JPH1141584A - Data receiving system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To reduce the load on a receiving device and a CPU when selectively receiving broadcast information data. SOLUTION: Broadcast list data is decoded, and IR
The data is stored in the RAM 63 or the hard disk 66 in the PC block 33 from the D block 32. A viewer selectively receives information data based on the broadcast list data.
When the requested information data is being broadcast, the information data is received from the broadcast. If the requested information data is not being broadcast, information request data is created and transmitted by the modem unit 68. The transmission source transmits the ID of the information data to the modem unit 52, and the reception side transmits the ID.
, The information data requested by the viewer can be received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data receiving system capable of receiving desired information data from an orbital broadcast, when information data with a high demand is supplied via a digital satellite broadcast. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, WWW (World Wide Web), which is a general information providing system available on the Internet, is:
Information such as text, images, and audio can be viewed in hypertext format.
The information data (Web data) stored in the WWW server is asynchronously transferred to a terminal such as a personal computer (personal computer) using the nsfer protocol.

In order to realize the transmission and reception of bidirectional data such as Web data on the Internet, an integrated serial network (ISDN) is used as a generally used transmission path.
vices Digital Network) and public lines. This IS
DNs and public lines have the same physical data path for transmission and reception, and the same round-trip data transfer rate. At this time, although the data transferred from the terminal to the WWW server is small,
Since the information amount of Web data supplied from the server to the terminal is large, it takes a considerable time to completely transfer the data.

[0004] Therefore, it is considered that, for example, digital satellite broadcasting is used as a transmission path of data transferred from a WWW server to a terminal. When digital satellite broadcasting is used, a viewer makes a request for information data from a terminal to a WWW server using, for example, ISDN or a public line, and the WWW
A form in which information data is supplied from a server using digital satellite broadcasting has been considered.

As described above, when performing data broadcasting using digital satellite broadcasting, an IRD (Integrated Recever / Dec) is used.
oder) to receive data broadcasting via MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2)
Must be broadcast in a method conforming to the standard, and the receiver must also perform decoding and processing in the MPEG format.

[0006] As a method of this data broadcasting, a broadcast type for broadcasting information data to an unspecified large number or a certain fixed number of viewers, and a request for information data by an individual viewer, the viewer ( An on-demand communication type (hereinafter, referred to as an on-demand type) that broadcasts information data to an individual) can be considered. For example, CS
(Communication Satellite) Data distribution for personal computers using digital communication is performed in North America, but rather than broadcasting, a bandwidth of, for example, 400 kHz is allocated to a viewer who requests information data. Since this is a form in which data is delivered, this is an on-demand type only, which is not much different from communication.

[0007]

As described above, there has been a problem that there is no effective broadcasting system or receiving method at present when the two types of the broadcasting type and the on-demand type are integrated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a receiving terminal capable of receiving digital broadcasts, in which information data requested by a viewer uses a cyclic broadcast or a data broadcast transmitted for each request, and the information data requested by the terminal side is used. When receiving the information, based on the broadcast list data currently being broadcast around, if the requested information data is within the broadcast list data, the information data is received from the around broadcast, and if it is not within the broadcast list data, It is an object of the present invention to provide a data receiving system capable of receiving a requested information data after making a broadcast request for information data using a line or the like.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a data receiving system comprising a receiving device capable of receiving digital broadcasts and an information device interconnected to the receiving device, a broadcast station transmits information data. If the information data is broadcast by the broadcast method that broadcasts the information data and broadcasts the list of information data that is currently being broadcast, the receiving device uses the list based on the list of information data that is currently being broadcast. Means to receive the information data requested by the viewer from inside, whether to receive the information data that is currently being broadcast around,
After making a broadcast request for information data, means for judging whether to receive the information data based on the list, and when the information data requested by the viewer is not in the list, a broadcast request for the information data was made. And a means for receiving an ID corresponding to the information data requested to be broadcast by a receiving device, and receiving the information data using an ID broadcast together with the information data after a predetermined time. .

[0010] The viewer can receive desired information data from the information data being broadcast around the station. If the requested information data is not broadcasted around, for example, after requesting the information data using the public line, the ID of the information data is supplied from the transmitting side using the public line, and based on the ID, Thus, information data broadcast from the transmitting side can be received. At this time, by checking the change or change flag of the serial number of the broadcast list data, it can be determined whether or not the requested information data is being broadcast in the round broadcast.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a data broadcasting system. In the multiplexer 1, each supplied elementary stream is converted into a transport stream, and the converted transport stream is output to the modulator 2. In the modulation unit 2,
The supplied transport stream is modulated (uplink), and the modulated signal is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 3.

