JPH10126753A - Terminal device which can faster display what operator hopes to view among enormous amount of video information broadcast in one-way by using cache and reproducing method used by the terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal device which can immediately show what an operator desires to view among enormous amount of video information that can interactively be shown. SOLUTION: A navigation cache part 14 and a presentation cache part 15 consist of memories to which a high-speed access can be given and store all the things that are predicted to have possibility to be displayed and what has circumstances that are shown so far among plural presentation streams which are included in a transport stream and an NWT(navigation information table). When any icon is defined and operated among plural icons that introduce a switching destination of plural interactive screens, a presentation stream and the NVT which correspond to the switching destination that is defined and operated are fetched from the parts 14 and 15, and an interactive screen that consists of the presentation stream and the NVT is immediately shown.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a terminal device used in communication services such as digital satellite broadcasting and digital CATV, a reproducing method in the terminal device, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent increase in the number of channels of broadcast waves in satellite broadcasting and CATV, competition between broadcasting companies for acquiring viewers tends to increase. The emergence of "interactive TV broadcasting" has been eagerly sought by broadcasters who want to gain an advantage in the competition for viewers, and R & D for achieving this is urgently needed. Here, the interactivity means that the image displayed on the television receiver is switched to another image according to the operation of the operator.
For example, it is assumed that a plurality of icons are arranged in each video, and the video to be displayed next is associated with those icons. In this case, when the terminal device displays the video corresponding to each icon in response to the operation on the icon, the operator feels that the video as intended is displayed according to his / her own selection intention. Such interactivity is a breakthrough in the history of TV broadcasting, in which broadcasting in only one direction was common sense, and has the potential to become the standard style of next-generation TV broadcasting.

In order to realize interactive TV broadcasting, a terminal device issues a transmission request to transmit video information desired to be viewed, and a broadcasting station responds to the request. What is necessary is just to transmit information. That is, the broadcasting station stores a large number of video information that is interactively selected in the storage device, and transmits the one requested by the terminal device in the transmission request.

[0004]

The above-described method in which a terminal device issues a transmission request becomes more difficult to implement as the number of households in which the terminal devices are installed increases. This is because it is necessary to install a large number of lines for transmitting transmission requests and video information individually. This is because a line for individually transmitting the read request and the video information overflows. Due to these causes, if the time from the issuance of the read request to the reproduction is too long, the viewer may be irritated and the viewing may be avoided.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to promptly display, among enormous number of video information items, an operator wants to view, even when a huge number of video information items are transmitted with a transmission capacity of several mega bps. And a reproducing method thereof.

[0006]

A terminal device according to the present invention for achieving the above object reproduces one of m broadcast video information and n navigation information broadcast together with the video information. Is a terminal device used for a terminal device that interactively switches playback video using
m and n are integers of 1 or more), m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each navigation information is
Associated with the switching source video information, indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the time of reproduction of the switching source video information, and shows the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto. A cache unit storing any one of the sets, a reproducing unit reproducing the video information stored in the cache unit, and whether an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information. Monitoring means for monitoring whether or not s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having a possibility of being reproduced while a predetermined operation is not performed during the period when the monitoring means is monitoring, and T navigation information (1 ≦ t <
n) receiving means based on the navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing it in the cache means, and when a predetermined operation is performed, a plurality of switching of the video information being reproduced based on the predetermined operation Of the destination video information,
Specifying means for specifying any one of them; determining means for determining whether the specified switching destination video information is video information stored in the cache means; The preceding video information is read from the cache means and reproduced by the reproducing means, and based on the navigation information stored in the cache means corresponding to the read video information, s videos having a possibility of being reproduced next. Information (1 ≦ s <m) and t associated with those video information
A first control unit for causing the receiving unit to receive the navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) of the book.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) In order to realize interactive TV broadcasting to a terminal device that has spread to many households, a method in which a terminal device does not use a transmission request for video information is ideal.
“Interactive broadcasting without using a transmission request” in the present embodiment means that a broadcasting station transmits a plurality of video information that can be selected interactively, and the terminal device selects and receives the plurality of video information. It is a form.

When the broadcast system is realized in this embodiment, the process of transmitting a transmission request to the broadcast station is not required. Can be realized. On the other hand, since all the video information to be displayed is transmitted interactively, the number of video information to be transmitted becomes very large. If the number of video information to be transmitted is too large, the time required to receive the video information to be displayed next and to reproduce the video information increases accordingly.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of a main broadcasting service realized as a satellite broadcasting service. In FIG. 1, the broadcast station 100 transmits a broadcast wave to a broadcast satellite 200 as indicated by a broken line h1. Broadcast satellite 2
No. 00 transmits the broadcast wave transmitted in this way to a wide area on the ground as shown by broken lines h2, h3, h4. Broadcasting station 100
Since the broadcasting satellite 200 repeatedly performs such transmission at a transmission cycle of several minutes, the terminal devices installed at all places on the ground can reliably receive these broadcast waves.

[0010] The broadcast wave referred to here is QPSK (Quadrature).
Phase shift keying) means a transport stream modulated into a carrier. A transport stream is a stream in which various types of data to be transmitted are multiplexed.
re Expert Group). A transport stream consists of a huge number of transport packets. The transport packet is a minimum unit in which the reliability of data transmission is guaranteed, and refers to transmission data including an error detection and error correction code.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the transport stream. A horizontally long rectangle shown in the upper part of FIG. 2 indicates a transport stream, and small squares therein indicate transport packets. As shown in the figure, the transport stream is composed of a huge number of transport packets. The huge number of transport packets are classified into a plurality of systems according to the contents of data to be transferred.

The lower part of FIG. 2 is a diagram in which transport packets are arranged in a horizontal direction for each system. The transport stream system includes a video element system (abbreviated as "VE" in the figure) constituting an image portion and an audio element system ("AE" in the diagram) constituting an audio portion of the image. ") And a navigation information table system (hereinafter abbreviated as NVT; NVT [1], NVT [2], NVT [3] ... in the figure) and
PCR system (Program Clock Reference) to establish synchronization between video and audio elements
And the program association table system (Progra
m Association Table (PAT)), a program map table system (hereinafter abbreviated as PMT),
A network information table system (Network Informatio) indicating which satellite the transport stream is relayed and transferred (belonging to which network).
n Table), a service description table system (Service Desc) indicating what kind of program is broadcast by this transport stream (what kind of service it belongs to).
ription table), and an event information table system (Event Information Table) indicating what kind of channel the group belongs to (what kind of event it belongs to).

For more information on the above information, see ETS 300 46
Since the details are described in 8 standards (DVB-SI standard) and ISO / IEC 13818-1 (MPEG2 system standard), please refer to documents describing these. It can be seen that the transport packet shown in FIG. 2 multiplexes several types of data and transfers them.

Each transport packet belonging to the video element and the audio element has a packet identifier (Packet Ideftif) for specifying to which of the audio element and the video element it belongs.
ier (PID)). The above audio elements, video elements, and PCRs are grouped in units called presentation streams. The presentation stream is configured by grouping audio elements, video elements, and PCRs that constitute one scene of a video.

3 to 6 show what audio elements, video elements, and PCRs the presentation stream [1], presentation stream [2],... In FIG. The presentation stream [1] is composed of an audio element [1] having a PID of 0x201 and a video element having a PID of 0x202.
[1]. The video obtained by decoding the video element [1] is assumed to be a live-action video having a length of about two minutes and showing a state where an announcer of a broadcasting company greets. The audio element [1] is described in the "Information
Thank you for watching A broadcast. In today's broadcast, we have prepared the following information. Please enjoy yourself slowly. ] Narration.

The presentation stream [2] is 0x3
Audio element [2] with PID of 01 and P of 0x302
And a video element [2] having an ID. FIG. 4 shows the contents of these streams. Video Element [2] is a preview of the upcoming new movie, and Audio Element [2] is "The following new movie will be screened at each cinema in the new movie guide coming soon. We are. ] Narration.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the contents of the presentation stream [12] and the presentation stream [43].
Shown in As shown in these figures, the presentation stream [12] and the presentation stream [43]
Has a unique live-action video and narration. In FIG. 2, it is important to note that information belonging to the private section compliant with ISO / IEC
T ”is described. Data belonging to the private section can be additionally provided with a table identifier called table_id_exetension. NVT [0] in the figure,
NVT [1], NVT [2], and NVT [12] are commonly assigned an identifier of 0x0082, but NVT [0] has a table_id_e of 0x0000.
xetension is attached, and NVT [1] has table_id_ex of 0x0001
table_id_exetension of 0x0002, N for etension, NVT [2]
VT [12] has a table_id_exetension of 0x0012. From these facts, the video element and the audio element use the PID to specify what the content is, and the NVT uses the table_id_exetension to specify the content itself. It can be seen that is used.

Next, the navigation information table will be described. The navigation information table refers to a group of navigation information for displaying icons and causing these icons to behave in a dialogue with an operator. In the present specification, the icon is used to introduce the contents of the switching destination video to the operator using any one of a pattern, character, and color, or a combination thereof, and is used as an option. A typical icon behavior is cursor movement. The cursor here is one of the icons arranged on the dialogue screen.
The one in which the drawing color is changed and which draws the operator's attention is called an icon whose drawing color is changed is called an icon in a focus state. Cursor movement refers to switching the currently focused icon to the normal state and changing another icon to the focused state in accordance with the operation of the operator. When the icon in the focus state is switched in this way, the target of interest of the operator moves to another icon.

FIG. 7 shows the contents of NVT [1] shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 shows the contents of NVT [2] shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows the contents of NVT [12]. The data structure of the NVT will be described. N
The VT includes a bitmap table 301, an object definition table 302, a handler definition table 303, and a hyperlink table 304. These tables have a plurality of columns and are indexed 1, 2, 3, and 4. Of the object definition table 302 to the hyperlink table 304, a set associated with a common index corresponds to the navigation information.

In FIG. 7, a bitmap table 301 included in NVT [1] includes a bitmap 1 used as an icon “new movie information” and a bitmap 2 used as an icon “internet latest information”.
A bitmap 3 used as an icon of “event information”, a bitmap 4 used as an icon of “program notice”, and bitmaps 101 to 104 which are copies of the group of bitmaps and are highlighted. Have.

Navigation information included in NVT [2]
index [5]-navigation information index [8] are bitmap 5 used as the icon "Fear of the Great Tornado (Distributed by AAA)", bitmap 6 used as the icon "Resurrection of the Great Dinosaur (Distributed by BBB)", Icon "Sports Wars
(Distributed by AAA company) ", a bitmap 8 used as an icon" return ", and bitmaps 105 to 108 which are copies of the group of bitmaps and are highlighted.

NVT [1] and NVT [2] have about three or four bitmaps, but some have as many as ten bitmaps. NVT [17] shown in FIG. 9 is an example, and has as many as 10 bitmaps. The object definition table 302 is a table obtained by grouping object definition information that gives an icon included in the same NVT the property as an object. Object definition information is “index”, object type “type”, coordinate information, handler pointer “HANDLE
R ", a normal state pointer" Normal_Bitmap ", and a focus state pointer" Focused_Bitmap ".

“Index” is an identifier assigned to each row in the object definition table 302. The object type "type" is the object definition table 30
2 shows what kind of object the description content of each line is to behave as. Object type "type"
Is described as a "button", an icon that behaves according to the object definition table 302 has the property of a button.

The coordinate information "X coordinate" and "Y coordinate" indicate at which coordinates on the screen where the video is displayed the object should be placed. Navigation information index [1] shown in FIG.
Coordinate information is x = 50, y = 50, and navigation information
The coordinate information of index [2] is x = 50, y = 100. These pieces of coordinate information are represented with the origin at the upper left of the dialogue screen.
Since the coordinate information of the navigation information index [1] is x = 50 and y = 50, the icon “new movie information” indicated by the navigation information index [1] shown in FIG. 7 is arranged at the upper left on the screen. You.

The coordinate information of the navigation information index [2] is
Since x = 100 and y = 50, the icon “Internet information” held by the navigation information index [2] shown in FIG. 7 is arranged on the upper right of the screen. The handler pointer "HANDLER" causes the icon to behave using any script described in the handler definition table 303 when a determination operation is performed on the bitmap,
Indicates which interactive screen to link to. Here, the “link” means, when an interactive screen composed of a video and a bitmap is to be switched by a determination operation of an icon corresponding to the bitmap, a video of the switching interactive screen and all information necessary for the interactive screen. Indicates where to get from.

HD_i in navigation information index [1]
When ndex [1] intends to switch the dialogue screen by the operation of confirming the icon “new movie information” corresponding to bitmap 1 corresponding to navigation information index [1], it is instructed by HD_index [1] in the handler definition table. The script "goto_contents (HL_index)" indicates that the component tag of the video element and the audio element of the switching destination interactive screen and the table identifier of the switching destination NVT should be acquired.

The normal state pointer “Normal_Bitmap” is
In the normal state, the bitmap of the icon should be drawn, and the focus state pointer “Focused_Bitmap” indicates the bitmap of the icon in the focus state. The handler definition table 303 is a table in which a plurality of scripts are described with HD_index added. In FIG. 7, all scripts have goto_contents statements described. The goto_contents statement is the handler definition table 30
In step 3, the hyperlink information specified by the identifier described in parentheses () is extracted, and the terminal device is instructed to receive the video element, audio element, and NVT indicated by the extracted hyperlink information.

The hyperlink table 304 is a table in which a plurality of pieces of hyperlink information are described with HL_Index. Here, the hyperlink table 304 has eleven information elements of orig_nw_id to NE_id_EXT to specify one switching destination. This is because the hyperlink information covers, to a detailed level, which of a vast number of information broadcast in the digital broadcasting system is specified as a switching destination.

The "orig_nw_id" indicates which satellite the relay destination NVT, video element and audio element are relayed and transferred to (which network they belong to). “Ts_id” indicates which transport stream is used to transfer the switching destination.

