JP4244432B2 - Transmission method, transmission system, transmission device, and reception device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transmission method, a transmission system, a transmission device, and a reception device suitable for use in, for example, content distribution by a web page in digital television broadcasting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
On the current Internet, data is distributed using WWW (World Wide Web) web pages using data described in HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language). When accessing a web page described in HTML, each data is identified using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The URL represents a location where resources on the Internet are located. In WWW, based on the description of HTML, multimedia is linked in a page using a URL to form a web page. Content that can be linked to a web page should be linked to the content of a remote website using a URL if the content is located on a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server on the Internet. Is possible.
[0003]
On the other hand, it is considered to distribute web pages in digital television broadcasting. When a web page is distributed by digital television broadcasting, an HTML document for forming the web page is distributed and content data such as a still image, a video stream, an audio stream, and digital data for forming the page is distributed. Is delivered. Based on the description of HTML, the distributed contents such as video data and audio data are hyperlinked to the web page to form a web page.
[0004]
As described above, when a web page is formed by digital television broadcasting, contents such as video data and audio data are linked to the page based on the description of HTML. For this reason, it is necessary to embed an identifier indicating the link destination of the content in the HTML document and capture the data of the content at the link destination indicated by the identifier.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Thus, when a web page is formed by digital television broadcasting, an identifier indicating the link destination of the content is necessary. In conventional digital television broadcasting, identifiers such as an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, and a component tag component_tag are assigned to video and audio streams. Therefore, it is conceivable to access the link destination of the content using such an identifier. However, the use of such an identifier makes it incompatible with a web page provided on the Internet.
[0006]
Therefore, it is conceivable to introduce a descriptor for storing a URL as a method of adding a URL to content data sent by broadcasting while maintaining compatibility with the conventional digital television broadcasting system. According to this method, when there is a link destination by URL in the HTML document, the corresponding URL is retrieved from the descriptor area such as the received MPEG2 section table. Then, the resource in which the descriptor is stored is accessed.
[0007]
In this way, it is possible to add a URL to content data sent by broadcasting while maintaining compatibility with the digital television broadcasting system.
[0008]
However, in this method, the URL does not indicate the location where the resource is actually located. Therefore, in this method, when it is possible to acquire content via a bidirectional network such as the Internet in addition to broadcasting, it is not possible to add information about where to acquire the content.
[0009]
In digital television broadcasting, the same content may be rebroadcast. In this case, it is necessary to provide a means for assigning one unique identifier to the same content and obtaining a correspondence relationship from the identifier name to a program actually broadcast or location information on the interactive network. .
[0010]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to send a web page through a broadcast network such as digital television broadcasting and to exchange the content through a bidirectional network, and the same content is placed in a plurality of places. Another object of the present invention is to provide a transmission method, a transmission system, a transmission device, and a reception device that can acquire optimum content.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transmission method, a transmission system, a transmission device, and a reception device capable of acquiring optimum contents while maintaining compatibility with existing digital television broadcasting systems and Internet systems. It is in.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention according to claim 1 is a transmission method in which necessary information is obtained from individual pieces of information arranged in a distributed manner and reconfigured.
  Using an information identifier unique to each piece of information as an identifier for acquiring necessary information from the distributed information,
  Create a list indicating the relationship between the information identifier unique to each information and the access method identifier indicating the access method of the information corresponding to the information identifier,
  When the necessary information is specified by the information identifier, search for an access method for obtaining the necessary information according to the list,
  Acquire necessary information with the searched access methodAnd
  Access methods include access by broadcast network or access by bidirectional networkIt is a transmission method.
[0013]
  The invention according to claim 2 is a transmission system in which necessary information is acquired from individual pieces of information arranged in a distributed manner and reconfigured.
  Information transmission means for providing information by a plurality of access methods;
  Indicates the relationship between the information identifier unique to each information and the access method identifier indicating the access method of the information corresponding to the information identifier.SuriName resolution means for identifying an access method to information corresponding to the specified information identifier according to a list,
  An information receiving means for searching for an access method for acquiring necessary information according to a list of name resolution means when the required information is specified by an information identifier, and acquiring necessary information by the searched access method;
  Be equippede,
  Access methods include access by broadcast network or access by bidirectional networkIt is a transmission system.
[0014]
  Claim3The invention ofInformation storage means for storing information to be provided;
  Information providing means for providing information of the storage means by a plurality of access methods;
  A list creation means for creating a list in which an information identifier unique to each information and an access method identifier indicating an access method of information corresponding to the information identifier are associated;
  A list sending means for sending a list;
  With
  The plurality of access methods are transmission devices including access via a broadcast network or access via a bidirectional network.
[0015]
  Claim4The invention ofInformation receiving means for receiving information by a plurality of access methods;
  A list receiving means for receiving a list in which an information identifier unique to each information and an access method identifier indicating an access method of information corresponding to the information identifier are associated;
  A name resolution means for identifying an access method to information corresponding to the specified information identifier according to the received list;
  Data acquisition means for searching for an access method for acquiring necessary information according to the list when the necessary information is specified by the information identifier, and acquiring necessary information based on the searched access method;
  With
  The plurality of access methods are receiving apparatuses including access via a broadcast network or access via a bidirectional network.
[0016]
  Regardless of the location of the content, the link destination of the content of the web page is described using a unique content identifier for each content. Then, a list in which the content identifier and the content access method identifier indicating the access method for acquiring the content is sent, and this list is stored. When accessing a content link destination, an access method corresponding to the content identifier is searched using a table created from the list of content identifiers and content access method identifiers. Among these access methods, content is accessed by an optimum search method.
