JPH08289279A - Video on-demand system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a video on-demand system which is capable of disconnecting the line during the transmission of a program according to the start of a pose, reconnecting the line according to the release of the pose and providing the program from the continued part. CONSTITUTION: By connecting a center side system 11 and a subscriber side system 12 through a line in compliance with the line connection request from the subscriber side system 12 and giving a program request to a center by a subscriber, the program requested from the center to the subscriber is individually provided. A function of transmitting a pose signal of showing the temporary interruption and the release of the interruption of a provided program to the center side system 11 is provided on the subscriber side system 12. In the center side system 11, the pose signal from the subscriber side is received. This system is provided with a pose controller A3 disconnecting the line connection for the period from the interruption shown by the pose signal till the release of the interruption and a line interface device A4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video-on-demand system in which a subscriber requests a broadcast program from a center to individually provide the requested program to the subscriber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of CATV, interactive (bidirectional) television broadcasting has been attracting attention. As one form of this broadcasting, a system has been constructed in which a subscriber makes a request for a broadcast program to the center, and the center individually provides the requested program to the subscriber. Generally, this broadcasting system is called a video on demand (hereinafter referred to as VOD) system.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a general VOD system. 11 is a center side system, 12 is a subscriber side system, and both systems 11 and 12 are the line control device 1.
It is connected through a line such as a public line managed by 3.

The center side system 11 is a program storage device 11
One and a plurality (three in the figure) of program sending devices 112 are provided. The program storage device 111 stores information data (hereinafter referred to as program data) of a program provided by a digital television signal in a recording medium such as a hard disk. The program transmission device 112 is connected to the subscriber side system 12 that has made a line connection request, and reads out the corresponding program data from the program storage device 111 in accordance with the program request signal from the subscriber side system 12 to read the subscriber data. It has a function of sending to the side system 12.

On the other hand, the subscriber system 12 has a VOD adapter 121 for transmitting a line connection request signal, a program request signal, etc., and for receiving data of a menu, a program, etc., and this VOD adapter 121.
A remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller) 122 for remotely operating the adapter 121 is provided.

The VOD adapter 121 is connected to a TV (television) receiver 123, discriminates a selection operation of the remote controller 122, sends a line connection request signal to the line controller 13, and sends a program request signal to the center side. The TV receiver 12 receives the menu data, the program data, etc. from the center side system 11 while transmitting them to the system 11.
3, the menu and the television signal of the received program are transmitted.

A specific address (hereinafter referred to as a subscriber address) is given to the subscriber system 12 in advance, and the center side identifies the data transmission source by the subscriber address and identifies the data transmission destination. I am trying to do it.

In the following description, the flow from the center side to the subscriber side will be referred to as a down line, and the flow from the subscriber side to the center side will be referred to as an up line. A series of processing operations in the above configuration will be described below.

First, the viewer (subscriber) is the remote controller 122.
When a viewing request operation is further performed, the VOD adapter 121 discriminates this and sends a line connection request signal to which a destination address designating the center side system 11 and its own subscriber address are added to the uplink. The line controller 13 connects the subscriber side system 12 to the center side system 11 based on the destination address. As a result, the line connection request signal is sent to the center side system 11.

On the other hand, the center side system 11 discriminates the subscriber address from the line connection request signal, allocates one of the program transmitting devices 112 to the subscriber side system 12 which has made a request, and connects to the line with the VOD adapter 121. Establish a connection,
The program data to which the requesting subscriber address is added is transmitted to the downlink.

Here, the program data includes a menu channel, and the menu channel always carries menu data including programs that can be provided and selection operation methods. The VOD adapter 121 first receives the data of this menu channel and then receives the data from the TV receiver 123.
Display the menu screen on.

When the viewer looks at this menu screen and selects a program with the remote controller 122, the VOD adapter 121 discriminates this and sends a program request signal to the uplink. Receiving this signal, the program transmission device 112 reads the corresponding program data from the program storage device 111, designates a channel, and transmits it to the downlink. The VOD adapter 121 receives the program data of the designated channel,
The program is reproduced by the TV receiver 123. This allows the viewer to view the selected program.

By the way, in the above VOD system, a pause function and an electronic mail function are considered as services to subscribers. As a pause function, when the viewer presses the pause button of the remote controller 122, the VOD adapter 121 is caused to transmit a pause signal, and the program transmission device 112
A method has been devised in which the still picture is displayed on the TV receiver 123 by repeatedly sending the program data at that time for one frame.

As an electronic mail function, when the line control device 13 receives an electronic mail to a subscriber who is watching the VOD system, the program sending device 112 is forcibly placed in a pause state and the electronic mail is subscribed. A method has been devised in which the image is sent to the user side system 12 and displayed on the TV receiver 123.

