JPH09130774A - Two-way television system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the viewer to recognize that its own request station program is broadcast by displaying a name of the viewer requesting a prescribed video program onto a screen when a broadcast station broadcasts a prescribed video program on request of the viewer. SOLUTION: A received request code and a subscriber code are stored in a memory by a host computer 15. The host computer 15 acquires a name of a viewer and a name of a music to be displayed based on a request code/ subscriber code stored in the memory and a database in an external storage device 14 and generates a character string to be displayed as an optional message. The generated message is expanded in the memory of the host computer 15 as image data by a character font data in the external storage device 14 and the image data are transferred to a telop synthesizer 18. The stored request code is transmitted to a KARAOKE reproduction device 17 controlled by the host computer 15 and a video image is reproduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for displaying a requested viewer name in an interactive television system which broadcasts an image in response to a request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a new type of television broadcasting called an interactive television system has been prevailing in local television stations such as CATV. But,
Compared to a system that delivers video as if a viewer, who is generally called video-on-demand, watches his / her favorite video on a home VCR, the current system is technically more popular in terms of actual diffusion. However, it is far from reach. That is, the current system is not out of the scope of broadcasting for transmitting video to an unspecified number of people. In such a limited interactive television, there is no choice but to temporarily store requests from viewers who are coming in sequence and to display the images in the requested order. As a matter of course, in such a form, the viewer's request is temporarily accumulated, and the requested image is provided after waiting for the order of the broadcast, which is a "matrix type".

However, even a conventional system can be actually operated if it is a program time frame (or a dedicated channel provided) that handles only the broadcasting of karaoke songs called karaoke programs. The above problems are solved. This is because it takes only a few minutes to complete the request from one viewer in the case of a karaoke music video, and the handling of the video can be unified. However, even with a karaoke program on such an interactive television, the above problems cannot be completely solved. Therefore, if the requested image cannot be obtained immediately and the system is forced to "wait", it is necessary for the viewer to at least obtain confirmation that the requested image is his / her own.

[0004]

However, depending on the conventional karaoke specialized program, it was unclear whether or not the video being broadcast was requested by the user. This is because another person may have requested the same song. On the other hand, it is especially necessary for the viewer to clearly recognize that the song is the one he / she requested, when performing a service for charging when the requested song is broadcast. The provision of karaoke programs by conventional interactive television is
Due to the above-mentioned problems, the commercial value of the interactive television that allows the viewers to participate has not been sufficiently presented.

The interactive television system of the present invention comprises:
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problem and to display the requested viewer name on the screen so that the viewer can recognize when the music requested by the viewer is broadcast.

[0006]

The interactive television system of the present invention is a system in which when a viewer requests a predetermined video, a broadcasting station broadcasts the predetermined video in response to the request. Then, when the predetermined image is broadcast, the name of the viewer who has requested the predetermined image is displayed on the screen. Also, in the interactive television system of the present invention, in the above system, the video is broadcast to an unspecified large number of viewers, and the predetermined video is requested by individual viewers. Is characterized in that. Further, the interactive television system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above system, the name to be displayed is stored in a database, and the name to be displayed is searched by a telephone number or a personal identification number at the time of the request. . Here, the viewer name is not limited to the name, but may be a registered pen name or the like. Further, a message, for example, a celebration message such as a birthday may be displayed on the screen together with the viewer name.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a specific configuration of the interactive television system. First, the configuration and operation of the system of the present invention will be described. The viewer has a TV receiver 2 as a receiving means at home.
While watching 0, a public telephone line 1 as a communication means by a telephone 11 on hand as a request means
Through 2, you can request images such as karaoke songs. The request is made by a predetermined “request code”. This is synonymous with the "song number" in a general karaoke device regarding provision of karaoke viewing. Since the request is made by the numerical code, the viewer actually issues the request code by tone by pressing the dial or touch tone of the telephone. This request code is notified to the viewer in advance by a distributed product or the like. Also, the viewer inputs the "subscriber code" individually given by the same procedure.

