JP4307545B2 - Display device and receiving device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to broadcasting technology. The present invention particularly relates to a technique for using information associated with an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Digital broadcasting broadcasts digital content such as video and audio. In addition to video and audio, data such as electronic program guides, news, and weather can be broadcast. Taking advantage of these characteristics, in digital broadcasting, an interactive program such as a program that displays information related to a program in addition to a video or an interactive program between a TV station and a viewer can be created.
[0003]
In order to create such a program, a data file (hereinafter simply referred to as “BML file”) created in a description language such as BML (Broadcast Markup Language) is required in addition to video data. The set-top box analyzes a BML file included in a digital broadcast signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “broadcast signal”) and, for example, an auxiliary screen such as a quiz answer screen or a related information screen (hereinafter simply referred to as “auxiliary”). Screen ") is displayed on the monitor.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
These auxiliary screens are displayed on a single monitor and have a single interface. For example, when the same program is watched by a family, each family member can answer quizzes separately, Related information cannot be referred to. In order to display the auxiliary screen, it is necessary to display the main video in a small size or to switch to the main video. Further, since the BML file is a combination of tags prepared in advance, there is a limit to the degree of freedom of expression using these tags. Further, an operation device such as a remote controller used for the operation of the auxiliary screen is provided with buttons necessary for the operation of the auxiliary screen in advance. For this reason, the size of the housing is increased, and the operability is deteriorated due to the large number of buttons.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a technique for presenting an auxiliary screen to individual users, a technique for giving the display form of the auxiliary screen a degree of freedom, and creation of an unprecedented type of program. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology that enables the user to improve the operability of the user and the operation of the auxiliary screen.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention is a display device. The apparatus includes a first display unit that displays a video, and auxiliary information for displaying auxiliary content associated with the video on a second display unit that exists outside the casing in which the first display unit is provided. And a transmission unit for transmitting. Thereby, auxiliary content can be provided to individual users.
[0007]
The apparatus may further include a notification unit that notifies the presence of auxiliary information when auxiliary information associated with a video exists. Thereby, the user can confirm the presence / absence of the auxiliary information and can start the operation of taking the auxiliary information into a portable terminal such as a mobile phone.
[0008]
In this device, a valid period is set for the auxiliary information, and the notification unit may notify the presence of the auxiliary information within the valid period. Thereby, for example, when the broadcast time of the program has ended, presentation of auxiliary information that does not make sense in the progress of the program can be avoided. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused by presenting such auxiliary information.
[0009]
The auxiliary information may be used in an application executed on a mobile terminal having the second display unit, and the auxiliary content may be displayed on the second display unit according to processing in the application. As a result, the degree of freedom in the form of the auxiliary content is widened, and a program having a novel feature that has not been available before can be produced.
[0010]
The apparatus may further include a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal and a separating unit that separates the video signal and the auxiliary information from the broadcast signal. Thereby, auxiliary information multiplexed on the broadcast signal can be extracted.
[0011]
This apparatus includes a storage unit that associates and stores information that specifies a program for displaying auxiliary content and separated auxiliary information, a specifying unit that specifies a program displayed on the first display unit, and a specifying unit. And a transmission processing unit that reads auxiliary information associated with the program specified by the unit from the storage unit and supplies the auxiliary information to the transmission unit. Thereby, auxiliary information can be stored in advance, and auxiliary information can be transmitted when the program starts.
[0012]
The broadcast signal may further include synchronization information for synchronizing the video and the auxiliary content, and the transmission unit may transmit the synchronization information. Thereby, the process of the application executed in the portable terminal can be controlled in conjunction with the program.
[0013]
Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for displaying a video based on a video signal. This apparatus includes a first display unit that displays a video based on a video signal, and a transmission unit that transmits auxiliary information associated with the video to a terminal device different from the display device. Thereby, auxiliary information can be transmitted to the outside.
