JP3310903B2 - Information transmission display method and information display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transmission and display method and an information display apparatus for displaying content information multiplexed on television broadcasts or the like, for example, content information on the Internet or related content information. In particular, content information and the like corresponding to the content of the main broadcast can be displayed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various services using the Internet have been provided. The user
The user can access a server that provides services on the Internet to receive services such as providing information. By the way, services on the Internet are established based on communication processing. Basically, a communication channel must be set up between the service provider and the service recipient, and the amount of service provision is limited. was there.

[0003] On the other hand, in broadcasting, as long as broadcast waves reach,
There is an advantage that information can be provided to an unspecified number of people at once. The present invention seeks to provide a technique suitable for multiplexing content information on the Internet or related information into a television broadcast so that content information on the Internet can be effectively used by a large number of recipients. Is what you do.

As a technique related to the present invention, there is a teletext technique. In the teletext technology, teletext is performed in addition to a normal broadcast by inserting text information during a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and displays content information multiplexed on a broadcast signal and transmitted or a part of the content information in conjunction with the content of a main broadcast. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information display technology capable of causing the information to be displayed.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in an information transmission and display method, content information and timing information for displaying the content information on a display device are multiplexed into a broadcast signal. Transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal; receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting the content information and the timing information from the multiplexed broadcast signal; Displaying at least a part of the content information on a display device based on the timing information.

In this configuration, the content information and the display timing information can be multiplexed and transmitted to the broadcast signal to display the content or a part thereof at a desired time. It can be linked to the content of the broadcast.

In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the content information and the timing information can be multiplexed by being inserted into a vertical flyback period of a television broadcast signal. Further, the timing information may be a display time of the content information. The display time can be represented by a relative time based on the time at which the content information was received. The content information may be a hypertext (including hypermedia), for example, a web page provided by a WWW (World Wide Web) server on the Internet, or a program code.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an information display device receives a broadcast signal in which content information and timing information for displaying the content information on a display device are multiplexed. Means for extracting the content information and the timing information from the received broadcast signal, and means for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device based on the timing information. I have to.

[0010] Also in this configuration, it is possible to display the content information or a part thereof in conjunction with the content of the broadcast by using the information of the display timing.

Further, according to the present invention, in the information transmission and display method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal including content information and information of timing for displaying the content information on a display device, a step of receiving the broadcast signal, Extracting the content information and the timing information from the broadcast signal, and displaying at least a part of the content information on a display device based on the timing information.

With this configuration, content information (information multiplexed in the main broadcast program, video, data, and other information of the main broadcast program broadcast independently) can be displayed at a predetermined timing.

According to the present invention, the information display device receives a broadcast signal including content information and timing information for displaying the content information on the display device, and the content display device receives the broadcast signal from the received broadcast signal. Means for extracting the information and the timing information and means for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device based on the timing information are provided.

[0014] Also in this configuration, the content information (information multiplexed in the main broadcast program, video, data and other information of the main broadcast program broadcast independently) can be displayed at a predetermined timing.

The present invention can also be realized as a program product.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a broadcast and information processing system to which this embodiment is applied. In this figure, a television broadcast station 10 includes a broadcast server 11, a content production terminal 12, and a transmission facility 13. Etc. are provided. The broadcast program created by the broadcast server 11 is broadcast via the transmission facility 13. In this embodiment, a transmission signal of a broadcast program includes a normal television signal and a content information signal multiplexed in a vertical baseline period of the television signal. On the receiving side, a broadcast signal is received via an antenna (not shown) or the like, and the broadcast signal is reproduced by a television receiver or a personal computer having a television receiving function. In the figure, a personal computer 2 having a television receiving function is shown.
0 is shown as an example. Personal computer 2
Numeral 0 has a function of demodulating a broadcast signal, and reproduces a television image using all or a part of the screen based on the demodulated signal. The personal computer 20
May be connected to a telephone line via a modem 21 as shown. The personal computer 20 is a modem 2
1 and (if necessary via the communication channel of the provider) to the Internet 30 to which various servers are connected. In this example, a WWW server 31 for providing information is connected.

The recording medium 20b such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM is provided with a Bitcast software 48 (see FIG. 8) to be described later.
It is used to install in Also C
A data recording device such as a D-ROM drive device, a DVD (digital video disk) drive device, and a device 20a such as a tuner and a set-top box for BS broadcast, CS broadcast, and cable TV broadcast supply data to the personal computer 20. It is supposed to. In this example, the device 20a is external to the personal computer 20, but a corresponding card or device may be built in the personal computer 20.

In this embodiment, the broadcasting station 10
Web information (web page) described in HTML (hypertext markup language) from a WW server is received, multiplexed with a broadcast signal of a normal broadcast program, and broadcast. In this case, instead of transmitting the web information directly, the content production terminal 12 may process and transmit the information, or the content production terminal 12 may transmit individually prepared information. The format of the information to be multiplexed and transmitted and the multiplexing method will be described later.

Next, a method of multiplexing information into a television broadcast will be described. The content information is inserted and multiplexed in the vertical blanking period of the television signal. Specifically, a digital information multiplexing method (usually called a VBI method: Vert:
The process is performed using an electrical blanking interval.

That is, the television signal has a horizontal scanning period of 262.5 lines per field (525 lines per frame), of which a portion corresponding to the first 21 lines constitutes a vertical blanking period. Are not displayed on a normal television receiver. FIG. 2 shows the role of the 21 horizontal scanning periods (also showing the scanning period at the beginning of the 22nd video). In the figure, odd-numbered fields 263 to
The horizontal scanning period of 283 is counted in units of frames, and is 1 to 21 in units of fields. As is clear from FIG. 2, the data for character multiplexing is 14, 1
5, 16 and 21 (276, 277, 278 and 2
83) It is multiplexed during the first horizontal scanning period. On the other hand,
10, 11, 12, and 13 (272, 273, 274)
And 275) are released for digital broadcasting (for VBI) during the second horizontal scanning period.
The content information is multiplexed during the BI horizontal scanning period.

FIG. 3 shows how a VBI signal is multiplexed, in which a data line is inserted instead of a video signal.

FIG. 4 shows the specification of data transmission of the VBI system. In FIG. 4, layer 1 defines electrophysical specifications. According to this specification, a certain area in the horizontal scanning period is sampled into 296 pieces. V
The 0 level of the BI signal is the pedestal level (black level) of the video signal, and the 1 level is 70% of the white level of the video signal.
% Level.

Layer 2 is a data link layer, where signals are treated as logical data of 1 and 0. A series of data transmitted by one horizontal scanning line is called a data line. The data line is composed of data packets, and the data packets are error correction codes ((272, 19
0) shortened difference set cyclic code). On the receiving side, bit synchronization is obtained based on the clock line, and the start of the data block can be detected based on the framing code.

Layer 3 mainly shows the function of the prefix. The prefix information mainly includes logical channel information and block connection information. The data block is classified according to the logical channel to which the data block belongs.
The block connection information includes information such as the start and end of block connection, thereby connecting related data blocks to generate a data group that is a meaningful unit of data. In this embodiment, this data group is called a message and is a processing unit.

Next, the content information transmitted by the VBI method as described above will be described. The transmitted content information is mainly web information, but may be any type of information. For example, it may be a code of a computer program.

FIG. 5 shows a data format of a processing unit (message) of the content information. In the following, this is called the Bitcast-HTTP format,
-Also abbreviated as HTTP (Bitcast is a trademark of InfoCity Inc., HTTP is an abbreviation for hypertext markup language). In FIG. 5, the B-HTTP format includes a content type and a group information type. The content type is for transmitting the content itself, and the group information type is for transmitting information for grouping a plurality of content without transmitting the content itself. A message of the content type format is called a content message, and a message of the group information type format is called a group message.

The content message is transmitted alone or together with the group message. The group identifier of the content message transmitted alone is all zero (indicating that the content message is unrelated to the group). When the content message is transmitted together with the group message, the group message is transmitted first, and the number of content messages indicated by the group message are transmitted sequentially. In this case, the identifiers of the content messages are all the same as the identifiers of the group messages. In the content message, information already instructed in the group message (for example, information defined by a validity period start time element described later) can be omitted.