A call from a viewer is automatically accepted by a voice response device 13 as a response means connected to a host computer 15 as a control means. The voice response device 13 transmits a message registered in advance by a built-in synthetic voice means. Also, the voice response device 1
The number 3 prompts the viewer to enter a code and give guidance. That is, the voice response device 13 is a peripheral device that is controlled by the host computer 15 and that receives a call, transmits a message, and receives a pulse code. The received request code and subscriber code are verified by the host computer 15 as to whether the codes are valid,
It is collated with a database on the external storage device 14 as a storage means. Those that are determined to be valid are stored in the memory in the host computer 15. The host computer 15 acquires the request code / subscriber code stored in the memory, the viewer name and the song name to be displayed based on the database in the external storage device 14, and outputs the character string to be displayed as an arbitrary message. To generate. This is the viewer name / music information that the viewer will see along with the karaoke video.

The generated message is stored in the external storage device 1.
The character font data in 4 is expanded as image data in the memory in the host computer 15 and transferred to the telop synthesizer 18. The accumulated request code is transmitted to the karaoke reproducing device 17 controlled by the host computer 15, and the video is reproduced. The request for which the image is finished is cleared from the storage of the memory of the external storage device 14. The image obtained at this point has the same content as that of a normal karaoke device, and as described above, the image to be broadcast by being combined with the information image prepared on the telop combining device 18. Is output. The monitor 16 is a monitor device connected to the host computer 15 for the operator to confirm these situations. The output video signal is televised on TV by the broadcasting means 19 such as CATV together with the audio signal output from the karaoke reproducing device 17, and T
It is viewed as a karaoke program by the V receiver 20.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 4 as a signal flow centered on the CPU. The operation of this system will be described in more detail below. The voice response device 13 is a C of the host computer 15.
It is connected to the PU 22. The CPU 22 is the voice response device 1
3, control for waiting for an incoming call on the telephone line 12 and control for transmitting a voice message in the voice response device 13 after receiving a call (selection from a plurality of messages) are performed. The voice response device 13 transmits the received dial pulse as numerical information to the host computer 15 through the telephone line 12. As a result, the viewer request is automatically accepted through the public telephone line. The numerical value transmitted from the voice response device 13 is stored in the CPU memory 23. The external storage device 14 is a host computer 15 that stores a database relating to request codes and subscriber registration.
External memory. Data is read and written between the external storage device 14 and the host computer 15. As a result, the CPU 22 searches / verifies the request code and records the log.

The karaoke reproducing device 17 is connected to the CPU 22. The CPU 22 transmits a request code (song number), causes the karaoke reproducing apparatus 17 to reproduce the karaoke piece, and controls the start / end of the reproduction.
The karaoke reproducing device 17 also transmits the reproduction status (during reproduction, reproduction end, etc.) to the CPU 22. As a result, the CPU 22 reproduces the karaoke piece according to the request code. The telop synthesizing device 18 receives control of image output and synthesizing and transfer of image data from the CPU 22. The video signal is input from the karaoke reproducing device 17 to the telop synthesizing device 18, and the telop synthesizing device 18 synthesizes the image transferred from the CPU 22 and this video signal, and displays the video telop displayed by the karaoke device. Is added. The display device 16 serves as a monitor of the CPU 22 so that the operator can check the operating status of the system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of signals between the telop synthesizer 18 and its surroundings. Details of the telop display operation will be described below. The telop synthesizer 18
Image display memory VRAM 27 and this VRAM 27
VDP25 that reads and writes to and outputs the image signal,
An image synthesizing mechanism 26 for synthesizing the image signal output from the image signal VDP 25 input from the outside by a superimposing method is provided. The CPU 22 gives the VDP 25 control relating to image output and image composition. Also,
The CPU 22 transfers the image to be displayed in the VRAM 27 via the VDP 25. At the same time, the karaoke playback device 17
Transmits the video signal to the telop synthesizer 18. Both images are combined by the image synthesizing device 26, and the output of the image signal is completed by adding a telop to the image of the karaoke reproducing device 17. FIG. 13 illustrates this situation on the assumption of an actual image example. That is, (a) shows a video that claims the output of the karaoke reproducing apparatus 17,
(B) shows an image drawn in the VRAM 27 of the telop synthesizing device 18, and (c) shows an output image obtained by synthesizing both.