[0014]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal. This apparatus transmits a reception information to a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, a separation unit that separates a video signal from the broadcast signal and auxiliary information associated with the video signal, and a terminal device that is different from the reception device. And a transmission unit for performing.
[0015]
Still another aspect of the present invention provides a function of receiving synchronization information between a video displayed on an external device and auxiliary content processed by a mobile terminal on a computer mounted on the mobile terminal, and an effective period related to the auxiliary content Is a program for realizing a function for receiving information, a function for counting time, and a function for performing timeout processing of auxiliary content when the valid period has passed.
[0016]
It should be noted that any combination of the above-described components and the expression of the present invention converted between the apparatus, method, system, and computer program are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a broadcast system 10 according to an embodiment. The broadcast station 14 transmits a broadcast signal from the antenna 16. The display device 100 receives the broadcast signal, displays the program video on the display unit 110, and transmits auxiliary information included in the broadcast signal from the transmission unit 118 to the first mobile terminal 200a and the second mobile terminal 200b (hereinafter, referred to as “reception information”). Simply “mobile terminal 200”). Here, the mobile terminal 200 is a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA provided with the receiving unit 202, for example.
[0018]
The transmission unit 118 has an infrared communication function, for example, and transmits auxiliary information to the mobile terminal 200 wirelessly. In another example, the transmission unit 118 may have a communication function using an electromagnetic wave, light, sound wave, or the like as a carrier, and may transmit auxiliary information by wire or wireless. The notification unit 114 is a unit that notifies the presence / absence of auxiliary information. For example, the notification unit 114 is turned on when auxiliary information associated with the video displayed on the display unit 110 exists. In another example, the notification unit 114 may display the presence / absence of the auxiliary information on the display unit 110 so as to be superimposed on the video, or may notify by voice. Thereby, the user can take in auxiliary information to the portable terminal 200 triggered by the notification by the notification unit 114.
[0019]
The receiving unit 202 has, for example, an infrared communication function, and receives auxiliary information transmitted from the transmitting unit 118. The portable terminal 200 performs processing based on the received auxiliary information, and displays auxiliary content on the display unit 212. Although details will be described later, the mobile terminal 200 generates auxiliary content by executing a predetermined application that performs processing based on the received auxiliary information. That is, the auxiliary information is data for generating auxiliary content that is finally displayed on the display unit 212. For example, the auxiliary information may include an XML (extensible Markup Language) format file, an image file used to generate auxiliary content, an audio file, and the like, or may be a file in which these are collected. Moreover, the compressed state may be sufficient. In this way, the data amount of the auxiliary information can be reduced by transmitting the data for generating the auxiliary content instead of transmitting the auxiliary content to the portable terminal 200 as it is, and the display device 100 and the portable terminal 200 can be reduced. Communication time with can be shortened. In addition, since the auxiliary content is displayed on the display unit 212 by the processing performed by the application, appropriate display can be performed for each portable terminal 200.
[0020]
This figure shows a state in which an answer selection screen for a quiz program is displayed on the display unit 212 based on the auxiliary information. For example, the user inputs an answer using the operation unit 216 such as a key button. In this way, by displaying the answer selection screen on the mobile terminal 200, a plurality of users who are simultaneously watching the single display device 100 can answer quizzes using their mobile phones. Further, the auxiliary information for generating the answer selection screen includes, for example, a quiz problem and options for the answer.
