JPH0965232A - Information supply device, information output device and information presentation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the increase in the information amount preserved by the information service device in presenting information with plural kinds of telop information sets added thereto. SOLUTION: A central controller 61 sends a transmission request of a video audio stream and a caption stream of a movie requested by the user for service to an information service device via a communication channel 90 through a modem 62, commands the selection of a channel AV to a video audio tuner 64 and commands the selection of a channel TX to a caption tuner 65. The video audio tuner 64 outputs the received video audio stream to a system decoder 66. The system decoder 66 outputs the audio packet string to the audio decoder 67 and the video packet string to the video decoder 68. The caption tuner 65 sends the caption stream to the system decoder 73, which provides an output only the caption packet string selected by the user to the caption reproduction device 74.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information supply device, an information output device and an information providing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an information supply device that stores video / audio information and sends the video / audio information in response to a request from an output terminal side, for example, a video server in a video-on-demand service. In this video server, for example, Japanese subtitles corresponding to foreign language audio or subtitles for the visually impaired may be added.

Conventionally, telop data such as subtitles added to video is stored in a video server in a state of being embedded in video / audio data and transmitted. That is, the data in which the subtitles are written in the movie video is transmitted from the video server.

[0004]

Accordingly, a plurality of different subtitle languages, such as those with the same movie but with Japanese subtitles, those with English subtitles, those with Chinese subtitles, etc., are sent from the video server. In order to supply different types of movies, it was necessary to prepare as many video / audio data as the number of types of subtitles for one movie.
That is, the video server had to hold a large amount of data.

On the other hand, on the user side, for example, it is necessary to operate a set top box as an output terminal to notify the selected language to the video server, and a device configuration for that has been required. This invention suppresses an increase in the amount of information held by the information supply device side, and receives and outputs that information when providing information in which a plurality of types of subtitle information is added to one type of video and audio information. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for means for notifying the information supplying device of the type of the selected subtitle on the information output device side.

[0006]

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention adopts the following constitution. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the information supply device according to claim 1 has a video / audio information storage unit for storing a plurality of video / audio information including video information and audio information, and the video / audio information. Correspondingly, subtitle information storage means for storing a plurality of types of subtitle information, video / audio information output means for outputting the video / audio information read from the video / audio information storage means, and output from the video / audio information output means Subtitle information output means for reading out and outputting the subtitle information corresponding to the video and audio information from the subtitle information storage means.

As also illustrated in FIG. 1, claim 2
The information output device according to claim 1 is a video / audio information receiving means for receiving the video / audio information transmitted from the information supply device according to claim 1, and the caption information transmitted from the information supply device according to claim 1. The subtitle information receiving means for receiving the subtitle information, the selecting means for selecting one type from the subtitle information transmitted from the information supply device according to claim 1, and the video / audio information received by the video / audio information receiving means. The audiovisual information reproducing means for reproducing and the caption information reproducing means for reproducing the caption information selected by the selecting means are provided.

The information output device according to claim 3 is the information output device according to claim 2.
In the information output device according to the description, a subtitle information reproduction stop means for stopping the reproduction of the subtitle information by not performing any of the reception of the subtitle information, the selection of the subtitle information, or the reproduction of the subtitle information is provided. Characterize.

The information providing system according to claim 4 includes the information supply device according to claim 1 and the information output device according to claim 2 or 3, as illustrated in FIG.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the information supply apparatus having the above structure, the video / audio information storage means stores a plurality of video / audio information composed of video information and audio information. The subtitle information storage means stores a plurality of types of subtitle information corresponding to each of the video and audio information. As shown in FIG. 1, it is not always necessary to prepare a plurality of types of caption information for each video / audio information. For a certain video / audio information, a plurality of types of caption information may be prepared and different video / audio information For information, it is possible to prepare one type of subtitle information.