[0017]
As a result, for example, when a web page described in HTML is sent by digital broadcasting, content of the same content, such as broadcasting / rebroadcasting or duplication of content on an interactive network, is in a plurality of locations. However, the content can be specified by an identifier name unique to the content, and the content can be acquired by an appropriate method.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a first example of a data distribution system to which the present invention is applied.
[0019]
In FIG. 1, 101A and 101B are content providing apparatuses owned by content providers. Specifically, the content providing apparatuses 101A and 101B include servers 111A and 111B.
[0020]
A content provider who owns the content providing apparatuses 101A and 101B provides multimedia content such as movies, music, photos, and documents as digital data. The servers 111A and 111B are provided with databases 112A and 112B. The databases 112A and 112B store content data to be provided.
[0021]
The provided multimedia data is stored in the form of, for example, an HTML document for creating a web page and still image data, video data, and audio data linked to the web page, and can be accessed by HTTP. ing. Of course, the servers 111 and 111B of the content providing apparatuses 101A and 101B do not provide all WWW pages, but still data, video data, audio data, software files, etc. are transferred by FTP (File Transfer Protocol). For example, it may be provided.
[0022]
The servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B are connected to a bidirectional network 105 such as the Internet. Therefore, the content data held in the databases 112A and 112B can be accessed from the outside via the bidirectional network 105 such as the Internet. Of course, the servers 111A and 111B of all the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B are not connected to the bidirectional network 105. Some of the servers 111A and 111B restrict access from the outside. The broadcasting station 102 is a broadcasting station for digital television broadcasting, and provides a web page transmission service using, for example, digital television broadcasting. The server 114 of the broadcast station 102 is also provided with a database 115.
[0023]
In the case of providing a service for transmitting a web page in digital television broadcasting, contents such as video and music as materials are necessary. The broadcast station server 114 and the servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B are connected by, for example, dedicated lines. Data of contents stored in the databases 112A and 112B of the servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B can be sent to the server 114 of the broadcast station 102 via this dedicated line.
[0024]
The servers 111A and 111B of the information providers 101A and 101B and the server 114 of the broadcasting station 102 may be connected by a dedicated line or a general-purpose line.
[0025]
The server 114 of the broadcasting station 102 uses the content data sent from the servers 111A and 111B of the information providers 101A and 101B and the data of its own content in the database 115 of the broadcasting station 102 to Data is created.
[0026]
That is, an HTML document for forming a web page to be transmitted by the broadcasting station 102 is created, and a web page linked to this page, still image data, music data, video data pasted on this page The content data such as are sent from the servers 111A and 111B of the information providers 101A and 101B. Web content data is created by collecting data of these contents and own data. Data for forming this web page is stored in the database 115.
[0027]
As will be described in detail later, an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, a component tag for a video or audio stream that is content for forming a web page, as in normal digital television broadcasting. An identifier such as component_tag is added. In the HTML document, a content identifier is described as a link destination. This content identifier is a URN (Universal Resource Name) unique to the content.
[0028]
The content data stored in the database 115 of the broadcasting station 102 is sent to the broadcast receiving terminals 103A and 103B through the broadcast network 104. That is, the broadcast network 104 specifically indicates a digital satellite broadcasting service. For example, data for forming a web page is output from the database 115 of the broadcasting station 102 and is, for example, on an MPEG2 stream. It is incorporated and sent to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the satellite.
[0029]
The server 114 of the broadcasting station 102 is connected to a bidirectional network 105 such as the Internet. In this way, the web page data stored in the database 115 can be accessed from the outside via the bidirectional network 105. Of course, when the server 114 is connected to the bidirectional network 105, access from the outside may be restricted.
[0030]
The receiving terminals 103 </ b> A and 103 </ b> B receive data sent via the broadcast network 104. That is, content data for forming a web page is sent from the broadcasting station 102 via a satellite. The receiving terminals 103A and 103B receive a signal sent via a satellite, perform MPEG2 decoding processing, and receive content data sent in the MPEG2 stream.
[0031]
Further, the receiving terminals 103A and 103B are connected to a bidirectional network 105 such as the Internet, and if access is permitted, the databases 112A and 112B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B via the bidirectional network 105 are allowed. Or content data held in the database 115 of the server 114 of the broadcasting station 102 can be accessed.
[0032]
As described above, the content data transmitted from the broadcast station 102 via the broadcast network 104 is added with identifiers such as an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, and a component tag component_tag. , URL is not added. On the other hand, the servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B and the server 114 of the broadcast station 102 are connected to a bidirectional network 105 such as the Internet. Is assigned a URL. For this reason, the access method of content data sent from the broadcast network 104 is different from the access method of content data in the servers 111A, 111B, 114 on the bidirectional network 105.
[0033]
Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, a unique content identifier is provided for the content, the content is accessed with the content identifier, and a table that associates the content identifier with the content access method identifier is sent. .
[0034]
That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, it is assumed that a web page is created in which content data C101, C102, and C103 are pasted on content data C100. When creating such a web page, normally, a URL indicating the location of the resource on HTTP is described as the link destination of the content data C100 and the content C101, C102, and C103.
[0035]
On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, content identifiers urn_100, urn_101, urn_102, and urn_103 unique to the content are described as link destinations of the content data C100 and the content C101, C102, and C103.
[0036]
For example, the content data C100, C101, C102, and C103 are produced by the servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B as described above, and sent to the server 114 of the broadcasting station 102. Then, the content data C100, C101, C102, and C103 consisting of the HTML text for forming the web page and the content pasted on the web page are transmitted through a predetermined channel at a predetermined time.
[0037]
In addition, content data C100, C101, C102, and C103 including HTML text for forming a similar web page and content pasted on the web page may be rebroadcast.
