JP5856889B2 - Receiver, application provision management device, and application provision management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiver, an application provision management device, and an application provision management program.

  In recent years, research for realizing a broadcasting / communication cooperation service has been performed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). In this broadcast communication cooperative service, as an example, the receiver acquires distribution content data from the content server by acquiring and executing an application associated with the broadcast program from the application server. Then, the receiver presents the program content data acquired by broadcast reception and the distribution content data acquired by network communication in association with each other under the application execution environment.

  In the broadcast communication cooperative service, the receiver acquires an application information table associated with the broadcast program. The application information table includes, for example, application control information indicating an application activation method and location information indicating the location of the application on the network. And a receiver acquires an application based on location information, for example, and performs the application based on application control information.

Yasuaki Kinji, Shigeaki Miya, Koji Matsumura, Akiyo Baba, Hiroshi Fujisawa, Taketomo Takemoto, Makoto Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Hamada, NHK Science and Technology Research Laboratories Aiming for a Broadcasting System ”, The Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers Technical Report, Vol. 35, no. 7, February 2011, p31-34

  For example, when the application control information is information indicating that the application is automatically started in conjunction with the presentation of the program content data, a large number of receivers simultaneously make application acquisition requests to the application server. Become. At this time, accesses from a large number of receivers are concentrated on the application server, which may cause network congestion. When network congestion occurs, the receiver cannot stably acquire the application, and the application does not start or the start timing is delayed.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and in the case of realizing a broadcasting / communication cooperation service, a receiver and an application that can stably acquire and start an application in the receiver. It is an object of the present invention to provide a provision management device and an application provision management program.

[1] In order to solve the above problems, a receiver according to one aspect of the present invention broadcasts an application providing device selection unit that selects an application providing device associated with the area information, and a broadcast stream being received. An application information acquisition unit that acquires an application information table that includes application identification information for identifying an application in the communication cooperation service and application control information for controlling the life cycle of the application; and the application control included in the application information table Before the application identification information indicates the application providing device selected by the application providing device selection unit when the information is data instructing the execution start of the application An application request unit that supplies application request information that is an application acquisition request, an application acquisition unit that acquires the application supplied by the application providing apparatus that acquired the application request information, and content data included in the broadcast stream A reproduction processing unit that reproduces and executes the application.
[2] The receiver according to [1], further including a region information acquisition unit that acquires the region information from a network information table included in the broadcast stream, wherein the application providing device selection unit acquires the region information acquisition The application providing device is selected based on the area information acquired by the section.
[3] In the receiver according to [1] or [2], the application providing device selection unit acquires the region information and a region information supply unit that supplies the region information to an external application provision management device. A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the location of the application providing device selected by the application providing management device based on the area information from the application providing management device;
[4] In order to solve the above-described problem, the application provision management device according to one aspect of the present invention associates location information indicating location information indicating the location of the application provision device applied to the broadcast communication cooperation service. A location information management table storage unit for storing an information management table, a region information acquisition unit for acquiring region information supplied from a receiver, and the location information management table storage unit based on the region information A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information associated with the regional information from a location information management table, and a location information supply unit that supplies the location information to the receiver.
[5] In order to solve the above-described problem, an application provision management program according to one aspect of the present invention associates location information indicating location information indicating the location of an application providing device applied to a broadcasting / communication cooperation service. A computer including a location information management table storage unit that stores an information management table is stored in the location information management table storage unit based on the region information acquisition unit that acquires region information supplied from a receiver and the region information. The location information acquisition unit that acquires location information associated with the regional information from the location information management table that has been made, and the location information supply unit that supplies the location information to the receiver are caused to function.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when implement | achieving a broadcast communication cooperation service, a receiver can be made to acquire an application stably and can be started.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a broadcasting / communication cooperation system to which a receiver and an application provision management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied. It is a figure which shows notionally the procedure of communication with the receiver provided in a viewer's house and a mobile body, and the service server group in the broadcast communication cooperation system in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the application information table contained in a stream. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the network information table contained in a stream. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the location information management table which an application provision management server memorize | stores and manages. It is a figure which shows the schematic apparatus structure of the broadcast installation in the same embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the application provision management server in the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the receiver in the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an application execution control unit in the receiver in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the application provision management server in the same embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the receiver in the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a broadcasting / communication cooperation system to which a receiver and an application provision management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied. As shown in the figure, the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1 includes a broadcasting facility 10, a transmission antenna 20, a network 30, a service server group (service providing apparatus group) 40, a network 50, and a receiver 60. Consists of. The service server group 40 includes an application provision management server (application provision management apparatus) 41, an application server (application provision apparatus) 42, and a content server (content provision apparatus) 43.

  However, in practice, there are a large number of receivers 60, but in order to simplify the illustration and simplify the description, in FIG. 1, three receivers 60 (referred to as receivers 60-1 to 60-3). ). In practice, there are a plurality of application servers 42, but in the figure, one application server 42 is shown. In addition, there are facilities such as a relay station between the transmitting antenna 20 and the receivers 60-1 to 60-3, but the illustration thereof is omitted in FIG.

