JPH11289528A - Data distribution method and distributed data selector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To down-load data contents only with a reception installation of digital broadcast and an existing information communication system. SOLUTION: A satellite broadcast transmitter transmits multiplexed television program data, graphical user interface data and at least identification data to identify data contents. A satellite broadcast receiver installation 12 views a television program, selects data contents relating to the television program, and designates a receiver (FAX 18A or personal computer 18B) in the contents reception installation 18. A contents distribution side receives contents of the selection and designation by the satellite broadcast reception installation 12 via a telephone line and sends the selected data contents via a communication channel 13. The contents reception installation 18 uses a designated receiver to receive the data contents sent from the contents distribution side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data content distribution system linked to a television program, and more particularly, to a method of downloading data content using an existing television broadcast receiver and an existing information communication device. Related to technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Data broadcasting that distributes data using digital satellite broadcasting or terrestrial broadcasting is known. That is, for example, terrestrial data broadcasting that multiplexes and transmits data such as news, television program-related information, and advertisements during the vertical blanking period of terrestrial broadcasting, and satellites that distribute news and game software using digital satellite broadcasting Data broadcasting is known.

[0003]

Most of the above-mentioned conventional satellite data broadcasting receives received data using an expansion board of a personal computer. In terrestrial data broadcasting, a television receiver has a data storage device such as a memory or a data storage, or an interface for connecting to an external data storage. A mechanism was needed to store the data separately from the data.

In addition, it has been necessary to connect a two-way communication line to the receiver, such as for confirming or authenticating the ordering operation itself of data contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a data distribution method and a distribution data selection device that enable downloading of data contents only with digital broadcast receiving equipment and an existing information communication device. Is provided.

[0006]

A data distribution method according to the present invention multiplexes television program data, graphical user interface data, and at least identification data for identifying data content on a digital broadcast transmitting side. The receiving side of the digital broadcast receives the data transmitted by the transmitting side, performs the viewing of the television program, and selects the data content related to the television program. Receiving the content of the selection on the receiving side of the digital broadcast through a communication line, further transmitting the selected data content through a communication line, and receiving the data content on the receiving side of the data content. Receiving the data content transmitted from the.

[0007] A distribution data selection device according to the present invention is a distribution data selection device for selecting data contents in a data content distribution system linked to a television program. Receiving data, graphical user interface data, and at least identification data for identifying data content, selecting data content using a graphical user interface displayed with the video of the received television program data, and selecting the data content. The transmitted content is transmitted to the data content distribution side via a communication line.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a data content distribution system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in this figure, this system includes a digital satellite broadcast transmitting side (hereinafter, referred to as a satellite broadcast transmitting side), a data content distributing side (hereinafter, referred to as a content distributing side), and a digital satellite broadcast receiving facility (hereinafter, referred to as a digital satellite broadcast receiving facility). Satellite broadcasting receiving equipment)
12 and a data content receiving facility (hereinafter referred to as content receiving facility) 18. The radio wave transmitted from the satellite broadcast transmitting side is received by the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12 via the satellite. Further, an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) 12B of the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12 and an SMS (Subscriber Management System) 16 on the content delivery side are connected by a telephone line, and a delivery control system on the content delivery side and a content The receiving equipment 18 is connected by a communication network 13 composed of a telephone line and the Internet.

On the satellite broadcast transmitting side, the material data (TV program data) from the TV program material registration system 1 is A
Registered in the V server 2. The material data is video data and audio data of a television program. The data registered in the AV server 2 is sent to the television program transmission system 3, where the video data is compressed by, for example, the MPEG2 system, and the audio data is compressed and packetized by, for example, the MPEG2 audio system. The output of the television program transmission system 3 is sent to the multiplexer 10.

A GUI (Graphical User Interface:
The GUI data from the material registration system 4 for graphical user interface) is registered in the GUI material database 5. The GUI data is data for displaying a GUI screen on the television receiver 12C of the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12. As will be described later in detail, in a system to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to select data contents desired to be distributed and to specify a device to receive the data contents by operating the GUI screen. GUI
The GUI material data registered in the material database 5
Sent to the GUI authoring system 6 where the GUI
Is processed and packetized, and then sent to the multiplexer 10. The GUI data includes, for example, MHEG (Multimedia and Hypermedia Inform).
ation Coding Experts Group).

Further, the identification data from the identification data registration system 7 is registered in the identification data server 8. This identification data is dummy data having only an event ID and billing information for identifying data content that can be distributed from the content distribution side described later, and having no data body. The identification data registered in the identification data server 8 is sent to the identification data sending system 9, where it is packetized and sent to the multiplexer 10.