[0038]
Further, it is conceivable that content data C100, C101, C102, C103 consisting of HTML text for forming a similar web page and content pasted on this web page is placed in the database 115 of the broadcasting station 102. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the content data C100 and the content data C101, C102, C103 are placed in the data betas 112A, 112B of the information providing apparatuses 101A, 101B. These contents can be accessed via the interactive network 105.
[0039]
On the receiving terminals 103A and 103B side, similar contents can be accessed on the broadcast network 104 side or on the bidirectional network 105 side. In addition, similar content may be rebroadcast via the broadcast network 104, or similar content may be stored in multiple servers.
[0040]
When accessing the content via the interactive network 105, it is necessary to identify the location in the content by the URL. When accessing content obtained via the broadcast network 104, it is necessary to identify the content using identifiers such as an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, and a component tag component_tag.
[0041]
Therefore, a table indicating the correspondence between a content identifier unique to the content and an access method identifier indicating a method for accessing the content is created. The access method identifier is a URL when accessing the content via the bidirectional network 105, and when accessing the content obtained via the broadcast network 104, the event identifier event_id, the service identifier service_id, and the component tag component An identifier such as _tag.
[0042]
For example, it is assumed that the content data C100, C101, C102, and C103 shown in FIG. 2A are placed in the site (A) and the site (B) on the bidirectional network as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. . Also, as shown in FIG. 2D, it is assumed that the broadcast is broadcast twice on the broadcast network.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 2B, on the website (A), the locations of the contents C101, C102, and C103 are url_100a, url_101a, url_102a, and url_103a, and the location of the website (B) is shown in FIG. 2C. Are url_100b, url_101b, url_102b, url_103b.
[0044]
Also, as shown in FIG. 2D, identifiers corresponding to the contents C101, C102, and C103 of the data stream that is broadcast first are url_100 × 1, url_101 × 1, url_102 × 1, url_103 × 1, and then broadcast. Assume that the identifiers of the data streams are url_100 × 2, url_101 × 2, url_102 × 2, and url_103 × 2.
[0045]
Based on these pieces of information, as shown in FIG. 3, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access identifiers is created.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 3, the content identifier of the content C100 is urn_100. This content C100 is in the location url_100a on the website (A) of the interactive network 105, and is in the location url_100b on the website (B) of the interactive network 105. On the broadcast network 104, the identifier of the first broadcast is url_100 × 1, and the identifier of the next broadcast is url_100 × 2.
[0047]
Therefore, the access method identifiers corresponding to the content identifier urn_100 are url_100a, url_100b, url_100 × 1, and url_100 × 2.
[0048]
The content C101 is in the location url_101a on the website (A) of the interactive network 105, and is in the location url_101b on the website (B) of the interactive network 105. On the broadcast network 104, the identifier of the first broadcast is url_101 × 1, and the identifier of the next broadcast is url_101 × 2.
[0049]
Therefore, the access method identifiers corresponding to the content identifier urn_101 are url_101a, url_101b, url_101 × 1, and url_101 × 2.
[0050]
Similarly, a table of access method identifiers for the content identifiers is created for the content identifiers C102 and C103.
[0051]
Such a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is created by, for example, the server 114 of the broadcasting station 102 and sent to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the broadcast network 104. A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier is stored in each of the receiving terminals 103A and 103B.
[0052]
The broadcast station 102 sends data for forming a web page. As described above, the link destination on the HTML is described by the content identifier. For this reason, from each of the receiving terminals 103A and 103B, access to the content is input by specifying the content identifier.
[0053]
In each of the receiving terminals 103A and 103B, when access to the content is specified and a content identifier is input, an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier is used using a table indicating a correspondence relationship between the content identifier and the access method identifier. Is required. An access method identifier indicating the optimum access method is selected from the access method identifiers, and the content is accessed by the access method indicated by the access method identifier.
[0054]
As described above, in this embodiment, access to content is specified by specifying a content identifier, and an access method identifier indicating an optimal access method is used using a table indicating a correspondence relationship between the content identifier and the access method identifier. Is selected and the content is accessed. Therefore, the content from the broadcast network 104 and the content from the interactive network 105 can be accessed in the same manner, and when the same content or a plurality of sites are present or the content is rebroadcast. You can also select the best content.
[0055]
4 and 5 are functional block diagrams showing configurations of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B and the broadcasting station 102 for constructing the above-described system.
[0056]
In FIG. 4, the contents storage unit 121 (corresponding to the databases 112A and 112B) is provided in the servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B. Content to be provided is stored in the content storage unit 121. When this content is provided to the broadcast station 102, desired content data is read from the content storage unit 121 by the content distribution unit 123 based on the management of the content management unit 122. The content data is output from the content output unit 124 and sent to the content input unit 131 (FIG. 5) of the broadcast station 102.
[0057]
The servers 111A and 111B of the information providing apparatuses 101A and 101B are connected to the bidirectional network 105 (FIG. 1) via the bidirectional communication control unit 125. When the location of the content is specified via the interactive network 105, the content data is read from the content storage unit 121 under the control of the content management unit 122. The content data is delivered from the bidirectional communication control unit 125 to the terminal requesting the content data via the bidirectional network 105.
[0058]
In FIG. 5, content from the information providing apparatuses 101 </ b> A and 101 </ b> B is sent to the content input unit 131. This content is sent to the identifier generation unit 133. In addition, the location (URL) where the content exists is sent to the table creation unit 132.
[0059]
The identifier generation unit 133 adds a content identifier to this content. Then, the content with the content identifier is stored in the content storage unit 134. Further, the content identifier of each content is sent from the content storage unit 134 to the table creation unit 132.