  The broadcast facility 10 and the transmission antenna 20 are a group of facilities managed by a broadcast station that is a broadcaster. The service server group 40 is a group of devices managed by a broadcasting station and / or a service provider. The receiver 60 is a device managed by a viewer.

  The broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1 includes, for example, a broadcasting service provided by a broadcasting station using an integrated digital broadcasting service (ISDB) method, and a distribution service (communication service) provided by the broadcasting station and / or a service provider. Realize a broadcasting / communication cooperation service.

  In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1, a plurality of application servers 42 are installed corresponding to the viewer's area. For example, the application server 42 is installed corresponding to a broadcast service area (cover area, receivable area).

  The receiver 60 that receives the broadcast communication cooperation service acquires, for example, a broadcast program supplied by the broadcast facility 10 through the broadcast service, that is, program content data. The program content data includes broadcast program content data and various control information. The receiver 60 acquires an application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) associated with the acquired program content data from any one of the many application servers 42, and executes the acquired application. The application is an execution program for realizing the broadcasting / communication cooperation service in the receiver 60. Then, the receiver 60 acquires the distribution content data specified by the execution of the application from the content server 43, and presents the program content data and the distribution content data in a linked or correlated manner.

  An application that the broadcasting facility 10 supplies to the application server 42, that is, an application provided by a broadcasting station is referred to as a broadcaster-provided application. An application created by a service provider or an individual and supplied to the application server 42 is called a service provider-provided application. Further, among the applications, an application certified by the broadcasting station is called a certified application, and an application not certified by the broadcasting station is called a non-certified application.

Next, each configuration of the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1 will be described.
The network 30 is a communication line that connects the broadcasting facility 10 and each server included in the service server group 40. Here, each server is each of the application provision management server 41, the plurality of application servers 42, and the content server 43. The network 30 is also called an inter-provider network. The network 30 is a computer network capable of communication using, for example, the Internet protocol (IP). The broadcasting facility 10 and each server in the service server group 40 communicate via the network 30.

  The network 50 is a communication line that connects each server of the service server group 40 and each receiver 60. The network 50 is, for example, a computer network capable of communicating by IP, and is also connected to the Internet. Each receiver 60 and each server of the service server group 40 communicate via the network 50.

  The broadcast facility 10 generates a stream (broadcast stream) in which various control information is multiplexed on broadcast content produced by a broadcast station, a program production company, or the like. As contents for broadcasting, there are program contents broadcast according to a broadcast schedule determined by a broadcasting station, and emergency contents broadcast regardless of the broadcast schedule. The emergency content is, for example, content used for emergency alert broadcasting. The various control information is, for example, an event information table (Event Information Table; EIT), an application information table (Application Information Table; AIT), application presentation control information, and the like. The event information table includes meta information related to the program content, such as the name (title) of the program content, broadcast date and time, genre, and description (summary). The application information table (also referred to as application management information) is management information related to one or more applications executed by the receiver 60. The application information table includes, for each application, application identification information that identifies the application, application control information (application activation information) that controls the life cycle of the application, and location information that indicates the location of the application on the network 50. The application control information includes information indicating an application activation method. The application presentation control information is data indicating how to control the output method of the program content data, the application, and the distribution content data according to the program being broadcast, the event included in the broadcast signal, the application provider, etc. It is. The stream is, for example, a transport stream (TS) according to the MPEG-2 system standard.

  The broadcast facility 10 converts the generated stream into a digital broadcast signal, and transmits the broadcast signal to the transmission antenna 20.

Also, the broadcasting facility 10 supplies a location information management table (location information management table) created by the broadcasting station to the application provision management server 41. The location information management table is information that associates the service area of the broadcast radio wave broadcast by the broadcasting station (including the transmission source and the relay station) with the location of the application server 42. For example, the location information management table is a data table in which regional information indicating a service area is associated with location information indicating the location of the application server 42 on the network 50. A specific example of the location information management table will be described later.
Also, the broadcasting facility 10 supplies the application server 42 with an application produced by the broadcasting station (an application provided by a broadcaster).
Also, the broadcasting facility 10 supplies distribution content data produced by the broadcasting station to the content server 43. The distribution content data is, for example, program content data that has already been broadcast.

  The transmission antenna 20 receives a broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast facility 10, converts the broadcast signal into a broadcast radio wave, and radiates it into the air.

The application provision management server 41 takes in the location information management table supplied by the broadcasting facility 10 and stores the location information management table.
The application provision management server 41 takes in the area information supplied by the receiver 60 and extracts the location information associated with the area information from the location information management table. Then, the application provision management server 41 supplies the location information to the receiver 60 that is the supplier of the regional information. That is, the application provision management server 41 responds to the receiver 60 with the location information of the application server 42 associated with the area where the receiver 60 exists in response to the inquiry about the acquisition destination of the application from the receiver 60.

