JPH1132311A - Method for broadcasting data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a waiting time for library down-load on a receiving side by distributing plural decode software programs at the rate of the number of distribution to the obtained number of programs. SOLUTION: A library EPG analyzing part 11 provided in the broadcasting system of a broadcasting trader decides the transmission sequence and frequency of a library held in a library buffer 13 based on a list totaled by receiving library EPG data broadcast by each broadcasting trader. The library EPG analyzing part 11 counts the number of libraries to be used at a specific time, and controls a library transmitting part 12 so that the number of programs for which the libraries are used can be made coincident with the number of times of distribution. The library transmitting part 12 distributes libraries by making the number of libraries to be distributed proportional to the number of actually broadcast programs to be decoded by using the libraries by using a channel exclusively for the libraries.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention broadcasts program signals of at least two types of broadcast systems on a plurality of channels, and decodes program signals broadcast on the plurality of channels on a channel different from the plurality of channels. The present invention relates to a data broadcasting method for broadcasting a decoding software program for decoding a broadcast signal, and more particularly to a data broadcasting method capable of reducing a download waiting time of a decoding software program for decoding a broadcast signal on a broadcast receiving device side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a broadcasting system using broadcasting satellites.
Alternatively, a broadcaster such as a television broadcasting station that broadcasts broadcast signals of a plurality of channels, and 202 is a plurality of broadcasters 20
1 is a broadcaster composed of broadcast satellites that receive a broadcast signal from the receiver 1, process the broadcast signal, and transmit the processed signal to a viewer terminal (broadcast receiver).

In the conventional broadcasting system, all broadcasters perform program production and broadcast transmission for all channels in a common broadcasting system such as MPEG (a video transmission system, a video encoding system, etc.), and a viewer side. In this case, a broadcast is received and reproduced using dedicated hardware corresponding to the common broadcast system. That is, in the conventional broadcasting system, as shown in FIG.
MPEG broadcasted from Broadcaster 1 via broadcaster 202
And the like are received by the dedicated hardware of the broadcast receiving apparatus, and full screen display is performed on a TV or the like.

On the other hand, with the improvement in computer performance, video signal processing which could only be processed by dedicated hardware in the past can be realized by software processing using general-purpose hardware. That is, if signal processing by such software is used, a decoding software program (library) for decoding each broadcast data is loaded into general-purpose hardware,
It is possible to decode a plurality of broadcast data having different broadcast systems. If it becomes possible for the receiving side to decode a plurality of broadcast data having different broadcast systems,
Broadcasting in which various broadcasting methods are mixed, such as data broadcasting in a form different from conventional video / audio broadcasting such as G broadcasting and animation broadcasting, can be performed. In such a broadcasting system, in addition to the conventional video-only broadcasting, text data and data such as CG can be distributed in association with each other, so that the production side can also create elaborate contents. Has the advantage that it can receive a wide variety of contents, including interactive services, from conventional services that can only be viewed. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of data of different broadcasting systems may be mixed and broadcast in a program of one channel, and a plurality of contents of different broadcasting systems may be displayed on one screen on a receiving side. is there.

Furthermore, if a decoding software program for decoding broadcast data is distributed by broadcasting, even if the broadcast receiving apparatus does not hold a decoding software program for decoding certain broadcast data, this decoding software program can be used. Since the software program can be downloaded from the broadcast and the broadcast data can be decoded, it is not necessary for the receiving device to always hold various types of decoding software programs (libraries), and a large-capacity storage means is provided in the receiving device. There is an advantage that there is no need to provide it, and there is an advantage that it can be adapted even when a new broadcasting system is used on the program provider side.

As a form of distributing a decoding software program for decoding broadcast data by broadcasting, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), broadcast data for decoding broadcast data broadcast on each channel is provided for each channel. A method of multiplexing and decoding a decoding software program for decoding broadcast data, or, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), broadcasting only a decoding software program for decoding broadcast data separately from a channel for broadcasting broadcast data. A method is conceivable in which a dedicated program channel is provided and a decoding software program for decoding broadcast data broadcast on a channel for broadcasting broadcast data is repeatedly broadcast on the dedicated program channel.