The video / audio information output means outputs the video / audio information read from the video / audio information storage means. The subtitle information output means outputs a plurality of types of subtitle information corresponding to the video / audio information output from the video / audio information output means, for example, three types of subtitle 1, subtitle 2 and subtitle 3 shown in FIG. 1 from the subtitle information storage means. Read and output.

Since the video / audio information and the subtitle information corresponding to the video / audio information are separately output, for example, the video / audio data corresponding to the number of types of subtitles are prepared for one movie. There is no need to prepare multiple types of audio information. Therefore, the information supply device does not need to hold a large amount of data.

On the other hand, in the information output apparatus according to the second aspect, the video / audio information receiving means receives the video / audio information transmitted from the information supplying apparatus, and the caption information receiving means is the information supplying apparatus. Receives subtitle information sent from. The selecting means selects one type (for example, subtitle 1) from the subtitle information transmitted from the information supply device, for example, three types of subtitle 1, subtitle 2 and subtitle 3 shown in FIG.

The video / audio information reproducing means reproduces the video / audio information received by the video / audio information receiving means, and the caption information reproducing means reproduces the caption information selected by the selecting means, for example, caption 1 shown in FIG. Reproduce. In the information output device, the video / audio information and the subtitle information selected by the selection means are separately received and reproduced. By superimposing the video reproduced by the video / audio information and the subtitle reproduced by the subtitle information, for example, the subtitle can be added to the screen of the movie.

The selection of the subtitle information by the selection means is, for example, one type of subtitle information selected by the selection means (for example, subtitle 1).
Only the subtitle information receiving means may receive it, or a plurality of subtitle information received by the subtitle information receiving means, for example, one type (subtitle 1) from the subtitles 1 to 3 may be selected.

In any case, it is not necessary to notify the information supply device of the subtitle selection, and the device configuration therefor is also unnecessary. Further, as described in claim 3, reception of subtitle information,
If a subtitle information reproduction stop means for stopping the reproduction of the subtitle information by not executing either the selection of the subtitle information or the reproduction of the subtitle information is provided and activated, only the video / audio information is reproduced. Allows you to enjoy images without subtitles added to some people, for example.

The information supply device according to claim 1 and the information output device according to claim 2 or 3 are incorporated in the information providing system according to claim 4 so as to exhibit their functions well. You can

[0018]

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific examples of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, in the information providing system 10 of this specific example, the communication line 90 in which the information supply device 20 and the information output device 60 are coaxial cables is used.
Connected by The information supply device 20 also includes a video encoder 52 and an audio encoder 54.
Although the encoding device 50 having the above is attached, the encoding device 50 is attachable to and detachable from the information supply device 20. Although only one information output device 60 is shown in the figure, a plurality of information output devices 60 is one information supply device 2.
Normally connected to 0.

Video encoder 5 of encoding device 50
Reference numeral 2 is capable of encoding an analog video signal into digital data and then encoding it to convert it into a video encoded data string. An audio encoder 54 encodes an analog audio signal into digital data and then encodes it to produce audio. It can be converted to an encoded data string.

When the encoding device 50 is connected to the information supplying device 20, the video encoded data string as the output of the video encoder 52 is the input interface 2
2 is input, and the audio encoded data string as the output of the audio encoder 54 is input to the input interface 23.

The video encoded data string input to the input interface 22 and the audio encoded data string input to the input interface 23 are transferred to the video audio storage device control unit 25 via the bus 24, and the video audio storage device control unit. 25, the data is written and stored in a predetermined area of the video / audio storage devices 26a and 26b as the video / audio information storage means. The video encoded data sequence and the audio encoded data sequence stored in the video and audio storage devices 26a and 26b can be read by the video and audio storage device control unit 25.

Data for identifying each data string is written in the head line of each video encoded data string and audio encoded data string. For example, a video signal is a signal corresponding to a movie image and an audio signal is When a video signal and an audio signal form a pair, such as a signal corresponding to the sound of a movie, the video encode data sequence and the audio encode data sequence also include data for specifying the data sequences forming a pair. Written. The video / audio information of the present invention is constituted by the video-encoded data string and the audio-encoded data string which are paired in this way.