The application server 42 takes in an application (broadcaster-provided application) supplied by the broadcasting facility 10 and stores this application. The application server 42 stores an application (service provider provision application) created by a service provider or an individual.
The application server 42 selects an application according to the application acquisition request supplied by the receiver 60 and supplies the selected application to the receiver 60 that is the acquisition request source.

The content server 43 takes in the distribution content data supplied from the broadcasting facility 10 and stores this distribution content data. The content server 43 stores distribution content data produced by a service provider or an individual.
The content server 43 selects distribution content data in response to the content acquisition request supplied by the receiver 60, and supplies the selected distribution content data to the receiver 60 that is the acquisition request source.

  Each of the application provision management server 41, the plurality of application servers 42, and the content server 43 is realized by, for example, a server device or a computer device.

The receiver 60 receives broadcast radio waves transmitted from the broadcast antenna 20 directly or via a relay station (not shown) and takes in broadcast signals. Then, the receiver 60 acquires a stream from the broadcast signal, and extracts program content data and various control information from this stream.
The receiver 60 inquires of the application provision management server 41 about the acquisition destination of the application associated with the program content data based on the area information in the control information. And the receiver 60 acquires the location information which the application provision management server 41 which received area information transmits as a response. Then, the receiver 60 acquires the application from the application server 42 specified by the location information, and executes this application.

The receiver 60 acquires the distribution content data designated by the execution of the application from the content server 43, and presents the program content data and the distribution content data in a linked or correlated manner.
The receiving device 60 controls the output method of program content data and distribution content data based on application presentation control information that is one of control information.

  The receiver 60 is realized by, for example, a television receiver, a set top box, a computer device, a portable terminal, or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a communication procedure between a receiver (not shown) provided in the viewer's house and the moving body and the service server group 40 in the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1. In the figure, relay stations 21, 22, and 23 are relay antennas that relay and transmit broadcast radio waves transmitted by the transmission antenna 20 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the transmission antenna 20 and the relay stations 21, 22, and 23, which are broadcast signal transmission sources, are collectively referred to as a transmission station.

  Service areas SA1, SA2, and SA3 are obtained by transmitting broadcast waves from relay stations 21, 22, and 23, respectively. Therefore, the receiver 60 at the viewer's house existing in the service area SA1 receives the broadcast radio waves coming from the relay station 21. Similarly, the receiver 60 at the viewer's house existing in the service area SA2 receives the broadcast radio waves coming from the relay station 22. Similarly, the receiver 60 at the viewer's house existing in the service area SA3 receives the broadcast radio wave coming from the relay station 23.

  The receiver 60 mounted on a moving body (for example, a vehicle) that moves in the service area SA1 receives broadcast radio waves that arrive from the relay station 21. In addition, the receiver 60 mounted on the moving body that moves in the service area SA2 receives broadcast radio waves coming from the relay station 22. In addition, the receiver 60 mounted on the moving body that moves in the service area SA3 receives broadcast radio waves coming from the relay station 23.

  Network identification information is included in the network information table included in the stream acquired by the receiver 60 provided in the viewer's house and the moving body. This network identification information is, for example, identification information that identifies a region indicating a service area or a combination of the region and a broadcaster. That is, the area (service area) can be specified by the network identification information. Therefore, in this embodiment, network identification information is used as regional information. In FIG. 2, for example, the network identification information included in the stream supplied from the relay station 21 is information indicating the service area SA1. The network identification information included in the stream supplied by the relay station 22 is information indicating the service area SA2. The network identification information included in the stream supplied from the relay station 23 is information indicating the service area SA3.

  For each application server 42, the application provision management server 41 stores a location information management table including a record (row data) in which regional information indicating a service area is associated with location information of the application server 42 on the network 50. In FIG. 2, the location information management table includes, for example, a record in which the network identification information corresponding to the service area SA1 and the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the application server 42-1 are associated with each other. The location information management table includes a record in which, for example, network identification information corresponding to the service area SA2 and the URL of the application server 42-2 are associated with each other. The location information management table includes a record in which, for example, network identification information corresponding to the service area SA3 is associated with the URL of the application server 42-3.

  When the receiver 60 existing in the service area SA1 receives the broadcast radio wave transmitted from the relay station 21 and takes in the broadcast signal, the receiver 60 acquires a stream from the broadcast signal, and obtains program content data and various control information from the stream. Extract. The receiver 60 supplies the network identification information D1 indicating the service area SA1 included in the network information table, which is one of the control information, to the application provision management server 41. Then, the receiver 60 acquires the address (URL) A1 of the application server 42-1 that is the acquisition destination of the application, which is transmitted as a response by the application provision management server 41 that has received the network identification information D1. Then, the receiver 60 acquires an application associated with the program content data from the application server 42-1 specified by the address A1, and executes this application.