[0021]
The mobile terminal 200 transmits the user's answer to the base station 20. Hereinafter, information transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 to the server 12 is simply referred to as “response data”. The base station 20 is connected to the server 12 via the network 18 and transmits response data to the server 12. The server 12 performs, for example, a tabulation process based on the response data. For example, the broadcast station 14 advances the program while referring to the response data collected in the server 12.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the display device 100 of FIG. The receiving unit 102 receives a broadcast signal transmitted from the antenna 16. The separation unit 104 detects whether or not auxiliary information is included in the broadcast signal. Then, when auxiliary information is included, the separation unit 104 separates the video signal and the auxiliary information. The separation unit 104 stores the auxiliary information in the auxiliary information storage unit 106 and supplies the video signal to the display processing unit 108. The display processing unit 108 performs a decoding process on the video signal, for example, and causes the display unit 110 to display the program video. Further, the display processing unit 108 supplies the video displayed on the display unit 110, that is, information specifying a program (hereinafter simply referred to as “program code”) to the notification control unit 112. The notification control unit 112 determines whether there is auxiliary information associated with the video displayed on the display unit 110. The notification control unit 112 makes this determination by referring to the auxiliary information storage unit 106 based on the program code. When the auxiliary information exists, the notification control unit 112 causes the notification unit 114 to notify the presence of the auxiliary information.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the notification control unit 112 in FIG. The specifying unit 122 receives the program code from the display processing unit 108 and specifies the program video displayed on the display unit 110 at this time. The determination unit 124 determines whether there is auxiliary information associated with the program code with reference to the auxiliary information storage unit 106. The determination unit 124 notifies the notification unit 114 of the determination result.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the auxiliary information storage unit 106. The auxiliary information storage unit 106 holds individual auxiliary information in addition to the table as shown in the figure. The program code column 150 holds a program code. The auxiliary information file name column 152 holds the file name of auxiliary information. The expiration date column 154 holds the expiration date of the auxiliary information. The determination unit 124 in FIG. 3 causes the notification unit 114 to notify the presence of the auxiliary information when the auxiliary information associated with the program code exists and the expiration date has not been reached. For example, in the quiz program, the auxiliary information can be prevented from being transmitted to the mobile terminal 200 when the server 12 has completed the reception of the quiz answer while the program is in progress. The expiration date may be designated in advance as the date and time, or information specifying the expiration date according to the progress of the program is superimposed on the broadcast signal and broadcasted, and the separation unit 104 in FIG. It may be separated and stored in the expiration date column 154.
[0025]
The auxiliary information code column 156 holds an auxiliary information code for specifying auxiliary information. The transmission processing unit 116 adds this auxiliary information code to the auxiliary information to be transmitted. The mobile terminal 200 in FIG. 1 transmits a response code in association with this auxiliary information code. Thereby, the server 12 can total the response data for each auxiliary information code, that is, for each program. In another example, the auxiliary information code may be included in the auxiliary information.
[0026]
Returning to FIG. 2, the receiving unit 120 receives an auxiliary information transmission instruction, and instructs the transmission processing unit 116 to transmit auxiliary information. For example, the transmission instruction is transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 when the user operates the mobile terminal 200 of FIG. At this time, the transmission processing unit 116 reads the auxiliary information associated with the program video displayed on the display unit 110 from the auxiliary information storage unit 106 and supplies it to the transmission unit 118. The transmission unit 118 transmits auxiliary information to the mobile terminal 200. As described above, by storing the auxiliary information in the auxiliary information storage unit 106, the user can cause the portable terminal 200 to take in the auxiliary information at an arbitrary timing within the effective period of the auxiliary information. Furthermore, the transmission unit 118 transmits the auxiliary information to the mobile terminal 200 regardless of the auxiliary information transmission method such as when the auxiliary information is broadcast in the data carousel method or when the auxiliary information is superimposed on the program video. Can be provided. The management unit 130 manages auxiliary information held in the auxiliary information storage unit 106. For example, the management unit 130 may delete auxiliary information that has reached the expiration date, or may delete in order from the old auxiliary information that has reached the expiration date.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is an internal configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 200 of FIG. The receiving unit 202 receives auxiliary information from the display device 100. The storage processing unit 204 stores the auxiliary information in the auxiliary information storage unit 206 in association with the auxiliary information code. The analysis unit 208 analyzes the auxiliary information stored in the auxiliary information storage unit 206 and performs a predetermined process. In the present embodiment, the analysis unit 208 performs a process for displaying an answer screen based on the quiz included in the auxiliary information and the answer option information. The display processing unit 210 causes the display unit 212 to display a display screen based on processing by the analysis unit 208. The operation unit 216 receives an operation from the user. The transmission data generation unit 214 associates the input value received via the operation unit 216 with the auxiliary information code held in the auxiliary information storage unit 206, and generates response data. The transmission unit 218 transmits the response data generated by the transmission data generation unit 214 toward the base station 20. The transmission data generation unit 214 may transmit response data every time an input from the user is received, or may transmit response data in which a plurality of input values are collected, such as answers to a plurality of quizzes.
