WO2006070609A1

WO2006070609A1 - Digital card data distribution method, digital card display method and program, and information terminal device

Info

Publication number: WO2006070609A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/023041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yohei Inoguchi; Kaoru Komatsuda; Yosuke Adachi; Toshimizu Abiko; Yuji Fukasawa; Masato Nagao; Shinji Kodama
Original assignee: Access Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-12-28
Filing date: 2005-12-15
Publication date: 2006-07-06
Also published as: JPWO2006070609A1; JP5148880B2

Abstract

There are provided a novel digital card data distribution method, a digital card display method and program, and an information terminal device using a data broadcast service. A broadcast station (40) data-broadcasts content information including digital card data formed by at least image information and text information. A mobile terminal (20) displays a user interface for performing instruction for acquiring digital card data received by broadcast on a display screen. If a user performs instruction operation for the user interface, the received digital card data is stored in a memory in the terminal. Moreover, according to the user instruction, the mobile terminal (20) acquires a dedicated template from a server (30) and displays the digital card data in a format matched with the card type by using the dedicated template.

Description

Specification

Digital card data distribution method, digital card display method and program, and information terminal device

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method for distributing data for a digital card such as a trading card by data broadcasting, and a method and program for displaying a digital card based on the data in an information terminal device.

Background art

[0002] A trading card is a card that contains photographs and pictures of famous professional athletes and anime characters, and is a target of collection by the user. Traditionally, trading cards are distributed using paper as media. With the development of the Internet, it has been proposed that trading cards be distributed electronically.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for exchanging trading card data by communication between a plurality of communication devices. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for exchanging virtual trading cards over the Internet. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a system for distributing, managing and exchanging trading cards in a mobile phone network.

[0004] Further, as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, an electronic coupon is provided using a Web page, and a predetermined privilege or service may be provided to a customer who presents the coupon at a store or the like. Generally done.

[0005] On the other hand, digital terrestrial broadcasting of television has been started. In terrestrial digital broadcasting,

One channel is divided into 13 segments, 12 segments for high-definition broadcasting (HDTV) and 4 segments for normal-quality broadcasting. On the other hand, for mobile terminals (mainly mobile phone terminals), since the screen is small and low image quality and low sound quality are sufficient, one segment is allocated, which is called one-segment broadcasting.

[0006] Similar to satellite digital broadcasting (BS, CS), in 1-segment broadcasting, data broadcasting services are provided in addition to video and audio television broadcasting and audio broadcasting services. Data broadcasting Services include multimedia data broadcasting services based on BML (Broadcast Markup Language). The data broadcasting service is described in detail in Non-Patent Document 2.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-271253

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-315970

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-312602

Non-patent literature 1: h tps: z www.tsutaya.co.jp/coupon, index, pi i'UTA YA online coupon 〃

Non-patent document 2: Data broadcasting technology reader, Nobuyuki Yagi, Toshiro Yoshimura, Kenjiro Kai, published by Ohm, February 25, 2002

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] Based on the above-described background art, the present inventors have considered distributing a trading card or coupon (referred to collectively as a digital card in this specification) using a data broadcasting service. . If data broadcasting service is used, it is possible to provide image information to an information terminal device having a data broadcasting receiving function. Therefore, it is conceivable to distribute the digital card as an image file or a movie file.

[0009] However, just by distributing various types of digital card data in the same format and displaying them on a viewer installed on the terminal, what kind of power the received digital card has (such as baseball, anime characters, It is difficult to classify the power of the coupon and it cannot be displayed in a format suitable for each.Therefore, it is possible to prepare a viewer for each type of card (card type). It is inefficient to have all viewers of unknown status pre-installed on mopile terminals.

[0010] Also, the larger the digital card data, the longer the time required for distribution. However, the memory occupancy of the mopile terminal will increase, and the number of digital cards that can be stored will be severely limited, especially for information terminals such as mopile terminals.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above. A novel digital card data distribution method and digital data using a data broadcasting service, which solve the above-described problems. It is an object to provide an information card display method and program, and an information terminal device.

Means for solving the problem

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present inventors obtain digital card data such as trading cards and coupons or information for obtaining the data at an arbitrary timing on the broadcasting station side using a data broadcasting service. It was distributed and received and displayed on the information terminal device side.

[0013] That is, the digital card display method of the present invention is a digital card display method in an information terminal device having a data broadcast receiving function, and the step of receiving card information of a digital card together with content information by data broadcasting. And a step of displaying on the display screen a user interface for instructing acquisition of digital card data related to the card information received together with the content information, and in response to an instruction operation on the user interface by the user The digital card data obtained on the basis of the card information is stored in a memory, and the stored digital card data is displayed on a display screen.

[0014] The card information may include digital card data composed of multimedia files. Alternatively, it may include distribution source information for designating a distribution source of digital card data composed of multimedia files, and receive digital card data by communication according to the distribution source information in accordance with a user operation on the user interface. Good.

[0015] In the displaying step, all digital card data stored in the information terminal device can be displayed as a display target according to a card handling template for displaying a list of arbitrary digital cards.

[0016] In the displaying step, only the specific type of digital card stored in the information terminal device is displayed according to a card handling template for displaying a list of digital cards of a specific card type. Can be displayed.

[0017] In the displaying step, according to a card handling template for displaying a list of digital cards that are coupon cards, the coupons stored in the information terminal device are stored. Only one bon card can be displayed as a display target.

[0018] The method includes the step of allowing a user to select a desired card handling template and a template from among a plurality of card handling templates for displaying a list of digital cards, wherein the displaying step includes the selected card handling template. The corresponding digital card data can be extracted and displayed as a display object. Thus, by selecting a template, only the corresponding card type digital card is extracted.