A broadcast receiving apparatus used in a broadcast system that distributes a decode software program for decoding such broadcast data includes program storage means (library buffer) for holding a decode software program (library). Performing the decoding of the broadcast data using the decoding software program stored in the storage means, if the decoding software program for decoding the received broadcast data is not held in the program storage means,
A configuration is conceivable in which the decoding software program broadcast as described above is downloaded and used as needed.

[0008]

As described above, in a broadcast system using signal processing by software, a broadcast receiving apparatus stores a decode software program (library) for decoding received broadcast data in its own program storage means. If it is not stored, this library will be downloaded from the broadcast. However, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the distribution form of the library from the broadcaster is exclusive to the channel that broadcasts the broadcast data. A channel is provided, and a plurality of libraries for decoding broadcast data broadcast on a channel for broadcasting broadcast data are repeatedly broadcast on this dedicated channel, and the distribution order of the plurality of libraries is not devised at all. If there is, the required library can be obtained immediately on the broadcast receiver side. And it takes a long time before the program can be viewed. In particular, when a zapping operation of randomly switching a plurality of channels in a short time on the broadcast receiving device side and confirming the program contents broadcast on each channel is performed,
There is a problem that zapping cannot be performed smoothly due to the delay time for downloading the library as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. In a software broadcast system, a data broadcast capable of reducing a download waiting time of a decode software program (library) for decoding a broadcast signal is provided. The aim is to provide a method.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a data broadcasting method according to the present invention (claim 1) broadcasts program signals of two or more types of broadcasting systems on a plurality of channels. In a data broadcasting method for broadcasting a decoding software program for decoding a program signal broadcast on the plurality of channels on a channel different from the channel for decoding, a decoding software program for decoding a program broadcast on the plurality of channels Using the library EPG data indicating along the time axis, for each of the plurality of decoding software programs, the number of programs to be decoded using the decoding software program at a certain time is obtained. Each delivery number In which it was to be delivered in a number of programs the ratio obtained in the serial.

[0011] In the data broadcasting method according to the present invention (claim 2), in the data broadcasting method according to claim 1, a plurality of decoding software programs are distributed and distributed according to their respective distribution numbers. It was made.

Also, in the data broadcasting method according to the present invention (claim 3), a program signal of at least two types of broadcast systems is broadcasted on a plurality of channels, and a different channel from the plurality of channels is used on the plurality of channels. In a data broadcasting method for broadcasting a decoding software program for decoding a broadcasted program signal, a library EPG data indicating a decoding software program for decoding a program broadcasted on a plurality of channels along a time axis is used. Then, for each of the plurality of decoding software programs, the number of programs to be decoded using the decoding software program at a certain time is obtained, and for each of the plurality of decoding software programs, the decoding software at a certain time is obtained. A total value of audience ratings of each program decoded using the program is obtained, and the plurality of decoding software programs are calculated by dividing the number of distributions of each of the plurality of programs by the number of programs obtained above by the total value of audience ratings. It is intended to be distributed.

[0013] In the data broadcasting method according to the present invention (claim 4), in the data broadcasting method according to claim 3, a plurality of decoding software programs are distributed and distributed according to the respective distribution numbers. It was made.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a broadcasting company for realizing the data broadcasting method according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes decoding software necessary for decoding a program signal broadcast by each broadcasting company. A library EPG which is data indicating a program (library) for each channel is received from each broadcaster,
Library EP for analyzing the contents as a list
G analysis unit. Reference numeral 13 denotes a library buffer for holding a plurality of libraries. Reference numeral 12 denotes a library buffer based on the analysis result of the library EPG analysis unit 11.
Is a library sending unit that sends out a plurality of libraries held in a predetermined order and frequency.

[0015] A broadcasting company comprising a broadcasting satellite or the like receives a broadcast signal from a broadcaster having one or a plurality of channels, performs predetermined processing on the received broadcast signal, and then converts the processed signal. It broadcasts to receiving terminal devices in each home and the like. Here, each broadcaster broadcasts library EPG data indicating a decode software program (library) necessary for decoding a program signal broadcasted by the broadcaster as time axis information for each channel. The library EPG analysis unit 11 provided in the broadcasting system of the broadcasting company receives library EPG data broadcasted by each broadcasting company and, for example,
The transmission order and the transmission frequency of the libraries held in the library buffer 13 are determined based on this list.

For example, assuming that the current time is t in the used library list of FIG. 1, c at time (t + α) at which the user actually thinks that the library is needed
The libraries used from h1 to ch5 are A, B, B, A,
A. The library EPG analysis unit 11 counts the number of used libraries at a specific time (t + α), and distributes each library so that the number of programs using the library and the number of distributions coincide with each other. Control. The library sending unit 12 uses a channel dedicated to the library, which is different from the channel for program broadcasting, and, for example, as shown in FIG. And distributes them in proportion to the number of programs.

Here, the fact that there are many programs that use a certain library generally means that the rate at which programs using this library are selected on the receiving side is high, that is, it is necessary to download this library on the receiving side. The rate of occurrence is high. Therefore, if the number of each library to be distributed is made proportional to the number of programs actually broadcast using the library, a library having a high rate of downloading on the receiving side will be distributed more frequently. Thus, the waiting time for downloading on the receiving side is effectively reduced.

As described above, according to the data broadcasting method according to the first embodiment, the number of each library distributed on the library channel is made proportional to the number of actually broadcasted programs decoded using the library. Since the library is distributed as described above, the library with a higher download rate is distributed more frequently, and the waiting time for library download on the receiving side can be reduced, especially when zapping operation is performed on the receiving side. A smooth zapping operation can be realized.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of distributions of the library is made proportional to the number of programs using the library. However, not only the number of distributions but also the transmission order is determined based on a predetermined rule for distribution. It may be. An example in which both the number of distributions and the transmission order are determined based on library EPG data will be described below. In the list of library EPGs, for example, when the number of programs using each library is counted as shown in FIG. 4, the library EPG analysis unit 11 determines the number of distributions of the library and the transmission order by the method shown in FIG. decide. First, FIG.
Since the total number of libraries is 14, the frames of the 14 libraries are arranged in order (the uppermost row in FIG. 5). Next, 14 frames are arranged in order from the library with the highest frequency of use (four middle rows in FIG. 5). Here, the number of libraries is five for library A, four for library B, three for library C, and two for library D.
Therefore, the library frames are arranged in the order of A->B->C-> D from the top row in the middle four rows in FIG. Then, the whole number is divided by the number of each library, and each library is arranged in each frame for each value obtained by cutting off the remainder. 14/5 for library A
= 2.8 → 2, and as shown in FIG.
A is arranged every two in the uppermost frame of the columns. In the case of the library B, 14/4 = 3.2 → 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, B is arranged every three in the frame of the second stage of the center four stages. In the case of library C, 14/3 = 4.6 →
As shown in FIG. 5, C is arranged for every four in the frame of the third stage of the center four stages. In the case of the library D, since 14/2 = 7 → 7, as shown in FIG. 5, D is arranged for every seven in the frame of the fourth stage of the center four stages. Thereafter, the center four rows in FIG. 5 are scanned from the leftmost frame to the right in order from top to bottom, and the libraries appearing are sequentially placed in the fourteen frames (the bottom row in FIG. 5). The transmission order of each library is determined.

By distributing each library in accordance with the number of distributions as described above, when distributing the number of libraries in proportion to the number of programs using the library, the respective libraries are successively distributed. Compared with the distribution, the period from the last distribution of a library to the next distribution of the same library is shortened, so that the waiting time for library download on the receiving side can be further reduced.

Next, a description will be given of a distribution method when each of the libraries is composed of a plurality of sub-library components. For example, a library A is composed of components a, b and c, a library B is composed of components b and d, a library C is composed of components a and c, and a library D is composed of components c and d. If configured, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the number of libraries is five for library A,
If there are four libraries B, three libraries C, and two libraries D, the number of sub-library components is eight for component a and nine for component b.
Components, 10 components c, 6 components d
Individual. In such a case, if the distribution numbers of the components are distributed at a ratio of 8: 9: 10: 6, and further distributed, for example, by the method shown in FIG.
The components that make up the library that is downloaded at a high rate are distributed with high frequency, and the waiting time for library download in the zapping operation on the receiving side can be reduced.

Here, in order to download a component on the receiving side, information on which component the library is composed of is required. However, information on which component each library is composed of,
For example, the components that make up library A are a,
As a method of providing the information “b” and “c” from the broadcaster to the receiving side, the information may be distributed through a library channel or described in the header of each data and provided. Is also good.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a broadcaster for realizing the data broadcasting method according to the second embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same or corresponding parts. Reference numeral 14 denotes a rating summation unit that sums up the rating of each program.

Next, the operation of the data broadcasting method according to the second embodiment will be described. As in the case of the first embodiment, a broadcaster including a broadcast satellite receives a broadcast signal from a broadcaster having one or a plurality of channels and performs predetermined processing on the received broadcast signal. And broadcasts the processed signal to receiving terminal devices such as homes. Here, each broadcaster broadcasts library EPG data indicating a decode software program (library) necessary for decoding a program signal broadcasted by the broadcaster as time axis information for each channel.

The audience rating section 14 provided in the broadcast system of the broadcaster acquires information on the audience rating of each program from each broadcasting station or a rating survey company, and totals the information. The library EPG analysis unit 11 receives the library EPG data broadcasted by each broadcaster, and tabulates the data into, for example, a list.
4 summarizes, for each library, the number of programs using the library and the audience rating of each program at the time when it is considered that the user actually needs the library, based on the audience rating of each channel calculated by 4 Then, the distribution order and the transmission frequency of the libraries held in the library buffer 13 are determined based on the audience rating distribution.

Specifically, it is assumed that the library used and the audience rating of each channel at a certain time are as shown in FIG. Here, as the audience rating of each channel, the audience rating at the same time on the previous day may be used, or the average value of the audience rating at the same time in a certain period may be used. The library EPG analysis unit 11 converts this into an audience rating distribution for each library as shown in FIG. That is, the library A converts this to ch1, ch5, ch
7, ch10 and ch11 are used, and the total rating of each channel is 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 +
2 = 7. Similarly, for libraries B to D, the total number of used programs and the audience rating is obtained. Then, for each library, the product of the number of used programs and the total value of the ratings is obtained, and the value of this product is used as the distribution ratio of each library. The distribution order is, for example, distributed and distributed by the method shown in FIG. 5, as in the case of the first embodiment.

As described in the first embodiment, the fact that many programs use a certain library generally means that
This means that the rate at which programs using this library are selected on the receiving side is high, that is, the rate at which the library needs to be downloaded on the receiving side is high. Also, a high rating at the same time means that
This means that the probability that the program is selected at that time is high, that is, the probability that the receiving side needs to download this library is high. That is, when the audience rating of each channel at the same time as the number of programs using the library is taken into consideration, the numerical value obtained by multiplying the number of programs being actually broadcast using the library by the audience rating is the need to download the library. It can be considered as a value indicating ease of operation. Accordingly, if the number of libraries to be distributed is proportional to the number of programs actually broadcast using the library multiplied by the audience rating, the library having a higher rate of downloading on the receiving side will have higher performance. It will be delivered at a frequency, and the waiting time for downloading at the receiving side will be effectively reduced.

As described above, according to the data broadcasting method according to the second embodiment, the number of each library distributed on the library channel is reduced to the number of actually broadcasted programs to be decoded using the library. Since the library is distributed so as to be proportional to the numerical value multiplied by the audience rating, the library having a higher download rate is distributed more frequently, and the waiting time for library download on the receiving side can be reduced.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention (claim 1), program signals of two or more broadcast systems are broadcast on a plurality of channels, and the plurality of program signals are broadcast on a channel different from the plurality of channels. In a data broadcasting method for broadcasting a decoding software program for decoding a program signal broadcast on a channel, a library EP indicating a decoding software program for decoding a program broadcast on a plurality of channels along a time axis
Using the G data, using a library EPG, which is a list of channels and time in a matrix, determine the number of programs to be decoded using the decode software program at a certain time for each of the plurality of decode software programs, Since the plurality of decoding software programs are distributed at the ratio of the number of programs obtained as described above, the library having a higher download rate is distributed more frequently, and the library on the receiving side is distributed more frequently. There is an effect that the waiting time for downloading can be reduced, and a smooth zapping operation can be realized particularly when the zapping operation is performed on the receiving side.

According to the present invention (claim 2), in the data broadcasting method according to claim 1, a plurality of decoding software programs are distributed and distributed according to their respective distribution numbers. This has the effect of further reducing the waiting time for library download on the receiving side.

According to the present invention (claim 3), program signals of two or more types of broadcast systems are broadcast on a plurality of channels, and broadcast on the plurality of channels on a channel different from the plurality of channels. In a data broadcasting method for broadcasting a decoding software program for decoding a program signal, a plurality of decoding software programs for decoding a program broadcast on a plurality of channels are provided by using library EPG data indicating along a time axis. For each of the decoding software programs, determine the number of programs to be decoded using the decoding software program at a certain time,
In addition, for each of the plurality of decoding software programs, a total value of audience ratings of each program decoded using the decoding software program at a certain time is obtained, and the number of distributions of each of the plurality of decoding software programs is calculated as described above. Since the calculated number of programs is multiplied by the total value of the audience rating, distribution is performed at the ratio, so libraries with higher download rates are distributed more frequently, and the waiting time for library download on the receiving side is reduced. This has the effect that the zapping operation can be smoothed especially when the zapping operation is performed on the receiving side.

According to the present invention (claim 4), in the data broadcasting method according to claim 3, a plurality of decoding software programs are distributed and distributed according to the respective distribution numbers. This has the effect of further reducing the waiting time for library download on the receiving side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a library EPG used in a data broadcasting method according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a library is distributed in the data broadcasting method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a broadcasting company for realizing the data broadcasting method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of determining a distribution order of libraries in the data broadcasting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of determining a distribution order of libraries in the data broadcasting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation in a case where each of the libraries is composed of a plurality of sub-library components in the data broadcasting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a broadcasting company for realizing the data broadcasting method according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a data broadcasting method according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a data broadcasting method according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a broadcasting system using a broadcasting satellite.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of data broadcasted from a broadcaster in a conventional broadcasting system and a screen display of a broadcast receiving device receiving the data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of data broadcasted from a broadcaster in a broadcast system using signal processing by software and a screen display of a broadcast receiving device receiving the data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mode of distributing a decoding software program for decoding broadcast data by broadcasting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Library EPG analysis unit 12 Library transmission unit 13 Library buffer 14 Rating unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A decoding software program for broadcasting program signals of two or more types of broadcasting systems on a plurality of channels and decoding program signals broadcast on the plurality of channels on a channel different from the plurality of channels. In the data broadcasting method for broadcasting, using a library EPG data indicating a decoding software program for decoding a program broadcast on the plurality of channels along a time axis, each of the plurality of decoding software programs at a certain time. A first step of calculating the number of programs to be decoded using the decoding software program; and a second step of distributing the plurality of decoding software programs at a ratio of the distribution number of the programs obtained in the first step. And the process of Data broadcasting method according to. 2. The data broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of decoding software programs are distributed and distributed according to their respective distribution numbers. 3. A decoding software program for broadcasting program signals of two or more types of broadcast systems on a plurality of channels and decoding program signals broadcast on the plurality of channels on a channel different from the plurality of channels. In the data broadcasting method for broadcasting, using a library EPG data indicating a decoding software program for decoding a program broadcast on the plurality of channels along a time axis, each of the plurality of decoding software programs at a certain time. A first step of determining the number of programs to be decoded using the decoding software program; and a program for each of the plurality of decoding software programs, the program being decoded using the decoding software program at a certain time. A second step of calculating the total rating, and the plurality of decoding software programs, the number of distributions of each of which is calculated by the number of programs obtained in the first step and the total value of the rating obtained in the second step. And a third step of distributing at a ratio of a value multiplied by (i). 4. The data broadcasting method according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of decoding software programs are distributed and distributed according to their respective distribution numbers.