  Further, when the receiver 60 existing in the service area SA2 receives the broadcast radio wave transmitted from the relay station 22 and takes in the broadcast signal, the receiver 60 acquires a stream from the broadcast signal, and obtains the program content data and various controls from the stream. Extract information. The receiver 60 supplies the network identification information D2 indicating the service area SA2 included in the network information table to the application provision management server 41. Then, the receiver 60 acquires the address (URL) A2 of the application server 42-2 that is the acquisition destination of the application, which is transmitted as a response by the application provision management server 41 that has received the network identification information D2. Then, the receiver 60 acquires an application associated with the program content data from the application server 42-2 specified by the address A2, and executes this application.

  In addition, when the receiver 60 existing in the service area SA3 receives the broadcast wave transmitted from the relay station 23 and takes in the broadcast signal, the receiver 60 acquires a stream from the broadcast signal, and program content data and various controls from the stream. Extract information. The receiver 60 supplies the network identification information D3 indicating the service area SA3 included in the network information table to the application provision management server 41. Then, the receiver 60 acquires the address (URL) A3 of the application server 42-3 that is the acquisition destination of the application, which is transmitted as a response by the application provision management server 41 that has received the network identification information D3. Then, the receiver 60 acquires an application associated with the program content data from the application server 42-3 specified by the address A3, and executes this application.

  Here, a transmission protocol stack of a broadcast signal for digital broadcasting will be described. As described above, the broadcast facility 10 stores video data, audio data, various control information, and the like in transport stream packets (TS packets), and multiplex-transmits these TS packets in a time division manner. The TS packet includes Program Specific Information / Service Information (PSI / SI) as a section. PSI / SI includes information indicating the type of data stored in the TS packet, information indicating the type of content, and the like. The PSI / SI includes a network information table. The network information table includes information relating to a transmission service such as a modulation frequency and a broadcast service. Further, as described above, the network information table includes network identification information indicating a service area of broadcast radio waves broadcast from a broadcasting station.

  As a TS packet transmission method, there are a method of transmitting data using sections and a method of transmitting data using packetized elementary stream (PES) packets (data stream transmission method). As a system for transmitting data using sections, there are a data carousel transmission system and an event message transmission system. The data carousel transmission method is a method in which the broadcasting facility 10 repeatedly transmits one or a plurality of data (modules) at a constant period. The event message transmission method is a method in which the broadcasting facility 10 transmits a trigger signal to the receiver 60. The event message transmission method is a method used when transmitting a message with a small amount of data. The data stream transmission method is a method used when transmitting data having real-time properties such as video data, audio data, caption data, control information for controlling synchronization with other streams, and the like.

  The specifications of the stream and the broadcast signal are defined by, for example, ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Broadcast) standard.

  In the broadcasting / communication cooperation service, the receiver 60 controls a display area (program area) for program content data and a display area (application area) for applications and distribution content data. The receiver 60 also controls audio output of program content data and audio output of applications and distribution content data. That is, the receiver 60 may be referred to as a program content data, distribution content data, an application display method, and an audio output method (hereinafter, both methods are referred to as output methods) for each broadcast program or asynchronously with the broadcast program. ) To control.

As a display method, for example, only the program area is displayed, the program area and the application area are displayed in an entirely or partially overlapped manner, or the program area and the application area are independently displayed without being overlapped. is there.
As an audio output method, there are methods such as outputting only the audio of the program content data, or outputting the audio of the program content data and the audio of the application and distribution content data independently or mixed.

  A display method and an audio output method requested by the broadcaster to the receiver 60 are defined as a policy. The policy has a plurality of stages depending on the importance of the contents of the program content data, the production, etc., and these stages are called policy levels. That is, the policy level indicates a level for restricting the display and audio output of the application with respect to the display and audio output of the program content data, and is represented by an integer value, for example. For example, a high policy level indicates that the level of application display and audio output restriction is high (strict regulation). For example, when it is desired to preferentially display broadcast program content data with high urgency or importance, the broadcast station sets a high policy level for the program content data. The application presentation control information described above is information indicating a policy level, for example.

Next, the relationship between the policy level and the display method will be described as an example where the policy level is expressed by four levels from “4” to “1”.
First, when the policy level is “4”, the receiver 60 can only display the full screen of the program content data.
When the policy level is “3”, the receiver 60 can display the broadcaster-provided application and the certified application. However, all applications are prohibited from being superimposed on the program content data, and can only be displayed outside the program content.
When the policy level is “2”, the receiver 60 can display the broadcaster-provided application and the certified application. However, only the broadcaster-provided application can be overlaid on the program content. For applications other than broadcaster-provided applications, overlay display on the program content is prohibited, and only display outside the program content is possible.
When the policy level is “1”, the receiver 60 can display the broadcaster-provided application and the certified application. The broadcast provider-provided application and the certified application can be superimposed on the program content.