[0019] The content information may include information for designating a card handling template for handling the digital card and / or information for obtaining a card handling template.

[0020] The multimedia file may include image information representing an image of the entire card for each digital card. Alternatively, the multimedia file includes image information and text information unique to each digital card, and for a card display template that includes a common background and common text data for digital cards of the same card type. The digital card may be configured by incorporating image information and text information unique to each individual digital card. According to the latter, the amount of data required for communication and storage of digital card data data is reduced.

[0021] A digital card data distribution method according to the present invention includes a step of distributing content information by data broadcasting, and a step of distributing card information of a digital card together with the content information. User interface display information for instructing to store the received card information in a memory of the information terminal device is included in the content information and distributed.

[0022] By using the user interface display information, the digital card data is transmitted only to a user who needs the digital card data while transmitting the digital card data and the like in common to an unspecified number of broadcast receivers. Can be acquired.

[0023] The digital card data is a multimedia file including, for example, image information and text information (character, product description, serial number, price, etc.).

[0024] Further, a digital card handling template for displaying a digital card is passed. A step of delivering to the information terminal device by communication or data broadcasting. This makes it possible to obtain a template only for users who need a digital card handling template.

[0025] The digital card handling template can include action definition information that defines an action to be executed in accordance with a card type of a designated digital card when the template is used. As a result, the user can execute an action corresponding to the card type by using the template without particular awareness.

[0026] The digital card handling template may include a filtering function for extracting a digital card of a specific card type. As a result, the user can extract only the digital card of the card type by using the template without special awareness.

[0027] The digital card data may be composed of a multimedia file, and the multimedia file may include identification information and card type information of the digital card in addition to the image information and text information. This makes it possible to handle image information and text information necessary for trading cards and coupon cards as a single data file.

[0028] The multimedia file may further include URL information for obtaining a digital card handling template corresponding to the card type.

[0029] The present invention can also be grasped as a digital card display program executed in an information terminal device having a data broadcast receiving function or an information terminal device having a data broadcast receiving function.

The invention's effect

[0030] According to the present invention, digital card data or information for acquiring the digital card data is transmitted to an unspecified number of users by data broadcasting, and the digital card data is transmitted only to users who need the digital card data. It is possible to provide a mechanism to acquire the information.

[0031] In particular, it is possible to realize a new broadcasting service in which digital card data or the like is distributed only to viewers who watch a certain scene of a certain program. Moreover, the timing of card acquisition Since broadcasting can be set arbitrarily by the broadcaster, it will contribute to increasing the audience rating of programs and commercials by selectively providing special digital card data only to viewers who have watched a specific scene. Power S can be.

[0032] In addition, the digital card data acquired in this way is displayed in a card handling template to perform filtering to extract only a specific card type, or to perform a predetermined action according to a specific card type. Can be performed. As a result, the user can select the digital force and perform the necessary processing simply by selecting a template without being conscious of it.

[0033] Also, by including distribution source information for obtaining a digital card handling template corresponding to the card type in the multimedia file that constitutes the digital card data, a program for handling the card in advance in the terminal is implemented. Even if you do not, you can download a card handling template and add an appropriate digital card handling template. As a result, for example, even if you don't have a template that handles digital cards of a specific card type when you purchase a device, if you happen to get a digital card, you can use a card handling template that is appropriate for that card based on that card. Can be acquired. In addition, once the card handling template is obtained, it can be saved in the terminal and used for display of other digital cards with the same card type.

[0034] If a card display template is adopted, digital card data distributed by data broadcasting or communication can be limited to information unique to the card, so that the time required for distribution can be shortened and the digital data on the mopile terminal can be reduced. Since the amount of memory occupied by the card can be reduced, more digital card data can be stored with the same memory capacity.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a mopile terminal shown in the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic software configuration related to the digital card viewer for displaying the digital card on the display unit in the mopile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is.

4] A diagram showing a configuration example of a multimedia (MM) file in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5] A diagram showing an example of a card holder template according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing two types of display examples of the card holder template in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7] A diagram showing an example of a template selection screen of the digital card viewer in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8] A diagram for explaining a state of MM file distribution by data broadcasting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9] A diagram showing a configuration example of a card management table and a template management table in the embodiment of the present invention.

[10] This is a flowchart showing an example of processing at the time of obtaining a digital card accompanying data broadcasting in the embodiment of the present invention.

11] A flowchart showing an example of processing for displaying a list of digital cards using a card holder template in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing example when a card holder template other than the common viewer template is obtained from the terminal in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13] A diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a card display template in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an MM file when the card display template of FIG. 13 is used.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when displaying individual digital cards when the card display template of FIG. 13 is used.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration in which an accounting server 31 and an authentication server 32 connected to a communication network 27 are added to the system of FIG.

FIG. 17] A diagram showing a system configuration of a second modification of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing example when a digital card viewer in the system of FIG. 17 obtains a digital card accompanying data broadcasting.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire system according to the present embodiment. In this figure, an information terminal device 20 (also simply referred to as an information terminal or a terminal) 20 of the present invention is a mopile terminal 20 represented by a mobile phone, and has at least a data communication function, a television broadcast and a data broadcast (in this example) Terrestrial digital broadcasting). With the TV transmission / reception function, TV programs including video and audio broadcast from the broadcasting station 40 can be received and played back. At the same time, the content information, which is a document described in BML, can be received and reproduced by the data broadcast receiving function. The mopile terminal 20 is also connected to the communication network 27 via the base station 25 by the data communication function, and accesses the template server (data server) 30 connected to the communication network 27 to at least receive web data. You can browse and download template data, which will be described later. The communication network 27 can include any network such as a mobile phone network or the Internet.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the mopile terminal 20 shown in the system of FIG.

[0039] The mopile terminal 20 includes a central control unit 201, RAM 202, ROM 203, display control unit 204, display unit 205, communication unit 206, operation unit 207, flash memory 208, communication antenna 209, TV antenna 211, TV signal. A receiving unit 212, an audio processing unit 213, a microphone 214, and a speaker 215 are provided.

The central control unit 201 controls each unit by program control via the bus 210. For this purpose, fixed data such as various programs and font data are stored in advance in ROM 203, which is a read-only memory. A RAM 202 is a readable / writable memory that provides a temporary storage area for work areas and data by the central control unit 201. The flash memory 208 is a rewritable memory that stores various programs such as additional programs, digital card data, and template data described later in a nonvolatile manner. [0041] The display unit 205 is a display interface unit including a display device having a display screen for displaying text and images (including video, still images, and moving images). In this example, the display device is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The control of the display unit 205 is controlled by the display control unit 204 under the control of the central control unit 201. The operation unit 207 is an input interface unit including a power key, a call key, a clear key, up / down / left / right instruction keys, a mail key, a web browsing key, and various keys and buttons such as a numeric keypad.

[0042] The communication unit 206 transmits and receives voice and data by radio waves to and from the base station 25 and eventually the communication network 27 (Fig. 1) via the communication antenna 209. The TV signal receiving unit 212 receives broadcast radio waves from the broadcast station 40 (FIG. 1) via the TV antenna 211, and receives TV broadcasts and data broadcasts.

The audio processing unit 213 is connected to the microphone 214 and the speaker 215, and inputs and outputs audio under the control of the central control unit 201.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic software configuration related to the digital card viewer for displaying the digital card in the present invention on the display unit 205 in the mopile terminal 20. As a program, a browser that analyzes markup language document data and constructs display data (in this embodiment, a BML browser) 300, a dedicated application program for displaying a digital card regardless of the browser, although not required (The application is also simply referred to as an application.) 310, which has a card management module 312 for managing digital cards. Template data composing various templates, which will be described later, and card data composing digital card data are stored in a template data storage unit 322 and a card data storage unit 324, respectively. The card management module 312 stores a management table for managing templates and card data stored in the template data storage unit 322 and the card data storage unit 324 in the management table storage unit 326. Template data storage unit 322 and card data storage unit 324 are provided in flash memory 208 in the present embodiment.

[0045] The browser 300 includes a browser core 304, an application unit (here, a view screen application) 302, and a view screen module 306. In this embodiment, the browser core 304 is the central part of the BML browser. In addition to the function of interpreting and displaying the BML, the browser core 304 is a digital card of the present invention. It also has a function to encode images or video data in multimedia files (hereinafter referred to as MM files) that make up a video file.

[0046] However, the browser core 304 can be adopted according to the content distributed via data broadcasting or the network, and may be any of HTML, CHTML, and XML browser in addition to the BML browser. BML / HTML multi-browser is preferable.

[0047] The application unit 302 provides a user interface for selecting a template or a card. The viewer module 306 manages the template stored in the template data storage unit 322 and manages the MM file stored in the card data storage unit 324. For example, when a template is selected, the specified template is read and passed to the browser core 304. When a specific digital card is selected via the application unit 302, the corresponding MM file is read from the card data storage unit 324 and passed to the browser core. Further, as will be described later, digital card data filtering is executed.

[0048] The dedicated application 310 is a dedicated application for handling a specific card type MM file regardless of the browser, and is created by, for example, _java (registered trademark) or BREW (registered trademark). The dedicated application 310 can be downloaded via the communication network 27 by a terminal user that does not need to exist in the terminal at first.

[0049] The card management module 312 performs reading and writing of the MM file stored in the card data storage unit 324, encryption / decryption of expansion card data in the MM file, which will be described later, copy control, tampering determination, and the like.

[0050] (About MM file)

Figure 4 shows an example of the structure of the MM file 400. As the MM file 400, for example, a standardized image 'video file format such as a GIF file, JPEG file, or MPEG file can be used. Figure 4 shows a GIF file as an example. The MM file 400, which is a GIF file, includes a file header 401, an image block 403, a sub block 405, and a terminal block 409. Image data 411 is stored in the image block 403. In this image file format, a comment area (comment block) 406 for inputting arbitrary information as a comment is prepared. In this embodiment, expansion card data 413 (described later) is input in this area. Enter. For JPEG files In this case, the expansion card data 413 is inserted into the comment 'marker (COM) or the application data segment (APPn). In addition, the present invention does not eliminate moving image files as MM files. Examples of moving image files include AnimationGIF files and MPEG files. AnimationGIF combines two or more GIF still image data to realize animation, and can use the comment block of one GIF still image data. For MPEG files, it is possible to use a predetermined area as a comment block. Note that you can use an original format dedicated to MM files, regardless of the existing format.

The expansion card data 413 is text information unique to the card and can be classified mainly into the following two types.

(I) Public information:

The public information is information displayed as a card and includes the following data.

(1) Text data to be displayed on the viewer

(2) Card type: Unique data for determining the type of card (for example, “coupon”, “baseball”, etc.). This card type is used as information for designating a card handling template for handling the digital card.

(3) Card ID: Serial number of the card type

(Π) Non-public information:

Private information is information stored behind public information rather than information displayed as a card, and includes the following data.