The multiplexer 1 includes an elementary stream of the information data of the circulation broadcast supplied from the broadcast content transfer server 18 and the content transfer server 19.
And an elementary stream of information data that is broadcast only once and an elementary stream of broadcast list data L from the content broadcast list creation server 20. In this embodiment, the circulation broadcast is a broadcast in which the same information data is repeated in a short cycle.

At this time, a high-speed two-way communication network is established between the servers, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network).
rk) 21. Although the physical connection is not particularly limited, it is assumed that the network has a transfer speed of 100 Mbps / sec, such as 100Base-T. Each server in this example is a computer such as a PC or a workstation, and has at least a network and an OS compatible with multi-process.

Further, the communication server 11,
Content request receiving server 12, content cache server 13, content search server 14, router 1
5. Local content server 16, user authentication unit 17
Are connected by the LAN 21.

When a viewer requests information data via a public line or the like using a modem of a receiving terminal, the communication server 11 performs personal authentication (terminal authentication) as to which viewer is requesting the information data. User authentication unit 1
7, the connection is accepted and the line is held if it can be identified, and the line is disconnected if it cannot be identified.

The content request receiving server 12 requests information data (job) from a viewer connected to the system.
And inquires of the content cache server 13 whether there is the requested information data.
It also has a database of the history of which information data was requested.

The content cache server 13 responds to a request from the content request reception server 12 and stores information data from the local content server 16 or information data obtained from an external network via the router 15 in a memory or a hard disk. Cache (remember). If there is an information data transmission request from each server in the system, if the information data previously read remains, the requested information data is transmitted to the server.

The content search server 14 is a local content server 1 based on keywords from viewers.
6 or an external network (global content) via the router 15 is searched for information data. As a result, the information data is transferred to the content cache server 13.

The router 15 serves as a gate for information data when obtaining information data from an external network.

The local content server 16 stores a database of information data created in the broadcasting station or prepared in the station, and when a request for transferring information data is received from the outside, the request is transmitted to the requesting party. To transfer.

As described above, the user authentication section 17 performs personal authentication (terminal authentication) when a viewer makes a request for information data, so that the viewer can receive the service. Determine whether or not.

The communication server 11 described above,
Content request receiving server 12, content cache server 13, content search server 14, router 1
5. Local content server 16, user authentication unit 17
Is included in a server provided in the program supplier.

The broadcast content transfer server 18 stores information data to be broadcasted now or to be broadcasted in the future, and periodically transfers an elementary stream of information data to be broadcast to the multiplexer 1. For example, if the information data currently being broadcast is A, B, C, D, the multiplexer 1 has A, B, C, D, A,
Information data is periodically transferred in the order of B, C, D, A, B,.

The content transfer server 19 is a transfer server for sequentially broadcasting information data requested by each viewer, and the information data is dynamically transferred to the multiplexer 1. That is, in order to broadcast the information data requested by the viewer only once, the elementary stream of the information data is transferred to the multiplexer 1. The information data itself is obtained from an external network via the local content server 16 or the router 15.

The content broadcast list creation server 20
Broadcast list data L, which is information data that is currently being broadcast around, is created, and its elementary stream is periodically transferred to the multiplexer 1.

As described above, each elementary stream is converted by the multiplexer 1 into, for example, an MPEG2
, And as a transport stream, the modulation unit 2
Supplied to In the modulator 2, the supplied transport stream is modulated (uplink) for transmission, and the modulated signal is broadcast from the transmitting antenna 3.