"VE_svc_id" indicates which of the plurality of broadcasted TV programs the switching destination video element is a part of (which service). "VE_eve
nt_id "indicates to which broadcast channel the broadcast program including the switching destination video element belongs (which event it belongs to). “VE_comp_tag” indicates which component tag is attached to the switching destination video element in the transport stream. A component is a stream identified by one PID in the MPEG2 standard. In the present embodiment, since each video element and audio element are assigned a unique PID, the video element and the audio element each become one complete component, but are shared by a plurality of video elements and audio elements. If PIDs are assigned, those common PIDs
Are grouped into one component tag.

"AE_svc_id" indicates which of the plurality of broadcasted TV programs the switching-target audio element is a part of (which service). AE
“_event_id” indicates to which broadcast channel the broadcast program including the switching destination audio element belongs (which event it belongs to). “AE_comp_tag” indicates which component tag is attached to the switching destination audio element in the transport stream.

"NE_svc_id" indicates which of the plurality of broadcasted TV programs the switching destination NVT is a part of (which service it belongs to). "NE_event_id"
It indicates to which broadcast channel the broadcast program including the switching destination NVT belongs (which event it belongs to). 『NE_i
d_EXT "indicates which table_id_exetension is attached to the switching destination NVT in the transport stream.

[0033] The ranking information abbreviated as "rank" in the figure is, for example, information that ranks video elements, audio elements, and NVTs to which a broadcast station is linked based on the display frequency. . In the example of FIG. 7, the ranking information of HL_index [1] is 1, which is the highest, and HL_index [2], HL_index [3], and HL_index [4].
Followed by ranking information. Such a rank is determined based on a questionnaire survey independently performed by a broadcasting station, a trend in recent years, topicality, and the like.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the description contents of the PMT. The PMT associates a stream descriptor describing each component tag with a PID. The stream descriptor “stream_ide” having the component tag 0x0002
ntifier_descritor ”is associated with PID 0x0302. The stream descriptor “stream_identifier_descritor” having the component tag 0x0003 is associated with PID 0x0303. These stream descriptors "stream_i
When the terminal device obtains the component tags of the switching destination video element and the switching destination audio element from the hyperlink table 304, the terminal device receives any PID to receive the switching destination video element and the switching destination audio element.
This is for notifying the terminal device whether to select the transport packet marked with.

The following summarizes how the switching destination NVT, the video element, and the audio element are specified by the hyperlink information and the PMT in the NVT. <Specification of switching destination NVT> Handler pointer "HAND" in NVT
LER], any one of the scripts described in the handler definition table 303 is specified, and any one of the hyperlink information in the hyperlink table 304 and the NE_id_EXT are specified by the script, and the link destination NVT is uniquely specified. Obtain the table identifier assigned to.

-(1) When the icon "new movie information" of NVT [1] is determined HL_Index [1] → NE_id_EXT [0x0002] → Table identifier 0x00
NVT [2] with 02-(2) NVT [1] icon "Internet latest information"
HL_Index [2] → NE_id_EXT [0x0003] → Table identifier 0x00
NVT [3] having 03-(3) When determining the icon "event information" of NVT [1] HL_Index [3] → NE_id_EXT [0x0004] → Table identifier 0x00
NVT [4] having 04-(4) When confirming the icon "program notice" of NVT [1] HL_Index [4] → NE_id_EXT [0x0005] → Table identifier 0x00
NVT having 05 [5] <Specification of video element> One of the scripts described in the handler definition table 303 is specified from the handler pointer “HANDLER” in the NVT, and the script in the hyperlink table 304 is specified by the script. One VE_comp_tag is specified, and a component tag corresponding to the linked video element is obtained. The PID associated with the component tag is obtained from the stream descriptor of the PMT.

-(1) When the icon "new movie information" of NVT [1] is determined VE [2] having HL_Index [1] → VE_comp_tag [0x0002] → PID [0x0302] − (2) of NVT [1] Icon "Internet Latest Information"
HL_Index [2] → VE_comp_tag [0x0003] → VE [3] with PID [0x0303] − (3) When NVT [1] icon “Event information” is determined HL_Index [3] → VE_comp_tag [0x0004] → VE [4] having PID [0x0304]-(4) When the icon "Program Preview" of NVT [1] is determined HL_Index [4] → VE_comp_tag [0x0005] → VE [1] having PID [0x0305] <audio element Specification> One of the scripts described in the handler definition table 303 is specified from the handler pointer “HANDLER” in the NVT, and one of the AE_comp_tags in the hyperlink table 304 is specified by the script, and the link destination is specified. Get the component tag corresponding to the audio element. PM
Obtain the PID associated with the component tag from the stream descriptor of T.

NVT [1] described above is equivalent to NVT [2], VE
[2] and AE [2] are specified as the switching destination. Like this one
NVT that is specified as the switching destination when NVT is the switching source,
The combination of video element and audio element is cont
Called ent. The “link between contents” is formed by the NVT in this content having a link destination.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the tree structure shown in FIG. 11 is formed between the NVT and the content by linking the “links of the content”. A plurality of arrows shown in FIG. 11 indicate links between the NVT and the content, and a tree structure is formed by the links indicated by the arrows (the content located at the root of the tree structure). The root c
Call it ontent. ).

In FIG. 11, content [1] is VE [1], AE
[1] (In the figure, it is abbreviated as VE_AE [1].
The notation of the combination of VE and AE included in ontent [] uses the abbreviation VE_AE) and NVT [1]. This is the bitmap included in the NVT [1] when decoding the presentation stream [1] into a video “live-action video of a broadcast company announcer greeting” by video element [1] and audio element [1]. It indicates that the group should be combined with the video.

In FIG. 11, content [2] is VE [2], AE
[2] (VE_AE [2] in the figure) and NVT [2]. this is,
Presentation stream by VE [2] and AE [2]
It indicates that when decoding [2] into the video "Trailer of a new movie coming soon", the bitmap group included in NVT [2] should be combined with the video. A composite video obtained by synthesizing icons on a video drawn using the presentation stream is called an interactive screen, and samples thereof are shown in FIGS. 30, 31, 32, and 33. FIG. 30 is a dialog screen obtained by synthesizing the icons included in NVT [1] on the presentation stream [1] indicated by the video element [1] and the audio element [1]. Is an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing the icons included in NVT [2] on the presentation stream [2] specified by VE [2] and AE [2]. FIG.
FIG. 33 shows an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing the icons included in NVT [12] on the presentation stream [12] specified by VE [12] and AE [12]. as well as
Presentation stream [4] specified by AE [43]
3] is an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing the icons included in NVT [43] above.

Since the transmission of the transport stream configured as described above is repeated many times by the broadcasting station 100 shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device obtains a necessary one of the above streams and tables. be able to. However, it is necessary to wait for reception corresponding to the above-described transmission cycle before obtaining the information. Next, a viewing system for viewing the broadcast by the transport stream thus broadcast will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the appearance of the viewing system, which includes a parabolic antenna 1, a terminal device 2, a television receiver 3, and a handy remote controller 4.

The parabolic antenna 1 is installed outdoors to receive the carrier of the transport stream transmitted by the broadcasting satellite. The terminal device 2 extracts a transport stream from the carrier wave received by the parabolic antenna 1 and decodes the transport stream into an NTSC or PAL video signal and a stereo audio signal. AV signal).

The television receiver 3 is reproduced by the terminal device 2.
Displays the AV signal. While the television receiver 3 is displaying the AV signal, the handy remote controller 4 accepts an operation performed by the operator and outputs an infrared signal indicating the operation content to the terminal device 2. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a key layout of the handy remote controller 4. The handy remote controller 4 includes a cross key 41 for receiving a cursor moving operation, a numeric keypad 42 for receiving a numerical input for selecting a number, and an Enter key 43 for receiving a confirmation operation.

The internal configuration of the terminal device will be described with reference to FIG. The terminal device includes a demodulator 10, a TS decoder 11, an AV decoder 12, and an AV decoder control unit 13.
A navigation cache unit 14, a presentation cache unit 15, an operation detection unit 16, a cache manager 17, a statistics table storage unit 18, a mode management unit 19, a cache table storage unit 20, a cache processing unit 21, , Input switching unit 22 and graphic storage unit 2
3, a graphic display unit 24, and a browser 25.

The demodulator 10 converts the carrier transmitted by the broadcasting station
When the CS antenna receives it, it demodulates it, obtains a transport packet, and outputs it to the TS decoder 11. The TS decoder 11 separates the transport packets output from the demodulator 10 that belong to the stream system, and outputs the separated transport packets to the input switching unit 22 where the AV decoder 12 is located. On the other hand, when the table identifier is instructed from the browser 25, of the plurality of transport packets of the table system included in the transport stream, only those having the table identifier are transmitted to the cache processing unit 21 where the browser 25 is located. Output to

The AV decoder 12 outputs a transport packet of a stream system from the input switching unit 22 and
When D is specified by the AV decoder control unit 13, the transport packet in which the PID is specified is decoded into an AV signal while synchronizing the video element system and the audio element system using PCR. At the time of decoding into an AV signal, a bitmap included in the NVT is output from the browser 25, and when the AV decoder control unit 13 instructs synthesis of the video and the bitmap, the decoded video and the browser 25 The output bitmap is combined with the output bitmap, and the combined video is output to the AV terminal of the television receiver 3 as an AV signal.

The AV decoder control unit 13 includes a browser 25
Outputs a PID and a video element, audio element, and PCR corresponding to the PID, and controls the AV decoder 12 to decode the video element, audio element, and PCR. When the browser 25 outputs that the bitmap is to be synthesized with the video composed of the video element, the audio element, and the PCR, the browser 25 controls the AV decoder 12 to synthesize the bitmap with the video composed of the video element and the PCR. When the browser 25 executes the processing program included in the navigation information, the browser 25 controls the AV decoder 12 to change the drawing color of a part of the bitmap being displayed according to the execution of the processing program.

The navigation cache unit 14 is composed of a memory that can be accessed at high speed, and it is predicted that a bit map inside the plurality of NVTs included in the transport stream may be displayed. Stockpile everything and the ones that have been displayed so far. The storage areas in the navigation cache unit 14 are sequentially numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in ascending order of the start address in the navigation cache unit 14, and are stored in individual storage areas. A display history mark indicating whether or not the bit map of the NVT has been displayed (indicating whether a hit or a miss) has been provided.

In the state where the interactive screen including the bit map of NVT [1] is displayed, the navigation cache unit 1
FIG. 15A shows what kind of NVT is stored in No. 4. The "interactive screen including the bit map of NVT [1]" is the interactive screen shown in FIG. 30, and includes the icons "New movie information", "Internet latest information", "Event information", and "Program notice" Are synthesized on the video, and are waiting for the cursor moving operation and the confirmation operation by the operator. Referring to FIG. 15A, it can be seen that the navigation cache unit 14 stores a mark on the currently displayed NVT [1] while the interactive screen of FIG. 30 is displayed. NVT [2], NVT [3], NVT
[4] It can also be seen that NVT [5] has already been stockpiled. NVT [2] to N
VT [5] is specified by the hyperlink information of NVT [1].
NVT included in ontent [2] to content [5]. Confirmation operation is performed for any one of the icons “New movie information”, “Internet latest information”, “Event information”, and “Trailer”. Obviously, when done, any of these indications will be required.

As described above, during the display of NVT [1], the navigation cache unit 14 has already stored NVT [2] to NVT [5] which may be displayed next. FIG. 15 shows what NVT is stored in the navigation cache unit 14 when the interactive screen including the bit map of NVT [2] is displayed.
(D) is shown. "Interactive screen including bitmap of NVT [2]"
Is the dialogue screen shown in Fig. 31, and the icon "Fear of the Great Tornado (Distributed by AAA)", the icon "Resurrection of the Great Dinosaur (Distributed by BBB)", and the icon "Sports Wars (Distributed by AAA)" are displayed on the image. And waits for the cursor movement operation and the confirmation operation by the operator. Referring to FIG. 15D, FIG.
It can be seen that while the first interactive screen is displayed, the navigation cache unit 14 stores the currently displayed NVT [2] and the already displayed NVT [1] with marks. You can also see that NVT [11], NVT [12] and NVT [21] are already stockpiled. NVT [11], NVT [12], NVT [21] is N
Content [1 specified by the hyperlink information of VT [1]
1], content [12], and NVT included in content [21]. That is, the navigation cache unit 14 already stores NVT [11], NVT [12], and NVT [21] that may be displayed next at the time of display in FIG.

FIG. 16C shows what NVT is stored in the navigation cache unit 14 when the interactive screen including the bit map of NVT [12] is displayed.
Is shown. The "interactive screen including the bit map of NVT [12]" is the interactive screen shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 16 (c), when the interactive screen shown in FIG. 32 is displayed, the navigation cache unit 14 sets the NVT currently being displayed.
You can see that [12] is marked and stored. At the same time, NVT [41], NVT [42], NVT [43] and NVT [44] are already stockpiled. NVT [41] to NVT [44] are content [41] to content [4 specified by the hyperlink information of NVT [12].
NVT included in [4]. That is, at the time of display in FIG. 32, the navigation cache unit 14 has already stored the NVT [41] to NVT [44] that may be displayed next. FIG. 15A, FIG.
The process of storing the NVT stored in FIG. 5D and FIG. 16C will be described later.

The presentation cache unit 15, like the navigation cache unit 14, is a high-speed memory, and is predicted to be able to be reproduced as an AV signal among a plurality of presentation streams included in the transport stream. Stockpiling all those that have been rebuilt and those that have been revived so far. The storage area in the presentation cache unit 15
The serial numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are assigned in order from the closest to the start address in the presentation cache unit 15, and the bit map of the presentation stream stored in the storage area is stored for each storage area. Stores a mark indicating whether or not it was displayed. Indicate if you hit but missed). In each storage area, identification information indicating how video information is stored (whether the entire moving image is stored or only the first frame is stored) is stored.