However, according to the pause function according to the above method, only the still image is displayed in the pause state, but the center side must maintain the line connection to send the still image, and every second. You have to keep transmitting 30 frames of data. Such line occupancy poses a serious problem in terms of communication resources and costs.

Also, in the electronic mail function according to the above method, the pause state is forcibly created, so that the center side continues to send a still image. At this point, a large amount of image data flows because it is invisible (not visible), and it poses the same problem as the pause function.

[0017]

As described above, in the conventionally considered video-on-demand system, when the subscriber makes a pause while watching, the line between the center side and the subscriber side is Still image data repeatedly flows on the line while the connection is maintained, which causes a great problem in communication resources and cost in view of the amount of information and line occupancy. Also, the above-mentioned problem occurs because the pause state is forcibly made even when the interrupt display of the electronic mail is performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. In the pause function or the electronic mail function using the pause function, the line is disconnected while the program is stopped in the still image state in response to the start of the pause. , A video-on-demand system capable of reconnecting a line in response to a pause release and providing a program from a subsequent portion.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a center side system and a subscriber side system through a line in response to a line connection request from the subscriber side system, and the subscriber becomes a center. In the video-on-demand system in which the center individually provides the requested programs to the subscribers by requesting the broadcast programs, the subscriber side system is provided, and the provided programs can be temporarily suspended or unsuspended. Pause signal sending means for sending the pause signal shown to the system on the center side, and the period provided from the subscriber system on the center system, from the interruption to the cancellation of the interruption indicated by the pause signal , Pause processing means for disconnecting the line connection.

[0020]

In the video-on-demand system having the above-mentioned structure, when the subscriber side performs the pause start operation, the pause signal indicating the start of the pause is sent to the center side, and the center side discriminates the pause signal to once establish the line connection. By disconnecting, the line occupation during the pause is released. Also, when the subscriber side performs a pause release operation from the paused state, a pause signal indicating the pause release is sent to the center side following the line connection request signal, and the center side discriminates this line connection request signal and sets the line. After reconnecting, the signal for canceling the pause is discriminated and the program transmission is started from the position at the start of the pause.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. As a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the present invention is applied to the system shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

The program sending device 112 used in the center-side system 11 of this embodiment comprises a program data read / output device A1, a state storage memory A2, a pause control device A3, and a line interface device (line I / O) A4.

The program data read / output device A1 has a function of sending the requested program from the program storage device 111 with the subscriber address of the read request source added. The state storage memory A2 stores the position of the program output from the program data read output device A1 when the pause control device A3 detects the pause.

The pause control device A3 detects the pause start and pause release from the pause signal sent from the subscriber side. When the pause start is detected, the program position is stored in the state storage memory A2, and the line interface device A4 is caused to disconnect the line. When the pause release is detected, the line interface device A4 is made to reconnect the line and the program transmission is restarted from the storage position of the state storage memory A2.

The line interface device A4 connects the program read / output device A1 to the line 13 in response to a line connection request signal from the subscriber side, and interrupts the line connection state under the control of the pause control device A3. Is.

On the other hand, the subscriber system 12 is provided with a still picture reproducing device 124 having an image memory for displaying a still picture. Further, the remote controller 122 has an operation button (not shown) for pausing. The VOD adapter 121 has a function of determining a pause operation from the remote controller 122 and transmitting a pause signal for starting / releasing the pause to the upstream line, and displaying a still screen when the still image reproducing device 124 is paused. Features are built in.

The pause operation performed on the remote controller 122 will be described by pressing the pause button when starting the pause and pressing the play button when releasing the pause.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of pause processing of the subscriber side system. First, the VOD adapter 121 is in a standby state for pressing the pause button during program reproduction (step S1). When the pressing of the pause button is detected, a pause start signal is sent to the uplink (step S2), the still image reproducing device 124 stores the screen at the start of the pause in the image memory, and the TV receiver 123 as a still image.
Is displayed (step S3), and a standby state for pressing the play button is set (step S4).

Subsequently, when the pressing operation of the play button is detected, a line connection request signal is sent to the line control device 13 to reconnect with the center side system 11 (step S).
5), send a pause release signal to the uplink (step S
6) The still image reproducing device 124 is caused to cancel the still image reproducing state, and the interrupted program display is resumed (step S).
7).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of the pause process of the center side system. First, while the program is being transmitted, the pause start signal is in an input standby state (step S11). When the pause start signal is transmitted from the subscriber side in this state, the pause control device A3 detects this. , The position of the program being output at that time (eg, position on program file, time code, etc.)
2 (step S12). Subsequently, the line interface device 113 disconnects the connection with the line (step S13), and sets the line reconnection standby state (step S14).