(1) URL information: This information is used as information for obtaining a template distribution URL such as a card handling template, a dedicated application URL, and a related site URL. Here, the template distribution URL can be either the URL set for each card or the URL of the template server 30 that distributes the template. The related site URL includes, for example, the URL of the authentication server 31 that authenticates whether or not the viewer of the mopile terminal 20 shown in FIG. It may be the URL of the billing server 32 to collect.

(2) Tampering prevention information: Specific information to prevent unauthorized modification of expansion card data News. Used to guarantee the consistency between image data and expansion card data.

Whether or not to adopt these pieces of information as expansion card data is arbitrary, and the expansion card data does not necessarily need to include all of these. Expansion card data is preferably encoded and entered into an MM file. The card management module 312 executes encryption / decryption of expansion card data.

[0053] (About templates)

In this embodiment, the template is described in BML. The template in the present embodiment is a card holder template mainly as a card handling template for handling a plurality of cards. However, as will be described later in a modification, there may be a card display template as a template in which common information for displaying one MM file is collected.

[0054] (Template for card holder)

Fig. 5 (a), (b) and (c) show examples of the card holder template in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the following three types of card holder templates are prepared. However, not all these templates are essential for the present invention.

[0055] (1) Common viewer template: A template that can be used regardless of the card type. It is prepared by default and can display all digital cards. This is useful when there is no dedicated template. It is preferably stored in the mopile terminal from the time of shipment, but may be installed after shipment.

[0056] (2) Coupon viewer template: A template for displaying digital card data with a card type of “coupon”. Coupons are generally forms that allow customers to receive discounted sales services for specific products by presenting them at specific stores, etc., and codes that can be visually recognized as images such as barcodes and 2D codes on mopile terminals. By including information and reading with a scanner, or outputting a specific signal with a terminal equipped with an infrared communication function, the identification and recognition of a coupon can be performed with an external terminal. This coupon viewer template can display all “coupon” digital cards. It is preferably stored in the mopile terminal from the time of shipment, but may be installed after shipment. [0057] (3) Dedicated template: A template for displaying digital card data of a specific card type. The dedicated template can be added to the template data storage unit 322 by being downloaded from the server, and then deleted. Service providers (carriers, ISPs, etc.) can be authenticated and charged for obtaining and using dedicated templates. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, an accounting server 31 and an authentication server 32 connected to the communication network 27 are added to the system of FIG. The billing server 31 provides a predetermined billing service for transactions such as paid templates (for example, download by a user). The authentication server 32 provides a user authentication service for charging. Unlike the common viewer template, the dedicated template can selectively display only digital cards of a specific card type. In addition, the display items of the common viewer template can only display limited data items common to digital cards of various card types, but the dedicated template displays all data items appropriately according to individual card types. be able to.

Each of the cardholder templates shown in FIGS. 5 (a), (b) and (c) is composed of a BML document and includes an extension script in addition to the background information and character information of the cardholder. The BML document for each template can include display scripts and action definition scripts as extended scripts. The display script describes the processing required when displaying the digital card, which will be described later. The action definition script can describe actions to be executed on the digital card selected from the list display by the card holder template according to the card type. For this action, for example, all digital cards corresponding to the card type of the digital card can be displayed again using a dedicated template, or a dedicated application can be started, or a coupon viewer template can be used. Displaying it, or displaying the digital card alone with a viewer can be considered. The action can further include downloading over the network if the designated template does not exist in the device. Alternatively, if both a dedicated template and a dedicated app exist, either one should be used preferentially or the user should select it, and if the designated template or dedicated app does not exist in the terminal, the other Use it if it exists It can also be defined to download over the network if none exists. Dedicated applications can be started with an extension script. It is also possible to let the user choose what action to perform.

The coupon viewer template and the dedicated template further include a filtering script for extracting only the card type digital card as an extension script. You can define actions related to the processing required when using coupons as the action of the coupon viewer template.

[0060] FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) show two display examples of the card holder template. Here are examples of common viewer templates. However, the template in Fig. 6 (a) has a three-frame display frame that can display up to three digital cards on one page, and displays an image along with the public information in the expansion card data 413 in each display frame. It is. In this example, the displayed public information is the card number, card type, card name, and any one item following it. The template in Fig. 6 (b) has 9 square display frames on one page, and displays only images in each display frame. In any template, if the digital card to be displayed exceeds the maximum number of display frames per page, it is displayed in multiple pages. In the example shown in the figure, the pages can be switched by user operations in accordance with the “previous” and “next” user interfaces. However, the number of display frames per page is not limited to 3 or 9. For example, it may be 1.

[0061] (Digital card filtering)

When a card holder template other than the common viewer template is selected, filtering is performed according to the card type corresponding to the template. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when “Professional Baseball Card” is selected on the template selection screen 700 of the digital card viewer, the card type among the digital cards stored in the card data storage unit 324 is selected. ”Baseball” digital cards can be extracted and digital cards can be displayed in a list using the card holder template, which is a dedicated template for professional field cards. In addition, the template selection screen 700 shown in FIG. If you select “Get Template” 701, you can access the site that manages the templates in a batch via the communication network and acquire a new template. . Similarly, when “Dedicated application acquisition” 701 is selected, a site that provides a dedicated application that handles the card type digital corresponding to the template can be accessed via the communication network to acquire a new dedicated application. .

[0062] (Acquisition of new template for card holder)

For example, a user selects a digital card while displaying a list of a plurality of digital cards using a common viewer template. At this time, the card type specified in the expansion card data in the MM file of the selected digital card is identified, and the action force specified in the common viewer template for this card type is executed for the selected digital card. Is done. For example, when the display with the dedicated template is designated as the action, it is determined whether or not the dedicated template corresponding to the card type already exists in the template data storage unit 322. If a dedicated template exists, list the MM files on the mopile terminal screen using the dedicated template. If the dedicated template does not exist, the dedicated template URL specified in the expansion card data can be identified, and the dedicated template can be downloaded by connecting to the site specified by the URL via the network. With this function, a dedicated card holder template can be obtained from a digital card that was accidentally obtained while watching a broadcast program.

[0063] (Get a dedicated app)

In addition, when display with a dedicated application is specified as an action for the card type, it is determined whether or not a dedicated application corresponding to the card type exists in the terminal. If a dedicated application exists, activate the dedicated application and display the list in the MM file on the screen of the mopile terminal. If the dedicated application does not exist, the dedicated application URL specified in the expansion card data can be identified, and the dedicated application can be downloaded by connecting to the site specified by the URL through the network. However, the use of a dedicated app is not essential to the present invention.

[0064] (Digital card display)

When one digital card is selected from the list display by any card holder template, that single digital card (corresponding to 411 in Fig. 8) is displayed in the list display alone. Instead, it is displayed overlaid on the list display.

[0065] (Distribution of MM file)

Distribution of the MM file is performed using, for example, a one-segment broadcasting data broadcasting service. The following objects (functions that cause a receiving terminal to execute specific processing) are prepared in BML used in data broadcasting services for digital television broadcasting including one-segment broadcasting.

• savelmageToMemoryCard: Save image data loaded in broadcast waves

• saveFile, saveFileAs: Saving files embedded in broadcast waves

• saveHttpServerlmageToMemoryCard: Save image data on communication content (HT TP protocol)

• saveHttpServerFile, saveHttpServerFileAs: Saving files on communication contents (H TTP protocol)

• saveFtpServerFile ^ saveFtpServerFileAs: o f g Finare element on the g connector (FT p protocol)

[0066] Using these objects, the mopile terminal can receive the MM file. For example, if savelmageToMemoryCard is used, MM files can be delivered directly to mopile terminals using broadcast waves at a predetermined timing determined by the broadcast side. For example, if saveHttpServerlmageToMemoryCard is used, it can be indicated that the MM file is acquired via the network to the mopile terminal using the broadcast wave at a predetermined timing determined by the broadcast side.

[0067] For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when a viewer watches a professional baseball broadcast using a television broadcast and a data broadcast using the mopile terminal 20, at a timing when a certain player is projected as a video. MM files are distributed by data broadcasting. The display screen of the display unit is divided into a broadcast video area 81 for displaying received broadcast video (including audio) and a content area 83 for displaying BML content. Along with the distribution of the MM file, a user interface (button 82 in this example) for soliciting the viewer to obtain a digital card (“card get”) is displayed in the content area 83. In BML documents, this button 82 is linked to the function to save the corresponding digital card. It is. When the viewer instructs the button 82 from the operation unit 207 (FIG. 2), the MM file including the digital force data is stored in the card data storage unit 324. Thereafter, when the viewer wants to see the card, the image is displayed by designating the digital card using a predetermined card holder template. In addition, a coupon MM file can be distributed during a specific CM broadcast. MM files of talent characters appearing in the program can also be distributed.

[0068] An example of content information displayed in the content area 83 is shown below. This content information defines user interface display information and is described in BML.

· · · · · (Omitted)

function cardLretFunctionO

{

browser. savelmage ToMemoryuard mycard. jpg, mycard— save.jpg, true);

}

· · · · · (Omitted)

· · · · · (Omitted)

[0069] Here, in the browser "saveImageToMemoryCard (" mycard.jpg "," mycard_save.jpg ", true)" in the script "cardGetFunction" It is described that the mycard.jpg and MM file sent by broadcasting are saved in the memory with the name mycard save.jpg and <object onclick = cardGetPunctionO; data = card etButton .jpg "'/> The browser 300 displays the image data “car dGetButton.jpg” indicating the user interface 82 in FIG. 8 in the content area 83, and if the user interface 82 is selected, execute the script “cardGetFunction”. Is described.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the card management table 330 and the template management table 331 stored in the management table storage unit 326. The card management table 330 stores the above-mentioned “card ID” and “card type” and the location where the card data is stored (for example, the memory address of the flash memory) for each digital card that is effectively stored in the card data storage unit 324. ) And “dedicated template URL” that indicates where to obtain the dedicated template corresponding to this card type. The template management table 331 is stored effectively in the template data storage unit 322. For each template, for example, “template ID”, which is a template name for identifying each template, for example, the three types of templates described above. The “template type” indicating the type of the file and the “save location” indicating the location (for example, the address of the flash memory) where the template data is stored are stored.

[0071] These management tables collectively manage information attached to the MM file and the card holder template, and the management table is not indispensable if the MM file or the card holder template is referred to each time. However, it is useful for shortening the processing time when the number of cards and templates to be managed increases. Although not shown, the management table is also useful when managing the date of acquisition and renewal of digital cards and templates. The data format need not be a table format, but any data format can be used.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the digital card viewer (browser 300 and card management module 312) in the present embodiment obtains a digital card associated with data broadcasting.