FIG. 17A shows what kind of presentation stream the presentation cache unit 15 stores when the presentation screen [1] is displayed. The presente sean stream [1] is a presente sean stream displayed as shown in FIG. 30, and includes icons "new movie information", icon "internet latest information", icon "event information", and icon "program notice". It is synthesized above and is waiting for the cursor moving operation and the confirmation operation by the operator. Referring to FIG. 17A, it can be seen that the presentation cache unit 15 marks and stores the currently displayed presentation screen stream [1] while the interactive screen of FIG. 30 is displayed.
At the same time, it can be seen that Presente Sean Stream [2], Presente Sean Stream [3], Presente Sean Stream [4], and Presente Sean Stream [5] have already been stockpiled. Presente Sean Stream
[2] to presente Sean stream [5] is content [2] to content specified by the hyperlink information of NVT [1].
According to [5], the present screen is a presentation screen in which the PID is indicated, and a confirmation operation is performed on any one of the icons “new movie information”, “internet latest information”, “event information”, and “program notice”. It is clear that any of these indications will then be needed. This is the presentation Shaun stream
During the display of [1], the presentation cache unit 15 has already stored the presentation screen stream [2] to the presentation screen stream [5] which may be displayed next in the presentation cache unit 15.

FIG. 18A shows what kind of presentation screen stream the presentation cache unit 15 stores when the presentation screen stream [2] is displayed. The presente sean stream [2] is a presente sean stream displayed as shown in FIG. "Sports Wars (distributed by AAA)" is synthesized on the video, and the operator waits for the cursor movement operation and the confirmation operation. Referring to FIG. 18A, it can be seen that the presente sean stream [11], the presente sean stream [12], and the presente sean stream [21] are already stored. These presentation screen streams are presentation screen streams whose table identifiers are indicated by content [11], content [12], and content [21] specified by the hyperlink information of NVT [2].

FIG. 19 shows what kind of presentation screen stream the presentation cache unit 15 stores when the interactive screen including the presentation screen stream [12] is displayed. Referring to FIG. 19, it can be seen that the presente sean stream [41], the presente sean stream [42], the presente sean stream [43], and the presente sean stream [44] are already stored. These presentation screen streams are included in the content [41] to content [44] specified by the hyperlink information of the NVT [12], and when a confirmation operation is performed on any of the icons, any of these is displayed. It is clear that this is required next. In this way, while displaying the presente Sean stream [12],
The presentation cache unit 15 has already stored the presentation screen stream [41] to the presentation screen stream [44] which may be displayed next in the presentation cache unit 15. Note that FIG.
(A), the process by which the stored presentation stream stored in FIGS. 18 (a) and 19 is stored will be described later.

The operation detecting section 16 receives the infrared signal emitted by the handy remote controller 4 and detects the contents of the operation on the handy remote controller 4 included in the infrared signal. The operation contents include cursor movement operation by pressing the cross key 41, Ente
There is an icon confirmation operation by pressing the r key 43, and when these are detected, the operation detection unit 16 outputs the operation contents to the browser 25.

When the operation detecting section 16 detects a confirmation operation for any one of the icons, the cache manager 17 predicts a conversation screen displayed next to the conversation screen introduced by the decided icon. Then, while the operation detection unit 16 is waiting for an operation on the determined dialogue screen, among the presentation streams and NVTs constituting the plurality of predicted dialogue screens, the display probability is higher in the presentation stream and NVT. There, the TS decoder 11 receives the data not stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14, stores the received presentation stream in the presentation cache unit 15, and stores the received NVT side in the navigation cache unit 14. The cache processing unit 21 is controlled to execute.

The cache manager 17 predicts the presentation stream having the possibility of being displayed next and the NVT based on what criteria.
By referring to which content is specified as the switching destination by the plurality of icons currently combined with the presentation stream, the presentation stream having the possibility of being displayed next and the NVT are predicted.

The cache manager 17 decides how to select the presentation stream and the NVT having the highest display probability from the predicted presentation stream and NVT in this manner. Table that shows how often the NVT has been performed so far (1), which NVT ranking information with the currently displayed bitmap specifies which content has a higher rank (2), The selection is performed by considering which of the icons is in focus now (3).

The reason why such selection is necessary is that some of the NVTs have a large number of icons that cannot be accommodated in the navigation cache unit 14, and the NVTs having such a large number of icons are required. This is because it is wise to limit what is stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 with reference to the statistical table (1) and the ranking of each content.

For example, the navigation cache unit 14
It is assumed that the number of presentation information and NVTs corresponding to the presentation information stored in the presentation cache unit 15 is limited to about five. In this case, in the tree structure shown in FIG.
[2]-NVT [5], presentation stream [2]-[5]
Can be stored in the free space in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 as a possibility that all of the switching destinations may be displayed. N
VT [41]-NVT [49], presentation stream [41]
[49], it is assumed that all of the switching destinations may be displayed.
It is not possible to store them in the presentation cache unit 15 because the number of NVTs and presentation streams is too large. Thus, the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 1
In the case where there are switching destinations that do not fit in the number 5, the content to be stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 is narrowed down with reference to the statistical table (1) and the ranking of each content. I have.

The reason why the presentation stream and the NVT which are not stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 are selected is that the presentation information stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 and the corresponding presentation information. This is because, among the NVTs, those with the displayed background are stored without being deleted (details thereof will be described later), and the presentation information already stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 and the corresponding Do
This is in order to avoid the trouble of causing the TS decoder 11 to receive the NVT again.

The number of presentation streams and NVTs to be stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 is determined by the number of presentation streams and NVTs.
A decision must be made with reference to how long it takes to stock up all of T. Because, in order to receive necessary presentation streams and NVTs that are repeatedly transmitted, a unit of waiting time corresponding to the repetition period occurs. Since the waiting time increases in proportion to the number of presentation streams and NVTs received, the presentation cache unit 1
This is because if the number of presentation streams and NVTs to be stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the number of NVTs are too large, the phenomenon that the presentation streams and NVTs are not completed forever will occur. It is desirable to calculate a predicted value of the time during which the operation detection unit 16 is waiting for an operation, and to keep the number of presentation streams and NVTs to be stored at the number that can be received within the predicted time.

The statistic table storage unit 18 stores a statistic table indicating statistics of how often each presentation information and its corresponding NVT have been determined in the past.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of the statistical table stored in the statistical table storage unit 18. As shown in the figure, the statistical table storage unit 18 indicates, for one of the combinations of the NVT and the PID of the presentation stream, how frequently the interactive screen composed of those combinations was displayed by the past confirmation operation. The count value is stored as a statistical value. In this embodiment, the statistical table is simply created using the count value.
A statistical table may be created by calculating an average value or a standard deviation of count values per predetermined date and time.

When the cache manager 17 creates the cache table, the mode management section 19 indicates which reference of the statistical table (1), the ranking information (2), and the focus state of the plurality of icons (3). Manage cache mode,
The cache mode is switched according to the state of the terminal device. As described above, the demodulator 10 switches the cache mode according to the state of the terminal device, so that the statistical table (1)
Ranking information (2), focus status of multiple icons (3)
The cache table is created by the best one.

The cache table storage unit 20 stores a cache table created by the cache manager 17. The cache table is a table listing presentation information that is likely to be predicted and displayed by the cache manager 17 and NVTs corresponding to the presentation information that have a particularly high probability of being displayed. Selection of the presentation information and the corresponding NVT by the cache manager 17 includes a statistical table (1), a rank of each content (2),
This is performed in consideration of the focus state (3) of the icon. NVT
About the link destination information of [12] Cache Manager 17
FIG. 21 (a) to FIG. 21 show cache tables showing the results of selecting presentation information and NVTs corresponding to the presentation information.
It is shown in (c).

FIG. 21 (a) shows NVT [1
When the displayability of the link destination information of [2] is evaluated, the link destination information content given the higher rank is listed. The statistical table considered here is an example of FIG. FIG. 21 (b) shows the NVT considering the rank of each content.
When the display possibility of the link destination information of [12] is evaluated, the link destination information content with the higher rank is listed. The rank of each content taken into consideration here is an example of FIG.

The selection of the switching destination NVT in consideration of the focus state of the icon (also referred to as selection with priority on the cursor position) means that when a plurality of icons are displayed on the current display screen, the icon in the focus state is displayed. Evaluate the display possibility of the link destination corresponding to each displayed icon by weighting the highest value and weighing the icon located near the icon set in the focus state with a value corresponding to the highest value. Is what you do. FIG.
The plurality of contents listed in (c) list the contents that are highly evaluated for displayability when a plurality of icons included in the NVT [12] are displayed.

In FIG. 21A, content [41], content
[42], content [43], content [44], and content [45] exist in the cache table, whereas in FIG.
ntent [45], content [47], content [46], content [43],
content [44] exists in the cache table. When a cache table is created using either the statistical table (1) or the rank of each content (2), the co
It turns out that ntent may change suddenly.

The cache processing unit 21 manages the start address and end address of each divided area inside the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14. Then, when there is an excess or deficiency in the divided areas when storing the presentation stream and the NVT, an area management process such as increasing or decreasing the size of the divided area is performed. At the same time, write processing, read processing, and garbage collection processing are performed.

In the writing process, the cache processing unit 21
The NVT is output from the TS decoder 11 and the input switching unit 2
When the presentation stream is output from 2,
The NVT and the presentation stream are written to an area closer to the head among the free areas in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15.

In the reading process, the cache processing unit 2
When any one of the read requests is output from the cache manager 17, the request 1 is requested by the read request among the NVT stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation stream stored in the presentation cache unit 15. And read the NV
T is output to the browser 25, and the presentation stream is read to the input switching unit 22.

In the garbage collection process, the cache processing unit 21 marks the presentation information stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 and the NVT corresponding to the presentation information for which the prediction hits.
Then, the areas occupied by the presentation stream and the NVT which have been mispredicted are released to empty areas so that other data can be written there. As a result of releasing, if a plurality of free areas occur in a worm-like manner, the free areas are made continuous. Insect worms are presentation information that was mispredicted and the corresponding NVT
Means that the presentation information that was the predicted hit and the corresponding NVT intervene between the areas occupied by. Is copied to another area, so that the two empty areas are continuously arranged.

The input switching unit 22 transfers the transport packet of the stream system received by the TS decoder 11 to the AV decoder 12. When the cache manager 17 issues a switching instruction to prefetch the stream system transport packet to the presentation cache unit 15, the stream system transport packet to be transferred to the AV decoder 12 is transferred to the presentation cache unit 15.

When the cache manager 17 issues a switching instruction to use the transport packet of the pre-read stream system, the AV stream source is switched from the TS decoder 11 to the presentation cache unit 15 and read from the presentation cache unit 15. The transport packet of the output stream system is
The data is transferred to the AV decoder 12.

The graphic storage unit 23 stores a bitmap for announcing the interruption of the display to the operator.
The bitmap is a character font string having the content “Please wait”. Graphic display unit 24
When the NVT including the bitmap to be displayed does not exist, the character font string stored in the graphic
Output to the AV decoder 12.

[0077] The browser 25 uses the NVT
When a transport packet belonging to the system is output to the cache processing unit 21, the bitmap contained therein is expanded using a processing program and output to the AV decoder 12, and the bitmap and the video are combined. Order to do so. The browser 25 executes a processing program included in the navigation information. With this execution, the bitmap included in the navigation information is expanded for display. Further, when the cursor movement operation is performed by the operator in a state where a plurality of bitmaps are arranged on the screen, the browser 25 changes the drawing color of the icon according to the bytecode describing how to perform the cursor movement. The decoder control unit 13 is controlled.

Most of the processing contents of the components in the terminal device configured as described above are realized by software. Among them, the processing contents of the cache manager 17 and the browser 25 have important meanings. Therefore, the flowcharts of the cache manager 17 in FIGS. 22 to 25 and the flowcharts of the browser 25 in FIGS. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When the terminal device is started, the cache manager 17 sets a route number to a variable p in step S51 of FIG. Here, the variable p is a variable that indicates the one to be prefetched among a plurality of NVTs. The root number is the number of the NVT corresponding to the root of the tree structure uniquely defined by the PAT and the PMT, and is defined as “1” in the example of FIG.

When the variable p is set as described above, the variable p becomes "1", and the routine goes to Step S52. In step S52, the presentation stream [p] and the NVT [p] are demodulated by the demodulator 1
0 and the TS decoder 11, respectively, and store them in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14. In step S53, there is a branch instruction for branching to the beginning of the flowchart in FIG. 23, and the flow branches to step S60 in FIG. The flow charts of FIGS. 23 to 25 correspond to the content that is one generation lower than content [p] in the processing of the cache manager 17.
This is a flowchart showing the content of the prefetching process for t.

“One generation below content [p]” means that a tree structure formed between NVTs by a link
Refers to the content located on the link destination side of [p]. Where the variables
p is “1”, so content one generation below content [1]
t contains content [2], content [3], content [4], content
[5] exists. Content [11], content [12], conte
content [2], content [3], content [4], content [5] like nt [21], content [22], content [23], content [32]
The content located on the link destination side is called "two generations below content [1]", and content [41], content [42], cont
ent [43], content [44], content [44], content [45], co
The content located on the link destination side of content [11], content [12], content [21], such as ntent [46], content [47], content [48], content [49], is referred to as [content [1] Three generations below. "

In step S60, an index and a cache end flag are initialized. The index is a variable for indicating each content described in the cache table, and is set to “1” in step S60. The cache end flag is a flag that indicates that the storage of the navigation information and the presentation stream is completed with “1”, and that the storage of the navigation information and the presentation stream is incomplete with “0”. Set to 0 ". A plurality of navigation information in the NVT is described as NVT []. NAVI [].

In step S61, there is a branch instruction for branching to the beginning of the flowchart in FIG. 24, and the flow branches to step S77 in FIG. Step S
At 77, the cache manager 17 sets the mode management unit 1
The cache mode managed by 9 is acquired.
In the next steps S78 and S79, steps S80 and S79 are performed according to the acquired cache mode.
81, step S82 is selectively activated.