The operation of the data broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In this data broadcasting system, as a method of transmitting a data broadcast, circulation broadcast-type data transmitted at a fixed cycle, broadcast list data L of the circulation broadcast-type data transmitted at a fixed cycle, and personal data transmitted at each request are provided. A method of transmitting request data is enabled. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the information data A, B, C, and D are currently being broadcast and the broadcast list data L that the information data A, B, C, and D are being broadcast is also being broadcast. And The data structure of the broadcast list data L is not particularly specified, but for example, information data A, B, C, D
Has a data indicating that the broadcast is currently being broadcast and a unique data ID, and when the content of the broadcast is changed, a method of changing this ID is used so that the receiving terminal knows that the change has occurred. It is assumed that However, MPEG2
NIT, P
Packets such as AT, CAT, ECM, and EMM also need to be broadcast around.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, a data broadcast receiver IRD and a PC are connected. Antenna & LNB (Low No
iseBlock down converter) unit 31 is QPSK (Quadrat
ure Phase Shift Keying) Receives the modulated transport stream and performs frequency conversion. The transport stream subjected to the frequency conversion is supplied to the IRD block 32. In the tuner section 41, the frequency of the signal to be received is selected by the main control section 46, and the frequency of the signal is received. The demodulator unit 42 demodulates the received transport stream,
The demodulated transport stream is sent to the error correction unit 43. The error correction unit 43 performs error correction on the supplied transport stream. The descrambling unit 44
The descrambling of the scrambled transport stream is performed.

The main control unit 46 includes a CPU, an RO,
MRD, RAM, EEPROM, timer, etc.
The system control of block 32 is performed. In the IC card section 47, information such as personal billing information and descrambling decryption key is stored in an EEPROM in the card, and data is read and written from the main control section 46. The user operation receiving unit 48 receives a signal from the viewer by the remote commander 53 and sends the signal to the main control unit 46.

The demultiplexer unit 45 is used for decomposing a packet when changing the output destination of data according to the packet ID of the transport stream. For example, in the demultiplexer 45, audio and video data are separated, and respective packets are supplied to the audio decoder 49 and the video decoder 50. The modem unit 52 is operated by the main control unit 46, and is used when it is necessary to transmit information in the IC card unit 47 or the main control unit 46 to an external center. The graphic control unit 51 is controlled by the main control unit 46 and creates information for the viewer as graphic data.

The audio decoding unit 49 and the video decoding unit 50 decode each packet separated by the demultiplexer unit 44 and convert a digital signal into an analog signal. The audio signal from the audio decoding unit 49 is supplied to a speaker (not shown). The video signal from the video decoding unit 50 is supplied to a decoded video display unit (not shown). The decoded video display unit displays the video signal created by the graphic control unit 51 together with the decoded video signal.

The PC block 33 includes a CPU 61 and a ROM.
62, RAM 63, demultiplexer section 64, input section 6
5, hard disk 66, VRAM 67, modem unit 6
8, a monitor 69. Each of these parts is a bus 7
0 is connected. To filter necessary data packets, packets received from the IRD block 32 are separated by a demultiplexer unit 64,
5 The data supplied to the input unit 65 is I /
Addressed according to the number of O port, RAM
63 or on the hard disk 66. VR
In the AM 67, graphic data of the data on the hard disk 66 or the RAM 63 is developed by the CPU 61, and the D / A converted video signal is displayed on the monitor 69.
Will be displayed. The modem unit 68 is used for issuing information that does not require personal authentication.

The viewer can monitor the monitor 69 as shown in FIG.
Based on the pointer information to certain information displayed above, a request for information data is made via the user input unit. Pointer information to information data is information that is uniquely determined when a viewer requests information data, such as “Today's TV program listings in the Tokyo region” or “This week's C
D new music list ". The pointer information to the information data itself should be displayed based on the data currently being broadcasted, or based on the data saved on the hard disk etc. at the time of the information request received in the past. . The data structure may be anything as long as it can express a unique structure, but a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) often used on the Internet
If you use notational things, for example, <broadcast: wea
text information like ther / today>.

Next, the process of reproducing the requested information data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the viewer has selected the information pointer.
The control moves to step S2. When the viewer selects the information pointer, in step S2, the packet of the broadcast list data L supplied to the PC block 33 is decoded and expanded on the hard disk 66 or the RAM 63 in the PC block 33.

However, for example, when the round-trip broadcast cycle of the broadcast list data L is relatively long, or when the demultiplexer 64 of the PC block 33 is capable of filtering fine packets, there is no need to always watch the packets and decode them in real time. By always caching (storing) the latest broadcast list data L in the PC block 33, the response to the information request is expected to be improved. Naturally, the contents of the orbital broadcast change with time, so the broadcast list data L also changes each time. However, since the serial number of the broadcast list data L and a change flag indicating that the broadcast list data L has changed are monitored, the information terminal always has the latest information of the broadcast list data L. it can.

