JP6043089B2 - Broadcast communication cooperative receiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus that operates an application in cooperation with broadcasting and communication.

  In recent years, a broadcasting / communication cooperation type system for realizing a service that links broadcasting and communication has been proposed (see Non-Patent Document 1). In this broadcasting / communication cooperation type system, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus is a receiver that receives a digital broadcast, and is assumed to operate an application downloaded from a communication network on the apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, devices having a function of receiving digital broadcasts have various performances such as a digital broadcast dedicated TV, a set top box, a PC (Personal computer) with a tuner for receiving digital broadcasts, and a portable terminal. ing. Some receivers operate a resident application that is an application stored (installed) in advance. There is also a receiver that executes an application using a BML script (see Non-Patent Document 2). Non-Patent Document 2 relates to a mono-media encoding technique in an application execution environment among data broadcasting in current digital broadcasting.

  As an example of an application format that can be executed by the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device in the broadcasting / communication cooperation type system, ARIB-J (ARIB STD-B23) described in Non-Patent Document 2 can be given.

Junji Matsumura and two others, “Examination of personalized system for broadcasting programs linked to Internet distribution information”, Proceedings of Annual Conference of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, 2009, No. 3-8 The Japan Radio Industry Association, “Application Execution Environment for Digital Broadcasting Standard ARIB STD-B23 Version 1.2”, July 29, 2009, p.76-88

  However, since a digital broadcast television is originally produced for viewing, the storage capacity is much smaller than that of a PC or the like unless the storage device is integrated with a hard disk recorder or the like. In addition, the storage capacity of the set top box is much smaller than that of a PC or the like. There may be a case where an application cannot be operated at a desired speed even if an application is operated on such a receiver. Therefore, if an attempt is made to mount a sufficiently large storage device in the receiver, the manufacturing cost becomes high. Therefore, there is a demand for a public broadcasting station that can quickly start an application on a receiver in accordance with various usage forms of viewers.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus capable of quickly starting an application on the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the broadcast communication cooperative reception device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a broadcast communication cooperative reception device that receives a digital broadcast and acquires an application operating on the device from a communication network. Thus, a cache, an application activation information storage unit, an application acquisition unit, a cache memory writing unit, a cache memory search unit, a stored information determination unit, and an application execution unit are provided.

  According to such a configuration, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus stores the application in a cache, and stores application activation information, which is information for activating the application on the apparatus, in an application activation information storage unit. Then, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus acquires the application via the communication network from the location address described in the application activation information for the application by the application acquisition unit. Then, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus writes the application acquired by the application acquisition unit to the cache by the cache memory writing unit, and further searches whether the application is stored in the cache by the cache memory search unit. Then, when the accumulated information determining unit determines that the application is not stored in the cache, the broadcasting / communication cooperative receiving device controls the application acquiring unit to acquire the application. Then, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus executes the application by the application execution unit. Therefore, even if the URL is described in the location address of the application activation information, the acquisition of the application is not started via the communication network when the cached application is activated. The cache in the apparatus is searched, and if it is cached, the application can be activated quickly.

In addition, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus according to claim 1 further includes an application storage unit and a location address rewriting unit.

  According to this configuration, when the application acquisition unit acquires an application that operates on the device in response to an external operation, the broadcast communication cooperative reception device accumulates the application corresponding to the operation in the application storage unit. . That is, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus includes application storage means such as a hard disk in addition to the cache. When the application acquisition unit stores the application corresponding to the operation in the application storage unit by the location address rewriting unit, the broadcast communication cooperative reception device stores the corresponding application stored in the application activation information storage unit. The location address described in the activation information is rewritten to the memory address in the application storage means. Here, if the memory address is not rewritten, the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus refers to the location address of the application activation information stored in the application activation information storage means in order to activate the application stored in the application storage means. In this case, an attempt is made to acquire the URL from the previous URL of the communication network, not from the device already stored. According to the present invention, such a situation can be prevented in advance. When the application acquisition unit acquires an application linked to the digital broadcast program, the broadcast communication cooperative reception apparatus writes the application linked to the program to the cache through the cache memory writing unit. In other words, the acquired application is distributed to different storage means depending on whether the application is linked to the program.

Further, in the broadcast communication cooperative reception device according to claim 2 , in the broadcast communication cooperation reception device according to claim 1, the application acquisition means is predetermined in the program in conjunction with the digital broadcast program. When a plurality of applications that start at different times within a predetermined time period are acquired, the cache information is written to the cache through the cache memory writing unit, and the accumulated information determining unit is written to the cache within the predetermined time period. Based on operation start time information added to a plurality of applications that are started at different times, or operation start time information related to applications inserted in control signals multiplexed in the digital broadcast. Whether or not the application stored in is the execution start timing Determine the application execution unit, was sequentially executing the application is determined to have become the execution start timing stored in the cache.

  According to such a configuration, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus stores a plurality of applications that start at different times within a predetermined time in the cache, and sequentially executes the applications that are determined to have reached the execution start timing. As compared with the case of obtaining the next application to be activated every time the application is terminated, the plurality of applications as a whole can be operated quickly. In addition, since the application can be cached before the execution start timing is reached, the influence of delay due to congestion of the communication network can be reduced. As a result, the viewer can enjoy the service at the timing according to the intention of the side providing the broadcast program and the plurality of applications in the service.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus includes a cache for storing the application downloaded from the communication network, so that the cached application can be activated quickly.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 1, the network-linked digital terrestrial television broadcasting receiving apparatus, in addition cache that stores the application in conjunction with the digital broadcast program, the application storage means for installing the application in response to an external operation Thus, in addition to the application linked to the digital broadcast program, the application can be operated on the apparatus at a timing desired by the viewer.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus stores, in the cache, a plurality of applications that are started at different times within a predetermined time on the service providing side, and is linked to a digital broadcasting program. Thus, the viewer can enjoy the service at a timing according to the intention of the provider.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the broadcast communication cooperation type system containing the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the application for broadcast communication cooperation displayed on the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of a flow when a recommendation service is provided to the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the information memorize | stored in the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) has shown starting application identification information, (b) has shown starting schedule information, respectively. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the application execution process by the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an example of a timing chart at the time of the broadcast communication cooperation receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention sequentially executing three applications contained in 1 service.

  Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus of the present invention will be described. Broadcast / communication cooperation system, 2. 2. Screen display example of a broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus; 3. Example of operation sequence between each server and broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 4. Configuration of broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus; 5. Flow of application execution process It will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, divided into chapters of examples of timing charts at the time of application execution.

[1. Broadcast / communication system]
A conceptual diagram of the configuration of the broadcasting / communication cooperation type system 1 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the broadcasting / communication cooperation type system 1 functionally includes a broadcasting station server group 4, a service provider server group 5, in addition to a broadcasting station 2 that performs current broadcasting using radio waves. And a broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6. In FIG. 1, one broadcasting station 2, one broadcasting station server group 4, one service provider server group 5, and one broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 are illustrated, but there may be a plurality of each.

<Overview of users>
The main users of the broadcasting / communication cooperation type system 1 are, for example, broadcasting stations (broadcasting companies), service providers, and viewers.
The broadcasting station sends out a program accompanied by organization. Broadcast stations distribute programs to viewers by radio waves or the Internet. The broadcast station may provide the service provider with metadata related to the program in order to enhance the broadcast communication cooperation service described later.
A service provider is a person who provides a broadcasting / communication cooperation service, and is composed of an organization or an individual. A service provider is a person who produces or distributes content or an application (broadcast communication cooperation application, hereinafter also simply referred to as an application) for providing a service.
The viewer is a person who views the broadcast program by the broadcast communication cooperative receiving device 6 and enjoys the broadcast communication cooperative service. Hereinafter, the user refers to this viewer.

<Service>
Conventionally, a service refers to a series of programs that can be broadcast as part of a schedule organized by a broadcaster.
The broadcasting / communication cooperation service is an extension of the service concept in the conventional sense.
The broadcasting / communication cooperation service is apparently divided into a stream dependent service and an independent service.
The stream-dependent service includes an AV (Audio Video) stream transmitted by broadcasting or communication, and at least one application (broadcast communication cooperation application) that operates in conjunction therewith. In this stream-dependent service, an application can be started in conjunction with selection / reproduction of an AV stream to be transmitted by communication or channel selection of an AV stream to be transmitted by broadcast on the user side. In this case, in addition to activation and termination by the user, a provider of AV content such as a broadcaster can also control a life cycle such as automatic activation and termination of the application.

  The stand-alone service includes a real video / audio stream and includes at least one application (broadcast communication cooperation application). In this stand-alone service, an application is started by performing an operation selected by the user. Here, an application in an independent service (hereinafter referred to as an independent application) is, for example, an application created by a third party such as an individual who is not a broadcast station or a viewer regardless of a broadcast program, and a clock displayed on a display Etc. When the independent application is approved by the system administrator, it may be an authorized application (hereinafter simply referred to as A application) indicating that the independent application is approved. In this case, the A application is registered in the repository indicating the application accumulation location, and the repository position is known to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6.

  Even in the stand-alone service, when the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 is powered on, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 is provided with a virtual channel for virtually receiving a virtual video / audio stream. When it is conceptually regarded as being, the broadcasting / communication cooperation service can be considered as a service (also referred to as a virtual service in this sense) that integrates a stream dependent service and an independent service.

<Broadcasting station>
The broadcast station 2 sends out broadcast content by broadcast waves, for example. The broadcasting station 2 can multiplex a signal for activating a broadcasting / communication cooperation service on a broadcasting wave.
In the present embodiment, as an example, on the broadcast content transmission side, an application activation information file (hereinafter referred to as an APL activation information file) is transmitted by a specific module transmitted by the data carousel method. APL activation information is information necessary to activate an application. The APL activation information can be created based on, for example, an AIT (Application Information Table) defined by ARIB-J (ARIB STD-B23). For example, in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 that has received the APL activation information described as “AUTO START”, the viewer can activate the application without performing a special operation for activating the application. When the APL activation information is filed as in this embodiment, it can be expressed in text format in XML format. In addition, when it is set as the form transmitted in the table | surface of SI (Service Information: Program arrangement | sequence information), APL starting information can be made into binary expression.

<Broadcasting station server group>
The broadcasting station (broadcasting company) configures and manages the broadcasting station server group 4 or both of the broadcasting station server group 4 and the service provider server group 5. That is, a broadcasting station (broadcasting company) may also serve as a service company.
As shown in FIG. 1, the broadcast station server group 4 includes a content management server 41, a user management server 42, a content distribution server 43, a broadcast station service server 44, a DB 45, and an API 46.

The content management server 41 manages programs and metadata. The program management function of the content management server 41 is a function for managing a program that has already been broadcast or a program that will be broadcast in the future. You may make it provide the program management server which performs only this program management.
The metadata management function of the content management server 41 is a function for managing metadata related to a program. You may make it provide the metadata management server which performs only this metadata management. Here, the metadata indicates, for example, a program title, a program ID, a program summary, performers, broadcast date and time, script, subtitles, commentary, and the like.

  The user management server 42 is a server that manages viewer data. The user management server 42 may be configured by a specific server such as a member information server for a specific viewer who has become a member such as a net club, or may be included in a part of the management function of the content management server 41. May be configured.

The content distribution server 43 is a server for distributing content (for example, programs and metadata).
The broadcast station service server 44 is a server used when a broadcast station (broadcaster) provides a service to a service provider. Examples of services provided by broadcast stations (broadcasters) to service providers include social network services operated by broadcast stations, blog services for each broadcast program, and the like.

  The DB 45 is a data storage unit, and includes a part for storing content and metadata owned by a broadcasting station, and a general database. Note that the data stored in the DB 45 can be accessed only by the managing company (broadcasting company) and cannot be accessed by others.