The video / audio storage device control unit 25 reads out the video encoded data string stored in the video / audio storage devices 26a and 26b and transfers it to the video buffer memory 31, and also reads out the audio encoded data string and audio buffers. It can be transferred to the memory 32.

The video buffer memory 31 can temporarily store the video encoded data string sent from the video / audio storage device controller 25 and output it in response to a request from the video packetizer 33. Similarly, the audio buffer memory 32 can temporarily store the audio encoded data string sent from the video / audio storage device controller 25 and output it in response to a request from the audio packetizer 34.

The video packetizer 33 MP-converts the video encoded data string sent from the video buffer memory 31.
Packetized according to the EG standard as a video packet sequence,
It can be output in response to a request from the multiplexer 35. Further, the audio packetizer 34 MP-processes the audio encoded data string sent from the audio buffer memory 32.
It can be packetized in accordance with the EG standard and output as a voice packet sequence in response to a request from the multiplexer 35.

The multiplexer 35 MPs the video packet sequence sent from the video packetizer 33 and the audio packet sequence sent from the audio packetizer 34.
The head amplifier 3 is multiplexed through the output interface 36 as one video / audio stream multiplexed according to the EG standard.
7 can be output.

The information supply device 20 is provided with another input interface 21. This input interface 21 can be connected to a personal computer (personal computer, not shown) as subtitle data input means. Other party data specifying either the above-mentioned audio encoded data string or video encoded data string, character code, and playback timing data for playing in synchronization with the other party's audio encoded data string or video encoded data string It is possible to input a subtitle data string as a digital data string including the above. Then, the subtitle data string input from the input interface 21 is transferred to the subtitle storage device control unit 27, and written and stored in a predetermined area of the subtitle storage device 28 as subtitle information storage means. The subtitle data string stored in the subtitle storage device 28 is the subtitle storage device control unit 27.
Can be read.

The subtitle storage device control section 27 can read out the subtitle data string stored in the subtitle storage device 28 and transfer it to the subtitle buffer memory 41. At this time, the subtitle storage device control unit 27 sequentially reads out a plurality of types of subtitle data sequences corresponding to one audio encoded data sequence or video encoded data sequence, and determines how many types of subtitle data sequences are sent (subtitle type). Information).

The subtitle buffer memory 41 can temporarily store the subtitle data string sent from the subtitle storage device control unit 27 and output it in response to a request from the subtitle packetizer 43. The subtitle packetizer 43 is a subtitle buffer memory 4
It is possible to packetize the subtitle data string sent from the device 1 and to output it as a subtitle packet string in response to a request from the multiplexer 45. In addition to the subtitle packet string, the subtitle type information is transferred to the multiplexer 45.

The multiplexer 45 uses the subtitle packetizer 4
The subtitle packet sequence sent from the No. 3 is temporarily stored in a built-in input memory (not shown). Then, if a subtitle packet sequence of a type suitable for the subtitle type information is stored in the input memory, each subtitle packet sequence is read from the input memory, and these are multiplexed to form one subtitle stream. The multiplexer 45 can output this subtitle stream to the head amplifier 37 through the output interface 46.

Although not shown in the drawing, the information supply device 20 has a video image including the above-mentioned video buffer memory 31, video packetizer 33, audio buffer memory 32, audio packetizer 34, multiplexer 35 and output interface 36. A plurality of audio data output mechanisms are provided, the subtitle buffer memory 41, the subtitle packetizer 4
3, a plurality of subtitle data output mechanisms including the multiplexer 45 and the output interface 46 are also provided. The video / audio data output mechanism and the head amplifier 37 constitute a mechanism corresponding to video / audio information output means.
The subtitle data output mechanism, subtitle storage device control unit 27, and head amplifier 37 constitute a mechanism corresponding to subtitle information output means.

