JP4339415B2 - Transmitter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to preferred transmission equipment applicable to ISDB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting) system or the like. Specifically, by generating additional information including processing range information for mosaic processing on the receiving side, and adding this additional information to the program signal and transmitting it, the region and time indicated by the processing range information on the receiving side The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus that can freely perform mosaic processing on a range .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, the audience rating of a television program transmitted from a broadcasting station or the like has been investigated by sampling by a specific audience rating survey company. In the conventional broadcasting, a broadcasting station unilaterally transmits a broadcasting source such as a TV program to an unspecified number of viewers, and the viewers watch the same broadcasting source.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The audience rating of TV programs and the like transmitted from broadcasting stations etc. is surveyed by a certain audience rating survey company as described above, so it may not be accurate depending on the number of sampling, recording etc. In the case of, there is a problem that it does not appear in the audience rating. Also, since it is not possible to check whether or not the viewer has actually watched, it is difficult to construct a fine billing system. Furthermore, as described above, the broadcasting station unilaterally transmits a broadcast source such as a TV program to an unspecified number of viewers, and broadcasting reflecting the viewers' intentions is difficult.
[0004]
In view of this, the present invention provides a transmission apparatus that can freely perform mosaic processing in the area and time range indicated by the processing range information on the receiving side .
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
The transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes additional information generating means for generating additional information including program identification information corresponding to a program signal and processing range information for mosaicing a part of the program signal on the receiving side, and a mosaic Transmission means for adding the additional information to the program signal that has not been processed .
[0006]
In the present invention, additional information including processing range information for performing mosaic processing is added to a program signal that has not been subjected to mosaic processing and transmitted. For this reason, the mosaicing process can be freely performed in the region or time range indicated by the processing range information on the receiving side.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a transmission device 100. A transmission apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes encoders 101 _{-1 to} 101 _-n , a header information generation unit 102, and a computer. The control unit 103 controls the entire system, and packet encoders 104 _{-1 to} 104. _-n .
[0008]
The encoders 101 _{-1 to} 101 _-n are for performing appropriate encoding processing including compression and the like on video signals and audio signals as television signals, respectively. The operations of the encoders 101 _{-1 to} 101 _-n are controlled by the control unit 103, respectively. The packet encoders 104 _{-1 to} 104 _-n are for obtaining a uniform packet of a certain size. The packet encoder 104 _-1 -104 _-n, packetization process is carried out output data of the encoder 101 _-1 to 101 _-n are each supplied.
[0009]
FIG. 2 shows one packet. The packet is composed of packet data and a packet header added to the head thereof. The packet header is for identifying packet data, and includes information such as broadcast station identification information (broadcast station ID), program identification information (program ID), broadcast time information, and time code. In this embodiment, when the program is an adult video or the like and a portion to be subjected to mosaic processing is included, the packet header includes region range to be subjected to mosaic processing and time range processing range information. The packet header information is generated by the header information generation unit 102 under the control of the control unit 103.
[0010]
1 includes a multiplexing unit 105, a digital modulation circuit 106, an up converter 107, and a transmission antenna 108. Multiplexer 105 is for multiplexing packets of a plurality of slots. Multiplexer 105 sequentially supplies packets output from packet encoders 104 _{-1 to} 104 _{-n in} parallel as packets of a plurality of slots, and these packets are multiplexed to form a bit stream signal. . The digital modulation circuit 106 modulates digital data with a modulation method suitable for transmission means (broadcast satellite in this embodiment). The bit stream signal output from the multiplexing unit 105 is supplied to the digital modulation circuit 106.
[0011]
In the above configuration, it is treated encoder 101 _-1 to 101 encoding television signal in _-n (video signal and audio signal) is supplied to the packet encoder 104 _-1 -104 _-n, respectively packetizing . In this case, header information is generated from the header information generation unit 102 under the control of the control unit 103, and when packetization processing is performed by the packet encoders 104-1 to 104 _{- n} , program identification information or the like is added to the head of each packet data. Is added (see FIG. 2).
[0012]
Packets output from the packet encoders 104 _{-1 to} 104 _-n are sequentially supplied in parallel to the multiplexing unit 105 as packets of a plurality of slots and multiplexed to form a bit stream signal . This bit stream signal is modulated by the digital modulation circuit 106 and then converted into a signal of, for example, 14 GHz band by the up-converter 107 and transmitted from the transmission antenna 108 toward a broadcasting satellite (not shown).
[0013]
FIG. 3 shows the receiving device 200. A receiving device 200 shown in FIG. 3 includes a receiving antenna 201 for receiving a 12 GHz band broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting satellite, a down converter 202 for converting a 12 GHz band signal into a 1 GHz band signal, A tuner 203 that performs channel selection processing for receiving a desired broadcast signal, and a control unit 204 that includes a microcomputer and controls the entire system.
[0014]
The down converter 202 is supplied with a 12 GHz band broadcast signal received by the receiving antenna 201 and is down-converted. The tuning operation of the tuner 203 is controlled by the control unit 204. A key operation unit 205 is connected to the control unit 204, and a viewer (user) can perform a channel selection operation using the key operation unit 205. The tuner 203 outputs a bit stream signal (multiple slot packet multiplexed signal) related to the selected broadcast signal.
[0015]
3 includes a separation unit 206, a decoding unit 207, a monitor display 208 including a cathode ray tube, an amplifier 209, a speaker 210, and a memory 211. A bit stream signal output from the tuner 203 is supplied to the separation unit 206. The separation unit 206 performs processing for separating a packet in a predetermined slot from the bit stream signal and separating packet data and a packet header from the packet. The selection of the predetermined slot in the separation unit 206 is performed by the control of the control unit 204 based on the operation of the key operation unit 205 by the user.
[0016]
The decoding unit 207 is supplied with packet data constituting a packet in a predetermined slot separated by the separation unit 206. In the decoding unit 207, decoding processing is performed on continuous packet data to obtain a video signal SV and an audio signal SA. The monitor display 208 is supplied with the video signal SV output from the decoding unit 207. The audio signal SA output from the decoding unit 207 is supplied to the speaker 210 via the amplifier 209.
[0017]
In the memory 211, program identification information is extracted and stored from information (header information) included in a packet header constituting a packet in a predetermined slot separated by the separation unit 206. Then, after a certain period of time, it is overwritten and erased. As described above, the memory 211 stores program identification information for specifying what program the viewer has actually watched. The header information is also supplied from the separation unit 206 to the control unit 204.
[0018]
3 includes a modem 212. The receiving apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. The modem 212 is connected to the control unit 204 and is connected to a broadcasting station and an audience rating survey company via a telephone line network. When there is a request for program identification information from the broadcast station or audience rating survey company via the modem 212, the control unit 204 reads out the program identification information stored in the memory 211 and searches the broadcast station or audience rating via the modem 212. Send to company.
[0019]
In the above configuration, the tuner 203 performs channel selection under the control of the control unit 204 based on the operation of the viewer's key operation unit 205, and a bit stream signal related to the broadcast signal selected by the tuner 203 is output. And supplied to the separation unit 206. Then, based on the operation of the viewer's key operation unit 205, the control unit 204 controls the separation unit 203 to separate a packet in a predetermined slot from the bit stream signal, and to separate the packet data and the packet header from the packet. .
[0020]
The packet data constituting the packet of the predetermined slot separated by the separation unit 206 is sequentially supplied to the decoding unit 207 and subjected to decoding processing, so that a video signal SV and an audio signal SA are obtained. The video signal SV is supplied to the monitor display 208 to display an image, and the audio signal SA is amplified by the amplifier 209 and supplied to the speaker 210 to output audio.
[0021]
Further, program identification information is extracted from information included in a packet header constituting a packet of a predetermined slot separated by the separation unit 206 and temporarily stored in the memory 211. When the program identification information is requested from the broadcast station or the audience rating research company via the modem 212, the program identification information stored in the memory 211 is transmitted to the broadcast station or the audience rating research company via the modem 212. As a result, the broadcast station can easily check whether or not the broadcasted program is actually viewed, and can calculate a fine viewing fee such as a program unit or a time unit. In addition, the audience rating research company can survey the accurate audience rating by collecting the program identification information within a certain period.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows another configuration of the receiving apparatus 200. 4, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The receiving apparatus 200 in FIG. 4 includes a mosaic processing unit 213. The video signal SV output from the decoding unit 207 is supplied to the monitor display 208 via the mosaic processing unit 213.
[0023]
The operation of the mosaic processing unit 213 is controlled by the control unit 204. In this case, when the header information supplied to the control unit 204 includes the area range to be subjected to the mosaic process and the processing range information of the time range, the mosaic process unit 213 performs the mosaic process in the area range and the time range. Done. Although not described above, the area range information includes, for example, the coordinates (x, y) of the start position of the rectangular area L, the horizontal size X of the rectangular area L, and the vertical direction as shown in FIG. It consists of information of size Y. The viewer can set the level of the fineness of the mosaic (hereinafter referred to as “mosaic level”) by operating the key operation unit 205. Similar to the receiving apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 3, the memory 211 stores mosaic level information in addition to storing program identification information.
[0024]
As described above, in this example, when the program further includes a mosaic processing packet header in the mosaic processing packet header, the mosaic processing unit 213 performs mosaic processing with a predetermined area range or time range. Processing is performed, and the mosaic display image is displayed on the monitor display 208. In this case, the viewer can set the mosaic level by operating the key operation unit 205, and can view the program at an arbitrary mosaic level. Also, when the program identification information is requested from the broadcast station via the modem 212, the program identification information and mosaic level information stored in the memory 211 are transmitted to the broadcast station and audience rating research company via the modem 212. The As a result, the broadcasting station can charge according to the mosaic level.
[0025]
In the receiving apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 4, an example of the mosaic processing is given as the processing, but other processing can be applied. 3 and 4 show that the program identification information stored in the memory 211 is transmitted to a broadcasting station or the like via the modem 212, but the information is stored in the memory card. Alternatively, the broadcast station or the like may be able to collect the memory card.
[0026]
According to the present invention, additional information including processing range information for performing mosaic processing on the receiving side is generated, and this additional information is added to a program signal not subjected to mosaic processing and transmitted. Thus, the mosaic processing can be freely performed in the region or time range indicated by the processing range information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission device.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a packet;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a receiving device.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the receiving apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining area range information.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Transmission apparatus 101-1 to 101 _{- n} encoder 102 Header information generation part 103,204 Control part 104-1 to 104 _{- n} Packet encoder 105 Multiplexing part 106 Digital modulation circuit 200 Reception apparatus 203 Tuner 205 Key operation part 206 Separation Unit 207 decoding unit 208 monitor display 210 speaker 211 memory 212 modem 213 mosaic processing unit

Claims (2)

Additional information generating means for generating additional information including program identification information corresponding to the program signal and processing range information for mosaicing a part of the program signal on the receiving side;
A transmission apparatus comprising: transmission means for adding the additional information to the program signal that has not been subjected to the mosaic processing and transmitting the program information. For each of a plurality of program signals, an encoding means for encoding the program signal and a packetizing means for packetizing information are provided.
The additional information generating means generates the additional information for each of the plurality of program signals,
Each of the packetizing means packetizes the encoded information output from the encoding means, inserts the additional information corresponding to the encoded information into a packet header,
2. A transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means multiplexes and transmits packets of a plurality of slots output from said respective packetizing means.

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