Consider the case where the cache mode is set to the statistic priority. In the statistical value priority mode, step S78 becomes Yes and the process proceeds to step S80. In step S80, a statistical value from content indicated by NVT [p] .NAVI [START] .link destination information to content indicated by NVT [p] .NAVI [END] .link destination information Registers the higher-level one in the cache table.

If the cache mode is set to rank priority, step S78 is No, but step S78 is No.
79 becomes Yes and it moves to step S81. In step S81, NVT [p] .NAVI [START] .NVT [from the content indicated by the link destination information to NVT [p] .NAVI [END]. [p] is registered in the cache table.

If the cache mode is set to the cursor position priority, step S78 becomes No, step S79 becomes No, and the routine proceeds to step S82. In step S82, the link destination of the navigation information having the focused icon is set to rank 1,
The link destination of the navigation information having the icons located on the left and right of the focused icon is set to rank 2, and the link destination of the navigation information having the icons located above and below the focused icon is ranked.
The cache table is set to 3 and the link destination of the navigation information having the icon located in the oblique direction of the icon in the focus state is set to rank 4.

In the initial stage of the terminal device startup, meaningful ranking cannot be performed in the statistical value priority mode and the cursor position priority mode, so that the mode management unit 19 sets the cache mode to rank priority. Therefore, step S78 is No, and step S79 is Yes.
And the process moves to step S81. In step S81, NVT [1] .NAVI [1] .NVT [1] .NAVI [4] is derived from the content specified by NVT [1] .NAVI [1] .link destination information specified in the link destination information of all navigation information in NVT [p]. Content [2], [3], [4], [5] up to the content indicated by the link destination information
Of those ranked higher by NVT [1],
According to the order, content [2], content [3], content
Register in the cache table in the order of [4], content [5]. When the four contents are registered in the cache table in this way, the processing in FIG. 24 ends, and the process returns to step S62 in FIG.

In step S62, content [q] located at the index-th position in the cache table is obtained. Here, the cache table created by the flowchart of FIG. 24 includes content [2], content [3], content [4], and content.
Since [5] is registered and the index is set to “1”, the cache manager 17
Get ntent [2]. After the acquisition, in step S63, the variable q is substituted for the variable p.
NVT [p] having the identifier included in t [p] is obtained, and the routine goes to Step S65.

In step S65, the navigation cache unit 14 determines whether or not there is a free area enough to store NVT [p]. If there is no such free area in the navigation cache unit 14, the process proceeds to step S67, and NVT [p] is written in the area occupied by the oldest of the marked NVTs. In this case, the variable p is “2” and the navigation cache unit 14
Has enough space to store NVT [p],
In step S66, NVT [1] is stored in the navigation cache unit 14. After storing, the flow chart of FIG.
In step S83, the cache manager 17
Acquires the PID of the audio element [p] and the video element [p] of the presentation stream [p]. After the acquisition, the acquired PID is set in the TS decoder. With this setting, in step S84, the input switching unit 22
Is switched to the presentation cache unit 15, the audio element [p], the video element [p], and the PCR are separated and output to the input switching unit 22.
When the reception of the transport packet of the stream system starts in this way, the cache manager 17 determines in step S85 that the presentation cache unit 15
It is determined whether or not there is a free area enough to store the presentation stream [p].

In this case, the variable p is “2”, and the capacity of the presentation cache unit 15 has a sufficient margin, so that step S85 becomes Yes and the process proceeds to step S86. In step S86, the cache manager 17 stores the received presentation stream [p] in the presentation cache.

If there is no free area for storing the entire presentation stream [p], a storage method according to the remaining amount of the free area is adopted. If the entire presentation stream is not stored, the presentation stream received in step S95
It is determined whether there is a free area in the presentation cache unit 15 for storing the first frame of [p]. If there is, in step S96, the first frame is stored in the presentation cache, and the flow advances to step S92.

If there is not even an empty area for storing the first frame, the presentation stream with the oldest storage time is occupied by the marked presentation streams stored in the presentation cache unit 15 in step S97. Then, the presentation stream [p] is written in the area where the file is located, and the flow advances to step S92.

The above-described storage method works to store the entire presentation stream in the presentation cache unit 15 when there is considerable room in the free space in the presentation cache unit 15. In this case, only the first frame is stored in the presentation cache unit 15.

The presentation stream having the higher rank is stored in the presentation cache unit 15 while the free space in the presentation cache unit 15 has a considerable margin, so that the entire moving image is stored in the presentation cache unit 15. . Conversely, for a presentation stream with a low rank in the cache table, the storage order is changed after the size of the free space in the presentation cache unit 15 becomes small, so that only the first frame of the entire moving image is presented. It is stored in the cache unit 15.
As for storing the first frame only for the presentation stream having the lower rank in the cache table, the presentation stream having the lower rank in the cache table is less likely to be displayed, so the entire video is stored in the presentation cache unit 15. It is not necessary.

When the presentation stream [p] is stored in the presentation cache unit 15, the process proceeds to step S92, in which the index is incremented. . If there is, the cache end flag is set to "1" in step S93, and the process ends. If not, the flow shifts to step S62 in the flowchart of FIG. 23 to enter the second cycle.

In the second cycle, the cache manager 17
Is index in the cache table in step S62.
The content [q] located at the n-th position is acquired, and the table identifier q of the index-th content in the cache table is substituted for the variable p in step S63. Here, the index is incremented to “2” in step S92, and the index is the content in the cache table.
Indicates the second content of t. In the cache table, content [2], content [3], content [4], cont
Since the content of ent [5] is registered, in the second round,
The content [3] located second in the cache table is obtained, and in step S64, the NVT [3] whose content [3] indicates the identifier is obtained. NVT [3] is step S6
At 6, it is stored in the third area in the navigation cache unit 14. Presentation stream
[3] is stored in the third area in the presentation cache unit 15 in step S86. After that, in step S92, the index is incremented, and the process returns to step S62 to enter the third cycle.

In the third round, since the index is “3”, the content located third in the cache table
[4] is obtained, and in step S64, the NVT [4] whose content [4] indicates the identifier is obtained. NVT [4] is stored in the fourth area in the navigation cache unit 14 in step S66, and only the first frame of the presentation stream [4] is stored in the fourth area in the presentation cache unit 15 in step S96. Is stored. Thereafter, in step S92, the index is incremented, and the process returns to step S62 to enter the fourth cycle.

In the fourth cycle, since the index is “4”, the content located fourth in the cache table
[5], and in step S64, NVT [5] whose content [5] indicates an identifier is obtained. NVT [5] is stored in the fifth area in the navigation cache unit 14 in step S66, and only the first frame of the presentation stream [5] is stored in the fifth area in the presentation cache unit 15 in step S96. Is stored. Thereafter, if the index is incremented in step S92, step S90 returns Yes.
Then, the flow shifts to step S93, where the cache end flag is set to "1", and the processing of this flowchart ends. Upon completion of this flowchart, the flow returns to the flowchart of FIG. Upon returning to the flowchart of FIG. 22, the cache manager 17 proceeds to step S54.
Monitors whether the operation wait is continuously performed.

If the operation has been continuously performed, content [i] corresponding to the interactive screen is identified in step S55. The variable i is a variable that indicates one of the plurality of NVTs and presentation streams included in the transport stream that constitutes the currently displayed interactive screen, and is in a focus state in the interactive screen in step S56. NVT corresponding to the icon
[i] .NAVI [m] is identified. The variable m is a variable indicating the navigation information in the NVT [i] including the icon in the focused state. Here, it is assumed that the interactive screen of FIG. 30 is displayed, and the icon “new movie information” is in focus. Step S5
4, contents [1] are identified, and NVT [1] .NAVI [1] is identified in step S55.

After the identification, in step S56, the switching destination content [k] indicated by the link destination information of the navigation information NVT [i] .NAVI [m] is obtained, and in step S59, the variable p is set using the variable k. To update. When the variable p is updated, c
The process proceeds to step S53 to perform the prefetching process on the content one generation lower than ontent [p]. The switching destination content [2] indicated by the link destination information of the navigation information NVT [1] .NAVI [1] is obtained, and “2” is obtained in step S59.
To update the variable p. When the variable p is updated, cont
The process shifts to step S53 to perform the prefetching process on the content one generation lower than ent [2]. For content one generation below content [2], content [11], content [12], con
Since there is a tent [21], at the time of shifting to the above step S53, a prefetching process is performed for content [11], content [12], and content [21].

Next, the processing performed by the browser 25 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the terminal device is started, the browser 25 sets the variable i to the root number in step S2 in FIG. After setting, in step S3
The table identifier of NVT [i] included in content [i] is obtained, and in step S4, the flow chart of FIG. 27 is displayed in order to display an interactive screen composed of a video of the presentation stream and a bitmap of NVT [i]. Branch to the chart.

In the flowchart of FIG. 27, the browser 25 switches the interactive screen at a high speed by actively trying to use the presentation stream and the NVT stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14. Control. Therefore, in step S21, it is determined whether the presentation stream [i] exists in the presentation cache unit 15. If present,
In step S22, the cache processing unit 21 is controlled to read the presentation stream [p] from the presentation cache unit 15. Then, in step S23, the input switching unit 22 is controlled to switch the stream supply source of the AV decoder 12 to the presentation cache unit 15, and the process proceeds to step S24.

If the presentation stream does not exist in the presentation cache unit 15 in the step S21, the step S21 becomes No and the process shifts to the step S25. In step S25, it is determined whether the first frame of the presentation stream [i] exists in the presentation cache unit 15.

If there is, control is performed in step S26 to read the first frame of the presentation stream [i] from the presentation cache,
In step S27, the input switching unit 22 is controlled to switch the stream supply source of the AV decoder 12 to the presentation cache unit 15. After that, the cache processing unit 21 is controlled to read the first frame of the presentation stream [i] from the presentation cache unit 15. When the first frame is read from the cache processing unit 21, audio elements [i],
The AV decoder control unit 13 is controlled so that the PID of the video element [i] is issued to the AV decoder 12, and the first frame stored in the presentation cache unit 15 is displayed.

If the first frame of the presentation stream [i] does not exist in the presentation cache unit 15, step S25 becomes No and the process proceeds to step S29, where the graphic storage unit 23 stores the graphic in the graphic display unit 24. After displaying the default screen including the character font string “Please wait”, the process proceeds to step S30.

When the flow shifts from step S28 and step S29 to step S30, the input switching unit 22 is set so as to switch the stream supply source to the TS decoder 11, and the flow shifts to step S24. When the process proceeds from step S23 and step S30 to step S24, the PIDs of the audio element [i] and the video element [i] are set to AV
AV decoder control unit 1 to issue to decoder 12
Instruct 3 When the PID is designated in this way, the AV decoder 12 sends one of the presentation stream read from the presentation cache unit 15 and the presentation stream received by the TS decoder 11 to the PID designated by the AV decoder control unit 13. To decode the video.

After decoding the presentation stream,
In step S31, it is determined whether NVT [i] exists in the navigation cache unit 14. If NVT [i] exists in the navigation cache unit 14, the NVT [i] is extracted from the navigation cache unit 14 in step S32. If NVT [i] does not exist in the navigation cache unit 14, an icon display command is issued to the graphic display unit 24 in step S42. When the icon display command is issued, the graphic display unit 24 displays a default screen including a character font string “Please wait” stored in the graphic storage unit 23.

After the display, in step S43, the table identifier of NVT [i] is output to the TS decoder. After the output, the TS decoder is instructed to receive NVT [i] in step S44. After the instruction, in step S45, the browser 25 waits for reception of NVT [i], and proceeds to step S46 when NVT [i] is received. In step S46, NV
All bitmaps included in each of T [i] .NAVI_ [start] to NVT [i] .NAVI_ [end] are expanded using a processing program. In step S47, all the bitmaps thus expanded are output to the AV decoder, and in step S48, the all bitmaps expanded and the decoded video of the presentation stream [i] are combined by the AV decoder control unit. . After the combination, it is determined in step S49 whether NVT [i] has been stored in the navigation cache unit 14, and if it has been stored, step S1 is performed.
In step 01, a mark is added to the NVT [i] already existing in the navigation cache unit 14, and the process proceeds to step S102.
T [i] is marked and the navigation cache unit 14
After that, the process moves to step S102.

In step S102, the presentation stream [i] is stored in the presentation cache unit 1
It is determined whether or not the content has been stored in the presentation stream 5. If the content has been stored, a mark is given to the presentation stream [i] in the presentation cache unit 15 in step S104, and the process proceeds to step S106. After marking the presentation stream [i] in step S103, the presentation stream is stored in the presentation cache unit 15, and the process proceeds to step S106.

At step S106, the cache end flag is set to "0". After setting the flag, step S10
In step 7, the variable m is set to 1, and in step S108, NV
The bit map of T [i] .NAVI [m] is set to the focus state, and the process returns to the main flowchart of FIG. In this way, the presentation stream [p] and NVT [p]
When the dialogue screen consisting of the bitmap is displayed, FIG.
The process moves to step S5 of FIG.

In step S5, the process waits for an operation to be performed on the interactive screen. If the operation detection unit 16 detects an operation, it is determined in step S6 whether the operation content is a confirmation operation. If it is determined that the operation is not the confirmation operation, step S6 becomes No, and the process proceeds to step S7.
If the determination in Step 7 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step S8. In step S8, the focus state of the bit map of the NVT [i] .NAVI [m] navigation information is released, and in step S9, the destination item number is calculated by the NVT [i] .NAVI [m] navigation information processing program. After that, the item number m is updated. When the item number m is updated, the bit map of NVT [i] .NAVI [m] is set to the focus state in step S10, and the process proceeds to step S5.
Continue to wait for operation.

