 1. The input unit 21 is a keyboard, a remote controller, or the like provided in the access device 1, and is used by the customer to display the display unit 22.
The keyword information selected from the keyword group displayed in (1) is input to the access device 2.

The service management node 1 includes a CPU 11, a guidance setting unit 12, an information management unit 13, a customer information database 14, a service introduction information database 15, a keyword information database 16, an information transfer unit 17, a transfer order determination unit 18, and a buffer. 19 is comprised.

The CPU 11 controls each of the above elements.
The guidance setting unit 12 receives the keyword information and the identification number of the access device 2 sent from the access device 2 via the communication network, and records them in the buffer 19. The information management unit 13 manages information to be sent to the access device 2, searches the service introduction information database 15 for service type information or individual program information based on the keyword information recorded in the buffer 19, and Access device 2
Customer information database 14 based on the identification number of
Fetches customer information from the
To be stored.

The information transfer section 17 transfers information to the access device 2. At the time of starting the multimedia service guidance, the information is searched for the keyword information from the keyword information database 16 and transferred to the access device 2, or the service type information recorded in the buffer 19 or the individual program information is accessed. For example, the data is read out and transferred to the access device 2 as much as the device 2 can display on one screen.

The transfer order deciding section 18 stores the start of each program in the buffer 19 based on the keyword information recorded in the buffer with the same display order of service type information or individual program information recorded in the buffer 19. Record the address order. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing an outline of the processing of one embodiment of the present invention.

Step 101) Service management node 2
Reads a keyword from the keyword information database 16. Step 102) The service management node 2 checks the amount of information that the access device 2 can display on one screen. The keyword information necessary for selecting one screen of multimedia service that can be displayed by the access device 2 is transferred to the access device 2.

Step 103) The customer displays the obtained keyword on the screen of the display unit 22, selects a keyword corresponding to the multimedia service for which the service is requested, and manages the keyword selection information and the identification number of the own access device by service management. Transfer one screen to node 2.

Step 104) Service management node 1
Obtains the keyword selection information and the identification number from the access device 2, and uses the identification number to
4 to identify the access device 2. In addition, service introduction information provided by the information processing device 3 for service introduction is temporarily recorded in the buffer 19 for each request from the access device 2. The service introduction information recorded in the buffer 19 is read.

Step 105) One screen of the information read into the buffer 19 is transferred to the access device 2. Step 106) The customer issues a screen scroll request to the service management node 1 to view the next screen.

Step 107) Service management node 1
Reads information of the next screen from the buffer 19. Step 108) The information for the next screen scrolled is transmitted to the access device 2.

Step 109) The customer requests another service of the multimedia service from the access device 2. Step 110) The service management node 1 reads the keyword information of the multimedia service requested by the customer from the keyword information database 16.

Step 111) Service management node 1
Transfers the read keyword information to the access device 2. Step 112) The access device 2 displays the transferred keyword information on the display unit 22, and transfers the keyword selection information that has selected the keyword corresponding to the desired service to the service management node 1.

Step 113) Service management node 1
Reads the service introduction information from the service introduction information database 15 into the buffer 19 based on the transferred keyword selection information. Step 114) The service management node 1 reads the service introduction information for one screen from the buffer 19 and transfers it to the access device 2.

Step 115) Here, the access device 2 receives the keyword information from the service management node 1 and displays the keyword corresponding to the desired service from the keyword information on the display unit 22 when selecting the keyword. When the order is changed, the display order change request is transferred to the service management node 1.

Step 116) Service management node 1
The transfer order determination unit 18 determines the display order of the programs. Step 117) The service introduction information read from the service introduction information database 15 is stored in the buffer 19 in the order determined in step 116.

Step 118) Service management mode 1
Transmits information for one screen from the buffer 19 to the access device 2
Transfer to Next, the outline of the above operation will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a first procedure of the processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. The first procedure corresponds to steps 101 to 105 in the sequence chart of FIG. FIG.
Shows a configuration example of a buffer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The buffer 19 includes an area 191 for temporarily storing information for each access device, and the area 191 includes an identification number storage area 1911 of the access apparatus and a customer information recording area 191.
2. It has an area for storing a keyword information recording area 1913, a service type information recording area 1914, and all program storage information 1915 of the selected service.

The first procedure is a procedure for preparing a multimedia service guide from the service management node 1 to the access device 2. First, the information transfer unit 17 reads the keyword information from the keyword information database 16 (Step 201), and transfers this to the access device 2 (Step 202). Next, the guidance setting unit 12 records the identification number of the access device 2 in the area 1911 of the buffer 19. The information management unit 13 extracts information on the customer who owns the access device 2 from the customer information database 14 and records it in the area 1912 of the buffer 19 (step 203). The customer information database 14 also records specification information of the access device 2, and from this information, the maximum amount of information that can be displayed on the display unit 22 of the access device 2 can be known. That is, the information management unit 13 accesses the customer information database 14 and acquires the maximum amount of information that can be displayed by the access device 2 that has issued the access request (step 204). Here, the information management unit 13
The acquired maximum information amount is stored in the area 1912 of the buffer 19 (Step 205). The information management unit 13 searches the service introduction information database 15 for information on all registered service types (step 20).
6), and record it in the storage area 19141 of the head address of the storage area of each service introduction information in the buffer 19 and thereafter (step 207). Thereafter, the access device 2 reads out what can be displayed on one screen, records the number of pages in the page number recording area 19142 of the screen of the buffer 19, and transfers it to the access device 2 via the information transfer unit 17 (step). 2
08).

