JPH0946656A - Interactive teletext broadcasting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the interactive teletext broadcasting system of on-line type not in relation to a broadcast by using effectively an existing environment installation so as to easily realize an information exchange system whose object is a general house having an interactive capability without imposing a high additional cost onto the user. SOLUTION: A television receiver 3 is provided with a means sending a request to receive provision of an information service according to an operation of a television remote controller of a viewer to a reply server 4 via a telephone line by automatic dialing and a means receiving automatically the provision of the information service from the reply server 4. Thus, desired information is served from the reply server 4 by a simple operation of a TV remote controller by the interactive function using a television receiver as a medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character multiplex broadcasting television radio wave transmission facility, a home receiver having a character multiplex reception function, and a response server to which the receiver is line-connected through a telephone line. The present invention relates to an online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system that is constructed by equipment and can exchange information independently of broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increase in functionality and accuracy of general household televisions using terrestrial waves, the use technology of general household televisions has attracted attention as a part of multimedia. Currently, character multiplex broadcasting is in operation, and as an information service related to programs, information services such as cooking material information and subtitle display synchronized with voice are provided by character string display, and information services not related to programs. As for, information such as news, weather forecasts, stock market conditions, etc. are provided.

However, current televisions of this type are used only for one-way information transmission from broadcasting stations to general household televisions, and therefore their applications have been limited to a narrow range.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional television broadcasting system for general household television, only one-way information transmission from the broadcasting station to the general household television is carried out. Therefore, its application was limited to a narrow range.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
One of the characteristics of multimedia information media, user selection of information, that is, interactivity
An information exchange system for general households equipped with the above can be easily realized by effectively utilizing the existing environmental equipment (infrastructure) without imposing a large additional cost on the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system capable of exchanging information.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an information exchange system for general households, which is one of the characteristics of a multimedia information medium and is provided with a user's selection of information, that is, interactiveness. This was done in order to make effective use of existing environmental equipment (infrastructure) and to easily realize it without imposing a large additional cost on the user. Wide area and quickness, which are the basic features of broadcasting, encoding transmission system within the vertical blanking interval (VBL) of television broadcasting, public telephone line, etc. are effectively used, and economically With an advantageous system configuration, we are constructing an online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system for general households, where information can be exchanged independently of broadcasting.

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is, as the first aspect of the present invention, a facility for transmitting television radio waves for character multiplex broadcasting, a home-use receiver having a character multiplex reception function, and a line connection of the receiver via a telephone line. Is an online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system that is capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting and is constructed by a response server facility, and the receiving information is unique to the receiving device or the viewer. , A means for storing the telephone number information of the transfer destination response server, a remote controller having a plurality of operation buttons on which the button operation is reflected on the display screen, and information transmitted from the remote controller. A remote control receiver for receiving information, processing means for executing input processing of information received by the remote control receiver, and automatically transmitting the input processed information to the response server equipment according to the telephone number information of the transfer destination response server Means for receiving information from the response server equipment, and means for reflecting the received information on the display screen, and the response server equipment has a subscriber database for a receiver or an individual viewer. And means for executing a predetermined process including updating the subscriber database corresponding to the identification information as a key according to the received information, and a telephone of the transfer destination receiver by searching the subscriber database based on the received identification information. Having a means for acquiring a number and a means for transmitting information to the transfer destination receiver based on the acquired telephone number, the receiver exchanges information with the response server equipment independently of broadcasting. It is characterized by doing.

As a second aspect of the present invention, a transmission facility for television radio waves for character multiplex broadcasting, a home receiver having a character multiplex reception function, and a response server to which the receiver is line-connected via a telephone line. It is an online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system that can be exchanged information independently of broadcasting, which is constructed by the equipment, and the receiver is provided with its own telephone number information and the telephone number information of the transfer destination response server. Means for storing, remote operation device having a plurality of operation buttons where button operation is reflected on the display screen, remote operation receiver for receiving information transmitted from the remote operation device, and reception by remote operation receiver Means for executing the input processing of the input information, means for automatically transmitting the input processed information together with the self-established telephone number information to the response server equipment according to the telephone number information of the transfer destination response server, and the response server It has a means for receiving information from the equipment and a means for reflecting the received information on the display screen, and the response server equipment has a subscriber database for the receiver or individual viewers, and according to the received information, It has means for executing a predetermined process including updating the subscriber database corresponding to the received telephone number information as a key, and means for transmitting information to the transfer destination receiver based on the received telephone number information. The receiver is characterized by exchanging information with the response server equipment independently of broadcasting.

