JPH0637934A - Information distribution control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retrieve the offered information of plural transmitting main body, and to collect a desired program without depending on the time or a channel number by informing a retrieved result at the time of a retrieving request from a receiving main body. CONSTITUTION:At the time of establishing or changing individual program information, each transmitter 11-13 informs the program information to a communication network 2 by using a D channel/control plane, thereby a transmitting main body request processing part 23 holds the latest program information in a program information holding part 21. When a receiving main body 3 requests the retrieval of the program information, a receiving main body request processing part 22 retrieves the information stored in the program information holding part 21, and informs the retrieved result (latest program information) to the receiver 3. Then, when the receiving main body 3 requests the registration of the program identification code and priority order of the desired program to the communication network 2, the receiving main body request processing part 22 holds the registered content in a receiving main body information holding part 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution control system, and more particularly to an information distribution control system capable of collecting desired information from a transmitting entity according to a request of a receiving entity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this type of information distribution control system, for example, those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are known.

First, in both figures, reference numerals 11, 12, 1
Reference numeral 3 is a transmitting entity, 20 is a radio wave / communication line, 3 is a receiving entity, 31 is a receiving / accumulating device, and 32 is a receiving display device.

The receiving entity (viewer) 3 grasps the provision schedule information (program information) of the transmitting entities 11 to 13 in advance by using another medium (newspaper, magazine, etc.), and the receiving entity 3 matches the predetermined channel number. Therefore, the desired provision information (program) is received.

[0005] In this case, the communication form is when using radio waves (broadcasting etc.) or when using a communication line (CA
It is not related to TV etc.).

FIG. 4 shows a case of so-called answering machine recording, in which a desired program is received by registering a plurality of times, channel numbers, and reception times in the reception / accumulation device 31 from previously acquired program information. it can. For example,
Recording is performed on the basis of time such that channel A is 30 minutes at time t1, channel B is 1 hour at time t2, and channel C is 30 minutes at time t3.

FIG. 5 shows a case of so-called program identification code broadcasting, in which a program identification code is registered / held in the reception / storage device 31. The transmitting entity 11 sends a corresponding program identification code prior to sending the program. Then, when the received program identification code matches the registered code, the reception / accumulation device 31 records the program. Further, the reception / accumulation device 31 constantly monitors the program identification code and can follow the change of the transmission time or the transmission contents.

[0008]

However, in the information distribution system configured as described above, the one shown in FIG. 4 is a so-called fixed time reception system, and the contents of the program cannot be confirmed. Due to the extension of the broadcast time of the relay program, the program transmission time after that is postponed, and the program information is distributed offline and delivered to the receiving entity well before the program transmission time, so it will be transmitted after that for the convenience of the transmitting entity. There is a problem that the receiving entity cannot reliably receive the desired program, such as when the content is changed.

The one shown in FIG. 5 is intended to solve such a problem. However, if the channel number corresponding to one sender is not matched, the program identification code cannot be constantly monitored. It was not possible, and it was a so-called fixed channel reception system. Therefore, there remains a problem that a desired program cannot be collected from programs transmitted by a plurality of transmitting entities.

Therefore, the present invention has been made based on such a situation, and the object of the present invention is to search the provided information (programs) of a plurality of senders, to determine the time and channel number. It is to provide an information distribution control method capable of collecting a desired program without depending on any of them.

[0011]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention firstly provides a plurality of senders who continue to send the provided information, a receiver who receives the provided information, and the sender. A mechanism for holding the latest program information for each transmitting entity in the communication network, and a communication network interposed between the transmitting entity and the receiving entity; It is characterized in that a mechanism for registering information and a mechanism for notifying a search result when a search request is made from a receiving entity are provided.