In FIG. 5, the B-HTTP format includes a version field (including a type identifier), a group identifier field, a B-HTTP element field, a content body field and a content body and a B-HTTP element. Consists of a separator (all zeros) field. The main fields are as follows. (1) Version: The upper 4 bits are “0000”. Used when changing the protocol. The lower 4 bits distinguish the content message from the group message. (2) Group identifier: 32 for identifying a group
This is the bit ID. When the content type is set to all zeros, it indicates that the information is independent of the group. (3) B-HTTP element This element provides additional information that can be omitted. This will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. (4) Number of contents: Specifies the number of content messages belonging to the group. (5) Content body: HTML (structured document), G
Stores the original content in the content message described in IF (image), JPEG (image), and the like.

Next, the details of the B-HTTP element will be described. FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples of this element. In the figure, an element is composed of an identifier, a length, and a body. The details will be described below. (1) MIME header: conforms to the HTTP protocol (multi-purpose Internet mail extension). Describe the type of content. (2) Name element: Corresponds to the file name of URL (uniform resource locator, rule for naming resources on the Internet). For content messages independent of the group, specify the full path. In group messages, specify by directory name. (3) Content compression specification element: Specifies a content compression format. Zero indicates that the content is not compressed. (4) Keyword element: Used for adding a keyword. Used when performing search, clipping, and the like, which will be described later. (5) Icon element: Stores information on an icon to be displayed on a part of a display screen, for example, a lower part of the display screen in order to notify a viewer that a predetermined message has been received (apparent reception). Note that the message is actually received prior to the start time of a valid period described later, and the start time of the valid period corresponds to an apparent reception time. With this configuration, it is possible to transmit and receive a message having a large data amount with a sufficient lead time. (6) Live mode element: a message synchronized with the main broadcast (normal broadcast content) of the television broadcast,
Indicates that the information should be displayed at the specified time (start time of the validity period). (7) Valid period start time element (relative time): The time at which the corresponding message becomes valid is displayed as a relative time from the message reception time. In the case of a message in the live mode, the time at which the content of the corresponding content message should be automatically displayed is stored.

It should be noted that the time may be displayed not in the relative time but in the absolute time. In this case, the time at which the corresponding content message becomes valid is notified by adding a frame number to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) format, for example. (8) Valid period element: The valid period is specified by the number of seconds from the valid period start time. The terminal keeps the message in a cache (cache in a direct access storage device such as a hard disk) for at least this period. In this example, all ones (all bit positions are 1
) Indicates that the message is to be forcibly deleted from the cache. That is, the all-one valid element is used as a flag indicating deletion from the cache.
Of course, as the flag, a unique element can be used, another specific bit pattern of the effective element can be used, and a specific bit pattern of another element can be used. (9) Anchor element: The address information of the resource of the link destination is displayed by URL. For example, when an icon is displayed using the icon element of the message, clicking the icon allows access to the resource at the link destination specified by the anchor element. This will be described later with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. The display of the anchor element is performed by, for example, using a URL “HTTP: //www.infocity.c”.
o. jp / dir1 / index. html ".
Here, “HTTP” is a transfer protocol, and “www”
w. infocity. co. jp ”is a domain name, and“ dir1 / index. "html" is a path name. In this example, a broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite, a cable broadcast of a cable TV, a CD-ROM, a DV
The URL is extended so that information from a recording device such as D or a hard disk can also be accessed. For example, when acquiring HTML data from the eleventh channel of the BS broadcast, the URL is “HTTP: // bitcast / BS1
1 / filename. html ”where“ b ”
“itcast” is a proxy server, “BS11” represents media, and corresponds to a directory (10) Coupon element: a right to various services such as a discount service for online shopping (11) layout element: browser itself or Identify the layout, color, shape, background, font, and other decorative information of the content displayed on the browser (12) Encryption element: Displays a protection method such as encryption or scramble processing (13) Menu element : Used to display a menu from icons, specifying a plurality of sets of icon information length, icon information, anchor element length, anchor element (link destination) (14) Program element: information of a broadcast program Store the program program ( Set itself or commercial)
You can create and send program elements for each. The broadcast program information includes information on a program program (program itself or commercial) name, program program code (for example, G code), broadcast date and time (including year, month, day, day of the week, etc.), performer (performer name) ), Information on the type of program (baseball broadcast, genre such as movie, etc.), and others. Since the broadcast program information is not an attribute of the content body, it can be transmitted without the content body.
Of course, it may be accompanied by a content body. (15) Queue element: indicates the start timing of recording (recording) of a broadcast program. Cue elements can also be sent without a content body. (16) Pull element: Used for automatically extracting data from a server or the like without a user's designation.

In the above, the message multiplexed with the contents of the main broadcast and transmitted has been described.

Next, a configuration for receiving the content information in the personal computer 20 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the personal computer 20 is a television signal tuner 4.
1, a waveform equivalent circuit 42, an A / D converter 43, a packet extraction unit 44, a program data generation unit 45, a B-HTTP service unit 46, a Bitcast browser unit 47, and the like. In this example, the B-HTTP service unit 46 and B
The itcast browser 47 is provided as a Bitcast software product 48.

The tuner section 41 selects and demodulates a modulated and transmitted television signal. The waveform equivalent circuit 42 corrects the distortion of the waveform of the television signal and the signal level. The A / D converter 43 converts a signal in a specific horizontal scanning period into 1/364 fH (fH is a horizontal scanning frequency).
Generate digital information by sampling in seconds. The A / D converter 43 is an I / O converter standardized by ISO (International Organization for Standardization).
It corresponds to the physical layer (first layer) of the SO reference model.

The packet extractor 44 includes an A / D converter 43
Performs synchronous processing (framing processing) in units of bits and bytes on the digital information sampled by, extracts data packet information, and detects and corrects transmission errors. The packet extraction unit 44 corresponds to the data link layer (second layer) of the ISO reference model.

The program data generation unit 45 classifies and links the extracted packets for each packet associated on the transmission side to generate a data block. This program data generation unit 45 corresponds to the network layer (third layer) and the transport layer (fourth layer) of the ISO reference model. Note that the above blocks 41 to 45 have the same configuration in a VBI terminal.

The program data block generated as described above is supplied to the B-HTTP service unit 46. The B-HTTP service unit 46 processes a message (data group) in accordance with the B-HTTP format described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. The details will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. The Bitcast browser unit 47 displays content information based on the processing in the B-HTTP service unit 46. The browser unit 47 provides the user with an interface similar to a normal browser for displaying a WWW page on the Internet.

The relationship between the B-HTTP service unit 46 and the browser unit 47 and the hardware and operating system of the personal computer 20 is ninth.
As shown in the figure. The actual mounting is as shown in FIG. In the implementation example of FIG.
The st layer corresponds to the communication multicast and the VBI broadcast function in one and the same layer, and can handle the broadcast and the communication multicast in the same manner.
The socket Winsock2 is extended to handle not only the TCP / IP protocol but also the Bitcast layer protocol, and can finally handle communication and broadcasting at the same level.

FIG. 11 shows a B-HTTP service unit 46.
2 shows a configuration example of a Bitcast browser unit 47. In this figure, a B-HTTP service unit 46 includes a B-HTTP protocol analysis unit 50, a cache 51, a sequence control unit 52, and the like. B-HT
The TP protocol analysis unit 50 analyzes the message received from the program data generation unit 45 according to the B-HTTP protocol, and passes the message to the cache. The cache 51
The information received from the protocol analyzer 50 is stored.
The sequence control unit 52 manages the correspondence between the time and the contents of the information (real-time information) that needs to be displayed at a predetermined time among the information stored in the cache 51. Then, the sequence control unit 52
The contents of the cache 51 are monitored and the latest time and contents are notified to the browser unit 47.

The browser unit 47 includes the sequence control unit 5
3, a content analysis unit 54, a content display unit 55, an icon display unit 56, and the like. The sequence control unit 53 stores the latest schedule, monitors an internal timer, calls the B-HTTP service unit 46 at a specified time, and acquires a content message. The content analysis unit 54 analyzes the acquired content message. For example, it analyzes a document described in HTML grammar. The content display unit 55 includes a content analysis unit 54
Display is performed based on the analysis result of. Icon display section 56
Displays on the screen an icon indicating that the message has been received.