As a third aspect of the invention, in the online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting according to the first and second aspects of the invention, the response server receives the information. It is characterized in that it includes a process of processing the processed information according to a preset condition and transmitting the processed information to an external facility.

As a fourth invention, in the online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting according to the first and second inventions, the response server transmits the information. It is characterized in that it has a charge management system for performing charge processing according to the amount or content of information.

As a fifth aspect of the invention, in the online interactive multiplex character broadcasting system capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting according to the first and second aspects of the invention, the response server includes the viewing and listening. Is characterized by having a goods transaction processing mechanism for recognizing a designated commodity or designated article ordered by a person, executing acceptance processing, and obtaining addressing information of the ordering viewer by searching the subscriber database according to the identification information. .

As a sixth invention, in the online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting according to the first and second inventions, the response server is provided with a mail. It is characterized in that it is equipped with a delivery and storage mechanism to enable exchange of e-mail between the receivers. Further, it is characterized by constructing a nursing care system or an emergency contact system for general households which does not require dial operation and voice (real voice) response by utilizing the mail exchange function.

By realizing an interactive information exchange function using a public telephone line by using such a home television as an intermediary, the cost burden on the user is remarkably reduced, and the construction and popularization are easy. With the system configuration, viewers can receive arbitrary information exchange services (for example, learning programs / catalog request information / article purchase information / mail mailing information / ticket reservation information / local program provision) by simple button operation on the TV / remote controller. be able to.

Specifically, a transaction in which the response server executes the process of accepting the article designated by the viewer and acquires the addressee information of the viewer by searching the subscriber database (local database, master database) according to the identification information. By having a processing function, various transaction procedures such as requesting catalogs, purchasing goods, mailing mail, booking tickets, etc. can be easily performed by simple operation of the TV / remote controller.

Further, the response server executes, for example, a process of accepting a designated product or a designated article ordered by the viewer, and searches the subscriber database according to the identification information to find the addressee (address, name, zip code, etc.) of the ordering viewer. ) By having a product transaction processing function that acquires information, catalog request, product purchase,
Various transaction procedures such as mailing, ticket reservation, etc. can be easily performed with simple operation of the TV and remote control.

Further, by providing the reply server with a mail delivery and storage mechanism, the interactive television receivers can exchange mails with each other. Furthermore, dial operation by this interactive TV receiver,
Also, by using the mail exchange function that does not require any voice (real voice) response, it is possible to easily construct a nursing care system and an emergency contact system for general households.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for explaining an outline of the present invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a so-called online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system that is not related to broadcasting and enables information exchange unrelated to broadcasting using an interactive television receiver (TV).

A script for providing online sub-image information not related to broadcasting within the vertical blanking interval (VBL) of the main broadcasting program (table program) from the transmitting antenna 2 of the broadcasting station 1. (And screen control information) is transmitted.

Here, the entire bit stream for displaying additional information transmitted during the character multiplex signal transmission period within the VBL is simply referred to as a script except for a part of control information, and is therefore referred to here. The so-called script includes a header, a form, a resource, a program part (script body part), and the like.

A home-use interactive television receiver (TV) 3 receives a television radio wave transmitted from the broadcasting station 1, and receives a program of an arbitrary channel by operating a button of a remote controller (TV / remote controller) 308. be able to.

At this time, when the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 receives a program by character multiplex broadcasting (coded transmission system character broadcasting), the character multiplex signal is received and stored (buffered) by the character broadcasting receiving circuit. .

When a teletext program is selected by operating a button on the TV remote controller 308, the teletext program according to the selection instruction is decoded by the text multiplex decoder and displayed in a predetermined display form.

In the present invention, existing environmental equipment (infrastructure) has nothing to do with the above-mentioned broadcasting.
Is used effectively to enable bidirectional information exchange and expand the functions of the interactive television receiver (TV) 3.

That is, according to the present invention, the interactive television receiver (the third embodiment of the present invention is provided with the third information transmission function, completely independently of the main broadcast and the existing teletext program generated and displayed and output by the reception script. This is a function expansion of the TV 3 and adopts a system configuration in which a large number of interactive TV receivers (TV) 3 are connected to the response server 4 via public telephone lines. By adopting a configuration in which such a large number of interactive television receivers (TV) 3 are connected to the response server 4 via telephone lines, respectively, the bidirectional information exchange function of the receivers is further developed and the viewer's instruction is given. According to the above, it is possible to provide online information exchange not related to broadcasting (for example, learning programs, catalog request information, article purchase information, mail mailing information, ticket reservation information, local program information exchange, and other various information services). Each information exchange can be easily performed optionally by only operating the TV remote controller.