When a line connection request signal and a pause release signal are sent from the subscriber side in this state, the line interface device A4 reconnects the program read output device A1 to the line and the pause control device A3 reads the program output. The apparatus A1 is caused to start transmitting a program from the storage position of the state holding memory A2 (step S15), and the state returns to the pause start signal input waiting state of step S11.

That is, in the above system, when a pause operation is performed, a still image is created on the subscriber side and displayed on the TV receiver 123. Therefore, it is not necessary to send the still image data from the center side during the pause. At this time, a pause start signal is sent to the center side, and the center side disconnects the line connection once. Therefore, the line occupation during the pause is released.

When a reproduction operation is performed in the paused state, the line is reconnected to the center by sending a line connection request signal on the subscriber side. Then, when the pause release signal is sent from the subscriber side, the center side starts the program transmission from the position recorded at the start of the pause. At this time,
The subscriber side cancels the still image display, which allows the interrupted program to be restarted from the pause position.

Therefore, according to the VOD system having the above-mentioned configuration, the line can be disconnected while the program is stopped in the still image state in response to the start of the pause, and the line can be reconnected in response to the release of the pause, from the subsequent portion. A program can be provided.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

This embodiment is basically the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but it is a configuration example in the case where it is realized on a packet switching network that transmits and receives information in packet units like ATM. is there.

That is, the center side system 11 comprises a packet multiplexer 113 and a packet selector 114,
Similarly, the subscriber system 12 also has a packet multiplexer 125.
And a packet sorting device 126. Further, each program transmission device 112 of the center side system 11 and the VOD adapter 121 of the subscriber side system 12 perform transmission / reception of information data in a packet format. A destination address is added to the packet.

The packet multiplexer 113 of the center-side system 11 receives the packet output of each program transmitter 112, time-division-multiplexes it, and sends it to the downlink. On the other hand, the packet multiplexer 125 of the subscriber-side system 12 time-division-multiplexes a center-bound packet from the VOD adapter 121 in its own system with a packet from another communication system (not shown) and sends it to the uplink.

Further, the packet selection device 114 of the center side system 11 sequentially takes in the packets from the upstream line to determine the destination address, and if it is addressed to the own system, sends the data in the packet to the program corresponding to the subscriber address. To the device 112. On the other hand, the subscriber system 1
The packet sorter 126 of No. 2 sequentially takes in the packets from the downlink, determines the destination address, and sends the packets addressed only to the own system to the VOD adapter 121.
Forward packets destined for other systems.

That is, in the system having the above configuration,
The same processing as in the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is performed except that data is handled in packet units. First, when a viewer (subscriber) performs a viewing request operation from the remote controller 122, VO
The D adapter 121 discriminates this and the center side system 1
A destination address and a subscriber address designating 1 are set, a line connection request signal is sent to the packet multiplexer 125 in a packet format, and time division multiplexing is performed with a packet from another system. This multiplexed packet is sent to the center side system 11 through the uplink.

In the system 11 on the center side, the packet selection device 114 takes in the packet from the uplink,
If it is determined from the destination address in the packet that it is addressed to the own system, one of the program sending devices 112 is assigned to the subscriber address in the packet. At this time, in the assigned program sending device, the line interface device A4 opens the gate, so that the output of the program data read output device A1 is sent to the packet multiplexer 113 via the line interface device A4.

The assigned program sending device 112 adds the subscriber address to the program data including the menu channel as a destination address, and sends it to the packet multiplexer 113 in the packet format. Packet multiplexer 113
Transmits the packet from the program transmitting device 112 together with the packet from another program transmitting device (not shown) in the time-division multiplex and transmits it to the downlink.

In the subscriber side system 12, the packet selection device 126 extracts the packet addressed to the own system and the V
Input to the OD adapter 121. VOD adapter 121
Selects the data of the menu channel from the input packet and displays the menu screen on the TV receiver 123.

When the viewer sees this menu screen and selects a program with the remote controller 122, the VOD adapter 121 discriminates this, and the destination address to the center and the self-subscriber address are included in the program request signal. The packet is added and sent to the packet multiplexer 125 in the packet format. The packet multiplexer 125 time-division-multiplexes the packet from the VOD adapter 121 together with the packet from another system and sends it to the uplink.

On the other hand, in the center side system 11,
The packet selection device 114 takes out a packet addressed to its own system and sends the packet (program request) to the corresponding program sending device 112 based on the subscriber address. Upon receiving the program request packet, the program sending device 112 reads the corresponding program data from the program storage device 111, specifies the channel, and adds the subscriber address and sends it in the packet format. The packet containing the program data is sent to the packet multiplexer 113 to be multiplexed and sent to the subscriber side system 12 through the downlink.

In the subscriber side system 12, when a packet addressed to the own system is input to the packet selecting device 126,
The packet is sent to the VOD adapter 121. This device 121 takes out only the program data of the designated channel from the input packet and reproduces the program by the TV receiver 123. This allows the viewer to view the selected program.

When a pause operation is performed in this state, the subscriber side creates a still image by the still image reproducing device 124 and displays it on the TV receiver 123. Therefore, it is not necessary to send the still image data from the center side during the pause. At this time, the VOD adapter 121 adds a destination address to the center and a subscriber address to the pause start signal, sends it to the packet multiplexer 125 in the packet format, and sends it to the center side system 11 through the uplink.

In the center-side system 11, when the packet selection device 114 extracts the packet of the pause start signal,
The packet is sent to the pause control device A3 of the corresponding program sending device 112. At this time, the pose control device A3
Stores the paused program position in the state holding memory A2 and interrupts the program transmission, and at the same time closes the gate of the line interface device A4,
Disconnect 12 lines. As a result, the packet transmission of the program data that has become a still image is stopped, and the line occupation can be avoided.

When the pause cancel operation (reproduction operation) is performed on the subscriber side, a packet of the line connection request signal is sent from the VOD adapter 121 on the subscriber side, and the line is transmitted to the center by the packet multiplex transmission described above. Reconnected. Then, the subscriber side sends a pause release signal packet, and the center side receives the pause control device A3, and the center side receives the program data packet from the position recorded at the start of the pause in the program data read output device A1. The transmission is started, and at the same time, the gate of the line interface device A4 is opened to input the packet from the program data read / output device A1 to the packet multiplexer 113. As a result, the program data from the pause start position is sent to the subscriber side system 12 in the packet format.

In the subscriber system 12, when the packet selection circuit 126 receives the program data packet after the line connection is resumed, the VOD adapter 121 stops the still image reproduction of the still image reproduction device 124, and instead, the program from the center. A television signal 123 for transmitting a television signal based on data
To display the program from the pause position. This allows the interrupted program to be restarted from the pause position.

Therefore, even with the VOD system having the above configuration, the line can be disconnected while the program is stopped in the still image state in response to the start of the pause, the line can be reconnected in response to the pause release, and the program can be restarted from the following point. Can be provided.

Although only the pause function has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to the electronic mail function utilizing this pause function, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made. Can also be implemented.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the pause function or the electronic mail function utilizing the pause function, the line is disconnected and the pause is released while the program is stopped in the still image state in response to the start of the pause. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a video-on-demand system capable of reconnecting the lines and providing the program from the subsequent place.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a video on demand system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a pause processing operation of the subscriber side system of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a pause processing operation of the center side system of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional video on demand system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Center side system 111 ... Program storage device 112 ... Program transmission device A1 ... Program data read output device A2 ... State storage memory A3 ... Pause control device A4 ... Line interface device 113 ... Packet multiplexer 114 ... Packet sorting device 12 ... Join Person side system 121 ... VOD adapter 122 ... Remote controller (remote control) 123 ... TV receiver 124 ... Still image reproducing device 125 ... Packet multiplexing device 126 ... Packet sorting device 13 ... Line control device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A subscriber connects a center side system and a subscriber side system through a line in response to a line connection request from the subscriber side system, and the subscriber makes a request for a broadcast program to the center. In the video-on-demand system that individually provides requested programs to the subscriber side system, a pause signal is sent to the system on the center side, which is provided in the subscriber side system and indicates a pause or cancellation of the provided program. And a pause processing means provided in the center side system, which receives a pause signal from the subscriber side and disconnects the line connection during the period from the interruption to the cancellation of the interruption indicated by the pause signal. A featured video-on-demand system. 2. The subscriber system reproduces the program image at that time as a still image when issuing a pause signal indicating temporary interruption, and cancels still image reproduction when issuing a pause signal indicating cancellation of interruption. The video-on-demand system according to claim 1, further comprising a still image reproducing means. 3. The pause processing means, a line interface device for selectively connecting and disconnecting program transmission to the line,
The video-on-demand system according to claim 1, further comprising: a pause control device that detects a pause signal from the subscriber side system and controls line connection / disconnection of the line interface device according to the detection result. 4. The center side system comprises a plurality of program transmitting devices, one program transmitting device is allocated in response to a line connection request from the subscriber side system, and program information is requested in response to a program request. The video-on-demand system according to claim 1, wherein the video data is transmitted to the original subscriber system, and the pause processing means is provided for each of the plurality of program transmission devices. 5. The video-on-demand system according to claim 4, wherein the program sending device comprises a program position holding means for holding the position information of the program being sent when the pause is started. 6. The video-on according to claim 1, wherein the information from the subscriber side system to the center side system and the information from the center side system to the subscriber side system are transmitted in a packet format. Demand system.