When the confirmation operation is performed, step S6 returns Yes.
And the process moves to step S11. In step S11, the bit map of NVT [i] .NAVI [m] is set to a fixed state. In step S12, the link destination content [k] indicated by the link destination information of NVT [i] .NAVI [m]. To get. After the acquisition, the NVT [k] included in the link destination content [k] is further acquired in step S13, and the NVT [k] column of the statistical table storage unit 18 is counted up in step S14. After counting up, in step S15, the obtained content [k] indicating the acquired link destination content is substituted for the variable i, and in step S16, the unmarked presentation stream in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 Delete NVT with no mark. After the deletion, the process waits until the cache end flag is changed to "1" in step S18.
Waiting for the cache end flag to change to "1" is the next generation of the presentation stream and NVT
The presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 are
Means waiting for it to be completely stored. If the presentation stream reproduction ends while waiting for the next generation of the presentation stream and the NVT to be stored, the browser 25 performs processing such as repeatedly reproducing the presentation stream or stopping the reproduction of the last frame. When the presentation stream and the NVT are completely stored, step S4 is performed again.
To display the presentation stream and the bitmap in the NVT.

The operation in the case where the above-described flowchart processing is performed on a plurality of presentation screens and NVTs shown in FIG. 11 will be described. When the browser 25 performs the interactive screen switching process shown in step S4 on the presentation screen stream [1] and NVT [1] specified by the content [1], the interactive screen shown in FIG. 30 is displayed. You. On this interactive screen, the live-action video shown in the presentation stream [1] is displayed on the television receiver 3, and the icon “New Movie Information”,
The icon "Internet latest information", the icon "event information", and the icon "program announcement" are displayed, and the narration by the announcer is output as audio. During this time, the cache manager 17 executes content [2], content [3], content [4], and content indicated by the link destination information of NVT [1].
t [5], the presentation stream [2], presentation stream [3],
The presentation stream [4] and the presentation stream [5] are received by the demodulator 10 and the TS decoder 11, and stored in the presentation cache unit 15.

Similarly, N indicated by these contents
VT [2], NVT [3], NVT [4], NVT [5] are received by the demodulator 10 and the TS decoder 11, and the navigation cache unit 1
4 is stored. After the storage, the NVT [1] in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation stream [1] in the presentation cache unit 15 that are already displayed are marked in steps S101 and S104 in FIG. By these series of operations, the contents stored in the navigation cache unit 14 are as shown in FIG.
The presentation cache unit 1
The storage contents of No. 5 are as shown in FIG.

When the operator who has finished watching the real video image displayed on the television receiver 3 operates the handy remote controller 4 to display the interactive screen shown in FIG. Then, the browser 25 performs the interactive screen switching process shown in step S4. Then, by extracting the presentation stream [2] and NVT [2] introduced by the icon “new movie information” from the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14, the interactive screen shown in FIG. 31 is immediately displayed. At this time, the content stored in the navigation cache unit 14 is marked with a mark indicating that the prediction has hit NVT [2] as shown in FIG. ), The presentation stream [2] is similarly marked.

After the display, the navigation cache unit 14
Then, of the contents stored in the presentation cache unit 15, the area occupied by the unmarked presentation stream is released to be a free area. When such a release process is performed, the contents stored in the navigation cache unit 14 are as shown in FIG. 15C, and the contents stored in the presentation cache unit 15 are as shown in FIG.
(C) is obtained.

In the dialogue screen shown in FIG. 31, the trailer of the new movie is displayed behind it, and the icons “Fear of the Great Tornado (Distributed by AAA)” to the icons “Sports Wars (Distributed by AAA)” shown in FIG. Are synthesized. While such an image is displayed and while the operation detection unit 16 is waiting for an operation, the cache manager 17 performs the content [11], content [12], and content [instructed by the link destination information of the NVT [2]. Two
1], and causes the TS decoder 11 to receive the presentation stream [11], the presentation stream [12], and the presentation stream [21] specified by these contents, and store them in the presentation cache unit 15. By these operations, the contents stored in the presentation cache unit 15 are as shown in FIG.

Similarly, c indicated by these contents
NVT [11] of ontent [11], NVT [12] of content [12], content
The NVT [21] of [21] is received by the TS decoder 11 and stored in the navigation cache unit 14. By a series of these operations, the contents stored in the navigation cache unit 14 are as shown in FIG. The operator who has finished watching the trailer of the new movie is the icon `` Fear of the Great Tornado (Distributed by AAA) ''
Is determined to have been performed. Then, the browser 25 performs the interactive screen switching process shown in step S4. Then, the presentation stream introduced by the icon "Fear of the Great Tornado (Distributed by AAA)"
[12] and NVT [12] for presentation cache unit 1
32 and the interactive screen shown in FIG. 32 is immediately displayed. In this interactive screen, the presentation stream
The new digest video shown in [12] is displayed on the television receiver 3, and an icon is displayed on the actual video. At this time, the contents stored in the navigation cache unit 14 are similarly marked on the NVT [12] as shown in FIG. 16A, and the contents stored in the presentation cache unit 15 are as shown in FIG. A mark indicating that the prediction has been hit is added to the presentation stream [12].

After the display, the area occupied by the unmarked presentation stream in the contents stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14 is released to be a free area. When such release processing is performed, the contents stored in the navigation cache unit 14 are as shown in FIG. 16B, and the contents stored in the presentation cache unit 15 are as shown in FIG.
(C) is obtained.

On the interactive screen shown in FIG. 32, the digest image of “Fear of the Great Tornado (Distributed by AAA)” is displayed on the television receiver 3.
As many as ten icons displayed at the top and shown in FIG. 5 are synthesized. While such an image is displayed and the operation detection unit 16 is waiting for an operation, the cache manager 17
Content [41] -cont indicated by the link information of T [12]
ent [49] is acquired, and content [41] to content [44], which are positioned higher in the cache table, are received by the TS decoder 11 and stored in the presentation cache unit 15.
The storage state of the presentation cache unit 15 at the time of this storage is as shown in FIG. 18C, and there is no free space for two presentation streams. In this case, since the presentation stream that has been received cannot be completely stored, the presentation stream [41] and the presentation stream [42] are stored in the area occupied by the oldest storage time among the hit presentation streams, and are stored in the empty area. The presentation stream [43] and the presentation stream [44] are stored.

Similarly, N indicated by these contents
VT [41] to NVT [44] are received by the TS decoder 11 and stored in the navigation cache unit 14. The storage state of the navigation cache unit 14 at the time of this storage is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), there is no free area for two NVTs. In this case, the received NVT cannot be stored. Therefore, among the hit NVTs, the NVT [41] and NVT [42] are stored in the area occupied by the oldest storage time, and the NVT is stored in the empty area.
NVT [43] and NVT [44] are stored. FIGS. 16C and 19 show the contents of the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 after storage.

A case will be described in which the icon "return" is confirmed on the interactive screens shown in FIGS. For example, it is assumed that a confirmation operation has been performed on the icon “return” on the interactive screen in FIG. The bitmap 8 constituting the icon "return" has a link destination information of NVT [2] .NAVI [4] included in the fourth navigation information index [4] in NVT [2]. [1] is specified as the switching destination. The contents stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 at the time of display in FIG. 30 are shown in FIGS.
As shown in (b), it can be seen that NVT [1] and the presentation stream [1] whose table identifier is indicated by content [1] are stored in these figures. The information is stored in this way because it is marked once because it has been displayed. By displaying the NVT [1] and the presentation screen [1], the interactive screen of FIG. 30 is immediately displayed. On the other hand, FIG.
It is assumed that a decision operation has been performed on the icon “new movie information” on the interactive screen 0. Then, the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 store the NVT [2] and the presentation screen stream.
Since [2] is stored with a mark, by displaying them, the interactive screen of FIG. 31 is immediately displayed. By storing the NVT and the presentation screen stream marked in this way in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15, it is possible to return the previous interactive screen at the time of confirming the icon “return”. Can be done at high speed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when any one of a plurality of icons for introducing a plurality of switching destinations is confirmed, a presentation stream and an NVT corresponding to the confirmed switching destination are presented. Since the contents are extracted from the cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14, an interactive screen including the presentation stream and the NVT can be displayed immediately.

Along with such display, control is performed so that the NVT receives a plurality of presentation streams and NVTs designated as link destinations and stores them in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14. A plurality of presentation streams that can be displayed next while allowing the operator to view the presentation stream that has been confirmed
The NVT can be stored in the presentation cache unit 15 and the navigation cache unit 14.

Since the presentation stream and the NVT are stored by utilizing the operation waiting time of the terminal device while the operator is watching, the operator is not conscious of the process until the presentation stream and the NVT are stored. It also has an effect. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, a video element is a moving image, whereas the second embodiment relates to an improvement in a case where a video element including a still image is broadcast. FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the contents of the transport stream broadcast in the second embodiment. VET [0], VET [1], VET [5], VET [15], VET [16], VET [4
9] include moving images. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the VE differs from the first embodiment in that the individual video elements are assigned different PIDs in the first embodiment, whereas in the second embodiment, all the video elements are assigned to the video elements. Each has a different PID. This is because the second embodiment intends to broadcast a huge variety of still images, and a unique identifier cannot be assigned to these huge number of video elements with the bit width of the PID. . These PIDs are common, but "strea
m_id ”.

For example, VE [0] in FIG. 34 has a stream_id of 0xe0 in addition to the PID of 0x0084, and VE [1]
Has a stream_id of 0xe0 in addition to a PID of 0x0084. In the transport stream according to the first embodiment, video elements are arranged continuously, whereas a video element table, which is information belonging to the private section described in the first embodiment, is provided every other video element. "VET" is inserted.
In FIG. 34, immediately before VE [0], VET [15] is arranged,
VET [16] is arranged immediately before VE [1], and VET [17] is arranged immediately before VE [2]. Just before VE [5], VET
[20] is arranged, and it can be seen that VET [30] is arranged immediately before VE [15]. (Although not shown, audio element table "AET" is also arranged before AE.) It shall be.).

FIG. 35A shows the contents of VE [15] shown in FIG. VET [15] is provided with a unique VE_id_exetension of 0x0001 together with a PID of 0x0083. First_pts, last_pts, st within VET [15]
ream_id and component_tag are described. Str
It can be seen that eam_id “0xef” is a stream_id assigned to VE [15] located behind VET [30].

FIG. 35B shows the VET [16] shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the content of. VET [16] is the VET [1
5] and a common PID, a unique VE_id_e of 0x0000
An xetension 2547 is provided. First_pts, last_pts, stream_id, and component_tag are described in the frame of VET [16]. Of these, stream_id "0xe1" is VET [16]
It can be seen that the stream_id is assigned to VE [1] located at the rear.

Thus, VET [15] has the stream_id of VE [15] located behind itself, and VET [16] has the stream_id of VE [16] located behind itself. You can see that it is doing. From these facts, it can be seen that a VET having a stream_id uniquely assigned to the video element is arranged in front of each video element.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the contents of the hyperlink table of the NVT in the second embodiment. The difference between the hyperlink table shown in FIG. 36 and the hyperlink table shown in FIG. 7 is that VE_id_exe is used instead of VE_comp_tag.
tension2547 is described, AE_i instead of AE_comp_tag
This is the point where d_exetension is described. The values 0x0000 and 0x0001 of VE_id_exetension 2547 in FIG. 36 are assigned to VET [16] and VET [15] in FIG. 36, and the hyperlink table in FIG. 36 specifies VET as a link destination. I understand.

From the above, in order to switch the still image in the second embodiment, it is understood that the following presentation should be made by the terminal device. VE in hyperlink table
_id_exetension 2547 → VET with VE_id_exetension 2547 → stream_id in VET → VE including a VE still image to which stream_id is attached is transmitted in this way, the cache manager 17 of the second embodiment is as follows. Perform prefetch processing. That is, when a confirmation operation is performed on any of the icons, a script in the handler definition table is specified according to the navigation information corresponding to the icon, and a plurality of hyperlinks described in the hyperlink table are specified by the script. The VE_id_exetension 2547 relating to the switching destination of the VE is specified from the information. When the VE_id_exetension 2547 is specified, among the plurality of VETs transmitted together with the VE in the transport stream, the VET provided with the same identifier as the VE_id_exetension 2547 described in the hyperlink table is assigned to the demodulator 10 and the TS decoder 11.
To receive. Among the identifiers included in VET, str
Extract eam_id and component tag. Next, PI corresponding to the retrieved component tag
Take D out of PMT. After that, among the video elements transmitted after the VET, the stream_id and PID
Wait for VE to be sent with the pair. That
When a video element to which a stream_id and a PID are added is transmitted, the video element is received.

As described above, when the switching destination VE is received,
By performing the same procedure for the AE, the switching destination AE is received. The cache manager 17 includes an input switching unit 22
, The received VE and AE are stored in the presentation cache unit 15 as a presentation screen. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a VE including a still image is transmitted, the browser 25 can take out the VET inserted between the VEs and refer to this to reproduce the VET next. Since the VE is specified, an interactive screen using a still image corresponding to the switching destination that has been determined and operated can be displayed even in a digital satellite system that broadcasts a large amount of still images.

Although the description has been given based on the above embodiment, it is merely presented as an example of a system in which the best effect can be expected at present. The present invention can be modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following changes (a), (b), (c),... Can be made. (A) Although the rank of the link destination included in the navigation information is set to 1 being the highest, another value, for example, an integer value 255 represented by 8-bit display may be set to be the highest.

(B) The cache modes in the cache manager 17 are managed by the mode management unit 19, but may be changed to another cache mode by an input from the operator. Also, the cache mode may be inserted into the NVT in the transfer data and transmitted, and the mode may be acquired and the processing may be performed. (C) The cache processing unit 21 caches both the navigation information and the presentation stream for convenience of explanation, but may be divided into two processing units.