The voice output method for each policy level is, for example, as follows.
That is, when the policy level is “4” or “3”, the receiver 60 can output audio only for program content data.
When the policy level is “2”, the receiver 60 can output sound only from the broadcaster-provided application. However, the receiver 60 outputs the audio of the program content data and the distribution content data independently by switching.
When the policy level is “1”, the receiver 60 can output the audio of the broadcaster-provided application and the audio of the authorized application. However, the receiver 60 independently outputs the program content data and the sound of each application by switching for both the broadcaster-provided application and the certified application.

Next, the data structure of each information used in the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the application information table included in the stream. The application information table shown in the figure is text data described in an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. The application information table shown in the figure includes application identification information 301 and application control information 302. The application control information 302 in the figure is “AUTOSTART” indicating that the application is automatically started in conjunction with the presentation of the program content data.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the network information table included in the stream. As shown in the figure, the network information table includes network identification information (network_id) 401. Network identification information 401 is regional information.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a location information management table stored and managed by the application provision management server 41. As shown in the figure, the location information management table is a data table in which items of “area name”, “network identification information”, and “location information” are associated with each other. The region name is a region name indicating the service area. The network identification information is, for example, network identification information (network_id) included in the network information table, that is, regional information. The location information is information indicating the location of the application server 42 on the network 50, for example, address information such as a URL.

Next, a configuration of an apparatus included in the broadcast communication cooperation system 1 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic device configuration of the broadcast facility 10. As shown in the figure, the broadcast facility 10 includes a program organization device 111, a program transmission device 112, and a transmission device 113.

The program organizing device 111 generates a stream in which various control information related to the program content is multiplexed on the program content produced by a broadcasting station, a program production company, etc., and supplies the stream to the program sending device 112.
Further, the program organization device 111 supplies the program table data produced by the broadcasting station, the broadcaster-provided application, and the distribution content data to the service server group 40.

  The program transmission device 112 takes in the stream supplied from the program organization device 111. When the stream is a stream of program content, the program transmission device 112 supplies the stream to the transmission device 113 according to the broadcast schedule. Further, when the stream is an emergency content stream, the program transmission apparatus 112 supplies the stream to the transmission apparatus 113 by an event message transmission method, for example.

  The transmission device 113 takes in the stream supplied from the program transmission device 112, converts this stream into a broadcast signal, and supplies it to the transmission antenna 20.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the application provision management server 41. As shown in the figure, the application provision management server 41 includes a location information management table storage unit 411, a region information acquisition unit 412, a location information acquisition unit 413, and a location information supply unit 414.

The location information management table storage unit 411 stores a location information management table. The location information management table storage unit 411 is realized by a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device, for example.
The region information acquisition unit 412 takes in the region information supplied by the receiver 60 and supplies this region information to the location information acquisition unit 413. This area information is, for example, network identification information included in the network information table.

The location information acquisition unit 413 takes in the region information supplied by the region information acquisition unit 412, and uses the region information as a key, from the location information management table stored in the location information management table storage unit 411, a network that matches the key Location information associated with the identification information is extracted. Then, the location information acquisition unit 413 supplies the extracted location information to the location information supply unit 414.
The location information supply unit 414 takes in the location information supplied by the location information acquisition unit 413 and supplies the location information to the receiver 60 that is the transmission source of the region information acquired by the region information acquisition unit 412.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the receiver 60. As shown in the figure, the receiver 60 includes a broadcast signal reception unit 61, a broadcast system separation unit 62, a broadcast system management information acquisition unit 63, a communication unit 65, a communication system separation unit 66, and a communication system management. An information acquisition unit 67, a management information storage unit 68, a storage unit 69, an operation signal reception unit 70, an application execution control unit 71, a voice control unit 72, a voice output unit 73, a display control unit 74, And a display unit 75.

  For example, the broadcast signal receiving unit 61 takes in a broadcast signal obtained by receiving broadcast radio waves with a receiving antenna (not shown) connected to the receiver 60. Then, the broadcast signal receiving unit 61 demodulates the broadcast signal to acquire a stream, and supplies this stream to the broadcast system separation unit 62. This stream is, for example, a transport stream.

The broadcast system separator 62 takes in the stream supplied by the broadcast signal receiver 61 and extracts various information such as program content data from this stream. Specifically, the broadcast system separation unit 62 determines the data type of the TS packet by referring to the PSI / SI included in the TS, and the video data, audio data, network information table, event information table, program identification information, application Various information such as presentation control information is extracted. The video data and audio data extracted here are data included in the program content data. In addition, the broadcast system separation unit 62 extracts the application information table with reference to the section and the PES according to the transmission method of the application information table defined in advance.
That is, the broadcast system separation unit 62 includes a program content data acquisition unit and an application information acquisition unit (AIT acquisition unit).

In addition, the broadcast system separation unit 62 supplies the extracted audio data to the audio control unit 72. In addition, the broadcast system separation unit 62 supplies the extracted video data to the display control unit 74.
The broadcast system management information acquisition unit 63 fetches management information (broadcast system management information) such as a network information table, an event information table, program identification information, application presentation control information, and an application information table from the broadcast system separation unit 62. Management information is stored in the management information storage unit 68.