[0060]
The content management unit 135 manages a content transmission schedule. Based on the content transmission time and the transmission channel, an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, a component tag component_tag, and the like are formed. These identifiers are sent from the content management unit 135 to the table creation unit 132.
[0061]
The table creation unit 132 includes a content identifier from the content storage unit 134, a content URL from the content input unit 131, an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, a component tag component_tag, and the like from the content management unit 135. Information is entered. The content URL, event identifier event_id, service identifier service_id, component tag component_tag, and the like are used as access method identifiers, and the table creation unit 132 creates a table indicating the correspondence between the content identifiers and the access method identifiers. .
[0062]
A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier created by the table creating unit 132 is sent to the sending unit 136 and sent to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the broadcast network 104 (FIG. 1). .
[0063]
When the content management unit 135 determines that the desired content distribution time has come, the content data is read from the content storage unit 134. The content data read from the content storage unit 134 is sent from the content distribution unit 137 to the transmission unit 136. The transmission unit 136 sends the content data to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the broadcast network 104.
[0064]
The server 114 of the broadcasting station 102 is connected to the bidirectional network 105 via the bidirectional communication control unit 138. When the location of the content is specified via the interactive network 105, the content data is read from the content storage unit 134 under the control of the content management unit 135. The content data is delivered from the bidirectional communication control unit 138 to the terminal requesting the content data via the bidirectional network 105.
[0065]
When a table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier created by the table creation unit 132 is sent to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the broadcast network 104, specifically, the MPEG2 system A PSI (Program Specification Information) section is used. FIGS. 6 to 8 are examples of data structures in the case of sending a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers in the PSI section of the MPEG2 system.
[0066]
FIG. 6 shows the structure of the table urn_resolution_section (). Each member has the following contents.
[0067]
table_id: Table ID for identifying the table type
section _syntax_indicator: Section syntax identifier
reserved_future_use: Reserve for the future
reserved: Reserve
section_length: Section length
service_id: Service identifier, usually the service matches the channel number
reserved: Reserve
version _number: Table version number
current_next_indicator: an identifier that indicates the current or next section
section_number: Section number
last_section_number: Last section number
transport_stream_id: Transport stream identifier
original_network _id: identifier of the original network
segment_last_section_number: Last section number of the segment
last_table_id: identifier of the last table
urn_length: length of content identifier
urn_character: Name of content identifier
descriptors_loop_length: Descriptor loop length
descriptor (): Descriptor.
[0068]
Thus, the content identifier unique to the content is stored in the variable indicated by urn_character. The name of this content identifier is, for example,
url: xxx: somemovie1
It looks like this.
[0069]
An access method identifier for accessing content corresponding to each content identifier is stored in descriptor (). The access method includes a case where content is accessed via the bidirectional network 105 and a case where access is made via the broadcast network 104.
[0070]
FIG. 7 shows the structure of the descriptor urls_descriptor () when accessing content via the bidirectional network 105.
[0071]
descriptor_tag: Tag indicating the type of descriptor
descriptor_length: Descriptor length
url_character: Name indicating the location (URL) of the content.
[0072]
Thus, the content access method in the interactive content network is specified by the descriptor tag descriptor_tag and the url_character indicating the URL. On the Internet HTTP, the server address and content file name are indicated by URL. The name of the URL that goes into url_character is, for example,
http: //www.xxx.yyy/somemovie/serise1.mpg
As shown.
[0073]
FIG. 8 shows the structure of the descriptor event_locator_descriptor () when accessing via the broadcast network 104.
[0074]
descriptor_tag: Tag indicating the type of descriptor
descriptor_length: Descriptor length
original_network _id: identifier of the original network
transport_stream_id: Transport stream identifier
service_id: Service identifier, usually the service matches the channel number
event_id: an identifier indicating the occurrence of an event, and the content transmission time is specified by the occurrence of the event.
[0075]
Thus, the content access method in the broadcast network indicates the descriptor tag descriptor_tag, the original network identifier original_network_id, the service identifier service_id indicating the channel number to which the content is transmitted, and the content transmission time. It is specified by the event identifier event_id.
[0076]
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing a specific configuration of the receiving terminals 103A and 103B. In FIG. 9, the receiving unit 151 receives data sent via the broadcast network 104 (FIG. 1) and decodes the data sent via the broadcast network 104.
[0077]
That is, for example, when the broadcast network 104 is a digital satellite broadcast, content data is sent from the broadcast station 102 via the satellite. In this case, the receiving unit 151 receives a radio wave from the satellite, selects a signal of a desired carrier from the received signal, decodes the signal, and outputs desired data.
[0078]
On the other hand, the communication control unit 152 is connected to the bidirectional network 105. When data is exchanged via the bidirectional network 105, a communication control unit 152 is used.
[0079]
A content switching unit 153 is provided for the receiving unit 151 and the communication control unit 152. The content switching unit 153 switches between content data obtained by the receiving unit 151 via the broadcast network 104 and data of the bidirectional network 105 exchanged by the communication control unit 152.
[0080]
When the content data obtained by the broadcast network 104 is selected, the content data received by the reception unit 151 is taken into the content acquisition unit 154 via the content switching unit 153, and the content data is stored in the content storage unit. 155 is accumulated.
[0081]
When content data from the interactive network 105 is selected, the content data received by the communication control unit 152 is taken into the content acquisition unit 154 via the content switching unit 153, and the content data is stored in the content storage unit 155. Accumulated.
[0082]
Further, as described above, in this system, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent via the broadcast network 104. A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier is output from the reception unit 151 and received by the table reception unit 156. The output of the table receiving unit 156 is supplied to the table updating unit 157. The output of the table update unit 157 is supplied to the name resolution table 158.
