JP4700443B2 - Channel list distribution server, channel list distribution method, and channel list distribution program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a channel list distribution technology for distributing a list of receivable broadcast channels, and more particularly, channel list distribution server relates Chi Yan'nerurisuto distribution method and channel list distribution program.

Terrestrial digital broadcasting was started in December 2003, and new digital broadcasting using the terrestrial UHF band and having features such as high image quality / high sound quality, interactive programs, and data broadcasting is provided. Furthermore, in 2006, digital terrestrial broadcasting (one-segment broadcasting) for portable terminals is scheduled to start, and various portable terminals capable of viewing digital broadcasting have been developed.
In terrestrial digital broadcasting, different channel frequencies (physical channels) are allocated to each broadcast relay station that relays broadcast waves (terrestrial waves), thereby preventing interference between broadcast relay stations.
However, the mobile terminal is movable unlike the fixed terminal. For this reason, the mobile terminal may move across broadcast relay stations for digital terrestrial broadcasting, and may move to reception areas with different physical channels. At this time, the mobile terminal needs to search for a receivable (viewable) channel at that position.

Conventionally, as a method for searching for such a receivable channel, a technique called channel scan for searching a receivable channel by sequentially switching a plurality of channels on a broadcast wave has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
In addition, a technique related to a transmission method of a broadcast channel list in which a mobile terminal notifies a current position of the mobile terminal to a broadcast station server so that a list of channels that can be received at the position is transmitted from the broadcast station side to the mobile terminal. Is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-117334 A JP 2002-290356 A

  However, in the method of searching for a receivable channel by a conventional channel scan, it takes about several tens of seconds to scan all channels and determine whether or not reception is possible. In this case, if the broadcast receiving terminal is a fixed terminal, the channel scanning need only be performed once when the terminal is installed. However, when the broadcast receiving terminal is a mobile terminal, channel scanning must be performed every time the receiving area is different, which causes a problem that the usability of the broadcast receiving terminal is deteriorated for the viewer.

In addition, in the conventional method of transmitting a channel list to a mobile terminal, the channel list managed on the broadcasting station side is usually the result of estimating the area that can receive each channel based on the electric field calculation by computer simulation. Are generated.
That is, this channel list may be different from the actual reception state, and the mobile terminal cannot receive a channel that is estimated to be receivable in a certain reception area. There is a problem that the broadcast program of the channel that the user wants to view cannot be viewed at the position.

In this case, the broadcast station side updates the channel list based on a viewing report from the viewer. However, it is troublesome for the viewer and the channel list cannot be updated in real time. The problem of not being able to watch the broadcast program of the desired channel immediately remains.
Thus, since the conventional channel list has a problem in accuracy, further improvement in accuracy is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when broadcast reception areas are different, a broadcast program of a channel that a viewer wants to watch quickly is presented using a channel list. it possible, channel list distribution server made it possible to improve the accuracy of the channel list, and an object thereof is to provide a switch Yan'nerurisuto distribution method and channel list distribution program.

  The present invention has been developed to achieve the above object. First, the channel list distribution server according to claim 1 is a channel list distribution server that distributes a list of receivable channels to a broadcast receiving terminal. Thus, the configuration includes a list group storage unit, a list request reception unit, a channel information determination unit, an alternative list search unit, and a list transmission unit.

  In such a configuration, the channel list distribution server stores in advance a list including a plurality of pieces of channel information indicating channels that can be received for each predetermined area whose position is specified in the list group storage unit. This predetermined area is an area for specifying the position of the broadcast receiving terminal. For example, the position of the broadcast receiving terminal can be specified by a mobile phone base station (mobile base station). In this case, the predetermined area can be the radio wave transmission range of the mobile base station. The channel list (channel list) is generated by estimating a position where each channel can be received based on electric field calculation in advance.

  Then, the channel list distribution server lists the position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal and the terminal reception channel information indicating at least one channel receivable by the broadcast receiving terminal from the broadcast receiving terminal by the list request receiving unit. Receive as a request. Thereby, the channel list distribution server can acquire the current position of the broadcast receiving terminal and the actually receivable channel (terminal reception channel information) at that position.

Further, the channel list distribution server determines whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list corresponding to the area including the position indicated by the position information received by the list request receiving means by the channel information determining means. To do. This makes it possible to determine whether the list is accurate.
In addition, the channel list distribution server searches the list group storage unit for a list including the terminal reception channel information when the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list by the alternative list search unit, and the list transmission unit A list including terminal reception channel information is transmitted to the broadcast reception terminal. As a result, a list including at least channels that can be received by the current broadcast receiving terminal is transmitted to the broadcast receiving terminal.