  The communication unit 65 is a network interface that communicates with each server of the service server group 40 via the network 50. The communication unit 65 takes in the data set by the application execution control unit 71 and set the transmission destination address, and transmits this data to the network 50 using the address of the own apparatus as the transmission source address. Further, the communication unit 65 receives data whose transmission destination address matches the address of its own device, and supplies this data to the communication system separation unit 66, the storage unit 69, or the application execution control unit 71.

The communication system separation unit 66 takes in the data supplied from the service server group 40 via the communication unit 65, determines the type of data, and separates various information from the data according to the data type that is the determination result. Specifically, when the communication system separation unit 66 determines that the captured data is a TS packet, the communication system separation unit 66 extracts various data such as video data, audio data, and program identification information. The video data and audio data extracted here are data included in the distribution content data. Further, the communication system separation unit 66 extracts an application from the captured data. Further, the communication system separation unit 66 stores the extracted video data and audio data in the storage unit 69 or supplies them to the application execution control unit 71. In addition, the communication system separation unit 66 stores the extracted application in the storage unit 69 or supplies it to the application execution control unit 71.
That is, the communication system separation unit 66 includes a distribution content data acquisition unit and an application acquisition unit.

The communication system management information acquisition unit 67 takes in management information (communication system management information) such as program identification information extracted by the communication system separation unit 66 and stores the management information in the management information storage unit 68.
The management information storage unit 68 captures and stores broadcast system management information such as a network information table, event information table, program identification information, application presentation control information, and application information table supplied by the broadcast system management information acquisition unit 63. The management information storage unit 68 captures and stores communication system management information such as program identification information supplied by the communication system management information acquisition unit 67.

The storage unit 69 stores video data and audio data of distribution content data supplied by the communication system separation unit 66 and an application. The storage unit 69 captures and stores each data supplied from the communication unit 65.
The management information storage unit 68 and the storage unit 69 are realized by a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device, for example.

  The operation signal receiving unit 70 receives an operation signal transmitted by an operation device (not shown), extracts a code from the operation signal, and supplies the code to the application execution control unit 71. The operating device includes, for example, a remote control (remote control) device for remotely operating the receiver 60, an operation panel provided in the main body of the receiver 60, and a graphical user interface (Graphical User Interface) associated with the display unit 75. GUI).

The audio control unit 72 causes the audio output unit 73 to output the audio of the program content data, the application, and the distribution content data in accordance with the audio output method specified by the application execution control unit 71.
The voice output unit 73 outputs the voice supplied by the voice control unit 72. The audio output unit 73 is realized by an acoustic device such as an amplifier or a speaker, for example.

The display control unit 74 causes the display unit 75 to display the program content data, the application, and the video or still image of the distribution content data according to the display method designated by the application execution control unit 71.
The display unit 75 displays a video or a still image supplied from the display control unit 74. The display unit 75 is realized by a liquid crystal display device, for example.

  The audio control unit 72, the audio output unit 73, the display control unit 74, and the display unit 75 are reproduction processing units.

The application execution control unit 71 reads the application presentation control information from the management information storage unit 68, and the audio control unit 72 and the display control for outputting the program content data, application, and distribution content data according to the application presentation control information. Part 74.
The application execution control unit 71 reads the network information table from the management information storage unit 68 and acquires the location information of the application server 42 from the application provision management server 41 using the network identification information included in the network identification information.

In addition, the application execution control unit 71 is based on the application information table read from the management information storage unit 68 or the execution instruction by the code supplied from the operation signal receiving unit 70 with respect to the application server 42 indicated by the location information. Request an application.
The application execution control unit 71 controls execution of the acquired application.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the application execution control unit 71 in the receiver 60. As shown in the figure, the application execution control unit 71 includes an area information acquisition unit 711, an application server selection unit (application providing device selection unit) 712, an application request unit 713, and an application acquisition unit 714.

  The regional information acquisition unit 711 reads the network information table from the management information storage unit 68, extracts network identification information that is regional information from the network information table, and supplies the network identification information to the application server selection unit 712.

The application server selection unit 712 takes in the network identification information supplied by the area information acquisition unit 711 and selects the application server 42 associated with the network identification information.
Specifically, the application server selection unit 712 includes a regional information supply unit 7121 and a location information acquisition unit 7122 as functional configurations.
The regional information supply unit 7121 sets the address of the application provision management server 41 as a transmission destination address, and supplies the network identification information to the communication unit 65.
The location information acquisition unit 7122 receives the location information supplied from the communication unit 65 and supplies the location information to the application request unit 713.

  The application request unit 713 takes in the location information supplied by the location information acquisition unit 7122. Then, the application request unit 713 reads the application information table from the management information storage unit 68 and extracts application control information from the application information table. Then, the application request unit 713 generates application request information in which the address indicated by the location information is the destination address when the application control information is data (for example, “AUTOSTART”) instructing the start of execution of the application. Then, this application request information is supplied to the communication unit 65.