The head amplifier 37 allocates the video / audio streams sent from the plurality of video / audio data output mechanisms and the subtitle streams sent from the plurality of subtitle data output mechanisms to the respective output interfaces 36 and 46. It can be sent to the communication line 90 by a channel. Further, the head amplifier 37 can send the signal sent from the modem 47 through the bidirectional communication channel and transfer the signal input from the communication line 90 through the bidirectional communication channel to the modem 47. .

The modem 47 is connected to the input / output control unit 30 as a control means via the bus 24, and the input / output control unit 30 is connected to the communication line 90 via the modem 47 and the head amplifier 37. The data can be transmitted to or received from the information output device 60. Also, the input / output control unit 30
Can control the operation of each unit of the information supply device 20 described above.

Next, the configuration of the information output device 60 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the information output device 60 includes a central control device 61 as control means for controlling the operation of each unit of the information output device 60.
The central control device 61 is configured as a well-known microcomputer, and also functions as a subtitle information reproduction stop means. The central controller 61 has a keyboard (not shown).
An input device 63 as an input means having a is connected, and various data and instructions can be input to the central control device 61 by operating the input device 63. Further, the central controller 61 is connected to the communication line 90 via the modem 62, and can communicate with the input / output control unit 30 of the information supplying apparatus 20 using the above-mentioned bidirectional communication channel. .

Further, a video / audio tuner 64 as a video / audio information receiving means and a caption tuner 65 as a caption information receiving means are connected to the communication line 90. The video / audio tuner 64 and the subtitle tuner 65 can select a channel in response to an instruction from the central control device 61 and can receive the information transmitted on the selected channel.

The information received by the video / audio tuner 64 is sent to the system decoder 66. The system decoder 66 separates the video / audio stream received and transferred by the video / audio tuner 64 into an audio packet sequence and a video packet sequence, outputs the audio packet sequence to the audio decoder 67, and outputs the video packet sequence to the video. It can be output to the decoder 68.

The audio decoder 67 decodes the voice packet sequence and converts it into digital data, and then the built-in D / A.
An analog audio signal can be output to the amplifier 69 by a converter (not shown). The amplifier 69 is
The audio signal can be amplified and sent to the speaker 70 as an audio output unit for audio output. The amplifier 69 has a mixing function, and when the microphone 71 is connected as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the signal input from the microphone 71 and the signal from the audio decoder 67 are mixed. After mixing, it can be amplified and output to the speaker 70. That is, this information output device 60
Can be used as a karaoke device.

The video decoder 68 can decode the video packet sequence into digital data and output it as an analog video signal to the video synthesizing device 72 by a built-in D / A converter (not shown). As is clear from this description, the system decoder 66 and the audio decoder 6
A sound reproducing means is constituted by 7 and the system decoder 66.
The video decoder 68 constitutes a video reproducing means, and these both constitute a video / audio reproducing means.

The video synthesizing device 72 is a device capable of synthesizing and outputting two types of input signals. This 2
One of the input signals of the type is the video signal from the video decoder 68 described above, and the other input signal is supplied by the system from the subtitle tuner 65.

The subtitle tuner 65 can receive the subtitle stream transmitted on the channel selected according to the instruction from the central control unit 61 and send it to the system decoder 73. The system decoder 73 can separate the subtitle stream into each subtitle packet string that constitutes the subtitle stream. Then, the central controller 61
In accordance with the instruction from the subtitle reproducing device 74
Can be output to That is, the system decoder 73 also functions as a selection unit for selecting one type of subtitle packet sequence from a plurality of types of subtitle packet sequences.

The subtitle reproducing device 74 includes the system decoder 7
It is possible to output a font signal based on a character code obtained by decoding the subtitle packet string sent from the No. 3 to the video synthesizing device 72. That is, the system decoder 73
The subtitle information reproducing device is configured by the subtitle reproducing device 74 and the subtitle reproducing device 74.

