JPH07212330A - Two-way broadcasting system and receiver for two-way broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the access from viewers outside reception time and to discriminate plural questions by broadcasting time limit information multiplexingly from a broadcasting station and inhibiting the transmission to a reply destination outside a response possible period on a reception side. CONSTITUTION:A two-way program urging the response of a receiver is broadcasted from the side of a broadcasting station and the information on the response from a reception side is transmitted to a prescribed response reply destination through a telephone line. At the time of the two-way program from the broadcasting station, the time limit information permitting the response from the reception side is multiplexed on a main broadcasting signal and a broadcasting is performed. On the reception side, separation and reproduction means 31 and 32 separating and reproducing the time limit information multiplexed to the received broadcasting signal and a means 20 fetching the output as the time limit information are provided. Within the only period stipulated by the fetched time limit information, a transmission means 33 is operated and the information on a response is transmitted to a broadcasting side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a two-way broadcasting system and a two-way broadcasting receiving apparatus for responding to a two-way program using a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in telephone shopping that is broadcast on television, a response to a product (telephone requesting a purchase) is given, for example, at a specific time displayed in a superimpose manner, generally in normal business hours. The phone operator handles the purchase request in detail.

On the other hand, in the case of a viewer participation type quiz program, when the number of questions is plural, a considerable interval is provided between the questions and the answer to the questions is accepted through the telephone line. In addition, which question the received answer is for is usually determined by the time when the answer is received.

[0004]

However, the reception time of telephone shopping is not always remembered by the viewer because it is displayed, for example, in the superimpose mode and does not remain after the broadcast. There is a problem that the person who wants to purchase will pay useless telephone charges because he / she will not be able to respond if he / she accesses it outside the reception hours.

On the other hand, in the case of a quiz program, if the interval between questions is short, the viewer may access the next question with the intention of answering the previous question and accept invalid access. This may increase the load on the telephone line and equipment. For this reason, questions can be asked at a high tempo, and viewer-participating programs that are sequentially tabulated cannot be broadcast in the past.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a two-way broadcasting system and a receiving device capable of preventing access from a viewer outside a predetermined acceptance time and capable of identifying a plurality of questions. It is in the place of providing.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an interactive broadcasting system according to the present invention, a broadcasting station side broadcasts an interactive program prompting a response of a receiver, and information of a response from the receiver is transmitted. In the two-way broadcasting system in which the above is transmitted to a predetermined reply destination through a telephone line,
From the broadcasting station, at the time of the interactive program, the main broadcast signal is multiplexed with time limit information permitting a response from the receiving side and broadcast, and at the receiving side, it is indicated by the time limit information. It is characterized in that transmission of the response to the reply destination via the telephone line is prohibited except during the response-enabled period.

On the broadcast side, when the interactive program includes a plurality of questions, the identification information of the questions is multiplexed with the broadcast signal for broadcasting.

Further, the bidirectional broadcasting receiver according to the present invention, when the reference numerals of the embodiments described later are made to correspond, the input means 34 for inputting the information of the response to the question from the broadcasting side, and the inputted response. In the receiving device of the bidirectional broadcast, which is provided with the transmitting means 33 for transmitting the information of 1 to the broadcasting side through the telephone line 2, the separating / reproducing means 31, 32 for separating and reproducing the time limit information multiplexed in the received broadcast signal.
And a means 20 for fetching the output of the separating / reproducing means as time limit information, and operating the transmitting means 33 only within a period defined by the fetched time limit information to transmit the response information to the broadcasting side. It is characterized by doing so.

[0010]

With this configuration, the broadcasting station sends the time limit information for setting the time for which the response from the receiving side is permitted, and the response from the receiving side which receives this is the time set by the broadcasting side. Only those that meet the limiting conditions. Therefore, invalid access is prevented. Further, when a plurality of questions are set in the broadcast program, identification information for each question is multiplexed. Therefore, by including this identification information in the response information, it is possible to easily identify at the reply destination whether or not it is a response to the question.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the bidirectional broadcasting method and receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. In this example, DTMF is used as a multi-frequency signal that constitutes sub-broadcast information.
Use signals.