That is, in the present invention, the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 is configured to be automatically connected to the response server 4 via the telephone line, whereby a simple operation of the television / remote controller is possible. With the automatic connection to the response server 4, various information exchanges such as information exchanges related to the main broadcast, information exchanges independent of the main broadcast, information exchanges not related to the broadcast at all, etc. are made possible. .

By constructing an information exchange mechanism using such a home television receiver as a medium, various information exchange procedures such as catalog request, article purchase, mail mail, ticket reservation, graded learning system, etc. Can be easily operated by simple operation of TV and remote control.

For example, by having the subscriber database in the response server 4, the receiving process of the article designated by the viewer can be performed in relation to the main broadcast, independent of the main broadcast, or not related to the broadcast at all. It is possible to realize a transaction processing function that executes and searches the subscriber database according to the identification information to acquire the addressee information of the viewer. This enables various transaction procedures such as catalog request, article purchase, mail delivery, ticket reservation, etc.・ Easy to do with simple operation of remote control.

Further, the response server 4 has a subscriber database, a function of presenting information to be provided to the subscriber (presentation of information menu for providing information), and an information providing function, so that the viewer is not involved in broadcasting at all. It is possible to realize a transaction processing function that executes the acceptance processing of the specified article and acquires the addressee information of the viewer by searching the subscriber database according to the identification information, which enables catalog request, article purchase, mail delivery, ticket reservation, etc. Various transaction procedures are available on TV
It can be easily done by simple operation of the remote control.

Further, since the response server 4 has a mail delivery and storage mechanism, it has nothing to do with broadcasting.
It is also possible to exchange mail between the interactive television receivers (TV) 3.

Furthermore, the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 and the response server 4 do not require dial operation or voice response (no need to turn the dial, no need to speak), and use a mail exchange function. By doing so, a nursing care system and an emergency contact system for general households can be easily constructed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the online type interactive character multiplex broadcasting system which is not related to the above-mentioned broadcasting. In FIG.
In (1), the viewer operates the buttons on the TV / remote control 308,
This is a step of requesting online information provision that is not related to broadcasting.

(2) is the TV / remote controller 3 from the viewer
This is a step of receiving an online information provision request by operating the 08 button and transmitting the request to the response server 4. (3) is a step of transmitting the additional information guidance menu to present the additional information guidance to the viewer.

In (5), the viewer is the TV remote controller 308.
Information exchange service that wants to receive information from the provided information guidance menu by operating the button (for example, learning program offer / catalog request guide / article purchase guide / mail mail guide / ticket reservation guide / local program offer / mail delivery/
Home care reservation / use of specific mailbox (emergency contact, etc.) / Reservation of facilities such as hospitals / other information exchange services)
Shows a step of selecting by a selector designating operation.

(6) shows a step of the line connection procedure for making a request for the information exchange service to the response server 4 according to the contents selected by the viewer. RAM described below
According to the telephone number information of the line connection destination stored in the communication control block [CCB] in the inside, it automatically dials to the response server 4 and transmits the request for the information exchange service according to the selection contents from the viewer.

(7) shows a step of providing (transmitting) the data of the information exchange service according to the request from the viewer to the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 which has issued the request.

With the interactive information exchange function using such a television as a medium, the viewer can
Arbitrary information exchange services (for example, learning program provision / catalog request information / product purchase information / mail mailing information / ticket reservation information / local program provision / mail delivery / home care reservation) with simple button operation on the remote controller 308 / Use of specific mailbox (emergency contact, etc.) / Reservation of facilities such as hospitals / Other information exchange services.

Specifically, the response server 4 executes the receiving process of the article designated by the viewer and follows the identification information (subscriber database (local database (L-DB) 4).
2A, master database (M-DB) 43A) has a transaction processing function to acquire the address information of the viewer by searching, and various transaction procedures such as catalog request, article purchase, mail mail, ticket reservation, etc.・ Easy to do with simple operation of remote control.

Further, by providing the reply server 4 with a mail delivery and storage mechanism, the interactive television receivers (TV) 3 can exchange mails with each other. Furthermore, this interactive TV receiver (TV)
By using the mail exchanging function which does not require dial operation and voice (real voice) response according to 3, it is possible to easily construct a nursing care system and an emergency contact system for general households.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention as described above.
Has an online interactive function that is not related to broadcasting,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each part in the interactive character multiplex broadcasting system, the same parts as those in FIG.

Reference numerals 11 to 21 are constituent elements of the broadcasting station 1, 11 is a television camera installed in a studio for program production, and 12 is a video tape for recording and reproducing video and audio on a video tape. Recorder, 1
Reference numeral 3 is also a main adjustment room, and reference numeral 14 is a CG renderer which also performs CG (computer graphic) processing.

Reference numeral 15 is an interactive teletext production apparatus, which is a VBL included in the video signal of the main broadcast (table program).
The script data for the viewer response procedure related to the main broadcast is generated. A unique program ID is embedded in this script for each type of additional information.

Reference numeral 16 is a teletext production apparatus, which generates existing teletext multiplex transmission data such as weather forecasts and stock general conditions. Reference numeral 17 is an application server that delivers the script created by the interactive teletext production device 15 to a television radio wave transmission facility, 18 is a station-side interface that controls the line connection to an external line, and 19 is a character containing the script according to the present invention. A transmission control device that controls broadcast transmission (VBL data transmission), a multiplexer 20 that superimposes a character broadcast (VBL data) on a main broadcast (table program), and a reference numeral 21 indicates a multiplexed television wave (for character multiplex broadcast). This is a transmitter for transmitting and outputting (television radio waves) from the transmitting antenna 2.

Reference numerals 31 to 34 are components of the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 respectively.
Is a character multiplex broadcasting television radio wave receiver (character multiplex television receiver) for receiving the character multiplex broadcasting television radio wave (broadcast wave) transmitted and output from the transmitting antenna 2, and 32 is a character multiplex television receiver 31. In addition to the main broadcast (table program) obtained in, multimedia teletext receiving circuit 3
3 is a display unit (CRT) for selectively displaying and outputting the ordinary character multiplex broadcast obtained in No. 3 or the interactive character multiplex broadcast according to the present invention.

The numeral 33 discriminates and takes in the teletext data (VBL data) from the received broadcast wave, and takes in the data of the ordinary teletext program and the data of the interactive teletext program (for example, a plurality of types of additional information related to the main broadcast). data)
It is a multimedia teletext receiving circuit that generates display data of a normal teletext program and display data of a plurality of types of additional information related to main broadcasting. The multimedia teletext receiving circuit 33 interprets and executes the reception script, and supplies display information to the video processing circuit of the character multiplex television receiver 31, and to the modem 34 for information to be sent out on the line. Supply.

Reference numeral 34 is a multimedia teletext receiving circuit 3
It is a modem for connecting 3 to the public telephone line,
Via this modem 34, the data handled by the multimedia teletext receiving circuit 33 is given to the line connection destination telephone number (embedded in the receiving script) given from the interactive teletext broadcasting decoder section of the receiving circuit 33. It is possible to automatically dial and send to the response server 4. That is, by a specific key input operation of the television / remote control 308, it is given from the interactive character multiplex broadcasting decoder unit via the modem 34 with the information registered in the communication control block [CCB] of the RAM described later as the transmission source. It is possible to automatically dial the response server 4 which is the line connection destination (embedded in the reception script).

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an internal configuration of the multimedia teletext receiving circuit 33 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU that controls the multimedia teletext receiving circuit 33. Here, the CPU 301 constitutes a script processing device for providing a plurality of types of additional information related to the main broadcast. This CPU 301 has a script processing module [S
By performing the processing of [CR], an interactive character multiplex broadcasting decoder unit is realized. Here, the reception script discriminated from the video signal (Video) is stored in the RAM 30.
5, buffering (storing), interpreting and executing, and performing each processing such as generating display data (RGB signals).

Reference numeral 302 is a control memory (R) having a partially rewritable area which is read-accessed by the CPU 301.
OM), which stores a basic control program executed by the CPU 301 and fixed information. Here, the script processing module [S
CR], a teletext processing module [CBP] for executing teletext processing, and the like, and device management in which a device ID unique to the device issued for each receiver and a personal identification ID are registered. Personal identification information registration setting section [P
S], a Chinese character / character management unit [CHA] for storing and managing Chinese characters / characters, an icon management unit [ICON] for managing icons on an additional information screen using icons, and the like.

By providing the device management / personal identification information registration setting section [PS] in the rewritable area, the device ID,
In addition to identification information such as personal identification ID, as additional information of personal identification ID, family composition and its address, name, postal code, date of birth, self-established telephone number, fax number, specific mailbox number, transfer destination Various additional information such as telephone number (s), credit number, license number, insurance number, resident code, etc. can be provided with supplementary information such as deadline management. This device management / personal identification information registration setting section [P
S] is a communication management block [C
CB] is provided as a backup, CPU
When the communication management block [CCB] in the RAM 305 described later is updated, the 301 updates the contents of the device management / personal identification information registration setting unit [PS] in accordance with the update.

Reference numeral 303 identifies the teletext data and the interactive teletext data (that is, the script for displaying the additional information) from the video signal (Video) received by the teletext receiver 31, and identifies the received teletext. R under the control of the CPU301 data and reception script
This is a data separation processing circuit stored in the AM 305.

Reference numeral 304 is a display memory (VRAM) for storing display data, for example, a drawing processing program [PI].
CM] to store display data and the like that has been drawn. 30
Reference numeral 5 denotes a RAM provided as a work memory or the like of the CPU 301. Here, the data communication control program [DCO
M], a drawing processing program [PICM], a user interface program [USIF], a script buffer unit [SCB], a teletext data buffer unit, and the like.

A communication management block [CCB] is provided in the battery-backed up non-volatile storage area in the RAM 305.
B], stored in the ROM 302 (or set by the viewer himself / herself through the television / remote control 308), telephone number information (TEL-A) of his / her own, and a transfer destination telephone number (TEL-A).
B1, TEL-B2) and identification information such as a device ID (M-ID) and a personal identification ID (P-ID) are set. Furthermore, as additional information of the personal identification ID (P-ID),
Family composition (α1) and its address, name, postal code, date of birth (α2), fax number (α3), specific mailbox number (α4), credit number (α5), insurance number (α6), residents A code (α7) or the like can be set.

This communication control block [CCB] area is
It is possible to set or rewrite only after each of the above-mentioned various kinds of information satisfies a predetermined condition such as the input of the composite password. The contents of this communication control block [CCB] is R
It is stored as a backup in the device management / personal identification information registration setting unit [PS] of the OM 302.

Each time the line is connected, the CPU 301 makes a read access to this communication management block [CCB], cuts out the information necessary for the occasional transfer from the [CCB] data block, and views the obtained information. TV of the person
The response data to the transfer destination, which is input by remote control operation, is transmitted to the response server 4 of the transfer destination.

Reference numeral 307 receives the signal from the television / remote controller 308, separates it into a television operation command and an additional information display selection control command, and sends out a television operation command such as channel designation to the television receiving circuit for addition. The information display selection control command is temporarily stored in the remote control reception buffer register of the RAM 305, and the CPU 30 is bit-parallel.
1 is a microprocessor for channel selection (channel selection MP).

Reference numeral 308 denotes a television remote controller for remotely controlling the interactive television receiver (TV) 3, and here, as shown in FIG. 5, a mode switching key (i key) for switching the interactive mode between valid and invalid, and an additional key. It has direction indicating keys (↑ key, ↓ key, ← key, → key) for selecting an arbitrary selector from a plurality of selectors provided on the information selection screen and the like, and a decision (confirm) key.

The mode switching key (i key) is a toggle type key for alternately switching between valid and invalid interactive modes. When the interactive mode is set to be valid, the upper left corner of the display unit (CRT) 32 is set. The “i” mark is displayed on.

Further, a tuning microprocessor (tuning M
When the interactive mode is valid (that is, when the “i” mark is displayed), P) 307 is reflected only on the additional information in which some keys (for example, numeric keys) are being displayed.

Further, the interactive mode valid / invalid setting is not limited to the operation of the TV / remote controller 308,
In the display of specific additional information, it is also possible to forcibly enable it at a certain timing according to the command embedded in the script.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the transmission timing of the script. Here, in addition to the horizontal scanning period within the VBL (current character multiplex signal) for transmitting normal teletext data, the code C in the figure is used. It is assumed that the script (and the screen control information) is transmitted by using the horizontal scanning period within VBL indicated by. Note that FIG. 9A shows an even field and FIG. 9B shows an odd field.

Here, an example of the operation in the embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a two-way information exchange service using broadcast waves will be described. From the transmission antenna 2 of the broadcasting station 1, in a transmission mode as shown in FIG. 6, a character multiplex broadcasting (encoded transmission method character broadcasting) in which a script and transfer destination information (for example, telephone number) are embedded in the VBL The television radio wave is transmitted.

Here, a script for providing a plurality of types of additional information corresponding to a plurality of types of information exchange services within the vertical blanking period (VBL) included in the video signal of the main broadcast, and a script The transfer destination telephone number of the embedded additional information program is transmitted.

Interactive TV receiver (TV) 3
Receives a television radio wave (broadcast wave) carrying an online program unrelated to the broadcast and stores (buffers) a reception script included in the broadcast wave. That is, the multimedia teletext receiving circuit 33 provided in the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 discriminates the VBL data from the received broadcast wave and fetches the data, and the normal teletext program data and the interactive teletext program are acquired. Data (for example, a plurality of types of additional information related to the main broadcast) and display data of a normal teletext program and display data of a plurality of types of additional information related to the main broadcast are generated, and are respectively stored in the RAM 305. Store (buffer) in.

Here, the viewer is the TV remote controller 308.
When the interactive mode is activated by operating the mode switch key (i key) of the display unit (CRT) 32
An "i" mark is displayed in the upper left corner of the icon to indicate that the interactive mode in which the information exchange by the additional information can be requested is in effect.

Further, the mode switching key (i key)
In accordance with the operation of, the CPU 301 executes the script processing module [SCR] in the ROM 302 to execute the script processing by the interactive character multiplex broadcasting decoder unit, which is executed online without being related to the broadcast of the table program. For example, a menu screen for information exchange selection having a plurality of selectors is displayed.

On the information exchange selection menu screen, when the viewer operates the direction instruction key of the TV remote controller 308, the selected and designated selector is highlighted (for example, blinking), and the designated selector is displayed. It is specified.

Further, on this screen, the TV / remote control 30
When the “OK” key 8 is operated, the contents selected by the viewer are transmitted to the response server 4. The process of transmitting to the response server 4 is performed by automatic dialing using the telephone number embedded in the script. At this time, a means for automatically transmitting the response information using a common telephone number, There is a means for automatically changing the telephone number for each response content (selector). In the means for automatically transmitting by changing the telephone number for each response content (selector), the broadcasting station 1 side allocates a unique telephone number for each response content of each selector in advance and embeds it in the script. When the CPU 301 of the receiver (TV) 3 transmits the response information to the response server 4, the response server 4 is called by the telephone number unique to the response content (selector).

The response server 4 changes the response information from a large number of interactive television receivers (TVs) 3, 3, ..., For each telephone line with a common telephone number or for each response content (selector). Accept via telephone line.

Further, the response server 4 recognizes the viewer's request received from the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 and provides the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 with information for the information exchange service according to the request ( Send)
I do.

The viewer uses the information exchange service provided by the response server 4 with the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 as an intermediary. When terminating the use of this information exchange service, the viewer who has been provided with the information instructs the television remote controller 308 to terminate the communication, for example, by operating the "menu" button, the information exchange service is terminated. , The menu screen for information exchange selection having a plurality of selectors is displayed again.

With such a general household television as an intermediary, a public telephone line is used, and the interactive information exchange function makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost burden on the user and to construct a system that is easy to spread. A viewer can receive any information exchange service (for example, learning program / catalog request guide / article purchase guide / mail mail guide / ticket reservation guide / local program offer) by a simple button operation on the TV remote controller 308. .

Specifically, the response server 4 executes the receiving process of the article designated by the viewer and follows the identification information to identify the subscriber database (local database (L-DB) 4).
2A, master database (M-DB) 43A) has a transaction processing function to acquire the address information of the viewer by searching, and various transaction procedures such as catalog request, article purchase, mail mail, ticket reservation, etc.・ Easy to do with simple operation of remote control.

Further, the response server 4 executes, for example, a process of accepting a designated product or a designated article ordered by the viewer, and searches the subscriber database according to the identification information to find the addressee (address, name, zip code) of the ordering viewer. Etc.) By having a product transaction processing function for acquiring information, various transaction procedures such as catalog request, product purchase, mail mail, ticket reservation, etc. can be easily performed by simple operation of the TV / remote controller.

Further, by providing the reply server 4 with a mail delivery and storage mechanism, the interactive television receivers (TV) 3 can exchange mails with each other. Furthermore, this interactive TV receiver (TV)
By using the mail exchanging function which does not require dial operation and voice (real voice) response according to 3, it is possible to easily construct a nursing care system and an emergency contact system for general households.

Next, an information exchange service not related to broadcast waves will be described. First, the viewer is the TV / remote control 30
The button operation of 8 requests the provision of online information not related to broadcasting (see step (1) in FIG. 2).

Interactive TV receiver (TV) 3
When a viewer receives an online information provision request by operating the button of the TV remote controller 308, the request is
According to the telephone number information of the line connection destination stored in the communication control block [CCB] in the RAM 305, the response server 4 is automatically dialed and transmitted to the response server 4 (see step (2) in FIG. 2).

