JP2002125181A - Digital broadcast system and digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast system that enables a user to control a digital broadcast receiver at home from a visit place by using e.g. a mobile phone or the like. SOLUTION: A user uses a mobile phone 40 having a Web function at a visit place to browse a program guide page and designates a program or the like desirably to be received by the digital broadcast receiver 29 at home on the page. Furthermore, the user enters an ID number (an ID number printed on an IC card 21A). The designated contents and the ID number are transmitted to a server 31 through the Internet 39. A digital broadcast enterprise device 30 sets the designated contents and the ID number on a digital broadcast wave. The digital broadcast receiver 29 of the user fetches the designated contents on the digital broadcast wave and automatically records the designated program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system and a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a digital broadcast using a satellite or a terrestrial wave selects an arbitrary broadcast wave from a plurality of broadcast waves received through a dedicated antenna or a terrestrial antenna using a tuner. , An arbitrary channel is selected from a plurality of channels included in the selected broadcast wave by demultiplex processing,
Take out the digital signal of this selected channel,
By decoding this, a video / audio signal can be output.

[0003] In such digital broadcasting, in addition to transmitting video and audio in the same manner as conventional analog broadcasting,
The program name, program details, program start time, program end time, and the like are also transmitted. On the receiver side, an electronic program guide (Electronic Program) using an OSD display circuit is provided.
The Guide screen display allows a viewer to select a desired program from among multi-channel broadcasts, make a reservation for viewing, make a reservation for recording, and the like.

[0004]

By the way, a video cassette recorder (VC) which receives an analog broadcast and records it.
In R), by providing a dedicated device called a remote commander that is used by connecting to a telephone line, it is possible to make a recording reservation for the VCR from outside.

[0005] However, if the remote commander is separately purchased and attached, the user bears the cost for the remote commander, and since the operation method by telephone differs somewhat for each VCR maker, it is not widely used. That is the fact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcasting system and a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus that can control a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus at home from outside the home by using, for example, a mobile phone. And

[0007]

According to the digital broadcasting system of the present invention, an information terminal and a server are connected via a network to solve the above-mentioned problems. Transmitting the ID number of the digital broadcast receiver of the user to the server,
The server sends the ID number and the input information to a digital broadcaster device, and the digital broadcaster device transmits command information based on the ID number and the input information on a digital broadcast wave, and transmits the digital broadcast receiving device. Receives command information addressed to its own device based on the ID number,
It is characterized by performing processing based on this command information.

With the above arrangement, the user can use the information terminal while away from home, input a command to be given to the digital broadcast receiver at home, and transmit the command to the server. The home digital broadcast receiving device receives the command by digital broadcast waves. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus performs its own processing based on the received instruction,
A control command is issued to a device under the control of the own device.

Also, in the digital broadcasting system of the present invention, an information terminal and a server are connected via a network, the server distributes a digital broadcast program page to a user's information terminal, and the information terminal transmits the digital broadcast program page on the page. The input program reservation information and the ID number of the user's digital broadcast receiving device are transmitted to the server, and the server sends the ID number and the program reservation information to the digital broadcast company device, and the digital broadcast company device The ID
The digital broadcast receiver transmits command information based on the ID number and the reservation information on a digital broadcast wave, receives the command information addressed to itself based on the ID number, and executes a program reservation process or program based on the command information. It is characterized in that it is configured to perform a scheduled recording process.

[0010] With the above arrangement, the user browses the digital broadcast program page distributed from the server using the information terminal while away from home, and on this page, the program desired to be received by the digital broadcast receiver at home. Etc. can be sent to the server. The home digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives the program reservation information by digital broadcast waves. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus performs a recording process based on the received program reservation information if the apparatus itself has a recording unit, and issues a recording instruction to the recording apparatus if there is no recording unit.

The information terminal is preferably a mobile phone having a built-in browser function.

Further, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention has a detecting means for detecting whether or not information addressed to the own apparatus is present in a received digital broadcast wave, and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus based on command information which is information addressed to the own apparatus. Processing means for performing processing of the apparatus or command processing to an apparatus under the control of the apparatus. A detection unit for detecting whether or not information addressed to the own device is present in the received digital broadcast wave; and a processing unit for performing a program reservation process or a program reservation recording process based on command information which is information addressed to the own device. , Is provided.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
4 to FIG. 4, in which the user
(Broadcasting Satellite) illustrates a case where a digital broadcast is viewed. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a digital broadcasting system according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation algorithm of the system, and FIG. 3 is a digital broadcasting system displayed on a display of a mobile phone. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 29 of this embodiment for receiving a BS digital broadcast.

