JP5224513B2 - Digital signage system and operation method, digital signage broadcasting system and digital signage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital signage system that acquires and reproduces information from an information transmission means.

Conventional digital signage reproduces information acquired via a network. For this reason, each digital signage terminal requires a communication environment to connect to the network, and there is a disadvantage that communication costs increase.
"The world's first joint demonstration experiment of electronic paper signage at Sendai Subway Station", [online], November 28, 2007, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. [searched July 12, 2008], Internet <URL : Http://www.toppan.co.jp/news/newsrelease645.html>

  An object of the present invention is to improve the inconveniences of the conventional example and to realize a reduction in communication cost particularly in the operation of digital signage.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, information is given to digital signage using terrestrial digital broadcasting.

  That is, in a system including digital signage and information transmission means for transmitting information to the digital signage, the digital signage includes means for receiving a terrestrial digital broadcast wave, and the information transmission means transmits the information to the terrestrial digital Broadcast on broadcast waves.

  According to the present invention, information can be transmitted to a plurality of digital signage terminals without going through a network, so that communication costs can be reduced.

  The information transmitting means broadcasts content information to be output from the digital signage among the information by SDTV (Standard Definition TeleVision) at the time of multi-organization broadcasting, and data broadcasting control information for controlling the digital signage among the information You may broadcast in the band.

  In this way, it is possible to transmit content information for digital signage using the remaining one channel while performing normal broadcasting for, for example, two channels on an SDTV of multi-organization broadcasting.

  The information transmitting means may broadcast both content information to be output from the digital signage in the information and control information for controlling the digital signage in the information in a data broadcast band.

  In this way, for example, even when all SDTV channels during multi-organization broadcasting are used for normal broadcasting or when normal broadcasting is performed with HDTV (High Definition TeleVision), digital broadcasting is performed using the data broadcasting band. Information can be provided for signage.

  The digital signage includes storage means for holding the content information. As a result, the content information received once can be repeatedly played back, the content that comes on the broadcast wave and the content that is played back on the digital signage can be made asynchronous, and a plurality of contents acquired from the same broadcast wave can be obtained. Digital signage can play different contents at the same time.

  The digital signage may include a BML browser, and the content information may be configured as a BML monomedia. Thereby, content information can be provided for digital signage using the data broadcast band.

  The digital signage includes content information storage means for storing the content information, and control information storage means for storing a broadcast schedule of content information to be received by the device, and the information transmission means transmits in accordance with the broadcast schedule. Content information may be selected and stored in the content information storage means.

  In this way, even if the received broadcast is the same, a plurality of digital signage can select the content to be reproduced individually.

  The broadcast schedule may be transmitted by the information transmitting means included in the control information, and the digital signage may store the broadcast schedule included in the control information in the control information storage means.

  In this way, since the broadcast schedule is automatically set for a plurality of digital signage, it is not necessary to set the broadcast schedule individually for each digital signage.

  The digital signage includes content information storage means for storing the content information and control information storage means for storing a reproduction schedule of content information to be reproduced by the device itself, and is stored in the content information storage means according to the reproduction schedule. The selected content information may be selected and reproduced.

  In this way, even if the received broadcast is the same, a plurality of digital signage can reproduce content at different timings.

  The reproduction schedule may be transmitted by the information transmitting means included in the control information, and the digital signage may store the reproduction schedule included in the control information in the control information storage means.

  In this way, since a playback schedule is automatically set for a plurality of digital signage, it is not necessary to set a playback schedule individually for each digital signage.

  The digital signage includes a non-contact IC card reader, and the information transmitting unit transmits related information related to content information included in the control information in association with the content information, and the digital signage The related information is stored in the control information storage means in association with the content information, and when accessed from the non-contact IC card reader, the related information associated with the content information being reproduced at that time is read from the non-contact IC card reader. It may be provided to the accessed device.

  Thereby, an incentive to use digital signage can be given to the user.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce information communication costs in a digital signage system.