When the response server 4 receives an online information provision request by the viewer's operation of the TV remote controller 308, the response server 4 follows the identification information and presents a local database (L-DB) 42A in order to present the information guide to the viewer. (Or the master database (M-DB) 43A) is searched to obtain the telephone number of the respondent viewer, and the provided information guide menu is transmitted to the respondent viewer (step (3) in FIG. 2).
reference).

At this time, when the information received from the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 includes the viewer's own telephone number, the process of acquiring the respondent viewer's telephone number from the database is performed. The automatic line connection is performed using the received telephone number.

Interactive TV receiver (TV) 3
Displays the provided information guidance menu screen on the display screen of the display unit (CRT) 32 according to the data received from the response server 4.

On this provided information guidance menu screen, the viewer operates the button of the TV remote controller 308 to receive an information exchange service from the provided information guidance menu (for example, learning program provision / catalog request). Information / Purchase Information / Email Mailing Information / Ticket Reservation Information / Providing Local Programs / Email Delivery / Reservation for Home Care / Use of Specific Mailboxes (Emergency Contact, etc.) / Reservation of Facilities at Hospitals / Other Information Exchange Services) Is selected by, for example, a selector designation operation (see step (5) in FIG. 2).

At this time, on the provided information guidance menu screen,
When the viewer operates the direction instruction key of the TV remote controller 308, the selected and selected selector is highlighted (for example, blinking display), and the specified selector is specified.

Furthermore, on this screen, the TV / remote control 30
When the "OK" key 8 is operated, the contents selected by the viewer (request for the information exchange service) are transmitted to the response server 4 (see step (6) in FIG. 2).

When the response server 4 receives a request for the information exchange service from the viewer, it calls the information exchange service information according to the request from the local database (L-DB) 42A or the master database (M-DB) 43A, and transfers it (not shown). After saving the data in the data storage buffer, the information exchange service data according to the request is transmitted to the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 that has issued the request to start providing the information exchange service (see step (6) in FIG. 2). .

At this time, depending on the contents of the information exchange service (for example, provision of pay programs), the charging process is started.
That is, when the provision of the information exchange service is started, the subscribers in the local database (L-DB) 42A or the master database (M-DB) 43A are provided to the subscribers who are providing the information exchange service. In contrast,
The charge management area of the corresponding database is updated and controlled by the transfer information amount, simple time calculation, package unit calculation, or the like.

Thus, the viewer of the interactive television receiver (TV) 3 can receive the information exchange service provided by the response server 4 according to the request, using the television receiver as a medium.

When terminating the use of this information exchange service, the viewer who has been provided with the information instructs the termination of communication of the television remote controller 308, for example, by operating the "menu" button, the information exchange service. Ends, and the menu screen for information exchange selection having a plurality of selectors is displayed again.

With such an interactive information exchange function using a public telephone line as a medium for a home-use television, such a system configuration that the user's cost burden is remarkably reduced and the system is easy to spread is provided. A viewer can receive any information exchange service (for example, learning program / catalog request guide / article purchase guide / mail mail guide / ticket reservation guide / local program offer) by a simple button operation on the TV remote controller 308. .

Specifically, the response server 4 executes the receiving process of the article designated by the viewer and follows the subscriber information (local database (L-DB) 4 according to the identification information).
2A, master database (M-DB) 43A) has a transaction processing function to acquire the address information of the viewer by searching, and various transaction procedures such as catalog request, article purchase, mail mail, ticket reservation, etc.・ Easy to do with simple operation of remote control.

Further, the response server 4 executes, for example, a process of accepting a designated product or a designated article ordered by the viewer, and searches the subscriber database according to the identification information to find the address (address, name, zip code) of the ordering viewer. Etc.) By having a product transaction processing function for acquiring information, various transaction procedures such as catalog request, product purchase, mail mail, ticket reservation, etc. can be easily performed by simple operation of the TV / remote controller.

Also, by providing the response server 4 with a mail delivery and storage mechanism, the interactive television receivers (TV) 3 can exchange mails with each other. Furthermore, this interactive TV receiver (TV)
By using the mail exchanging function which does not require dial operation and voice (real voice) response according to 3, it is possible to easily construct a nursing care system and an emergency contact system for general households.