1 to 3 are flowcharts showing the operating procedure of the present interactive television system, and FIGS. 7 to 12 are data structure diagrams handled by the present program. The details of the flow process will be described below. 2 and 3 are tasks that operate independently at the same time, and FIG. 1 is a routine called from FIG. In the flow chart shown in FIG. 2, the request automatic reception / registration flow is that the request is automatically received from the subscriber through the telephone line 12 and the CPU memory 23 of the request is received.
The method of registration to is shown. First, the voice response device 13 is controlled so that the telephone line 12 can receive an incoming call (S21), and waits for an incoming call from a viewer (S22: NO).
If there is an incoming call (S22: YES), a voice response message is sent (S23), and the subscriber number input (S24) is prompted. Then, the transmission of the dial pulse from the viewer is waited, and the input number is stored in the area of the subscriber code (C3c) of the reception buffer (C-3) on the CPU memory 23 (S25). This is repeated until all the 5-digit subscriber numbers are entered (S26: NO).

When the 5-digit code is prepared (S26: Y
ES) The subscriber database (C-6) on the external storage device 14 is inquired as to whether the subscriber number is valid (S27). As a result, if it is determined that the number is not valid (S28: NO), the voice message for re-inputting is reproduced (S41), the process returns to S23, and the subscriber number is input again. On the other hand, if it is determined that the entered subscriber number is valid (S28: YES), the next process is performed. A voice response message is transmitted (S29), and the viewer is prompted to enter the request code (S30). After that, the transmission of the dial pulse is waited, and the input number is stored in the request code area of the request reception buffer shown in FIG. 9 (S31). This is repeated until all the 5-digit request codes are input (S32: NO).

When the 5-digit codes are gathered (S32: Y
ES), whether the request code is valid,
The request database on the external storage device 14 shown in FIG. 7 is inquired (S33). As a result, if it is determined that the number is not valid (S34: NO), the voice message for re-inputting is reproduced (S42), and the process returns to S29.
Enter the playback request code. On the other hand, if it is determined that the input request code is valid (S3
4: YES) The process proceeds. Then, the date and time at this time is written as a time stamp in the reception time area of the reception buffer shown in FIG. 9 (S35). When the processing up to this point is completed, the reception buffer will have the reception date, valid request code, and valid subscriber code.
The actual request can now be received. The contents of the reception buffer shown in FIG. 9 are stored in the CPU memory 23 shown in FIG.
It is additionally registered in the area indicated by the reception pointer in the above request execution table (S36).

In actual registration, the request code of FIG. 9 is copied to the request code of FIG. 8, the subscriber code of FIG. 9 is copied to the subscriber code of FIG. 8, and the reproduction flag of FIG. 8 is set to “not yet”. It is carried out by In the initial state of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the reproduction flags are all “none” and the request code has an undefined value. After registration,
The reception pointer of FIG. 8 is advanced to the next area of the table (S
37). Next, in order to hold the request from the viewer as a log storage, each element is copied to the request log recording area (having the same elements as the reception buffer) shown in FIG. 10 on the external storage device 14. (S38).
Finally, a voice response message for informing the viewer that the request has been accepted is sent (S39), the line is disconnected (S40), and the operation of the request automatic acceptance / registration flow is completed. Then, waiting for incoming call again (S21)
Return to and repeat the above operation.

FIG. 1 is a request reproducing / digesting flow, and shows a procedure of reproducing the request code registered in the request execution table on the CPU memory 23 shown in FIG. First, the reproduction flag is extracted from the area indicated by the reproduction pointer in the request execution table of FIG. If the flag is not "not" (S2: NO), it means that the registration contents of the request execution table have all been reproduced, or the registration contents are empty, so additional registration of the request is performed by the automatic request acceptance / registration flow. Waits for (S14). On the other hand, if the flag is “not yet”, FIG.
Request code is taken out (S3), the code is passed to the karaoke reproducing apparatus, a reproduction instruction is issued (S4), and the reproduction flag is changed to "medium" (S5).

Here, in each area, requester name, and song name of the telop display contents shown in FIG. 11 on the CPU memory 23, characters retrieved from respective codes from the request database of FIG. 7 and the subscriber database of FIG. The column is stored (S6), and the telop display routine shown in FIG. 3 is called (S8). And the karaoke reproducing apparatus 1
The reproduction state of No. 7 is checked (S9). This is repeated until the end of reproduction is instructed by the karaoke reproduction device (S10: NO). When playback ends (S10: YE
S), the reproduction flag in FIG. 8 is changed to "done", and the reproduction pointer is moved to the next table (S11). Then, the telop synthesizer is instructed to erase the telop display contents (S1
2) The operation of request reproduction / digestion flow is completed.
Then, the process returns to S1 again to repeat digestion / reproduction of the next request.