That is, on the broadcast station side, the program-related information as the sub-broadcast information is multiplexed (mixed) with the main broadcast audio signal and broadcasted as a signal structure in the DTMF signal format. On the other hand, on the receiving side, the DTMF signal is separated / decoded from the received broadcast audio signal, the program-related information is reproduced, stored in the memory, and used for telephone communication with a service station or for program reservation.

First, the DTMF signal will be described with reference to FIG.

[DTMF signal] The DTMF signal system is 1
One is an audio band signaling scheme in which two tones of a low frequency group (low group) and the other of a high frequency group (high group) are simultaneously sent. Each of these low and high frequency groups consists of tones of four audio band frequencies, no two of which are in articulatory relation.

In the DTMF signal, the four frequencies of the low group are, for example, 697 Hz, 770 Hz, 852 Hz and 941H.
z, and the four frequencies of the high group are, for example, 1209 Hz,
It is set to 1336 Hz, 1477 Hz, and 1633 Hz. Then, each of the low group and the high group is combined with one frequency, and each DTMF composed of the combination is combined.
Signals (each of these DTMF signals are hereinafter referred to as function signals) are assigned to push buttons "0" to "D" arranged in 4 rows and 4 columns, as shown in FIG.

In telephone communication, only 12 out of 16 functional signals of DTMF signals are generally used for subscriber address (telephone number) signals. That is,
"0" used as a so-called numeric keypad on the telephone
The function signals of the above 12 combinations correspond to the numbers "9" and the symbols "*" and "#". Figure 2
The function signals corresponding to the letters "A", "B", "C", and "D" indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3 are not generally used in Japan, but data using the push button (PB) dial. It is only used for transmission.

When line selection is performed by telephone number using such a DTMF signal, the signal transmission conditions are as shown in FIG.
It is prescribed as shown in.

Due to the combination of the two frequencies and the transmission conditions as described above, the DTMF signal rarely occurs in the natural world and can be clearly distinguished from natural sounds such as human voice. It is possible to multiplex (mix) the broadcast audio signal and broadcast it, and separation on the receiving side is relatively easy.

By the way, the DTMF signal is also used in a multi-function telephone, and by pressing a button on a push-button telephone from outside, a message recorded on the telephone at home can be played back or an answering machine can be recorded. You can record, play back, and delete the message.

[Broadcast of a plurality of sub-broadcast information] At the transmitting side of this embodiment, that is, the broadcasting station side, when transmitting the sub-broadcast information, "A", which is not used for PB line selection, as described above, Among the function signals meaning “B”, “C”, and “D”, the function signals “A”, “B”, and “C” are used as the transmission start information of the sub broadcast information, and the function of “D” is used. The signal is used as transmission end information.

Since there are three types of transmission start information, in this example, three types of sub broadcast information can be transmitted separately. In other words, the three types of sub broadcast information are
Any of the function signals of “A”, “B”, and “C”,
It is broadcast by being separated from the function signal of "D".

For example, for information relating to response access to interactive programs, for example, sub-broadcast information such as the telephone number of the access destination (reception telephone number) and the transmission rate, the function signal "A" is used as the transmission start information and the transmission ends. It is transmitted between the function signal of information "D". Similarly, for sub-broadcast information related to environment settings such as the end limit of the telephone number of the answering side and the current time setting, the received data is cleared between the function signal of "B" and the function signal of "D". The information regarding the information is multiplexed and broadcast as a signal sandwiched between the "C" function signal and the "D" function signal.

On the receiving side, a numerical value sandwiched between any one of the function signals "A", "B" and "C" as the transmission start information and the function signal "D" as the transmission end information. The symbol data is regarded as a sub-broadcast data string (information group) and is separately stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory.