Thus, the display unit 22 of the access device 2
, A display like the screen 2210 in FIG. 8 is formed.
The screen of the display unit 22 of the access device 2 includes menu frames 2211 and 221 for displaying information of service types including images.
2, 2213, 2214, scroll buttons 2215, 2216 for requesting the next screen, function button 221
7,2218,2219. FIG. 9 shows a display example of the display unit of the access device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In the above step 208, the service management node 1
Sends keyword information that can be displayed on one screen to the access device 2, the access device 2 displays the first keyword information as shown in FIG. 9A.

Next, the second procedure will be described. FIG.
0 is a diagram for explaining a second procedure of the processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. The second procedure is a process in a case where a screen scroll request is issued from a customer when all information cannot be displayed on one screen of the display unit 22 of the access device 2. The access device 2 includes a scroll button 2215
Alternatively, by clicking on 2216, the next screen is requested to the service management apparatus 1.

When the customer clicks the scroll button 2216 on the screen of the display unit 22, the keyword information of "screen scroll" is transferred from the access device 2 to the service management device 1 (step 301). The guidance setting unit 12 confirms that it is recorded in the identification number 1011 of the access device 2 (step 302), and if it is recorded, records the keyword information in the area 10131 (step 303). Information management unit 13 of information management unit 13
Is to check the number of pages recorded in the area 19142 of the buffer 19, and then to the first address 1941 of the first information to be displayed on the screen, and to determine the next screen display information based on the address. And reads buffer 19
The number of pages in the storage area 19142 for the number of pages of the screen is 1
Then, the information transfer unit 17 reads the information from the buffer 19 and transfers the information to the access device 2 (step 30).
4).

The display unit 22 of the access device 2 includes
The content as shown in (B) is displayed. In FIG. 9B, information on service types including images is arranged in menu frames 2211 to 2214. In this example, since there are eight service types, the scroll buttons 22
No. 15 or 2216 is provided with a scroll function for requesting the previous screen.

Next, the third procedure will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a third procedure of the processing operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. The third procedure is a processing procedure when the customer selects one service from various multimedia services.

The customer sets the menu frame 2 of the access device 2
One button is pressed from 211 to 2214. In this case, it is assumed that the button of the menu frame 2214 in FIG. 9B is pressed. As a result, the keyword information of “sightseeing guide service” is transferred from the access device 2 to the service management node 1. The guidance setting unit 12 of the service management node 1 confirms that the identification number of the access device 2 is recorded in the identification number storage area 1911 of the access device of the buffer 19 (step 401). The information is recorded in the keyword recording area 19132 specified for the first time in the buffer 19 (step 402). The information management unit 13 reads out all the program information of the “sightseeing guidance” service from the service introduction information database 15 and records it in the storage area 19153 for information of one program in the buffer 19 (step 403). At this time, the permutation of the recording area of the head address of the recording area of each program information of the buffer 19 is recorded in the area 19151, and the number of pages is recorded in the area 19152.
To record.

The information transfer section 17 reads out the data that can be displayed by the access device 2 on one screen from the buffer 19 and transfers the read data to the access device 2. Then, the information transfer unit 17 reads the keyword information in the “sightseeing guidance” service from the keyword information database 16 (Step 40).
4) Similarly, transfer to the access device 2 (Step 40)
5).

A display like the screen shown in FIG. 9C is formed on the access device 2. Menu frame 2211-22
14 displays service type information including an image, a scroll button 2216 displays a scroll button for requesting the next screen, and function buttons 2217 and 2218 display keyword information (for changing the display order of information). "Type" and "Region") are arranged as function buttons. In this example, the information is arranged in local order.

Next, the fourth procedure will be described. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a fourth procedure of the processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. The fourth procedure is a processing procedure when the customer issues a request to change the display order of the program information in the service selected.

The fourth step is the information management unit 13, the transfer order determined
Constant unit 18 is performed using the information transfer section 17. Now, FIG.
In (C), when the customer wants to view the sightseeing guide for each purpose and presses the "type" button 2217, the keyword information of "type" is transferred from the access device 2 to the service management node 1 (step 501). The guidance setting unit 12
It is confirmed that the identification number of the access device 2 is recorded in the identification number storage area 1911 of the access device of the buffer 19 (step 502). Is recorded in the storage area 19133 (step 50).
3). The transfer order determining unit 18 reads information from the recording area 19153 of the information for one program in the buffer 19, and
It counts by type, sorts the types in descending order, and further overwrites the permutation of the start addresses on the recording area 19151 of the start address of the recording area of each program information (step 504). The information management unit 13 records the number of pages in the screen page recording area 19152 of the buffer 19. The information transfer unit 17 reads out what can be displayed on one screen by the access device 2 and transfers it to the access device 2 (step 504).