In the multiplexer 10, video packets and audio packets from the television program transmission system 3 and G and G packets from the GUI authoring system 6 are transmitted.
The UI data packet and the identification data packet from the identification data transmission system 9 are time-multiplexed,
It is encrypted using predetermined key information.

The output of the multiplexer 10 is sent to a radio wave transmission system 11, where an error correction code is added, modulated,
After performing processing such as frequency conversion and the like, the signal is transmitted from the antenna to the satellite.

On the content distribution side, the data content of the distribution data content registration system 14 is registered in the data content server 15. The data content is, for example, text data, still image data, moving image data, audio data, game software, and the like. The data content registered in the data content server 15 is transmitted through the distribution control system 17 to the communication line 1.
3 is sent. The selection of the data content to be distributed by the distribution control system 17 and the distribution destination are S
Controlled by MS16.

On the satellite broadcast receiving side, a signal from a satellite is received by the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12. The satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12 includes a parabolic antenna 12A, an IRD 12
B and a television receiver 12C are prepared.

A signal transmitted via a satellite is received by the parabolic antenna 12A. This received signal is transmitted to an LNB (Low Noise) attached to the parabolic antenna 12A.
The frequency is converted to a predetermined frequency by a Block Downconverter (not shown)) and supplied to the IRD 12B.

The IRD 12B selects a signal of a predetermined channel from the received signal and demodulates video data and audio data. The IRD 12B forms a GUI screen using the distributed GUI data. Then, the output of the IRD 12B is supplied to the television receiver 12C.

In the television receiver 12C, a preview of a television program is possible, and a list of downloadable data contents is displayed using a GUI screen.
A desired data content can be selected from the list. In addition, a device that receives the data content can be designated.

Here, as a device for receiving data content, a facsimile device (hereinafter, referred to as FAX) 18 is used.
A and Persolna Computer (hereinafter referred to as PC)
18B.

The IRD 12B is connected to the SMS 16 on the content distribution side via a telephone line. IRD12
In B, an IC card storing various information is inserted. When the user specifies the data content desired to be downloaded, the information is stored in the IC card. The information stored in the IC card is periodically sent to the SMS 16 via a telephone line. The SMS 16 controls the distribution control system 17 based on this information, and transmits the data content specified by the user to the receiving device specified by the user. In addition, charging is performed based on the information stored in the IC card, and the user is charged.

As described above, in the data content distribution system to which the present invention is applied, the satellite broadcast transmitting side multiplexes and transmits the video data and audio data of the television program, the identification data, and the GUI data. .
Then, when this broadcast is received by the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12, the television program can be viewed and the transmitted GUI
A GUI screen is displayed based on the application data and the identification data. When a necessary operation is performed while viewing the GUI screen, a list of downloadable data contents can be viewed, and data contents designated from the list can be downloaded by the FAX 18A or the personal computer 18B.

FIG. 2 shows an example of data transmitted from the satellite broadcast transmitting side. Each data shown in this figure is actually multiplexed on the time axis. As shown in FIG. 2, one program broadcast a is transmitted between time t1 and time t2, and another program broadcast b is transmitted between time t2 and time t3. While the program broadcast a is being transmitted, the data a for identifying the n data contents
1 to an are transmitted, and while the program broadcast b is being transmitted, data b1 to bn for identifying another n data contents are transmitted. Here, data a1 to an
Are related to program broadcast a, and data b1 to b
n is related to program broadcast b. That is, for example, when the program broadcast a is an educational program, the data a1 to an are data for identifying the teaching materials, and when the program broadcast b is a concert program, the data b1 to bn are data for identifying the ticket. Can be. As described above, these data are dummy data having only the event ID and the billing information and having no data body. Further, GUI data is being transmitted. These data are MPEG2
Are transmitted in a time-division multiplexed manner in a transport packet, and are reconstructed in the IRD 12B using the header information of each data packet.

Next, the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, as the satellite broadcast receiving equipment 12, a parabolic antenna 12A, an IRD 12B, and a television receiver 12C are prepared.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the IRD 12B. The IRD 12B includes an input terminal T1, an analog video output terminal T2, an analog audio output terminal T3, a man-machine interface 61, an IC card slot 62, and a modem 63 as external terminals or interfaces.

The input terminal T1 is a terminal to which a received signal converted to a predetermined frequency by the LNB is input. The analog video output terminal T2 is a terminal that supplies an analog video signal to the television receiver 12C. The analog audio output terminal T3 is a terminal that supplies an analog audio signal to the television receiver 12C. The man-machine interface 61 controls an input from a remote commander (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller) 64 by a user.
Send to 8. An IC card 65 is inserted in the IC card slot 62.
Is inserted. The modem 63 is connected to the SMS 16 on the data content distribution side via a telephone line.

The tuner 51 selects a signal of a predetermined reception frequency from the reception signals supplied from the input terminal T1 based on a setting signal from the control CPU 58, and further performs demodulation and error correction processing to perform MPEG transport. Output a stream. The descrambler 52 receives the MPEG transport stream from the tuner 51,
The key data for descrambling stored in the C card 65 is received via the IC card slot 62 and the control CPU 58, and descrambling is performed using the key data. The transport IC 53 allows the user to
4 is received via the man-machine interface 61 and the control CPU 58, and MPEG video data and MPEG audio data of a desired television program are extracted from the transport stream. MPE
The G video decoder 55 converts MPEG video data supplied from the transport IC 53 into video data before data compression. MPEG audio decoder 54
Converts MPEG audio data supplied from the transport IC 53 into audio data before data compression. The DA converter 56 converts audio data supplied from the MPEG audio decoder 54 into an analog audio signal. NTSC conversion block 57
Converts video data into NTSC signals.

The control CPU 58 performs the processing of the entire IRD 12B. Further, a command input by the user using the remote controller 64 is received via the man-machine interface 61. Further, the control CPU 58 outputs the data a1 to an, b1 to b1 shown in FIG.
.. and GUI data. Then, based on these data, screen data for selecting data contents is formed. The screen data thus formed is written to a predetermined area of a buffer memory (not shown) in the MPEG video decoder 55.

A modem 63 is connected to the control CPU 58. Information necessary for distribution of the data content selected by the user and information necessary for charging are stored in the IC card 65. The information of the IC card 65 is periodically transmitted to the SMS 16 on the content distribution side by the modem 63 via the telephone line. The date and time when the information necessary for charging stored in the IC card 65 is sent to the SMS 16 and the telephone number of the SMS 16 are included in the key information multiplexed with the broadcast data in the EMM (Entitlement Manager).
ment message) data and stored in an EEPROM (not shown) by the control CPU 58 of the IRD 12B.

Next, the data content distribution operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the screen diagram of FIG.

First, in the IRD 12B shown in FIG. 3, when a user selects a channel of the data content distribution system to which the present invention is applied, an image as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 12C. Is displayed (step S1 in FIG. 4). That is, the video of the television program broadcast is displayed, and the window of the data content selection browser is displayed on the left side of the screen. At this time, the sound of the television program is also transmitted to the television receiver 1
Output from 2C speaker.

At this time, the received signal input to the input terminal T1 of the IRD 12B is supplied to the tuner 51. In the tuner 51, a signal of a predetermined reception frequency is selected from the reception signals based on the setting signal from the control CPU 58, and further subjected to demodulation and error correction processing to output an MPEG transport stream.

The output of tuner 51 is descrambler 5
2 is supplied. In the descrambler 52, the descramble key data stored in the IC card 65
The data is input via the C card slot 62 and the control CPU 58, and the key data is used to descramble the MPEG transport stream. The descrambled MPEG transport stream is sent to the transport IC 53.

In the transport IC 53, a command input by the user from the remote controller 64 is input via the man-machine interface 61 and the control CPU 58. Then, according to the instruction, the MPEG video data of the desired television program and the M
PEG audio data is extracted, and MPEG
Video decoder 55 and MPEG audio decoder 54
Sent to M sent to the MPEG video decoder 55
The PEG video data is converted into video data before data compression, and then converted into a composite video signal by the NTSC conversion block 57, and then output from the analog video output terminal T2 to the television receiver 12C.
The MPEG audio data sent to the MPEG audio decoder 54 is converted into audio data before data compression, and then converted into an analog audio signal by a DA converter 56, and then from the analog audio output terminal T3 to the television receiver 12C. Output to

Next, the user operates the television receiver 12
While looking at the list of data contents displayed on the screen of C, the user searches for data contents of interest.
And if you find the data content that interests you,
After operating the arrow keys of the remote commander attached to the RD 12B to move the cursor to the data content,
Press the enter key of the remote commander (step S2
YES).