[0073] When the function of the TV signal receiving unit 212 of the terminal is turned on, reception of television broadcasting and data broadcasting is started (Sl l). The received BML content data is temporarily stored (buffered) in the RAM 202 (Fig. 2) (S12). Preferably, when the upper limit of this area is exceeded, the data is overwritten and updated from the old side. As shown in Figure 8, the content area When a user interface such as a “card get” button 82 is displayed in 83 (S13), the presence / absence of a “digital card acquisition instruction” is determined according to the viewer's instruction operation on this user interface (S13). 14). If it is determined that there is a digital card acquisition instruction from the user, the MM file of the digital card data temporarily stored is stored in the force data storage unit 324 (S15). Also, the card management table is updated so as to newly register the management information of the digital card data (S16). The above processing is repeated until broadcast reception is terminated (S17) by turning off the function of the TV signal reception unit 212 or turning off the power of the terminal.

[0074] Although not shown, when the user deletes the digital card in the terminal, the data is deleted from the card data storage unit 324 and the management information is deleted or invalid from the card management table 330. ).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of processing for displaying a list of digital cards using the card holder template by the digital card viewer according to the present embodiment.

A template selection screen 700 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in response to a predetermined instruction operation on the terminal by the user (S21). If there is any template selection operation on this screen (S22, Yes), the template data storage unit 322 (Fig. 2) force reads the template data (S23). Therefore, if there is a final lettering script specified for this template, the filtering is executed (S24). That is, only the digital card of a specific card type corresponding to this template is extracted from the card data storage unit 324 (FIG. 2). If the filtering script does not exist (for example, in the case of the common viewer card holder template), all the digital cards are extracted from the card data storage unit 324.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the digital card data extracted in this way is converted into an image (video) according to the action specified for the card type for the template. In some cases, a list including text information is displayed (S25). At this time, the digital card viewer reads the BML data of the card holder template from the template data storage unit 322. Next, in the card holder template The number of cards is acquired using a display script that is a type of included extension script. The required number of pages is determined according to the acquired number of pages, and a list (not shown) is created. This list includes the storage location information (URL or directory path name and file name) of the MM file and identification information for identifying the MM file. An extension script can be used to obtain the location information and identification information of the MM file.

[0078] When an arbitrary 夂 card is specified from among a plurality of digital cards displayed in a list by a user operation (S26, Yes), it is specified for the image of the specified digital card. Execute the action (S27). The designated action is, for example, display of a digital card by a browser, display of a digital card by a dedicated application, acquisition of a template, or acquisition of a dedicated application.

[0079] If the user gives a "return" instruction from an action on one digital card, typically one card display state (S28, Yes), the process returns to the list display in step S25. If an “end” instruction is given (S29, Yes), this process ends.

[0080] In step S22, if there is another instruction for selecting a template (for example, “return” instruction) (S30, Yes), this other process is performed (S31). finish.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when a card holder template other than the common viewer template is obtained from the terminal by the digital card viewer according to the present embodiment. For example, when a specific digital force is specified in the common viewer template and a dedicated template corresponding to the card type is automatically obtained, or a coupon card is specified and a coupon template corresponding to the coupon card is obtained. If the template is automatically obtained, this process is automatically started. Alternatively, when the user wants to obtain it manually, the user starts this process by performing a predetermined operation from the operation unit.

[0082] When the digital card viewer in the present embodiment receives such a card holder template acquisition instruction (Yes in S41), the URL of the template is obtained from the MM file by the card management tape master 330. (Directly) Confirm and download the template data from the URL via the communication network 27 (Fig. 1) (S42). down After the loading is completed, the template management table 331 (FIG. 9) is updated so that the management information of the new template data is newly registered (S43).

[0083] Although not shown, when the user deletes the template in the terminal, the data is deleted from the template data storage unit 322 and the management information is deleted (or invalidated) from the template management table 331. The

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a new digital card is acquired by data broadcasting or the like, a dedicated card holder template is obtained based on information specified in the MM file. be able to. Because the template for card holders can be realized with a markup language such as BML and a script, it is sufficient that the browser has only the script execution environment. Therefore, the card provider does not have to provide a dedicated application in advance on the mopile terminal 20, and does not necessarily have to provide a dedicated application. In addition, templates written in BML and scripts can be easily created and modified, so the functions of the card holder template can be easily improved, and new services can be easily provided to viewers. Is possible.

[0085] Furthermore, if the template is described in BML, a digital card can be handled by a mopile terminal (equipped with a BML browser) that supports data transmission services such as 1-segment broadcasting. You only need to create a digital card (MM file) and a template. At the same time, the terminal manufacturer only has to store the common viewer template in the storage medium other than the data broadcasting application, and there is no need to install a dedicated application on the mopile terminal. , Almost no cost. (Note that even the common viewer template can be installed after the terminal is shipped as described above.) Of course, it has a dual browser that supports both ML and other markup languages. Moyore, not to mention that.

[0086] (First modification)

In the above description, the image of the digital card is handled as an integral image data as an image including not only the image but also characters included in the card. However, the larger the size of the digital card data, the more time it takes to distribute one digital card. The interval gets longer. However, the amount of memory occupied in the terminal also increases, and the number of digital cards that can be stored is extremely limited, especially in information terminals such as mopile terminals. Therefore, the present inventors have found that many trading cards and coupons have data common to all cards (for example, common text such as design, format and series name, trader name, etc.) and information unique to each card. Pay attention to the fact that it is divided into (for example, character image product images or barcodes, 2D code images, and unique text such as characters, product descriptions, serial numbers, and prices). It can be stored in a file and distributed using the data broadcasting service at any time on the broadcast side. On the other hand, information common to the card is separately provided as a card display template, and these are merged on the terminal. I came up with a display. Hereinafter, as a modification of the present embodiment, the configuration and operation of a card display template that provides a common part for each card type will be described.

(Card display template)

First, FIG. 13 illustrates the configuration of the card display template 500. Such card display templates are different for each card type. This figure shows an example of a professional baseball card as the card type. The card display template 500 includes a background 501 (color, pattern, pattern, etc., not shown) that is a common image for digital cards of the same card type, and a name “professional baseball card” 502 that is common text data. Item name “player data” 5 08, “batting rate” 509, “birthday” 510, “nickname” 511 are included. In addition, the image position information 504 where the unique image in the MM file is arranged, the text position where the unique text is arranged †, blue image 503, 504, 505, 506, 507 force S are included. In the figure, the position of the † position is broken by the blue spring frame. F This is schematically shown in the fountain frame, but in reality, data that can identify the position and size of the broken line frame (for example, the reference position coordinates such as the upper left corner and the vertical and horizontal sizes) Or diagonal position coordinates). The information of different cards in the same type of card is stored in the broken line frame in the figure. Therefore, the MM file includes text data along with image data. Data that is fixedly described in Template 500 should not be included in the MM file. The template 500 can be updated by obtaining the latest one via data broadcasting or network. [0088] With the use of the card display template 500 as shown in FIG. 13, as shown in FIG. 14, only the actual image portion is supported in the image block 403 of the MM file 400 that defines the digital card data. The image data 412 having a small size is stored. In addition, the expansion card data 414 is compared with the expansion card data 413 (FIG. 4), the text data stored in the broken line frame in FIG. 13, and the information on the card display template URL indicating where to obtain the card display template. Is stored.

[0089] By using such a card display template, the size of the image data 412 in FIG. 14 is correspondingly reduced compared to the image data 411 in which the entire card in FIG. 4 is an image size. As a result, the data size of the MM file is reduced. As a result, the amount of distributed data and the amount of stored data can be reduced.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of processing at the time of displaying individual digital cards when the card display template of FIG. 13 is used.

First, the card type of the digital card to be displayed is confirmed (S51). This can be confirmed from the card management table 330. It is also possible to confirm directly from the MM file. Get the card display template of this confirmed card type (S5

2). In other words, if the card display template exists in the flash memory, it is used. If not, the expansion card data is transmitted via the communication network 27.

Access the card display template URL included in 414 to obtain it. Thereafter, according to the card display template, necessary data items in the expansion card data 414 are read out and inserted into the card display template to configure the card contents, and the digital card is displayed (S53).

According to this modification, the same digital card data can have different appearances by updating the card display template. Therefore, the card display template itself that uses only digital card data also has value and can be collected.

[0093] (Second Modification “Example of Obtaining MM File by Communication”)

In the system of Fig. 1, digital card data was distributed by broadcasting. However, in broadcasting, a mopile terminal that distributes and receives information for acquiring digital card data It is also acceptable for the digital card data to be obtained from the server by communication based on the information.

FIG. 17 shows a system configuration of such a modification. In this system, it is possible to add a billing server and an authentication server as shown in FIG. The system of FIG. 17 differs from the system of FIG. 1 in that the distribution card information is provided by broadcasting rather than distributing the digital card data itself from the broadcasting station 40, and the mopile terminal 20 follows the user's instructions. The digital card data is downloaded via the communication network 27 based on the distribution source information.

FIG. 18 shows a processing example when the digital card viewer in the system of FIG. 17 obtains a digital card accompanying data broadcasting. Forces similar to the steps shown in Fig. 10 Steps Sl l and S15 in Fig. 10 are changed to steps Sl la and S15a, respectively. In step SI la, the received content data is not the digital card data but the distribution source information. In step 15a, the digital card data is obtained by communication and stored. In this specification, “digital card data” and “distributor information” are collectively referred to as “card information”.

[0096] As described above, the force described in the preferred embodiment of the present invention Various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made.

[0097] For example, the present invention is not limited to one-segment broadcasting, but uses the Internet backbone network and / or wireless LAN network as well as terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and CS digital broadcasting. It can also be applied to IP TV broadcasting.

[0098] Needless to say, the present invention can be applied not only to television but also to radio broadcasting including FM teletext. All broadcasts to which the present invention can be applied are included in data broadcasts.

[0099] The power of exemplifying the description of templates in BML Any markup language supported by the browser installed in the mopile terminal may be used. It may be an extension of a markup language standardized by a standards body. Furthermore, it can be created in a completely unique markup language.

[0100] The digital card of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, for example, trading cards, battle game cards, coins, discount tickets, and the like. [0101] MM files include, for example, image files such as JPEG and GIF, and animation files such as animated GIF and MPEG. For example, it may be a proprietary format. In addition, the MM file may consist of sound information (music or voice) and text information. The MM file may be a combination of image information, text information, and sound information.

[0102] Although an example in which template data is provided via a communication network has been shown, it may be provided by data broadcasting. At that time, another user interface (not shown) for inviting the storage of the card holder template suitable for the digital card is located next to the user interface (button 82) for inviting the storage of digital card data as described in FIG. ) May be displayed.

[0103] Although filtering and actions corresponding to templates are defined in "extension scripts", it is also acceptable to define them as markup language extension tags and interpret them in a browser.

[0104] In the above embodiment, as an example of acquiring a template by communication via the communication network 27, a case has been described in which a template distribution URL is included as expansion card data in an MM file. If templates are managed collectively with a template management server (not shown) and templates are provided in response to requests from the mopile terminal 20, the template distribution URL in the expansion card data is not necessarily required. Nare ,. In this case, the URL of the template management server is stored in the viewer module 306 in the mopile terminal 20, for example, in advance or by user setting. The mobile terminal 20 transmits a template request together with the card type in the expansion card data to the template management server, and the template management server returns a template corresponding to the card type in response to this request. In this way, you can obtain a template corresponding to the card type from the obtained :! digital cards and use it for handling cards such as digital card display and filtering.

[0105] Although the present invention is suitable for application to a mopile terminal, application to a non-portable terminal is not excluded.

Industrial applicability The present invention can be used in a method and apparatus for performing data processing, data broadcasting, data communication, and display processing for handling digital card data.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A method of displaying a digital card in an information terminal device having a data broadcast receiving function,

A step of receiving the card information of the digital card together with the content information by data broadcasting; and

A step of displaying on the display screen a user interface for instructing acquisition of digital card data related to the card information received together with the content information, and the card information according to an instruction operation on the user interface by the user. Storing digital card data obtained on the basis of

Displaying stored digital card data on a display screen;

A digital card display method characterized by comprising:

2. The digital card display method according to claim 1, wherein the card information includes digital card data composed of multimedia files.

[3] The card information includes distribution source information that designates a distribution source of digital card data composed of multimedia files, and communicates digital card data according to the distribution source information in accordance with a user operation on the user interface. 2. The digital card display method according to claim 1, wherein the digital card is received by the following method.

[4] The displaying step displays all digital card data stored in the information terminal device as a display target according to a card handling template for displaying a list of arbitrary digital cards. The digital card display method according to claim 1.

[5] The digital card distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia file includes at least image information and text information.

6. The digital card display method according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia file includes identification information and card type information of the digital card in addition to the image information and text information.

[7] The displaying step includes the special feature stored in the information terminal device according to a card handling template for displaying a list of digital cards of a specific card type. 6. Only a certain type of digital card is displayed as a display target.

6. The digital card display method according to 6.

[8] In the displaying step, according to a card handling template for displaying a list of digital cards that are coupon cards, only the coin card stored in the information terminal device is displayed as a display target. 7. The digital card display method according to claim 6, wherein

[9] The method includes the step of allowing the user to select a desired card handling template among a plurality of card handling templates for listing digital cards.

7. The digital card display method according to claim 6, wherein the displaying step extracts and displays the corresponding digital card data as a display object in accordance with the selected card handling template.

10. The content information includes information for designating a card handling template for handling the digital card and / or information for obtaining a card handling template. Digital card display method.

11. The digital card display method according to claim 6, wherein the multimedia file further includes source information for obtaining a digital card handling template corresponding to the card type.

12. The digital card display method according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia file includes image information representing an image of the entire card for each digital card.

[13] The multimedia file includes image information and text information unique to each digital card, and for a card display template that includes a common background and common text data for digital cards of the same card type. 7. The digital card display method according to claim 6, wherein the digital card is configured by incorporating image information and text information unique to each individual digital card.

14. The digital card display method according to claim 1, wherein the content information is a document described in a markup language.

[15] distributing content information by data broadcasting;

Delivering the card information of the digital card together with the content information A digital card data distribution method comprising: distributing user interface display information for instructing to store the card information received in an information terminal device in a memory of the information terminal device in the content information.

16. The digital card data distribution method according to claim 15, wherein the card information is digital card data including a multimedia file.

[17] The card information includes distribution source information that specifies a distribution source of digital card data composed of multimedia files, and the information terminal device acquires the digital card data by communication according to the distribution source information in the information terminal device. 16. The digital card data distribution method according to claim 15, wherein user interface display information for performing instructions to be stored in the memory is included in the content information for distribution.

18. The digital card data distribution method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of distributing to the information terminal device by communication or data broadcasting of a digital card handling template for displaying digital card data. .

19. The digital card distribution method according to claim 15, wherein the multimedia file includes at least image information and text information.

20. The digital card data distribution method according to claim 19, wherein the multimedia file includes identification information and card type information of the digital card in addition to the image information and text information.

[21] The digital card handling template includes action definition information that defines an action to be executed according to a card type of a designated digital card when the template is used. The digital card data distribution method described.

22. The digital card data distribution method according to claim 20, wherein the digital card handling template includes a filtering function for extracting a digital card of a specific card type.

23. The multimedia file according to claim 20, wherein the multimedia file further includes source information for obtaining a digital card handling template corresponding to the card type. The digital card data delivery method described.

[24] A digital card display program executed in an information terminal device having a data broadcast receiving function,

Displaying stored digital card data on a display screen;

A digital card display program that causes a computer to execute.

25. The digital card display program according to claim 24, wherein the card information includes digital card data comprising a multimedia file.

[26] The card information includes distribution source information that designates a distribution source of digital card data composed of multimedia files, and communicates the digital card data according to the distribution source information in accordance with a user operation on the user interface. 25. The digital card display program according to claim 24, wherein the digital card display program is received according to claim 24.

[27] An information terminal device having a data broadcast receiving function,

Means for receiving the card information of the digital card together with the content information by data broadcasting;

Means for displaying on the display screen a user interface for instructing acquisition of digital card data related to the card information received together with the content information, and the card information according to an instruction operation on the user interface by the user. Means for storing in a memory the digital card data obtained based on

Means for displaying stored digital card data on a display screen;

An information terminal device comprising:

28. The information terminal device according to claim 27, wherein the card information includes digital card data including a multimedia file. The card information includes distribution source information that designates a distribution source of digital card data composed of multimedia files, and receives digital card data by communication according to the distribution source information in accordance with a user operation on the user interface. 28. The information terminal device according to claim 27, wherein: