JP2003234709A - Two-way information transmission method and system, information server, portable terminal device, program terminal device and recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for two-way information transmission in which a large number of viewers can be highly satisfied, an information server, a portable terminal device, a program terminal device and a recording and reproducing apparatus to be used for such two-way information transmission method and system. <P>SOLUTION: The two-way information transmission system is provided with the program terminal device equipped with a function for receiving program contents sent from a broadcasting station and the information server to be functioned while being linked with the broadcasting station for holding information related to a program corresponding to the program contents under broadcasting from the broadcasting station at present or corresponding to the program contents broadcasted in the past. By functioning the program terminal device, the portable terminal device and the information server while linking them, two-way information transmission is performed between a viewer viewing the program terminal device and the broadcasting station. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bidirectional information transmitting method and system capable of bidirectionally transmitting various kinds of information, and an information server and a mobile device used in the bidirectional information transmitting method and system. The present invention relates to a terminal device, a program terminal device, and a recording / reproducing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various broadcasting media have been widely used. This broadcasting medium is capable of transmitting a large amount of information to a large number of unspecified users in the form of simultaneous broadcast using a wide frequency band, and is therefore indispensable in modern society. ing.

However, in the conventional broadcasting media, only one-way communication from the broadcasting station to unspecified large number of users (viewers) is performed, and it is used for the information service reflecting the user's request. Was difficult.

[0004]

Therefore, recently, a main broadcast for main information (program content) and a sub-broadcast for subordinate information (adjunct information) are combined (multiplexed) on the radio wave. A two-way information transmission method has been proposed in which a wired telephone line is used to connect a tea room in front of a television to a broadcasting station.

In this method, for example, by displaying a sub-broadcast screen at the edge of the screen of the main broadcast of the television receiver, while providing the viewer with various additional information,
The viewer can also access the broadcasting station using a wired telephone line. Specifically, for example, during broadcasting of a program or a commercial (commercial), when a desired item or an interesting item is broadcast in a main broadcast or a sub broadcast,
You can shop on the spot or get more information through the telephone line. As a result, so-called TV commerce (television commerce) using so-called interactive commercials and interactive programs can be realized.

However, this method has many problems.

[0007] First, the above method is merely a method in which a part of a telop used in general programs and a CM in a commercial (commercial message) time zone is reflected in the program broadcast time zone. . And for many viewers, it is not so pleasing for information other than the desired program (main broadcast) to be constantly displayed (even at the edge of the screen). This is because such viewers are not intended for shopping or information acquisition, but for viewing the program itself. Furthermore, considering the number of viewers who stop watching the program on the way and run for shopping, it is unlikely that the above method can be used by many viewers.

Second, the number of viewers in front of the television is not always one. Therefore, for example, if the opinions are divided such that one of the plurality of viewers wants to shop but the other wants to watch the program, none of the viewers can be satisfied, This will force viewers inconvenience. This is because it is difficult to meet all of these requirements while watching one TV screen at the same time. It should be noted that this problem may be solved by a technique using a so-called multi-screen, but in this case, each viewer has to look at each of the small split screens, and still cannot be satisfied.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is an interactive information transmitting method and system capable of giving a high degree of satisfaction to many viewers, and these interactive information transmitting methods. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information server, a mobile terminal device, a program terminal device, and a recording / reproducing device used in the system.

[0010]

A two-way information transmission method according to a first aspect of the present invention can connect to a program terminal device having a function of receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station and the Internet. Information including a portable terminal device and an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from the broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past and functions in cooperation with the broadcast station A method applied to a transmission system, in which a program terminal device, a mobile terminal device, and an information server are caused to function in cooperation with each other, so that bidirectional information is exchanged between a viewer who views the program terminal device and a broadcasting station. It is designed to communicate.

A two-way information transmission system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a program terminal device having a function of receiving program contents sent from a broadcasting station, a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet, A program terminal device and a mobile terminal device, including an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to the program content currently broadcast from the broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past, and that functions in cooperation with the broadcast station. It is designed to work in cooperation with the information server.

In the interactive information transmitting method or the interactive information transmitting system according to the first aspect of the present invention, while the program terminal device receives the program content transmitted from the broadcasting station, the portable terminal device operates on the Internet. Connected to the information server via. The information server holds program-related information related to program content being broadcast or already broadcast, and functions in cooperation with a broadcasting station. As a result, the program terminal device, the mobile terminal device, and the information server function in cooperation with each other, and bidirectional information transmission is performed between the viewer who views the program terminal device and the broadcasting station.

In the two-way information transmitting method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the information server may be synchronized with the broadcasting station. In this case, in the portable terminal device, the step of issuing a program selection command for selecting program content to the program terminal device, and the program selection command as a trigger, are connected to the information server via the Internet, and this information server The step of acquiring the program-related information related to the selected program content from the step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server according to the content of the acquired program-related information It is possible to perform two-way information transmission in synchronization with the selected program content between the viewer who is watching the program and the broadcasting station via the information server. Here, when a plurality of program terminal devices are arranged, the mobile terminal device may broadcast a program selection command to a plurality of program terminal devices.

Further, in the two-way information transmitting method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the program content in the broadcasting station is
Access information relating to the program content is additionally broadcast, and the program terminal device executes the steps of receiving the access information together with the program content and the step of transmitting the received access information to the mobile terminal device. Connecting to an information server via the Internet based on the access information received from the program terminal device, and acquiring from this information server the program-related information relating to the program content received by the program terminal device; and the acquired program The step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server according to the content of the related information is executed, and the program terminal device is connected via the information server between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station. It is also possible to make bidirectional information transmission synchronized with the program content being received. A. Here, when a plurality of mobile terminal devices are arranged, access information may be simultaneously broadcast from the program terminal device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices.

Further, in the two-way information transmitting method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the program terminal device, the step of determining the program channel being received, and the program channel information indicating the determined program channel are transmitted to the portable terminal. And transmitting the access information necessary for accessing the information server in the portable terminal device based on the program channel information received from the program terminal device. Based on the information server, connecting to an information server via the Internet, and acquiring program related information related to the program content received by the program terminal device from the information server; and the information server according to the content of the acquired program related information. Performing a step of performing a predetermined response process, and viewing by holding the mobile terminal device. And between the broadcasting station via the information server, it is also possible to program the terminal device to perform bidirectional communication in synchronization with the program content being received. Here, when a plurality of mobile terminal devices are arranged, the program channel information may be simultaneously broadcast from the program terminal device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices.

The two-way information transmission method according to the second aspect of the present invention has a function of recording and reproducing the program content sent from the broadcasting station and the access information sent accompanying the program content. Bidirectional including a recording / reproducing device provided, a portable terminal device that can be connected to the Internet, and an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from a broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station A method applied to an information transmission system, wherein a recording / reproducing apparatus executes a step of reproducing access information together with a program content and a step of transmitting the reproduced access information to a mobile terminal apparatus. , Based on the access information received from the recording / playback device, connect to the information server via the Internet, and from this information server The step of acquiring the program-related information relating to the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing apparatus and the step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information are executed, and the portable terminal device is owned. The information is bidirectionally transmitted between the viewer and the broadcasting station via the information server in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing apparatus.

The interactive information transmission system according to the second aspect of the present invention has a function of recording and reproducing the program content sent from the broadcasting station and the access information sent together with the program content. And a recording / reproducing apparatus including the Internet, a portable terminal device that can be connected to the Internet, and an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from a broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station. A portable information transmission system, wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus has means for reproducing the access information recorded together with the program content, and means for transmitting the reproduced access information to the mobile terminal apparatus. Based on the access information received from the program terminal device, it connects to the information server via the Internet, and the recording / playback device is connected from this information server. Between the portable terminal device and the broadcasting station, the device has means for acquiring program-related information about the reproduced program content, and means for performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information. Then, bidirectional information transmission is performed via the information server in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the program terminal device.

In the bidirectional information transmission method or bidirectional information transmission system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the program content and the access information sent from the broadcasting station are recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus. When the program content is reproduced from the recording / reproducing apparatus, at the same time, the access information is also reproduced, and this access information is sent to the mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device is connected to an information server via the Internet based on the access information received from the recording / reproducing device, and from this information server, program-related information regarding program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing device is downloaded to the mobile terminal device. To be done. The information server stores program-related information corresponding to the program content broadcast from the broadcasting station, and the information server functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station. The mobile terminal device returns a response to the information server according to the content of the downloaded program-related information. As a result,
Between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station,
Bi-directional information transmission is performed via the information server in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing apparatus.
Here, when a plurality of mobile terminal devices are arranged,
The access information may be simultaneously broadcast from the recording / reproducing device to a plurality of mobile terminal devices.

A two-way information transmitting method according to a third aspect of the present invention is a recording / reproducing device having a function of recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station, and a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet. And a information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from a broadcast station and functions in cooperation with the broadcast station. In the above, a step of reproducing the recorded program content, a step of determining a program channel when the reproduced program content is broadcast, and a step of transmitting program channel information indicating the determined program channel to the mobile terminal device. Execute and in the mobile terminal device, based on the program channel information received from the program terminal device,
A step of acquiring access information necessary for accessing the information server, and connecting to the information server via the Internet based on the acquired access information, and relating to the program content recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus from the information server. The step of acquiring the program-related information and the step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information are performed, and the viewer holding the portable terminal device and the broadcasting station Then, bi-directional information transmission is performed via the information server in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing apparatus.

In the two-way information transmission method according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the program content is reproduced from the recording / reproducing apparatus, the program channel at the time of broadcasting the reproduced program content is judged, and the judgment result ( Program channel information) is transmitted to the mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device is
Access information is acquired based on the program channel information received from the program terminal device, and based on this access information, the information server is accessed via the Internet. Then, the program related information regarding the program content recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus is downloaded from the information server to the mobile terminal apparatus. The mobile terminal device returns a response to the information server according to the content of the downloaded program-related information. As a result, bidirectional information transmission is performed between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station via the information server in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing device. Here, when a plurality of mobile terminal devices are arranged, the program channel information may be simultaneously broadcast from the recording / reproducing device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices.

A two-way information transmitting method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has a function of recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station and incidental information sent accompanying the program content. A method applied to a two-way information transmission system including a recording / reproducing apparatus having the same, a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet, and an information server functioning in cooperation with a broadcasting station, wherein The step of reproducing the supplementary information together with the content, the step of transmitting the reproduced supplementary information to the mobile terminal device, the step of displaying the supplementary information received from the program terminal device in the mobile terminal device, and the received supplementary information Steps for extracting access information from information, and accessing the information server via the Internet based on the extracted access information And the two-way information transmission between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station through the information server in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the program terminal device. It was done like this.