The video synthesizing device 72 includes a video decoder 68.
It is possible to combine the video signal from the subtitle reproduction device 74 with the video signal from the subtitle reproduction device 74, and output the combined signal to the monitor television 75 as a display unit. Monitor tv 75
In, a subtitle based on a font signal is displayed on a video based on a video signal in a superimposed manner. The video synthesizing device 72 may not execute the synthesizing process, and the central control device 61 can instruct the video synthesizing device 72 to execute or not execute the synthesizing process.

Next, the video / audio storage devices 26a and 26b store a video encoded data string obtained by digitalizing and encoding a video signal of a movie and an audio encoded data string obtained by digitalizing and encoding a movie audio signal. However, in the subtitle storage device 28, three types (Japanese, English,
The operation of the information providing system 10 will be described by exemplifying a case where a subtitle data string in Chinese is stored and the subtitle in a desired language is added to the video of the movie on the information output device 60 side.

First, when the user of the information output device 60 operates the input device 63 to request provision of a desired movie (tentatively called movie A), the central control device 61 causes the video / audio stream of the movie A to be provided. And a request for sending the subtitle stream to the information supply device 20 through the modem 62 and the communication line 90. Further, at this time, the user inputs the selection of Japanese subtitles to the central control unit 61, for example, by operating a key for instructing Japanese subtitles.

In the information supply device 20, the input / output control unit 30
Receives this request through modem 47. next,
The input / output control unit 30 reads the video encoded data sequence and audio encoded data sequence of the movie A and transfers the video audio data output mechanism selected by the input / output control unit 30 to the video buffer memory 31 and the audio buffer memory 32. The audio storage device controller 25 is instructed to read the subtitle data string of the movie A and transfer it to the subtitle data output mechanism selected by the input / output controller 30.

Further, the input / output control unit 30 is provided with the output interface 36 of the selected audio / video data output mechanism.
Channels assigned to (hereinafter channel A
V) and the channel (hereinafter, referred to as channel TX) assigned to the output interface 46 of the subtitle data output mechanism are notified to the information output device 60 that has requested the movie A.

In the information output device 60, the central control device 61
Instructs the video / audio tuner 64 to select the channel AV and the subtitle tuner 65 to select the channel TX. In this way, the information output device 60 waits for the audiovisual stream to be transmitted on the channel AV and the subtitle stream to be transmitted on the channel TX.

Next, in the information supply device 20, the video / audio storage device control unit 25 controls the video / audio storage devices 26a and 26b.
, The video encoded data string of the movie A is read and transferred to the video buffer memory 31, and the audio encoded data string is read and transferred to the audio buffer memory 32.

The video encoded data string is packetized by the video packetizer 33 and output to the multiplexer 35 as a video packet string. The audio encoded data string is packetized by the audio packetizer 34 and output to the multiplexer 35 as an audio packet string.

The multiplexer 35 multiplexes the video packet sequence and the audio packet sequence into one video / audio stream, and sends this to the head amplifier 37 via the output interface 36. The head amplifier 37 sends this video / audio stream on the channel AV.

The subtitle storage device control unit 27 reads out three types of subtitle data strings of the movie A from the subtitle storage device 28 and transfers them to the subtitle buffer memory 41. Each subtitle data string is converted into a subtitle packet string by the subtitle packetizer 43 and output to the multiplexer 45. The multiplexer 45 temporarily stores each subtitle packet string in the input memory and multiplexes it while reading it from the input memory to form a subtitle stream. Further, the multiplexer 45 sends this subtitle stream to the head amplifier 37 via the output interface 46. The head amplifier 37 sends this subtitle stream on the channel TX.

In the information output device 60, the video / audio tuner receives the channel AV and outputs the video / audio stream to the system decoder 66. The system decoder 66 separates the audiovisual stream into an audio packet sequence and a video packet sequence, outputs the audio packet sequence to the audio decoder 67, and outputs the video packet sequence to the video decoder 68.

The audio decoder 67 decodes the voice packet sequence, further D / A converts it, and outputs it to the amplifier 69 as an analog audio signal. The amplifier 69 amplifies the audio signal and sends it to the speaker 70 as an audio output unit for audio output.

The video decoder 68 decodes the video packet sequence, further D / A converts it, and outputs it to the video synthesizing device 72 as an analog video signal. On the other hand, the subtitle tuner 65 receives the subtitle stream transmitted on the channel TX and sends it to the system decoder 73.

The system decoder 73 separates the subtitle stream into Japanese, English, and Chinese subtitle packet strings and selects only the Japanese subtitle packet strings selected by the user and instructed by the central controller 61. Is output to the subtitle reproducing device 74. The subtitle reproducing device 74 outputs a font signal based on a character code obtained by decoding the subtitle packet sequence sent from the system decoder 73 to the video synthesizing device 72.

The video synthesizing device 72 includes a video decoder 68.
And the font signal from the subtitle reproducing device 74 are combined, and the combined signal is output to the monitor television 75 as a display unit. On the monitor television 75, the Japanese subtitles based on the font signal are displayed in a superimposed manner on the image of the movie A based on the video signal.

The user of the information output device 60 can enjoy the movie with the subtitles that he / she has instructed. As mentioned above,
In this information providing system 10, the information supplying device 20
Multiple types of subtitle data strings are prepared for different types of video / audio information (a pair of video encoded data strings and audio encoded data strings), and the video encoded data strings and audio encoded data strings are packetized and multiplexed. The video / audio stream is sent on the channel AV, and a subtitle stream in which a plurality of types of subtitle data strings are packetized and multiplexed is sent on the channel TX.

The information output device 60 decodes the video / audio stream received on the channel AV to reproduce the video signal and the audio signal. Also, channel T
Of the subtitle packet sequences obtained by decoding the subtitle stream received at X, only the subtitle packet sequence in the language designated by the user is selected and fontified. Then, the video signal and the font signal are combined by the image combining device 72 and output to the monitor television 75.

As described above, the video and audio stream and the subtitle stream are transmitted and received separately and reproduced, but only the subtitle packet string in the language designated by the user is selected from the subtitle stream and converted into the font, and the video signal is output. Is synthesized with. Therefore, the information supply device 20 does not need to hold a plurality of video encoded data strings having the same movie but different subtitles, for example, and an increase in the amount of information held by the information supply device 20 can be suppressed. Further, the information output device 60 does not need a unit for notifying the information supply device 20 of the type of subtitles instructed by the user.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described according to the specific examples, the present invention is not limited to the specific examples and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say. For example, in the specific example, the case where a movie is provided from the information supply device is taken as an example. However, the audio encode data string is the accompaniment music data of the karaoke song, the subtitle data string is the lyrics data, and the video encode data string is the lyrics display. If the background image data is used, the information output device can also be used as a karaoke device. In this case, it is not always necessary to pair a certain audio encode data string with a certain video encode data string, and one video encode data string can be used in combination with a plurality of audio encode data strings. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the total amount of video encoded data strings held in the information supply device.

In the specific example, the video encoded data sequence and the audio encoded data sequence are stored in a separated state and packetized prior to transmission.
It is also possible to store the video-encoded data sequence and the audio-encoded data sequence as a packetized video-audio stream and send it out. Similarly, as for the subtitle data string, a plurality of types of subtitle data strings may be packetized in advance and stored as a subtitle stream, and the subtitle stream may be transmitted.

Further, in the specific example, although the structure for transmitting the caption information by the time division multiplexing on the caption channel is adopted, the structure for making the bidirectional communication channel also serve as the caption, the kind of caption ( It is also possible to provide a channel for each language) to transmit on a plurality of channels, or to provide a dedicated transmission line for each type of subtitle.

In the specific example, the communication line of the coaxial cable is used, but the communication between the information supply device and the information output device may be wired or wireless. Further, not only electromagnetic signals but also light can be used as a medium.