  Further, the channel list distribution server according to claim 2 is the channel list distribution server according to claim 1, wherein the alternative list search unit includes the location list when a plurality of lists including the terminal reception channel information exist. Based on the information, a list corresponding to an area closest to the area including the position indicated by the position information is searched.

  In such a configuration, the channel list distribution server includes the position indicated by the position information based on the position information received from the broadcast receiving terminal in the list including the terminal reception channel information by the alternative list search means. By searching the list corresponding to the region closest to the region, a list corresponding to the actual radio wave condition is selected near the boundary of the region.

  Furthermore, the channel list distribution server according to claim 3 is the channel list distribution server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel information determination means does not include the terminal reception channel information in the list. When the determination is made, a list updating means is provided for updating the list by adding the terminal reception channel information to the list.

  In such a configuration, the channel list distribution server adds the terminal reception channel information to the list when the list update unit determines that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list, and thereby based on the electric field calculation. Channels that were not included in the generated list are added to the list, and the list is updated according to the actual radio wave conditions.

  The channel list distribution server according to claim 4 is the channel list distribution server according to claim 3, wherein the list update means includes the terminal reception channel information in the list by the channel information determination means. The list is updated when the number of times or the ratio determined to be not exceeds a predetermined reference value.

  In such a configuration, the channel list distribution server accumulates the number of times the list update means determines that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list, or calculates the ratio, and the number or ratio is predetermined. The list is updated when the specified reference value is exceeded. As a result, the list update means can update the list without being affected by the temporary radio wave condition.

The channel list distribution method according to claim 5, Chi Yan'nerurisuto distribution server with a list group storage means for previously storing a list comprising a plurality of channel information indicating the channels receivable in each predetermined region locates A channel list delivery method for delivering the list of channels to a broadcast receiving terminal, comprising a reception step, a channel information determination step, an alternative list search step, and a list transmission step .

Listing In such procedures, the channel list delivery method, the receiving step, from the broadcast receiving terminal, the position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal, and a terminal receiving channel information indicating at least one channel that can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal Receive as a request .
In the channel list distribution method, in the channel information determination step, it is determined whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list corresponding to the area including the position indicated by the position information.
Then, the channel list delivery method searches the list including the terminal reception channel information in the list group storage means when the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list in the alternative list search step, and the list transmission step A list including terminal reception channel information is transmitted to the broadcast reception terminal.

Furthermore, the channel list distribution program according to claim 6, Chi Yan'nerurisuto distribution server with a list group storage means for previously storing a list comprising a plurality of channel information indicating the channels receivable in each predetermined region locates A computer that controls the channel list distribution server to distribute the list of channels to a broadcast receiving terminal as a list request receiving unit, a channel information determining unit, an alternative list searching unit, and a list transmitting unit. did.

In such a configuration, the channel list distribution program uses the list request receiving unit to receive position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal from the broadcast receiving terminal, and terminal reception channel information indicating at least one channel that can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal. As a list request .
Then, the channel list update program determines whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list corresponding to the area including the position indicated by the position information by the channel information determination unit.
Then, the channel list update program searches the list including the terminal reception channel information in the list group storage means when the list does not include the terminal reception channel information by the alternative list search means, and the list transmission means A list including terminal reception channel information is transmitted to the broadcast reception terminal.

The present invention has the following excellent effects.
According to the first , fifth , and sixth aspects of the present invention, the channel list distribution server distributes a list of channels based on the current position of the broadcast receiving terminal and at least one channel that can be currently received. A list of channels corresponding to the current position can be reliably distributed. Thus, even when the broadcast receiving terminal moves across the broadcast wave reception area, the most suitable channel list can be distributed. Further, according to the present invention, since it is only necessary to search for at least one channel that can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal, the broadcast receiving terminal can view the viewer more quickly than when all channels are scanned to search for a channel. You can show the broadcast program of the channel you want.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the channel list distribution server selects a channel list that is more accurate than the channel list generated based on the electric field calculation. It can be distributed to broadcast receiving terminals.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the channel list distribution server can update the channel list generated based on the electric field calculation based on the actual radio wave condition, and generates a more accurate channel list. can do.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the channel list generated based on the electric field calculation is updated based on the actual radio wave condition, the channel list is not affected by the temporary radio wave condition, so that the channel list with high accuracy is obtained. Can be generated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Channel list distribution system]
First, an overview of a channel list distribution system using a channel list distribution server and a broadcast receiving terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall view for explaining an outline of a channel list distribution system.
As shown in FIG. 1, the channel list distribution system S can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 when the broadcast receiving terminal 2 receives broadcast services such as video, audio, and data provided by the broadcasting station BS by terrestrial waves. It is a system that distributes a list of channels (channel list).

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the broadcast receiving terminal 2 is located in a terrestrial reception area RA (here, RA ₂ ) relayed by the broadcast relay station RS (here, RS ₂ ).
At this time, in the channel list distribution system S, first, in the broadcast receiving terminal 2, position information indicating the current position of the broadcast receiving terminal 2 and channel information indicating at least one channel currently received (terminal reception channel information). ) Is transmitted as a list request to the channel list distribution server 1 in the broadcasting station BS via a communication line N such as the Internet via a mobile phone base station (hereinafter referred to as a mobile base station). The channel list distribution system S is the same in the channel list associated with the position (mobile base station TS) indicated by the position information transmitted from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 in the channel list distribution server 1. A channel list including terminal reception channel information transmitted from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 is searched and transmitted to the broadcast receiving terminal 2 via the communication line N.
As a result, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can acquire a list of channels that can be received in the reception area RA ₂ and provide a viewer with a broadcast service (broadcast program) that can be viewed at the position.

Further, the channel list distribution system S is a channel that can be received at the position based on the position information of the broadcast receiving terminal 2 and the terminal reception channel information transmitted from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 in the channel list distribution server 1. And update the channel list.
As a result, the channel list distribution server 1 can update the channel list to a channel list that matches the current reception status (radio wave status) and increase the accuracy.
Hereinafter, the channel list distribution server 1 and the broadcast receiving terminal 2 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

(Configuration of channel list distribution server)
First, the configuration of the channel list distribution server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (refer to FIG. 1 as appropriate). FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the channel list distribution server according to the present invention.

  The channel list distribution server 1 distributes a list of channels (channel list) that can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 to the broadcast receiving terminal 2. Here, the channel list distribution server 1 includes a list request receiving unit 10, a list group storage unit 11, a list search unit 12, a list transmission unit 13, a list update unit 14, and an unlisted channel information storage unit 15. It has.

The list request receiving means (receiving means) 10 receives a list request (position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal 2 and terminal reception channel information indicating a channel receivable by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 from the broadcast receiving terminal 2). List request). The list request receiving means 10 outputs the position information and terminal reception channel information included in the received list request to the list searching means 12.
The list request is transmitted from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 and transmitted to the channel list distribution server 1 via the mobile base station TS and the communication line N. When the broadcast receiving terminal 2 does not recognize a receivable channel, the list request includes only position information.

The list group storage means (list group storage device) 11 stores in advance a channel list L composed of channel information indicating channels that can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 as a list group M associated with a predetermined position. It is a general storage device such as a hard disk.
Here, the predetermined position may be any standard as long as the position of the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can be specified. For example, the predetermined position is a position (for example, latitude and longitude, or a unique identification number) of the mobile base station TS at which the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can receive radio waves from the mobile phone. In this case, the position information is information for specifying the mobile base station TS.
The channel list L stored in the list group storage means 11 is generated based on electric field calculation by computer simulation.

Here, the contents stored in the list group storage means 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (refer to FIG. 2 as appropriate). FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram showing the contents of data stored in the list group storage means 11.
Here, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), for each mobile base station (position information), the mobile base station and the channel list are identified by a list index that associates a number (channel list number) that identifies the channel list. Corresponds. Here, the location information is the identification information unique to the mobile base station, and the latitude and longitude.

The list group storage means 11 stores a plurality of channel lists L (L ₁ , L ₂ ,...) As a list group M in association with channel list numbers as shown in FIG. Yes. Here, the channel list number “100001” is associated with the channel list L ₁ , the channel list number “100002” is associated with the channel list L ₂ ,.
Here, the channel list L is information indicating channels that can be received by the corresponding mobile base station, and here, as an example, includes a channel selection number, a physical channel, and broadcast station information.

  The channel selection number is a channel number operated by the viewer in the broadcast receiving terminal 2 (see FIG. 1). The viewer can select a channel and view a desired broadcast program by pressing the operation button corresponding to the channel selection number at the broadcast receiving terminal 2. The physical channel is a frequency channel assigned on the frequency of the broadcast wave. Broadcast station (service station) information is information for identifying a broadcast station that provides a broadcast service.