  [First Embodiment]

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, an information transmission means (broadcast station) 10 includes a broadcasting system 10A that generates a terrestrial digital broadcast wave and a broadcasting station for the terrestrial digital broadcast wave. The digital terrestrial broadcast wave transmitted from the information transmitting means 10 is received by a plurality of digital signage devices 20.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the broadcast system 10A. The broadcast system 10 </ b> A includes content information storage means 11 that stores content information to be played back on the digital signage 20, and control information storage means 12 that stores control information that mainly controls the digital signage 20. The control information storage unit 12 also stores a broadcast schedule of content information. Each storage means 11 and 12 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The broadcast wave generation means 13 reads content information from the content information storage means 11 according to the broadcast schedule stored in the control information storage means 12, and reads the control information from the control information storage means 12, and encodes these information. And generate and output terrestrial digital broadcast waves. This terrestrial digital broadcast wave is received by a plurality of digital signage 20.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the broadcasting station 10 is broadcasting on an SDTV during multi-organization broadcasting, and the broadcast wave generating means 13 performs normal broadcasting for two channels as shown in FIG. Broadcast content information for digital signage on the remaining one channel that is not being broadcast. The control information is broadcast in the data broadcast band. The control information is described in BML (Broadcast Markup Language).

  FIG. 4 is a transmission content table stored in the control information storage unit 12. The transmission content table includes an identifier of content information to be broadcast, a receiving terminal identifier of the digital signage 20 that should receive the content information, an instruction of a reproduction schedule for reproducing the content information, and the content information. And the information provided to the non-contact IC card corresponding to the content information (non-contact IC provision information) are associated with each other. The broadcast schedule is specified by time, such as from what time to what time. A date specification may be included. The playback schedule may be specified by time, such as from what time to what time, or when the playback method is specified by repeating from what time to how many times. A date specification or a date range specification may also be included. As for the receiving terminal identifier, one identifier may correspond to one digital signage device 20, or one identifier may correspond to a group of a plurality of digital signage devices 20. As the content identifier, one identifier may be given to one piece of content information, or one identifier may be given to a group of a plurality of pieces of content information. Non-contact IC provision information provides URL information of a company's website corresponding to content information introducing a company, and map information of the event site corresponding to content information introducing a certain event Alternatively, information corresponding to each piece of content information may be used, such as coupon information that can be used at a store corresponding to content information introducing a store. The attribute information includes format information such as whether the corresponding content information is a moving image or a still image, and the type of the content information (file type such as MPG, WMV, JPG).

  Next, FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital signage 20. The digital terrestrial broadcast wave transmitted by the information transmitting means 10 is received by the plurality of digital signage 20 as an antenna signal. The antenna may be built in the digital signage 20 or an antenna signal may be acquired from an external antenna. The information acquisition unit 21 performs encoding and demultiplexing on the received antenna signal, and acquires content information and control information from the antenna signal. In the present embodiment, the information acquisition means 21 acquires content information from the SDTV broadcast band at the time of multi-organization broadcasting, and acquires control information from the data broadcast band. The information acquisition unit 21 stores the acquired content information in the content information storage unit 22 and stores the acquired control information in the control information storage unit 23. The content information storage unit 22 and the control information storage unit 23 are, for example, HDDs. In recording content information and control information, MPEG2-TS data may be stored as it is, or may be stored after being converted into another format.