  The application acquisition unit 714 loads an application supplied from the communication unit 65 or reads an application from the storage unit 69.

Next, the operation of the application provision management server 41 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the application provision management server 41.
In step S1, the area information acquisition unit 412 waits for area information supplied by the receiver 60 using the address of the application provision management server 41 as a destination address (S1: NO), and takes in area information (S1: YES). The local information is supplied to the location information acquisition unit 413.

  In step S <b> 2 following step S <b> 1: YES, the location information acquisition unit 413 takes in the regional information supplied by the regional information acquisition unit 412. Next, the location information acquisition unit 413 uses the region information as a key, and from the location information management table stored in the location information management table storage unit 411, the location information associated with the network identification information that matches the key. Extract. Next, the location information acquisition unit 413 supplies the extracted location information to the location information supply unit 414.

  Next, in step S <b> 3, the location information supply unit 414 takes in the location information supplied by the location information acquisition unit 413, and receives the location information from the receiver 60 that is the transmission source of the region information acquired by the region information acquisition unit 412. Send to.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the receiver 60.
When the broadcast signal receiving unit 61 fetches the broadcast signal (S21: YES), the process proceeds to step S22.
In step S <b> 22, the broadcast signal receiving unit 61 demodulates the fetched broadcast signal to obtain a stream, and supplies this stream to the broadcast system separation unit 62.

Next, in step S23, the broadcast system separation unit 62 takes in the stream supplied by the broadcast signal reception unit 61, and from this stream, video data, audio data, network information table, event information table, program identification information of program content data. Various information such as application presentation control information is extracted. In addition, the broadcast system separation unit 62 extracts the application information table with reference to the section and the PES according to the transmission method of the application information table defined in advance.
Next, the broadcast system separation unit 62 supplies the extracted audio data to the audio control unit 72 and supplies the extracted video data to the display control unit 74.
Next, the broadcast system management information acquisition unit 63 fetches management information such as a network information table, an event information table, program identification information, application presentation control information, and an application information table from the broadcast system separation unit 62, and stores these management information. The information is stored in the management information storage unit 68.

  Next, in step S24, the application execution control unit 71 reads the application presentation control information from the management information storage unit 68, and outputs the program content data, application, and distribution content data output method according to the application presentation control information. Set in the voice control unit 72 and the display control unit 74.

Next, in step S25, the regional information acquisition unit 711 of the application execution control unit 71 reads the network information table from the management information storage unit 68, extracts the network identification information as the regional information from the network information table, and extracts the network information. The identification information is supplied to the application server selection unit 712.
Next, the regional information supply unit 7121 of the application server selection unit 712 takes in the network identification information supplied by the regional information acquisition unit 711, sets the address of the application provision management server 41 as the transmission destination address, and sets the network identification information. Supply to the communication unit 65.
Next, the communication unit 65 takes in the network identification information supplied by the area information supply unit 7121 and transmits the network identification information to the network 50 using the address of the own device as the address of the transmission source.

Next, in step S <b> 26, the communication unit 65 receives the location information transmitted by the application provision management server 41 and supplies this location information to the location information acquisition unit 7122.
Next, the location information acquisition unit 7122 takes in the location information supplied from the communication unit 65 and supplies this location information to the application request unit 713.
Next, the application request unit 713 takes in the location information supplied by the location information acquisition unit 7122.
Next, the application request unit 713 reads an application information table from the management information storage unit 68, and extracts application control information from the application information table.

  Next, in step S27, the application request unit 713 proceeds to the process of step S28 when the application control information is data (for example, “AUTOSTART”) instructing the execution start of the application. For example, otherwise, the application request unit 713 proceeds to step S31. Move on to processing.

In step S <b> 28, the application request unit 713 generates application request information using the address indicated by the location information as the transmission destination address, and supplies the application request information to the communication unit 65.
Next, the communication unit 65 takes in the application request information supplied by the application request unit 713 and transmits the application request information to the network 50 using the address of the own device as the address of the transmission source.

  Next, in step S <b> 29, the communication unit 65 receives the application transmitted by the application server 42 and supplies this application to the application acquisition unit 714 or the storage unit 69. Then, when the communication unit 65 supplies an application, the application acquisition unit 714 takes in the application. Alternatively, when the communication unit 65 supplies an application, the storage unit 69 stores the application.

  Next, in step S30, the application execution control unit 71 controls the execution of the application acquired by the application acquisition unit 714.

  On the other hand, in the process of step S31, the application execution control unit 71 controls the reproduction of program content data, for example.

  As described above, the application provision management server 41 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a location information management table in which regional information is associated with location information indicating the location of the application server 42 applied to the broadcasting / communication cooperation service. The location information management table storage unit 411 is stored. The regional information is, for example, information indicating a service area or information specifying a broadcasting station. In other words, in the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1, a plurality of application servers 42 are provided corresponding to the region.