A display such as the screen shown in FIG. 9D is formed on the access device 2. Menu frame 2211-2
In 214, a service type including an image is displayed, a scroll button 2216 for requesting the next screen, and function buttons 2217 and 2218 for changing the display order of information.
Is arranged.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously selected and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a service provider provides a multimedia information service to a customer, all information necessary for providing a service such as a moving image to an access device at a time. It is only necessary to sequentially send only the amount necessary for the access device without sending it. In addition, using a large-capacity buffer and a high-speed communication network, TV and V
It is possible to realize a screen switching speed of about CR.

For the access device developer, the conventional method requires 10 GB or more of memory of the access device that requires 3 GB or more.
Since it can be reduced to about MB and high-speed processing can be realized, a low-cost and high-performance access device can be developed. In addition, since keyword information serving as a guide for multimedia service search is presented to the customer in advance, and the screen is displayed in accordance with the keyword information, it is possible to provide information guidance according to the customer's needs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an access device and a service management node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing an outline of a process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first procedure of a processing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a buffer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format of a screen of a display unit of the access device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display unit of the access device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second procedure of the processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third procedure of the processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a fourth procedure of the processing operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 service management node 2 access device 3 information processing device 11 CPU 12 guidance setting unit, guidance setting means 13 information management unit, selection means 14 customer information database 15 service introduction database, service introduction information 16 keyword information database 17 information transfer unit, information Transfer means 18 transfer order determination unit, transfer order determination means 19 buffer 191 information temporary storage area for each access device 1911 access device identification number storage area 1912 customer information storage area 1913 keyword information storage area 1914 storage area for each service introduction information Storage area of head address 1915 Storage area of all program information of selected service 19131 Storage area of keyword specified first time 19132 Storage area of keyword specified second time 19133 Finger area of third time Storage area for keyword information 19141 Storage area for head address of recording area for each service introduction information 19142 Recording area for page number of screen 19143, 19144, 19145 Recording area for one type of information 19151 Head address for storage area for each program information Storage area 19152 Screen number storage area 19153, 19154, 19155 Information storage area for one program 21 Input unit 22 Display unit 2210 Screen 2211, 212, 2213, 2214 Menu frame 2215, 2216 Scroll buttons 2217, 2218, 2219 Function button 121 Keyword information transfer means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An interactive multimedia server including a moving image.
Plural information processing devices providing services and information processing devices
Process to access to and receive signals including video
Access device to be performed and service selection from the access device.
The access device and the information processing device based on the
A service management node to be connected, the information processing device,
Access device and communication network connecting the service management node
Service in response to a service request from the access device.
How to transfer service introduction information for providing services
hand,The service management node is provided for the access device.
When the multimedia service guidance starts, the multimedia
The service and keywords, When a service request is issued from the access device
Is displayed on one screen of the access device stored in advance.
Get the amount of information that can be shown, The access device according to the information amount;
Send to Keyword that selected the keyword from the access device
When the keyword selection information is received, based on the keyword selection information,
And obtain the service introduction information based on the
Stored, When a scroll request is issued from the access device
The amount of information that can be displayed on one screen based on the amount of information
When transferring service introduction information to the access device
A request to change the transfer order is issued from the access device.
The access device based on the change request.
Change the transfer order of the service introduction information and transfer
To A service introduction information transfer method characterized by the following. (2)Interactive multimedia server including video
Plural information processing devices providing services and information processing devices
Process to access to and receive signals including video
Access device to be performed and service selection from the access device.
The access device and the information processing device based on the
A service management node to be connected, the information processing device,
Access device and communication network connecting the service management node
Service in response to a service request from the access device.
Service introduction information transfer system for providing services
And The service management node comprises: All provided for the introduction of the multimedia service
Out of the service introduction information,
Selecting means for selecting only necessary information according to the request; The service introduction information selected by the selection means is temporarily stored.
Temporary holding means for temporarily holding, When guiding multimedia to the access device,
Information on keywords required for selection of multimedia services
Guidance setting means for giving The keyword information set by the guidance setting means is
Means for transferring keyword information to the access device; The key transferred by the keyword information transfer unit
Service information selected by the access device from the word information
Keyword selection information that includes information that changes the order of service information
The service to be transmitted to the access device based on
Transfer order determining means for determining the order of the introduction information; Service of the amount of information that can be displayed on one screen of the access device
Read only the introduction information from the temporary holding means,
Rotate at any time based on the order determined by the transfer order determining means
Information transfer means for sending; Service introduction information transfer system characterized by having
M