  More specifically, in the present embodiment, the information transmission means 10 transmits the transmission content table shown in FIG. 4 as control information prior to transmission of the content information. The information acquisition unit 21 of the digital signage 20 acquires this transmission content table and stores it in the control information storage unit 23. Thereafter, the information acquisition unit 21 monitors the broadcast schedule described in the transmission content table. The information transmission means 10 transmits content information according to the broadcast schedule. The information acquisition means 27 is provided with a terminal identifier storage means 27 that stores a terminal identifier for identifying the digital signage 20 of the own apparatus, and a broadcast schedule (to which a terminal identifier that matches the terminal identifier of the own apparatus is assigned ( When the broadcast time) arrives, the information acquisition unit 21 selectively acquires content information from the broadcast wave transmitted from the information transmission unit 10 during the broadcast schedule and stores it in the content information storage unit 22. At this time, the same content identifier as the content identifier described in the transmission content table is added to the content information. Here, the terminal identifier of the own device stored in the terminal identifier storage means 27 may identify a single digital signage 20 from others, or may identify a group of several digital signage 20. In the present embodiment, the broadcast schedule corresponding to the terminal identifier of the own device is monitored after receiving all the transmission content tables. However, the terminal identifier and the terminal identifier of the own device are previously determined from the received transmission content table. Only matching broadcast schedules may be extracted and stored in the control information storage means 23 for monitoring.

  On the other hand, the output control means 24 of the digital signage 20 monitors the reproduction schedule described in the transmission content table stored in the control information storage means 23. The output control means 24 includes a BML browser. The control information stored in the control information storage means 23 is described in BML. When the reproduction schedule of the content information stored in the content information storage unit 22 arrives, the output control unit 24 reads the content information from the content information storage unit 22 and reproduces it from the output device (display unit 25 or audio reproduction device). The output control means 24 repeatedly reproduces the same content information according to the reproduction schedule. Here, the display means 25 is a display device with a touch panel or the like generally used for digital signage. When the output control unit 24 receives an input from an input unit such as a touch panel, the output control unit 24 controls the output of the display unit 25 and the audio reproduction device according to the input.

  Further, the output control means 24 is provided with a non-contact IC card reader 26. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the non-contact IC card reader is compatible with FeliCa (registered trademark). When the output control means 24 detects access to the non-contact IC card reader 26 during the reproduction of the content information, the control information storage means 23 displays the non-contact IC provision information associated with the identifier of the content information being reproduced at that time. The non-contact IC provision information is given to a device (such as Osaifu-Keitai (registered trademark)) that is read from the transmission content table stored in the device and accesses the non-contact IC card reader 26. The device that has accessed the non-contact IC card reader 26 acquires data such as a URL of a homepage related to the content information being reproduced, a map of the store, and coupons and points that can be used at the store.

  According to the present embodiment described above, by providing information to digital signage using terrestrial digital broadcast waves, communication costs can be reduced as compared to information provision via a conventional network.

  In addition, since the content information is transmitted by the SDTV at the time of multi-organization broadcasting, the broadcasting station can provide a service for digital signage at the same time while performing normal broadcasting.

  Further, since the content information received by the digital signage 20 is stored in the storage means, even when the digital signage repeatedly reproduces the same content, the broadcast wave does not need to be repeatedly transmitted, and the content is efficiently transmitted. be able to. Also, by holding the content in the storage means, it is possible to play back the content with a different playback schedule for each digital signage.

  Also, even if the same broadcast wave is sent to multiple digital signage, each digital signage selectively acquires only the necessary content according to the broadcast schedule, so select the content to be played back for each digital signage can do.

  Also, since the broadcast schedule is sent from the information transmission means and set in the digital signage, there is no need to input the broadcast schedule on the digital signage side.

  In addition, since each digital signage reproduces content according to an individual reproduction schedule, the content can be reproduced at an appropriate timing for each digital signage.

  Since the reproduction schedule is sent from the information transmission means and registered in each digital signage, the operation of inputting the reproduction schedule on the digital signage side is unnecessary.

  In addition, since information linked to the content being reproduced is given to the user through the non-contact IC card reader, the user can be given an incentive to use digital signage.

  [Modification of First Embodiment]

  In the first embodiment, the transmission content table (list) in FIG. 4 is passed from the information transmission means to the digital signage prior to the transmission of the content information, but other embodiments are also conceivable.

  For example, a broadcast schedule of contents to be acquired for each digital signage may be set manually. If data corresponding to the transmission schedule table is registered in the control information storage means of the digital signage, the same information acquisition operation and information reproduction operation as in the first embodiment described above can be realized.