  The application provision management server 41 is associated with the regional information from the regional information acquisition unit 412 that acquires the regional information supplied by the receiver 60 and the location information management table stored in the location information management table storage unit 411. A location information acquisition unit 413 for acquiring location information. In addition, the application provision management server 41 includes a location information supply unit 414 that supplies the location information to the receiver 60 that is the transmission source of the regional information.

  With this configuration, when the application control information is, for example, information indicating that the application is automatically started in conjunction with the presentation of the program content data, a large number of receivers are provided for each region. An application acquisition request is made to a specific application server. Therefore, access from a large number of receivers 60 is not concentrated on a specific application server, and there is no possibility of network congestion. Therefore, the receiver 60 can acquire and execute the application stably.

  Note that the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1 in this embodiment uses network identification information included in the network information table as regional information. In addition to this, for example, when the receiver 60 receives a local broadcast (prefectural broadcast), information (for example, a program name and a broadcast station) related to a local broadcast program included in an electronic program guide (EPG) is displayed. Information) may be acquired, and information regarding the local broadcast program may be used as the regional information.

  Further, when the address, zip code, and the like of the manager (viewer) of the device itself are recorded in the receiver 60, the address or zip code may be used as the regional information. These address and zip code information is recorded on, for example, a BS-Conditional Access Systems Card (B-CAS card).

  In addition, you may make it implement | achieve a part of function of the application provision management server 41 which is embodiment mentioned above with a computer. In this case, an application provision management program for realizing the function is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, the application provision management program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system, and the computer system executes it. May be realized. This computer system includes an operating system (OS) and hardware of peripheral devices. The computer-readable recording medium is a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a memory card, and a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk or a solid state drive provided in the computer system. Furthermore, a computer-readable recording medium dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as a computer network such as the Internet, and a communication line when transmitting a program via a telephone line or a cellular phone network. In addition, a server that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server device or a client in that case, may be included. Further, the application provision management program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and further for realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. There may be.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the specific structure is not restricted to that embodiment, The design of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, etc. are included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Broadcast communication cooperation system 10 Broadcast equipment 20 Broadcast antenna 21, 22, 23 Relay station 30 Network 40 Service server group 41 Application provision management server (application provision management apparatus)
42, 42-1 to 42-3 Application server (application providing device)
43 Content Server 50 Network 60-1 to 60-3 Receiver 61 Broadcast Signal Receiving Unit 62 Broadcast System Separation Unit 63 Broadcast System Management Information Acquisition Unit 65 Communication Unit 66 Communication System Separation Unit 67 Communication System Management Information Acquisition Unit 68 Management Information Storage Unit 69 Storage unit 70 Operation signal receiving unit 71 Application execution control unit 72 Audio control unit 73 Audio output unit 74 Display control unit 75 Display unit 111 Program organization device 112 Program transmission device 113 Transmission device 411 Location information management table storage unit 412 Regional information Acquisition unit 413 Location information acquisition unit 414 Location information supply unit 711 Area information acquisition unit 712 Application server selection unit (application providing device selection unit)
713 Application request unit 714 Application acquisition unit 7121 Regional information supply unit 7122 Location information acquisition unit

Claims (5)

An application providing device selection unit that selects an application providing device associated with the regional information;
An application information acquisition unit for acquiring an application information table including application identification information for identifying an application in the broadcast communication cooperation service and application control information for controlling the life cycle of the application from the broadcast stream being received;
When the application control information included in the application information table is data instructing execution start of the application, the application identification information indicates the application providing apparatus selected by the application providing apparatus selection unit. An application request unit that supplies application request information that is an acquisition request of the application;
An application acquisition unit that acquires the application supplied by the application providing apparatus that acquired the application request information;
A reproduction processing unit for reproducing the content data included in the broadcast stream and executing the application;
A receiver comprising: From a network information table included in the broadcast stream, further comprising a regional information acquisition unit that acquires the regional information,
The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the application providing device selection unit selects the application providing device based on the region information acquired by the region information acquisition unit. The application providing device selection unit includes:
A regional information supply unit that supplies the regional information to an external application provision management device;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the location of the application providing device selected based on the regional information by the application providing management device that has acquired the regional information;
The receiver according to claim 1, further comprising: A location information management table storage unit for storing a location information management table in which regional information and location information indicating the location of an application providing device applied to the broadcasting / communication cooperation service are associated;
An area information acquisition unit for acquiring area information supplied from the receiver;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information associated with the region information from the location information management table stored in the location information management table storage unit based on the region information;
A location information supply unit for supplying the location information to the receiver;
An application provision management apparatus comprising: A computer comprising a location information management table storage unit for storing a location information management table in which regional information is associated with location information indicating the location of an application providing device applied to a broadcasting / communication cooperation service,
An area information acquisition unit for acquiring area information supplied from the receiver;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information associated with the region information from the location information management table stored in the location information management table storage unit based on the region information;
A location information supply unit for supplying the location information to the receiver;
Application provision management program to function as.

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