(D) For convenience of explanation, the cache manager 17 is described as waiting for reproduction when the cache completion flag is not set to 1. However, the reproduction process may be continued without waiting. (E) The cache manager 17 operates to individually receive the plurality of NVTs and the presentation stream and store them in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15. However, the cache manager 17 stores the plurality of NVTs, the plurality of VEs, and the plurality of AEs of the transport stream. A plurality of NVTs, a plurality of VEs, and a plurality of AEs may be collectively received by the demodulator 10 and the TS decoder 11, and stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15.

(F) The cache processing unit 21 deletes the reproduced navigation information and the presentation stream, but if there is room in the memory, the cache processing unit 21 reuses the stored navigation information and the presentation stream without deleting them. May be. (G) In the present embodiment, when any icon is operated for confirmation, the presentation stream and the NVT indicated by the content one generation lower than that icon are read ahead. Of the indicated presentation stream and NVT, those likely to be displayed may be prefetched and registered in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15.

(H) In this embodiment, the NVT having no mark
And delete the presentation screen, the requirement for deletion may be relaxed. That is, the number of past displays may be counted, and the number of past displays less than a certain number may be deleted. (I) A configuration in which only the navigation information is stored in the navigation cache unit 14 and the presentation cache unit 15 is omitted may be used.

In this configuration, the cache manager 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes an NVT associated with video information that is likely to be reproduced based on the NVT stored in the navigation cache unit 14 when waiting for the operation of the confirmation operation.
The navigation cache unit 14 stores only the received information. When the confirmation operation is performed on any of the icons, it is determined whether the navigation information serving as the link destination information of the confirmed icon is any of the NVTs stored in the navigation cache unit 14.

If the NVT corresponding to the switching destination video information is stored, the switching destination video information is received based on the stored NVT, stored in the navigation cache unit 14, and the video information is reproduced. In such a configuration, the time until the video information of the switching destination is displayed is delayed since the presentation time stream must be received after receiving the NVT, but the presentation cache unit 15 can be eliminated. Further, when the interactive screen is drawn only by the bitmap included in the NVT, the presentation cache stream may not be received at all, and only the presentation console stream may be received and stored in the navigation cache unit 14.
If you don't receive the presentation screen at all like this. With the simple configuration, the interactive screen can be displayed immediately.

(J) Presentation cache unit 1
A configuration in which only the presentation screen stream is stored in 5 and the navigation cache unit 14 is omitted may be used. (K) In the second embodiment, a VE including a still image is streamed
Although the identification is performed using the _id, the identification may be performed by attaching different PIDs. Conversely, in the first embodiment, the VE including the moving image is identified using the PID, but the VE may be identified using a common PID and a stream_id.

(L) The procedure of the cache manager 17 and the procedure of the browser 25 (see the flowcharts of FIGS. 22 to 28)
May be realized by a machine language program, and this may be recorded on a recording medium and distributed and sold. Such a recording medium includes an IC card, an optical disk, a floppy disk, and the like. The machine language program recorded on these is used by being installed in general-purpose hardware. The general-purpose hardware here is a personal computer that is connected to a parabolic antenna and has a built-in demodulator, TS decoder, and AV decoder. Such a personal computer sequentially executes the installed machine language programs to realize the functions of the terminal device shown in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

(M) In the first embodiment, the entire moving image is stored in the presentation cache unit 15 as much as possible. However, the first frame or a representative frame may be stored.

[0143]

As described above, a terminal device that reproduces any of the m pieces of video information broadcast and interactively switches the reproduced video using the n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), wherein m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is a switching source picture. A plurality of switching destination video information that are associated with the information and can be switched from the time of reproduction of the switching source video information, and any one of the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding to them. A cache unit storing a set, a reproducing unit reproducing the video information stored in the cache unit, and monitoring whether an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information. Means viewing, while the predetermined operation is not performed in a period where the monitoring means is performing the monitoring, image information of s book which has the potential to be reproduced (1 ≦ s <
m) and receiving means for receiving the t pieces of navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) associated with the video information based on the navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the received information in the cache means. When a predetermined operation is performed, specifying means for specifying any one of a plurality of switching destination video information of the video information being reproduced based on the predetermined operation,
Determining means for determining whether the specified switching destination video information is video information stored in the cache means, and, if stored in the cache means, reading the switching destination video information from the cache means and reproducing , Based on the navigation information stored in the cache means corresponding to the read video information, s video information (1 ≤ s <m) that has the possibility of being reproduced next, and According to the terminal device including the first control means for causing the receiving means to receive t pieces of navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) associated with the video information, the playback video being displayed becomes the switching source A plurality of switching destination video information and navigation information corresponding to the switching destination are stored in a cache unit, and when one of them is designated by the operator, the video information and the navigation information corresponding to the designated switching destination are stored. Since the displaying removed from Mesh means, the operator can be displayed in real video information desired to be viewed. While the switching source video information is displayed in this way, the switching destination video information which may be displayed next and the navigation information corresponding to the switching destination video information are started to be stored in the cache means, so that the next video information can be switched. It can be performed at high speed using the video information stored in the cache means. Since the switching destination of the switching destination video information is stored in the cache unit while waiting for the confirmation operation for any of the icons, the storing in the cache unit is performed by making good use of the standby time of the terminal device. Can be.

Here, when one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, the terminal device synthesizes a plurality of icons with the reproduced video based on the navigation information associated with the video information. Means, wherein the monitoring means has a finalizing operation detecting section for detecting a finalizing operation performed by an operator on any of the icons, and the specifying means outputs switching destination image information corresponding to the icon on which the finalizing operation has been performed. It can be configured to be specified.

With this configuration, a plurality of video information items to be switched can be visually introduced using icons.
Since the switching destination video information corresponding to this is displayed, visual interactivity can be realized. According to this configuration, among the plurality of icons, the one that is in the focus state is switched based on the interactive operation, so that it is possible to realize a cursor operation using the cross key on the icon synthesized on the video information.

Here, the terminal device comprises: a ranking means for ranking m video information and n navigation information to be broadcast according to the degree of possibility of reproduction; m video information and n navigation information; Among the information, there is provided a cache table registration means for registering, in a cache table, identifiers of s video information and t navigation information positioned higher in the ranking ranked by the ranking means, and the receiving means comprises: When the identifiers of the video information and t navigation information are registered in the cache table,
It can be configured to receive book video information and t navigation information associated with s video information.

According to this configuration, even if there is a large number of video information at the switching destination, the information stored in the cache means is narrowed down to the video information having a high possibility of being displayed. Video information and navigation information can be stored in the cache means with a high probability. When the setting unit sets any of the icons to the focus state and sets the remaining icons to the normal state, the highest value is weighted to the icon in the focus state, and the icon located near the icon set in the focus state is weighted. Weighting means for weighting a value equivalent to the highest value, the ranking means refers to the weight value of each icon, and ranks the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto. Can be configured.

According to this configuration, the possibility of display is evaluated with reference to the currently focused icon and the icon located in the vicinity thereof. It can be stored in the cache means with probability. In addition, the terminal device includes a statistic value storage unit that stores a statistic value indicating how many times the fixing operation has been performed on each image information in the past, and the ranking unit refers to the statistic value of each image information. Then, the s video information and the corresponding t navigation information can be ranked.

According to this configuration, the possibility of display is evaluated based on the statistical values so far, so that the video information and the navigation information to be switched next can be stored in the cache means with a high probability. it can. The terminal device further includes ranking information detection means for detecting, if the navigation information for the video information reproduced by the display means includes rank information for ranking the switching destination video information, the rank information is detected. The ranking means may be configured to rank the video information and the corresponding navigation information with reference to the rank information of the video information. According to this configuration, the possibility of display is
Since the evaluation is performed by referring to the ranking of the switching destination video information incorporated in the navigation information in advance, the video information and the navigation information to be switched next can be stored in the cache unit with high probability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of a satellite broadcasting service.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a transport stream and transport packets constituting the transport stream are classified into tables and streams.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a head frame of video information displayed by a presentation screen [1] and audio contents.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a head frame of video information displayed by a presentation screen stream [2] and audio contents.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a head frame of video information displayed by a presentation screen [12] and audio contents.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a head frame of video information displayed by a presentation screen [43] and audio contents.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of NVT [1].

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of NVT [2].

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of NVT [12].

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of a PMT.

FIG. 11 shows hyperlink information of NVT and content.
FIG. 4 is a tree structure diagram obtained by chaining the relationship with.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a viewing environment for viewing satellite broadcasting.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a front panel of the handy remote controller 4;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a terminal device 2.

FIGS. 15A to 15D are diagrams illustrating an example of contents stored in a navigation cache unit 14. FIGS.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are diagrams illustrating an example of contents stored in a navigation cache unit 14. FIGS.

17A to 17C are diagrams illustrating an example of stored contents of a presentation cache unit 15;

FIGS. 18A to 18C are diagrams illustrating an example of contents stored in a presentation cache unit 15;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a presentation cache unit 15;

20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a statistical table stored in a statistical table storage unit 18. FIG.

FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating an example of a cache table created with statistic value priority; FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of a cache table created with rank priority. (C) is a diagram showing an example of a cache table created with cursor position priority.

FIG. 22 is a main flowchart of processing contents by the cache manager 17;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a prefetch process by the cache manager 17;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a cache table creation process by the cache manager 17;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a prefetch process by the cache manager 17;

FIG. 26 is a main flowchart of processing contents by a browser 25.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of an interactive screen switching process by the browser 25.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of an interactive screen switching process by the browser 25.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of an interactive screen switching process by the browser 25.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing NVT [1] on video information displayed by a presentation screen [1].

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing NVT [2] on video information displayed by a presentation screen [2].

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing NVT [12] on video information displayed by a presentation screen [12].

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an interactive screen obtained by synthesizing NVT [43] on video information displayed by a presentation screen [43].

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a transport stream including a video element including a still image.

FIG. 35 (a) is a diagram showing the contents of VET [15]. (B) It is a figure showing the contents of VET [16].

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the contents of a hyperlink table 304;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Parabolic antenna 2 Terminal device 3 Television receiver 4 Handy remote control 10 Demodulator 11 TS decoder 12 AV decoder 13 AV decoder control unit 14 Navigation cache unit 15 Presentation cache unit 16 Operation detection unit 17 Cache manager 18 Statistics table storage unit 19 Mode management Unit 20 cache table storage unit 21 cache processing unit 22 input switching unit 23 graphic storage unit 24 graphic display unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 5/937 (72) Inventor Kazuo Okamura 1006 Ojidoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Junichi 1006 Kadoma, Kazuma, Kazuma, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Oo 1006 Kadoma, Kazuma, Kazuma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Takashi Kakiuchi Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka 1006 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Kusumi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture 1006 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Miyabe 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ikuo Minamikata 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayuki Kozuka No. 1006, Kazuma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Yoshisuke Mimura, 1006, Kadoma, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (54) [Title of Invention] Broadcast in one direction A terminal device capable of displaying, using a cache, at a higher speed the one that the operator wishes to view from a vast number of video information, a reproduction method used in the terminal device, and a recording medium