The B-HTTP service unit 46 controls the recording of the demodulated television signal. As the recording medium 57, various media such as a video tape recorder, a hard disk, and a digital video disk can be used. Details of the recording control will be described later with reference to FIG.

The screen can be displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. In this example, the elements displayed on the screen are the web screen 47a and the television screen 47b. Web screen 47
a has the same appearance and user interface as a WWW browser on the Internet. The screen display modes are, for example, the following three, which can be switched. TV display mode: The TV screen is displayed on the full screen. Web display mode: The web screen is displayed on the full screen. Composite display mode: A television screen is displayed on a part of the web screen. When a message including the icon information is received, an icon corresponding to, for example, the lower part of the screen is displayed at the effective period start time. If the message includes a content body to be displayed on the browser, clicking the icon displays the content body on the web screen.
At this time, if the mode is the television display mode, the mode shifts to the composite screen mode. In the web mode or the composite display mode in which the web screen is displayed, the content body is displayed. In this case, the user can select between the automatic update display mode and the manual display mode. In the automatic update display mode, the display of the current content message is updated with the display of the content message of the live mode whose validity period start time has newly arrived. In manual display mode,
The content messages in the live mode whose validity period start time has arrived are spooled, and are sequentially displayed based on a user operation or selected by a dialog and displayed.

Next, a detailed operation will be described focusing on the B-HTTP service unit 46. [Data Structure of Cache Index] First, a data structure of an index used for managing received messages will be described. When a message is received, the message is stored in a cache (hard disk). The storage file is in message units. Then, to manage the message, a corresponding index element is generated and stored in memory. FIG. 13 shows the index elements. The index elements are file name (name element), expiration date (Coordinated Universal Time),
Save flag (turn on after saving the download process), live flag (indicates whether or not in live mode), icon flag (indicates the presence or absence of an icon element), pull flag (indicates the presence or absence of a pull element), and keyword fields have.

The index element is pointed by, for example, two types of index lists, and the LR of the cache is
It is used for U (Least Recently Used) management and display management of web pages and icons. FIG. 14 shows a list formed by using a bidirectional pointer in the order of access. Thereby, the management of the message in the cache can be managed by the LRU method. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, a list can be formed using the bidirectional points in the order of the display timing (effective time start time). By using this list, messages can be taken out in the order of display timing, and web pages and the like (in the live mode) and icons can be displayed.

[Web Screen Display] FIG. 16 shows an operation of displaying information to be automatically displayed at a designated time by a live mode element on a web screen. In this figure, a timer (not shown) starts a web display operation with reference to a valid period start time ('S' in FIG. 6) (S101). Then, one index element is taken out in the display timing order (S102), and it is determined whether or not the mode is the live mode using the live flag (S10).
3). If not in the live mode (for example, in the case of a download message), the process ends without performing any processing.
In the case of the live mode, a message is read from the cache, the HTML document is analyzed, and displayed on the web screen (S104, S106, S107).

In step S105, layout information is extracted. If there is layout information, the browser layout is changed. As shown in FIG. 17, the layout information of the browser includes the arrangement, color, shape, background, font, and other decoration information of the browser itself or the content displayed on the browser. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, x = 20 for a television screen (combined display mode) displayed in the browser.
By specifying y = 20, h = 240, and w = 320, the layout can be changed to the layout shown in FIG.

[Icon Display] FIG. 19 shows an operation of displaying an icon at a designated time. The web display described above is not displayed unless the web screen is open. The icons described here are displayed regardless of whether the web screen is open. In FIG. 19, in this figure, a timer (not shown) starts an icon display operation with reference to the validity period start time (S11).
1). Then, one index element is taken out in the order of display timing (S112), and it is determined whether or not there is an icon element by referring to the icon flag (S112).
113). If there is no icon element, the process ends without performing any processing. If there is an icon element, the message is read from the cache, the icon information is taken out, and displayed on the screen (S114, S116,
S117).

The icons can be displayed in various modes and various arrangements. Also, various methods can be adopted as to how to delete when the number of icons increases. It may be arranged linearly in the dock area at the bottom of the screen, and may be deleted when the arrangement position is full, may be selected by scrolling, or may be divided into a plurality of pages. .

In step S115, the layout information of the icon is extracted, and the layout of the icon can be changed.

[Icon Click Processing] FIGS. 20 and 21 show the operation when the icon on the screen is clicked. In FIG. 20, a message name corresponding to the icon is acquired in response to the click of the icon, and the cache is searched (S121, S122, S123). If there is no corresponding message in the cache, an error is returned and the processing ends (S124, S125). If there is a corresponding message name, it is checked whether or not there is an anchor element (S126). Anchor elements specify the source of the data. Data sources include servers on the Internet, broadcast signals from broadcast satellites and communication satellites, cable broadcast signals from cable television, CD-ROMs, DVDs, hard disks, and the like.

If there is an anchor element, it is determined whether the corresponding data source is a server on the Internet, that is, whether a TCP / IP connection is required (S127). If the data source is a server on the Internet, the server accesses the server on the Internet to retrieve information. That is, a TCP / IP connection is made, and an HTML document (data) is requested and received (S
128, S129, S130). After this, the received HT
Analyze the ML document and display it on the web screen (S131,
S133, S135). In this case, the anchor element is, for example, "HTTP: //www.infocit."
y. co. jp / dir1 / index. html ".

In step S127, if the data source is not a server on the Internet, that is, a broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite, a cable broadcast signal of a cable television, a service using a cable, a CD-ROM, a D
In the case of a VD, a hard disk, or the like, a broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite, a cable broadcast signal of a cable television, a stream such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, or a hard disk is connected or a stream is opened, and then step S129 The following processing is performed. Step S
At 132, it is determined whether or not display is possible with the browser. If display is not possible, a dialog is displayed so that the file is saved (S134). In the case of such a data source, the anchor element is, for example, "HTTP: // bitcast / BS
11 / filename. html ". The device is driven according to the source identifier of the media (data source) corresponding to the directory, for example, BS11 (eleventh channel of BS broadcast) to acquire data.

A broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite as a data source, and information from a cable broadcast signal of a cable television may be information transmitted in the main broadcast or information multiplexed in the main broadcast.

On the other hand, when there is no anchor element,
Menu elements and cryptographic elements are examined. Here, the processing related to the menu element will be described first, and the processing in the case where there is an encryption element will be described later.
If there is a menu element, a menu is displayed (S137, S152), and menu items (icons)
Is selected, the process returns to step S123. If no menu item is selected, the process ends (S15).
4). Fine selections can be made by using the menu. For example, when the icon represents an advertiser's company, a menu can be used to represent individual products.
The menu can be represented by a plurality of layers.

If there is no menu element in step S137, it is checked whether or not there is an encryption element. If there is no encryption element, a MIME element of the data block is obtained and the type of the content body is checked (S139). Element is "te
xt "or" html ", the document is analyzed as an HTML document and displayed on the web screen (S140 to S1).
43). When the element is "program", the content body is regarded as a program and executed (S1).
44-S146).

[Paid Broadcasting] Prior to the description of the processing when there is an encryption element, the mechanism of a pay broadcast realized by using the encryption element will be briefly described.
Here, the paid portion is content information. It does not matter whether the main broadcast itself is charged.

In FIG. 22, the broadcasting station 10 is provided with a key server 14 in addition to the broadcasting server 11. The user's personal computer 20 and key server 14 can be dial-up connected via the Internet 30.

In order to use paid broadcasting of content information, it is necessary to make a contract with an operating organization such as a broadcasting station. After contracting, the user acquires a user ID and a password. The application for the acquisition of the user ID and password shall be in writing,
It is performed by e-mail, facsimile, web, or other methods determined by the operating organization, and the notification of the user ID and password is also notified in a similar manner.

Further, in order to unprotect protected data transmitted by pay broadcasting, unprotect information, that is, key information must be obtained. The key information can be obtained from the key server 14 via a TCP / IP connection. User ID to obtain key information
And a password is required.