[0028]
FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart of auxiliary information storage processing in the display device 100 of FIG. The receiving unit 102 in FIG. 2 receives a broadcast signal (S10). 2 determines whether or not auxiliary information is included in the broadcast signal (S12). When auxiliary information is included (Y in S12), the separation unit 104 separates the auxiliary information from the video signal (S14) and stores it in the auxiliary information storage unit 106 of FIG. 2 (S16). If the auxiliary information is not included in S12 (N in S12), the auxiliary information separation processing in the separation unit 104 is not performed.
[0029]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence between the apparatuses in FIG. The display device 100 receives the broadcast signal (S20). The display processing unit 108 in FIG. 2 displays the video included in the broadcast signal on the display unit 110 in FIG. 2 (S21). Also, the notification control unit 112 in FIG. 2 identifies the program video displayed on the display unit 110 (S22), and determines whether there is auxiliary information associated with the program (S24). When the auxiliary information exists (Y in S24), the notification unit 114 notifies the presence of auxiliary information (S26).
[0030]
When the user who knows the presence of the auxiliary information by the notification by the notification unit 114 operates the portable terminal 200, the portable terminal 200 requests the auxiliary information from the display device 100 (S28). Next, the transmission processing unit 116 of FIG. 2 selects the requested auxiliary information from the auxiliary information storage unit 106 (S29), reads it, and transmits it to the portable terminal 200 (S30). Next, the analysis unit 208 in FIG. 5 analyzes the auxiliary information and performs a predetermined process (S32). The display processing unit 210 in FIG. 5 generates screen data according to the processing by the analysis unit 208 (S34) and displays it on the display unit 212 (S35). The operation unit 216 receives input of data such as a quiz answer from the user (S36). Then, the transmission data generation unit 214 generates response data based on the answer received from the user (S38), and the transmission unit 218 in FIG. 5 transmits the response data to the server 12 in FIG. 1 (S40). The server 12 totals the response data (S42). For example, the broadcasting station 14 in FIG. 1 uses the count result to advance the program.
[0031]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.
[0032]
As such a modification, there may be a form used for a receiving apparatus generally called a set top box. FIG. 8 is an internal configuration diagram of the receiving apparatus 300. The configuration having the same reference numerals as those already described has the same function and operation as the configuration having the same reference numerals already described. In the following description, configurations having different functions or operations will be mainly described. The receiving apparatus 300 is connected to a television that does not have a tuner for digital broadcasting, for example. The display processing unit 108 converts the program video into a composite signal and supplies it to the output unit 302. The output unit 302 outputs the composite signal to a monitor such as a television. The receiving device 300 can realize a function equivalent to that of the display device 100 described with reference to FIG.
[0033]
Another modification relates to the separation unit 104 of FIGS. 2 and 8. Separating section 104 may separate information (hereinafter simply referred to as “synchronization information”) for synchronizing the program video and the auxiliary content from the broadcast signal. Then, the transmission processing unit 116 may read the synchronization information from the auxiliary information storage unit 106 and transmit it to the mobile terminal 200 via the transmission unit 118. The transmission unit 118 may push the synchronization information to the mobile terminal 200 at a predetermined interval, or may transmit the synchronization information in response to a request that arrives from the mobile terminal 200 at a predetermined interval. The transmission unit 118 transmits synchronization information to the mobile terminal 200 within a range where synchronization can be approximately obtained. By transmitting the synchronization information to the mobile terminal 200, the mobile terminal 200 can provide auxiliary content synchronized with the program video to the user.