Claims (58)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device used in a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of broadcast video information and interactively switching a playback video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. There (where m and n are 1
The above-mentioned integers) and m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information. Each piece of navigation information is associated with video information as a switching source, and is switched from the time of reproduction of the switching source video information. A plurality of switching destination video information, wherein the terminal device comprises: a cache means for storing any one of the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto; Reproducing means for reproducing the video information stored by the user, monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information, and a period during which the monitoring means performs monitoring. S video information (1 ≦ s <m) that has a possibility of being played back while the predetermined operation is not performed, and is associated with those video information.
receiving means for receiving t navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) based on the navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the information in the cache means; when a predetermined operation is performed, based on the predetermined operation, Identifying means for identifying any one of a plurality of switching destination video information of video information being reproduced, and determining whether the identified switching destination video information is video information stored in a cache means Determining means to perform the switching, and if the information is stored in the cache means, reads out the switching destination video information from the cache means and causes the reproducing means to reproduce the switching destination video information. The navigation information stored in the cache means corresponds to the read video information. S video information (1 ≦ s <m) having a possibility of being reproduced next, and t navigation information (1 ≦ t
<n), and a first control unit that causes the receiving unit to receive <n>. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, a plurality of icons are reproduced based on navigation information associated with the video information. A synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image, the monitoring unit includes a finalizing operation detecting unit that detects a finalizing operation performed by an operator on any of the icons, A terminal device for specifying corresponding switching destination image information. 3. The terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising: a default image playback unit that plays back a default image when the determination unit determines that the video information and the corresponding navigation information are not stored in the cache unit. A second control unit that causes the receiving unit to receive the one switching destination video information specified by the specifying unit and the navigation information corresponding to the switching destination video information, and stores the information in the cache unit; and the reproduction unit is controlled by the second control unit. When the video information stored in the cache unit is reproduced, the synthesizing unit reproduces the received video information, and displays a plurality of icons based on the navigation information associated with the video information. A terminal device characterized in that the terminal device is combined with the terminal device. 4. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein, when an icon is combined with the reproduced video, a setting unit sets one of the icons to a focus state and sets the other icons to a normal state. A monitoring unit configured to detect a cursor movement operation; a change unit configured to return a focused icon to a normal state and change another icon to a focus state when the cursor movement operation is detected; A terminal unit, wherein the confirmation operation detection unit detects a confirmation operation on the icon set in the focus state. 5. The terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information are ranked according to the degree of possibility of being reproduced. And s which is ranked higher in the ranking rank by the ranking means among the n pieces of navigation information.
A cache table registering unit for registering the identifiers of the video information of the book and the navigation information of the t books in the cache table; and Then, the terminal device receives the s video information and the t navigation information associated with the s video information. 6. The terminal device according to claim 5, wherein when the setting unit sets one of the icons to the focus state and sets the remaining icons to the normal state, the icon in the focus state is weighted with the highest value, and An icon located in the vicinity of the icon set in the state is provided with a weighting unit that weights a value equivalent to the highest value, the ranking unit refers to the weight value of each icon, and obtains m pieces of video information and A terminal device for ranking the corresponding n pieces of navigation information. 7. The terminal device according to claim 6, wherein, when the identifiers of the top s video information and the corresponding t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the terminal device selects from the video information and the navigation information. And an exclusion unit for excluding an item already stored in the cache unit. 8. The receiving means in the terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the s video information and the t navigation information identifiers associated with the s video information are registered in the cache table. Among the registered s video information and the t navigation information associated with the s video information, a receiving unit that receives the highest one ranked by the ranking means, The terminal device includes: a data size determining unit configured to determine whether a data size of an empty area in the cache unit is greater than a data size of the received video information and navigation information associated with the video information; If it exceeds, the writing unit that writes the received one piece of video information and the navigation information associated with the video information to an empty area, A terminal device wherein, when video information and navigation information associated with the video information are written, a terminal having the next highest ranking by the ranking means is received. 9. The data size determining means in the terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the data size of the free area in the cache means is the video information from which the identifier has been extracted, and the data of the navigation information associated with the video information. A frame size determination unit that determines whether the data size of the video information exceeds a total value of a data size of only one frame of the video information and a data size of the corresponding navigation information when the size is smaller than the size of the video information; A terminal device comprising: a frame writing unit that writes one frame of one piece of received video information and navigation information corresponding to the one frame of video information when the data size exceeds a data size of only a frame. 10. The data size judging means in the terminal device according to claim 9, wherein, when the free area size is smaller than the data size of only one frame, the video information of the cache means and the navigation information associated with the video information An oldest video information detection unit that detects an oldest storage time, wherein the frame writing unit is configured to occupy an area occupied by the oldest video information and the navigation information associated with the video information. A terminal device for writing one frame included in one received video information and navigation information corresponding thereto. 11. The terminal device according to claim 7, wherein when the finalizing operation detecting section detects the finalizing operation, the operator decides among a plurality of video information stored in the cache means and a plurality of corresponding navigation information. Hit-pair determining means for determining, as a set hit by prediction, the icon to which the operation has been made as a switching destination; and a mark for attaching a mark indicating that one set of determined video information and corresponding navigation information has been hit. Assigning means, releasing an area occupied by a plurality of unmarked video information and a plurality of corresponding navigation information among areas in the cache means to obtain an empty area in the cache means; And a terminal device. 12. The terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising: a statistic storage unit that stores a statistic value indicating how many times the fixing operation has been performed on each piece of video information in the past; A terminal device, wherein s video information and t navigation information corresponding thereto are ranked with reference to a statistical value of each video information. 13. The interactive operation detecting means according to claim 12, wherein, if a decision operation is performed on any video information in the past, how many times in the past, the statistical information storage means stores the video information. A terminal device comprising a count-up unit that counts up a statistical value. 14. The terminal device according to claim 13, wherein when the identifiers of the top s video information and the corresponding t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the video information and the navigation information are selected from the video information and the navigation information. A terminal device provided with an exclusion unit for excluding an item already stored in the cache unit. 15. The terminal device according to claim 14, wherein the receiving unit is configured to register s video information and t navigation information identifiers associated with the s video information in a cache table. , Registered s video information, and, among the t navigation information associated with the s video information, comprising a receiving unit that receives the highest ranked by the ranking means, The terminal device includes: a data size determining unit configured to determine whether a data size of a free area in the cache unit is larger than a data size of the received video information and the navigation information associated with the video information; When the number of received video data exceeds, the received video information, and a writing unit that writes the navigation information associated with the video information to the empty area, Single and video information, the navigation information associated with the video information is written, the terminal apparatus characterized by receiving what is next highest rank are ranked by ranking means. 16. The data size judging means in the terminal device according to claim 15, wherein the data size of the free area in the cache means is the video information from which the identifier is extracted, and the data of the navigation information associated with the video information. A frame size determination unit that determines whether the data size of the video information exceeds a total value of a data size of only one frame of the video information and a data size of the corresponding navigation information when the size is smaller than the size of the video information; A terminal device comprising: a frame writing unit that writes one frame of one piece of received video information and navigation information corresponding to the one frame of video information when the data size exceeds a data size of only a frame. 17. The data size determination means in the terminal device according to claim 16, wherein, when the free area size is smaller than the data size of only one frame, the video information of the cache means and the navigation information associated with the video information An oldest video information detection unit that detects an oldest storage time, wherein the frame writing unit is configured to occupy an area occupied by the oldest video information and the navigation information associated with the video information. A terminal device for writing one frame included in one received video information and navigation information corresponding thereto. 18. The terminal device according to claim 14, wherein, when the confirming operation detecting unit detects the confirming operation, the confirming operation is performed by the operator among the plurality of video information stored in the cache unit and the corresponding plurality of navigation information. Hit-pair determining means for determining that the operated icon is the switching destination as a set hit by prediction, and that a hit has occurred in one set of the determined s video information and the corresponding t navigation information. Marking means for attaching a mark indicating that the area is occupied by a plurality of unmarked video information and a corresponding plurality of navigation information among the areas in the cache means, and A terminal device comprising: an area release unit for obtaining an empty area. 19. The terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the navigation information for the video information reproduced by the display means includes rank information obtained by ranking the switching destination video information, A terminal device, comprising: ranking information detection means for detecting, wherein the ranking means ranks the video information and the corresponding navigation information with reference to the rank information of the video information. 20. The terminal device according to claim 19, wherein, when the identifiers of the top s video information and the corresponding t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the terminal device selects from the video information and the navigation information. A terminal device provided with an exclusion unit for excluding an item already stored in the cache unit. 21. The receiving means in the terminal device according to claim 20, wherein: s video information and t navigation information identifiers associated with the s video information are registered in the cache table. Among the registered s video information and the t navigation information associated with the s video information, a receiving unit that receives the highest one ranked by the ranking means, The terminal device includes: a data size determining unit configured to determine whether a data size of an empty area in the cache unit is greater than a data size of the received video information and navigation information associated with the video information; If it exceeds, the writing unit that writes the received one piece of video information and the navigation information associated with the video information into a free area, A terminal device wherein, when video information of a book and navigation information associated with the video information are written, a terminal having the next highest ranking by the ranking means is received. 22. The data size determining means in the terminal device according to claim 21, wherein the data size of the free area in the cache means is a combination of the video information from which the identifier is extracted and the navigation information associated with the video information. When the data size is smaller than the total value, a frame size determining unit that determines whether the data size of only one frame of the video information and the data size of the corresponding navigation information is larger than the total size is provided. When the area size exceeds the data size of only one frame, the terminal device includes a frame writing unit that writes one frame of the received one piece of video information and navigation information corresponding to the one frame in a free area. 23. The data size judging means in the terminal device according to claim 22, wherein, when the free area size is smaller than the data size of only one frame, the video information of the cache means and the navigation information associated with the video information are An oldest video information detection unit that detects an oldest storage time, wherein the frame writing unit is configured to occupy an area occupied by the oldest video information and the navigation information associated with the video information. A terminal device for writing one frame included in one received video information and navigation information corresponding thereto. 24. The terminal device according to claim 20, wherein, when the confirming operation detecting unit detects the confirming operation, the operator confirms the plurality of video information stored in the cache unit and the corresponding plurality of navigation information by the operator. Hit-pair determining means for determining that the operated icon is the switching destination as a set hit by prediction, and that a hit has occurred in one set of the determined s video information and the corresponding t navigation information. Marking means for attaching a mark indicating that the area is occupied by a plurality of unmarked video information and a corresponding plurality of navigation information among the areas in the cache means, and A terminal device comprising: an area releasing unit for obtaining an empty area. 25. A terminal device used for a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of broadcast video information and interactively switching a playback video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information. The terminal device indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the reproduction of the switching source video information. The terminal device includes: a reproducing unit that reproduces the video information; and a cache that stores navigation information corresponding to the video information. Means, monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information, and a predetermined operation being performed during a period in which the monitoring means is monitoring. While not have the potential to be reproduced based on navigation information that is stockpiled in the cache means
a first receiving unit that receives t navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) associated with s video information (1 ≦ s <m) and stores the navigation information in a cache unit, and when a predetermined operation is performed A specifying means for specifying any one of a plurality of switching destination video information pieces of video information being reproduced based on a predetermined operation, and navigation information corresponding to the specified switching destination video information, Determining means for determining which of the navigation information received and stored in the cache means; and, if the navigation information corresponding to the switching destination video information is stored in the cache means, the stored navigation information. And a second receiving means for receiving the switching destination video information and storing it in the cache means based on the information, and wherein the reproducing means reproduces the video information when the switching destination is received. Terminal device. 26. The terminal device according to claim 25, wherein, when one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, a plurality of icons are reproduced based on the navigation information associated with the video information. A synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image, the monitoring unit includes a finalizing operation detecting unit that detects a finalizing operation performed by an operator on any of the icons, A terminal device for specifying corresponding switching destination image information. 27. The terminal device according to claim 26, further comprising: a default image reproducing unit that reproduces a default image when the determining unit determines that the video information and the corresponding navigation information are not stored in the cache unit. A terminal device comprising: control means for causing the first receiving means to receive one switching destination video information specified by the specifying means and navigation information corresponding thereto. 28. The terminal device according to claim 27, wherein, when an icon is combined with the reproduced video, the setting means sets one of the icons to a focus state and sets the remaining icons to a normal state. A monitoring unit configured to detect a cursor movement operation, and to detect a cursor movement operation, to return an icon in a focus state to a normal state and to change another icon to a focus state. A terminal device, comprising: a change unit, wherein the determination operation detection unit detects a determination operation for an icon set in a focus state. 29. The terminal device according to claim 26, wherein the ranking device ranks the m pieces of video information to be broadcast according to the degree of possibility of being reproduced, and the ranking device among the n pieces of navigation information. And a cache table registration unit for registering, in a cache table, identifiers of t pieces of navigation information positioned in a higher rank in the ranking, wherein the identifier of the t pieces of navigation information is registered in the cache table. And t terminal navigation information. 30. The terminal device according to claim 25, wherein the setting unit sets one of the icons to the focus state and sets the remaining icons to the normal state, weights the icon in the focus state with the highest value, and Weighting means for weighting an icon located in the vicinity of the icon set in the state with a value equivalent to the highest value, wherein the ranking means ranks n pieces of navigation information with reference to the weight value of each icon. A terminal device characterized by the following. 31. The terminal device according to claim 30, wherein when the identifiers of the top t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the identifiers of the navigation information are already stored in the cache means. A terminal device comprising an exclusion unit for excluding a terminal. 32. The terminal device according to claim 31, wherein when the identifiers of the t navigation information items are registered in the cache table, the order assigned by the ranking means out of the registered t navigation information items. The terminal device comprises: a receiving unit that receives the highest navigation data; a data size determining unit that determines whether a data size of a free area in the cache unit exceeds a data size of the received navigation information; Writing means for writing the received navigation information to the empty area when the number of navigation information items is greater than the number of the navigation information items. A terminal device for receiving. 33. A terminal device used for a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of video information to be broadcast and interactively switching a reproduced video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information. The terminal device indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the reproduction of the switching source video information, wherein the terminal device reproduces the stored video information, and a cache unit that stores any of the video information. Playback means; monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the operator has performed a predetermined operation on the video information being reproduced; and monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the predetermined operation has been performed while the monitoring means is monitoring. First receiving means for receiving s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having a possibility of being reproduced based on the navigation information corresponding to the video information and storing the information in a cache means; When performed, the identification means for identifying any one of the plurality of switching destination video information pieces of the video information being reproduced based on the predetermined operation, and the identified switching destination video information, Determining means for receiving the video information stored in the cache means and determining whether the video information is stored in the cache means; and second receiving means for causing the reproduction means to reproduce the video information if the switching destination video information is stored in the cache means. A terminal device comprising: 34. The terminal device according to claim 33, wherein, when one piece of video information is reproduced, a synthesizing unit that synthesizes a plurality of icons with the reproduced video based on navigation information associated with the video information. The monitoring unit includes a finalizing operation detecting unit that detects a finalizing operation performed by an operator on any of the icons, and the specifying unit transmits switching destination image information corresponding to the icon on which the finalizing operation has been performed. A terminal device characterized by specifying. 35. The terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising: a default image reproducing unit that reproduces a default image when the determining unit determines that the video information is not stored in the cache unit; A terminal device comprising: control means for causing the first receiving means to receive the one switching destination video information and the corresponding navigation information. 36. The terminal device according to claim 35, wherein, when an icon is combined with the reproduced video, the setting unit sets one of the icons to a focus state and sets the remaining icons to a normal state. A monitoring unit configured to detect a cursor movement operation, and to detect a cursor movement operation, to return an icon in a focus state to a normal state and to change another icon to a focus state. A terminal device, comprising: a change unit, wherein the determination operation detection unit detects a determination operation for an icon set in a focus state. 37. A terminal device according to claim 34, comprising: a ranking unit that ranks m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information to be broadcast according to the degree of possibility of being reproduced; and m pieces of video information. And cache table registration means for registering, in the cache table, identifiers of s pieces of video information positioned higher in the rank ranked by the ranking means, wherein the reception means has an identifier of s pieces of video information. A terminal device, which receives s pieces of video information when registered in a cache table. 38. The terminal device according to claim 33, wherein the setting unit sets one of the icons to the focus state and sets the remaining icons to the normal state, weights the icon in the focus state with the highest value, Weighting means for weighting an icon located in the vicinity of the icon set in the state with a value equivalent to the highest value, wherein the ranking means ranks m pieces of video information with reference to the weight value of each icon. A terminal device characterized by the following. 39. The terminal device according to claim 38, wherein, when the identifiers of the top s video information are registered in the cache table, among the identifiers of the video information, those already stored in the cache means A terminal device comprising an exclusion unit for excluding a terminal. 40. The first receiving means in the terminal device according to claim 39, wherein when the identifiers of the s pieces of video information are registered in the cache table, the ranking is made by the ranking means out of the s pieces of video information. A receiving unit that receives the highest-ordered data, the terminal device further comprising: a data size determining unit that determines whether a data size of a free area in the cache unit exceeds a data size of the received video information; A writing unit for writing the received video information to the empty area when the area size is larger, and the receiving unit, when one piece of video information is written, has the next highest ranking by the ranking unit. A terminal device for receiving an object. 41. A terminal device used for a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of video information to be broadcast and interactively switching a reproduced video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information. Indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the reproduction of the switching source video information, the terminal device, any one of the m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information corresponding to them Means for storing video information stored in the cache means, and a monitor for monitoring whether or not an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information. Means, ranking means for ranking m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information to be broadcast according to the degree of possibility of being reproduced, and ranking among m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information S which ranks higher in the rank ranked by the means