[0083]
When the table receiving unit 156 first receives a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers, this table is stored in the name resolution table 158. Thereafter, the table updating unit 157 compares the table showing the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier received so far with the table showing the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier received this time. The name resolution table 158 is updated only when is updated.
[0084]
Of course, instead of automatically updating the name resolution table 158 only when the table is updated, the name resolution table 158 may be updated whenever the table is sent.
[0085]
When requesting content on the receiving terminal side, a content input request is given from the input unit 161. At this time, a content identifier is input from the input unit 161.
[0086]
This content identifier is sent to the content search unit 162. The content search unit 162 searches the name resolution table 158 for an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier. When the content search unit 162 searches for an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier, the access method identifier is sent to the access method selection unit 163.
[0087]
There is not necessarily one method for accessing one piece of content. Similar content data may be obtained from both the broadcast network 104 and the bidirectional network 105. In addition, similar content data may be repeatedly sent by the broadcast network 104. Therefore, when the access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier is searched by the content search unit 162, a plurality of access method identifiers may be searched.
[0088]
When a plurality of access method identifiers are searched for one content identifier, the access method selection unit 163 selects an optimum access method from these access methods.
[0089]
The access method storage unit 164 stores access methods that can be used by the receiving terminal, and the access method selection unit 163 selects an optimum access method from the available access methods.
[0090]
When there are a plurality of available access methods, the access method may be selected based on a user input from the input unit 161.
[0091]
The output of the access method selection unit 163 is sent to the content switching unit 153. The content switching unit 153 switches the content switching unit 153 based on the selected access method.
[0092]
Further, the output of the access method selection unit 163 is sent to the content acquisition unit 154. The content acquisition unit 154 acquires multimedia sent as content data, and forms a multimedia browsing screen on the display 165 or outputs audio.
[0093]
The selected access method identifier is sent from the access method selection unit 163 to the content acquisition unit 154. This access method identifier is an identifier such as an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, and a component tag component_tag in the case of broadcast network data. In the case of a bidirectional network, the location on the Internet is HTTP. Is a URL. The content acquisition unit 154 accesses the desired content based on the access method identifier.
[0094]
FIG. 10 shows the structure of a name resolution table for retrieving an access method identifier from a content identifier. This consists of a content identifier, a descriptor indicating a URL when accessing the content indicated by the content identifier via a bidirectional network, and a descriptor indicating an event locator when accessing the content identifier via a broadcast network.
[0095]
For example, the URL for the content identifier dtv: xxx: somemovie1 is set as the descriptor url_descriptor ()
http: //www.xxx.yyy/somemovie/series1.mpg
Is shown.
[0096]
As the event locator descriptor event_locator_descriptor (), the original network identifier original_network_id is “111”, the transport stream identifier transport_stream_id is “123”, the service identifier service_id is “456”, and the event identifier event_id is “777”. It is shown.
[0097]
Further, as the event locator descriptor event_locator_descriptor (), the original network identifier origin_network_id is “111”, the transport stream identifier transport_stream_id is “123”, the service identifier service_id is “456”, and the event identifier event_id is “789”. It is shown.
[0098]
This is because the content indicated by the content identifier dtv: xxx: somemovie1 is indicated by the descriptor url_descriptor () when the bidirectional network is used.
http: //www.xxx.yyy/somemovie/series1.mpg
Indicates that it can be accessed.
[0099]
When a broadcast network is used, an identifier whose original network identifier origin_network_id is “111”, transport stream identifier transport_stream_id is “123”, service identifier service_id is “456”, and event identifier event_id is “777”. Indicates that it can be accessed.
[0100]
Further, when the broadcast network is used, the original network identifier original_network_id is “111”, the transport stream identifier transport_stream_id is “123”, the service identifier service_id is “456”, and the event identifier event_id is “ 789 "can be accessed.
[0101]
For example, when data described in HTML as shown in FIG. 11 is sent to the content acquisition unit 154, on the screen, as shown in FIG.
“Some Movie Series 1”
The letter appears and underlined here is a link. The link destination is the content identifier.
urn: dtv: xxx: somemovie1
It is said. The link destination content identifier is searched for an access method using the name resolution table shown in FIG.
[0102]
In FIG. 10, the content identifier
urn: dtv: xxx: somemovie1
As an access method for
http: //www.xxx.yyy/somemovie/series1.mpg
Access method by the broadcast network
orignal _network _id "111"
transport _stream_id “123”
service _id “456”
event _id “777”
When,
orignal _network _id "111"
transport _stream_id “123”
service _id “456”
event _id “789”
The access method is searched by the bidirectional network consisting of
[0103]
Among these access methods, an optimum one is determined, and content is received by the access method.
[0104]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a content location search process for determining an optimum access method from the content identifier. In FIG. 13, when a content identifier is input, the name resolution table is searched (step S1), and it is determined whether or not this content identifier is in the name resolution table (step S2).
[0105]
When the input content identifier is found in the name resolution table, the optimum one is selected from the content access methods corresponding to the content identifier (step S3). Then, control is performed so that the content is received from the selected access method (step S4).
[0106]
As described above, the conversion table between the content identifier and the access method identifier determines whether the table is changed by the table update unit 157, and only when the table is changed, I am trying to update. At this time, whether or not the table has been changed can be detected by the version number version_number shown in FIG.
[0107]
That is, as shown in FIG. 14, when the table is received (step S11), the current version number and the previous version number are compared (step S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the current version number matches the previous version number (step S13). If the version numbers match, the table is not updated. If the version number has been changed, the name resolution table is updated based on the received table (step S14).