  Further, for example, the first row of data in the transmission content table of FIG. 4 is transmitted without passing all of the transmission content table (list) of FIG. 4 to the digital signage at the same time. Send out the corresponding content information, then send out the data in the second row of the sending content table, and then send out the content information corresponding to the data in the second row, etc. And content information may be sent alternately. In this way, it is not necessary for digital signage to store the entire content table to be transmitted, so that the storage area of digital signage can be saved.

  [Second Embodiment]

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The overall configuration of FIG. 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the broadcasting system 10A. In the present embodiment, the broadcast wave generation means 13 sends both content information and control information on the data broadcast band. FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which both content information and control information are placed on the data broadcast band. Data broadcasting data is described in BML. Content information is embedded as mono media in the BML description and transmitted in the data broadcasting band. The content information may be divided and embedded. In this case, in order to combine the divided content information on the digital signage 20 side, a link is set between each BML file of the divided content information. Alternatively, a common content information identifier is added to each BML file of the divided content information. In addition, in order to transmit the content information and the control information in association with each other, a link is set between both BML files. Alternatively, a common content information identifier is added to both BML files.

  Here, when the broadcasting station simultaneously performs both normal broadcasting and information provision for digital signage, both data broadcasting data are mixed in the data broadcasting band. In such a state, the digital signage 20 needs to extract only the data broadcast data transmitted to the digital signage 20. There are several possible methods for this.

  One is a method of inserting a unique statement (tag) into BML. BML is described by the specifications of XML (Extensible Markup Language) / XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language), but when a unique tag is inserted into BML, a general BML browser ignores tags that cannot be understood by the system. There are features. Therefore, a unique tag is added to the data for digital signage, and the BML browser side installed in the digital signage 20 can identify the unique tag and determine that the data is for digital signage. Add In this way, even when data broadcast data transmitted from a broadcasting station is received by a device other than the digital signage 20 of the present embodiment, the operation is affected by ignoring the unique tag. On the other hand, when the digital signage 20 of the present embodiment receives the unique tag, the BML browser to which the function is added is data for the digital signage 20 based on the unique tag. Can be identified and data can be acquired.

  Similarly, it is possible to identify the data for the digital signage 20 by adding an attribute to the tag and expanding the tag instead of inserting a unique tag. When a unique attribute name is added to a tag, a general BML browser has a feature of ignoring it as an instruction that cannot be understood. Therefore, a tag including a unique attribute name is added to the data for the digital signage 20, and the BML browser installed in the digital signage 20 identifies the unique attribute name and is data for the digital signage. A function is added so that can be determined. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the above can be acquired.

  As another method, a method using an ECMAScript “function for acquiring remaining capacity” in BML can be considered. As a hidden function of this function, it is known that a magic number indicating a receiver manufacturer, a receiver manufacturing date, a BML browser version, and an ECMAScript engine version can be acquired. By using this function, it is possible to determine whether or not the receiver is the digital signage 20, and by branching the BML processing according to the determination result, the digital signage 20 receives the data for digital signage. The data can be acquired and other devices can acquire data for each device. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the above can be acquired.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows the transmission content table introduced in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, both control information and content information are transmitted in the data broadcast band. By associating the line data with the corresponding content information, this transmission content table may be omitted. It is assumed that the subsequent control information includes data for one row of the transmission content table. However, there is no need for broadcast schedule data.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the digital signage 20. In this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 21 acquires both content information and control information from data of data broadcast, and stores them in the content information storage unit 22 and the control information storage unit 23, respectively. The content information and control information are stored in an associated state by adding a link between files or a content information identifier common to the files.

  When acquiring the control information and the content information, the information acquisition means 21 selects and acquires only the data for digital signage by determining the BML tag or function described above.

  Further, the information acquisition means 21 determines the receiving terminal identifier included in the control information at the time of acquisition, and selects and acquires only the control information and content information whose terminal identifier and terminal identifier match.