The situation of the use of the key information by the user is as follows.
It is recorded on the personal computer 20 and is notified to the key server 14 at regular intervals, and is used as a basis for charging. The routine for notifying the user of the use of the key information may be automatically started on the user side, or the key server 14 may perform polling.

[Check of Key Validity Period] Checking whether key information is currently valid is performed when the browser is started.
If necessary, valid key information can be obtained via the Internet. FIG. 23 shows this processing. Second
In FIG. 3, when the browser is started, the validity period is checked for each of the keys registered as being used (S160, S161). For checking, the validity period is stored for each key registered as being used. If it is within the validity period, the process ends (S162, S166). If it is not within the validity period, a TCP / IP connection is made to the key server 14 to execute a key acquisition procedure (S164, S166). If a valid key cannot or cannot be obtained for some reason, a message to that effect is displayed and the process ends (S165, S166).

[Decryption by Cryptographic Element] Next, the unprotection of the protected content will be described. If there is an encryption element in step 137 in FIG. 20, the process proceeds to step S147 in FIG. That is, it checks whether the key information for unlocking the protection, such as encryption and scramble processing specified by the encryption element, is valid (S147). If valid, the protected content such as encryption is unprotected and stored (S148, S149, S15
0). If the key information is not valid, a message to that effect is displayed to the user and the process is terminated (S151). The encryption element can specify any one of the plurality of protection methods, and can cope with the plurality of protection methods from the plurality of data suppliers.

[Update of cache index] Twenty-fourth
The figure shows the process of updating the cache index when accessing a message. As a result, the management data of the LRU cache management can be maintained. In FIG. 24, when a message is accessed, the name of the accessed message is obtained (S171, S172). Then, the cache index of the list in FIG. 14 is searched, and the corresponding index element is replaced with the head position (S173 to S176).

[Operation at Data Reception] FIG. 25 shows an operation at the time of data reception. In this figure, when a message is received, it is checked whether there is room in the cache (S180 to S182). If there is room to save, it is stored in the cache as it is, the cache index is updated, the timer is set, and the process is terminated (S183-
S186, S194).

In step S194, it is determined whether the valid period element is "ALL1". That is, it is determined whether or not there is a flag indicating that data is forcibly deleted from the cache. In the case of "ALL1", that is, when the flag is set to forcibly remove data from the cache, it is determined whether the mode is the live mode, and if the mode is the live mode, the content is displayed, and then the data is deleted from the cache. (S19
5, S196, S192). When the mode is not the live mode, the data is immediately deleted from the cache (S195,
S192). By doing so, it is possible to prevent the cache from being filled with data that does not need to be cached.

If there is no room in the cache at step S182, the data block is deleted according to a predetermined rule. First, the oldest information among the information that does not correspond to a reservation target (for example, a message including a keyword specified by the user or a download target) is searched from the cache index (S187). If there is a corresponding message, the message is deleted from the cache and the cache index is updated (S192,
S193). If there is no corresponding message, the oldest message among the expired messages is searched using the cache index (S189, S190). If there is a corresponding one, the data is deleted and the cache index is updated (S192, S193). If there is no expired message, the oldest message is retrieved from the cache index, the data is deleted from the cache, and the cache index is updated (S190).
To S193).

As described above, a new message is stored after deleting an old message as necessary (S183 to S183).
S186).

In the above cache management, a (reserved) message corresponding to a keyword specified by the user can be clipped.

The data is received by the tuner 4 shown in FIG.
1, but data may be obtained from other media such as a BS broadcast, a CS broadcast, a cable television broadcast, and a recording device. In this case, if a B-HTTP element that performs switching so as to acquire data from another medium is newly set, the B-HTTP element for switching is multiplexed in the B-HTTP broadcast signal, so that data acquisition is performed. Can be used as a trigger.
The acquired data is received in the same manner as in FIG. 25, and thereafter,
Display of data and the like are performed.

[Search Display] FIG. 26 shows an operation of searching and displaying a message. In FIG. 25, when a search is designated, a search dialog is displayed (S201,
S202). When a keyword search is designated using this dialog, the cache index is searched, and the search result list is converted into an HTML document (S203, S20).
4, S206). When keyword search is not specified, a full-text search is performed on the cache data block.
Convert the search result list into an HTML document (S205, S205)
206). The HTML document obtained in this way is analyzed,
It is displayed on the web screen (S207 to S209).

[Download] FIG. 27 shows the operation of downloading the received data block. The download itself is a normal operation. First, a list of all or a part of the messages in the cache is displayed, a file dialog is displayed, a download instruction is received, read from the cache, and stored in a file (S211 to S21).
215). Thereafter, the storage flag of the index element of the data block stored in the file is rewritten to ON to display that the data block may be deleted (S
216, S217).

[Operation After Button Click] FIG. 28 shows the operation of accessing the next page after clicking the button of the web page. In response to the button click, it is checked whether the information corresponding to the button is a bitcast anchor (S221, S222). If it is not a bitcast anchor, it accesses a server on the Internet to retrieve information. That is, a TCP / IP connection is made, and an HTML document is requested and received (S227, S
228, S229). Thereafter, the received HTML document is analyzed and displayed on the web screen (S230, S231, S231).
232).

In this case, similarly to the case of FIG. 20, in addition to the server on the Internet, broadcast signals from broadcast satellites and communication satellites, cable broadcast signals from cable television, CD-ROM, DVD, hard disk The information may be obtained from such as. In this case, step S2
27 to Step S232 are replaced with Step S127 in FIG.
To S136. Detailed description will not be repeated.

On the other hand, if the anchor is a bit cast, the message is read from the cache, the HTML document is analyzed, and displayed on the web screen (S223 to S223).
226).

[Program Reservation Operation] FIG. 29 shows the operation when reserving a program. (The program information sent by the program element is stored in a predetermined storage location. The program information can be displayed by clicking a predetermined button corresponding to program reservation or selecting a menu. .) The program information can be displayed in a list form, for example. In FIG. 29, when the reservation of the program information is started by a button click operation or the like (S
241), it is determined whether there is a search / selection target in the program information (S242). If there is no target, the program reservation operation ends. If there is a target, a list of broadcast programs to be searched / selected is displayed (S243). Various display modes can be adopted. If there is no program to be reserved in the displayed list, the reservation operation is interrupted according to the operation of the user, and the reservation operation ends. If there is a program to be reserved, the user performs a selection operation to reserve the program (S245). At this time, the program may be searched using the search function, and then the program may be reserved. When a program reservation is made, a recording reservation can be further made as an option (S246). A recording reservation is instructed to make a recording reservation for the program selected for channel selection (S24).
7). If the recording reservation is not to be made, the process ends according to the user's operation.

[Tuning and recording by reservation]
The operation of the reserved channel selection and the recording will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 show the operation of this channel selection and recording. In FIG. 30, in step S251, a check as to whether or not there is a reservation is started. When the program is reserved (S252), the program information is analyzed (S25).
3) The tuning of the reserved program is performed (tuning) based on the analysis result, and the program is displayed on the screen (S25).
4, S255). If the program has not been reserved, the process ends (S252). After the program is tuned in step S255, it is checked whether or not a recording reservation has been made (S256). If a recording reservation has been made, the flow shifts to the operation in FIG. If the recording reservation has not been made, the operation shown in FIG. 31 is not performed.

In FIG. 31, when the recording reservation is made, the recording is started (S257). That is, first, it is checked whether the capacity of the designated medium 57 is sufficient (S258). As described above, various media such as a hard disk, a digital video disk, and a video tape recorder can be used as the medium 57. The recording operation differs depending on the medium, and the method of checking the capacity differs. If the designated medium does not have a sufficient capacity, the process is stopped without recording. If the capacity of the designated medium is sufficient, the recording is started after the arrival of the queue element corresponding to the program to be recorded.
That is, the queue information of the arriving queue element
It is checked whether or not a program designated for recording is included (S259). If the program is included, recording is performed on a medium designated by the user (S260). If the queue information of the queue element does not include the program designated for recording, the process proceeds to step S261, and it is determined whether the user has instructed to stop the recording process. If a stop instruction has been issued, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S259 to continue the process.

While the program is being stored in the medium, the presence or absence of the user's stop instruction is monitored, and if there is the stop instruction, the process is stopped (S261).