A cache table registration unit that registers the identifiers of the video information of the book and the navigation information of the t book in the cache table; and a monitoring unit that monitors when the identifiers of the video information of the book and the navigation information of the t book are registered in the cache table. S video information (1 ≦ s <m) that has a possibility of being played back while the predetermined operation is not performed during the period of performing the operation, and t navigations associated with the video information Receiving means for receiving information (1 ≦ t <n) based on navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the information in the cache means; when a predetermined operation is performed, the information is reproduced based on the predetermined operation Specifying means for specifying any one of a plurality of switching destination video information pieces of video information, and determining whether the specified switching destination video information is video information stored in a cache means And if it is stored in the cache means, the switching destination video information is read from the cache means and reproduced by the reproduction means, and based on the navigation information stored in the cache means corresponding to the read video information. S video information (1 ≦ s <m) that has the possibility of being reproduced next, and t navigation information (1 ≦ t
<n), and a first control unit that causes the receiving unit to receive <n>. 42. A terminal device used for a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of broadcast video information and interactively switching a playback video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information. Indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the time of reproduction of the switching source video information, the terminal device, any one of the m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information corresponding to them The cache means stored in the storage means, the reproduction means for reproducing the video information stored in the cache means, and when an icon is combined with the reproduced video, one of the icons is set to a focus state and the remaining state is set. Setting means for setting the icon to the normal state, cursor moving operation detecting means for detecting the cursor moving operation, and when the cursor moving operation is detected, the icon in the focus state is returned to the normal state, and another icon is set. When the changing means for changing to the focus state and the setting means set any of the icons to the focus state and set the remaining icons to the normal state, the focus state icon is weighted with the highest value, and the focus state is set. Weighting means for weighting an icon located in the vicinity of the icon with a value corresponding to the highest value; and the ranking for ranking m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto with reference to the weight value of each icon. Ranking means, and the ranking means of the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information are ranked. It s located in an upper level in order
Video information (1 ≦ s <m) and t navigation information (1
≦ t <n) a cache table registration unit that registers an identifier of the icon in the cache table; a determination operation detection unit that detects a determination operation performed by the operator on any of the icons; The s video information having a possibility of being reproduced and the t navigation information associated with the video information are received based on the navigation information already stored in the cache means and stored in the cache means. Receiving means, when a predetermined operation is performed, specifying means for specifying any one of a plurality of switching destination video information of the video information reproduced based on the predetermined operation, and an icon for which the fixing operation has been performed. Specifying means for specifying the corresponding switching destination image information; determining means for determining whether the specified switching destination video information is video information stored in the cache means; If it is stockpiled Yasshu the unit reads the switching destination image information from the cache unit is reproduced in the reproduction unit,
Based on the navigation information stored in the cache means corresponding to the read video information, s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having a possibility of being reproduced next, and T navigation information (1 ≦ t
<n) to the receiving means, and when one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, a plurality of icons are displayed based on the navigation information associated with the video information. A terminal device comprising: a synthesizing means for synthesizing the reproduced video. 43. A terminal device used for a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of broadcast video information and interactively switching a playback video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information. Indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the time of reproduction of the switching source video information, the terminal device, any one of the m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information corresponding to them A cache means stored in the storage means, a reproduction means for reproducing the video information stored in the cache means, and a monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information. And s video information (1 ≦ s <m) that is likely to be reproduced while the predetermined operation is not performed during the period when the monitoring means is monitoring, and the video information Was
receiving means for receiving t navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) based on navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the information in the cache means; and broadcasting according to the degree of possibility of reproduction. ranking means for ranking the m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information; and s which is ranked higher in the rank ranked by the ranking means among the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information.
A cache table registration unit for registering the identifiers of the video information of the book and the navigation information of the t books in the cache table; and From the video information and navigation information, an exclusion unit for excluding the one already stored in the cache unit, and when one of the video information stored in the cache unit is reproduced, it is associated with the video information. Synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of icons with the reproduced video based on the provided navigation information; detecting means for detecting a fixing operation performed by the operator on any of the icons; The specifying means for specifying the corresponding switching destination image information, and the specified switching destination video information are stored in the cache means. Determining means for determining whether the video information has been read, and, if stored in the cache means, the switching destination video information is read out from the cache means and reproduced by the reproducing means. Based on the navigation information stored in the cache means, s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having the possibility of being reproduced next, and t pieces of navigation information (1 ≦ s <m) associated with those pieces of video information 1 ≦ t
<n) and a first control unit that causes the receiving unit to receive 44. A terminal device used for a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of video information to be broadcast and interactively switching a reproduced video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. (Where m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1), the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information. Indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from the time of reproduction of the switching source video information, the terminal device, any one of the m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information corresponding to them A cache means stored in the storage means, a reproduction means for reproducing the video information stored in the cache means, and a monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information. And s video information (1 ≦ s <m) that is likely to be reproduced while the predetermined operation is not performed during the period when the monitoring means is monitoring, and the video information Was
receiving means for receiving t navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) based on navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the information in the cache means; and broadcasting according to the degree of possibility of reproduction. ranking means for ranking the m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information; and s which is ranked higher in the rank ranked by the ranking means among the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information.
A cache table registration unit for registering the identifiers of the video information of the book and the navigation information of the book in the cache table; and, when one piece of video information stored in the cache unit is reproduced, the navigation associated with the video information is performed. Synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of icons with the reproduced video based on the information; detecting a determination operation performed by an operator on any of the icons; and switching destination image information corresponding to the icon on which the determination operation has been performed. Specifying means for specifying, and ranking information detecting means for detecting if the navigation information for the video information being reproduced by the display means includes rank information that ranks the switching destination video information, Ranking the video information and the corresponding navigation information with reference to the rank information of the video information And determination means for determining whether the specified switching destination video information is video information stored in the cache means. If the switching destination video information is stored in the cache means, the switching destination video information is cached. When the identifiers of the s video information and the t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the s video information and the t associated with the s video information are read out from the cache table. Terminal device for receiving navigation information of a book 45. A reproducing method used in a terminal device for reproducing any one of m pieces of video information to be broadcast and interactively switching a reproduced video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. The m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information, and can be switched from the playback of the switching source video information. A plurality of switching destination video information, wherein the terminal device comprises a cache unit storing any one of the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding to the m pieces of video information, The method comprises the steps of: playing back video information stored in a cache means; and monitoring whether an operator has performed a predetermined operation on the video information being played back. Step, and s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) that are likely to be played back while the predetermined operation is not performed during the monitoring step, and correspond to those pieces of video information. A receiving step of receiving the attached t navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) based on the navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the received navigation information in the cache means; A specifying step of specifying any one of a plurality of switching destination video information pieces of the video information being reproduced based on the video information, and the specified switching destination video information is the video information stored in the cache unit. A determination step of determining whether the switching destination video information has been stored in the cache means, and reads out the switching destination video information from the cache means and reproduces the switching destination video information in the reproduction step. Based on the navigation information stored in the cache means, s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having the possibility of being reproduced next, and t pieces of navigation information (1 ≦ s <m) associated with those pieces of video information 1 ≦ t
<n) in the receiving step. 46. The reproducing method according to claim 45, wherein when one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, a plurality of icons are displayed based on the navigation information associated with the video information. A monitoring step includes a determining operation detection sub-step for detecting a determining operation performed by the operator on any of the icons, and the identifying step corresponds to the icon on which the determining operation has been performed. Terminal device for specifying selected switching destination image information 47. The reproducing method according to claim 46, further comprising: a default image reproducing step of reproducing a default image when the determining step determines that the video information and the corresponding navigation information are not stored in the cache means. And a second control step of causing the receiving step to receive the video information determined by the determining step to be not stored and the corresponding navigation information, wherein the reproducing step includes the step of: receiving the video information received by the control of the second control step. Reproducing, and when the one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, a plurality of icons are combined with the reproduced video based on navigation information associated with the video information. Terminal device 48. The monitoring step according to claim 46, wherein the reproducing step includes a setting step of setting one of the icons to a focus state and setting the remaining icons to a normal state when the icon is synthesized with the reproduced video, The steps include a cursor movement operation detection sub-step for detecting a cursor movement operation, and a change sub-step for, when a cursor movement operation is detected, returning a focused icon to a normal state and changing another icon to a focused state. A terminal operation, wherein the confirmation operation detection sub-step detects a confirmation operation on an icon set in a focus state. 49. The reproduction method according to claim 45, wherein the m video information and the n navigation information to be broadcast are ranked according to the degree of possibility of reproduction. a cache table registration step of registering, in the cache table, s video information and t navigation information identifiers positioned higher in the ranking ranked by the ranking step of the n pieces of navigation information, When the identifiers of the s video information and the t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the step receives the s video information and the t navigation information associated with the s video information. A terminal device characterized in that: 50. The reproducing method according to claim 49, wherein, in the setting step, when the icon is synthesized with the reproduced video, the icon in the focus state is weighted with the highest value, and the icon located near the icon set in the focus state is assigned to the icon. A weighting step of weighting a value according to the highest value, wherein the ranking step refers to a weight value of each icon, and ranks m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto. Terminal device to do. 51. The reproducing method according to claim 50, wherein, when the identifiers of the top s video information and the corresponding t navigation information are registered in the cache table, from among the video information and the navigation information, A reproduction method comprising an exclusion step of excluding an item already stored in a cache unit. 52. A reproduction program used for a terminal device that reproduces any one of m pieces of broadcast video information and interactively switches a playback video using n pieces of navigation information broadcast together with the video information. In the recorded recording medium, the m pieces of video information are still picture information and / or moving picture information, and each piece of navigation information is associated with the switching source video information, and the switching source video information is reproduced. The terminal device indicates a plurality of switching destination video information that can be switched from time to time, and the terminal device includes a cache unit that stores any one of the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto. The reproducing program comprises: a reproducing step of reproducing the video information stored in the cache means; and an operator performing a predetermined operation on the reproduced video information. A monitoring step of monitoring whether or not s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having a possibility of being reproduced while a predetermined operation is not performed during a period in which the monitoring step is monitoring. Receiving the t pieces of navigation information (1 ≦ t <n) associated with the video information based on the navigation information already stored in the cache means and storing the information in the cache means; Is performed, a specifying step of specifying any one of the plurality of switching destination video information pieces of the video information being reproduced based on the predetermined operation, and the specified switching destination video information is stored in the cache unit. A determination step of determining whether or not the image information is stored, if the image information is stored in the cache means, the switching destination image information is read out from the cache means and reproduced in the reproduction step; Based on the navigation information stored in the cache means corresponding to the output video information, s pieces of video information (1 ≦ s <m) having a possibility of being reproduced next and corresponding to those video information T navigation information (1 ≦ t
<n) in a receiving step. 53. The recording medium according to claim 52, wherein, when one piece of video information stored in the cache means is reproduced, a plurality of icons are displayed based on the navigation information associated with the video information. The monitoring step includes a fixing operation detection sub-step for detecting a fixing operation performed by an operator on any of the icons, and the specifying step includes an icon for which the fixing operation has been performed. A switching destination image information corresponding to the recording medium. 54. The recording medium according to claim 53, further comprising: a default image reproducing unit that reproduces a default image when the determining step determines that the video information and the corresponding navigation information are not stored in the cache unit. And a second control step of causing the receiving step to receive the video information determined by the determining step that the stored information is not stored and the corresponding navigation information, and the reproducing step is performed under the control of the second control step. And reproducing the video information. In the synthesizing step, when one video information stored in the cache unit is reproduced, a plurality of icons are synthesized with the reproduced video based on the navigation information associated with the video information. A recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 55. The recording medium according to claim 53, wherein the reproducing step includes a setting step of setting any one of the icons to a focused state and setting the remaining icons to a normal state when the reproduced image is combined with the icon. The monitoring step includes: a cursor movement operation detection sub-step for detecting a cursor movement operation; and when the cursor movement operation is detected, returns the focused icon to the normal state and changes another icon to the focused state. A recording medium, comprising: a change sub-step; and wherein the confirming operation detecting sub-step detects a confirming operation for an icon set in a focus state. 56. The recording medium according to claim 52, wherein the reproducing program ranks m pieces of video information and n pieces of navigation information to be broadcast in accordance with a degree of possibility of being reproduced; A cache table registration step of registering, in the cache table, s video information and t navigation information identifiers positioned higher in the ranking in the ranking step of the video information and n navigation information. When the identifiers of the s video information and the t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the s video information and the t video information associated with the s video information are provided. A recording medium for receiving navigation information. 57. In the recording medium according to claim 56, when the setting step synthesizes the icon with the reproduced image, the reproducing program weights the icon in the focused state with the highest value and is located near the icon set in the focused state. A weighting step of weighting the icons with a value corresponding to the highest value, wherein the ranking step ranks the m pieces of video information and the n pieces of navigation information corresponding thereto with reference to the weight value of each icon. A recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 58. The recording medium according to claim 57, wherein when the identifiers of the top s video information and the corresponding t navigation information are registered in the cache table, the playback program stores the video information and the navigation information in the cache table. A recording medium comprising an exclusion step of excluding, from among those already stored in a cache means, an exclusion step.