  An API (Application Programming Interface) 46 is an API for providing data in response to a request from the service provider server group 5. The API format is determined in advance by agreement between the broadcasting station and the service provider. Communication between the broadcast station server group 4 and the service provider server group 5 can be in a REST (Representational State Transfer) format, for example. The API 46 is commonly provided by the servers included in the broadcasting station server group 4, but the API provided by each server does not have to be completely the same.

<Service provider server group>
The service provider configures and manages the service provider server group 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the service provider server group 5 includes an application server 51, a service server 52, a content distribution server 53, a DB 54, and an API 55.

  The application server 51 is a server that manages and distributes an application (hereinafter also referred to as a receiver application) that operates on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6.

  The service server 52 is a server for providing a service in response to a request from the receiver application. The service server 52 represents, for example, a multilingual subtitle server, a speech speed conversion voice server, a social TV server, a recommendation server, a program review server, a bookmark server, and the like.

The multilingual subtitle server provides a service for displaying a menu so that desired subtitles can be selected from multilinguals when video / audio content (hereinafter referred to as AV content) is presented to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6. It is a server for.
The speech speed conversion voice server is a server for providing a service for converting the original speed of spoken language to low speed and outputting the voice when the AV content is presented to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6.
The social TV server is a server for providing a service capable of displaying a viewer's post such as a tweet on the screen of the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 by overlaying it.
The recommendation server is a server for providing a service that informs viewers of recommended VOD (Video On Demand) program information as a recommended program from a program library provided on the Internet.
The program review server is a server for providing a service capable of displaying on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 comments and impressions and review evaluation points written by viewers who actually viewed the program.
The bookmark server is a server for providing a service for registering information on recommended programs so that the viewer can view the recommended program instead of immediately viewing it when the viewer is notified of the recommended program.

The content distribution server 53 is a server for providing content in response to a request from the receiver application. The content distribution server 53 represents, for example, a VOD distribution server, a caption distribution server, a multi-view distribution server, or the like.
The VOD distribution server is a server for distributing AV contents of VOD programs recommended for viewers, for example.
The subtitle distribution server is a server for distributing subtitles that overlap the AV content when the AV content is presented to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6.
The multi-view distribution server is a server for distributing a multi-view camera image that is displayed in an overlapping manner with the AV content presented to the broadcast communication cooperative receiving device 6. Multi-view camera images will be described later.

  The DB 54 is a data storage unit that stores content, metadata, data created by a service provider, user data, applications, and the like. Note that the data stored in the DB 54 can be accessed only by the managed service provider and cannot be accessed by others.

  The API 55 is an API for providing an application, content, and service in response to a request from the receiver application. The API 55 is different from the API 46 described above, and each server included in the service provider server group 5 is provided in common for each service provider. However, it goes without saying that the API may be different for each service provider and for each server.

<Broadcast communication cooperative receiver>
The broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 receives a digital broadcast and acquires an application operating on the device from a communication network, and includes, for example, a TV, a set top box, a PC (Personal computer), a portable terminal, and the like. Is done. The broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 includes a basic function 61, a broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62, and an API 63.

The basic function 61 includes a function of receiving and displaying current broadcasting such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and data broadcasting, and a function of connecting to the Internet.
The broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 operates based on the API 63. That is, an OS (Operating System) installed as an application execution environment in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 executes the predetermined API 63 to realize the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62. The broadcast communication cooperation function 62 includes a broadcast communication cooperation basic function and an optional function.
The basic function for broadcasting / communication cooperation is a function necessary for realizing the broadcasting / communication cooperation service. The basic functions for broadcasting / communication cooperation include, for example, an application control function, a drawing function, a synchronization control function, a security function, and the like.

The application control function indicates a function as an application manager that controls a life cycle such as activation and termination of an application.
The drawing function indicates a function of drawing an application at a predetermined position on the screen of the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 presenting AV content.
The synchronization control function indicates a function of performing control to synchronize the presentation time of the AV content received in real time by broadcasting and the presentation time of the application and content acquired via the communication network N. That is, the synchronization control function compares the time stamp of the data input as the broadcast stream with the time stamp of the data input as the communication stream, and matches the predetermined point of the broadcast stream with the corresponding point of the communication stream. I do.

  The security function indicates a function for performing control to change a way of displaying an application screen according to a predetermined policy level. For example, when an application approved by the system administrator is an A application and a non-approved application is a general application other than the A application, if the application is an A application, the AV content presented to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 is displayed. Overlap is permitted, and if it is a general application, control is performed such that overlap is not permitted.

The optional function is implemented as necessary, and examples thereof include a function for realizing a mobile terminal cooperation service.
The mobile terminal cooperation service includes a service that simplifies the procedure for individual viewers to log in to an ASP (Application Service Provider) by linking a mobile terminal and a stationary TV for a program recommendation service, for example. Including.

  The application 64 is downloaded, for example, from the application server 51 to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 and uses the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 through the API 63. All the applications 64 cannot access functions unique to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 without going through the API 63.

  The API 63 is defined in advance so that the operation of the application 64 is the same without depending on the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6, and is an API common to the broadcast communication cooperative reception devices 6. Hereinafter, an example of an API used by the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 as the API 63 other than the API defined in ARIB-J will be described.

(1) getRunningApplications (): Get information about running applications Return value:
apps []: List of running applications (each application)
application_id: Application ID (null for general applications)
running_level: Execution level (authentication result and user setting status)
(2) queryApplicationInfo (): Acquires information about the specified application (3) saveApplicationToCache (): Saves the application on the server in the cache (4) queryApplicationInCache (): Searches for the application in the cache Arguments:
application_id: Application ID issued by the certification body
(5) getCurrentSTC (): obtains the current STC value (6) getCurrentPositionInProgram (): obtains the elapsed time from the start of the program (7) delayStreamPresentation (): starts the delayed presentation of the broadcast stream being presented (8 ) GetCurrentDelay (): Get the amount of delay time (from the original presentation time) of the broadcast stream being presented

[2. Example of screen display of broadcasting / communication cooperation receiver]
Here, an example of the relationship between the broadcasting / communication cooperation service, the application, and the content, and an example of the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 will be described through the screen display example shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application displayed on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the viewer is watching the AV content (digital broadcast program) 100 on the broadcast / communication cooperation receiving device 6, for example, by performing a remote control operation, The main menu 101 is displayed on the screen.

In this example, a subtitle 102, a comment 103, a recommendation 104, and a bookmark 105 are displayed on the main menu 101 displayed in a horizontally long toolbar shape at the bottom of the screen.
The caption 102 is a button for selecting a service to be displayed on the menu so that a desired caption can be selected from multiple languages.
The comment 103 is a button for selecting, for example, a service for posting a tweet or a comment.
The recommendation 104 is a button for selecting a service for displaying recommended VOD program information.
The bookmark 105 is a button for selecting a service for registering recommended program information so that the recommended program can be viewed later, not immediately.

  By scrolling the main menu 101 displayed in FIG. 2A horizontally, it is possible to select other services other than the above services. Examples of other services include a multi-view service. In the multi-view service, when AV content is presented to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6, a subject in the AV content is viewed from a plurality of camera images captured by a plurality of cameras respectively arranged at different positions. The camera image selected by the user is distributed as a multi-view camera image, and is displayed overlapping the AV content.

  FIG. 2B shows a screen display example when the multi-view service is selected by horizontally scrolling the main menu 101 displayed in FIG. Here, one multi-view service includes a multi-view button (application) (not shown) on the main menu 101, still images 106, 107, and 108, which are multi-viewer selection data, and a multi-view video 109 (FIG. 2 ( c)). Among these, still images and moving image content are distributed from a multi-view distribution server as the content distribution server 53.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the AV content 100 represents a state around the soccer goal viewed from the attack side in the soccer game. Further, the still image 106 shows a state of an attack side supporter in the auditorium, the still image 107 shows a state of supervision of the attacking team, and the still image 108 shows a state of the front of the goalkeeper. Here, when the viewer selects, for example, the still image 108, the video in front of the corresponding goalkeeper overlaps with a part of the entire display screen of the AV content 100 as shown in FIG. Are displayed as a moving image 109 synchronized with the AV content 100 and reproduced.

  The synchronization of the video in front of the goalkeeper and the video (AV content 100) around the soccer goal viewed from the attacking side is due to the broadcast communication cooperation function 62 of the broadcast communication cooperation reception device 6. Specifically, this is based on the synchronization control function as the basic function for broadcasting / communication cooperation of the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62. An application operating on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can use the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 (see FIG. 1) by calling, for example, getCurrentSTC () or delayStreamPresentation () as an API.

[3. Example of operation sequence between each server and broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus]
Here, an example of the relationship between the broadcasting / communication cooperation service, the application, and the content, and an example of the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 will be described through the operation sequence example shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a flow when a recommendation service is provided to the broadcast communication cooperative reception device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  When the recommendation 104 is selected by the viewer from the main menu 101 displayed in FIG. 2A, illustration is omitted, but as the type of recommendation, for example, “recommended program related to the program currently being viewed” , “Recommended programs for you”, “Topic programs on the net”, “Programs that are popular on the net” are displayed, and information on the corresponding programs can be selected by scrolling for each item. . In this state, when the viewer selects, for example, “recommended program related to the program currently being viewed”, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 requests the service provider server group 5 to request the recommended program. (S1).

  Then, the service provider server group 5 requests the interface section (API 46: see FIG. 1) of the broadcast station server group 4 for a “recommended program related to the program currently being viewed” by the viewer (see FIG. 1). S2). Then, the broadcasting station server group 4 transmits the corresponding recommended program (recommended program) and the like to the service provider server group 5 (S3). Then, the service provider server group 5 transmits the requested data (recommended program) or the like to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 (S5). The service provider server group 5 can also transmit to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 as necessary when there is an application (linked application) linked to the requested data (recommended program) (S4). .

  The above flow is an example, and the present invention is not limited to operating in the order described above. Further, there may be a case in which communication is performed only between the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 and the service provider server group 5. For example, the service provider server group 5 may acquire necessary content from the broadcast station server group 4 in advance.

  In addition, for example, when the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6 acquires an application from communication each time the application is executed (when acquired on the fly), an application server based on information multiplexed on the received broadcast wave An application request is made to the service provider server group 5 such as 51 (S1). Then, in the service provider server group 5, in response to a request from the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6, the application server 51 notifies the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6 of the storage location of the application and transmits the application (S4). Then, when the application is downloaded, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 activates and executes the application, requests content from the service provider server group 5 such as the content distribution server 53 (S1), and acquires the content ( S5).

[4. Configuration of broadcast communication cooperative receiver]
In addition to the tuner, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 includes, for example, an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device such as a memory and a hard disk, and an interface device that transmits and receives various types of information to and from the outside. As shown in FIG. 4, broadcast receiving means 601, broadcast signal analyzing means 602, video / audio decoding means 603, data broadcast decoding means 604, APL activation information storage means 605, communication transmitting / receiving means 606, APL activation information acquisition means 607, list control means 608, application control means 609, application storage means 610, application acquisition means 611, application cache 612, application execution means 613, and composite display means 614 I have.

  Here, if each of the means 601 to 614 is classified into only one of the basic function 61 of the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 and the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 shown in FIG. A broadcast receiving means 601, a broadcast signal analyzing means 602, a video / audio decoding means 603, a data broadcast decoding means 604, and a communication transmitting / receiving means 606 are provided, and the broadcast communication cooperation function 62 is an APL activation information storage means 605. APL activation information acquisition means 607, list control means 608, application control means 609, application storage means 610, application acquisition means 611, application cache 612, application execution means 613, and composite display means 614 . However, this is an example, and it cannot be simply separated.

  The broadcast receiving means 601 receives digital broadcast content (program data) transmitted by broadcast waves via an antenna ATN, and is a general digital broadcast tuner. The broadcast receiving unit 601 outputs the received / demodulated broadcast content to the broadcast signal analyzing unit 602.

  The broadcast signal analyzing unit 602 separates the video / audio stream, the SI (program arrangement information), and the data broadcast content multiplexed in the broadcast content received by the broadcast receiving unit 601, of which the video / audio stream is In addition to outputting to the video / audio decoding unit 603, the data broadcast content is output to the data broadcast decoding unit 604. Here, the SI is processed into a program table by a program table generating unit (not shown), and is presented to the output unit 630 via the composite display unit 614 when the user operates the operation input unit 620 such as a remote controller. . Note that the broadcast signal analysis unit 602 can switch the channel to be presented by a channel switching instruction from the operation input unit 620. Here, the output unit 630 presents video and audio, and includes a display monitor such as a liquid crystal display, a speaker, and the like.

  The video / audio decoding unit 603 decodes the video / audio stream separated by the broadcast signal analysis unit 602. When the video / audio is encoded by, for example, the MPEG2 encoding method, the video / audio decoding unit 603 outputs the video / audio data in an output format that can be decoded and displayed to the composite display unit 614. Output.

  The data broadcast decoding unit 604 decodes the data broadcast content separated by the broadcast signal analysis unit 602. The data broadcast decoding unit 604 has a function of extracting a file from a module transmitted by the data carousel method of data broadcasting, and the data broadcast content. And a BML browser function for browsing. The data broadcast decoding unit 604 outputs the decoded data broadcast content to the composite display unit 614.

  In the present embodiment, the data broadcast decoding unit 604 extracts the APL activation information file from the specific module transmitted by the data carousel method, and stores it in the APL activation information storage unit 605. In addition, when the APL activation information file is updated, the data broadcast decoding unit 604 notifies the application control unit 609 to that effect.

  The APL activation information storage unit 605 stores APL activation information, and includes, for example, a general memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device such as a hard disk. Here, the APL activation information is information for activating the application on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6, and includes, for example, an application identifier (ID), an application location (location address such as a URL), and the like. Information for specifying the application and additional information for controlling the application. This APL activation information is extracted by the data broadcast decoding means 604 or acquired by the APL activation information acquisition means 607.

  In the present embodiment, the APL activation information storage unit 605 also stores a list of identification information (activation application identification information) of applications being activated on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6. This activated application identification information is created by the application control means 609. An example of the activated application identification information is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the activation application identification information 110 includes an application ID 111, an activation source 112, and a service type 113 as table items.
The application ID 111 indicates identification information that uniquely identifies the application. Since it is assumed that a plurality of applications of the same type are started, this identification information is not an application type or an application name but an object ID.
The activation source 112 is information indicating whether the cause of activation of the application is APL activation information or another application. In the case of another application, for example, the application ID (parent content ID) is described. An example of such a child application is a decoder. In addition, when a plurality of applications including a background processing application are libraryed for one service, a certain application may start another application.
The service type 113 is information indicating whether a service including an application is a stream dependent service or an independent service.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5A, three applications are currently running in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6, and the application "001" and the application "002" are applications in the stream dependent service. Thus, the application “001” is activated by the APL activation information, and the application “002” is activated by the application “001”. In addition, it can be seen that the application “003” is an application in the stand-alone service and is activated by the APL activation information.

  In the present embodiment, the APL activation information storage unit 605 also stores activation schedule information indicating activation schedules of a plurality of applications that are sequentially activated within one service provided on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6. did. The activation schedule information can be created by the application control unit 609 based on the operation start time information added to the application actually acquired by the application acquisition unit 611 in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6. Alternatively, for example, it is possible to send to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 including the operation start time information relating to the application created in advance on the broadcast station side and inserted in the control signal multiplexed into the broadcast content. An example of the activation schedule information is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the activation schedule information 120 includes, as items, a name 121, an application ID 122, a URL 123, a start time 124, an end time 125, and a service ID 126.
A name 121 indicates the name of the application. Detailed information such as version and creator may also be included.
The application ID 122 is identification information for uniquely identifying an application, and is represented by, for example, an object ID.
The URL 123 is information indicating the address of the application server 51 where the application is stored.
The start time 124 indicates the time when the application starts to start. Here, the time is shown as an example, but it is also possible to use a time code that matches the time stamp of the broadcast content in addition to the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.
The end time 125 indicates the time when the application ends execution. Here, the time is shown as an example, but it is also possible to use a time code that matches the time stamp of the broadcast content in addition to the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.
The service ID 126 indicates information for identifying a stream-dependent service including an application and AV content (broadcast content) linked with the application. This service ID is represented by, for example, identification information of AV content and a program name linked to each other, or identification information of a broadcasting station.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the service ID “001” includes three applications (A, B, C). When the application A ends, the application B starts, and when the application B ends, It can be seen that the application C is activated.

Returning to FIG. 4, the description of the configuration of the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 will be continued.
The communication transmitter / receiver 606 transmits / receives communication data to / from the service provider server group 5 via the communication network N, and is, for example, a communication control board.

  The APL activation information acquisition unit 607 acquires APL activation information from a known URL via the communication transmitting / receiving unit 606 and the communication network N, and stores it in the APL activation information storage unit 605. In the present embodiment, when the user performs an operation of selecting an application, the APL activation information acquisition unit 607 transmits the APL activation information about the application to a known URL via the communication transmission / reception unit 606 and the communication network N. And stored in the APL activation information storage means 605.

  Further, when the APL activation information acquisition unit 607 receives an APL activation information rewrite instruction from the application acquisition unit 611, the APL activation information storage unit 605 stores the corresponding APL activation information (external The location address (URL) described in the APL activation information related to the application according to the operation is rewritten to the memory address in the application storage means 610 in the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6. In this sense, in this embodiment, the APL activation information acquisition unit 607 functions as a location address rewriting unit. Of course, the location address rewriting means may be provided separately, or other means may also be used. The application storage unit 610 indicates a disk device such as a hard disk.

  Based on the APL activation information stored in the APL activation information storage unit 605, the list control unit 608 uses a list of applications that can be used in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 as an application list (hereinafter simply referred to as a list). It is created and output to the composite display means 614. This list control means 608 can be realized by, for example, a resident application launcher. The list control unit 608 can display a list to be presented by a list display / selection instruction from the operation input unit 620 and can accept the selection operation. Here, an application that operates on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 can use the function of the list control unit 608 (broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62: see FIG. 1) by calling, for example, getRunningApplications as an API.

  Note that the launcher is not a broadcast communication cooperation application acquired through communication. This launcher may be installed in advance in the application storage unit 610 or the like at the time of shipment, for example. In the present embodiment, the list control unit 608 excludes applications that are performing background processing from the list among applications that can be used in the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6.

  The application control unit 609 is an application manager that controls a life cycle such as activation and termination of an application, and includes an activation control unit 710, an end control unit 720, and a storage management unit 730.

The activation control unit 710 controls the activation of the application.
The activation control means 710 is an application loaded in a memory when the application to be activated is a linked application linked to a digital broadcast program and “AUTO START” is described in the APL activation information. Start and start. The activation control unit 710 activates the application according to the user's operation when “AUTO START” is not described in the APL activation information of the application to be activated.
When “PRESENT” is described in the APL activation information, the activation control unit 710 maintains the state (standby) loaded in the memory if the application is not activated, and pauses if the application is operating In a state of being loaded into the memory (standby).

The end control means 720 controls the end of the application.
When “DESTROY” is described in the APL activation information, the termination control means 720 performs post-processing necessary to terminate the application whose life cycle is controlled by the APL activation information, and then executes the application. finish.
When “KILL” is described in the APL activation information, the termination control unit 720 forcibly terminates the application whose life cycle is controlled by the APL activation information.
When “KILL ALL” is described in the APL activation information, the termination control means 720 is not limited to the application whose life cycle is controlled by the APL activation information, and is linked to broadcasting / communication regardless of linked / non-linked. All applications running on the receiving device 6 are forcibly terminated.
The termination control means 720 can terminate the application in accordance with the user operation.

  The accumulation management unit 730 controls writing, reading, and erasing as processing related to application accumulation. The storage management unit 730 includes a cache memory search unit 731, a cache memory writing unit 732, and a storage information determination unit 733.

The cache memory writing unit 732 writes the application acquired by the application acquisition unit 611 into the application cache 612. In the present embodiment, the cache memory writing unit 732 writes the conjunction application acquired by the application acquisition unit 611 in the application cache 612. Here, the application cache 612 indicates a cache memory.
An application operating on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 uses the function of the cache memory writing unit 732 (broadcasting communication cooperation function 62: see FIG. 1) by calling, for example, saveApplicationToCache () as an API. Can do.

  The cache memory search means 731 searches whether the application is stored in the application cache 612. Note that an application that operates on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can use the function of the cache memory search unit 731 (broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62: see FIG. 1) by calling, for example, queryApplicationInCache () as an API. it can.

When it is determined that the application is not stored in the application cache 612, the accumulated information determination unit 733 controls the application acquisition unit 611 to acquire the application. If the cache memory searching unit 731 does not hit the cache, the accumulated information determining unit 733 determines that the application is not stored, and if the cache memory searching unit 731 has a cache hit, the application is stored. to decide.
Further, the accumulated information determination unit 733 determines whether or not there is an execution timing application in the application cache 612. If there is no execution timing application, the accumulated information determination unit 733 notifies the application acquisition unit 611 to acquire the application. If there is an application at the execution timing, the application execution unit 613 is notified to execute the application.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the accumulated information determination unit 733 is based on the application operation start time information in the activation schedule information 120 (see FIG. 5B) stored in the APL activation information storage unit 605. Whether or not the application stored in 612 has reached the execution start timing is determined. As a result, the application execution means 613 can sequentially execute the applications stored in the application cache 612 and determined to have reached the execution start timing.

  When the application acquisition unit 611 acquires an application that operates on the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6 in response to an operation from the outside, the application storage unit 610 stores an application corresponding to the operation. It consists of a general hard disk. The application storage unit 610 stores an unlinked application or an independent application that is not linked to a digital broadcast program. The non-linked application stored in the application storage unit 610 is a non-linked application from the beginning acquired by the application acquiring unit 611, and was originally a linked application acquired by the application acquiring unit 611. And those that have become non-linked applications as a result of being stored and stored by the user. When an unlinked application is accumulated in the application accumulation unit 610, the corresponding APL activation information stored in the APL activation information storage unit 605 is rewritten by the APL activation information acquisition unit 607 as described later.

  The application acquisition unit 611 acquires the application from the location address (URL) described in the APL activation information of the application via the communication transmission / reception unit 606 and the communication network N under the control of the application control unit 609. . In this embodiment, when the application acquisition unit 611 acquires a linked application linked to a digital broadcast program, the application acquisition unit 611 stores the linked application in the application cache 612 through the cache memory writing unit 732 under the control of the application control unit 609. To do.

  When the application acquisition unit 611 acquires a plurality of applications that start at different times within a predetermined time in the program in conjunction with the digital broadcast program, the application acquisition unit 611 writes the application acquisition unit 611 in the application cache 612 through the cache memory writing unit 732. .

  When the application acquisition unit 611 acquires a non-linked application in response to an operation from the outside, the application acquisition unit 611 stores it in the application storage unit 610 under the control of the application control unit 609. In this case, if no special processing is performed, the application control unit 609 refers to the corresponding APL activation information stored in the APL activation information storage unit 605 in an attempt to activate the unlinked application stored in the application storage unit 610. Then, the storage location of the application described in the corresponding APL activation information indicates the URL ahead of the communication network N. In order to prevent such a situation, the application acquisition unit 611 outputs an APL activation information rewrite instruction to the APL activation information acquisition unit 607. As a result, the unlinked application stored in the application storage unit 610 can be activated.

  The application cache 612 is a cache that stores the application acquired by the application acquisition unit 611. Here, the cache is a means for realizing a storage hierarchy, and is constituted by a cache memory such as a semiconductor memory. For example, in the case of a linked application, after the APL activation information is stored in the APL activation information storage unit 605, the conjunction application that is activated with the APL activation information is stored in the application cache 612. At this time, it is not necessary to rewrite the APL activation information of the conjunction application. That is, unlike the application storage unit 610, the application cache 612 stores a location address (URL) described in the APL activation information of the application stored in the APL activation information storage unit 605 when the application is stored. ) Is not required to be rewritten.

  The application execution unit 613 executes an application, and broadcasts the linked application stored in the application cache 612 or the unlinked application stored in the application storage unit 610 under the control of the application control unit 609. Operate on the cooperative receiver 6. Data of an application operated by the application execution unit 613 is output to the composite display unit 614.

  Here, the application execution means 613 can execute a plurality of applications simultaneously. In this case, a plurality of applications belonging to the same service can be executed, or a plurality of applications belonging to different services can be executed. Further, when a plurality of applications are executed, at least one of the applications may perform background processing.

  Further, when data or content (moving image, audio, still image) is included in the service to which the application belongs as the application is executed, these are also executed in the service. These are called application data. Application data and the like are output to the composite display means 614. For example, when the application execution unit 613 executes the application and the application running on the apparatus requests the video / audio content from the content distribution server 53 or the like via the communication network N, the communication stream of the video / audio content is transmitted. It is acquired, reproduced, and output to the composite display means 614. Similarly, when an application running on the apparatus requests and obtains image data such as a still image or audio data, the data is output to the composite display unit 614. Note that application data and the like are also stored in the application cache 612.

  The composite display unit 614 includes video / audio data notified from the video / audio decoding unit 603, data broadcast screen (data broadcast content) notified from the data broadcast decoding unit 604, list data notified from the list control unit 608, and application execution. The application data notified from the means 613 is synthesized and output to the output means 630 as image data and audio data. Note that the synthesis of image data can be realized by, for example, a general GDC (Graphic Display Controller).

  Also, the synthesis of audio data is, for example, of the audio / video data notified from the audio / video decoding means 603 in the same manner as the actual situation of a general baseball broadcast program and the switching or synthesizing process of the sub audio service. It means that one of the audio data and the audio data included in the application data is output to the output unit 630 as being switchable or synthesizable by a user operation.

The composite display unit 614 includes a broadcast content buffer (not shown) and a communication content buffer, and can synchronize.
An application that operates on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can use the synchronization control function as the broadcasting / communication cooperation function 62 (see FIG. 1) by calling, for example, getCurrentSTC () or delayStreamPresentation () as an API. .

[5. Application execution process flow]
Here, the flow of application execution processing by the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (see FIG. 4 as appropriate).
First, the application control means 609 of the broadcast communication cooperative reception apparatus 6 acquires APL activation information from the APL activation information storage means 605 by the activation control means 710 (step S11). Then, the application control unit 609 determines whether or not the application is cached in the application cache 612 by the cache memory search unit 731 (step S12). If the application is not cached (step S12: No), the activation control unit 710 acquires the application from the URL described in the APL activation information (step S13). Specifically, when the activation control unit 710 notifies the application acquisition unit 611 of the URL, the application acquisition unit 611 requests and acquires the application from the application server 51 of the URL via the communication network N.

  Then, the application control unit 609 writes the acquired application in the application cache 612 by the cache memory writing unit 732 (step S14). Subsequent to step S14 or when the application is cached in step S12 (step S12: Yes), the application control means 609 has an application timing application in the application cache 612 by the accumulated information determination means 733. Is determined (step S15). If there is an execution timing application (step S15: Yes), the activation control means 710 activates the application to be executed (step S16). On the other hand, if there is no execution timing application (step S15: No), the application control means 609 returns to step S11.

[6. Example of timing chart during application execution]
Here, an example of a timing chart when an application is executed by the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (refer to FIG. 4 as appropriate). FIG. 7 is a timing chart example when the broadcast communication cooperative reception apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention sequentially executes three applications included in one service.

  First, some assumptions are described in order to give a concrete explanation. As an example, it is assumed that the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 stores the activation schedule information 120 illustrated in FIG. In addition, it is assumed that a viewer who uses the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 views the AV content included in the service ID “001” from 19:00 to 19:30. Further, it is assumed that 19:05 to 19:30 have a predetermined time width for the service so that the three applications (A, B, and C) are sequentially executed. Specifically, AV content broadcast from 19:00 to 19:30 has one program corner from 19:05 to 19:10 following the prologue, and then every 19:10 to 10 minutes. The program corners are switched, and correspondingly, the three applications (A, B, and C) are started in order to link the broadcast content and the communication content.

  Further, for example, it is assumed that the APL activation information of each of application A, application B, and application C is embedded in one APL activation information file that is multiplexed with the broadcast content. In this case, for example, in the APL activation information file transmitted from 19:00 to 19:05, “PRESENT” is described for application A, application B, and application C, so that the broadcast communication that received the APL activation information file is received. The cooperative receiving device 6 can acquire each application, load each application into a memory, and put it in a standby state. In this way, the broadcast / communication cooperation receiving device 6 acquires, for example, the application A and loads it in the application cache 612 by the control signal continuously transmitted from the beginning of the program. In addition, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can also acquire the application B and the application C in advance according to the activation schedule information 120 and load them in the application cache 612.

  Further, for example, by describing “AUTO START” for the application A in the APL activation information file transmitted at 19:05, the application control means 609 of the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 can execute each application at 19:05. Can be brought into a desired state. For example, when the start time of the application A is reached, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 activates the application A.

  For example, in the APL start-up information file transmitted at 19:10, “DESTROY” for application A, “AUTO START” for application B, and “PRESENT” for application C are described. The application control means 609 can set each application to a desired state at 19:10. For example, at the start time of the application B, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can end the application A and start the application B quickly.

  Similarly, by updating the APL activation information file, when the start time of the application C is reached, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can terminate the application B and quickly activate the application C.

  If the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 ends the application A and starts acquiring the application B via the communication network N, the application B cannot be started immediately. However, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment includes the application cache 612, whereby the application B is acquired and loaded into the application cache 612 before the start time of the application B. Thus, quick start-up becomes possible.

  In addition, when the cached application B is activated, acquisition of the application B is not started via the communication network N even if the URL is described in the APL activation information of the application B. Cache memory (application cache 612) can be searched. If the application B is stored in a storage unit such as an internal hard disk, it is necessary to rewrite the URL in the APL activation information of the application B to a local address (internal hard disk directory). Since the conjunction application is stored in the application cache 612, when the conjunction application is cached, such rewriting is not necessary due to the characteristics of the cache.

  As described above, according to the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus 6 of the present embodiment, the application cache 612 that stores the application downloaded from the communication network N is provided. Therefore, the application control unit 609 quickly starts the cached application. be able to.

  In addition, the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6 acquires an application from the communication network N when the application is executed (acquired on the fly), and for example, discards the ended application when the application ends when the broadcast program ends. can do. Therefore, in the broadcasting / communication cooperation type system 1, the use form that does not store (install) the application linked to the broadcast program is standard, so that the storage capacity of the set-top box or the like is much smaller than that of the PC or the like. The application can be quickly activated even on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus.

  In addition, the broadcast communication cooperative reception device 6 includes the application storage unit 610 separately from the application cache 612, so that in the broadcast communication cooperative reception device of a type having a sufficient storage capacity, as an extension of the above-described standard usage mode, It is also possible to use a form of storing (installing) an application not necessarily linked to a broadcast program. Therefore, the application can be quickly activated on the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 in accordance with various usage forms of the viewer who is the user of the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 1.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 can be realized by operating a general computer including a tuner according to a program that functions as each of the above-described units. This program (program execution control program of the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving apparatus) can be distributed via a communication line, or can be distributed by writing on a recording medium such as a DVD or CD-ROM. .

In the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 of the present embodiment, it is described that the application is automatically started when the viewer receives the APL start information described as “AUTO START” while viewing the digital broadcast program. However, the following functions (1) and (2) may be added.
(1) While presenting a digital broadcast, the user presses an H button (broadcast / communication cooperation service screen transition button) provided in advance on the remote controller, thereby transitioning to the broadcast / communication cooperation service screen.
(2) A broadcasting / communication cooperation service screen transition-dedicated API for changing from BML to the broadcasting / communication cooperation service screen is newly provided and prepared. While presenting digital broadcast, the user presses the D button (data broadcast transition button) provided on the remote control to transition to the data broadcast screen, and then, on the data broadcast screen, the broadcast communication cooperation service screen transition dedicated When the user performs an operation of selecting a dedicated button provided corresponding to the API, the screen changes to the broadcast communication cooperation service screen.

  In the present embodiment, the broadcast content transmission side has been described as transmitting the APL activation information file by the specific module transmitted by the data carousel method. However, when the APL activation information is transmitted by broadcasting, the event information table A descriptor for APL activation information may be added to (EIT: Event Information Table) and transmitted, or a dedicated elementary stream (ES: Elementary Stream) for APL activation information is broadcasted TS (Transport Stream) may be multiplexed, or only information indicating the location address of the APL activation information may be transmitted. Furthermore, the APL activation information file may be transmitted from a communication network instead of broadcasting.

  In addition, after acquiring the application on the fly, for example, when the application ends in accordance with the end of the broadcast program, the broadcasting / communication cooperation receiving device 6 inquires the user before deleting the ended application from the application cache 612 as it is. However, if it is desired to store, even an application linked to a broadcast program may be stored (installed) in the application storage unit 610, and then the application may be deleted from the application cache 612.

1 Broadcasting / communication cooperation type system 2 Broadcasting station (digital broadcasting transmitter)
4 broadcast station server group 41 content management server 42 user management server 43 content distribution server 44 broadcast station service server 45 DB
46 API
5 Service Provider Server Group 51 Receiver Application Server 52 Service Server 53 Content Distribution Server 54 DB
55 API
6 Broadcast / communication cooperation receiving device 61 Basic function 62 Broadcast / communication cooperation function 63 API
64 applications (broadcast communication cooperation applications)
601 Broadcast receiving means 602 Broadcast signal analyzing means 603 Video / audio decoding means 604 Data broadcast decoding means 605 APL activation information storage means 606 Communication transmission / reception means 607 APL activation information acquisition means 608 List control means 609 Application control means 610 Application storage means 611 Application acquisition Means 612 Application cache 613 Application execution means 614 Composite display means 620 Operation input means 630 Output means 710 Start control means 720 Termination control means 730 Accumulation management means 731 Cache memory search means 732 Cache memory write means 733 Accumulated information judgment means A733 Antenna N Communication network

Claims (2)

A broadcast communication cooperative reception device that receives a digital broadcast and acquires an application that operates on the device from a communication network,
A cache for storing the application;
Application activation information storage means for storing application activation information that is information for activating the application on the device;
Application acquisition means for acquiring the application from a location address described in the application activation information for the application via a communication network;
Cache memory writing means for writing the application acquired by the application acquisition means to the cache;
A cache memory search means for searching whether an application is stored in the cache;
If it is determined that the application is not stored in the cache, the storage information determination unit that controls the application acquisition unit to acquire the application;
Application execution means for executing the application;
Equipped with a,
When the application acquisition unit acquires an application that operates on the device in response to an operation from the outside, an application storage unit that stores an application according to the operation;
When the application acquisition unit stores an application corresponding to the operation in the application storage unit, the location address described in the corresponding application activation information stored in the application activation information storage unit is stored in the memory in the application storage unit Address rewriting means for rewriting the address,
Further comprising
When the application acquisition unit acquires an application linked to the digital broadcast program, the application acquisition unit writes the application linked to the program into the cache through the cache memory writing unit . When the application acquisition unit acquires a plurality of applications that start at different times within a predetermined time in the program in conjunction with the digital broadcast program, the application acquisition unit writes the cache into the cache through the cache memory writing unit. ,
The accumulated information judging means is operation start time information added to a plurality of applications that are written in the cache and started at different times within the predetermined time, or multiplexed in the digital broadcast. Determining whether or not the application stored in the cache has reached the execution start timing based on the operation start time information regarding the application inserted in the control signal being
The broadcast communication cooperative receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application execution unit sequentially executes the applications stored in the cache and determined to have reached the execution start timing.

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