As described above, since the recording is not started until the queue element corresponding to the program designated to be recorded arrives, the recording is accurately performed even if the broadcast time of the program is postponed for some reason. be able to. Of course, the recording end time can also be shifted according to the arrival time of the cue element.

[Automatic Data Import by Pull Element] FIG. 32 shows an operation of automatic data import by the pull element. In FIG. 32, when the display of the browser is started, it is determined whether or not there is a pull element corresponding to the displayed content body (S271, S272). That is, the presence / absence of a pull flag is checked with reference to the index element in FIG. If there is no pull element, do nothing.
On the other hand, if there is a pull element, the UR of the pull element
It is determined whether it is necessary to make a TCP / IP connection with reference to L (S273). When the URL specifies an external server, it is determined that a TCP / IP connection is necessary, and the data is obtained by performing the TCP / IP connection (S27).
4, S276). On the other hand, when the URL specifies a stream from a recording device such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk, or a tuner of BS, CS, or CATV, a connection to the corresponding stream or opening of the stream is performed, and data is obtained from the stream. (S275, S27
6). The data obtained as described above is displayed on the browser.

The above embodiment is merely an example, and various changes can be made. For example, in the embodiment, a personal computer is used as a terminal on the user side. However, an intelligent television receiver, a set top box, or the like may be used. The television broadcasting system is not limited to the NTSC system, but also includes SECAM and PA.
The L system may be used. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to television broadcasting but also to radio broadcasting. The television broadcast is not limited to the terrestrial broadcast, but may be a satellite broadcast. Alternatively, a cable broadcast may be used. Also, multiplexing can adopt various methods,
Frequency multiplexing and the like can also be applied. Another type of B-HTTP element may be used.

In the above embodiment, the broadcast signal received by the personal computer is recorded on a video tape recorder, hard disk, digital video disk, or the like. However, the video tape recorder itself takes out the cue element, The recording timing may be shifted based on this.

The cue element may include a recording start time, a shift time, and the like, and the recording timing may be shifted accordingly.

Also, a pull element is generated, multiplexed and transmitted without a content body, and when this is received, the content information is automatically extracted and displayed on the screen based on information such as the URL of the pull element. You can make it.

In the above description of the embodiment, H
Although the TML file was multiplexed with the B-HTTP element into the television signal, the HTML file,
Directly broadcast or multicast communication / broadcast communication of image / audio files, data files, etc., control information for controlling display timing (signals that may be triggers at the time of display may be transmitted), sources of other contents Control information such as the information of the cache, the information of the cache, the information of the layout, the information of the data protection, the information of the icon, the information of the automatic fetching (pull) of the data, the information of the program reservation, the information of the program display and the adjustment of the recording time. It may be added and transmitted. In this case, for example, the device 2 in FIG.
0a (a tuner for BS broadcasting, CS broadcasting, cable television broadcasting, and data broadcasting) receives a file containing control information, and performs file content display and the like based on the control information.

The concrete description of the embodiment has been completed.

Here, the technical features of the embodiment will be summarized. (1) Designation of display timing According to the first technical feature of this embodiment, in the information transmission display method, content information and timing information for displaying the content information on a display device are multiplexed into a broadcast signal. Transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal; receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting the content information and the timing information from the multiplexed broadcast signal; And displaying at least a part of the content information on a display device based on the information of (1).

In this configuration, the content information and the display timing information can be multiplexed and transmitted to the broadcast signal, and the content or a part thereof can be displayed at a desired time. It can be linked to the content of the broadcast.

In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the content information and the timing information can be multiplexed by being inserted into a vertical flyback period of a television broadcast signal. Further, the timing information may be a display time of the content information. The display time can be represented by a relative time based on the time at which the content information was received. The content information may be a hypertext (including hypermedia), for example, a web page provided by a WWW (World Wide Web) server on the Internet, or a program code.

According to the first technical feature, the information display device receives a broadcast signal in which the content information and the timing information for displaying the content information on the display device are multiplexed, Means for extracting the content information and the timing information from the received broadcast signal, and means for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device based on the timing information are provided.

Also in this configuration, it is possible to display the content information or a part thereof in conjunction with the content of the broadcast by using the information of the display timing.

According to the first technical feature, in the information transmission and display method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal including content information and information of timing for displaying the content information on a display device; Receiving a signal, extracting the content information and the timing information from the broadcast signal, and displaying at least a part of the content information on a display device based on the timing information. I have to.

In this configuration, the content can be displayed at a timing different from the reception timing.

According to the first technical feature, the information display device receives the broadcast signal including the content information and the timing information for displaying the content information on the display device, Means are provided for extracting the content information and the timing information from a broadcast signal, and means for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device based on the timing information.

In this configuration, it is also possible to display the content at a timing different from the reception timing. (2) Data Source Designation Method According to the second technical feature of this embodiment, in the information transmission and display method, the source information for specifying the source of the predetermined content information without being included in the content information is multiplexed into the broadcast signal. Multiplexing; transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal; receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting the source information from the multiplexed broadcast signal; and A step of receiving the predetermined content information from the source and a step of displaying at least a part of the predetermined content information received from the source on a display device are performed.

According to this configuration, the content information can be received from media other than the broadcast signal based on the source information, and the content information can be used while overcoming the limitation of the multiplexing capacity of the broadcast signal. .

In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the source information can be multiplexed by inserting it into a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast signal. Also, the above source is
A broadcast signal different from the multiplexed broadcast signal can be used. Further, the another broadcast signal may be a broadcast signal transmitted from a satellite. Further, the another broadcast signal may be a broadcast signal transmitted by wire. Further, the source information may be information stored in an information storage device provided on a side that receives the multiplexed broadcast signal.

[0098] The content information can be hypertext. Further, the content information may include a program code.

According to the above-mentioned second technical feature,
In the information display device, means for receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed source information that specifies the source of the predetermined content information without being included in the content information, means for extracting the source information from the received broadcast signal, Means for extracting the predetermined content information from the source based on the source information, a display device, and means for displaying at least a part of the predetermined content information on the display device are provided.

According to the second technical feature, in the information transmission / display method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal including source information for specifying a source of predetermined content information without being included in the content information, Receiving the broadcast signal; extracting the source information from the broadcast signal; receiving the predetermined content information from the source based on the source information; and receiving the predetermined content information from the source Displaying at least a part of the information on a display device.

According to the second technical feature, the information display device receives the broadcast signal including the source information for specifying the source of the predetermined content information without being included in the content information, Means for extracting the source information from the received broadcast signal, means for extracting the predetermined content information from the source based on the source information, a display device, and at least a part of the predetermined content information on the display device. A means for displaying is provided. (3) Caching Method According to the third technical feature of this embodiment, in the information transmission / display method, the content information, the timing information for displaying the content information on the display device, and the instruction regarding the temporary storage of the content information are provided. Multiplexing information with a broadcast signal, transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal, receiving the broadcast signal, and obtaining the content information, the timing information, and the temporary information from the received broadcast signal. Extracting the information of the instruction related to storage; temporarily storing the content information in a temporary storage device; and performing the temporary storage of the content information temporarily stored based on the information of the instruction related to the temporary storage. Forcibly deleting the information corresponding to the information of the instruction regarding Reading out the content information from the temporary storage device based on the information of the ringing and displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device.

In this configuration, content information that does not need to be stored in a temporary storage device (for example, a partial area of a hard disk) is forcibly deleted from the temporary storage device, so that the temporary storage device is effectively used. it can.

Further, according to the third technical feature of this embodiment, the information display device displays the content information, the information of the timing of displaying the content information on the display device, and the information of the instruction regarding the temporary storage of the content information. Means for receiving a multiplexed broadcast signal, means for extracting the content information, the timing information, and the instruction information relating to the temporary storage from the received broadcast signal, and a temporary storage for temporarily storing the content information. Storage means, and means for forcibly deleting, from the content information temporarily stored in the temporary storage means based on the information on the instruction on the temporary storage, a content corresponding to the information on the instruction on the temporary storage, The content information is read from the temporary storage means based on the timing information, and at least the content is read. Some of the tools information is acceptable to provide a means for displaying on the display device.