[0108]
FIG. 15 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the above-described example, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent from the server 114 of the broadcast station 102 to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the broadcast network 104. In contrast, in this example, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent from the server 214 of the broadcasting station 202 to the receiving terminals 203A and 203B via the bidirectional network 205. . Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0109]
That is, in FIG. 15, the servers 211A and 211B of the information providing apparatuses 201A and 201B are provided with databases 212A and 212B, and the databases 212A and 212B hold content data to be provided. Data of contents held in the databases 212A and 212B of the servers 211A and 211B of the information providing apparatuses 201A and 201B can be accessed from the outside via the bidirectional network 205 such as the Internet.
[0110]
The server 214 of the broadcast station 202 is also provided with a database 215. The broadcast station server 214 is connected to the servers 211A and 211B of the information providing apparatuses 201A and 201B, and the content data stored in the databases 212A and 212B of the servers 211A and 211B of the information providing apparatuses 201A and 201B are connected. It can be sent to the database 115 of the server 214 of the broadcasting station 202.
[0111]
The database 215 of the server 214 of the broadcast station 202 holds content data sent from the servers 211A and 211B of the information providing apparatuses 201A and 201B and content data created by the broadcast station 202 itself. The content data held in the database 215 of the broadcasting station 202 can be provided to the broadcast receiving terminals 203A and 203B through the broadcast network 204.
[0112]
The receiving terminals 203A and 203B can receive the content data from the database 215 of the broadcasting station 202 via the broadcast network 204, and the databases 212A and 212B of the information providing devices 201A and 201B via the bidirectional network 205. The content data of the database 215 of the broadcasting station 202 can be received.
[0113]
A table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is created by, for example, the server 214 of the broadcast station 102 and sent to the receiving terminals 203A and 203B via the interactive network 205. A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier is stored in each of the receiving terminals 203A and 203B.
[0114]
When the receiving terminals 203A and 203B access a desired content, a content identifier is input. Then, an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier is obtained using a table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier. An access method identifier indicating the optimum access method is selected from the access method identifiers, and the content is accessed by the access method indicated by the access method identifier.
[0115]
FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing the server 214 of the broadcasting station 202. In FIG. 16, content from the information providing apparatuses 201 </ b> A and 201 </ b> B (FIG. 15) is sent to the content input unit 231. This content is sent to the identifier generation unit 233. In addition, the location where the content exists is sent to the table creation unit 232.
[0116]
The identifier generation unit 233 adds a content identifier to this content. Then, the content with the content identifier is stored in the content storage unit 234. Further, the content identifier of each content is sent from the content storage unit 234 to the table creation unit 232.
[0117]
The content management unit 235 manages a content transmission schedule, and identification information indicating a content transmission time, a content transmission channel, and the like is transmitted from the content management unit 235 to the table creation unit 232.
[0118]
The table creation unit 232 receives the content identifier from the content storage unit 234, the location of the content from the content input unit 231, and the identifier indicating the content transmission time and transmission channel from the content management unit 235. The table creation unit 232 creates a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers.
[0119]
A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier created by the table creation unit 232 is delivered from the bidirectional communication control unit 238 to the receiving terminals 203A and 203B via the bidirectional network 205.
[0120]
When the content management unit 235 determines that the desired content delivery time has come, the content data is read from the content storage unit 234. The content data read from the content storage unit 234 is sent from the content distribution unit 237 to the transmission unit 236. The transmission unit 236 sends the content data to the receiving terminals 203A and 203B via the broadcast network 204.
[0121]
The server 214 of the broadcasting station 202 is connected to the bidirectional network 205 via the bidirectional communication control unit 238. When the location of the content is specified via the bidirectional network 238, the content data is read from the content storage unit 234 under the control of the content management unit 235. The content data is delivered from the bidirectional communication control unit 238 via the bidirectional network 205 to the terminal requesting the content data.
[0122]
FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing the receiving terminals 203A and 203B. In FIG. 17, a receiving unit 251 receives data transmitted via the broadcast network 204 and decodes this data. On the other hand, the communication control unit 252 exchanges data via the bidirectional network 205.
[0123]
A content switching unit 253 is provided for the receiving unit 251 and the communication control unit 252. The content switching unit 253 switches content data via the broadcast network 204 and content data of the bidirectional network 205.
[0124]
When selecting content data obtained from the broadcast network 204, the content data received by the receiving unit 251 is taken into the content acquisition unit 254 via the content switching unit 253, and the content data is stored in the content acquisition unit 254. The content is stored in the content storage unit 255.
[0125]
When selecting content data from the interactive network 205, the content data received by the communication control unit 252 is taken into the content acquisition unit 254 via the content switching unit 253, and the content data is stored in the content storage. Stored in the unit 255.
[0126]
Further, as described above, in this system, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent via the bidirectional network 205. A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier is sent from the communication control unit 252 to the table receiving unit 256 and received by the table receiving unit 26. The output of the table receiving unit 256 is supplied to the table updating unit 257. The output of the table update unit 257 is supplied to the name resolution table 258.
[0127]
When the table receiving unit 254 first receives a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers, this table is stored in the name resolution table 258. Thereafter, the table updating unit 257 compares the table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier received so far with the table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier received this time. The name resolution table 258 is updated only when is updated.
[0128]
When requesting content on the receiving terminal side, a content input request is given from the input unit 261. At this time, a content identifier is input from the input unit 261.
[0129]
This content identifier is sent to the content search unit 262. The content search unit 262 searches the name resolution table 258 for an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier. When the content search unit 262 searches for an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier, this access method identifier is sent to the access method selection unit 263.
[0130]
When a plurality of access method identifiers are searched for one content identifier, the access method selection unit 263 selects an optimum access method from these access methods. The access method storage unit 264 stores access methods that can be used by the receiving terminal, and the access method selection unit 263 selects an optimum access method from the available access methods.