Next, in step S3, the broadcast list data L is compared with the information pointer selected by the viewer, and it is determined whether or not the broadcast list data L contains information data requested by the viewer. Is done. When there is information data requested by the viewer, the control moves to step S4, and when there is no information data requested by the viewer, the control moves to step S7. If there is information data in the broadcast list data L, that is, during the round-trip broadcast, in step S4, the head of the packet corresponding to the point of the loop-broadcast information data is searched based on the information pointer. In step S5, the information data being broadcast around is decoded and expanded on the RAM 63 or the hard disk 66.

If there is no information data requested by the viewer in the broadcast list data L, in step S7, information request data for requesting a broadcast of the information data to the transmission source of the information data, for example, a URL is created. Then, in step S8, the URL is transmitted from the modem unit 68 to the transmission source of the information data via a public line or the like. On this occasion,
In step S9, when the information data requested by the viewer is transmitted via digital satellite broadcasting, the information data corresponding to the information data transmitted from the source of the information data is transmitted so that the receiving terminal can identify the information data. The ID is supplied via the modem unit 52.

In step S10, it is determined whether or not the information data corresponding to the supplied ID has been transmitted. Specifically, the requested information data is stored in the demultiplexer 45.
It is determined whether or not the information data has been output. If the information data has been output, it is determined that the information data requested by the transmission source of the information data has been transmitted.
The control moves to 4.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process for loading broadcast list data L.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S11, it is determined whether or not the change flag in the broadcast list data L has changed.
When control is transferred to 12 and the change flag has not changed,
The control of this flowchart ends. Step S12
Then, the latest broadcast list data L is fetched. This process is performed at regular intervals, for example, every second.

For example, when it is desired to always display new information data, for example, stock price information and weather forecast, on a monitor on the PC terminal side by using the broadcast list data L of the circulation broadcast, these information data are stored in a PC block. A system that automatically displays information by program processing in the system or a system that automatically receives only broadcast-type information data and does not request information data using a public line is also conceivable.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the information data is decoded based on the broadcast list data of the loop broadcast, so that the receiving device does not decode any of the packets of the loop broadcast and any information data can be broadcast at the present time. , It is possible to reduce the load on the CPU and the decoder section of the receiving device.

Further, according to the present invention, the broadcast list data of the circulation broadcast can be browsed by the information device, so that the viewer can selectively view the requested information data.

Further, according to the present invention, it is determined whether the request for information data must be made using the public line or whether the information data being broadcast around is used. Since it can be determined based on the original, it is possible to calculate an approximate time required for requesting information data.

Still further, according to the present invention, the packets of the broadcast list data are sequentially decoded by seeing the change flag indicating that the content of the round broadcast in the data structure in the broadcast list data of the round broadcast has changed. There is no need, and the load on the CPU and decoder of the information device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast system to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining circulation broadcast data to which the present invention can be applied;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a receiving system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an information pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of identifying information data requested by a viewer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of capturing broadcast list data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 ... antenna & LNB section, 32 ... IRD block, 33 ... PC block, 41 ... tuner section, 42 ... demodulator section, 43 ... error correction section, 44 ... de Scramble section, 45, 64 ... demultiplexer section, 46 ... main control section,
47: IC card section, 48: user operation receiving section, 49: audio decoding section, 50: video decoding section, 51: graphic control section, 52,
68 ... modem section, 53 ... remote control, 61 ...
CPU, 62: ROM, 63: RAM, 65
..Input unit, 66 ... hard disk, 67 ... V
RAM, 69 monitor, 70 bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04L 12/18 H04L 11/18 H04N 7/08 H04N 7/08 Z 7/081

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A receiving device capable of receiving digital broadcasting,
In a data receiving system comprising an information device interconnected to the receiving device, a broadcast station broadcasts the information data in a circulating manner and broadcasts the list of information data currently being circulated. Means for receiving the information data requested by the viewer from among the information data currently being broadcasted on the basis of the list on the receiving device side; and Whether to receive the above information data,
Means for determining, based on the list, whether to receive the information data after making a broadcast request for the information data, and, if the information data requested by the viewer is not in the list, the information data After receiving the broadcast request, the receiving device receives an ID corresponding to the information data requested to be broadcast, and receives the information data using an ID broadcast together with the information data after a predetermined time. A data receiving system, characterized in that: 2. The data receiving system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the content of the orbital broadcast has changed based on the list, and the viewer requests the necessary information data. A data receiving system, characterized in that: