JP4240647B2 - Information providing apparatus and method, information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and method, an information processing apparatus and method, and Record An information providing apparatus and method, an information processing apparatus and method, and an information providing apparatus capable of providing more accompanying information in a simple manner. Record It relates to the medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In television broadcasting, it has been proposed to provide information accompanying the original image information in addition to the original image information. Such accompanying information is normally multiplexed, for example, in a vertical blanking interval.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method of superimposing the accompanying information on the vertical blanking section has a problem that only a small amount of information such as text data can be provided because the superimposable capacity is small.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to easily provide more accompanying information.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, first generating means for generating image data of a program to be provided, A determination means for determining whether or not program-related information related to a program exists, and when it is determined that program-related information exists, a predetermined period based on a preset time table, At least of the images of the program Supports some program related information Second generating means for generating information relating to the predetermined pattern to be generated, and synthesizing means for combining the information relating to the pattern generated by the second generating means with the image data of the program generated by the first generating means; Output means for outputting the data synthesized by the synthesis means; With The second generating means generates pattern image data, and the synthesizing means is image data obtained by superimposing the pattern image generated by the second generating means on the program image generated by the first generating means. Is generated.
[0006]
Claim 3 The information providing method according to claim 1 includes a first generation step of generating image data of a program to be provided; A determination step for determining whether there is program-related information related to the program, and if it is determined that the program-related information exists, a predetermined period based on a preset time table, At least of the images of the program Supports some program related information A second generation step for generating information relating to the predetermined pattern to be generated, and information relating to the pattern generated by the processing of the second generation step is combined with the data of the program image generated by the processing of the first generation step A synthesizing step, and an output step for outputting data synthesized by the synthesizing process. In the second generation step, pattern image data is generated. In the synthesis step, the pattern image generated in the second generation step is superimposed on the program image generated in the first generation step. Generate image data It is characterized by that.
[0007]
Claim 4 Record The medium is When it is determined that the first generation means for generating image data of a program to be provided, determination means for determining whether or not there is program-related information related to the program, and program-related information exists A second generation means for generating information on a predetermined pattern corresponding to the program related information in at least a part of the program image during a predetermined period based on a preset time table; A combination unit configured to combine the information relating to the pattern generated by the unit with the image data of the program generated by the first generation unit; and an output unit configured to output the data combined by the combination unit. The generating means generates pattern image data, and the synthesizing means superimposes the pattern image generated by the second generating means on the program image generated by the first generating means. Program to function as the information providing apparatus for generating data of an image are recorded .
[0014]
The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, the information providing method according to claim 3, and the information providing method according to claim 4. Record In the medium, information relating to a predetermined pattern corresponding to program-related information is combined with data of the program image and output to at least a part of the program image.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an information providing system to which the present invention is applied. The portable personal computer 1 is connected to an Internet service provider 91 via a public telephone line 90. The Internet service provider 91 is connected to the Internet 92. The Internet 92 includes a mail server 93 and WWW servers 94-1 and 94-2 (hereinafter, these WWW servers 94-1 and 94-2 are individually provided. When there is no need to distinguish between them, the WWW server 94 is simply described), a global 2D code management server 95, and a program related information server 96 are connected. The mail server 93 manages e-mails sent and received via the Internet 92. The WWW server 94 provides information represented by various home pages via the Internet 92. When a predetermined 2D code is transferred via the Internet 92, the global 2D code management server 95 transmits a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) corresponding to the 2D code to the device that has transmitted the 2D code. .
[0018]
The program related information server 96 stores a 2D code superimposed on the image data of the program as information related to the broadcast program (program related information). The program supply server 97 stores image data and audio data of a broadcast program.
[0019]
The image data and audio data stream (AV data stream) of the program output from the program supply server 97 is supplied to the program transmission system 99 of the uplink center 98. The program transmission system 99 is also supplied with 2D code bitmap data output from the program related information server 96. The program transmission system 99 superimposes 2D code bitmap data on the image data of the corresponding frame in the input AV data stream, and supplies it to the MPEG2 encoder / multiplexer control system 100. The MPEG2 encoder / multiplexer control system 100 encodes the audio data and image data supplied from the program transmission system 99 by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 method, and the image data and audio of the programs of a plurality of other channels. The data is multiplexed and transmitted to the satellite 111 via the antenna 101. The satellite 111 relays the signal supplied from the antenna 101 to each home.
[0020]
In each home, the signal is received by an IRD (Integrated Receiver / Decoder) 113 via the parabolic antenna 112. The IRD 113 demodulates the received signal, outputs it to the television receiver 114, and displays it.
[0021]
Note that the IRD 113 can be configured as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-111823.
[0022]
2 to 7 show a configuration example of the portable personal computer 1 shown in FIG. The personal computer 1 is a mini-notebook type personal computer, and basically includes a main body 2 and a display unit 3 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 2.
[0023]
A keyboard 4 that is operated when inputting various characters, symbols, and the like is arranged on the upper surface of the main body 2, and the keyboard 4 is operated almost like the joystick when moving the mouse cursor at the center of the keyboard 4. A stick pointing device (hereinafter abbreviated as a stick) 5 is provided. The left button 31 and the right button 33 are operated in the same manner as the left button and right button of a mouse in a normal personal computer. The center button 32 is used when operating the scroll bar without setting the cursor to the scroll button. Furthermore, a speaker 8 that outputs sound and a shutter button 10 that is operated when the CCD video camera 23 provided in the display unit 3 captures an image are provided on the upper surface of the main body 2.
[0024]
A claw 13 is provided at the upper end portion of the display unit 3. As shown in FIG. 4, when the display unit 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2, the main body 2 is positioned at a position facing the claw 13. A hole 6 into which the claw 13 is fitted is provided. A slide lever 7 is provided on the front surface of the main body 2 so as to be movable in parallel with the front surface. The slide lever 7 can be engaged with a claw 13 fitted in the hole 6 to be locked and unlocked. It can be done. When the lock is released, the display unit 3 can be rotated with respect to the main body 2. Next to the claw 13, a microphone 24 is attached. As shown in FIG. 7, the microphone 24 can collect sound from the back side. The lid 26 that covers the opening for mounting the additional memory in the main body 2 can be removed by inserting a pin into the small hole 41.
[0025]
A programmable power key (PPK) 9 is also provided on the front surface of the main body 2. As shown in FIG. 5, an exhaust hole 11 is provided on the right side surface of the main body 2, and an intake hole 14 is provided at the lower front surface of the main body 2 as shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, a slot 12 for inserting a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card (PC card) is provided on the right side of the exhaust hole 11. As shown in FIG. 4, a power switch 40 is provided on the left side surface of the main body 2.
[0026]
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 21 for displaying an image is provided on the front surface of the display unit 3, and an imaging unit 22 is provided at an upper end portion thereof so as to be rotatable with respect to the display unit 3. . That is, the imaging unit 22 can be rotated to an arbitrary position within a range of 180 degrees between the same direction as the LCD 21 and the opposite direction (rear direction). A CCD video camera 23 whose focus can be adjusted by an adjustment ring 25 is attached to the imaging unit 22. On the part of the main body 2 facing the lower side of the display unit 3, a lamp made of a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML, and other LEDs is provided.
[0027]
FIG. 8 shows an internal configuration of the personal computer 1. Connected to the internal bus 51 are a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 52, a PC card 53 inserted as necessary, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, and a graphic chip 64. The internal bus 51 is connected to an external bus 55. The external bus 55 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 56, an I / O (input / output) controller 57, a keyboard controller 58, a stick controller 59, a sound chip 60, a modem. 61, an LCD controller 62, and the like are connected.
[0028]
The CPU 52 is a controller that controls various functions, and the PC card 53 is appropriately installed when adding optional functions. In the RAM 54, for example, an OS (basic program) 54A, a 2D code recognition program (application program) 54B, and a capture program (application program) 54C are transferred from the HDD 56 and stored when the activation is completed. .
[0029]
The OS (basic program software) 54A controls the basic operation of a computer represented by Windows 98 (trademark).
[0030]
The 2D code recognition program 54B is a program that captures an image captured by the CCD video camera 23 (that is, has a capture function) and recognizes a two-dimensional code (hereinafter referred to as a 2D code). In this example, a Cyber Code Finder (trademark) is used as the 2D code recognition program 54B. The 2D code will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0031]
The capture program 54 </ b> C is a program that captures an image of a subject with the CCD video camera 23. The capture program 54C has a function of saving a captured image as a still image file (for example, a JPEG file) that can be transmitted via a network or a moving image file. In this example, Smart Capture (trademark) is used as the capture program 54C.
[0032]
On the other hand, the hard disk drive (HDD) 56 on the external bus 55 side stores an OS (basic program software) 56A, a 2D code recognition program 56B, a capture program 56C, and the like at the time of shipment. For example, the OS 56A, the 2D code recognition program 56B, and the capture program C in the hard disk drive 56 are operated by operating the power switch 40, the OS 56A is activated (boot-up), and the 2D code recognition program 56B and the capture program 56C are activated. In the course of processing, the data are sequentially transferred into the RAM 54 and stored as the OS 54A, 2D code recognition program 54B, and capture program 54C. The registry file of the hard disk drive 56 also stores the URL of the global 2D code management server 95 (for example, “http://www.vaio.sonn.co.jp/cybercode/cybersrv.cgi”).
[0033]
The I / O controller 57 includes a microcontroller, an I / O interface, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The I / O controller 57 drives lamps such as a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, and a message lamp ML. The I / O controller 57 detects operations of the power switch 40, the programmable power key 9, the half-press switch 67, the full-press switch 68, the reverse switch 69, and the like.
[0034]
The power switch 40 is operated when the power is turned on or off. The half-press switch 67 is turned on when the shutter button 10 is in a half-pressed state, and the full-press switch 68 is turned on when the shutter button 10 is in a fully-pressed state. The reversing switch 69 is turned on when the imaging unit 22 is rotated 180 degrees (when the CCD video camera 23 is rotated in the direction of imaging the opposite side of the LCD 21). An RTC (Real-Time Clock) 70 always performs a timekeeping operation and outputs the current time to the I / O controller 57. The I / O controller 57 is backed up by a battery 71.
[0035]
A keyboard controller 58 connected to the external bus 55 controls input from the keyboard 4. The stick controller 59 controls the input of the stick 5. The sound chip 60 takes in an input from the microphone 24 and supplies an audio signal to the built-in speaker 8. The modem 61 can be connected to the Internet 92, the mail server 93, the WWW server 94, etc. via the public telephone line 90 and the Internet service provider 91.
[0036]
Image data captured by the CCD video camera 23 is input to the graphic chip 64 connected to the internal bus 51 after being processed by the processing unit 66. The graphic chip 64 stores the image data input from the CCD video camera 23 via the processing unit 66 in the built-in VRAM 65, reads it appropriately, and outputs it to the LCD controller 62. The LCD controller 62 outputs the image data supplied from the graphic chip 64 to the LCD 21 for display. The backlight 63 illuminates the LCD 21 from behind.
[0037]
The global 2D code management server 95 is configured as shown in FIG. 9, for example. The CPU 131 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 132 or a hard disk device 134. The ROM 132 stores, for example, a program executed at startup and various data. The RAM 133 stores data and programs necessary when various processes are executed by the CPU 131. The hard disk device 134 stores a server program that causes the global 2D code management server 95 to function as a server, and a URL table that associates the global 2D code with the URL (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 17). Yes.
[0038]
The display unit 135 displays an image corresponding to the image data supplied from the CPU 131. The input unit 136 is operated by an administrator of the global 2D code management server 95 when inputting various commands to the CPU 131.
[0039]
The network interface 137 is connected to the Internet 92, receives an IP (Internet Protocol) packet addressed to the global 2D code management server 95, generates an IP packet from data supplied from the CPU 131 according to the Internet protocol, and transmits the IP packet to the Internet 92. Output.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 10, the program related information server 96 is composed of a CPU 151 through a network interface 157, and the program supply server 97 is composed of a CPU 171 through a network interface 177 as shown in FIG. As is clear from comparing FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 with FIG. 9, the program related information server 96 and the program supply server 97 are basically configured similarly to the global 2D code management server 95.
[0041]
However, the hard disk device 154 of the program related information server 96 stores a server program corresponding to the function executed by the program related information server 96, and a 2D code to be inserted into an image of the broadcast program, A time table including broadcast times is stored. The hard disk device 174 of the program supply server 97 stores a server program for operating the program supply server 97, and stores image data and audio data of the broadcast program together with a time table including the broadcast time. Has been. Further, the network interface 157 of the program related information server 96 and the network interface 177 of the program supply server 97 are connected to the uplink center 98 in addition to the Internet 92.
[0042]
In this example, the program supply server 97 outputs image data and audio data from the hard disk device 174 as program data, but via the network 92 and other networks via the network 92 177. The supplied program data can be appropriately processed and sent to the uplink center 98.
[0043]
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the WWW server 94 includes a CPU 191 through a network interface 197. As is clear from comparison between FIG. 12 and FIG. 9, this WWW server 94 is basically configured similarly to the global 2D code management server 95. However, the hard disk device 194 stores a server program for causing the WWW server 94 to function, and also stores homepage data provided to the accessed personal computer 1.
[0044]
Next, processing of the program related information server 96 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The administrator of the program related information server 96 associates with a predetermined one of the WWW servers 94 in advance, and requests the administrator of the WWW server 94 to provide information on a predetermined homepage in relation to the program to be broadcast. For example, when data of a program of a predetermined drama is output from the program supply server 97, information desired by the fans of the performer, such as the profile of the performer appearing in the drama, is used as a home page from the WWW server 94. It is requested to supply. Alternatively, when commercial data of an automobile is output from the program supply server 97, the WWW server 94 is requested to provide a home page including more detailed information related to the automobile. When an instruction is input from the administrator of the program related information server 96, in step S1, the CPU 151 displays the URL list of the affiliated WWW server 94 in the time table (FIG. 15) and the URL list is transmitted from the network interface 157 to the global 2D code management server 95 via the Internet 92.
[0045]
When receiving a list of URLs, the global 2D code management server 95 assigns a 2D code to the URL and transmits the assigned 2D code, as will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0046]
Here, the 2D code will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the 2D code has a rectangular area in which, for example, one block is one unit, the vertical direction is 9.5 blocks long, and the horizontal direction is 7 blocks long. The cell part A and the logo part B are formed below it. In the area adjacent to the logo part B of the cell part A, a part of one block substantially free of data is formed. In the cell portion A, rectangular cells (blocks) are two-dimensionally patterned and arranged in a square range having a length of 7 blocks in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Corresponding to the code pattern, a 2D code identification number (2D code ID) represented by a 24-bit bit code is set.
[0047]
In the logo portion B, rectangular cells having a length of 1.5 blocks in the vertical direction and a length of 7 blocks in the horizontal direction are arranged. In the logo portion B, a mark (logo) for advertisement, predetermined characters, and the like can be arranged.
[0048]
Of the 24-bit 2D code ID, about 1 million 2D codes with values in the range of 0x000000 to 0x0FFFFF are local 2D codes, and about 15 million 2D codes with values in the range of 0x100000 to 0xFFFFFF are global 2D codes. Code.
[0049]
The local 2D code can be uniquely used by each user (personal computer 1), and the global 2D code is managed by the global 2D code management server 95. In other words, when receiving a list of URLs from the program related information server 96, the global 2D code management server 95 assigns a predetermined one of the global 2D codes to the URL.
[0050]
When the CPU 151 of the program related information server 96 receives this 2D code via the network interface 157 in step S2, it stores it in the time table of the hard disk device 154 (FIG. 15). When the administrator of the program related information server 96 operates the input unit 156 to input the time (start time and end time) at which the 2D code is inserted into the image of the program, the CPU 15 displays this in the time table. Remember.
[0051]
In this way, as shown in FIG. 15, the 2D code is stored in the time table together with the broadcast time (start time and end time) and the corresponding URL. According to the display example of FIG. 15, for example, the 2D code “1048500” corresponding to the URL “http://www.abc.co.jp/Products” is 6:10:15 on April 1, 1999. Will be broadcast for 1 minute from 6:11:15. In addition, the 2D code “1048591” that corresponds to the URL “http://www.music.co.jp/Info/contentA” is 12:25:10 on April 1, 1999 to 12:25. Broadcast for 20 seconds up to 30 seconds.
[0052]
Next, processing of the global 2D code management server 95 when a request for assigning 2D codes to URLs is received from the program related information server 96 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the CPU 131 of the global 2D code management server 95 receives supply of a list of URLs from the program related information server 96 via the network interface 137, it receives this in step S11. In step S12, the CPU 131 executes processing for assigning a 2D code (global 2D code) to each received URL. In step S13, the CPU 131 controls the network interface 137 to transmit the assigned 2D code to the program related information server 96 that has requested the assignment. Further, the CPU 131 causes the hard disk device 134 to store a URL table as shown in FIG. 17 including the assigned global 2D code and URL list. In the example of FIG. 17, the global 2D code “1048591” is assigned to the URL “http://www.music.co.jp/Info/contentA”.
[0053]
As described above, after the assignment process of the 2D code corresponding to the URL of the WWW server 94 that provides program-related information is completed, the program transmission system 99 executes the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0054]
First, in step S21, the program transmission system 99 determines whether there is program-related information to be provided in relation to the broadcast program. If there is no program-related information, the image data supplied from the program supply server 97 is determined. And the audio data are supplied to the MPEG2 encoder / multiplexer control system 100 as they are. That is, in this case, the CPU 171 of the program supply server 97 reads the program data stored in the hard disk device 174 corresponding to the time table, and supplies it to the program transmission system 99 via the network interface 177. The program transmission system 99 supplies the input program data to the MPEG2 encoder / multiplexer control system 100. The MPEG2 encoder / multiplexer control system 100 encodes the input program data, multiplexes it with encoded data of other channels, and transmits it via the antenna 101.
[0055]
On the other hand, when there is program-related information associated with the broadcast program, in step S22, the CPU 151 of the program-related information server 96 starts its operation based on the time table (FIG. 15) stored in the hard disk device 154. From time to end time, corresponding 2D code bitmap data is generated and transmitted to the program transmission system 99 via the network interface 157. In step S 23, the program transmission system 99 uses the 2D code bitmap data transmitted from the program related information server 96 as a predetermined position (for each frame of image data in the program data supplied from the program supply server 97 ( For example, it is superimposed on the lower left). At this time, the CPU 151 of the program information related server 96 also reads out the URL corresponding to the 2D code stored in the time table, and outputs this to the program transmission system 99 as bitmap data. This URL is also superimposed on the program image data. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. 20, for example, image data in which the 2D codes 211 and 212 and the corresponding URL are superimposed on the image of a predetermined frame of the program is generated.
[0056]
Next, in step S24, the program transmission system 99 determines whether or not the program to be transmitted has ended. If it has not yet ended, the program transmission system 99 returns to step S21 and repeats the subsequent processing. If it is determined that the program to be sent is finished, the process is finished.
[0057]
Next, processing of the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 21 and 22. The user of the personal computer 1 (the viewer of the program supplied from the program supply server 97) determines whether or not to use the 2D code to acquire the program related information, and when using it, for example, operates the keyboard 4 And enter it. Therefore, the CPU 52 determines whether or not the selection input for using the 2D code has been performed in step S41, and if it is input, in step S42, the CPU 52 performs the 2D code recognition program of the personal computer 1 (in this example, Start Cyber Code Finder. As a result, processing for capturing an image by the CCD video camera 23 is executed by the capture program, and processing for recognizing a 2D code from the captured image is executed. Therefore, the user adjusts the position of the CCD video camera 23 so that it captures the position where the global 2D code of the television receiver 114 is displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. 20, the program transmission system 99 superimposes the 2D code and URL supplied from the program related information server 96 on the lower left of the image of the program supplied from the program supply server 97. In such a case, the user adjusts the position so that the CCD video camera 23 images the lower left of the television receiver 114.
[0058]
In step S43, the CCD video camera 23 captures the captured image and outputs it to the processing unit 66. The processing unit 66 appropriately processes the image data input from the CCD video camera 23 and outputs it to the graphic chip 64. The graphic chip 64 temporarily develops and stores the input image data in the VRAM 65, reads out the image data stored therein, and supplies it to the LCD controller 62. The LCD controller 62 outputs the input image data to the LCD 21 for display.
[0059]
As described above, the CPU 52 executes a process of causing the CCD video camera 23 to capture an image by the 2D code recognition program and also executes a process of detecting a 2D code from the captured image. That is, in step S44, the CPU 52 determines whether the acquired image data includes a 2D code (FIG. 14). If not, the CPU 52 returns to step S43 and repeats the subsequent processing. Execute. If it is determined in step S44 that a 2D code has been detected, the process proceeds to step S45, and the CPU 52 (2D code recognition program) determines whether or not the detected 2D code is a global 2D code.
[0060]
If the detected 2D code is not a global 2D code (if it is a local 2D code), the process proceeds to step S46, and the CPU 52 (2D code recognition program) performs processing corresponding to the local 2D code (the local 2D code). The process assigned by the user to the 2D code is executed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S43, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed. If it is determined in step S45 that the detected 2D code is a global 2D code, the process proceeds to step S47, and the CPU 52 (2D code recognition program) reads the URL of the global 2D code management server from the HDD 56. This URL is stored in advance in a registry file in which the system itself writes the operating environment, setting parameters, and the like as needed during the operation of the OS such as Windows 98 (trademark) and its application program.
[0061]
In step S48, the CPU 52 (2D code recognition program) adds the 2D code detected in step S44 to the URL of the global 2D code management server 95 acquired in step S47. For example, when “1048591” is detected as the global 2D code, the CPU 52 generates “CCID = 1048591 & VER = 2” as an argument.
[0062]
The CPU 52 (2D code recognition program) adds the argument generated as described above to the URL of the global 2D code management server acquired in step S47, and "http://vaio.sonn.co.jp/cybercode"/cybersrv.cgi?CCID=1048591&VER=2"is generated. Among these URLs, “cybersrv.cgi” represents the name of a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program executed by the CPU 131 of the global 2D code management server 95. “CCID = 1048591” and “VER = 2” Each represents an argument to this CGI program. The former argument represents the ID of the global 2D code, and the latter argument represents the version.
[0063]
In step S49, the CPU 52 (2D code recognition program) activates a WWW browser such as Netscape (trademark) of Netscape, for example, and requests access to the URL generated in step S48. In step S50, the CPU 52 (WWW browser) requests the global 2D code management server 95 to execute the CGI program specified by the URL described above, and notifies the global 2D code management server 95 with the ID of the 2D code as an argument. To do. That is, at this time, the CPU 52 (WWW browser) controls the modem 61, accesses the Internet service provider 91 via the telephone line 90, and further accesses the global 2D code management server 95 via the Internet 92 from there. Let Thereby, in FIG. 1, the personal computer 1 indicated by the number 1 accesses the global 2D code management server 95.
[0064]
The CPU 131 of the global 2D code management server 95 that has received the URL to which an argument for requesting execution of the CGI program is added, in step S75, as will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. ) And the generated HTML file is transmitted in step S77. Therefore, the CPU 52 (WWW browser) waits until an HTML file is received from the global 2D code management server 95 in step S51, and when receiving the HTML file, executes processing for displaying the HTML file in step S52. Thereby, an image (homepage) including a message such as “Connecting to registered URL. Please wait for a while” as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on LCD 21.
[0065]
This HTML file also includes a URL corresponding to the global 2D code generated in step S48. In step S53, the CPU 52 (WWW browser) executes a process of accessing the URL included in the HTML file after the refresh. This URL is the URL of the WWW server 94 that provides a home page as program-related information. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the URL corresponding to the global 2 code “1048591” is “http://www.music.co.jp/Info/contentA”, and this URL is the WWW server 94− This is the URL of the home page provided by 1.
[0066]
When access is made in this way, the HTML file of the home page is transferred from the WWW server 94-1 to the personal computer 1, so that the WWW browser (CPU 52) displays the HTML file in step S54. Execute the process to display the file (process to display the home page). Thereby, the program-related information accompanying the program received by the IRD 113 and displayed on the television receiver 114 is displayed on the LCD 21. In this way, access to the WWW server 94-1 is performed from the personal computer 1 indicated by numeral 3 in FIG.
[0067]
Thereafter, the process returns to step S43, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.
[0068]
If it is determined in step S41 that the input to use the global 2D code has not been made to acquire the program related information, the CPU 52 proceeds to step S55, and after the user starts the WWW browser, the keyboard Wait until you enter the URL directly by operating 4 etc. For example, in the present example, as shown in FIG. 19, the corresponding URL (http://www.music.co.jp/Info/contentA) is displayed under the global 2D code 211. The user can input this URL by operating the keyboard 4. In step S56, the CPU 52 (WWW browser) executes access to the input URL. In step S57, the home page is transferred from the WWW server 94-1 to the personal computer 1, so that the WWW browser executes processing for displaying the home page in step S57. In this way, the user can acquire the program related information by directly inputting the URL.
[0069]
Note that the display example of FIG. 20 shows a case where a program related to the global 2D code management server 95 (this management server can also be considered as a kind of WWW server) is broadcast and accesses a home page provided as program related information. It represents the global 2D code and its URL.
[0070]
Next, processing when the global 2D code management server 95 receives a URL to which an argument for requesting execution of a CGI program has been received will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S71, the CPU 131 of the global 2D code management server 95 waits until access is received. When access is received, in step S72, the URL for which access is received (received) is requested for execution of a CGI program execution request. Determine whether the number is included. As described above, when access is made by reading the global 2D code in the image of the program, an argument for executing the CGI program is added to the URL by the process of step S48 in FIG. Yes. As a result, for example, a URL such as “http://vaio.sonn.co.jp/cybercode/cybersrv.cgi?CCID=1048591&VER=2” is received. In this case, the CPU 131 activates a CGI program with the name “cybersrv.cgi” described in this URL, and delivers an argument (CCID = 1048591 & VER = 2) to the CGI program.
[0071]
In step S74, the CPU 131 (CGI program (cybersrv.cgi)) acquires a URL corresponding to the passed argument from the URL table. In the case of this example, the URL corresponding to the ID “1048591” of the 2D code is “http://www.music.co.jp/Info/contentA”, so this URL is acquired. In step S75, the CGI program creates an HTML file that accesses the acquired URL. Thereby, for example, the following HTML file is created.
<html>
<head>
<title> Global CyberCode Server </ title>
<META HTTP-EQUIV = "Refresh" CONTENT = "0; URL = http: //www.sme.co.jp/Music/Info/MaywaDenki/">
</ head>
<body bgcolor = "# FFFFFF" background = "images / gback.gif">
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<p><img src = "images / vlogo.gif" width = "52" height = "16" align = "right"></p>
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<td height = "250" width = "97%" align = "center" valign = "middle"nowrap>
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<table border = "0" width = "99%" bgcolor = "# 000000" bordercolor = "# 000000" cellspacing = "0" cellpadding = "0" align = "center">
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<td width = "15%" height = "101"><img src = "images / code.gif" width = "63" height = "95" align = "middle"></td>
<td width = "85%" height = "101"><font color = "# FFFFFF"><b><font face = "MS Gothic, Osaka-monospace, mono">
Connecting to the registered URL. <br>
Please wait for a little while….
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(c) 1999 Sony Corporation. All rights reserved. </ font>
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This HTML file also contains the message "Connected to the registered URL. Please wait." When this HTML file is displayed in step S52 on the personal computer 1, an image as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed as described above.
[0072]
In step S77, the CPU 131 (CGI program) transmits the HTML file generated in step S75 to the accessed IP address (in this example, the personal computer 1). Thereafter, the process returns to step S71, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.
[0073]
If it is determined in step S72 that the accessed URL does not contain an argument for the CGI program execution request, the process proceeds to step S76, and the CPU 131, for example, “This is a global CyberCode server. CyberCode Finder. Create an HTML file containing a message such as “Please access using (Ver 2.0).” Proceed to step S77. In step S77, processing for transmitting the HTML file created in step S76 to the accessed IP address is executed. As a result, when the HTML file is displayed in the process of step S52 on the personal computer 1, an image as shown in FIG. That is, even if the CPU 131 of the global 2D code management server 95 receives access to a URL that does not include an argument for a CGI program execution request, the global 2D code is originally transmitted to the accessing user. It is impossible to provide the corresponding URL to the user. In such a case, an image as shown in FIG. 25 is displayed.
[0074]
As described above, the information providing process for the personal computer 1 is performed from the global 2D code management server 95 indicated by numeral 2 in FIG.
[0075]
As described above, when the CCD video camera 23 captures an image displayed on the television receiver 114 and detects the global 2D code displayed there, the cell unit A shown in FIG. When the logo part B is displayed with the background white, the cells (blocks) shown in black in FIG. 14 are crushed with the white background, making it difficult to recognize. Therefore, the background is preferably 50% luminance (gray) when white is set to 100% luminance. In this way, each cell (block) can be accurately recognized without being crushed by the background.
[0076]
In this way, program related information (homepage) associated with a program is provided via the Internet 92, and only information related to a URL for accessing the homepage is inserted into the broadcasted program itself. Therefore, even if the data amount is large, it becomes possible to provide program related information. Also, it is possible to insert the URL that provides the homepage into the vertical blanking interval of the image of the program and send it, for example, but if you do so, the URL is extracted from the vertical blanking interval, A function to access the URL must be added to an IRD or a television receiver, and cannot be applied to an existing IRD or television receiver. On the other hand, if it is configured as in the above-described embodiment, it is not necessary to add any special function to the IRD or the television receiver.
[0077]
Furthermore, since the 2D code related to the URL providing the home page is broadcast on the image of the program, the program related information can be used not only in the digital television broadcasting system but also in the analog television broadcasting system. Can be easily provided.
[0078]
Next, with reference to FIG. 26, a medium used for installing a program for executing the above-described series of processes in a computer and making it executable by the computer will be described.
[0079]
As shown in FIG. 26A, the program is installed in advance in a hard disk 302 (corresponding to the hard disk built in the hard disk drive 56 in FIG. 8) as a recording medium built in the personal computer 301. Can be provided to the user.
[0080]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 26B, the program includes a floppy disk 311, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) 312, an MO (Magneto-Optical) disk 313, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) 314, It can be temporarily or permanently stored in a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 315 or the semiconductor memory 316 and provided as package software.
[0081]
Further, as shown in FIG. 26C, the program is wirelessly transferred from a download site 321 to a personal computer 323 via an artificial satellite 322 for digital satellite broadcasting, or a network 331 such as a local area network or the Internet. The data can be transferred to the personal computer 323 via a wire and stored in a built-in hard disk or the like in the personal computer 323.
[0082]
The medium in this specification means a broad concept including all these media.
[0083]
Further, in this specification, the steps for describing the program provided by the medium do not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in the flowchart, and include processes executed in parallel or individually. Is included.
[0084]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the information processing method according to claim 3, and the information processing apparatus according to claim 4. Record According to the medium, the information related to the pattern is synthesized with the image data of the program and output, so that the information related to the program can be easily provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the personal computer in FIG. 1;
3 is a plan view showing a plane configuration in a state where a display unit of the personal computer of FIG. 2 is opened. FIG.
4 is a left side view showing the configuration of the personal computer of FIG. 2 with the display unit closed.
5 is a right side view illustrating a configuration in a state where a display unit of the personal computer illustrated in FIG. 2 is opened.
6 is a front view showing a configuration in a state where a display unit of the personal computer of FIG. 2 is closed.
7 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the bottom surface of the personal computer of FIG. 2 with the display unit opened.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the personal computer of FIG. 2;
9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a global 2D code management server in FIG. 1. FIG.
10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a program related information server in FIG. 1. FIG.
11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the program providing server in FIG. 1. FIG.
12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the WWW server in FIG. 1. FIG.
13 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the program-related information server in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a 2D code.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time table.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the global 2D code management server of FIG. 1;
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a URL table.
18 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the program transmission system of FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image including a 2D code.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image including a 2D code.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the personal computer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the personal computer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a display example of an HTML file in step S52 of FIG.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the global 2D code management server of FIG. 1;
25 is a diagram showing a display example of an HTML file in step S52 of FIG.
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a medium that provides a program.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Main unit, 3 Display unit, 5 Stick point, 10 Shutter button, 21 LCD, 22 Imaging unit, 23 CCD video camera, 31 Left button, 33 Right button, 52 CPU, 54 RAM, 56 Hard disk drive, 66 Processing unit, 67 Half-press switch, 68 Full-press switch, 91 Internet service provider, 92 Internet, 94-1, 94-2 WWW server, 95 Global 2D code management server, 96 Program related information server, 97 Program supply server, 99 Program transmission system, 113 IRD, 114 Television receiver

Claims (4)

First generating means for generating image data of a program to be provided;
Determining means for determining whether there is program-related information related to the program;
When it is determined that the program related information exists, information on a predetermined pattern corresponding to the program related information is included in at least a part of the image of the program in a predetermined period based on a preset time table. Second generating means for generating;
Synthesizing means for synthesizing information on the pattern generated by the second generating means with image data of the program generated by the first generating means;
Output means for outputting the data synthesized by the synthesis means,
The second generation means generates image data of the pattern,
The synthesizing unit generates image data in which the image of the program generated by the first generation unit is superimposed on the image of the pattern generated by the second generation unit. . The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second generation unit generates a two-dimensional code as the pattern information. A first generation step of generating image data of a program to be provided;
A determination step of determining whether there is program-related information related to the program; and
When it is determined that the program related information exists, information on a predetermined pattern corresponding to the program related information is included in at least a part of the image of the program in a predetermined period based on a preset time table. A second generation step that occurs;
A synthesis step of synthesizing information on the pattern generated by the processing of the second generation step with image data of the program generated by the processing of the first generation step;
Outputting the data synthesized by the process of the synthesis step,
In the second generation step, image data of the pattern is generated,
In the synthesizing step, image data in which the image of the pattern generated in the second generation step is superimposed on the image of the program generated in the first generation step is generated. . Computer
First generating means for generating image data of a program to be provided;
Determining means for determining whether there is program-related information related to the program;
When it is determined that the program related information exists, information on a predetermined pattern corresponding to the program related information is included in at least a part of the image of the program in a predetermined period based on a preset time table. Second generating means for generating;
Synthesizing means for synthesizing information on the pattern generated by the second generating means with image data of the program generated by the first generating means;
Output means for outputting the data synthesized by the synthesis means,
The second generation means generates image data of the pattern,
The synthesizing unit has a program that functions as an information providing device that generates image data in which the image of the pattern generated by the second generating unit is superimposed on the image of the program generated by the first generating unit. Characterized by being recorded
Recording medium.

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