[0064]

As described above, according to the information supply device of the first aspect, the video / audio information and the subtitle information corresponding to the video / audio information are separately output. It is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of video / audio information in which caption information is embedded, such as preparing video / audio data of the number of types. Therefore, the information supply device does not need to hold a large amount of data.

In the information output device according to the second aspect, the video / audio information and the subtitle information selected by the selecting means are separately received and reproduced. By superimposing the video reproduced by the video / audio information and the subtitle reproduced by the subtitle information, for example, the subtitle can be added to the screen of the movie. Therefore, it is not necessary to notify the information supply device of the subtitle selection, and the device configuration therefor is also unnecessary.

Further, as described in claim 3, a subtitle information reproduction stop means for stopping the reproduction of the subtitle information by not performing the reception of the subtitle information, the selection of the subtitle information or the reproduction of the subtitle information is provided. If this is activated, only the video / audio information is reproduced, so that the user can enjoy a video without subtitles added to some people, for example.

The information supply apparatus according to claim 1 and the information output apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 are incorporated in the information providing system according to claim 4 so as to exert their functions well. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a specific example information providing system and a configuration of an information supply device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a specific example information output device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Information providing system, 20 ... Information supplying device, 25 ... Video / audio storage device control unit, 26a, 26b ... Video / audio storage device (video / audio information storage means), 27 ... Subtitles Storage device control unit (caption information output unit) 28 ... Caption storage device (caption information storage unit) 30 ... Input / output control unit 31 ... Video buffer memory (video / audio information output unit) 32 ... audio buffer memory (video / audio information output means), 33 ... video packetizer (video / audio information output means), 34 ... audio packetizer (video / audio information output means), 35 ... multiplexer ( Video / audio information output means), 36 ... Output interface (video / audio information output means), 37 ... Head end (video / audio information output means, caption information output means), 41 ..Subtitle buffer memory (subtitle information output means) 43 ... Subtitle packetizer (subtitle information output means) 45 ... Multiplexer (subtitle information output means) 46 ... Output interface (subtitle information output means) 50 ... Encoding device, 60 ... Information output device, 61 ... Central control device (caption information reproduction stopping means), 64 ... Video / audio tuner (video / audio information receiving means), 65 ... Subtitles Tuner (subtitle information receiving means), 66 ... System decoder (video / audio reproducing means), 67 ... Audio decoder (video / audio reproducing means), 68 ... Video decoder (video / audio reproducing means), 72 ... Video synthesizer, 73 ... System decoder (selecting means, subtitle information reproducing means), 74 ... Subtitle reproducing apparatus (subtitle information reproducing means), 90 ... Communication line.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Funabashi 6-104, Sakurayama-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture EXING Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A video / audio information storage unit for storing a plurality of video / audio information consisting of video information and audio information, and a caption information storage unit for storing a plurality of types of caption information corresponding to each of the video / audio information. A video / audio information output means for outputting the video / audio information read from the video / audio information storage means; and the caption information storing the caption information corresponding to the video / audio information output from the video / audio information output means. An information supply device, comprising: subtitle information output means for reading out and outputting the means. 2. A video / audio information receiving means for receiving the video / audio information transmitted from the information supplying apparatus according to claim 1, and receiving the caption information transmitted from the information supplying apparatus according to claim 1. Caption information receiving means for selecting the type of the subtitle information transmitted from the information supply device according to claim 1, and reproducing the video / audio information received by the video / audio information receiving means. An information output device comprising: a video / audio information reproducing means; and a caption information reproducing means for reproducing the caption information selected by the selecting means. 3. The information output device according to claim 2, wherein the subtitle information is stopped by not performing any of the reception of the subtitle information, the selection of the subtitle information, and the reproduction of the subtitle information. An information output device comprising a reproduction stop means. 4. An information providing system comprising the information supply device according to claim 1 and the information output device according to claim 2 or 3.