In the digital broadcasting system shown in FIG.
Although the server 31 connected to the Internet 39 is shown as a component of the digital broadcaster apparatus 30, the present invention is not limited to such a form.
May exist in another location, and information may be transmitted from the server 31 to the broadcaster device 30. That is, it is not essential that the broadcaster device 30 is connected to the Internet 39.

The broadcaster device 30 includes the A broadcast station 36 and the B
The transport stream (TS) transmitted from the broadcast station 37 or the like is synthesized by the synthesizing unit 33, and the modulation / transmission unit 3
5 performs uplink to the satellite (BS) 38.

The server 31 has an HTML file storage unit and a program database (not shown). The storage unit stores “remote command entry page”, “program guide page”, and the like as HTML files. Each of the above HTMs from the mobile phone 40 having a Web function
When a URL specifying the location of the L file is sent,
The server 31 extracts the HTML file corresponding to the URL and returns it to the mobile phone 40.

The mobile phone 40 displays an HTML file on a display by using a built-in browser.
When the HTML file is a “remote command entry page”, a browse page as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display. When a predetermined button is operated by changing the color of “Digital program reservation” on this page, the server 31
Sends a “program guide page” to the mobile phone 40. At this time, a program guide is displayed on the display of the mobile phone 40, for example, as shown in FIG. In this example of the program guide, several hours for one channel are shown for the day, but a predetermined button of the mobile phone 40 is operated to change a display channel or change (scroll) the display time. be able to. When an operation of instructing scheduled recording is performed by changing the color of a desired program on the program table, information specifying the program is sent to the server 31. When the server 31 obtains the information for specifying the program, the server 31 sends to the mobile phone 40 a page in which the detailed information of the program and the ID number (the ID number printed on the IC card 21A) are displayed. The user confirms the reserved recording program based on the detailed information, operates the numeric keypad of the mobile phone 40, inputs an ID number, and transmits. The ID number may be stored in the mobile phone 40 in advance, and the ID number may be automatically input to the ID number input unit by performing a predetermined operation. In addition, the processing may be such that the reservation of a plurality of programs requires only one input of the ID number.

The server 31 stores the program identification information and the ID number transmitted from the portable telephone 40 into the reservation information insertion unit 3.
Give to 2. As the program specifying information given to the reservation information inserting unit 32, information combining a channel number and a start / end time can be considered.

The reservation information insertion unit 32 packetizes the program specifying information and the ID number and provides the packet to the synthesizing unit 33. In addition,
A mail service has been already known as an information delivery service for individually addressing the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 29 by ID number. The synthesizing unit 33 synthesizes the packet and a packet such as a video, converts the packet into a transmission frame, modulates the
This is given to the transmission unit 35. The modulator / transmitter 35 modulates the transmission frame, places it on a radio wave, and sends it out to a satellite (BS) 38. The satellite 38 supplies the received radio waves to the ground.

Next, the digital broadcast receiver 29 is shown in FIG.
It will be explained based on. The antenna 1 is arranged outdoors in a predetermined direction, and receives a digital broadcast wave transmitted from a satellite 38. This antenna 1
Generally has a frequency converter, and provides a tuner 2 with a received / frequency-converted signal.

The tuner 2 extracts a signal of a specific frequency from a high-frequency digital modulation signal including video and audio data. That is, a process of selecting one from a plurality of digital broadcast transponders is performed. Further, the tuner 2 includes a demodulation circuit, a deinterleave circuit, an error correction circuit, and the like, and thereby demodulates the selected digital modulation signal and outputs a transport stream.

The demultiplexer (DEMUX) 3 converts the transport stream received from the tuner 2 into an MPEG2 (Moving Picture Ex
parts transport group 2) video transport packet, audio transport packet, and P
SI (Program Specific Inform)
mate). The demultiplexer 3 supplies the video transport packet and the audio transport packet to the AV decoder 4 and supplies accessory information included in the PSI to the CPU 13. As described above, a plurality of channels are multiplexed in the transport stream, and a process for selecting an arbitrary channel from the multiplexed channel is performed by selecting an arbitrary channel from the PSI in the transport stream. This becomes possible by extracting data such as whether the data is multiplexed by the packet ID. Further, the selection of the transport stream (the selection of the transponder) can also be performed based on the PSI information. Further, the auxiliary information includes program information (program contents, program start time, program end time, genre information, and the like). Further, it is possible to separate and acquire the ID number insertion packet based on the PSI.

The AV decoder 4 includes a video decoder for decoding video transport packets and an audio decoder for decoding audio transport packets. The video decoder is
The input variable length code is decoded to obtain a quantization coefficient and a motion vector, and inverse DCT transform and motion compensation control based on the motion vector are performed. The audio decoder generates audio data by decoding the input coded signal. The video data generated by the decoding is output to the video processing circuit 5, and the audio data is output to the audio processing circuit 6.

The video processing circuit 5 receives video data from the AV decoder 4 and performs D / A conversion.
Convert to a C format composite signal. The audio signal processing circuit 6 receives the audio data output from the AV decoder 4, performs D / A conversion, and generates, for example, a right (R) sound analog signal and a left (L) sound analog signal.

Each of the video output circuit 7 and the audio output circuit 8 includes an output resistor, an amplifier, and the like. The AV output terminal 9 is provided with an output unit (a set of left and right audio output terminals and the like and a set of video output terminals). One output unit has a video / audio code 1
A VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) 16 is connected by 7 and a monitor 18 having an image receiving unit 18a and a speaker 18b by a video / audio code 19 at another output unit.
Is connected.

An OSD (on-screen display) circuit 12 outputs bitmap data based on character information or the like instructed by the CPU 13 to the adder 20. The adder 20 performs a process of incorporating the bitmap data into an image. The OSD circuit 12 causes the CPU 13 to receive an EPG (Electronic Program Gu) based on the service information included in the PSI.
ide) Screen display is realized.

The IC card 21A stores key information for enabling viewing of a pay program and a PPV to be charged for each program.
(Pay-per-view) Stores purchase history information of a program. Further, since the ID number is printed on the IC card 21A, the user can know the ID number. C
The A module 21 performs a writing process and a reading process of various information between the CPU 13 and the IC card 21A. Thereby, the CPU 13 can recognize the ID number of the own device and determine whether the ID of the ID number insertion packet is the ID of the own device. Will do.

The memory 14 stores program information and program reservation (recording reservation) information.

The remote control transmitter 10 is a transmitter for sending a command to the broadcast receiving device 29. When a key (not shown) provided on the remote control transmitter 10 is operated, a signal light (remote control signal) indicating a command corresponding to the key is transmitted from a light emitting unit (not shown). The remote control light receiver 11 receives the signal light, converts the signal light into an electric signal, and supplies the electric signal to the CPU 13.

The CPU 13 not only performs processing such as recording reservation by the remote control transmitter 10, but also performs processing such as recording reservation based on command information addressed to the own apparatus which is transmitted on digital broadcast waves. . The difference between these two recording reservation processes is whether the CPU 13 performs the process based on command information from the remote control light receiver 11 or based on command information placed on a digital broadcast wave. Are, for example, the selected channel number and the program start / end time, and there is no particular difference in the basic processing of the recording reservation based on the command information.

The external device remote control transmitter 15 is a VCR 1
The transmitter transmits a signal light (remote control signal) from a light emitting unit (not shown) based on a control signal output from the CPU 13. The CPU 13
Command processing based on a remote control code in the VCR of each company can be performed. When a command is issued to the VCR 16, the external device remote control transmitter 15 is driven based on the remote control code used in the VCR 16.

Next, the operation algorithm of the digital broadcasting system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The server 31 in the broadcaster device 30 publishes a digital broadcast program guide on the Internet Web (step S1). The user accesses the page of the program guide using the browser function of the mobile phone 40 (step S).
2) Specify a reserved program and input an ID number, and transmit it to the server 31 through the Internet 39 (step S3).

[0033] The broadcaster device 30 has its server 31
Receiving the reservation content and the ID number (step S
4) The contents of the reservation and the ID number are transmitted on a satellite with the digital broadcast wave (step S5). The user's digital broadcast receiving device 29 receives the reservation content and the ID number placed on the digital broadcast wave (step S6),
It is determined whether the received ID number is its own ID number (step S7). If it is the ID number of the own device, the reservation content is taken into the device (step S8). And
It monitors whether or not the current time has reached the time indicated by the reservation content. When the current time arrives, the channel is switched to the channel indicated by the reservation content and the reception process is executed. To execute a recording operation (step S9).

As described above, according to the digital broadcasting system, the user browses the program guide page using the mobile phone 40 while away from home, and on this page, the program desired to be received by the digital broadcast receiver 29 at home. Etc. can be specified. Then, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 29 at home receives the recording reservation command addressed to itself by a digital broadcast wave, and performs automatic recording. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the user, a command can be issued to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 29 at home from outside the home by using the Web function of the mobile phone 40 which the user is familiar with. And
A dedicated device called a conventional remote commander becomes unnecessary.

In the above example, the VCR 16 is used for recording. However, when the digital broadcast receiver 29 has a recording function (cassette tape recording, hard disk recording, etc.), the external device remote controller transmitter 15 is used. You can record directly without using it. External device remote control transmitter 1
5 and the digital broadcast receiver 29 and the VCR 16
May be used as a device control interface that connects the devices via a cable.

In the above example, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 29 controls the VCR 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the digital broadcast receiver 2
9 and home equipment (air conditioner, bath water heater, electric lock, shutter, etc.) are interfaced (for example, IE
When connected via EE1394 or the like, the digital broadcast receiving device 29 can control the above devices. Specifically, when "others" is selected in the "remote command entrance page" shown in FIG. 3A, a page for giving a command to the air conditioner is displayed, and ON / OFF displayed on this page is displayed. In the display,
For example, by changing the color of the ON signal and transmitting the signal, the contents of the command are transmitted to the digital broadcast receiving device 29 via the server and the broadcaster device on a digital broadcast wave. When the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 29 receives the above command content, it issues a command to turn on the air conditioner through the interface. As described above, remote operation such as turning on the air conditioner from outside can be easily performed using the mobile phone 40. Instead of using the “remote command entrance page” described above, the ID number and the command content (for example, “air conditioner on”) may be entered in the e-mail and sent to the server 31 to send the ID number and the command. The content can be obtained by the server 31.

The use of the mobile phone 40 seems to be the most convenient, but the same command is given to the server by using a personal computer or the like connected to the Internet when away from home. An instruction can be given to the digital broadcast receiving device at home via a digital broadcast wave via the device.

Although the description has been given of BS digital broadcasting as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to CS digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, and the like.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, a browsing page is fetched from a server on the Web using an information terminal that can be connected to a net, and the contents of a command are transmitted to the server on this page. Since the server can further provide the above-mentioned instruction contents to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus at home via the broadcaster apparatus by digital broadcast waves, for example, the user can view the program table on the information terminal while away from home, Of the home broadcasts on the information terminal via the digital broadcast receiving device.
It is possible to execute an operation such as OFF.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a digital broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation algorithm of the digital broadcasting system.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a browse page displayed on a display of a mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a digital broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Antenna 2 Tuner 3 Demultiplexer (DEMUX) 4 AV Decoder 10 Remote Control Transmitter 13 CPU 15 External Device Remote Control Transmitter 16 VCR 21 CA Module 21A IC Card 29 Digital Broadcast Receiver 30 Broadcaster Device 31 Server 39 Internet 40 Mobile phone

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 7/173 630 5C064 7/08 5/782 Z 7/081 7/08 Z 7/173 630 F-term (reference) 5C018 HA10 5C025 AA30 BA14 BA25 CA09 CA19 CB08 DA01 DA04 5C052 AA01 AB02 CC01 DD04 EE08 5C056 AA01 BA01 BA08 CA05 CA13 CA15 CA19 5C063 AA01 AB03 AB07 AB11 AC01 AC05 AC10 CA23 BC07 DA07 BC21 BC23 BC25 BD02 BD03 BD08 BD09

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information terminal and a server are connected via a network, the information terminal transmits information input by a user and an ID number of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the user to the server, and the server transmits a digital broadcast to the server. The ID number and the input information are sent to the broadcaster device, the digital broadcaster device sends the command information based on the ID number and the input information on a digital broadcast wave, and the digital broadcast receiving device sends the ID number to the ID number. A digital broadcast system configured to receive command information addressed to the own device based on the command information, and to perform processing based on the command information. 2. An information terminal and a server are connected via a network, the server distributes a digital broadcast program page to a user's information terminal, and the information terminal receives program reservation information and usage information entered on the page. Transmits the ID number of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the broadcaster to the server, the server sends the ID number and the program reservation information to the digital broadcaster apparatus, and the digital broadcaster apparatus transmits the ID number and the reservation information to the digital broadcaster apparatus. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives the command information addressed to itself based on the ID number, and transmits the command information based on the digital broadcast wave,
A digital broadcast system configured to perform program reservation processing or program reservation recording processing based on the command information. 3. The digital broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein said information terminal is a mobile phone having a built-in browser function. 4. A detecting means for detecting whether or not information addressed to the own device is present in a received digital broadcast wave, and processing performed by the own device or under control of the own device based on command information which is information addressed to the own device. Processing means for performing command processing to the device in the
A digital broadcast receiving device comprising: 5. A detecting means for detecting whether or not information addressed to the own device is present in a received digital broadcast wave, and performing a program reservation process or a program reserved recording process based on command information which is information addressed to the own device. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, comprising: processing means.