  The output control unit 24 monitors the reproduction schedule of content information included in the control information stored in the control information storage unit 23. When a playback schedule arrives for certain content information, the output control means 24 reads content information associated with the playback schedule from the content information storage means 22 and outputs an output device (display means 25, audio output device, etc.) according to the playback schedule. To play. In addition, the operations of the output control unit 24, the display unit 25, and the non-contact IC card reader are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  According to the second embodiment described above, in addition to the same effects as the first embodiment, both content information and control information are transmitted in the data broadcast band, so the broadcasting station is broadcasting HDTV Even when all channels are used for normal broadcasting on SDTV during multi-organization broadcasting, information can be sent for digital signage.

  Each embodiment described above is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to each embodiment described above.

It is a block diagram which shows the digital signage system of this invention. It is a block diagram of the broadcast system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the broadcast wave which the broadcast system shown in FIG. 2 sends out in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the transmission content table | surface transmitted by the broadcasting system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the digital signage shown in FIG. It is a data structure figure of the data broadcast which the broadcast system shown in FIG. 2 sends out by 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Information transmission means (broadcasting station)
10A broadcast system 11 control information storage means 12 content information storage means 13 broadcast wave generation means 20 digital signage 21 information acquisition means 22 content information storage means 23 control information storage means 24 output control means 25 display means 26 non-contact IC card reader

Claims (24)