The present invention further includes a plurality of transmitting entities that continue to send the provided information, and a receiving entity that receives the provided information.
A communication network interposed between the transmission subject and the reception subject, and a connection state, a program identification code being connected, and a plurality of viewing-desired program identification codes corresponding to each reception subject in the communication network A mechanism for holding the priority order, a mechanism for comparing the program identification code notified by the transmitting entity prior to the start or the end of the program with the program identification code for the program desired by the receiving entity or the program identification code being connected by the receiving entity, and the program A mechanism that extracts all the receiving entities whose program identification code notified by the transmitting entity prior to the start is held in the viewing-desired program code of the receiving entity, and the transmitting entity and the receiving entity when the receiving entity is in the unconnected state. Connect
A mechanism for switching the transmitting entity only when the receiving party is connected and the program identification code notified by the transmitting party has a higher viewing priority than the connected program identification code; A mechanism is provided for extracting and disconnecting all connected receiving parties.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, various mechanisms having the above characteristics are provided in a communication network interposed between a plurality of transmitting entities that continue to send the provided information and a receiving entity that receives the provided information. Since it is provided, the latest program information of the sending entity can be searched online, and by applying the program identification code to multiple sending entities, the receiving entity does not depend on the time and channel number of the desired program. Will be able to collect.

[0014]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information distribution control system according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numerals 11, 12, and 13 respectively indicate a transmission subject 1 (channel A), a transmission subject 2 (channel B), and a transmission subject 3 (channel C).

A communication network 2 is used, and the communication network 2 includes a program information holding section 21,
The reception subject request processing unit 22, the transmission subject request processing unit 23, the identification code comparison processing unit 24, the reception subject information holding unit 25, the connection / disconnection processing unit 26, and the information transfer processing unit 27.

Further, the reception subject 3 side is provided with the reception storage device 3
1 and a reception display device 32.

Here, the communication network 2 is an N-IS.
This is an example of DN or B-ISDN, and the control in the connection / disconnection processing unit 26 is performed by the D channel or control plane set between the communication network 2 and the transmitting entities 11 to 13 and the receiving entity 3. used. Further, the control in the information transfer processing unit 27 uses the B channel or the information plane set between the communication network 2 and the transmitting entities 11 to 13 and the receiving entity 3.

The program information holding section 21 is composed of the identification code of the program transmitted by each transmitting entity, the transmitting time, the transmitting time, the program content, the name of the main performer, etc. for each of the plurality of transmitting entities 11 to 13. Program information to be held is held. That is, at the time when each transmitting entity 11 to 13 decides or changes individual program information, the D channel / control plane is used to notify the communication network 2 of the program information (only the difference information when changing) at any time. As a result, the transmission subject request processing unit 23 holds the latest program information in the program information holding unit 21 according to this notification.

On the other hand, the receiving entity 3 uses the D channel / control plane to request program information retrieval, registration of the program identification code desired to be viewed, connection / disconnection with the transmitting entity corresponding to the channel number, etc. The reception subject request processing unit 22 that has received the request cooperates with other processing units in the communication network 2 to execute the request from the reception subject 3. That is, when the receiving entity 3 requests the search of the program information, the receiving entity request processing section 22 searches the information stored in the program information holding section 21, and the search result (latest program information) is sent to the receiving entity. Notify 3. In this case, unlike the case of paper media, the program information can be searched for information using keywords.

The receiving entity 3 is the communication network 2
When the registration request of the program identification code and the viewing priority order that the user desires to view is requested, the reception subject request processing unit 22 holds the registration content in the reception subject information holding unit 25. In this case, the operability of registration can be improved by directly registering the search result as a program desired to be viewed.

Further, the receiving subject information holding unit 25 holds information for each receiving subject 3, and at the time of connection, the connected state, the program identification code being connected at the time of connection (all 0s when not connected), and A plurality of viewing-desired program identification codes are held in pairs with viewing priority orders corresponding to the identification codes.
Here, the program identification code classifies the field / theme by each digit bit and gives a certain rule, and the transmitting entities 11 to 13 specify the program by specifying the total number of digits according to the content of the program and receive it. The main body 3 not only specifies all digits, but also uses a specific symbol (for example, a) in the sense that the bit comparison is not required, thereby making it possible to select a program with a wide range of themes to be viewed without specifying the program.