[0131]
The output of the access method selection unit 263 is sent to the content switching unit 253. The content switching unit 253 switches the content switching unit 253 based on the selected access method.
[0132]
Further, the output of the access method selection unit 263 is sent to the content acquisition unit 254. The content acquisition unit 254 performs processing for acquiring multimedia sent as content data and forming a multimedia browsing screen or outputting audio.
[0133]
The selected access method identifier is sent from the access method selection unit 263 to the content acquisition unit 254. The content acquisition unit 254 accesses the desired content based on this access method identifier.
[0134]
FIG. 18 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment described above, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent from the server 114 of the broadcast station 102 to the receiving terminals 103A and 103B via the broadcast network 104. In the second embodiment, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent from the server 214 of the broadcasting station 202 to the receiving terminals 203A and 203B via the bidirectional network 205. Yes. In this example, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent from the server 314 of the broadcasting station 302 to the receiving terminals 303A and 303B via the broadcast network 304, and via the bidirectional network 305. The data is transmitted from the server 314 of the broadcasting station 302 to the receiving terminals 303A and 303B.
[0135]
FIG. 19 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments described above, a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is sent from a broadcast station server to a receiving terminal via a broadcast network or a bidirectional network. In this example, a name resolution server 407 having a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers is provided in the network, and the name resolution server 407 resolves the access method for the content identifiers.
[0136]
That is, in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the servers 411A and 411B of the information providing apparatuses 401A and 401B are provided with databases 412A and 412B, and the databases 412A and 412B hold content data to be provided. The content data held in the databases 412A and 412B of the servers 411A and 411B of the information providing apparatuses 401A and 401B can be accessed from the outside via a bidirectional network 405 such as the Internet.
[0137]
The server 414 of the broadcasting station 402 is also provided with a database 415. The server 414 of the broadcasting station and the servers 411A and 411B of the information providing apparatuses 401A and 401B are connected to each other. It can be sent to the database 415 of the server 414 of the broadcasting station 402.
[0138]
The database 415 of the server 414 of the broadcast station 402 holds content data sent from the servers 411A and 411B of the information providing apparatuses 401A and 401B and content data created by the broadcast station 402 itself. The content data held in the database 415 of the broadcasting station 402 can be provided to the broadcast receiving terminals 403A and 403B through the broadcast network 404.
[0139]
The receiving terminals 403A and 403B can receive content data from the database 415 of the broadcasting station 402 via the broadcast network 404, and the databases 412A and 412B of the information providing devices 401A and 401B via the bidirectional network 405. The content data of the database 415 of the broadcasting station 402 can be received.
[0140]
From the server 414 of the broadcasting station 402 to the name resolution server 407, an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, a component tag component_tag, and the like for the broadcast content are sent. Further, the content URLs are sent from the servers 411A and 411B of the information providing apparatuses 401A and 401B. The name resolution server 407 creates a table indicating the correspondence between content identifiers and access method identifiers from these identifiers and URLs. A table indicating the correspondence between the content identifier and the access method identifier is stored in the database 415 of the name resolution server 407.
[0141]
When the receiving terminals 403A and 403B access a desired content, the content identifier is input to the receiving terminals 403A and 403B. This content identifier is sent to the name resolution server 407 via the bidirectional network 405.
[0142]
The name resolution server 407 obtains an access method identifier corresponding to the content identifier using a table indicating the correspondence relationship between the content identifier and the access method identifier stored in the database 415. This access method identifier is returned to the receiving terminals 403A and 403B via the bidirectional network 405.
[0143]
At the receiving terminals 403A and 403B, an access method identifier indicating the optimum access method is selected from the access method identifiers returned from the name resolution server 407, and the content is accessed by the access method indicated by the access method identifier. The
[0144]
In the above-mentioned example, identifiers such as event identifier event_id, service identifier service_id, and component tag component_tag are used as the access method identifier for the broadcast network, and URL is used as the access method identifier for the bidirectional network. The access method identifier is not limited to these as long as the access method can be specified. For example, if the receiving terminal and the server are connected to a network of SQL (Structured Query Language) database, a database query language such as SQL can be an access method identifier. If the content data is in a local place such as in the receiving terminal, the description of the folder or directory can be the access method identifier.
[0145]
In the case of a broadcast network, an access method identifier such as an event identifier event_id, a service identifier service_id, and a component tag component_tag is used for all stream data such as video and audio, still images, and text. Alternatively, such identifiers may be used for stream data such as moving images and audio, and for still images and text, a folder or directory in which data is stored may be used as an access method identifier. .
[0146]
In the above-described example, the case where a web page described in the HTML language is sent has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to using the HTML language. Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of using an extended HTML language or another hypermedia description language.
[0147]
Furthermore, a table indicating the relationship between the content identifier and the access method identifier may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed to the user of the receiving terminal.
[0148]
Various methods are conceivable as a method for transmitting a table indicating the relationship between the content identifier and the access method identifier. The table indicating the relationship between the content identifier and the access method identifier may be sent at predetermined time intervals, or may be sent only when the table is changed. Further, when this table is sent from the broadcast station server to the receiving terminal side via the bidirectional network, it may be sent only when there is a request from the receiving terminal.
[0149]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the link destination of the content of the web page is described using a unique content identifier for each content without depending on the location of the content. Then, a list in which the content identifier and the content access method identifier indicating the access method for acquiring the content is sent, and this list is stored. When accessing a content link destination, an access method corresponding to the content identifier is searched using a table created from the list of content identifiers and content access method identifiers. Among these access methods, content is accessed by an optimum search method.