Also in this configuration, content information that does not need to be stored in the temporary storage means is forcibly deleted from the temporary storage means, so that the temporary storage means can be used effectively.

In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the content information, the timing information, and the instruction information regarding the temporary storage of the content information can be multiplexed by being inserted into a vertical flyback period of a television broadcast signal.

Further, the timing information can be used as the display time of the content information. Further, the display time can be represented by a relative time based on the time when the content information is received.

Further, the timing information may be used as information relating to the temporary storage, and when the timing information takes a predetermined value, the content information corresponding to the timing information may be deleted from the temporary storage means. it can. In this case, the predetermined value can be set as the relative time of all 1s.

[0108] At least a part of the content information deleted from the temporary storage means may be deleted from the temporary storage means after being displayed on the display device.

According to the third technical feature, in the information transmission / display method, the content information, the information of the timing for displaying the content information on the display device, and the information of the instruction regarding the temporary storage of the content information are provided. Transmitting the broadcast signal including, receiving the broadcast signal, extracting the content information, the timing information, and the instruction information regarding the temporary storage from the received broadcast signal; and Temporarily storing in the temporary storage device, and forcibly deleting, from the temporarily stored content information, information corresponding to the information on the temporary storage instruction based on the information on the temporary storage instruction. And the content from the temporary storage device based on the timing information. At least part of the content information read out information is characterized by a step of displaying on the display device.

Further, according to the third technical feature, the information display device includes the content information, the information of the timing of displaying the content information on the display device, and the information of the instruction regarding the temporary storage of the content information. Means for receiving a broadcast signal; means for extracting the content information, the timing information, and the instruction information relating to the temporary storage from the received broadcast signal; temporary storage means for temporarily storing the content information; Means for forcibly deleting, from the content information temporarily stored in the temporary storage means based on the information on the instruction regarding storage, information corresponding to the information on the instruction regarding the temporary storage, based on the information on the timing The content information is read from the temporary storage means and at least a part of the content information is read out. And it is provided with a means for displaying the serial display device. (4) Layout Designing Method According to the fourth technical feature of this embodiment, in the information transmission display method, the content information and the layout information indicating the layout of the display area for displaying the content information are multiplexed on the broadcast signal. Multiplexing; transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal; receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting the content information and the layout information from the multiplexed broadcast signal; Displaying at least a part of the content information on a display device in a layout according to the layout information.

According to this configuration, the layout of the browser can be specified on the side that provides the content information, and a feeling matching the content information can be given to the user.

In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the content information and the layout information can be multiplexed by being inserted into a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast signal.

Further, the timing information can be used as the display time of the content information. Further, the display time can be represented by a relative time based on a time at which the content information is received. Further, the content information can be hypertext.

According to the fourth technical feature described above,
Means for receiving a broadcast signal in which content information and layout information for instructing the layout of the display area of the content information are multiplexed to the information display device, and converting the content information and the layout information from the received broadcast signal to An extracting unit, a display device, and a unit for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device in a layout according to the layout information are provided.

Also in this configuration, the layout of the browser can be specified on the side that provides the content information, and a feeling matching the content information can be given to the user.

According to the fourth technical feature, in the information transmission and display method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal including content information and layout information for designating a layout of a display area for displaying the content information is provided. ,
Receiving the broadcast signal, extracting the content information and the layout information from the broadcast signal, and displaying at least a part of the content information on a display device in a layout according to the layout information. I want to run.

According to the fourth technical feature, the information display device receives the broadcast signal including the content information and the layout information for instructing the layout of the display area of the content information. Means for extracting the content information and the layout information from the broadcast signal, a display device, and means for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device in a layout corresponding to the layout information. I have. (5) Data protection method According to the fifth technical feature of this embodiment, in the information transmission method, the protected content information and the protection information indicating the protection method of the content information are multiplexed into the broadcast signal. Transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal, receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal, and extracting the protected content information and the protected information from the multiplexed broadcast signal. Converting the protected content information into usable content information by an unprotecting method according to the protected information.

According to this configuration, when the protected content information is multiplexed with the broadcast signal and transmitted, the protection information indicating the protection method is also transmitted. Therefore, a different protection method is adopted for each content information. However, it is possible to easily perform unprotection.

In this configuration, a step of notifying the use status of the unprotecting method to a site managing the unprotecting method may be performed. In this way, when the use information of the unprotected information is notified to the manager, the charge management on the manager is ensured.

The broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the content information and the timing information can be multiplexed by being inserted into a vertical flyback period of a television broadcast signal. Further, the above-mentioned protection method can be encryption. In addition, the above protection method can be a scramble process. Further, the content information can be display information displayed on a display device. Further, the content information can be a program code.

Further, according to the fifth technical feature described above,
Means for receiving a broadcast signal in which the protected content information and the protected information indicating the method of protecting the content information are multiplexed,
Means for extracting the protected content information and the protected information from the received broadcast signal, and means for converting the protected content information into usable content information by an unprotecting method according to the protected information. It is provided.

According to this configuration, when the protected content information is multiplexed with the broadcast signal and transmitted, the protection information indicating the protection method is also transmitted. Therefore, a different protection method is adopted for each content information. However, it is possible to easily perform unprotection.

In this configuration, means for notifying the use status of the unprotect information to the site managing the unprotect information may be further provided.

According to a fifth technical feature, in the information transmission method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal including protected content information and protect information indicating a technique of protecting the content information; Receiving the protected content information and the protected information from the broadcast signal, and converting the protected content information into usable content information by an unprotecting method according to the protected information. Steps to do.

According to the fifth technical feature, the information receiving apparatus receives a broadcast signal including the protected content information and the protection information indicating the method of protecting the content information, Means for extracting the protected content information and the protected information from the received broadcast signal, and means for converting the protected content information into usable content information by an unprotecting method according to the protected information. It is provided. (6) Icon display According to a sixth technical feature of this embodiment, in the information transmission and display method, multiplexing information of a display object related to content information into a broadcast signal; Transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal, extracting the information of the display object from the multiplexed broadcast signal, and displaying the display object on the display device based on the information of the display object. Displaying, and performing a predetermined process on the content information according to the content information when a predetermined event occurs on the display object displayed on the display device. .

According to this configuration, the user first looks at the display object to confirm whether the content is what he wants to see or want to use, and then performs a click process or the like to view or use the desired content information. can do.

Further, in this configuration, the content information may be multiplexed with the broadcast signal, the multiplexed broadcast signal may be received, and the content information may be extracted from the multiplexed broadcast signal. Further, the content information may be obtained from a source other than the broadcast signal.

Further, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the information of the display object may be inserted and multiplexed in a vertical blanking period of the television broadcast signal.

When the content information is information to be displayed, the predetermined process may be a process of displaying the content information on the display device. Further, when the content information is information indicating an information source,
The predetermined process may include a process of acquiring information from the information source.

The display object has a hierarchical structure, and when the predetermined event occurs with respect to a higher-level display object, one or more lower-level display objects are displayed to present a menu. You may. Further, the display object may be an icon.

According to the sixth technical feature, the information display device receives the broadcast signal multiplexed with the information of the display object related to the content information,
Means for extracting information on the display object from the multiplexed broadcast signal, a display device, means for displaying the display object on the display device based on the information on the display object, and means for displaying the display object on the display device. Means for performing a predetermined process on the content information according to the content information when a predetermined event occurs on the display object.

Also in this configuration, the user first looks at the display object to confirm whether the content is what he wants to see or want to use, and then performs a click process or the like to view or use the desired content information. be able to.

Further, according to the sixth technical feature described above,
Means for receiving a broadcast signal obtained by multiplexing content information and display object information related to the content information, and means for extracting the content information and the display object information from the multiplexed broadcast signal; A display device, means for displaying the display object on the display device based on the information of the display object, and the content when a predetermined event occurs for the display object displayed on the display device Means for executing a predetermined process on the information in accordance with the content information.

According to the sixth technical feature, in the information transmission and display method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal including information of a display object related to the content information; a step of receiving the broadcast signal; Extracting the information of the display object from the broadcast signal, displaying the display object on a display device based on the information of the display object, and performing a predetermined process on the display object displayed on the display device. Performing a predetermined process on the content information according to the content information when an event occurs.