By this operation, the television receiver 12
The screen displayed on C is switched as shown in FIG.
In other words, a screen for prompting the user to specify the device that receives the data content and to input the number is given. Here, a personal computer and a facsimile can be designated as devices for receiving data contents. When a personal computer is designated, the e-mail address is entered, and when a facsimile is designated, a facsimile number is entered. In this case, the FAX number and the E-mail address may be registered at the time of the broadcast reception contract, and only the device to be received may be selected on the screen. The contents that can be transmitted by FAX include text data, still image data, and the like. Data that can be received by the personal computer includes software programs such as games, text data, still image data, moving image data, audio data, and the like, and is transmitted in the form of an e-mail attached file.

When the user selects the data content by this operation, billing is performed in a pay-per-view system, and
It is stored in a predetermined area (view log area) of the card 65. The information stored in the IC card 65 is periodically read by the control CPU 68 and transmitted by the modem 63 to the SMS 16 via the telephone line. Note that the event ID of the data content and the information for identifying the device that receives the data content are stored in a memory different from the IC card 65, and the date and time are different from the transmission of the information stored in the IC card 65. By transmitting the data content to the SMS 16, the data content may be distributed in real time.

In the SMS 16, based on the information read from the IC card 65, the data content selected by the user and the device of the transmission destination are determined (step S3).
S5). If the receiving device specified by the user is a facsimile, the data content is transmitted to a specified facsimile number, and if the receiving device is a personal computer, the data content is transmitted to a specified e-mail address (steps S4 and S6). If it is neither a fax nor a personal computer, do not send. As described above, in the data content distribution system to which the present invention is applied, the satellite broadcast transmitting side transmits the GUI data and the identification data together with the television program data, and the content receiving side transmits the data using the satellite broadcast receiving equipment. The content is instructed to be received.
The content distribution side receives the reception instruction via the telephone line, and transmits the data content to the existing information communication apparatus, such as a facsimile or a personal computer, via the existing communication line according to the reception instruction. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a data storage device such as a hard disk or connect a printer to a satellite broadcast receiver when distributing data content linked to a television program.

In the above description, an example is shown in which a facsimile and a personal computer are prepared for the data content receiving equipment.
Further, a telephone may be prepared, and a voice message may be received there. In addition, the present invention can be configured to transmit a television program, GUI data, and the like by terrestrial broadcasting or cable broadcasting.

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the selection of data contents is performed by the digital broadcasting receiver, and the reception of the data contents is executed by the existing information communication device such as a facsimile or a personal computer. Therefore, if there is a digital broadcast receiver and an existing information communication device, data contents can be downloaded. In addition, since the distribution of the data content linked to the video of the television program is possible, the promotion effect is high, and an attractive service can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a data content distribution system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of data transmitted from a satellite broadcast transmitting side in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an IRD in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data distribution operation in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the television receiver at the time of data distribution.

[Explanation of symbols]

12: Satellite broadcast receiving equipment, 12B: IRD, 12C: Television receiver, 13: Communication network, 16: SMS,
17: distribution control system, 18: content receiving equipment, 18A: FAX, 18B: personal computer.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/781 H04N 5/781 510C 5/92 5/92 H 7/20

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A digital broadcast transmitting side multiplexes and transmits television program data, graphical user interface data, and at least identification data for identifying data content, and a digital broadcast receiving side transmits the digital broadcast data. Side receives the transmitted data, performs viewing of the television program, and selects data content related to the television program, and on the data content distribution side, the content of the selection on the digital broadcast reception side Via a communication line,
The data distribution method further comprises transmitting the selected data content via a communication line, and receiving the data content from the data content distribution side on the data content reception side. 2. The receiving side of the digital broadcast further specifies a device for receiving the selected data content, and the data content distribution side transmits the specified content on the receiving side of the digital broadcast. Receiving via the communication line, further transmitting the selected data content to the designated device via the communication line, and receiving the data content on the data content receiving side from the data content distribution side 2. The data distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the data is received by the designated device. 3. The data distribution method according to claim 2, wherein the device specified on the receiving side is a facsimile machine, a computer, or a telephone. 4. A distribution data selection device for selecting data content in a data content distribution system linked to a television program, comprising: television program data multiplexed and distributed by digital broadcasting; graphical user interface data; Receiving at least identification data for identifying the data content, selecting the data content using a graphical user interface displayed together with the image of the received television program data, and transmitting the selected content to the data via a communication line. A distribution data selection device for transmitting content to a distribution side. 5. The distribution data selection device according to claim 4, further comprising the step of designating a device that receives the selected data content, and transmitting the designated content to a distribution side of the data content. 6. The distribution data selection device according to claim 5, wherein the content of the selection and the content of the designation are stored in a storage unit, and the content of the storage unit is periodically transmitted to a distribution side of the data content. 7. The distribution data selection device according to claim 5, wherein said storage means also stores billing information when said data content is selected.