For example, in FIG. 3, within the radio wave reach of the mobile base station “ΔΔΔ”, the physical broadcasted by the broadcasting station A with the channel selection number “1” by the channel list L ₁ of the channel list number “100001”. It shows that a broadcast program of channel “27” can be received.
Thus, by associating the channel list L with each mobile base station (position information), the channel list distribution server 1 manages which channel list L is distributed according to the position of the broadcast receiving terminal 2. is doing.

In addition, although the example which matched the position of a mobile base station and the channel list was shown here, the map information (numerical elevation model data) is memorize | stored in the list group memory | storage means 11, and the terrain is divided into meshes For example, for each 500 m × 500 m section on the map, an identification number may be given and associated with the channel list for each 500 m mesh data including the latitude, longitude, and altitude values of the section. Thereby, when the broadcast receiving terminal 2 (see FIG. 1) can acquire position information by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like, the position information can be associated with the channel list.
Returning to FIG. 2 (see FIG. 1 as appropriate), the description of the configuration of the channel list distribution server 1 will be continued.

  The list search unit 12 searches the channel list L corresponding to the position information received by the list request receiving unit 10 and the terminal reception channel information from the list group storage unit 11. Here, the list search unit 12 includes a correspondence list search unit 12a and a latest list search unit 12b.

Corresponding list search means (channel information determination means) 12 a searches the list group storage means 11 for a channel list L corresponding to the position information included in the list request received by the list request receiving means 10. When the list request includes terminal reception channel information, the correspondence list search unit 12a determines whether the channel list L is valid depending on whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the searched channel list L. Determine.
Here, the correspondence list search unit 12 a outputs only the channel list L corresponding to the position information and confirmed to be valid to the list transmission unit 13.

  When the validity of the channel list L is not confirmed, that is, when the terminal reception channel information is not included in the channel list L, the correspondence list search unit 12a notifies the latest list search unit 12b to that effect. At the same time, the position information and the terminal reception channel information are output to the list updating means 14.

  The latest list search means (substitute list search means) 12b is the terminal reception channel that is closest to the position indicated by the position information included in the list request received by the list request receiving means 10 and included in the list request. The channel list L containing information is searched in the list group storage means 11. The channel list L searched by the latest list search unit 12 b is output to the list transmission unit 13.

For example, when the position information is the identification number of the mobile base station, the latest list search unit 12b searches the list group storage unit 11 for the channel list L including the terminal reception channel information, and the searched channel list L The distance between mobile base stations is calculated based on the latitude and longitude of the mobile base station corresponding to, and the latitude and longitude of the mobile base station indicated by the location information, and the mobile base station with the shortest distance is supported. Search the channel list L.
As a result, a channel list including information on channels that can be currently received by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 is searched.

  The list transmission unit 13 transmits the channel list L searched by the list search unit 12 to the broadcast receiving terminal 2 that has transmitted the list request via the communication line N.

  When the notification that the validity of the channel list L is not confirmed is received from the corresponding list search unit 12a, the list update unit 14 stores the channel stored in the list group storage unit 11 based on the notified number of times. The list L is updated. Here, the list update unit 14 includes an accumulation unit 14a and an update execution unit 14b.

  The accumulating unit 14a accumulates the number of notifications that the validity of the channel list L is not confirmed from the correspondence list searching unit 12a, that is, the number of notifications that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the channel list corresponding to the position information. To do. Here, the accumulating unit 14a stores the unlisted channel information K including the number of times (cumulative value) not included in the channel list corresponding to the position information in the unlisted channel information storage unit 15 and sequentially updates it.

  The accumulating unit 14a may accumulate not only the number of notifications that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the channel list but also the number of received list requests. In this case, the accumulating unit 14a acquires a notification that the list request has been received from the list request receiving unit 10 or the list search unit 12. As a result, the update execution unit 14b described later can calculate the ratio of the terminal request channel information not included in the channel list in the list request corresponding to certain position information.

The update execution means 14b is stored in the list group storage means 11 when the cumulative value of the unlisted channel information K stored in the unlisted channel information storage means 15 exceeds a predetermined number of times (reference value). The current channel list L is updated.
It can be said that the unlisted channel information K has a higher possibility of receiving the channel indicated by the terminal reception channel information at a position corresponding to the mobile base station (position information) as the cumulative value increases. Therefore, the update execution unit 14b updates the channel list L based on the accumulated value. That is, the update execution unit 14 b adds terminal reception channel information to the channel list L.

  The update execution unit 14b receives the list request and the number (total number) that the channel reception list does not include the terminal reception channel information in the unlisted channel information K stored in the unlisted channel information storage unit 15. When the number (total number) obtained is stored, the ratio of the number not including the terminal reception channel information is calculated in the channel list, and the ratio exceeds the predetermined ratio (reference value). The channel list L stored in the list group storage unit 11 may be updated.

The unlisted channel information storage means 15 counts the number of times the terminal reception channel information transmitted together with the position information as a list request is not included in the channel list corresponding to the position information in the list group storage means 11 (list request Number) as a cumulative value, and is a general storage device such as a hard disk.
In the unlisted channel information storage means 15, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, for each mobile base station (position information), terminal reception channel information (channel selection number, physical channel), cumulative value of list request, Is stored as unlisted channel information K. Further, this unlisted channel information is updated by the list updating means 14.
Here, the list group storage unit 11 and the unlisted channel information storage unit 15 are configured separately, but the same storage unit may be used, and each piece of information may be stored in separate storage areas. The unlisted channel information storage means 15 may also store the total number of list requests as described above.

The configuration of the channel list distribution server 1 has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
For example, here, the channel list distribution server 1 receives position information and terminal reception channel information from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 as a list request (list request). Instead of the list request, it may be received as a reception status notification indicating the reception status of the broadcast receiving terminal 2.

That is, the channel list distribution server 1 receives the position information and the terminal reception channel information from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 as a reception status notification by the reception status reception unit (not shown), and the corresponding list search unit 12a of the list search unit 12 Thus, the list group storage means 11 is searched for the channel list L corresponding to the position information. Then, the channel list distribution server 1 accumulates the number of times that the channel list L corresponding to the position information does not exist by the list update unit 14, and at the stage when the number exceeds the predetermined number (reference value), the list group The channel list L stored in the storage unit 11 is updated.
In this case, for example, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 transmits a reception status notification to the channel list distribution server 1 at a timing such as a handover for switching the mobile base station TS to be connected, so that the viewer does not perform a special operation. The reception status can be collected in the channel list distribution server 1.

  Further, here, the channel list distribution server 1 for each mobile base station (location information), terminal reception channel information (channel selection number, physical channel) not included in the channel list, and the accumulated value of the list request Is stored as unlisted channel information K, but all terminal reception channel information and the cumulative value of list requests may be stored as list channel information in a storage means (not shown). Accordingly, it is possible to recognize a rate at which terminal reception channel information corresponding to a certain channel is not transmitted as a list request even though the channel is included in the channel list. Then, the operator of the channel list distribution server 1 can determine, for example, to delete the channel from the channel list according to the ratio.

The channel list distribution server 1 can be realized by causing a general computer to function as each means described above. This program (channel list distribution program) can be distributed via a communication line, or can be distributed by writing on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

(Configuration of broadcast receiving terminal)
Next, the configuration of the broadcast receiving terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 (refer to FIG. 1 as appropriate). FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a broadcast receiving terminal according to a reference example .
The broadcast receiving terminal 2 receives broadcast waves (terrestrial waves) broadcast from the broadcast relay station RS. Here, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 includes a position information acquisition unit 20, a list request transmission unit 21, a channel search unit 22, a list reception unit 23, a list storage unit 24, an operation unit 25, and a channel selection unit 26. Broadcast receiving means 27, decoding means 28, and display means 29.

  The position information acquisition unit 20 acquires position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal 2. Here, the location information acquisition means 20 acquires from the mobile base station TS as location information an identification number or the like that specifies the location of the mobile base station TS that can communicate with the broadcast receiving terminal 2. Note that the position information is not limited to the identification number of the mobile base station TS, and may be position information acquired by a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like. The position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 20 is output to the list request transmission unit 21.

The list request transmission means 21 includes the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means 20 and the terminal reception channel information indicating the channels receivable by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 searched by the channel search means 22 described later. The request is transmitted to the channel list distribution server 1 as a request (list request). The list request transmission means 21 transmits a list request at a timing when the list request is instructed by the operation means 25 described later by pressing a unique operation button or the like.
Note that the list request transmission unit 21 transmits a list request including only position information when notified from the channel search unit 22 that there is no receivable channel.

The channel search means 22 searches for a currently receivable channel. When a broadcast wave is detected in the channel currently selected by the broadcast receiving unit 27, the channel searching unit 22 outputs the channel to the list request transmitting unit 21 as a receivable channel. If no broadcast wave is detected in the currently selected channel, the channel searching means 22 sequentially switches (selects) the channel to the broadcast receiving means 27 so that the broadcast wave is detected. A so-called channel scan is performed. Note that the channel search means 22 does not need to perform channel scanning for all channels, and outputs the channel to the list request transmission means 21 when a broadcast wave is detected in at least one channel.
If there is no currently receivable channel, the list request transmission means 21 is notified to that effect.

The list receiving unit 23 receives a channel list distributed from the channel list distribution server 1. The channel list received by the list receiving unit 23 is written and stored in the list storage unit 24.
The channel list distributed from the channel list distribution server 1 is distributed to the broadcast receiving terminal 2 via the communication line N via the mobile base station TS that can communicate with the broadcast receiving terminal 2.

  The list storage unit 24 stores the channel list L received by the list reception unit 23, and is a general storage device such as a hard disk. The channel list L stored in the list storage unit 24 is referred to when the channel selection unit 26 selects a channel.

The operation means 25 is used to input operation details for the broadcast receiving terminal 2 and is, for example, an operation button or the like not shown. Note that the operation unit 25 may display a menu screen or the like via the display unit 29 and allow key input in accordance with the contents of the menu screen.
In this operation means 25, when a channel selection button (not shown) is pressed by a viewer's key input, the selected channel number (channel selection number) is sent to the channel selection means 26. Is output. Further, when the viewer presses the operation button for acquiring the channel list in the operation unit 25, the fact is output to the list request transmission unit 21.

  The channel selection unit 26 selects a channel by outputting a physical channel corresponding to the channel selection number to the broadcast reception unit 27. The channel selection unit 26 refers to the channel list L stored in the list storage unit 24 at the stage when the channel selection number is input from the operation unit 25, and selects a physical channel corresponding to the channel selection number. It outputs to the broadcast receiving means 27.

The broadcast receiving unit 27 receives broadcast waves broadcast via the broadcast relay station RS. The broadcast receiving unit 27 receives a broadcast wave of a channel desired by the viewer by combining a predetermined frequency channel corresponding to the physical channel output from the channel selecting unit 26. The broadcast receiving means 27 receives and demodulates the broadcast wave, performs error correction, TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) decoding, etc., and outputs it to the decoding means 28 as an MPEG2 transport stream. .
Further, the broadcast receiving means 27 responds to the request from the channel searching means 22 as to whether or not a broadcast wave is detected in the currently selected channel. Further, the broadcast receiving means 27 performs a channel scan based on a request from the channel search means 22 and notifies the channel search means 22 of the channel in which the broadcast wave is detected.

  The decoding means 28 decodes the stream data (transport stream) received by the broadcast receiving means 27 and demodulated. For example, when video and audio are encoded by the MPEG2 encoding method, the decoding means 28 outputs the video data and audio data in an output format that can be decoded and displayed to the display means 29. In addition, for example, when data is described in BML (Broadcast Markup Language), which is a content description language for digital television broadcasting defined by the Association of Radio Industries and Business (ARIB) The means 28 analyzes the BML and outputs it to the display means 29 as data converted into a displayable output format.

  The display means 29 outputs the video, audio, data, etc. decoded by the decoding means 28, and a liquid crystal display (not shown) for displaying the video, data, etc., and a speaker for outputting the audio ( (Not shown).

The configuration of the broadcast receiving terminal 2 has been described above, but the reference example is not limited to this configuration.
For example, here, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 has described only the function of receiving broadcast waves, but the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can incorporate the above-described means in a general mobile phone. Thereby, the broadcast program can be viewed on the mobile phone.

  Here, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 requests the channel list by the operation of the viewer. However, the location information and the terminal reception channel information are periodically stored in storage means such as a hard disk (not shown). The received position information and terminal reception channel information may be notified to the channel list distribution server 1 periodically or at a timing such as a handover. Thereby, the channel list distribution server 1 can update the channel list.

  Also, for example, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 receives the broadcast program, the timing when the reception state of the broadcast receiving means 27 becomes worse (for example, when the signal level is deteriorated than a predetermined S / N ratio), etc. Alternatively, a list request may be transmitted. As a result, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can acquire the optimum channel list at the current position.

  In addition, for example, the channel list includes version information, update date information, and the like, and the broadcast receiving terminal 2 receives the channel list in the list request transmission unit 21 (after update), and after a certain period of time, the list A request may be transmitted. Accordingly, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can receive the updated channel list in the channel list distribution server 1 when a new service station is added to the channel list.

[Channel list distribution and update operations]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, channel list distribution and update operations in the channel list distribution system S (see FIG. 1) according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing channel list distribution operation in the channel list distribution system. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a channel list update operation in the channel list distribution system.

(Channel list distribution operation)
First, the channel list distribution operation will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, or FIG. 5 as appropriate).
In the channel list distribution system S, first, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 acquires position information indicating the current position by the position information acquisition means 20 (step S11).
Then, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 transmits a list request including the position information acquired in step S11 and the currently receivable channel (terminal reception channel information) to the channel list distribution server 1 via the communication line N. (Step S12). Note that the currently receivable channel may be searched by the channel searching means 22 by channel scanning.

Then, the channel list distribution server 1 receives the list request transmitted from the broadcast receiving terminal 2 by the list request receiving means 10 (step S21; receiving step), and the list search means 12a of the list searching means 12 performs the list request. The channel list L corresponding to the position information included in the request is searched and read from the list group storage means 11 (step S22).
Here, the channel list distribution server 1 determines whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list request (step S23), and if the terminal reception channel information is not included (No in step S23), the step is performed. The operation proceeds to S25.

On the other hand, when the terminal reception channel information is included in the list request (Yes in step S23), the channel list distribution server 1 determines whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the channel list L read in step S22. (Step S24; channel information determination step).
Here, when the terminal reception channel information is not included in the channel list L (No in step S24), the channel list distribution server 1 advances the operation to step S26.
On the other hand, if the terminal reception channel information is included in the channel list L (Yes in step S24), the channel list distribution server 1 uses the list transmission unit 13 to request the channel list L read in step S22 as a list request. Is transmitted to the broadcast receiving terminal 2 that has transmitted (step S25), and the operation is terminated.

  When the terminal reception channel information is not included in the channel list L (No in step S24), the channel list distribution server 1 uses the latest list search unit 12b of the list search unit 12 to include the terminal included in the list request. The list group storage unit 11 is searched for the channel list L that includes the received channel information and is closest to the position indicated by the position information included in the list request (step S26).

Then, the channel list distribution server 1 transmits the channel list L searched in step S26 to the broadcast receiving terminal 2 that transmitted the list request (step S27). Then, the channel list distribution server 1 performs an update process (list update process) of the channel list L stored in the list group storage unit 11 by the list update unit 14 (step S28). The list update process will be described later with reference to FIG.
Thus, the channel list distribution server 1 transmits the channel list L to the broadcast receiving terminal 2 in step S25 or step S27.

Here, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 receives the channel list L transmitted from the channel list distribution server 1 by the list receiving means 23 (step S13), and writes and stores it in the list storage means 24 (step S14).
Thereafter, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 refers to the channel list L stored in the list storage unit 24 by the channel selection unit 26 and selects a physical channel corresponding to the channel selection number input by the operation unit 25. (Step S15).
Then, the broadcast receiving terminal 2 decodes the broadcast wave received by the broadcast receiving means 27 by the decoding means 28, and displays the decoded video, audio, data, etc. by the display means 29 (step S16).

  Through the above operation, the channel list distribution server 1 distributes the channel list based on the position where the broadcast receiving terminal 2 exists and the channel information (receiving terminal channel information) that the broadcast receiving terminal 2 can currently receive. Accordingly, the channel list distribution server 1 can reliably distribute a channel list that can be received by the broadcast receiving terminal 2 even when the accuracy of the channel list L held by the channel list distribution server 1 is poor. it can.

(Channel list update operation)
Next, the update operation of the channel list will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (refer to FIG. 2 as appropriate). This operation corresponds to the operation in step S28 described in FIG.
First, the channel list distribution server 1 uses the totaling unit 14a of the list updating unit 14 to calculate the number of times (total value) that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the channel list L corresponding to the position information in the list request. The unlisted channel information K is accumulated in the unlisted channel information storage means 15 (step S31; cumulative step).
Then, the channel list distribution server 1 determines whether or not the cumulative value of the unlisted channel information K stored in the unlisted channel information storage unit 15 has exceeded a predetermined number of times (reference value) by the update execution unit 14b. Is determined (step S32).

Here, when the cumulative value of the unlisted channel information K exceeds a predetermined number of times (Yes in step S32), the channel list distribution server 1 corresponds to the position information in the channel list L by the update execution unit 14b. The channel list L is updated by adding terminal reception channel information to be performed (step S33; list update step).
On the other hand, if the cumulative value of the unlisted channel information K does not exceed the predetermined number of times (reference value) (No in step S32), the operation is terminated without updating the channel list L.
Through the above operation, the channel list distribution server 1 updates the channel list L stored in the list group storage unit 11 based on the position information and the terminal reception channel information included in the list request. Thereby, the accuracy of the channel list L can be improved.

1 is an overall view for explaining an overview of a channel list distribution system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the channel list delivery server which concerns on this invention. It is a data structure figure which shows the content of the data memorize | stored in the list group memory | storage means of the channel list delivery server concerning this invention. It is a data structure figure which shows the content of the data memorize | stored in the unlisted channel information storage means of the channel list delivery server concerning this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the broadcast receiving terminal which concerns on a reference example . It is a flowchart which shows the delivery operation | movement of the channel list in the channel list delivery system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the update operation | movement of the channel list in the channel list delivery system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

S Channel list distribution system 1 Channel list distribution server 10 List request receiving means (receiving means)
11 List group storage means (list group storage device)
12 List search means 12a Corresponding list search means (channel information determination means)
12b Recent list search means (alternative list search means)
13 List transmission means 14 List update means 14a Accumulation means 14b Update execution means 15 Unlisted channel information storage means 2 Broadcast receiving terminal 20 Location information acquisition means 21 List request transmission means 22 Channel search means 23 List reception means 24 List storage means 25 Operation Means 26 Channel selection means 27 Broadcast receiving means

Claims (6)

A channel list distribution server that distributes a list of receivable channels to a broadcast receiving terminal,
A list group storage means for storing in advance a list composed of a plurality of channel information indicating receivable channels for each predetermined area whose position is specified;
List request receiving means for receiving, from the broadcast receiving terminal, position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal and terminal reception channel information indicating at least one channel receivable by the broadcast receiving terminal as a request for the list; ,
A channel for determining whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list stored in the list group storage unit corresponding to the area including the position indicated by the position information received by the list request reception unit Information determination means;
When it is determined that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list by the channel information determination unit, an alternative list search unit that searches the list group storage unit for a list including the terminal reception channel information;
List transmitting means for transmitting a list including the terminal reception channel information to the broadcast receiving terminal;
A channel list distribution server comprising:   The alternative list search means searches for a list corresponding to an area closest to the area including the position indicated by the position information based on the position information when there are a plurality of lists including the terminal reception channel information. The channel list distribution server according to claim 1, wherein:   When the channel information determination unit determines that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list, the channel information determination unit includes a list update unit that adds and updates the terminal reception channel information to the list. The channel list distribution server according to claim 1 or 2.   The list update means updates the list when the number of times or the ratio determined by the channel information determination means that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list exceeds a predetermined reference value. The channel list distribution server according to claim 3. Positions in Chi Yan'nerurisuto distribution server with a list group storage means for previously storing a list comprising a plurality of channel information indicating the channels that can be received every predetermined area identifying the channel to deliver a list of the channels to the broadcast receiving terminal A list delivery method,
Receiving from the broadcast receiving terminal position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal and terminal reception channel information indicating at least one channel receivable by the broadcast receiving terminal as a request for the list ;
Channel information determination for determining whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list stored in the list group storage means corresponding to the area including the position indicated by the position information received in the reception step Steps,
When it is determined that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list in the channel information determination step, an alternative list search step of searching a list including the terminal reception channel information in the list group storage unit;
A list transmission step of transmitting a list including the terminal reception channel information to the broadcast receiving terminal;
A channel list delivery method comprising: Positions in Chi Yan'nerurisuto distribution server with a list group storage means for previously storing a list comprising a plurality of channel information indicating the channels that can be received every predetermined regions were identified, in order to deliver a list of the channels to the broadcast receiving terminal A computer for controlling the channel list distribution server ;
List request receiving means for receiving from the broadcast receiving terminal position information indicating the position of the broadcast receiving terminal and terminal reception channel information indicating at least one channel receivable by the broadcast receiving terminal as a request for the list ;
A channel for determining whether or not the terminal reception channel information is included in the list stored in the list group storage unit corresponding to the area including the position indicated by the position information received by the list request reception unit Information judging means,
An alternative list search unit that searches the list group storage unit for a list including the terminal reception channel information when the channel information determination unit determines that the terminal reception channel information is not included in the list.
List transmission means for transmitting a list including the terminal reception channel information to the broadcast receiving terminal;
A channel list distribution program characterized by functioning as:

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