[0034]
A specific operation example of the broadcast system 10 is shown. Here, a large-scale quiz program in which a large number of people can participate is assumed on the assumption that the participant owns the mobile terminal 200. The quiz is a question-and-answer format with 2 or 4 options. A quiz of about several tens of questions is broadcast through a program, and the time limit for answers per question is set to a predetermined time, for example, 20 seconds.
[0035]
Referring to FIG. 1, when a quiz is issued, synchronization information between the auxiliary content and the quiz is transmitted from transmission unit 118 to portable terminal 200. The display unit 212 of the mobile terminal 200 displays quiz details, answer options, time limit, and the like as auxiliary content. The portable terminal 200 has a clock function, and displays a state in which the time limit decreases with time. In order for the mobile terminal 200 to process the auxiliary content, auxiliary information related to the auxiliary content is transmitted from the transmission unit 118 to the mobile terminal 200 as described above. The user may access the server 12 in advance and download the contents of the quiz or the like, or may download from the transmission unit 118 immediately before the quiz. The portable terminal 200 moves a predetermined program and causes the display unit 212 to display the contents of the quiz according to the synchronization information.
[0036]
When the user selects an answer by, for example, pressing the “OK” button, the answer information is stored in the storage unit of the mobile terminal 200. The timing at which the response information is transmitted to the server 12 may be performed when a single response is made, or may be performed when all the responses are made. In addition, in order to avoid that the access to the server 12 concentrates, you may set a transmission timing at random by a participant. The server 12 aggregates the answers of the quiz for each participant and transmits it to the participant's mobile terminal 200. Thereby, the participant can see his / her answer result in real time. In addition, for the participant with the highest correct answer rate, the result is broadcast through the broadcasting station 14. By using this broadcasting system 10, it is possible to increase incentives for participation of quizzes and create popular programs.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, auxiliary content associated with a video can be displayed on a mobile terminal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a broadcasting system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the display device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of a notification control unit in FIG. 2;
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of an auxiliary content storage unit in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an internal configuration diagram of the mobile terminal of FIG. 1;
6 is an example of a flowchart of processing in the display device of FIG. 2;
7 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence between the apparatuses in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 8 is an internal configuration diagram of a receiving apparatus according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Broadcasting system, 12 Server, 14 Broadcasting station, 100 Display apparatus, 102 Reception part, 104 Separation part, 106 Auxiliary information storage part, 108 Display processing part, 110 Display part, 112 Notification control part, 114 Notification part, 116 Transmission process Unit, 118 transmission unit, 120 reception unit, 122 identification unit, 124 determination unit, 200 portable terminal, 204 storage processing unit, 208 analysis unit, 214 transmission data generation unit.

Claims (10)

A display device for receiving the broadcast signal and displaying the program video on the first display unit;
A portable terminal having a second display unit;
A server for collecting response data from the mobile terminal;
With
The display device
From the broadcast signal, a video signal for displaying the program video on the first display unit, auxiliary information for displaying auxiliary content associated with the program video on the second display unit, program video and auxiliary A separation unit that separates synchronization information for synchronizing content and expiration date information that specifies an expiration date of auxiliary information that is superimposed on a broadcast signal as the program progresses ;
A storage unit that holds the auxiliary information, the synchronization information, and the expiration date information ;
A notification unit that notifies the presence of the auxiliary information when the auxiliary information associated with the program video exists and has not reached the expiration date specified by the expiration date information;
A reception unit that receives an instruction to transmit auxiliary information from the mobile terminal;
Transmission in which auxiliary information associated with the program video displayed on the first display unit is read from the storage unit when the transmission instruction is accepted when the expiration date specified by the expiration date information has not been reached A processing unit;
Including a transmitter that transmits the read auxiliary information to the mobile terminal;
The transmission unit has a function of transmitting synchronization information to the portable terminal at a predetermined interval so that the program video and the auxiliary content displayed on the second display unit of the portable terminal can be synchronized.
The portable terminal is
A receiving unit for receiving auxiliary information and further receiving synchronization information transmitted at a predetermined interval;
An analysis unit that generates auxiliary content by using the received auxiliary information in processing in an application executed on the mobile terminal, and displays the auxiliary content on the second display unit according to synchronization information;
An operation unit for receiving a user operation using the auxiliary content;
A transmission unit that transmits the input value received via the operation unit to the server without going through the display device;
A broadcasting system characterized by including: The reception unit of the display device has a function of receiving an instruction to transmit auxiliary information from a plurality of portable terminals,
The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the server totalizes input values transmitted from a plurality of portable terminals. The program video is a quiz program video,
The broadcasting system according to claim 2, wherein the server aggregates quiz responses to be transmitted for each mobile terminal and transmits the quiz responses to each mobile terminal.   The transmission unit of the display device transmits synchronization information to the mobile terminal at a predetermined interval in response to a request transmitted from the mobile terminal at a predetermined interval. The broadcasting system described in Crab. A first display for displaying program video;
From a broadcast signal, a video signal for displaying the program video on the first display unit, auxiliary information for displaying auxiliary content associated with the program video on the second display unit of the mobile terminal, a program video, A separation unit that separates synchronization information for synchronizing auxiliary content and expiration date information that specifies an expiration date of auxiliary information that is superimposed on a broadcast signal as the program progresses ;
A storage unit that holds the auxiliary information, the synchronization information, and the expiration date information ;
A notification unit that notifies the presence of the auxiliary information when the auxiliary information associated with the program video exists and has not reached the expiration date specified by the expiration date information;
A reception unit that receives an instruction to transmit auxiliary information from the mobile terminal;
Transmission in which auxiliary information associated with the program video displayed on the first display unit is read from the storage unit when the transmission instruction is accepted when the expiration date specified by the expiration date information has not been reached A processing unit;
A transmission unit for transmitting the read auxiliary information to the mobile terminal;
The transmission unit has a function of transmitting synchronization information to the mobile terminal at a predetermined interval so that the program video can be synchronized with the auxiliary content displayed on the second display unit of the mobile terminal. Characteristic display device. The display device according to claim 5 , wherein the reception unit has a function of receiving an instruction to transmit auxiliary information from a plurality of portable terminals. And the transmission unit, the depending from the portable terminal to a request transmitted at predetermined intervals, the display device according to claim 5 or 6 and transmits to the mobile terminal synchronization information at a predetermined interval. An apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal and supplying a video signal to a display device having a first display unit,
A receiver for receiving the broadcast signal;
From the broadcast signal, a video signal for displaying the program video on the first display unit, auxiliary information for displaying auxiliary content associated with the program video on the second display unit of the mobile terminal, and program video And a separation unit that separates synchronization information for synchronizing auxiliary content and expiration date information that specifies an expiration date of auxiliary information that is superimposed on a broadcast signal as the program progresses ,
A notification unit that notifies the presence of the auxiliary information when the auxiliary information associated with the program video exists and has not reached the expiration date specified by the expiration date information;
A reception unit that receives an instruction to transmit auxiliary information from the mobile terminal;
Transmission in which auxiliary information associated with the program video displayed on the first display unit is read from the storage unit when the transmission instruction is accepted when the expiration date specified by the expiration date information has not been reached A processing unit;
A transmission unit for transmitting the read auxiliary information to the mobile terminal;
The transmission unit also has a function of transmitting synchronization information to the mobile terminal at a predetermined interval so that the program video can be synchronized with the auxiliary content displayed on the second display unit of the mobile terminal. A receiving device. The receiving device according to claim 8 , wherein the receiving unit has a function of receiving an instruction to transmit auxiliary information from a plurality of portable terminals. The receiving device according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the transmission unit transmits synchronization information to the portable terminal at a predetermined interval in response to a request transmitted from the portable terminal at a predetermined interval.

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