[0024] For example, as information regarding response access, a reception telephone number 0990 is received for a receiver whose interactive television standard version is 00.
In the case of permitting access to -1234-1234 at a transmission rate of 300 bps, the sub-broadcast information is such that the data string composed of each functional signal of the DTMF signal such as 00 # 0990 * 1234 * 1234 is "A". It is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted in a state of being sandwiched between the function signal and the function signal of "D". Here, the first 00 in the data string is
The interactive television standard version indicates 00 (transmission rate 300 bps), and the numerical data after the symbol "#" is the reception telephone number.

For the receiver whose interactive television standard version is 01, the telephone number 0990-
In the case of permitting access to the 1234-1235 at a transmission rate of 1200 bps, the data string formed by the respective functional signals of the DTMF signal such as 01 # 0990 * 1234 * 1235 is "A" and "D". It is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and sent out in a state of being sandwiched between the function signal of "." Here, the first 01 in the data string is
The interactive television standard version indicates 01 (transmission rate 1200 bps), and the numerical data after the symbol "#" is the reception telephone number.

In the data string relating to the response access as described above, the symbol "#" represents a separator (separation of individual data) and the symbol "*" represents a pause.

As information relating to environment setting, when access is restricted only to viewers who have a specific telephone number (subscriber number), for example, when access is permitted only to the number ending with 0, 0 When the data string composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as # 0 permits access to only the number with the telephone number ending with 1, the each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 0 # 1 The composed data strings are respectively multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and transmitted while being sandwiched between the "B" function signal and the "D" function signal. In this case, the number “0” before the symbol “#” means that access is permitted from a telephone number having the number next to the symbol “#” as the end.

Further, when permitting access to only the numbers having an even number at the end of the telephone number, each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 0 # 0 * 0 # 2 * 0 # 4 * 0 # 6 * 0 # 8 is used. The composed data string is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal and sent in a state of being sandwiched between the "B" function signal and the "D" function signal. Here, the symbol "*" means a logical sum.

Further, as time information for reservation of reception of broadcast programs and reservation of recording, for example, the current time is 199.
In the case of 7:00 on Tuesday, December 15, 3rd, a data string composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 1 # 1993121520700 is composed of the function signal of “B” and the function signal of “D”. It is multiplexed between the main broadcast audio signals and transmitted in a state of being sandwiched between them.

In this embodiment, in the case of a bidirectional broadcast program, the broadcast station (net station) and the broadcast program are from 000 to
The identification numbers (ID) of 999 and 0000 to 9999 are assigned respectively, and the questions in the program are I of 000 to 999.
D is given.

For example, from the broadcasting station whose ID is 008,
If the question with ID 002 is broadcast at 6:38 pm on December 15, 1993 in the interactive program of 4321, 00 # 008 * 4321 * 002 * 199312151
A data string composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 838 is sent while being sandwiched between the function signal of "B" and the function signal of "D".

When the response of this interactive broadcast program is permitted to be accessed for only 5 minutes from the present time, the data string constituted by each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 10 # 5 has the function of "B". It is sent by being sandwiched between the signal and the function signal of "D".

When the response of this interactive broadcast program is permitted to access from 11:00 to 11:30 pm on the same day, it is composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 11 # 1993121523002330. The data string to be transmitted is sandwiched between the function signal of “B” and the function signal of “D” and transmitted.

The symbols "#" and "*" in the data string relating to the above-described interactive broadcast program represent separators.

Then, as information (command) relating to clearing of the received data, for example, when clearing the access number restriction, the data string formed by each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 99 # 0 is "C". It is sandwiched between the function signal of "1" and the function signal of "D" and is transmitted during or at the end of the program.

When the reception telephone number is cleared, the data string composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 99 # 1 is composed of the "C" function signal and the "D" function signal. It is sandwiched between and sent at the end of the program.