An interactive information transmission system according to a third aspect of the present invention has a function of recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station and incidental information sent accompanying the program content. What is claimed is: 1. A bidirectional information transmission system comprising: a recording / reproducing device having the same; a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet; and an information server functioning in cooperation with a broadcasting station, wherein the recording / reproducing device transmits supplementary information together with program content. The mobile terminal device has a means for reproducing and a means for transmitting the reproduced supplementary information to the mobile terminal device, and the mobile terminal device displays the supplementary information received from the program terminal device, and the access information from the supplementary information received. Means to extract,
Means for accessing the information server via the Internet based on the extracted access information, and between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station, the program terminal device via the information server. The two-way information is transmitted in cooperation with the program content reproduced by.

In the interactive information transmitting method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention or the interactive information transmitting system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the program content sent from the broadcasting station is changed to the program content. It is recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus together with the incidental information sent together. After that, when the program content is reproduced from the recording / reproducing apparatus, at the same time, the supplementary information is also reproduced and transmitted to the mobile terminal apparatus. The mobile terminal device displays the incidental information received from the program terminal device, extracts access information from the incidental information, and accesses the information server via the Internet based on the access information. The information server holds the program-related information corresponding to the program content broadcast from the broadcasting station, and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station. As a result,
Between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station,
Through the information server, bidirectional information transmission is performed in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the program terminal device.
Here, when a plurality of mobile terminal devices are arranged,
It is also possible to broadcast the supplementary information from the recording / reproducing apparatus to a plurality of mobile terminal apparatuses.

The information server of the present invention is at least one of a program terminal device having a function of receiving program contents sent from a broadcasting station and a recording / reproducing device having a function of recording and reproducing the program contents. An information server used in a two-way information transmission system including one side and a mobile terminal device connectable to the Internet, which is a program content currently broadcast from a broadcasting station or a program content broadcast in the past. And holding means for holding program-related information corresponding to the above, and providing means for providing program-related information in response to access from the mobile terminal device, functioning in cooperation with a broadcasting station, and via the mobile terminal device. In addition, it functions in cooperation with at least one of the program terminal device and the recording / reproducing device.

In the information server of the present invention, the processing associated with the broadcasting station is performed, and the program-related information corresponding to the program content currently or past broadcast from the broadcasting station is transmitted from the viewer's portable terminal device. Provided via the internet depending on access. As a result, the information server functions in cooperation with at least one of the program terminal device that receives the broadcast program and the recording / reproducing device that records / reproduces the broadcast program via the mobile terminal device.

The synchronization with the broadcasting station in the information server of the present invention is provided with, for example, a synchronizing signal receiving means for receiving a synchronizing signal from the broadcasting station, and the information server is based on the synchronizing signal received by the synchronizing signal receiving means. However, it can be realized by operating in synchronization with the program content currently being broadcast from the broadcasting station.

A portable terminal device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a program terminal device having a function of receiving program contents sent from a broadcasting station, and program contents currently broadcast from the broadcasting station or past programs. A mobile terminal device used in an interactive information transmission system constructed to include an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to the program content broadcast in, and that functions in cooperation with a broadcasting station. A means for issuing a program selection command for selecting a program content to a terminal device, and a program selection command as a trigger to connect to an information server via the Internet and make the selected program content from this information server Means for acquiring program-related information and means for performing a predetermined response process to the information server according to the content of the acquired program-related information. With the door, with the broadcasting station via the information server, in which to perform the information transmission in synchronization with the program contents selected.

In the portable terminal device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a program selection command is issued from the portable terminal device of the viewer to the program terminal device, the program selection command is used as a trigger to transmit via the Internet. The mobile terminal device is connected to an information server that operates in cooperation with a broadcasting station, and the program related information is downloaded from the information server to the mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device returns a response to the information server according to the content of the downloaded program-related information. As a result, information transmission in synchronization with the program content being viewed is performed between the mobile terminal device and the broadcast station via the information server.

A portable terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a program terminal having a function of receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station and access information sent together with the program content. It corresponds to at least one of a device and a recording / reproducing device having a function of recording and reproducing program content and access information, and program content currently broadcast from a broadcasting station or program content broadcast in the past. An information server that holds program-related information and functions in cooperation with broadcasting stations,
And a means for receiving access information received by a program terminal device and transmitted from the program terminal device, based on the access information received from the program terminal device. A means for connecting to an information server via the Internet and acquiring program-related information about the program content received by the program terminal device from the information server; A means for performing a response process is provided, and two-way information is synchronized with a broadcasting station via an information server in synchronization with the program content received by the program terminal device.

In the mobile terminal device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the access information sent from the broadcasting station is received by the program terminal device and further sent to the mobile terminal device.
Based on this access information, the mobile terminal device accesses the information server functioning in cooperation with the broadcasting station via the Internet, and acquires the program related information regarding the program content received by the program terminal device from the information server. At the same time, a response is returned to the information server according to the content of the program-related information. As a result, bidirectional information transmission is performed between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcast station via the information server in synchronization with the program broadcast being received.

A program terminal device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content currently being broadcast from a broadcasting station or program content that has been broadcast in the past, and the Internet. A program terminal device used in an interactive information transmission system including a mobile terminal device accessible via an information server, the program content sent from a broadcasting station,
It is provided with means for receiving the access information sent together with the program content, and means for transmitting the received access information to the mobile terminal device.

In the program terminal device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the program content and the access information sent from the broadcasting station are received. The received access information is sent to the mobile terminal device.

A program terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcasting station or program content broadcast in the past, and the Internet. A program terminal device used in an interactive information transmission system including a mobile terminal device accessible via an information server, and means for receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station, and a program channel being received. And means for transmitting program channel information indicating the determined program channel to the mobile terminal device.

In the program terminal device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the program content sent from the broadcasting station is received, the program channel being received is determined, and the result (the program channel indicating the program channel is determined. Information) is sent to the mobile terminal device.

A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcasting station or program content broadcast in the past, and the Internet. A recording / reproducing apparatus used in a two-way information transmission system including a mobile terminal device that can access an information server via a program content transmitted from a broadcasting station,
It is provided with means for recording and reproducing the access information sent together with the program content, and means for transmitting the reproduced access information to the mobile terminal device.

The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention records the program content and access information sent from the broadcasting station. In the subsequent reproduction operation, the access information is reproduced together with the program content.
This access information is sent to the mobile terminal device.

A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcasting station or program content that has been broadcast in the past, and the Internet. A recording / reproducing apparatus used in a two-way information transmission system including a mobile terminal device accessible to an information server via a means for recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station, and a reproduced device. It is provided with means for determining a program channel at the time of broadcasting the program content and means for transmitting program channel information indicating the determined program channel to the mobile terminal device.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the program content sent from the broadcasting station is recorded. When the program content is reproduced from the recording / reproducing device in the subsequent reproducing operation, the program channel of the reproduced program content at the time of broadcasting is determined, and the determination result (program channel information indicating the program channel) is sent to the mobile terminal device. To be

A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention holds a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet and program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from a broadcasting station, and cooperates with the broadcasting station. A recording / reproducing apparatus used in a two-way information transmission system including a functioning information server, which records program content sent from a broadcasting station and incidental information sent accompanying the program content. It is provided with a means for reproducing and a means for transmitting the incidental information reproduced by the recording / reproducing means to the portable terminal device.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the program content and incidental information sent from the broadcasting station are recorded. In the subsequent reproducing operation, the incidental information is reproduced together with the program content. This additional information is sent to the mobile terminal device.

In the invention according to each of the above aspects, the broadcasting station may be either a public broadcasting station or a local broadcasting station. Further, the program terminal device may be either a television receiver or a tuner device.

In the present invention, the term "cooperation" generally means that a plurality of items function in association with each other, and it does not matter whether they are synchronized in time. "Synchronization" means that a plurality of things function at timings that match (or almost match) in time. “Access information” generally means information necessary for accessing program-related information related to program content, for example, an access execution instruction including address information of a place where program-related information is held / provided as a parameter. Is applicable. “Program related information” generally means information related to program content and is stored in an information server. “Attachment information” means information sent along with program content through broadcasting, and includes at least access information.

[0043]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a two-way information transmission system according to the present embodiment. This system includes broadcasting stations 1A to 1C respectively broadcasting various programs, an information server 2 connected to the Internet 5, and a TV receiver 3 having a function of receiving program contents sent from the broadcasting station 1. And the Internet 5 via the carrier 4 as a telecommunication business facility.
And a mobile phone 6 connectable to.
In this system, the TV receiver 3, the mobile phone 6, and the information server 2 work in cooperation with each other to perform bidirectional information transmission between a viewer who watches the TV receiver 3 and the broadcasting station 1. Is able to. Here, the information server 2 corresponds to a specific example of the "information server" in the present invention, and the broadcasting stations 1A to 1C are the "broadcasting stations" in the present invention.
The TV receiver 3 corresponds to a specific example of the “program terminal device” in the present invention, and the mobile phone 6 corresponds to a specific example of the “mobile terminal device” in the present invention. Although only three broadcasting stations 1A to 1C are illustrated in FIG. 1, a different number of broadcasting stations from the information server 2 is used.
May be connected to.

The broadcasting station 1 broadcasts simultaneously using terrestrial waves or satellite broadcasting waves, and is connected to the information server 2 by a dedicated line 8, for example. As the broadcasting station 1, for example, the equipment of an existing television broadcasting station (hereinafter, simply referred to as a television station) can be used.

The information server 2 is at least the broadcasting station 1A.
1C holds various kinds of information (hereinafter, referred to as program related information) corresponding to the contents of the program currently being broadcast (hereinafter, referred to as program content), and functions in synchronization with the broadcasting station 1. ing. The information server 2 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later.
It is installed in the internet data center (iDC). Note that this IDC is a facility that deposits an information server from a company that conducts electronic commerce and operates the Internet business of that company, and installs and manages the information server, connects to the backbone, security measures, and maintains databases. It is configured to provide comprehensive maintenance services for the Internet and information servers. The information server 2 is generally installed, operated, and managed jointly by a plurality of broadcasting stations 1A to 1C, but is not limited to this.

The TV receiver 3 has at least a radio receiving function capable of receiving data transmitted by radio from a short distance, in addition to a normal terrestrial broadcast receiving function (terrestrial tuner) and a video / audio output function. ing. Such a wireless reception function is realized by using, for example, IR (infrared) or Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a specification code name for low-cost short-distance wireless transmission technology for connecting mobile phones, personal computers, and other portable devices. According to this Bluetooth, it is possible to perform transmission / reception with a device located at a distance of 10 to 100 m by using a radio frequency of 2.45 GHz band, and to perform point-to-point connection and point-to-multipoint connection. There is. The TV receiver 3 is also connected to a tuner 7 for satellite broadcasting, and can output a satellite broadcasting program received by the tuner 7.

The carrier 4 is a facility (base station) of a telecommunications carrier that provides a basic wide area telecommunications service, and is connected to the Internet 5. The carrier 4 has a function of connecting the mobile phone 6 and the Internet 5. With this function, the viewer (owner of the mobile phone 6) in front of the TV receiver 3 can use the Internet 5
The information server 2 can be accessed via the.

The mobile phone 6 has at least a wireless transmission function capable of wirelessly transmitting data to a device in a short distance, in addition to a normal call function and an Internet access function. Such a wireless transmission function, for example,
It is realized by using the above-mentioned IR or Bluetooth.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the information server. The information server 2 includes a controller 20 that controls the overall operation of the information server 2 and an information database 21 that stores various types of information described below. Controller 20
Is connected to the broadcasting station 1 (FIG. 1) via the dedicated line I / F 22 and is connected to the Internet 5 via the Internet I / F 23. Here, the controller 20 corresponds to a specific example of "providing means" in the present invention, the information database 21 corresponds to a specific example of "holding means" in the present invention, and the dedicated line I / F
22 corresponds to a specific example of "synchronization signal receiving means" in the present invention.

The information database 21 is the station-specific information 21A.
21C and the viewer's personal information 21P are stored therein. For example, a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive D
isks) etc.

The viewer's personal information 21P is the ID (identification information) of the mobile phone 6 owned by each viewer and the personal information about the viewer itself (for example, user ID, address, occupation, contract contents, etc.). ) Is associated with.

The station-by-station information 21A to 21C are program-related information relating to programs being broadcast by the broadcasting stations 1A to 1C, respectively. For example, the station-specific information 21A includes unbroadcast program-related information 211 that is information about programs that have not yet been broadcast from the broadcast station 1A and in-broadcast program-related information 212 that is information about programs that are currently broadcast from the broadcast station 1A.
And broadcasted program related information 213, which is information about programs already broadcast from the broadcast station 1A. The station-specific information 21A also includes so-called EPG (Electric Program G).
The program broadcast schedule 214 called "uide)" and the download history information 215 which is the history information that the download is performed in response to the request from the viewer.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the contents of the on-air program related information 212. In this example, the on-air program related information 212 includes program specific information (FIG. 3A), program progress information (B), and viewer response information (FIG. 3C). . As shown in the figure, the program-specific information consists of data such as program title, outline, broadcast date and time, performers, sponsors, production company, music, production cooperation, etc., and program progress information indicates to the viewer about the program content. It consists of questionnaire data, etc., which asks for opinions. The viewer response information is a collection of answers, questions, etc. transmitted from the mobile phone 6 of the viewer to the information server 2 in accordance with a questionnaire downloaded from the information server 2 to the mobile phone 6 of the viewer. .

FIG. 4 shows an example of the contents of the download history information 215. This download history information 2
Reference numeral 15 contains the date and time when the download was made, the program name and the viewer ID that were symmetrical with respect to the download. The viewer ID mentioned here is the same as the user ID of the above-mentioned mobile phone.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the contents of the broadcasted program related information 213. In this example, the broadcasted program related information 213 includes program unique information (FIG. 5 (A)) including the same items as the program unique information (FIG. 3 (A)) in the on-air program related information 212 described above, and other information. And program-related information. In this example, other program-related information includes information on fashion of the performer of the drama and goods appearing in the drama, information on the location where the drama is recorded, information on viewer gifts, and the like.

By accessing the information server 2, the viewer can access not only the program broadcasting but also the non-broadcast program related information 211 and the broadcasted program related information in the station-specific information 21A not only during the program broadcasting. The information 213 (FIG. 5) and the program broadcast schedule 214 can be browsed.

The data structure of the station-specific information 21B and 21C relating to the other broadcasting stations 1B and 1C is also the station-specific information 21A.
Is the same as.

The information server 2 having the above-described configuration operates in synchronization with the contents of the program broadcast from the broadcasting station 1A or the like to the TV receiver 3 and accepts access from the mobile phone 6 of the viewer, and the database 21. By providing internal information and summing up information sent from the viewer's mobile phone 6, bidirectional information transmission between the broadcasting station 1A and the viewer is enabled.

FIG. 6 shows a TV receiver 3 and a mobile phone 6.
It represents a schematic configuration of. The TV receiver 3 has the structure of a normal television receiver. Specifically, the TV receiver 3 receives a terrestrial broadcast radio wave transmitted from the broadcasting station 1A or the like via a terrestrial antenna 30A, and a received broadcast program to a viewer. An audio display output unit 32 including, for example, a CRT (cathode ray tube) and a speaker provided in a viewable form, and a controller 33 for controlling the operation of the TV receiver 3 as a whole are provided.
The satellite display wave received by the tuner 7 (FIG. 1) is input to the audio display output unit 32 via the satellite broadcasting antenna 30B and is provided to the viewer.

The TV receiver 3 further includes a short-distance wireless reception section 34 configured by using IR technology, Bluetooth, or the like.
And a memory 35 for storing information necessary for control by the controller 33, and an operation unit 36 including various operation buttons for giving instructions to the controller 33.

When the short-distance wireless receiving section 34 is an IR receiving section, almost all television receivers currently in widespread use can be used as they are.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile phone 6 has a mobile communication antenna 60 and a mobile communication transmitting section 61 having a function of connecting to the mobile communication network via the mobile communication antenna 60.
And a controller 6 that controls the overall operation of the mobile phone 6.
2 and. The mobile phone 6 further includes a short-distance wireless transmission unit 63 configured by using IR technology, Bluetooth, etc., a non-volatile memory 64 for storing information necessary for control by the controller 62 and other information, a liquid crystal display, etc. Display unit 65, and an operation unit 66 including a ten-key pad, various button switches, and the like. Here, the controller 62 has the features of claims 23 and 3 of the invention.
1 corresponds to a specific example of "means for issuing a program selection command", "means for acquiring program-related information", and "means for performing a predetermined response process".

As the mobile communication network, for example, a mobile phone communication network using radio waves having a frequency band of 800 MHz to 1.5 GHz is applied. In this case, the mobile communication transmission unit 61 uses the WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multipl).
e Access) method or cdmaOne method is used to send and receive information. When the WCDMA system is used, the transmission capacity is about 2 Mbp when the mobile phone 6 is stationary.
s, which is about 380 when the mobile phone 6 is moving.
kbps.

The operation section 66 has a TV control mode button (not shown). When the viewer presses the TV control mode button, the mobile phone 6 also functions as a remote controller of the TV receiver 3 thereafter.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the stored contents of the memory 64. The memory 64 stores a dial-up connection number that is a telephone number of an access point when connecting to the Internet, and a mobile phone number that is also a device ID (identification information) of the mobile phone 6 itself. Memory 6
4 is also for each TV station (TV channel),
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a location in the information server 2 where information about each broadcasting station is provided.
s) Remember the address. The URL address information can be acquired by, for example, the viewer accessing a home page operated by the operator of the information server 2 in advance. Although not shown, the memory 64 is also adapted to store log information indicating a transmission / reception history, download information downloaded from the Internet, and the like.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the operation of the bidirectional information transmission system having the above configuration will be described. Here, a description will be given by taking a broadcast from the broadcast station 1A as an example. In addition,
FIG. 8 shows the flow of operations in each of the broadcasting station 1A, the information server 2, the mobile phone 6 and the TV receiver 3, including the interaction between them.

The broadcasting station 1A has a predetermined schedule (see FIG. 2).
The program is broadcast according to the program broadcast schedule 214). At this time, for example, the person in charge of program progress (for example, the moderator or program director)
By operating a console such as a remote controller (remote controller) not shown, trigger signals TR1 and TR2 are sent to the information server 2 (steps S101 and S10).
2). The information server 2 receives the trigger signal TR from the broadcasting station 1A.
Every time 1 or TR2 is received, the synchronization pointer P indicating the position of the information to be transmitted to the viewer in the program progress information (FIG. 3B) in the information server 2 is moved (step S103, S104), the download target (questionnaire information in the example of FIG. 3B) is changed.

In the TV receiver 3, the terrestrial receiver 31 receives the broadcast wave via the terrestrial antenna 30A. The controller 33 selects the broadcast wave of the channel designated by the short-distance wireless reception unit 34 from the received broadcast waves, performs predetermined signal processing on this broadcast wave, and then outputs the audio display output unit. Output from 32. As a result, the viewer can view the broadcast program of the selected channel via the audio display output unit 32.

When the viewer presses a TV control mode button (not shown) on the operation unit 66 (FIG. 6) of the mobile phone 6, the mobile phone 6 is pressed.
The controller 62 enters into the TV control mode, controls the mobile communication transmitting unit 61, performs a predetermined call processing through the nearest base station (not shown) in the mobile communication network, and sets the Internet specified in advance. The dial-up connection is completed through the service provider (iSP) (step S106). After that, the mobile phone 6 can function as a remote controller of the TV receiver 3 and can access the information server 2 via the Internet 5.

When the viewer further presses the button corresponding to the desired program channel on the ten-key pad of the operation unit 66 of the mobile phone 6 (step S107; Y), the controller 62 causes the short-distance wireless transmission unit 63 to operate. To wirelessly transmit a program selection signal SEL for selecting a program channel and access the information server 2 via the Internet 5 (step S108).

The program selection signal SEL emitted from the mobile phone 6 is received by the short-distance wireless reception section 34 of the TV receiver 3. The controller 33 of the TV receiver 3 controls the terrestrial wave reception unit 31 to switch the reception broadcast channel to the program channel designated by the program selection signal SEL (step S109). This allows the viewer to
Through the audio display output unit 32, the broadcast program of the switched channel can be viewed.

Access from the mobile phone 6 to the information server 2 is performed as follows. First, the controller 62 of the mobile phone 6 refers to the memory 64 (FIG. 7) and station-specific information prepared for the broadcast station of the program channel selected in step S107 (for example, station-specific information 21A in FIG. 2). Gets the URL address of. Controller 6
2 creates packet data (not shown) including the acquired URL address, its own device ID (mobile phone number), and a command for requesting download, and sends it to the information server 2 via the Internet 5. It is transmitted (step S108).

The data packet from the mobile phone 6 reaches the information server 2 and is received by the controller 20 via the Internet I / F 23. Controller 20
Allows browsing and distribution (downloading) of the station-specific information of the URL address designated by the received data packet. Specifically, the menu list showing the contents (excluding the download history information) of the station-specific information 21A of the information database 21 of the information server 2 is transmitted to the mobile phone 6 of the viewer who has accessed the same via the Internet 5. Are distributed (step S110).

Controller 62 of viewer's mobile phone 6
When receiving the menu list from the information server 2, displays on the display unit 65. Here, when the viewer selects the program-on-air information 212 from the menu, a data packet including the selection request is sent to the information server 2 via the Internet 5 (step S111). When this data packet reaches the information server 2, the controller 20 reads from the information database 21 the information pointed to by the synchronization pointer in the program progress information (FIG. 3 (B)) of the on-air program related information 212, and reads it from the Internet. To the mobile phone 6 via (step S11)
2). It should be noted that this synchronization pointer indicates the current position in the program progress information, and is incremented by one each time the trigger signals TR1, TR2, etc. emitted from the broadcasting station 1A as the program progresses are received. Has become. In this way, the viewer can obtain the program-related information related to the currently broadcast program selected by the viewer. Then, the viewer can perform the following response process to the information server 2 according to the content of the acquired program-related information.

In the example of FIG. 3, for example, "Questionnaire 1" is distributed to the mobile phone 6 of the viewer (step S11).
2), the content is displayed on the display unit 65. Here, when the viewer replies to "Questionnaire 1" displayed on the display unit 65, a data packet including the reply is sent to the information server 2 (step S113). The information server 2 receives this data packet and extracts the reply information from it. Such answer information is sent to the information server 2 from the mobile phones 6 of many viewers. The information server 2 collects these pieces of reply information, and, for example, FIG.
Broadcaster station 1A that creates the viewer response information as shown in FIG. 1 and stores it in the information database 21 and broadcasts the aggregated viewer response information via the dedicated line 8
(Step S114). The broadcasting station 1A performs processing such as displaying the viewer response information sent from the information server 2 on, for example, the display panel of the studio, or displaying (combining) it on the screen. As a result, the opinions of viewers regarding the contents of the program currently being broadcast,
It is reflected in the program in near real time. Note that the information server 2 may transmit the aggregated viewer response information to the broadcast station 1A and also deliver it to the viewer's mobile phone 6 via the Internet 5.

Here, the next trigger signal T from the broadcasting station 1A
When R3 is received (step S115), the information server 2
The controller 20 moves the synchronization pointer P again (step S116) to change the distribution target (questionnaire information). In this case, since the other party to be distributed (that is, the viewer who has accessed) is known, new (next) questionnaire information is distributed to the mobile phone 6 of the distribution destination (step S117). .
The viewer can respond to this questionnaire information using the mobile phone 6 in the same manner as above.

Thus, between the viewer and the broadcasting station 1A,
Using the TV receiver 3, the mobile phone 6, and the information server 2, almost real-time bidirectional information transmission is performed in synchronization with the program content of the channel that the viewer is currently watching. Bidirectional information transmission between the viewer and the other broadcasting stations 1B and 1C is also performed in the same manner.

As described above, according to the bidirectional information transmission system of the present embodiment, the information server is made to function in synchronization with the broadcasting station, and the mobile phone 6 is used as the remote controller of the TV receiver 3. With the program selection signal sent by the viewer to the TV receiver 3 using the mobile phone 6 as a trigger, the mobile phone 6 receives the program related information related to the selected program channel from the information server via the Internet. Is downloaded and a predetermined response process is performed to the information server according to the content of the program-related information. Therefore, between the viewer having the mobile phone 6 and the broadcasting station, the information is being broadcast via the information server. It becomes possible to perform bidirectional information transmission in near real time in synchronization with the (viewing) program content.

Further, in this embodiment, the information server 2
In addition to the broadcast program related information 212, the unbroadcast program related information 211, the broadcasted program related information 213 (FIG. 5), and the program broadcast schedule 214 are stored so that the viewer can browse them. Therefore, the viewer can obtain the information about the program of interest by accessing the information server 2 even before the program broadcast starts or after the program broadcast ends. For example, like the broadcasted program related information shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to browse various items that have appeared in a drama that has already been broadcasted, back information, etc. at a later date. In this case, the broadcast station 1A and the viewer's mobile phone 6 are not synchronized in time, but in a broad sense, both function in cooperation with each other, and as a result, two-way information transmission is performed. Will be.

The information server 2 holds the viewer personal information 21P and the download history information 2
Since 15 is stored, it is also possible to specify the TV program (or CM) watched for each individual viewer by analyzing these. Further, by accumulating these pieces of information, it is possible to know the program audience rating more accurately and in detail (for example, by gender, by generation, or by region). These pieces of information will be extremely important information in planning the program broadcasting schedule and program production strategy thereafter. Furthermore, the tendency of each individual's hobbies and preferences can be estimated based on the viewing program history of each individual, and this can also be used for a sales strategy on an individual basis.

In the present embodiment, the information server 2
Sends a menu list showing the contents of the station-specific information 21A (FIG. 2) to the viewer's mobile phone 6, and from this menu list, among the unbroadcast program related information, the program being broadcast related information, and the broadcasted program related information. However, the information server 2 may unconditionally distribute the on-air program related information when accessed by the viewer's mobile phone 6. By doing so, it is possible to easily start the bidirectional information transmission without imposing a heavy burden on the viewer.

Further, in the present embodiment, the TV receiver 3 has a built-in short-distance wireless reception unit, but the tuner 7 for satellite broadcasting may have a built-in short-distance wireless reception unit. In this case, it is possible to perform bidirectional information transmission between the viewer of the satellite broadcast and the broadcasting station broadcasting the satellite broadcast.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the TV receiver 3 and the mobile phone 6 are one-to-one has been described, but the present invention is the case where the TV receiver 3 and the mobile phone 6 are N: 1. (N is plural) is also applicable. In this case, for example, when many people are watching a plurality of TV receivers 3 in a public place, the channels of all the TV receivers 3 can be simultaneously switched by one mobile phone 6. It's convenient.

By using the interactive information transmission system of this embodiment, many new businesses are possible. Some examples are given below. In the following description, for convenience, a mobile terminal device having a function similar to that of the mobile phone 6 will be referred to as an “i mobile terminal”.

(1-1) As described above, it is possible to grasp the behavior of a larger number of viewers more accurately and finely than in the conventional video research. Therefore, a business in which a third party business entity other than the broadcasting station and the sponsor operates and manages the information server 2 and provides (resales) the viewer information obtained thereby to the broadcasting station and the sponsor is also conceivable.

(1-2) CMs of program sponsors (for example, CMs that are more detailed than those handled in programs) are stored in the information server 2 in parallel with television program broadcasting. It can also be delivered directly to the viewer's i-mobile terminal via the Internet. Therefore, a business in which a third party other than the broadcasting station or the sponsor operates and manages the information server 2 and provides (resells) the system for distributing the CM by the above method to the program sponsor can be considered.

(1-3) The information server 2 stores the advertisement information of the program (for example, information about various items appearing in the program as described above), which is stored in parallel with the television program broadcast. Then, it can be directly delivered to the i-mobile terminal of the viewer via the Internet. Therefore, a business in which a third party entity other than the broadcasting station and the sponsor operates and manages the information server 2 and provides (resales) the broadcasting system with a system for distributing the advertising information about the program by the above method. Can also be considered.

<Second Embodiment> Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 shows the overall configuration of a two-way information transmission system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same components as those shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

The present system is preferably applied to a digital multiplex broadcasting system in which information of a main broadcast (program content) is multiplexed with sub-broadcast information (ancillary information) at a broadcasting station to broadcast. . Here, the supplementary information includes, for example, EPG (program guide information) and the like, as well as a program ID and access information. Program ID
Is unique information for specifying a program and is used for authentication when accessing the information server 2 described later. The access information is information for controlling access to the information server 2 that holds and provides program-related information about the program. More specifically, the access information is the execution of access to the information server 2 (or the suspension of access).
Of the information server 2
It is configured to include the RL address.

In this system, a TV receiver 13 capable of receiving at least one of digital terrestrial broadcasting and digital satellite broadcasting is arranged at each viewer's house. T
The V receiver 13 has a short-distance wireless transmission function in addition to a normal video / audio output function, and by this function, the received supplementary information AUX can be broadcast to a plurality of mobile phones 16. It has become. Mobile phone 16
Has a short-distance wireless reception function in addition to a normal call function and an Internet access function.
The supplementary information AUX transmitted from can be received.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of the TV receiver 13 and the mobile phone 16. As shown in this figure, the TV receiver 13 includes a short-distance wireless transmission unit 37 in place of the short-distance wireless reception unit 34 in FIG.
A controller 133 is provided instead of the controller 33 of FIG. The controller 133 includes the terrestrial wave reception unit 31.
It has an information separating unit 133A for separating the incidental information AUX from the received radio wave received by. Information separation unit 133
When the satellite broadcast wave is supplied from the tuner 7 (FIG. 1) that has received the satellite broadcast wave, the A also separates the supplementary information AUX from this satellite broadcast wave. Here, the terrestrial wave reception unit 31 corresponds to a specific example of "means for receiving program content and access information" in claim 25 of the present invention, and the short-range wireless transmission unit 37 is claimed in claim 25 of the present invention. 1 corresponds to a specific example of "means for transmitting access information to mobile terminal device".

On the other hand, the mobile phone 16 includes a short-distance wireless reception unit 67 instead of the short-distance wireless transmission unit 63 in FIG. In the present embodiment, the memory 64 does not need to store the URL address (FIG. 7) for each broadcasting station. This is because it is supplied from the TV receiver 13. Here, the short-range wireless reception unit 67 corresponds to a specific example of "means for receiving access information" in claim 24 of the present invention. Further, the controller 62 is the device according to claim 24 of the present invention.
"Means for acquiring program-related information" and "Means for performing predetermined response processing", and claim 3 of the present invention.
2 corresponds to a specific example of "means for extracting access information from incidental information" and "means for accessing an information server".

The other configurations of the TV receiver 13 and the mobile phone 16 are the same as those in FIG. 6, and the configurations of the other elements (broadcasting stations 1A to 1C, the information server 2, the carrier 4, etc.) in this system are as shown in FIG. It is similar to the case of 1.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the operation of the bidirectional information transmission system having the above configuration will be described. In addition,
FIG. 11 shows the broadcasting station 1A, the information server 2, and the mobile phone 16.
3 shows the flow of operation in each of the TV receiver 13 and the TV receiver 13, including the interaction between them.

As the program broadcast from the broadcasting station 1A progresses, trigger signals TR1 and TR2 are sent from the broadcasting station 1A to the information server 2 (steps S201 and S202). The information server 2 receives the trigger signals TR1 and TR from the broadcasting station 1A.
Each time 2 is received, the synchronization pointer P in the program progress information (FIG. 3B) in the information server 2 is moved (steps S203 and S204) to change the information to be downloaded. The above is the same as in the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 8).

In the present embodiment, the broadcasting station 1A uses the digital multiplex broadcasting system (not shown) to convert the main broadcasting information (program content) into the sub broadcasting information (auxiliary information A).
UX) is multiplexed and broadcast. In the TV receiver 3, the terrestrial wave reception unit 31 via the terrestrial wave antenna 30A.
Receives the broadcast wave. The controller 133 selects a broadcast wave of a channel designated by an operation unit (not shown) from the received broadcast waves, performs predetermined signal processing on this broadcast wave, and then outputs the broadcast wave from the audio display output unit 32. Output. As a result, the viewer can view the broadcast program of the selected channel via the audio display output unit 32.

The controller 133 also separates the incidental information AUX from the received broadcast wave and transmits it to the mobile phone 16 via the short-range wireless transmission unit 37 (step S205).

The controller 62 of the mobile phone 16 determines whether it is in the TV reception mode (step S206). As a result, in the TV reception mode (step S206; Y), the controller 6
2 receives the supplementary information AUX via the short-range wireless reception unit 67 (step S207). The controller 62 is
Further, the mobile communication transmitting unit 61 is controlled to perform a calling process through the nearest base station (not shown) in the mobile communication network to complete the dial-up connection (step S20).
8). After that, the mobile phone 16 uses the Internet 5
The information server 2 can be accessed via the.

Next, the controller 62 of the mobile phone 16
Is from the incidental information AUX received from the TV receiver 13,
The program ID and the access execution command are extracted, and the information server 2 is accessed based on them (step S20).
9). At this time, the device ID, telephone number, etc. of the mobile phone 16 are also transmitted at the same time. At that time, the viewer may be prompted to input a user ID as user information, and the input user ID may be transmitted together.

The information server 2 authenticates using the program ID sent from the mobile phone 16, and program progress information (FIG. 3 ( B)), the questionnaire information pointed to by the synchronization pointer is distributed (step S21).
0). When the viewer makes an answer regarding the questionnaire, a data packet including the answer is sent to the information server 2 (step S211). Thereafter, step S1 of FIG.
The same processing as 14 to step S118 is performed (steps S212 to S216). As a result, the viewer's opinion regarding the content of the program currently being broadcast is reflected in the program in almost real time. The information server 2
Transmits the aggregated viewer response information to the broadcasting station 1A, and also sends the viewer's mobile phone 6 via the Internet 5.
Similar to the case of the above-described embodiment, the information may be delivered to the user.

Thus, between the viewer and the broadcasting station 1A,
Using the TV receiver 13, the mobile phone 16 and the information server 2, almost real-time bidirectional information transmission is performed in a form synchronized with the program content of the channel that the viewer is currently watching. Bidirectional information transmission between the viewer and the other broadcasting stations 1B and 1C is also performed in the same manner.

As described above, according to the bidirectional information transmission system of the present embodiment, the information server is made to function in synchronization with the broadcasting station, and the incidental information AUX multiplexed on the broadcast wave is transmitted to the TV. Since the image data is transmitted from the image receiver 13 to the mobile phone 16 and the mobile phone 16 automatically accesses the information server 2 based on the supplementary information AUX, the information between the viewer having the mobile phone 16 and the broadcasting station is set. Thus, it is possible to perform near real-time interactive information transmission in synchronization with program content being broadcast (viewed) via the information server.

In particular, in this embodiment, the mobile phone 16
The information (access execution command) required to access the information server 2 from the device is carried by the broadcast wave and supplied to the mobile phone 16 via the TV receiver 13, so that the viewer can access in advance. The information (URL address) does not have to be stored in the mobile phone 16 of the user, and the information server 2 can be accessed without the viewer operating the mobile phone 16 at all. That is, the viewer near the TV receiver 13 can automatically perform two-way information transmission with the broadcasting station simply by setting his / her mobile phone 16 in the TV reception mode. It is possible to enter the state in which it is possible to perform, and as a result, an interactive broadcast program will be realized.

Also in this embodiment, since the information such as the telephone number of the mobile telephone 16 and the device ID is automatically sent to the information server 2, unlike the case where the wired telephone system is used, the program It is also possible to obtain more accurate personal information regarding viewing. This information will be extremely useful in conducting market research.

In this embodiment, the TV receiver 13
Of the incidental information AUX received from the information necessary for accessing the information server 2 (access execution command and program I
Although the process of extracting D) is performed, in addition to this process, a process of displaying a part or all of the content of the supplementary information AUX on the display unit 65 of the mobile phone 16 may be performed. For example, as described above, when information such as EPG (program guide information) is included in the supplementary information AUX transmitted from the broadcasting station 1A as a sub broadcast, the viewer can view the EPG through the screen of the mobile phone 16. It is also possible to view information and the like. The supplementary information AUX may be composed only of access information (access execution command and program ID) necessary for accessing the information server 2.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the program content of the main broadcast is a live debate program has been described as an example, but the program content is not limited to this.
It may be a drama as shown in FIG. Moreover,
It may be a program for advertising the program itself of the main broadcast, a CM of a sponsor, a television shopping program, or the like.

Further, in this embodiment, the T
The mobile phone 16 automatically connects to the information server 2 immediately based on the supplementary information AUX distributed through the V receiver 13. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the supplementary information AUX is once transmitted to the mobile telephone 16. You may make it accumulate | store. In this case, the viewer can view the accumulated supplementary information AUX at any time (at any time during or after the end of the program) through the mobile phone 16 at any time. . Furthermore, if necessary,
By accessing the information server 2 based on the distributed supplementary information, it is possible to obtain more detailed program-related information regarding the program content. Furthermore, the mobile phone 1
Of course, it is also possible to purchase the products introduced in programs, commercials, etc. through 6.

Also, in the present embodiment, the TV receiver 13
Although the case where the mobile phone 16 and the mobile phone 16 are one-to-one has been described, the present invention is not limited to the TV receiver 13 and the mobile phone 16.
It is also applicable to the case of pair N (N is plural). In this case, for example, when many people are watching one TV receiver 3 in a public place, the TV receiver 13 simultaneously broadcasts the sub-broadcast information to all the mobile phones 16. can do. Therefore, in today's society where almost all people of a certain age group have mobile phones, it is no exaggeration to say that by using this interactive information transmission system, sub-broadcasting and T
Through the V receiver 13, emergency information such as disaster information is simultaneously broadcast to many citizens, and various reports and status reports sent from citizens' mobile phones are aggregated and analyzed for disasters. It is also possible to formulate countermeasures. As a result, for example, it becomes possible to build a crisis management system at a national level and a new type of regional disaster prevention system.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mobile phone 16
Has received the incidental information sent as a sub-broadcast and separated by the TV receiver, and accesses the information server 2 based on the access execution instruction or the like in the incident information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the following modifications are possible.

In this modification, in FIG. 10, the URL address of each program in the information server 2 is stored in advance in the memory 64 of the mobile phone 16. The controller 133 of the TV receiver 13 determines the program channel being received, and the determination result (program channel information)
Is transmitted to the mobile phone 16 by the short-range wireless transmission unit 37. The controller 62 of the mobile phone 16 is a TV
When the reception mode is set, the TV receiver 13
The program channel information from the program is received, and the memory 64 is referenced based on the received program channel information to obtain the URL address of the corresponding program and access the URL address. In this modified example, the controller 133 is the device according to claim 2 of the present invention.
"Means for determining program channel being received" in 6
The short-range wireless transmission unit 37 corresponds to a specific example of "means for transmitting program channel information to a mobile terminal device" in claim 26 of the present invention.

According to the present modification, the controller 133 of the TV receiver 13 does not need the information separating unit 133A, and only needs to determine the channel being received and transmit it to the mobile phone 16. The configuration of the machine 13 becomes simpler. Of course, also in this modification, the determination result (program channel information) may be simultaneously broadcast from the TV receiver 13 to the plurality of mobile phones 16.

The following businesses can be considered as application examples of the bidirectional information transmission system of the present embodiment. In the description here, for convenience, a device having a function like the TV receiver 13 is referred to as “iTV”, and the mobile phone 1
A terminal having a function such as 6 will be referred to as an "i mobile terminal".

(2-1) Application to Quiz Program A. In the quiz program, the viewer's i-mobile terminal receives the access request command, program ID, etc. sent by the sub-broadcast via iTV while the report video etc. relating to the quiz problem is being sent by the main broadcast. The information is used to automatically access the information server and download the information required to answer the quiz. B. The mobile phone, which has completed the download, displays information about the question and the CM, etc., until the quiz question is started. C. When the mobile phone receives the notification of the question start from the iTV and further receives the information indicating that it is the answer period, it becomes possible to input the answer from the i mobile terminal. At this point, the viewer inputs and sends the answer. D. The answer data transmitted from the i mobile terminal is totalized on the server side and reflected in the program.

(2-2) Application to educational program A. For example, in a lesson program sponsored by a preparatory school for examinations, various cram schools, special training schools, etc., a lesson is broadcast by main broadcast, and an access request command, program ID, etc. are broadcast by sub broadcast. While the lesson by main broadcasting is flowing, the i-mobile terminal of the viewer (student) receives the access request command, program ID, etc. by the sub-broadcast via iTV, and automatically uses this information. Access the server and download the exam question information. B. The viewer who holds the i-mobile terminal that has completed downloading the test questions solves the test questions stored in the i-mobile terminal by the preset time limit after the lesson program is finished, and sends the answers to the information server. Send to 2. At this time, the viewer can perform the answering action at any time and place. C. After the answers sent are graded on the information server side,
The data is aggregated and sent back to students by the time of the next lesson program, with deviations and comments. In this case, the method of return may be by e-mail from the information server via the Internet or by mail.

(2-3) Application to Realization of Interactive Government A. Install iTV on the street. When people with an i-mobile terminal walking in the town approach the iTV, interactive street broadcasting between the i-mobile terminal and the iTV is instantly established on the spot. B. For example, if there is a hot debate between the Prime Minister and the panelists on the street, the iTV on the street
The i-mobile terminal of the person approaching to automatically reacts, and a state in which the opinion about the conversation can be transmitted from the i-mobile terminal to the broadcasting station through the information server is instantly created. C. In this way, “election” is a method of listening to the voices of the people.
A new method other than the method by "or telephone research" has been acquired, and a truly interactive government can be realized. D. Further, if the telephone number of the i mobile terminal is sent to the information server, more accurate personal information of the opinion provider can be obtained. This makes it easy, for example, to obtain public opinion by generation, gender and region.

(2-5) Application to private broadcasting system The broadcasting station 1A and the like are not limited to public broadcasting systems such as ordinary television broadcasting, but are, for example, private (or local) private broadcasting stations. It may be. In this case, the following application examples can be considered. A. A plurality of iTVs are installed at a store or in a store, and a local broadcast system in a management center inside or outside the store broadcasts a local broadcast to the plurality of iTVs. As the main broadcast, an advertisement video about the store is sent, and as the sub broadcast, information about the store (for example, a list of products and prices handled, a URL address of the home page of the store, etc.) is sent. B. While displaying an advertisement video about the store, iTV simultaneously broadcasts information such as a list of products handled by the store and a price list to the i mobile terminals owned by customers visiting the store. C. The mobile terminal of the customer displays and accumulates the information such as the delivered product price list. The customer can view this information on the spot or after leaving the store. Furthermore, if necessary, you can access the home page of the store to get more detailed information. D. A tuner, a dedicated device or the like can be used instead of the iTV as long as it has a function of receiving a local broadcast and a function of simultaneously broadcasting to the i mobile terminals.

(2-6) Application to i-radio and i-tuner A. The one that has the video playback function from iTV (hereinafter, i-radio) and the one that has the audio playback function from i-radio (hereinafter, i-tuner) are available on the station premises,
Install in a taxi or train, or in a coffee shop. B. The i mobile terminal is provided with a function of receiving a voice broadcast such as a character broadcast or music from an i radio or an i tuner, and a function of reproducing and displaying the voice broadcast. C. As the main broadcast, a voice such as music is played, and as the sub-broadcast, information about the music (for example, song title, performer, lyricist, composer, release information, etc.) is played. D. The i-radio or i-tuner outputs voice broadcasts such as text broadcasts and music, and sends information about the content of the voice broadcasts to the i-mobile terminals of passengers in train stations, taxi trains, and customers in coffee shops. Broadcast all at once. E. Each i mobile terminal displays and stores the distributed information. Passengers and passengers can see this information on the spot, or at a later time, at any time. Furthermore, if necessary,
You can also get more detailed information by accessing the website that supports the contents of the audio broadcast.

It can be said that the two-way information transmission system described in the first and second embodiments is not an extension of the existing broadcast media but creates a new media. . The reason is as follows.

First, of the two-way communication, the communication in the upstream direction is performed by using the mobile phone. For example, when trying to perform two-way communication by connecting a tea room in front of the television and a broadcasting station using a wired telephone line, the viewer cannot leave the tea room, but according to the present embodiment, As long as the TV receiver is installed on the street, in a public building, or in a home electric appliance store, it is possible to perform two-way communication via the TV receiver.

Secondly, the simultaneous participation program by a large number of viewers becomes possible. Assuming that programs such as quiz programs and discussion programs that require real-time performance are to be broadcast, a wired telephone line is more advantageous in terms of communication speed, but the number of people who can participate in the program at the same time In that case, there is a limit in the case of a wired line. On the other hand, when the information server 2 is accessed using the line of the mobile phone as in the present embodiment, it becomes easy for a larger number of viewers to participate in the program at the same time.

<Third Embodiment> Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described.

FIG. 12 shows the overall configuration of a two-way information transmission system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This system further includes a video deck 10 in addition to the TV receiver 13 and the tuner 7 of the second embodiment (FIG. 9). The deo deck 10 has a function of recording a broadcast from the broadcasting station 1A or the like on a video tape or the like, a function of reproducing a signal having the same waveform as a received broadcast wave from the recorded video tape, and a short-distance wireless transmission. It has a function. Here, the video deck 10 corresponds to a specific example of "recording / reproducing means" in the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic structure of the video deck 10 and the mobile phone 16. As shown in this figure, the VCR 10 includes a terrestrial receiving unit 101 that receives terrestrial broadcasting radio waves transmitted from a broadcasting station 1A and the like via a terrestrial antenna 30A, and a received broadcasting program as a video. The recording / reproducing unit 108 is capable of recording on a tape and reproducing a signal having the same waveform as the received broadcast wave from the video tape, and a controller 103 for controlling the operation of the entire VCR 10. here,
The recording / reproducing unit 108 “means for recording and reproducing program content and access information” in claim 27 of the present invention, and “means for recording and reproducing program content and incidental information” in claim 29 of the present invention. And corresponds to a specific example of "means for reproducing access information" in claim 31 of the present invention.

The controller 103 includes the terrestrial wave receiver 10
1 has an information separating unit 103A for separating incidental information from the received radio wave. The information separating unit 103A also separates incidental information from the satellite broadcast wave when the satellite broadcast wave is supplied from the tuner 7 (FIG. 12) that has received the satellite broadcast wave. Recording / playback unit 1
The satellite broadcast wave received by the tuner 7 (FIG. 12) via the satellite broadcast antenna 30B is input to 08,
It is also being provided to viewers.

The video deck 10 is further provided with a short-distance wireless transmission section 1 constructed using IR technology, Bluetooth, or the like.
07, a memory 105 that stores information necessary for control by the controller 103, and an operation unit 106 including various operation buttons for giving instructions to the controller 103.
It has and. Here, the short-range wireless transmission unit 107
Specific examples of "means for transmitting access information to mobile terminal device" in claims 27 and 31 of the present invention and "means for transmitting incidental information to mobile terminal device" in claims 29 and 32 of the present invention Correspond.

On the other hand, the mobile phone 16 is the same as that shown in the second embodiment (FIG. 10). In addition, other elements in this system (broadcasting stations 1A to 1C,
The configuration of the information server 2 and the carrier 4 etc.) is the same as in the case of FIG.

Next, with reference to FIG. 14, the operation of the bidirectional information transmission system having the above configuration will be described. In addition,
FIG. 14 shows the broadcasting station 1A, the information server 2, and the mobile phone 16.
And the flow of operation in each of the VCR 10 and the interaction between them. However, regarding the recording operation of the VCR 10,
Illustration is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the broadcasting station 1A multiplexes the information of the main broadcast (program content) with the information of the sub-broadcasting (auxiliary information) using a digital multiplex broadcasting system (not shown) and broadcasts it. Is the same as in the case of the second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the terrestrial wave receiving unit 101 of the video deck 10 receives the broadcast wave via the terrestrial wave antenna 30A, and the controller 103 operates the operation unit 106 from among the received broadcast waves. The broadcast wave of the designated channel is selected, the broadcast wave is subjected to predetermined signal processing, and then input to the recording / reproducing unit 108. The recording / playback unit 108 records the input received broadcast signal on a preset video tape (not shown). As a result, the supplementary information of the sub-broadcast is recorded on the video tape together with the program content of the main broadcast. The video tape thus recorded can be played back by the VCR 10 at any time thereafter. Less than,
The operation of the system will be described in detail with respect to the reproduction of the video tape and the subsequent parts.

When the viewer sets a recorded video tape on the VCR 10 and operates the play button of the operation unit 106, the controller 103 of the VCR 10 is operated.
Controls the recording / reproducing unit 108 to start reproducing the video tape (step S301). As a result, a reproduction signal having the same waveform as the received wave is read from the video tape. The information separating unit 103A of the controller 103 separates the reproduction signal into a program content portion of the main broadcast and an additional information AUX portion of the sub broadcast. The controller 103 controls the recording / reproducing unit 108 to send the portion of the program content to the TV receiver 3 and wirelessly transmit the supplementary information AUX via the short-range wireless transmission unit 107 (step S302). The TV receiver 13 outputs the video and audio of the supplied program content for viewing by the viewer (step S303).

The controller 62 of the mobile phone 16 determines whether or not it is in the TV reception mode (step S304). As a result, in the TV receiving mode (step S304; Y), the controller 6
2 receives the supplementary information AUX via the short-range wireless reception unit 67 (step S305). The controller 62 is
The mobile communication transmitting / receiving unit 61 is controlled with reference to the memory 64 to complete the dial-up connection through the nearest base station (not shown) in the mobile communication network (step S30).
6). After that, the mobile phone 16 uses the Internet 5
The information server 2 can be accessed via the.

Next, the controller 62 of the mobile phone 16
Is from the incidental information AUX received from the TV receiver 13,
The program ID and the access execution instruction are extracted, and the information server 2 is accessed based on these (step S30).
7). At this time, the viewer's personal information such as the device ID of the mobile phone 16 and the telephone number is also transmitted at the same time.

The controller 20 of the information server 2 authenticates by using the program ID or the like sent from the mobile phone 16 and permits the viewing and distribution (download) of the station-specific information of the specified URL address. Specifically, the menu list showing the contents (excluding the download history information) of the station-specific information 21A of the information database 21 of the information server 2 is transmitted to the mobile phone 16 of the viewer who has accessed the information via the Internet 5. Are distributed (step S308).

The controller 6 of the viewer's mobile phone 16
2 receives the menu list from the information server 2,
This is displayed on the display unit 65. When the viewer selects any one from the menu, the selection request is sent to the information server 2 via the Internet 5, and the selected information is sent from the information server 2 to the mobile phone 16 via the Internet 5. (Step S310).
The mobile phone 16 of the viewer receives the information sent from the information server 2 (step S311) and displays it on the display unit 65. Then, the viewer can make a response to the information server 2 according to the content of the acquired program-related information. This response is totaled in the information server 2,
Or, as it is, the broadcasting station 1A is used as viewer information.
Sent to. The broadcast station 1A can reflect the viewer information in the next program production, and can finely research the viewer's viewing trends.

As described above, according to the bidirectional information transmission system of the present embodiment, when a program already broadcast and recorded in the VCR is reproduced, the supplementary information AU is obtained from the reproduction signal.
X is extracted and sent to the mobile phone 16 of the viewer, and the mobile phone 16 automatically accesses the information server 2 via the Internet 5 based on this additional information AUX, so that the viewer can record the video. At the same time as viewing the program, the program-related information related to the program can be acquired via the Internet. Thereby, although not synchronized in time, between the viewer having the mobile phone 16 and the broadcasting station,
Coordination operation is performed via the information server, and as a result, bidirectional information transmission related to the broadcasted program is performed.

In the present embodiment, the video deck 1
Information server 2 of the incidental information AUX received from 0
Information required to access the program (access execution instruction and program I
Although the process of extracting D) is performed, in addition to this process, a process of displaying a part or all of the content of the supplementary information AUX on the display unit 65 of the mobile phone 16 may be performed. For example, as described above, in the incidental information AUX transmitted from the broadcasting station 1A as a sub-broadcast, the main part of the program-related information stored in the information server 2 regarding the received program (for example, FIG. 3A or FIG. By including the program-specific information shown in A)) or the summary of program-related information, the viewer can view the EP through the screen of the mobile phone 16.
It is also possible to view information such as G (program guide information).

On the other hand, the supplementary information AUX may be composed only of access information (access execution command and program ID) necessary for accessing the information server 2.

Also in the present embodiment, the reproduced auxiliary information may be simultaneously broadcast from the video deck 10 to all the mobile phones 16.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the device for recording and reproducing the broadcasted program is the VCR 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the VCR 10, for example, a DVD (Digital Versati
le Disk) device or a hard disk device can also be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mobile phone 16
Is configured to receive the supplementary information reproduced / separated from the VCR 10 and access the information server 2 based on an access execution instruction or the like in the supplementary information, but the present invention is not limited to this and, for example, It can also be modified.

In this modification, in FIG. 13, the URL address for each program in the information server 2 is stored in advance in the memory 64 of the mobile phone 16. The controller 103 of the VCR 10 determines which program channel the reproduced program was broadcast / received, and the determination result (program channel information) is sent to the mobile phone by the short-range wireless transmission unit 107. Send to 16. The controller 62 of the mobile phone 16 receives the program channel information from the VCR 10 when it is set to the TV reception mode, and refers to the memory 64 based on this to receive the program channel information. U
Obtain the RL address and access the URL address. In this modification, the recording / playback unit 108 corresponds to a specific example of "means for recording and playing back program content" in claim 28 of the present invention, and the controller 103 sets the "program channel in claim 28 of the present invention. This corresponds to a specific example of "determining means" and the short-range wireless transmission unit 107 corresponds to a specific example of "means for transmitting program channel information to a mobile terminal device" in claim 28 of the present invention.

According to this modification, the controller 103 of the VCR 10 does not need the information separating unit 103A,
Since it is only necessary to determine the channel of the received program and transmit it to the mobile phone 16, the structure of the VCR 10 becomes simpler. Of course, also in this modification, the determination result (program channel information) may be simultaneously broadcast from the VCR 10 to the plurality of mobile phones 16.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
2 illustrates an overall configuration of a two-way information transmission system according to the exemplary embodiment. In this figure, the same components as those shown in the second embodiment (FIG. 10) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 15, the bidirectional information transmission system of the present embodiment replaces the mobile phone 16 in the bidirectional information transmission system shown in FIG. 10 with a GPS for detecting its own geographical position. (Global Positioning Syste
m) It is configured by using the mobile phone 26 having a function. The mobile phone 26 has a GPS antenna 68 and a G antenna.
And a PS section 69. The GPS unit 69 can detect its own geographical position based on a GPS signal received from a GPS satellite (not shown) via the GPS antenna 68. Other configurations of the mobile phone 26 are similar to those of the program shown in FIG. The other elements (TV receiver 13, information server 2, broadcasting station 1A, etc.) in this system are the same as in the case of FIG.

In the two-way information transmission system of the present embodiment, the portable telephone 26 has the auxiliary information AU sent from the TV receiver 13 as in the case of the second embodiment.
The information server 2 is accessed through the Internet 5 based on X. At that time, the mobile phone 26 uses the GPS unit 6
The position information obtained in step 9 is transmitted to the information server 2 together with other information (program ID, mobile phone number, etc.). The information server 2 stores the program-related information in the mobile phone 26 of the viewer.
And a position from the viewer is specified based on the position information sent from the mobile phone 26. Then, the information server 2 includes the position information of the viewer in the information finally sent to the broadcasting station 1A. As a result, the broadcasting station 1A side can also obtain detailed information on what region or place the program being broadcasted or being watched is viewed.

As described above, according to the two-way information transmission system of the present embodiment, the mobile phone 26 is provided with the GPS function, and when the information server 2 is accessed for downloading the program-related information, it is also added. Since the position information is transmitted by the information server 2, the information server 2 also collects the position information of the viewer when performing bidirectional information transmission between the viewer and the broadcasting station via the information server. can do. Therefore, for the broadcasting station 1A and the program producer, it is possible to obtain useful reference materials for scheduling the program broadcasting, producing the program, and the like. When the information server 2 is operated by another business entity (for example, a program sponsor or another third party), the position information of the viewer is
It can also be used as a useful marketing material.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the above-described embodiments and their modifications, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and modifications, and further, for example, as described below. Various modifications are possible.

(1) In the above embodiments, the program broadcast as the main broadcast was described as including image information and audio information, but it does not include any one of image information and audio information. May be.

(2) Transmission / reception between the mobile phone 6 and the TV receiver 3 is not necessarily limited to wireless transmission.
It may be performed by wire.

(3) Instead of the mobile phone, a car navigation terminal, a portable game machine, or a PDA (Personal)
It is also possible to use a portable information terminal called Digital Assistant).

(4) The broadcasting station 1 is connected to the information server 2 by the dedicated line 8, but a non-dedicated line,
For example, the connection may be made via the Internet 5.

(5) The method of synchronizing the broadcasting station 1A and the information server 2 is not limited to the method shown in each of the above embodiments (FIG. 8). For example, in the case of a program that is not a live program (recorded and edited in advance), a trigger signal for program progress is embedded in the program data at the time of recording and editing, so that the program progresses according to the progress of the program during actual broadcasting. This trigger signal may be automatically sent to the information server 2 to synchronize the broadcasting station 1A and the information server 2.

(6) In each of the above embodiments, a plurality of broadcasting stations 1A to 1C jointly set up and manage the information server 2 by utilizing the iDC or the like. Installation, operation and management may be performed individually for each broadcasting station.

(7) Further, a web server that provides a web page (home page) independently established by the sponsor of each program may play the role of the information server 2. In this case, the viewer can receive the distribution data regarding the viewed program or CM by dial-up connection to the Internet and accessing the web page of the sponsor. On the other hand, the accessed sponsor can specify the TV program (or CM) and the viewer based on the program selection signal, the telephone number of the mobile phone 6, and the like.

(8) In the above second to fourth embodiments,
Although the case of applying to digital broadcasting has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a broadcast wave in which digital information is embedded in an analog radio wave in some form.

[0157]

As described above, according to the two-way information transmitting method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or the two-way information transmitting system according to claim 30, a broadcasting network is provided. While the viewer receives the program content broadcast by using the program terminal device, the viewer uses the mobile terminal device via the Internet to display the program-related information corresponding to the program content being broadcast or broadcast. Since the information server which is owned and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station is accessed and the program terminal device, the mobile terminal device and the information server are made to function in cooperation, the viewer and the broadcasting station watching the program terminal device It becomes possible to carry out bidirectional information transmission between them.

According to the two-way information transmission method of the third aspect or the mobile terminal device of the twenty-third aspect, at the same time when the viewer sends a program selection command to the program terminal device using the mobile terminal device, Since the mobile terminal device accesses the information server via the Internet by using the program selection command as a trigger, the viewer can use his or her own mobile terminal device as a controller of the program terminal device and the viewer can select a program. By doing so, it is possible to automatically create a situation in which interactive information transmission can be performed in synchronization with the program content being viewed with the broadcasting station.

Further, the two-way information transmission method according to claim 5, the portable terminal device according to claim 24, or claim 3
According to the two-way information transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 34, the program terminal device receives the access information sent from the broadcasting station in association with the program content, and sends it to the mobile terminal device. On the other hand, since the mobile terminal device is configured to access the information server via the Internet based on the access information, the viewer who views the program terminal device can automatically watch the program terminal device without any particular consciousness or operation. It is possible to create a situation in which a person and a broadcasting station can perform bidirectional information transmission in synchronization with the program content being received via the information server.

According to the two-way information transmission method of the seventh aspect, the program terminal device determines the program channel being received and transmits the determination result to the portable terminal device as program channel information. Since the mobile terminal device acquires the access information from the program channel information and accesses the information server via the Internet based on this access information, the information server does not have to send the access information together with the program content from the broadcasting station. Allows automatic access to.

According to the two-way information transmitting method of claim 9 or 10, the recording / reproducing apparatus reproduces the access information at the same time as reproducing the broadcast and recorded program content. While the portable terminal device is configured to access the information server via the Internet based on the access information received from the recording / playback device, the viewer who views the program content played back from the recording / playback device is particularly Without any awareness or operation
It is possible to automatically create a situation in which two-way information transfer can be performed with the broadcasting station regarding the program content being played back.

According to the two-way information transmitting method of the eleventh aspect or the twelfth aspect, the recording / reproducing apparatus determines the program channel at the same time when the broadcast and recorded program content is reproduced, and the determination result While sending the program channel information to the mobile terminal device as the program channel information, the mobile terminal device acquires access information from the program channel information received from the recording / reproducing device and accesses the information server via the Internet based on the access information. Therefore, even if the access information is not recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus in which the program content is recorded, it is possible to automatically access the information server.

According to the two-way information transmitting method of any one of claims 13 to 16, the recording / reproducing apparatus reproduces the incidental information at the same time as the reproduction of the broadcast and recorded program content. While sending it to the mobile terminal device,
Since the portable terminal device displays the incidental information received from the program terminal device, extracts the access information from the incidental information, and accesses the information server via the Internet based on the access information, the program terminal device Even if the viewers who watch
It is possible to automatically create a situation between the viewer and the broadcasting station via the information server, in which two-way information transfer can be performed in synchronization with the program content being received. It is possible to directly view the incidental information through the mobile terminal device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a two-way information transmission system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information server in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of program-on-broadcast information stored in the information server of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of download history information stored in the information server of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of broadcasted program related information stored in the information server of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a TV receiver and a mobile phone in FIG.

7 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a memory in the mobile phone of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the two-way information transmission system shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a two-way information transmission system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a TV receiver and a mobile phone in FIG.

11 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the two-way information transmission system shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a bidirectional information transmission system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a TV receiver and a mobile phone in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the two-way information transmission system shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a TV receiver and a mobile phone in a two-way information transmission system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A to 1C ... Broadcasting station, 2 ... Information server, 3, 13 ... TV
Receiver, 4 ... Carrier, 5 ... Internet, 6, 1
6, 26 ... Mobile phone, 7 ... Tuner, 10 ... VCR, 20, 33, 62, 103, 133 ... Controller, 34, 67 ... Short-distance wireless reception section, 63, 37, 10
7 ... Short-distance wireless transmission unit, AUX ... Supplementary information, SEL ... Program selection signal.

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. A program terminal device having a function of receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station, a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet, and program content currently broadcast from the broadcasting station or in the past. A method applied to a two-way information transmission system, comprising: an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to broadcast program content and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station, the program terminal device and the mobile device. A bidirectional information transmission method, wherein bidirectional information transmission is performed between a viewer who views the program terminal device and the broadcast station by causing a terminal device and the information server to function in cooperation with each other. . 2. The two-way information transmitting method according to claim 1, further comprising synchronizing the information server with the broadcasting station. 3. In the mobile terminal device, a step of issuing a program selection command for selecting program content to the program terminal device; and the information server via the Internet using the program selection command as a trigger. Connecting and acquiring from this information server program related information related to the selected program content; and performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program related information. And performing a two-way information transmission in synchronization with the selected program content between the viewer who views the program terminal device and the broadcasting station via the information server. The two-way information transmission method according to claim 2, characterized in that. 4. When a plurality of the program terminal devices are arranged, the portable terminal device transmits the program selection command to the plurality of program terminal devices by simultaneous broadcast. The bidirectional information transmission method according to claim 3. 5. The broadcasting station, wherein the program content is broadcast accompanied by access information relating to the program content, and the program terminal device receives the access information together with the program content; And transmitting the access information to the mobile terminal device, wherein the mobile terminal device connects to the information server via the Internet based on the access information received from the program terminal device, and the information server The step of acquiring program-related information related to the program content received by the program terminal device, and the step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server according to the content of the acquired program-related information, Between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station , Said information via a server, bidirectional information transmission method according to claim 2, characterized in that the program terminal apparatus to perform two-way communication in synchronization with the program content being received. 6. When a plurality of mobile terminal devices are present in the vicinity of the program terminal device, the received access information from the program terminal device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices is used by short-range wireless communication. The two-way information transmitting method according to claim 5, wherein the information is transmitted by simultaneous broadcast. 7. The program terminal device executes a step of determining a program channel being received, and a step of transmitting program channel information indicating the determined program channel to the mobile terminal device, the mobile terminal device. In the step of acquiring access information necessary for accessing the information server based on the program channel information received from the program terminal device, and the information server via the Internet based on the acquired access information. And a step of acquiring program-related information related to the program content received by the program terminal device from the information server, and performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information. Performing steps and, before and after the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device. The bidirectional information transmission synchronized with the program content received by the program terminal device is performed with a broadcasting station via the information server. Two-way information transmission method. 8. When a plurality of mobile terminal devices exist near the program terminal device, the program channel information is simultaneously broadcast from the program terminal device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices by using short-range wireless communication. The two-way information transmitting method according to claim 7, wherein the information is transmitted by broadcast. 9. A recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station and access information sent together with the program content,
Applied to a two-way information transmission system including a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet and an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from the broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station The recording / reproducing apparatus, the method further comprising: reproducing the access information together with the program content, and transmitting the reproduced access information to the mobile terminal apparatus. In the step of connecting to the information server via the Internet based on the access information received from the recording / reproducing apparatus, and obtaining program-related information relating to the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing apparatus from the information server. According to the content of the acquired program-related information, And a step of performing a predetermined response process, and between the viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station, the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing device via the information server. A two-way information transmission method characterized in that the two-way information transmission is performed in cooperation with. 10. When a plurality of mobile terminal devices are present in the vicinity of the recording / reproducing device, the access information reproduced from the recording / reproducing device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices is transmitted by short-range wireless communication. 10. The bidirectional information transmission method according to claim 9, wherein the transmission is performed by simultaneous broadcast. 11. A recording / reproducing device having a function of recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station, a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet, and a program content broadcast from the broadcasting station. A method applied to an interactive information transmission system including an information server that holds program-related information and functions in cooperation with the broadcast station, wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus reproduces the recorded program content. Executing a step, a step of determining a program channel when the reproduced program content is broadcast, and a step of transmitting program channel information indicating the determined program channel to the mobile terminal device, wherein the mobile terminal device: Access to the information server based on the program channel information received from the program terminal device. Acquiring necessary access information, and connecting to the information server via the Internet based on the acquired access information, and from this information server, program-related information about program content recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus And a step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information, the viewer holding the portable terminal device and the broadcasting station. A two-way information transmission method, wherein two-way information transmission is performed between the two, via the information server, in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the recording / reproducing apparatus. 12. When a plurality of mobile terminal devices are present in the vicinity of the recording / reproducing device, the program channel information is simultaneously broadcast from the recording / reproducing device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices using short-range wireless communication. The two-way information transmitting method according to claim 11, characterized in that the information is transmitted by broadcast. 13. A recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of recording and reproducing program content transmitted from a broadcasting station and incidental information transmitted accompanying the program content, and a portable terminal apparatus connectable to the Internet. And an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from the broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station, the method being applied to an interactive information transmission system, In the recording / reproducing device, a step of reproducing the supplementary information together with the program content and a step of transmitting the reproduced supplementary information to the mobile terminal device are performed, and in the mobile terminal device, from the program terminal device, A step of displaying the received supplementary information, a step of extracting access information from the received supplementary information, The step of accessing the information server via the Internet based on the access information, and between the viewer holding the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station via the information server. A two-way information transmitting method, characterized in that the two-way information transmitting is performed in cooperation with the program content reproduced by the program terminal device. 14. The information server stores program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from the broadcast station, and the portable terminal device further reproduces the information server from the information server by the recording / reproducing device. 14. The step of acquiring program-related information relating to the acquired program content, and the step of performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information. Bidirectional information transmission method. 15. The portable terminal device executes a step of prompting for input of predetermined user information regarding the supplementary information received from the program terminal device, and a step of transmitting the input user information to the information server. 14. The bidirectional information transmission method according to claim 13, wherein: 16. When a plurality of mobile terminal devices are present in the vicinity of the program terminal device, the supplementary information reproduced from the program terminal device to the plurality of mobile terminal devices is used for near field communication. The two-way information transmission method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the simultaneous transmission is performed. 17. The broadcasting station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the broadcasting station is a public broadcasting station that broadcasts a simultaneous broadcast to unspecified viewers. The two-way information transmission method described in. 18. The broadcasting station according to claim 1, wherein the broadcasting station is a local broadcasting station that locally broadcasts a simultaneous broadcast within a limited range. Bidirectional information transmission method described in paragraph. 19. The program terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the program terminal device is a television receiver that outputs the broadcast program content as it is.
2. The bidirectional information transmission method described in any one of 1. 20. The tuner according to claim 1, wherein the program terminal device is a tuner device that performs a tuning necessary for receiving a broadcast program content. The two-way information transmission method described in. 21. At least one of a program terminal device having a function of receiving a program content sent from a broadcasting station and a recording / reproducing device having a function of recording and reproducing the program content, and an Internet connection. An information server used in a two-way information transmission system including a connectable mobile terminal device, the program corresponding to program content currently broadcast from the broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past. A holding unit that holds related information, and a providing unit that provides the program-related information according to an access from the mobile terminal device, function in cooperation with the broadcasting station, and through the mobile terminal device. And an information support functioning in cooperation with at least one of the program terminal device and the recording / reproducing device. Server. 22. A synchronization signal receiving means for receiving a synchronization signal from the broadcasting station is further provided, and at least the providing means is actually broadcast from the broadcasting station based on the synchronization signal received by the synchronization signal receiving means. 22. The information server according to claim 21, wherein the information server functions in synchronization with the program content being displayed. 23. A program terminal device having a function of receiving a program content sent from a broadcasting station, and a program related to a program content currently broadcast from the broadcasting station or a program content broadcast in the past. A mobile terminal device used for an interactive information transmission system constructed to include information server which holds information and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station, wherein program content is provided to the program terminal device. Means for issuing a program selection command for selection, and using the program selection command as a trigger, connecting to the information server via the Internet, and acquiring program-related information for the selected program content from this information server. Means and means for performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information A mobile terminal device, comprising: transmitting information synchronized with the selected program content, via the information server, to the broadcasting station. 24. A program terminal device having a function of receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station and access information sent together with the program content, and the program content and the access information. At least one of a recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of recording and reproducing, and holding program program related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from the broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past, and A mobile terminal device used in an interactive information transmission system including an information server functioning in cooperation with a broadcasting station, the mobile terminal device receiving the access information received by the program terminal device and transmitted from the program terminal device. Means and the Internet based on the access information received from the program terminal device. Means for connecting to the information server and acquiring program-related information relating to the program content received by the program terminal device from the information server, and predetermined for the information server according to the content of the acquired program-related information And a means for performing a response process of, and bi-directional information transmission is performed between the broadcasting station and the broadcasting station via the information server, in synchronization with program content received by the program terminal device. Mobile terminal device. 25. An information server holding program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past, and a mobile terminal device accessible to the information server via the Internet. And a means for receiving a program content sent from a broadcasting station and access information sent together with the program content, which is a program terminal device used in an interactive information transmission system including: And a means for transmitting the received access information to the mobile terminal device. 26. An information server holding program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcasting station or program content broadcast in the past, and a mobile terminal device accessible to the information server via the Internet. And a means for receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station, means for determining a program channel being received, and a determined program channel. And a means for transmitting program channel information indicating the above to the portable terminal device. 27. An information server holding program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past, and a mobile terminal device accessible to the information server via the Internet. A recording / reproducing apparatus used in a two-way information transmission system including: and a means for recording and reproducing the program content sent from a broadcasting station and the access information sent together with the program content. And a means for transmitting the reproduced access information to the portable terminal device. 28. An information server holding program-related information corresponding to program content currently broadcast from a broadcast station or program content broadcast in the past, and a mobile terminal device accessible to the information server via the Internet. And a recording / reproducing apparatus for use in a two-way information transmission system, including means for recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station, and determining a program channel at the time of broadcasting the reproduced program content. And a means for transmitting program channel information indicating the determined program channel to the portable terminal device. 29. Bidirectional information including a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet, and an information server which holds program related information corresponding to program content broadcast from a broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station. A recording / reproducing apparatus used for a transmission system, comprising means for recording and reproducing the program content transmitted from the broadcast station and incidental information transmitted accompanying the program content, and the recording / reproducing means. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: means for transmitting the reproduced supplementary information to the mobile terminal apparatus. 30. A program terminal device having a function of receiving program content sent from a broadcasting station, a portable terminal device connectable to the Internet, program content currently broadcast from the broadcasting station, or in the past. An information server that holds program-related information corresponding to broadcast program content and that functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station, and the program terminal device, the mobile terminal device, and the information server function in cooperation. A two-way information transmission system characterized in that 31. A recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of recording and reproducing the program content transmitted from a broadcasting station and the access information transmitted together with the program content, and a mobile phone connectable to the Internet. A two-way information transmission system including a terminal device and an information server that holds program-related information corresponding to program content broadcast from the broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station. Has means for reproducing the access information recorded together with the program content, and means for transmitting the reproduced access information to the mobile terminal device, wherein the mobile terminal device receives from the program terminal device. Based on access information, it connects to the information server via the Internet, and from this information server, the recording / reproducing apparatus is used. The portable terminal device and the broadcast, having means for acquiring program-related information relating to the generated program content, and means for performing a predetermined response process to the information server in accordance with the content of the acquired program-related information. A two-way information transmission system for performing two-way information transmission with a station via the information server in cooperation with program content reproduced by the program terminal device. 32. A recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of recording and reproducing program content sent from a broadcasting station and incidental information sent together with the program content, and a portable terminal apparatus connectable to the Internet. And an information server that holds program related information corresponding to program content broadcast from the broadcasting station and functions in cooperation with the broadcasting station, wherein the recording / reproducing device is The auxiliary information received from the program terminal device, the portable terminal device having means for reproducing the auxiliary information together with the program content, and means for transmitting the reproduced auxiliary information to the portable terminal device. Means for displaying access information, means for extracting access information from the received supplementary information, and the Internet based on the extracted access information. And a means for accessing the information server via the information terminal, and reproduced by the program terminal device via the information server between a viewer who owns the mobile terminal device and the broadcasting station. A two-way information transmission system characterized by performing two-way information transmission in cooperation with program contents. 33. The information server stores program-related information corresponding to the program content broadcast from the broadcasting station, and the portable terminal device reproduces the program content from the information server by the recording / reproducing device. 33. The two-way information transmission system according to claim 32, further comprising: acquiring program-related information relating to the information server, and performing a predetermined response process to the information server according to the content of the acquired program-related information. 34. The mobile terminal device prompts input of predetermined user information regarding the incidental information received from the program terminal device, and transmits the input user information to the information server. The two-way information transmission system according to item 32.