Further, the transmission subjects 11 to 13 notify the communication network 2 of the program identification code prior to the transmission of the program. As a result, when the transmission subject request processing unit 23 is notified of the program identification code and the program start from the transmission subjects 11 to 13, the transmission subject request processing unit 23 searches the program information holding unit 21 for a matching program identification code and finds the matching code. If it exists, the identification code comparison processing unit 24 is notified of the program identification code, the transmission subject number, and the program start. If there is no matching program identification code, the senders 11 to 13 are notified of the error.

The identification code comparison processing section 24 refers to the viewing-desired program identification code in the receiving entity information holding section 25 corresponding to each receiving entity, and identifies the receiving entity having the program identification code that matches the notified program identification code. Check the connection status. If they are not connected, they are extracted as a connection target. In the connected state, the viewing priority corresponding to the program identification code being connected is compared with the viewing priority corresponding to the notified program identification code, and only when the latter is high (when low, and If they are the same, they are not targeted), and the receiving entity is extracted as a switching target. Further, the identification code comparison processing unit 24 connects the transmission subject number, the program identification code of the program, the extracted reception subject number group of the connection target, and the extracted reception subject number group of the switching target to the connection / disconnection processing unit. 26 as a connection / switch request.

According to the notified information, the connection / disconnection processing unit 26 connects the two in the case of the connection target and switches the transmission subject in the case of the switching target. After the connection / switching is normally executed, the connection / disconnection processing unit 26
Changes the connection state of the receiving subject information holding unit 25 to the connecting state, and changes the connected program identification code to the code notified from the identification code comparison processing unit 24.

The transmitting entities 11 to 13 notify the communication network 2 of the program identification code prior to the end of the program. Accordingly, when the transmission subject request processing unit 23 is notified of the program identification code and the program end from the transmission subjects 11 to 13, it searches the program information holding unit 21 for a matching program identification code, and the matching code exists. If so, the identification code comparison processing unit 24 is notified of the program identification code, the transmission subject number, and the program end. If there is no matching program identification code, the sender notifies the error.

Further, the identification code comparison processing unit 24 refers to the connected program identification code existing in the reception subject information holding unit 25 corresponding to each reception subject, and identifies the reception subject that matches the notified program identification code. Extract as a disconnection target.

Then, the identification code comparison processing unit 24 notifies the connection / disconnection processing unit 26 of the transmission subject number, the program identification code, and the extracted reception subject number group of the disconnection target as a disconnection request.

Here, the connection / disconnection processing unit 26 disconnects the reception subject of the disconnection target according to the notified information, and after the disconnection process is normally executed, the connection information of the reception subject information holding unit 25 is not stored. Connected and clear the connected program identification code.

When the reception subject 3 notifies the communication network 2 of the desired viewing channel number, the reception subject request processing unit 22 refers to the program information holding unit 21 and determines the transmission subject number corresponding to the desired viewing channel number. After extracting
The connection / disconnection processing unit 26 is notified of the reception subject number and the transmission subject number. The connection / disconnection processing unit 26 unconditionally connects both of the notified reception subject number and the transmission subject number, and sets the number identification code to all 1 (highest priority),
The information is written in the reception subject information holding unit 25 together with the state of being connected. In this case, it is not disconnected until the receiving entity 3 issues a disconnection request.

FIG. 2 shows a series of processes in the case of transmitting the provided information from the transmitting entity 1 to the receiving entity 3 in response to the request of the receiving entity 3 in the above-mentioned configuration,
It operates as follows. The receiving entity 3 registers a plurality of desired identification codes and priorities <1>, the transmitting entity notifies the identification code <2>, and compares the identification code held in the receiving entity information holding unit 25 with the notified identification code <3>, all receiving entities in the unconnected state with matching identification codes are extracted <4>, program information of the transmitting entity 1 is transmitted <5>, one-way information transfer in the communication network 2 <6>, Reception at the receiving entity 3 <7>.

FIG. 3 shows a series of processes in the case of selecting a program provided from a plurality of senders 1 according to the priority of the receiver 3 and transmitting it to the receiver 3. It operates as follows. Registering a plurality of desired identification codes and priorities in the receiving entity 3 <1>, sending entity 11
In <2>, the identification code held in the receiving subject information holding section 25 is compared with the notified identification code <3>, the program information I of the sending subject 11 is sent <4>, the communication network 2 One-way information transfer in <5>, reception in reception entity 3 <6>, transmission entity 12
Identification code notification in <7>, receiving subject information holding unit 2
5 compares the identification code held in 5 with the identification code held in the program information holding unit 21 <8>, extracts all receiving entities with high priority as switching targets <9>, transmitting entity 1
Switching <10>, sending of program information II of the sending entity 12 <11>, unidirectional information transfer in the communication network 2 <12>, reception of the receiving entity 3 <13>.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained, as is clear from its configuration and operation.

(1) In the so-called distributed communication mode in which the transmitting entity continues to send out programs without being synchronized with the receiving entity, the transmitting entity has program information in the same communication network as the program distributing By rewriting the program information when the sending time / contents are changed and the receiving entity searches for the program information online, the receiving entity can always know the latest program information.

(2) Since the communication network connects the transmission subject and the reception subject according to the program identification code designated by the reception subject, even if a plurality of transmission subjects change the sending time / sending contents, the communication network changes them. You can follow along and transfer the desired program.

(3) Since the receiving party designates a program having a wide range of themes to be watched and a priority order, the communication network switches the transmitting party according to the priority order, so that the receiving party does not grasp the program information. Also, you will be able to watch the programs of the desired theme with high priority without fail.

(4) Since the receiving entity and the exchange controlling the receiving entity can be connected for the transfer time of the provided information, the data transfer traffic to the communication network can be reduced.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the information distribution control method of the present invention, it is possible to retrieve program information of a plurality of transmission subjects and collect desired programs without depending on any of time and channel number.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information distribution control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one mode of operation of the information distribution control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another mode of operation of the information distribution control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional information distribution control system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another example of a conventional information distribution control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11 to 13 ... Sending entity, 2 ... Communication network, 2
0 ... Radio / communication line, 21 ... Program information holding unit, 22 ... Receiving subject request processing unit, 23 ... Sending subject request processing unit, 24 ...
Identification code comparison processing unit, 25 ... Receiving subject information holding unit, 2
6 ... Connection / disconnection processing unit, 27 ... Information transfer processing unit, 3 ... Reception subject, 31 ... Reception storage device, 32 ... Reception display device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication network comprising: a plurality of senders who continue to send the provided information; a receiver who receives the provided information; and a communication network interposed between the sender and the receiver. In addition, a mechanism for holding the latest program information for each transmitting entity, a mechanism for registering the information at the time of determining and changing the program information by the transmitting entity, and notifying the retrieval result at the time of a retrieval request from the receiving entity An information distribution control system characterized in that a mechanism is provided. 2. The communication network, comprising: a plurality of senders that continue to send the provided information, a receiver that receives the provided information, and a communication network interposed between the sender and the receiver. In addition, a mechanism for holding a connection status, a program identification code being connected, a plurality of program identification codes desired to be viewed and a viewing priority corresponding to each receiving entity, and a program identification code notified by the transmitting entity prior to the start or end of the program And the program identification code of the receiving entity or the program identification code of the receiving entity connected, and the program identification code notified by the transmitting entity prior to the start of the program is held in the desired program code of the receiving entity. A mechanism that extracts all the receiving entities that are present, and connects the sending entity and the receiving entity when the receiving entity is not connected, and the receiving entity is connecting and A mechanism that switches the sender only when the notified program ID code has a higher viewing priority than the connected program ID code, and extracts all receivers connected to the sender by the program end notification of the sender. An information distribution control method, which is provided with a disconnecting mechanism.