Further, in this embodiment, when the above-mentioned absolute access permission time limit is set, a command for setting a timer on the receiving side is broadcast prior to the limit. For example, if the current time of the timer is December 1, 1993,
When it is set at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, the 5th, the data string composed of each function signal of the DTMF signal such as 0 # 1993121521830 is composed of the function signal of “C” and the function signal of “D”. It is multiplexed between the main broadcast audio signals and transmitted in a state of being sandwiched between them.

As described above, the function signals of "A", "B", "C" and "D" which are not used as the selection signal of the telephone line are transmitted to the transmission start information and the transmission end information of the sub broadcast information. Thus, even if the DTMF sound is transmitted, for example, in a scene where a telephone call is made in a drama, it is not confused with the program-related information. In addition, the sub broadcast information can be transmitted and received with certainty.

[Structure of Receiving Device] Next, referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, in the case of applying the multiplex broadcasting receiving device according to the present invention to a television receiver compatible with a bidirectional broadcast program. An example will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of one embodiment of the multiplex broadcast receiving apparatus of this example. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is a signal system of the television receiver, and 20 is a control system thereof.

Broadcast radio waves received by the antenna 1 are supplied to the tuner 11. A channel selection signal is supplied from the control system 20 to the tuner 11, and a broadcast signal of a desired channel is selected by the tuner 11 and converted into an intermediate frequency signal. This intermediate frequency signal is supplied to the intermediate frequency circuit 12. The intermediate frequency circuit 12 includes a video demodulator 13 and an audio demodulator 14, and demodulates a video signal and an audio signal.

The video signal S13 from the video demodulator 13 is supplied to the picture tube 16 via the video signal processing circuit 15.
The audio signal S14 from the audio demodulator 14 is supplied to the audio multiplex decoder 17, and the bilingual signal or the stereo signals SL and SR are decoded. Then, these signals SL and SR are supplied to the left and right speakers 19L and 19R through the amplifiers 18L and 18R, respectively.

Audio signal S14 from the voice demodulator 14
Is also transmitted via the pre-processing circuit 31 to the DTMF decoder 3
2 is supplied. The DTMF decoder 32 constantly searches the DTMF signal in the input signal, and when detecting the DTMF signal, decodes which function signal the DTMF signal is. That is, the numbers "0" to "9", "#", "*", and "A" to "D" are decoded. Then, the decoded data is supplied to the control system 20.

In the case of this example, a widely available commercially available DTMF decoder is used as the DTMF decoder 32. The pre-processing circuit 31 is provided to perform pre-processing so that the DTMF signal can be decoded with higher accuracy even when a commercially available DTMF decoder is used as the DTMF decoder 32. That is, the pre-processing circuit 31 uses the audio signal S14
For, remove frequency components other than the DTMF signal,
The input signal of the DTMF decoder 32 is a signal allowed by a commercially available DTMF decoder, and is composed of a filter circuit.

Further, in this embodiment, a modem (modulator / demodulator) 33 for data communication is provided in order to support interactive broadcast programs such as responses to viewer participation programs. The telephone line 2 is connected to the line connection terminal Line of the modem 33, and the telephone 3 is connected to the telephone terminal Tel. The modem 33 is connected to the system bus 200 of the control system 20. Further, the data from the modem 33 is supplied to the DTMF decoder 32 so that the DTMF signal sent through the telephone line 2 can be decoded by the DTMF decoder 32 and taken into the control system 20. Has been done.

The control system 20 includes a CPU 21 and a ROM 22.
, DRAM 23, SRAM 24, and VRAM 25, each of which is connected to the system bus 200.
The ROM 22 stores various control programs as well as a DTMF data reception and reception processing program described later, and also stores font and graphic data used for display. The DRAM 23 is mainly used as a work area for calculation, and the SRAM 24 stores setting information and ID information of the receiving device itself. And V
The RAM 25 is used for display.

The control system 20 also includes an I / O port 26.
1, 262, 263, 264 and VTR control port 27. A control signal is sent through the I / O port 261 to the video signal processing circuit 15 and the audio multiplex decoder 17.
Is supplied to. In addition, a remote control transmitter (commander) 34
For example, the infrared remote control signal from the remote control receiver 3
5, the received remote control signal is decoded by the remote control decoding circuit 36, and the decoded remote control signal is taken into the control system 20 from the I / O port 261.

The CPU 21 controls the commander 34 according to the user's operation according to the program in the ROM 22. For example, in the case of remote control operation such as channel selection and volume control, tuner channel selection and volume control are executed, and at the same time, font data for displaying necessary characters and symbols is read from the ROM 22 and VRA.
Transferred to M25. Then, the data of the VRAM 25 is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 15, and the video signal S13 is sent.
And (for example, superimposing), the image is displayed on the screen of the picture tube 16 for an appropriate time.

Data for tuning and volume control are
When each operation is written in the nonvolatile SRAM 24, when the power is turned off and then turned on again, a so-called last memory function is realized in which the same channel is auditioned at the same volume as immediately before the power is turned off. .

A tuning signal is supplied to the tuner 11 through the I / O port 263. Also, in this example,
Time data from the timer circuit 37 for notifying the real time or generating an interrupt at a predetermined time is input to the control system 20 through the I / O port 264.

Also, the control port 27 of the VTR
In this example, three VTR1, VTR2, and VTR3 can be controlled. The control system 20 can supply a control signal to the VTR through the control port 27, take in a status signal from the VTR, and perform desired control on the VTR.

Each VTR has a built-in tuner and an intermediate frequency circuit, and the antenna 1 is connected via a distributor, for example.
, And reserved recording can be performed under the control of the control system 20.

[Real Time Response Processing] Next, referring also to FIG. 4, the real time (real time) of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The response process will be described.

In step 121 of FIG. 4, the viewer operates the commander 34 to cause the commander 34 to operate.
The remote control signal transmitted from is received by the remote control receiver 35. Then, it is determined whether or not the received command is a response command to a two-way broadcast program such as a viewer participation type quiz program (step 122).

If the received command is, for example, a general command such as channel switching, processing corresponding to the command is performed (step 110). In the case of a response command, various IDs on the broadcasting side as described above
The ID number of the viewer is added to the information as a response to the broadcast program including the number, response information is created (step 123), and based on the access information already received and stored in the DRAM 23, It is determined whether the current time indicated by the timer 37 is within the access permission time (step 124).

When the access permission time is a relative time limit such as "valid for 5 minutes from the present time", the timer 37 indicates the relative time from the time when the time limit data is received. You just need to know.

On the other hand, when there is an absolute time limit, such as “valid from XX hour XX minute to XX hour XX minute”,
Since the timer 37 needs to indicate the accurate current time, the timer setting command as described above is broadcast prior to the time limit information.

When the current time in step 124 is within the access permission time, the response information created in step 123 is addressed to the predetermined telephone number stored in the DRAM 23 through the modem 33 as described above. It is transmitted at the communication speed set according to the reply destination information (step 125).

At the next step 126, it is judged whether or not the transmission is successful, and if the transmission is normally completed, a message indicating that the transmission is successful is displayed on the screen of the picture tube 16 for a certain period of time ( Step 127). If the transmission is unsuccessful, a message to that effect is displayed on the screen for a fixed time (step 128).

When it is determined that the current time in step 124 is outside the access permission time, it is determined in step 131 whether or not the access permission time is in the future based on the current time indicated by the timer 37.

If the current time is outside the access permission time,
And when it is judged that the permission time is not in the future, that is, it is in the past, the error message
The fact that the access permission time has expired is displayed for a fixed time (step 132).

When the access permission time is in the future,
The response information created in step 123 and the DRA
The reply destination information stored in the M23 is stored in the memory, for example, the SRAM 24, and when the access permission time is reached, the processing for transmitting the response information based on the stored reply destination information is performed. The designated timer interrupt is set (steps 133, 134). Then, a message indicating that the transmission information is registered by the timer is displayed for a fixed time (step 135). When the timer is registered, the response information is transmitted as described in the next section.

[Timer Response Processing] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the response processing by the timer activation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described.

As described above, when the transmission information is registered by the timer, at step 141 in FIG. 5, when the time at which the interrupt is registered is reached, the activation process by the timer 37 is performed (step 142). Next, it is determined whether or not the main power supply of the television receiver is on, and if it is off, the main power supply is turned on (steps 143 and 144).

At the next step 145, according to the reply destination information stored in the SRAM 24 as described above,
Response information is transmitted. Then, as described above, it is determined whether or not this transmission has succeeded (step 146).

When the transmission is completed normally, a message indicating that the transmission is successful, and when the transmission is not completed successfully, the message indicating that is transmitted is stored in a memory, for example, SRAM.
24, the response data stored in the SRAM 24 is cleared (step 149).

In the next step 151, the timer 3
It is determined whether or not the main power supply is in the on state at the time of starting by 7, and if it is in the off state, the main power supply is returned to the original off state (step 152), and the process ends.

If it is in the ON state, the message registered in the SRAM 24 is displayed in the above step 147 or 148 (step 153), and it is detected that the viewer has performed the confirmation operation by the commander 34. After that (step 154), the message registered in the SRAM 24 and the displayed message are erased (step 155), and the process ends.

By the timer response processing as described above, it becomes possible to shift the time between the response operation of the interactive broadcast program and the actual transmission processing of the response information thereby, and in the evening when many people watch television. The interactive program may be broadcast at night, and the response information transmission process may be performed at midnight or early morning when the telephone line is less utilized.

Since it is expected that the line will be congested to some extent even at midnight or early morning, it is desirable that the transmission process can be repeated a plurality of times.

When the main power supply of the television receiver is off during the timer response process, the transmission is successful or unsuccessful when the main power supply is first turned on after the timer response process, as described in the next section. A process for the viewer to confirm the result of is performed.

[Transmission Result Confirmation Process] Next, the transmission result confirmation process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 161 of FIG. 6, when the viewer first turns on the main power by the commander 34 after the timer response process, the message registered in the SRAM 24 is displayed after the main power is turned on. It is determined whether there is any (steps 162 and 163).

As described above, when the main power supply is in the off state when the timer 37 starts up, the message relating to the transmission result is not erased but remains registered in the SRAM 24. Is displayed (step 164), the viewer can confirm the result of the transmission by the timer response process.

Then, after detecting that the viewer has performed the confirmation operation by the commander 34 (step 16
5) The message registered in the SRAM 24 and the displayed message are erased (166), and the confirmation process ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the viewer side can respond in real time, the response information is transmitted in real time, and when the access permission time is in the future, timer registration transmission is performed. As a result, it is possible to easily and surely respond without being limited in time. Further, on the broadcast side, the load on the telephone line can be reduced by controlling the time zone of the response from the viewer side.

If the access permission time is in the past, such as a time-out response to the previous question in a viewer participation type quiz program in which the tempo of the question is high and the questions are sequentially tabulated, , Sending from viewers is prohibited,
Viewers no longer need to pay for line usage charges.

[Reception Processing of Response Information] In response to the above-mentioned response from the viewer side, the reception system on the broadcast side receives the response data by computer processing,
After sending a signal indicating the end of reception to the reply source, the line is disconnected and the data is captured.

In this way, the response data fetched over the period defined by the time limit information corresponds to any of a plurality of questions when the response is a quiz by the identification information as described above. On the other hand, in the case of telephone shopping, it is possible to easily discriminate which of a plurality of products corresponds to, and the items are automatically classified.

As a result, on the broadcast side, the response information receiving system can be made unmanned, the personnel cost can be reduced, and the operator's working hours are not restricted, so that the television can be viewed. Telephone shopping can be broadcast in the evenings and nights.

In addition, in a viewer participation type quiz program in which the tempo of questions is high and the questions are sequentially tabulated, an invalid response from the viewer such as a time-out response to the previous question is prevented. Therefore, on the broadcast side, the load of the line and the load of the device for accepting the invalid response are reduced.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the television broadcasting and the receiver has been described, but the present invention relates to the access permission time for the response of the interactive broadcast program. Constructing information using, for example, DTMF signals in a relatively narrow audio band,
Since it is multiplexed with the main broadcast audio signal for broadcasting, it can be applied to receivers corresponding to AM and FM radio broadcasting and PCM audio broadcasting.

In the above-described embodiment, the information about the access permission time for the response of the interactive broadcast program is DT.
Although the MF signal is used for broadcasting by multiplexing with the main broadcasting audio signal, the information about the access permission time is multiplexed in the vertical blanking period of the television broadcasting as in the case of the character multiplex broadcasting. May be.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, in bidirectional broadcasting in which a response is transmitted to the broadcasting side through a telephone line, the broadcasting side multiplexes access time information into a broadcasting signal and broadcasts it. On the receiving side, based on the received access time information, if a response to a question of a program is possible in real time, the response information is transmitted in real time, and if the access permission time has passed, transmission is prohibited. By doing so, it is possible to prevent wasteful access due to time-out.

When the access permission time is in the future, the response information and the reply destination information are stored in the memory, the permission time is registered in the timer, the timer is activated at the permission time, and read from the memory. By transmitting the response information, the transmission processing of the response information can be performed at midnight or early morning when the usage of the telephone line is low, and the line load is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a bidirectional broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a DTMF signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a transmission condition of a DTMF signal.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining another operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another operation of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 signal system 14 audio demodulator 20 control system 21 CPU 23 DRAM 24 SRAM 31 preprocessing circuit 32 DTMF decoder 33 modem 37 timer

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A two-way broadcasting system in which a broadcasting station broadcasts an interactive program that prompts the receiver to respond, and information on the response from the receiver is transmitted to a predetermined reply destination through a telephone line. From the broadcasting station, in the case of the interactive program, the main broadcast signal is multiplexed with time limit information permitting a response from the receiving side and broadcast, and the receiving side shows the time limit information. A two-way broadcasting system, characterized in that transmission of the response to the reply destination via the telephone line is prohibited except during a response-enabled period. 2. The two-way broadcast according to claim 1, wherein, on the broadcast side, when the two-way program includes a plurality of questions, the identification information of the questions is multiplexed with the broadcast signal for broadcasting. system. 3. The time limit information or the identification information such as the question is one tone in a first frequency group of voice bands that are not in articulatory relationship with each other and a tone of a voice band that is not in articulatory relationship with each other. The two-way broadcasting system according to claim 1 or 2, which is composed of a multi-frequency signal in which one tone of two frequency groups is combined and is multiplexed with an audio signal of the broadcast signal for broadcasting. 4. Receiving bidirectional broadcasting, comprising: input means for inputting information on a response to a question from the broadcasting side, and transmitting means for transmitting the input information on the response to a predetermined reply destination through a telephone line. The apparatus is provided with a separating / reproducing means for separating and reproducing the time limit information multiplexed in the received broadcast signal, and a means for taking in the output of the separating / reproducing means as the time limit information. The bidirectional broadcast receiving apparatus is characterized in that the transmitting means is operated only within a period defined by the above to transmit the response information to the broadcasting side. 5. Storage means for storing information on the response,
When the start time of the specified period by the time limit information is delayed from the time of receiving the time limit information, the timed start unit is set within the specified period and the response is sent to the storage means. 5. The information of the response is stored, and the transmitting means is activated by being activated by the timed activation means within the specified period, and the information of the response read from the storage means is transmitted to the broadcast side. A receiving device for the two-way broadcast described. 6. The received signal is a main voice signal, and the main voice signal has one of the tones in a first frequency group in a voice band in which the time limit information is not in articulatory relationship with each other.
6. The bidirectional broadcast receiving device according to claim 4, wherein the receiving device is a multi-frequency signal that is multiplexed in the form of a multi-frequency signal in which one tone in a second frequency group in a voice band that is not in an articulatory relationship with each other is combined.