[0135] According to the sixth technical feature, the information display device receives the broadcast signal including the information of the display object related to the content information, and the information of the display object from the broadcast signal. A display device, a display device, means for displaying the display object on the display device based on the information of the display object, and when a predetermined event occurs for the display object displayed on the display device. Means for performing a predetermined process on the content information according to the content information. (7) Automatic Data Retrieval Method According to the seventh technical feature of the present embodiment, in the information transmission and display method, assistance relating to predetermined content information and other content information to be retrieved according to the display of the predetermined content information is provided. Multiplexing information and a broadcast signal; transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal; receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; and multiplexing the predetermined content information and the predetermined content information from the multiplexed broadcast signal. Extracting auxiliary information, displaying the extracted predetermined content information, obtaining the other content information based on the extracted auxiliary information, and obtaining the obtained other content information And the step of displaying.

In this configuration, using the auxiliary information sent together with the content information, other content information is taken out from a predetermined location in accordance with the display of the content information, and the other content information is automatically extracted. Can be displayed.

Also, according to the seventh technical feature described above,
In the information transmission display method, predetermined content information;
Receiving a broadcast signal multiplexed with auxiliary information relating to other content information extracted according to the display of the predetermined content information, and extracting the predetermined content information and the auxiliary information from the broadcast signal; Displaying the extracted predetermined content information; obtaining the other content information based on the extracted auxiliary information; and displaying the obtained other content information. I have to.

[0138] Also in this configuration, when the content information multiplexed with the broadcast signal and displayed is displayed,
Other content information can be automatically retrieved and displayed.

In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the predetermined content information and the auxiliary information can be inserted and multiplexed in a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast signal. Further, the auxiliary information may include information for specifying a location where the other content information is stored. Further, the location may include a location on a network. Further, the location may include a transmission path by broadcasting.

According to the seventh technical feature described above,
Means for receiving a broadcast signal obtained by multiplexing predetermined content information and auxiliary information relating to other content information to be taken out in accordance with the display of the predetermined content information, to the information display device; Means for extracting information and the auxiliary information; means for displaying the extracted predetermined content information; means for obtaining the other content information based on the extracted auxiliary information; And means for displaying the content information.

Also in this configuration, when displaying the content information multiplexed and transmitted to the broadcast signal,
Other content information can be automatically retrieved and displayed.

In this configuration, the means for displaying the predetermined content information and the means for displaying the other content information may be the same means.

According to the seventh technical feature, in the information transmission / display method, a step of transmitting a broadcast signal broadcast signal including auxiliary information relating to content information to be automatically extracted, a step of receiving the broadcast signal, Extracting the auxiliary information from the broadcast signal; and obtaining the content information based on the extracted auxiliary information.

According to the seventh technical feature, the information display device receives a broadcast signal including auxiliary information relating to content information to be automatically extracted, and extracts the auxiliary information from the broadcast signal. Means and means for acquiring the content information based on the extracted auxiliary information. (8) Reservation of program According to an eighth technical feature of the present embodiment, in the broadcast signal transmitting / receiving method, multiplexing information on a broadcast program into a broadcast signal, and transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal. Receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting information on the broadcast program from the multiplexed broadcast signal; and selecting a broadcast receiving device using the extracted information on the broadcast program. And the steps to be performed.

In this configuration, information on a broadcast program can be easily obtained, and a desired channel selection can be easily reserved based on a selection operation on the information.

According to this technical feature, in the broadcast signal receiving method, a step of receiving a broadcast signal in which information on a broadcast program is multiplexed, and extracting information on the broadcast program from the multiplexed broadcast signal Performing a step, displaying the extracted information on the broadcast program, and selecting a broadcast receiver to receive the broadcast program selected based on the displayed information on the broadcast program. Like that.

Also in this configuration, information on a broadcast program can be easily obtained, and a desired channel selection can be easily reserved based on a selection operation on the information.

Further, in this configuration, the broadcast signal can be used as a television broadcast signal, and information about the broadcast program is inserted into a vertical blanking period of the television broadcast signal and multiplexed. You may.

According to this technical feature, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus receives the broadcast signal obtained by multiplexing the information on the broadcast program, and extracts the information on the broadcast program from the multiplexed broadcast signal. Means for displaying information on the extracted broadcast program, and means for selecting a broadcast receiving device to receive a broadcast program selected based on the displayed information on the broadcast program. It is provided.

Also in this configuration, information on a broadcast program can be easily obtained, and desired channel selection can be easily reserved based on a selection operation or the like for the information.

In this configuration, means for instructing whether to record a selected broadcast program and means for recording a program instructed to be recorded may be further provided.

According to this technical feature, the broadcast signal receiving device includes means for receiving a broadcast signal in which information on a broadcast program and information on the start of recording of the broadcast program are multiplexed, Means for extracting the information on the broadcast program from the apparatus, means for displaying the information on the extracted broadcast program, and a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving the broadcast program selected based on the displayed information on the broadcast program. Means for selecting a channel, means for extracting information on the start of recording of the broadcast program from the multiplexed broadcast signal, and recording of the broadcast program is started based on the information on the start of recording of the extracted broadcast program. Means are provided.

In this configuration, information on a broadcast program can be easily obtained, and desired channel selection and recording reservation can be easily made based on a selection operation on the information. Further, the timing of the recording time can be adjusted.

According to this technical feature, in the broadcast signal transmitting / receiving method, a step of multiplexing information relating to the start of recording of a broadcast program into a broadcast signal; a step of transmitting the multiplexed broadcast signal; Receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting information on the start of recording of the broadcast program from the multiplexed broadcast signal; recording the broadcast signal using the information on the start of recording of the extracted broadcast program And the step of starting.

In this configuration, the recording timing can be adjusted.

In this configuration, the information on the start of recording of the broadcast program may start the recording of the broadcast signal in accordance with the reception timing. It may be included.

Further, according to this technical feature, the broadcast signal recording device receives the broadcast signal obtained by multiplexing the information on the start of recording of the broadcast program, Means are provided for extracting information relating to the start of recording, and means for starting recording of a broadcast signal using the extracted information relating to the start of recording of the broadcast program.

Also in this configuration, the recording timing can be adjusted.

[0159]

As described above, according to the present invention, content information can be multiplexed and transmitted to a broadcast signal, and the content or a part thereof can be displayed at a desired time. Can be linked to the content of the broadcast.

According to the present invention, not only the information multiplexed in the main broadcast program but also the video, data and other information of the main broadcast program broadcast independently can be displayed at a predetermined timing. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention as a whole.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexing used in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexing used in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexing used in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a data group (message) of the above embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the format of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a B-HTTP element in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a B-HTTP element in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a mounting configuration of the personal computer of FIG. 1;

9 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of a mounting configuration of the personal computer in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a mounting configuration of the personal computer of FIG. 1;

11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a B-HTTP service unit 46 and a Bitcast browser 47 in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a Bitcast browser.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an index element used for caching a message.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a cache list that points to the above-mentioned index element.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display list that points to the above-mentioned index element.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a display operation of a web page or the like.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout element.