[0150]
As a result, for example, when a web page described in HTML is sent by digital broadcasting, content of the same content, such as broadcasting / rebroadcasting or duplication of content on an interactive network, is in a plurality of locations. However, the content can be specified by an identifier name unique to the content, and the content can be acquired by an appropriate method.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram used for explaining a content identifier.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a content identifier and an access method identifier.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a content providing apparatus in the first embodiment of the communication system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of a transmission apparatus in the first embodiment of the communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a table indicating a relationship between a content identifier and an access method identifier.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a table indicating a relationship between a content identifier and an access method identifier.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a table indicating a relationship between a content identifier and an access method identifier.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an example of a receiving device in the first embodiment of the communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram used for explaining a name resolution table in an example of a receiving apparatus in the first embodiment of the communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram used for explaining an example of a receiving device in the first embodiment of the communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram used for describing an example of a receiving device in the first embodiment of the communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart used to explain search for a content location with respect to a content identifier.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart used for explaining the update of the name resolution table.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an example of a transmission apparatus in a second embodiment of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an example of a receiving device in a second embodiment of a communication system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
101A, 101B ... Information providing device, 102 ... Broadcasting station, 103A, 103B ... Receiving terminal, 104 ... Broadcast network, 105 ... Two-way network

Claims (24)

In a transmission method in which necessary information is acquired from individual information arranged in a distributed manner and reconfigured,
Using an information identifier unique to each piece of information as an identifier for acquiring necessary information from the distributed information,
Create a list representing the relationship between the information identifier unique to each information and the access method identifier indicating the access method of the information corresponding to the information identifier,
When necessary information is specified by the information identifier, search for an access method for obtaining the necessary information according to the list,
Obtain the required information using the searched access method ,
The access method is a transmission method including access by a broadcast network or access by a bidirectional network . In a transmission system in which necessary information is acquired and reconfigured from individual pieces of distributed information,
Information transmission means for providing information by a plurality of access methods;
Name according to the table to list the relationship between the access method identifier indicating a method of access information corresponding to the specific information identifier and said information identifier to each information to identify how to access information corresponding to the specified information identifier A solution,
Information receiving means for searching for an access method for acquiring the necessary information according to the list of name resolution means and acquiring the necessary information by the searched access method when the required information is specified by the information identifier for example Bei the door,
The access method is a transmission system including access by a broadcast network or access by a bidirectional network . Information storage means for storing information to be provided;
Information providing means for providing information of the storage means by a plurality of access methods;
A list creation means for creating a list of the access method identifier is associated indicating the access method information corresponding to the specific information identifier and said information identifier to each information,
A list transmission means for transmitting the list;
With
The plurality of access methods include a transmission apparatus including access by a broadcast network or access by a bidirectional network . The list transmission means transmits a list in which an information identifier unique to each information and an access method identifier of information corresponding to the information identifier are associated with each other by the broadcast network or the bidirectional network. The transmission device according to claim 3 . 5. The transmission apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the list transmission means transmits a list using an MPEG2 section.   The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information identifier is a name unique to the information without depending on a physical position of the information. 4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the access method identifier is an identifier related to transmission of stream data when the access method is access by a broadcast network. 4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the access method identifier is an identifier related to transmission of static data when the access method is access by a broadcast network. 4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the access method identifier is an event identifier and a service identifier when the access method is access by a broadcast network and the broadcast network is a digital broadcasting network. 4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the access method identifier is a name indicating a physical position of information when the access method is an access by a bidirectional network. Is the access method identifier, an access by the access method is an interactive network, when a communication network of the Internet, the transmission device according to claim 3 is the URL to the website. It said access method identifier, when the access methods are accessible by network database, transmitting apparatus according to claim 3 which is the query language of the database. Information receiving means for receiving information by a plurality of access methods;
List receiving means for receiving a list in which an information identifier unique to each information and an access method identifier indicating an access method of information corresponding to the information identifier are associated ;
A name resolution means for identifying an access method to information corresponding to the specified information identifier according to the received list;
When necessary information is specified by the information identifier, a data acquisition means for searching for an access method for acquiring the required information according to the list and acquiring the required information based on the searched access method; Bei example,
The plurality of access methods include a receiving device including a broadcast network access or a bi-directional network access . The list receiving means receives a list in which an information identifier unique to each information and an access method identifier of information corresponding to the information identifier are associated with each other by the broadcast network or the bidirectional network. The receiving device according to claim 13 . 15. The receiving apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the list receiving means receives a list sent by an MPEG2 section. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the information identifier is a name unique to the information without depending on a physical position of the information. 14. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the access method identifier is an identifier related to transmission of stream data when the access method is access by a broadcast network. 14. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the access method identifier is an identifier related to transmission of static data when the access method is access by a broadcast network. 14. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the access method identifier is an event identifier and a service identifier when the access method is access by a broadcast network, and the broadcast network is a digital broadcast broadcasting network. 14. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the access method identifier is a name indicating a physical location of information when the access method is an access by a bidirectional network. Is the access method identifier, an access by the access method is an interactive network, when a communication network of the Internet, the receiving apparatus according to claim 13 which is a URL to a web site. Is the access method identifier, when the access methods are accessible by network database, the receiving apparatus according to claim 13 which is a query language database. The name resolution means detects that the list in which the information identifier unique to each piece of information sent and the access method identifier of the information corresponding to the information identifier has been changed has been changed, and automatically The receiving device according to claim 13 to be updated. Furthermore, an access method storage means for storing an accessible one of a plurality of access methods is provided,
When necessary information is specified by the information identifier, search for an access method for obtaining the necessary information according to the list,
14. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the access method storage unit determines whether there is an accessible access method by the searched access method and acquires the necessary information.

Images