[0090]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the basic characteristics of television broadcasting widely used as an existing environmental facility, such as wide area and quickness, public telephone line network, etc. It is possible to construct an online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system for general households, which is effectively used and has an economically advantageous system configuration, and which is highly utilized and has good operability and is not related to broadcasting. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for explaining an outline of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a processing procedure in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each unit in the interactive character multiplex broadcasting system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a multimedia teletext receiving circuit 3 shown in FIG.
3 is a functional block diagram showing the internal configuration of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a button configuration example of a television remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transmission timing of a script (and screen control information) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Broadcasting station, 2 ... Transmission antenna, 3 ... Interactive television receiver (TV), 4 ... Response server, 5 ... Network service (IP / SP company), 11 ... Television camera, 12 ... Video tape recorder, 13 ... Main Adjustment room, 1
4 ... CG render, 15 ... Interactive teletext production device, 16 ... Teletext production device, 17 ... Application server, 18 ... Station side interface, 19 ... Transmission control device, 20 ... Multiplexing device, 21 ... Transmitter, 31 ... Teletext receiver for character multiplex broadcasting (character multiplex television receiver), 32 ... Display unit (CRT), 33 ... Multimedia teletext receiving circuit, 34 ... Modem, 301 ... CPU, 3
02 ... ROM, 303 ... Data separation processing circuit, 304 ...
Display memory (VRAM), 305 ... RAM, 307 ...
Channel selection microprocessor (channel selection MP), 308 ... TV remote control, SCR ... Script processing module, P
S ... Device management / personal identification information registration / setting section, SCB ... Script buffer section.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04N 7/173

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A transmission system for transmitting television radio waves for character multiplex broadcasting, a home-use receiver having a character multiplex reception function, and a response server facility to which the receiver is line-connected via a telephone line. , An online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting, wherein the receiver has means for storing identification information unique to the receiver or the viewer, and a transfer destination response server. Means for storing the telephone number information of, a remote operation device having a plurality of operation buttons in which the button operation is reflected on the display screen, a remote operation receiver for receiving the information transmitted from the remote operation device, and a remote operation device. The processing means for executing the input processing of the information received by the operation receiver, the means for automatically transmitting the input processed information to the response server equipment according to the telephone number information of the transfer destination response server, and the response server equipment It has means for receiving information and means for reflecting the received information on the display screen, and the response server equipment has a subscriber database for receivers or individual viewers and identification information according to the received information. Means for executing a predetermined process including updating the subscriber database corresponding to the key, means for searching the subscriber database based on the received identification information and acquiring the telephone number of the transfer destination receiver, and acquisition An online type characterized by having means for transmitting information to the destination receiver based on the telephone number that has been set, and the receiver exchanging information with the response server equipment independently of broadcasting. Interactive character multiplex broadcasting system. 2. It is constructed by a transmission facility of television radio waves for character multiplex broadcasting, a home receiver having a character multiplex reception function, and a response server facility to which the receiver is line-connected through a telephone line. , An online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system capable of exchanging information independently of broadcasting, wherein the receiver has a means for storing self-established telephone number information and telephone number information of a transfer destination response server, Remote operation device that has the operation buttons of, the button operation is reflected on the display screen, the remote operation receiver that receives the information transmitted from the remote operation device, and the input processing of the information received by the remote operation receiver. The processing means to execute, the means to automatically send the input processed information to the response server equipment along with the telephone number information of the forwarding destination response server together with the self-made telephone number information, and the information received from the response server equipment. And the means for reflecting the received information on the display screen.The response server equipment has a subscriber database for the receiver or individual viewers, and the received telephone number information according to the received information. The receiver has a means for executing a predetermined process including updating the subscriber database corresponding to the key and a means for transmitting the information to the transfer destination receiver based on the received telephone number information. An online interactive character multiplex broadcasting system characterized by exchanging information with the response server equipment independently of the. 3. The interactive character multiplex broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the response server includes a process of processing the received information according to a preset condition and transmitting the processed information to an external facility. 4. The interactive character multiplex broadcasting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the response server has a charge management system for performing charge processing according to the amount or content of the transmission information. 5. The response server executes a process of accepting a designated product or a designated item ordered by the viewer, and searches the subscriber database according to the identification information to find the address (address, name, zip code) of the ordering viewer. (3) The interactive character multiplex broadcasting system according to claim 1 or 2, including an article transaction processing function for acquiring information. 6. The interactive character multiplex broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the response server includes a mail delivery and storage mechanism for exchanging mails between the receivers. 7. The interactive character according to claim 6, wherein the mail exchange function is used to construct a nursing care system or an emergency contact system for general households, which does not require dial operation and voice (real voice) response. Multiplex broadcasting system.