The telop display routine shown in FIG.
12 shows a procedure of a routine for updating the telop display content to be synthesized and displayed based on the telop display content shown in FIG. 11 on the U memory. First, the two character string information, the requester name and the music title stored in the telop display content of FIG. 11 are read (S52). The display content is generated as a character string based on the read value (S53). The generated character string information is expanded in the CPU memory 23 as image data by the font data stored in the external storage device 14 (S54). Next, the expanded image data is transferred from the CPU memory 23 to the VRAM 27 of the telop composition device 18 (S55). As a result, the output of the composite video as shown in FIG. 13C is obtained.

As described in detail above, according to the interactive television system of the present embodiment, when a viewer requests a predetermined image, the broadcasting station responds to the request by the predetermined image. Since the name of the viewer who requested the predetermined image is displayed on the screen when the program is broadcast, the viewer can recognize that his or her requested song has been broadcast. Further, since the interactive television system of the present embodiment stores the name to be displayed in the database and searches for the name to be displayed by the telephone number at the time of request, it requires a troublesome input to the viewer. There is no. In the present embodiment, not only the name but also the registered pen name or the like is displayed as the viewer name. Here, with the viewer name, a message,
For example, a message such as a birthday celebration may be displayed on the screen.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the specific examples, the present invention is not limited to the specific examples and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. In the specific example,
Although the example used for broadcasting a karaoke program by CATV has been described, the present invention may be a situation in which the number of servers supplying video is small, the number of clients requesting video is large, and both are remote. This is the purpose of the application. In the present embodiment, the telephone line is used for the video request from the viewer, but any communication means can be used as long as short information such as a request code can be transmitted. In addition, in the present embodiment, the transmission / broadcasting of video is performed by CA.
Although it is assumed that the device is a TV or a radio station, any transmission means can be used as long as it has a capacity capable of transmitting an image in real time, and it is sufficient if it is a remote place and the target is an unspecified number. Moreover, the contents provided as the video source are not limited to karaoke, and it is possible to operate as long as the video library has a certain degree of uniformity, and if the number of servers and the number of transmission channels increase, the system of the present invention can be increased in quantity, It is easy to provide the video contents for a longer time, and it is possible to approach the realization of video on demand such as movies.

[0022]

According to the interactive television system of the present invention, when a viewer requests a predetermined image, when the broadcasting station broadcasts the predetermined image in response to the request, the predetermined image is displayed. The name of the viewer who requested is displayed on the screen.
The viewer can recognize that the requested song has been broadcast. Therefore, for a karaoke request or the like, the viewer will not be dissatisfied even if the requesting viewer is charged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first flowchart showing an operation of an interactive television system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a third flowchart.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a specific configuration of a device of an interactive television system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an interactive television system.

6 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of signals around the telop synthesizer 18. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a data structure diagram showing a request database.

FIG. 8 is a data structure diagram showing a request execution table.

FIG. 9 is a data structure diagram showing a request reception buffer.

FIG. 10 is a data structure diagram showing request log storage.

FIG. 11 is a data structure diagram showing telop display contents.

FIG. 12 is a data structure diagram showing a subscriber database.

FIG. 13 is a T showing a composite screen on the karaoke reproducing apparatus 17.
It is a V screen view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 Voice Response Device 14 External Storage Device 15 Host Computer 17 Karaoke Playback Device 18 Telop Compositing Device 22 CPU 23 CPU Memory 25 VDP 26 Video Compositing Device 27 VRAM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An interactive television system in which when a viewer requests a predetermined image, a broadcasting station broadcasts the predetermined image in response to the request. An interactive television system characterized in that the name of a viewer who requests a predetermined image is displayed on the screen. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the video is broadcast to an unspecified large number of viewers, and the predetermined video is requested by an individual viewer. An interactive television system characterized in that 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the name to be displayed is stored in a database, and the name to be displayed is searched by a telephone number or a personal identification number at the time of the request. Interactive television system.