A system in which a plurality of digital signage receives and reproduces content broadcast on digital terrestrial broadcast waves from an information transmission means,
Prior to the content, information indicating the broadcast time zone of the content to be reproduced by each digital signage is transmitted from the information transmission unit to each digital signage, and each digital signage stores the information in the storage unit.
The information indicating the broadcast time zone of the content is information including an association of the content identifier, the identifier of the digital signage that should receive the content, and the broadcast time zone in which the content is broadcast by the information transmitting unit. ,
The digital signage receives content necessary for playback on the own device only during the broadcast time zone associated with the identifier of the own device among the broadcast time zones stored in the storage means, and the received content is stored in the storage means Store in the
Digital signage system. 2. The digital signage system according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitting means broadcasts the content on an SDTV during multi-organization broadcasting and broadcasts control information for controlling the digital signage in a data broadcasting band. 2. The digital signage system according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitting means broadcasts both the content and control information for controlling the digital signage in a data broadcasting band. The digital signage comprises a BML browser, the content digital signage system of claim 1, wherein the characterized in that it constitutes a mono-media BML. The system according to claim 2 or 3 ,
Digital signage system information indicating the broadcasting time zone that is characterized in that the information transmission means transmits included in the control information. The system according to claim 2 or 3 ,
The digital signage, a content information storage means for storing the content, and a control information storing means when the device itself stores reproduction schedule of content to be reproduced, stored in the content information storage unit in accordance with the reproduction schedule A digital signage system characterized by selecting and playing back content . The system of claim 6 , wherein
The digital signage system is characterized in that the information transmission means transmits the reproduction schedule included in the control information, and the digital signage stores the reproduction schedule included in the control information in the control information storage means. The system according to claim 2 or 3,
The digital signage includes a non-contact IC card reader,
Wherein the information transmitting means, the related information related to content and sent included in the control information in association with the content,
The digital signage, the relevant information in association with content stored in the control information storage unit, wherein when the non-contact IC card reader is accessed, the non-contact-related information associated with the content being reproduced at that time A digital signage system provided to an apparatus accessed from an IC card reader. A method in which a plurality of digital signage receives and reproduces content broadcast on a terrestrial digital broadcast wave from an information transmission means,
Prior to the content, information indicating the broadcast time zone of the content to be reproduced by each digital signage is transmitted from the information transmission unit to each digital signage, and each digital signage stores the information in the storage unit.
The information indicating the broadcast time zone of the content is information including an association of the content identifier, the identifier of the digital signage that should receive the content, and the broadcast time zone in which the content is broadcast by the information transmitting unit. ,
The digital signage receives content necessary for playback on the own device only during the broadcast time zone associated with the identifier of the own device among the broadcast time zones stored in the storage means, and the received content is stored in the storage means Store in the
Digital signage operation method. 10. The digital signage operating method according to claim 9 , wherein the information transmitting means broadcasts the content on an SDTV for multi-organization broadcasting and broadcasts control information for controlling the digital signage in a data broadcasting band. . 10. The digital signage operating method according to claim 9 , wherein the information transmitting means broadcasts both the content and control information for controlling the digital signage in a data broadcasting band. 10. The digital signage operating method according to claim 9, wherein the content is configured as BML mono media. 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11 ,
The digital signage operating method, wherein the information indicating the broadcast time zone is transmitted by the information transmitting means included in the control information. The digital signage operation method according to claim 10 or 11,
The digital signage stores the content in the content information storage unit, stores the playback schedule of the content to be played back by the device itself in the control information storage unit, and stores the content stored in the content information storage unit according to the playback schedule. Digital signage operation method characterized by selecting and playing. The digital signage operating method according to claim 14,
The information transmission means transmits the reproduction schedule included in the control information, and the digital signage stores the reproduction schedule included in the control information in the control information storage means. . The digital signage operation method according to claim 10 or 11,
The information transmitting means transmits related information related to content in association with the content and included in the control information,
The digital signage associates the relevant information with the content and stores it in the control information storage means. When accessed from a non-contact IC card reader, the digital signage displays the relevant information associated with the content being reproduced at that time. A digital signage operating method, characterized in that it is provided to a device accessed from a card reader. In a system in which a plurality of digital signage devices receive and reproduce content broadcast on terrestrial digital broadcast waves from information transmission means,
Information indicating the broadcast time zone of the content to be reproduced by each digital signage device is transmitted from the information transmission means to each digital signage device prior to the content,
The information indicating the broadcast time zone of the content is information including an association of the content identifier, the digital signage identifier that should receive the content, and the broadcast time zone in which the content is broadcast by the information transmitting means. ,
Stores this information in the storage unit, receives the content necessary for reproducing only the own device during the broadcast time period associated with the identifier of the device out of the broadcast time zone stored in the storage unit, the received A digital signage apparatus comprising information acquisition means for storing stored content in a storage means.
The digital signage device according to claim 17 ,
The information acquisition unit, the information transmission means obtains the control information for controlling the content and the reproduction of the reproduction from the band of the terrestrial digital broadcast wave transmitted by an output control for reproducing the content the information acquisition unit acquires Means and
The digital signage device, wherein the information acquisition means acquires the content from an SDTV band at the time of multi-organization broadcasting and acquires the control information from a data broadcasting band. The digital signage device according to claim 17 ,
The information acquisition unit, the information transmission means obtains the control information for controlling the content and the reproduction of the reproduction from the band of the terrestrial digital broadcast wave transmitted by an output control for reproducing the content the information acquisition unit acquires Means and
The digital signage apparatus, wherein the information acquisition means acquires both the content and the control information from a data broadcast band. 18. The digital signage apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the information acquisition unit acquires a mono-media described in BML as the content in the data broadcasting band. Said information obtaining means, the information transmitting means digital things claim 18 or 19, wherein the said storing the acquired control information storing means to transmit the information indicating the broadcast time slot included in the control information Signage device. The digital signage device according to claim 18 or 19 ,
A content information storing means for storing the content, reproduction and selection and control information storing means when the device itself stores and reproduction schedule of content to be reproduced, the content stored in the content information storage unit in accordance with the reproduction schedule And a digital signage device. 23. The digital signage apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the information acquisition unit acquires a reproduction schedule transmitted by the information transmission unit included in the control information and stores the reproduction schedule in the control information storage unit. The digital signage device according to claim 18 or 19 ,
Provided with a contactless IC card reader, comprising control information storage means for the related information stored in association with the content related to the content,
When the output control means is accessed from the non-contact IC card reader, the related information associated with the content being reproduced at that time is read from the control information storage means and accessed from the non-contact IC card reader A digital signage device characterized by being provided to.

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