18 is a diagram illustrating a layout of a Bitcast browser corresponding to an example of the layout icon in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an icon display operation.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an icon is clicked.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an icon is clicked.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a pay broadcast.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating a pay broadcast key.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating the cache index list in FIG. 14 when a message is accessed.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of receiving a message.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a search operation.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of downloading.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a button on a web page is clicked.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for setting channel selection reservation and recording reservation.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of channel selection by reservation.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of recording by reservation.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating automatic data acquisition by a pull element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Broadcast Server 20 Personal Computer 31 WWW Server 41 Tuner 42 Waveform Equivalent Circuit 43 A / D Converter 44 Packet Extractor 45 Program Data Generator 46 B-HTTP Service Unit 47 Bitcast Browser 57 Recording Medium

Claims (20)

(57) [Claims] 1. A broadcast signal of a television broadcast program, content information on the Internet corresponding to the television broadcast program, and a time at which the content information is transferred to a display device. Multiplexing time information indicating a time at which the content information is to be displayed in conjunction with the television broadcast program by transferring the content information to the display device side; Transmitting said broadcast signal; receiving said multiplexed broadcast signal; extracting said content information and said time information from said received multiplexed broadcast signal; The cache can be accessed in a manner accessible regardless of the order in which the content information carried by the broadcast signal is carried. Based on the time information taken out, regardless of the transfer order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal, and without depending on the reproduction instruction operation of the receiving side.
Automatically extracting content information from the cache hard disk; and displaying the television on a first display area of a display screen of the display device based on a received signal corresponding to a television broadcast program of the multiplexed broadcast signal. Displaying the video of the John broadcast program; transferring the content information from the cache hard disk to the display device based on the time information; and transmitting at least a part of the transferred content information to the display device. Displaying in a second display area of the display screen different from the first display area. And multiplexing, in addition to the content information and the time information, layout information specifying a layout of the first display area and the second display area on the display screen with the broadcast signal. The information transmission display method according to claim 1, wherein the first side displays the first display area and the second display area on the display screen based on the layout information. 3. In addition to a first mode in which both said first display area and said second display area are displayed on said display screen, said first display area is displayed on said display screen and said second display area is displayed on said display screen. A second mode in which the second display area is not displayed on the display screen, and a third mode in which the second display area is displayed on the display screen and the first display area is not displayed on the display screen. Item 1. The information transmission display method according to item 1 or 2. 4. The information transmission display method according to claim 1, wherein said content information and said time information are multiplexed by inserting them into a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast signal. 5. The display time according to claim 1, wherein the display time is represented by a relative time based on a time when the content information is received.
3. The information transmission display method according to 3 or 4. 6. The information transmission and display method according to claim 1, wherein said content information is hypertext. 7. A display device, a method for transmitting a broadcast signal of a television broadcast program, content information on the Internet corresponding to the television broadcast program, and transferring the content information to the display device side.
And time information indicating a time at which the content information is to be displayed in conjunction with the television broadcast program by transferring the content information to the display device at that time. Means for receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal, means for extracting the content information and the time information from the received multiplexed broadcast signal, and the content carried by the broadcast signal. A cache hard disk for storing the information in an accessible manner irrespective of the information transfer order, and receiving, irrespective of the transfer order of the content information conveyed by the broadcast signal, based on the extracted time information, and Without depending on the playback instruction operation of the
Means for automatically extracting content information from the cache hard disk; and displaying the television on a first display area of a display screen of the display device based on a signal corresponding to the television broadcast program of the received multiplexed broadcast signal. First display means for displaying an image of a John broadcast program, and at least a part of the content information extracted from the cache hard disk is displayed in a second display area of the display screen different from the first display area. Second
An information display device comprising: a display unit. 8. The multiplexed broadcast signal is also multiplexed with layout information for laying out the first display area and the second display area on the display screen. The information display device according to claim 7, wherein the second display means displays the first display area and the second display area based on the layout information. 9. The information display device according to claim 7, wherein the time information is represented by a relative time based on a time at which the content information is received. 10. In addition to a first mode in which both said first display area and said second display area are displayed on said display screen, said first display area is displayed on said display screen and said second display area is displayed on said display screen. A second mode in which the second display area is not displayed on the display screen, and a third mode in which the second display area is displayed on the display screen and the first display area is not displayed on the display screen. The information display device according to claim 7, wherein the information display device can be used. 11. The information display device according to claim 7, wherein said content information is hypertext. 12. On the Internet corresponding to a broadcast program
Transmitting a broadcast signal including the content information and time information indicating a time at which the content information is transferred to the display device side; receiving the broadcast signal; Extracting the time information; and storing the extracted content information in a cache hard disk in an accessible manner irrespective of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal. Based on the time information, regardless of the order of conveyance of the content information carried by the broadcast signal, and without depending on the reproduction instruction operation on the receiving side,
An information transmission display method, comprising: automatically extracting content information from the cache hard disk; and displaying at least a part of the content information extracted from the cache hard disk on a display device. 13. A display device, means for receiving a broadcast signal including content information on the Internet corresponding to a broadcast program and time information indicating a time at which the content information is transferred to the display device side, Means for extracting the content information and the time information from a broadcast signal; and a cache for storing the extracted content information in an accessible manner irrespective of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal. Based on the hard disk and the extracted time information, regardless of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal, and without depending on the reproduction instruction operation of the receiving side,
An information display device comprising: means for automatically extracting content information from the cache hard disk; and means for causing the display device to display at least a part of the content information extracted from the cache hard disk. . 14. On the Internet corresponding to a broadcast program
Transmitting a broadcast signal including the content information and the timing of transferring the content information to the display device side; receiving the transmitted broadcast signal; Extracting the timing information and storing the extracted content information in a cache (excluding a frame memory) in an accessible manner irrespective of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal. Based on the extracted timing information, automatically from the cache, independently of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal, and without depending on the reproduction instruction operation on the receiving side. The content information is taken out, and the display device displays the content information. Displaying at least a part of the information transmission display method. 15. The information transmission display method according to claim 14, wherein the timing information is information representing a relative time based on a time at which the content information is received. 16. A display device, means for receiving a broadcast signal including content information on the Internet corresponding to a broadcast program , and timing information for transferring the content information to the display device side, and the received broadcast signal Means for extracting the content information and the timing information from the cache, and a cache (frame) for storing the extracted content information in an accessible manner irrespective of the transport order of the content information transported by the broadcast signal. Memory)), based on the extracted timing information, automatically regardless of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal, and without depending on the reproduction instruction operation of the receiving side. Fetching the content information from the cache to the display device Information display device characterized by having a means for displaying at least a portion of the broadcast. 17. The information display device according to claim 16, wherein the timing information is information representing a relative time based on a time at which the content information is received. 18. multiplexed on the broadcast signal of a television broadcast program, corresponding to the television broadcast program in
A time at which the content information on the Internet and the content information are transferred to the display device, and the content information is linked to the television broadcast program by transferring the content information to the display device at that time. Used for displaying at least a part of the content information in accordance with the time information indicating the time to be displayed. Extracting the content information and the time information; and storing the extracted content information in a cache hard disk in an accessible manner irrespective of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal. And, based on the extracted time information, the broadcast signal Regardless of the conveyance order of the content information that is more conveyed, and, without depending on the reception side reproduction instruction operation,
Automatically extracting content information from the cache hard disk; and displaying the television on a first display area of a display screen of the display device based on a received signal corresponding to a television broadcast program of the multiplexed broadcast signal. Displaying the video of the John broadcast program; transferring the content information from the cache hard disk to the display device based on the time information; and transmitting at least a part of the transferred content information to the display device. Displaying the information display computer program in a computer-readable manner, for use in causing the computer to execute the step of displaying the information on the second display area of the display screen different from the first display area. 19. Corresponding to a broadcast program included in a broadcast signal
Recording information display computer program used to display at least a part of the content information based on content information on the Internet and time information indicating a time at which the content information is transferred to the display device side A step of extracting the content information and the time information from the received broadcast signal on the medium; and a mode in which the extracted content information can be accessed regardless of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal. Storing on a cache hard disk, and, on the basis of the extracted time information, independently of the transport order of the content information carried by the broadcast signal, and relying on a reproduction instruction operation of a receiving side. Not
Automatically extracting the content information from the cache hard disk; and displaying, on a display device, at least a part of the content information extracted from the cache hard disk, using the computer to execute the steps.
A recording medium on which a computer program for displaying information is recorded in a computer-readable manner. 20. Corresponding to a broadcast program included in a broadcast signal
A recording medium recording an information display computer program used for displaying at least a part of the content information based on the content information on the Internet and the timing of transferring the content information to the display device side. Extracting the content information and the timing information from the received broadcast signal, and allowing the extracted content information to be accessed regardless of the transport order of the content information transported by the broadcast signal. Storing the data in a cache (excluding a frame memory); and, based on the extracted timing information, regardless of the transport order of the content information transported by the broadcast signal, and performing a reproduction instruction operation on the receiving side. Automatically without depending on At least a step of displaying a portion, used to be executed by a computer, reads the information display computer program in a computer capable of recording medium recorded in the content information on the display device extracts the content information from the shoe.