JP2002344399A - Information distribution system, information distribution device, and receiving terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a distribution system that distributes highly individualized multimedia information at a low communication cost and in a form that maintains consistency. SOLUTION: The information content of each receiving terminal 100 is distributed in advance as a pre-read content 4T by a non-real-time communication line 20 and recorded in a storage device 70 of the receiving terminal 100. The stored video 71 is read out based on an instruction of the playback control information 6-1 from the service provider, and is output instead of the information content 5 distributed on the real-time communication line 11 (2M-
1).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information distribution service using digital transmission such as satellite broadcasting, a cable network, and a public network. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for distributing media having high real-time properties such as video and audio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information providing services for distributing multimedia information including video, audio, data, and the like to homes using a digital communication network have become widespread. Multimedia information providing services include digital television broadcasting using satellite communications, and WWW on the Internet.
(World Wide Web) Browsing and digital cable television are widely used.

In these information providing services, information from individual media such as video, audio and data is digitized and multiplexed and transferred on one line. Also,
Video and audio are stored in MPEG (Moving a Picture Expert)
s Group) or the like and is compressed and transferred.
With this communication multiplexing technology and information compression technology, a service for distributing a large amount of various information has been realized.

[0004] In the information providing service, the realization of a technology for distributing individual information to each receiver and the handling of a delivery delay are issues. First, a technique for distributing individual information to each recipient will be described.

One of the requirements for the information providing service is the personality of the information provided by the service. In an information providing service with high personality, different information can be distributed to each recipient. For example, in Video On Demand (VOD), video contents requested by individual viewers are distributed at desired times. Conversely, in information provision services with low personality,
Only the same information can be delivered to all recipients. For example,
In each channel of conventional television broadcasting, the same video content is broadcast in common to all viewers. from now on,
With the diversification of recipient preferences, the demand for highly personalized information providing services is expected to increase.

A requirement that has a trade-off relationship with personality is communication cost. In order to distribute individual information for each recipient, individual communication resources are required for each recipient, and communication costs are high. Conversely, in order to lower the communication cost, it is necessary to share communication resources in distribution to a plurality of recipients, so that personality is reduced.

[0007] Therefore, it is an issue to realize an information providing service that balances personality and communication cost. In the following two prior arts, the above problem is solved by partially adding information for each subscriber to information distributed to all recipients.

(Conventional technology 1) FIG.
A digital television broadcasting service described in US Pat. No. 5,070,755 for distributing commercial video for each subscriber is shown.

[0009] A service provider 1000 ′ and a plurality of subscriber receiving terminals 100 ′ are connected by a real-time communication line 10. On the real-time communication line 10, common program contents (1T-
1, 1T-2) is transferred. In a predetermined time zone between program contents, commercial contents 2T are distributed to all subscriber receiving terminals. The commercial content 2T includes a plurality of different contents (CM1, CM2,
...) are multiplexed and distributed simultaneously. In the subscriber receiving terminal 100 ', one content CM1 is selected from the plurality of commercial contents by the commercial selection mechanism 55 and displayed (2M-1). As an example of the commercial selection mechanism 55, there is one that allows a viewer to select a commercial to be viewed by menu display or the like.

(Conventional technology 2) FIG.
No. 64516 describes a digital television broadcasting service for distributing commercial video different for each subscriber.

The service provider 1000 ″ and the plurality of subscriber receiving terminals 100 ″ are connected by a real-time communication line 10 and a non-real-time communication line 20. On the real-time communication line 10, a common program content 1T is transferred to all the subscriber receiving terminals 100 ''.

On the non-real-time communication line 20, the commercial content 2T is transferred in advance before displaying it. The subscriber receiving terminal 100 ″ is a hard disk (H
DD) 65, and stores the received commercial content in the HDD 65.

[0013] The commercial insertion mechanism 56 of the subscriber receiving terminal 100 "independently determines the time to display the commercial. For example, commercials are displayed at regular intervals. When the commercial display time comes, the commercial insertion mechanism 56 selects one of all the commercial contents (2R-1, 2R-2,...) Stored in the HDD 65 and displays it. In selecting commercial content, by reflecting viewer preferences,
A commercial 2M-1 corresponding to each viewer can be displayed.

Next, another problem in the information providing service, that is, the response to the delivery delay will be described.

As described above, since the video and the audio are compressed and transmitted, the receiving terminal receiving the video and the audio needs to decode it. For this reason, it takes a relatively long time from when the receiver requests the service provider to deliver the information to when the information is actually acquired. For example, in BS digital broadcasting, it takes about several seconds before contents of a new channel are displayed at the time of channel switching. This is largely due to the delay caused by the fact that decoding of digitally compressed information can only be started from a predetermined data alignment. On the other hand, in the conventional analog television broadcasting, the receiver can search for a desired program (channel surfing) while switching channels at high speed.

[0016] Therefore, it is an issue to realize a mechanism for searching information at high speed in an information providing service, particularly in a video distribution service. In the related art described below, an attempt is made to solve a delivery delay at the time of channel switching in a video delivery service by using an HDD of a receiving terminal.

(Conventional technology 3) FIG.
64516 describes a video distribution service for displaying a video stored on a hard disk when no video is received.

The service provider 1000 '''and the plurality of subscriber receiving terminals 100''' are connected by real-time communication lines 10 lines. On the real-time communication line 10,
A common video content is transferred to all subscriber receiving terminals. There are two types of video content,
That is, the program content (1T-1, 1T-2,...) Distributed in real time at the time of viewing and the hard disk (HD
D) Prefetch video 4T-1 recorded in 65 exists.

Image insertion unit 5 of subscriber receiving terminal 100 ""
Reference numeral 7 monitors the reception state of the program contents (1T-1, 1T-2) on the real-time communication line 10, and the non-reception state 4000 due to a distribution delay at the time of channel switching.
Is detected, the prefetched video 4R-1 in the HDD 65 is inserted. As a result, it is possible to avoid a video non-display state (blackout) that occurs when a channel is switched or a reception error occurs.

[0020]

In the future, with the diversification of the tastes of the recipients, the demand for information providing services with high personality is expected to increase. On the contrary,
In the above prior art 1, the number of selectable commercial contents is limited to a small value depending on the capacity of the real-time communication line 10. For example, in BS digital television broadcasting, up to about four standard quality video contents can be multiplexed. With a few options, it is difficult to respond to the diversity of user preferences.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned prior art 2, since the content is selected from the commercial contents recorded on the hard disk 65, it is possible to realize many options without being limited by the capacity of the communication line. However, since the receiving terminal determines the timing for displaying the commercial without considering the program content, the commercial 2M-1 is displayed in a form that hides the main scene of the program content 1M as shown in FIG. there is a possibility. In the prior art 2, a matching condition for content display that a commercial is inserted into program content so as not to be overwritten is not satisfied.

As a countermeasure against blackout due to a distribution delay in the video distribution service, in the above-mentioned prior art 3, when a program content cannot be received, a prefetched video stored in the hard disk 65 is displayed. However, the prior art 3 cannot be applied to the program search by channel surfing because the prefetched video to be inserted is irrelevant to the program content distributed at the channel switching destination.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above conventional problems, and has an information distribution system capable of inserting a second information content only during a predetermined period of a distributed first information content. Second only during the period
To provide an information distribution device that distributes a first information content that allows insertion of the first information content, and a receiving terminal that can insert the second information content during a predetermined period of the first information content. Aim.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receiving terminal that outputs information related to a channel after or before channel switching until channel switching is completed, and an information distribution system.

[0025]

According to a first invention (corresponding to claim 1), a first apparatus for distributing a first information content while intermittently sandwiching an inserted portion for a predetermined period, and a first apparatus for distributing the first information content are provided. A second device for receiving the first information content from the device, the first device having a transmission unit for distributing the first information content and transmitting instruction information relating to the inserted portion. The second device uses a receiving unit that receives the first information content and the instruction information from the first device, a storage unit that stores second information content, and the instruction information. A creating unit that creates the output information content without inserting or inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit into the inserted unit that is received in real time by the receiving unit, Create It is an information distribution system and an output unit for outputting the output information content.

According to the first invention, it is possible to provide an amount of information content exceeding the transmission capacity of the communication channel in a consistent manner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the insertion destination delivered from the first device, wherein a predetermined third information content exists and is replaced with the second information content and output. An information distribution system according to the first invention, wherein the information is output without being replaced by the second information content.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first device comprises the first device.
Distributing the second information content using the same real-time communication line as that of the second information content, or distributing the second information content using a non-real-time communication line, wherein the second device transmits the second information content An information distribution system according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, which receives the information.

According to the third aspect, the dynamically changing second information content can be used as information to be combined with the first information content distributed in real time.

According to a fourth aspect, in the information distribution according to any one of the first to third aspects, the instruction information includes information on a time or a place of the inserted part in the first information content. System.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the instruction information includes a first to fourth content identifiers indicating a type of the second information content used by the creation unit to create the output information content. An information distribution system according to any one of the inventions.

According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to combine the second information content in the storage unit with the first information content distributed in real time while maintaining consistency.

[0033] In a sixth aspect, the second device is characterized in that the holding unit holds history information on the first information content selected by the user in the past, and the second information content stored in the storage unit. And a selecting unit for selecting any of the second information contents stored in the storage unit based on the history information held in the holding unit when there are a plurality of The unit is the information distribution system according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the second information content selected by the selection unit is used for creating the output information content.

According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to provide information content suitable for each viewer for each viewer.

According to a seventh aspect (corresponding to claim 2), the transmitting section for distributing the first information content while intermittently interposing the inserted section for a predetermined period and transmitting instruction information on the inserted section. An information distribution device comprising: a receiving terminal receiving the first information content from the information distribution device, the receiving terminal receiving the first information content from the information distribution device and the instruction information; Receiving section, a storage section for storing second information content, and the second section stored in the storage section in the inserted section that is received in real time by the receiving section using the instruction information. A creation unit for creating the output information content with or without inserting the second information content, and an output unit for outputting the output information content created by the creation unit; That is an information distribution device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the inserted portion distributed from the information distribution device, a predetermined third information content exists and is replaced with the second information content and output. An information distribution apparatus according to a seventh aspect, wherein the information is output without being replaced by the second information content.

In a ninth aspect, the information distribution device distributes the second information content using the same real-time communication line as the first information content, or the second information content is transmitted using a non-real-time communication line. The information distribution device according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the information terminal distributes the information content, and the receiving terminal receives the second information content.

According to a tenth aspect, in the information delivery system according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the instruction information includes information on a time or a place of the inserted part in the first information content. Device.

In an eleventh aspect, the instruction information includes a content identifier that indicates a type of the second information content used by the creation unit to create the output information content. An information distribution apparatus according to any one of the above aspects.

[0040] In a twelfth aspect, the receiving terminal comprises: a holding unit for holding history information relating to the first information content selected by the user in the past; and a second information content stored in the storage unit. A selecting unit that selects any of the second information contents stored in the storage unit based on the history information held in the holding unit when there are a plurality of the plurality of pieces of information, Is the information distribution apparatus according to any one of the seventh to eleventh inventions, wherein the second information content selected by the selection unit is used to create the output information content.

According to a thirteenth invention (corresponding to claim 3), an information distribution for distributing first information content while intermittently sandwiching an inserted portion for a predetermined period and transmitting instruction information on the inserted portion is provided. A receiving unit that receives the first information content and the instruction information from the device, a storage unit that stores the second information content, and the target that is received in real time by the receiving unit using the instruction information. A creation unit that creates the output information content without inserting or inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit into the insertion unit, and an output that outputs the output information content created by the creation unit And a receiving terminal.

According to a fourteenth aspect (corresponding to claim 4), a predetermined third information content exists in the inserted portion distributed from the information distribution device and is replaced with the second information content. The receiving terminal according to the thirteenth invention, wherein the receiving terminal is output without being replaced or is output without being replaced with the second information content.

According to a fifteenth invention (corresponding to claim 5), the information distribution device distributes the second information content using the same real-time communication line as the first information content, or performs non-real-time communication. The second using the line
And the receiving terminal is the receiving terminal according to the thirteenth or fourteenth invention for receiving the second information content.

According to a sixteenth aspect (corresponding to claim 6), any of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects, wherein the instruction information includes information on a time or a place of the inserted part in the first information content. A receiving terminal according to the invention.

In a seventeenth aspect (corresponding to claim 7), the instruction information includes a content identifier indicating the type of the second information content used by the creation unit to create the output information content. A receiving terminal according to any one of the thirteenth to sixteenth aspects of the invention.

According to an eighteenth aspect (corresponding to claim 8), the storage unit for storing history information relating to the first information content selected by the user in the past, and the second information stored in the storage unit A selecting unit that selects any of the second information contents stored in the storage unit based on the history information held in the holding unit when a plurality of contents exist; The unit is the receiving terminal according to any one of the thirteenth to seventeenth aspects, wherein the second information content selected by the selection unit is used for creating the output information content.

In the first to eighteenth aspects,
The first information content is a program content, and the second information content is a second content.
May be commercial content.

A nineteenth invention (corresponding to claim 9) comprises a first device for distributing information content and a second device for receiving the information content from the first device, wherein the second device is A receiving unit that receives the information content from the first device, an output unit that outputs the information content received by the receiving unit, a storage unit that stores related content related to the information content, A detecting unit for detecting a channel switching instruction from a user of the second device, and, when the detecting unit detects the channel switching instruction, the related unit until the channel switching in the receiving unit is substantially completed. A reading unit that reads out the content from the storage unit, wherein the output unit switches the channel in the receiving unit until the switching is substantially completed. During a data distribution system for outputting related content read by the reading unit.

According to the nineteenth aspect, it is possible to search for desired information content at high speed while switching channels, and to provide a consistent amount of information content exceeding the transmission capacity of a communication channel. Can be.

In a twentieth aspect, the first device distributes the related content related to the information content prior to the information content, and the second device transmits the first content to the first content.
An information distribution system according to a nineteenth aspect, wherein the related content is received from a device.

According to the twentieth aspect, desired information contents can be searched at high speed while switching channels, and dynamically changes as information to be synthesized with information contents distributed in real time. Related content can be used.

A twenty-first invention is the information distribution system according to the nineteenth or twentieth invention, wherein the first device also distributes a content identifier indicating the type of the related content read by the reading unit. .

According to the twenty-first aspect, a desired information content can be searched at high speed while switching channels, and the related content in the storage unit is matched with the information content distributed in real time. It can be kept and synthesized.

In a twenty-second aspect, the second device has a holding unit for holding history information on information contents selected by the user in the past, and there are a plurality of the related contents stored in the storage unit. In the case, the reading unit selects any one of the related contents stored in the storage unit based on the history information held in the holding unit, and reads the selected related content from the nineteenth step. An information distribution system according to any one of the twentieth inventions.

According to the twenty-second aspect, desired information content can be searched at high speed while switching channels, and related content suitable for each viewer can be provided for each viewer.

According to a twenty-third invention (corresponding to claim 10), a receiving unit for receiving information content from an information distribution device,
An output unit that outputs the information content received by the receiving unit, a storage unit that stores related content related to the information content, a detection unit that detects a channel switching instruction from a user, and the detection unit. A reading unit that reads out the related content from the storage unit until the switching of the channel in the receiving unit is substantially completed, when the channel switching instruction is detected, and the output unit includes: The receiving terminal outputs the related content read by the reading unit until the channel switching is substantially completed.

According to a twenty-fourth invention (corresponding to claim 11), the information distribution device distributes the related content related to the information content prior to the information content, and the receiving terminal transmits the information content from the information distribution device. A receiving terminal according to a twenty-third aspect for receiving the related content.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect (corresponding to claim 12), in the twenty-third or twenty-fourth aspect, the information distribution device also distributes a content identifier indicating the type of the related content read by the reading unit. It is a receiving terminal of the description.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect (corresponding to claim 13), there is provided a holding unit for holding history information on information contents selected by a user in the past, and a plurality of the related contents stored in the storage unit exist. In the case, the reading unit selects any one of the related contents stored in the storage unit based on the history information held in the holding unit, and reads out the selected related content from the 23rd. A receiving terminal according to any one of the twenty-fifth inventions.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect (corresponding to claim 14), in the information distribution system according to the first aspect, the first device distributes the first information content and relates to the inserted portion. The sending unit for transmitting instruction information, the receiving unit for receiving the first information content and the instruction information from the first device in the second device, and the storage for storing second information content Unit, and inserts or does not insert the second information content stored in the storage unit into the inserted portion received in real time by the receiving unit using the instruction information, and outputs the output information content. A program for causing a computer to function as all or a part of the creation unit to be created and the output unit to output the output information content created by the creation unit. A gram.

A twenty-eighth invention (corresponding to claim 15) is the information delivery device according to the seventh invention, wherein the first information content is delivered while intermittently interposing the inserted portion for a predetermined period, A program for causing a computer to function as all or a part of the sending unit that transmits the instruction information regarding the inserted portion.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect (corresponding to claim 16), the receiving terminal according to the thirteenth aspect distributes the first information content while intermittently interposing the inserted portion during a predetermined period, and Utilizing the instruction information, the receiving unit receiving the first information content and the instruction information from the information distribution device transmitting the instruction information regarding the inserted part, the storage unit storing the second information content, and using the instruction information The creating unit for creating the output information content without inserting or inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit into the inserted portion received in real time by the receiving unit; A program for causing a computer to function as all or part of the output unit that outputs the output information content created by the creation unit.

According to a thirtieth invention (corresponding to claim 17), in the receiving terminal according to the twenty-third invention, the receiving section for receiving information content from the information distribution device, and the receiving section receiving the information content by the receiving section. The output unit that outputs information content, the storage unit that stores related content related to the information content, the detection unit that detects a channel switching instruction from a user, and the detection unit outputs a channel switching instruction. If detected, until the switching of the channel in the receiving unit is substantially completed,
A program for causing a computer to function as all or part of the reading unit that reads the related content from the storage unit.

To further explain an example of the present invention, in an information distribution system as an example of the present invention, information content common to all recipients is distributed in real time by a real-time communication line, and information content individual to a recipient is non-real-time. It is distributed in advance by a communication line and recorded in the storage device of the receiving terminal. Thereby, many information contents can be distributed without being limited by the physical capacity of the real-time communication line.

Further, the reading of the information content from the recording device is controlled by the distribution service provider using the control information propagated through the real-time communication line. With this read control, it is possible to reproduce the information content stored in the storage device while maintaining consistency with the information content transmitted on the real-time line.

In the information distribution system as an example of the present invention, a short-time summary content (that is, about the time required for switching the information source) related to each information content is distributed through the non-real-time communication line, and The summary content related to the information content of the switching destination is recorded in the storage device during the switching of the information source, and is reproduced. As a result, it is possible to search for desired program content while switching information sources at high speed.

[0067]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an information distribution system according to Embodiment 1. Service Provider 1
000, a plurality of recipients (2
000-1,...) From the information source 500 (for example, the program content 1S). Recipient 2
000-1 includes a receiving terminal 100 that receives data on the communication line 3000, a monitor 200 that displays a video signal output by the receiving terminal 100, and a remote controller 201 that transmits a user operation to the receiving terminal 100. The communication line 3000 includes a real-time communication line 10 for transferring data that requires real-time properties, and a non-real-time communication line 20 for transferring data to which transmission delay is allowed. A plurality of real-time communication channels (11, 12,...) That can communicate independently are multiplexed on the real-time communication line 10.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the service provider 1000. The service provider 1000 includes a distribution control unit 310 that controls the overall operation, and a distribution unit 3 that executes information transmission.
00 and an information source 500 storing information to be distributed.

The service provider 1000 has one information source (5) for each real-time communication channel (11, 12,...).
00-1, 500-2, ...). These information sources hold program contents (for example, 1S-1) transmitted in real time on one real-time communication channel. The service provider 1000 also has a common information source 501 that stores contents transmitted on the non-real-time communication line 20. The common information source 501 includes commercial contents 2S and program contents (1S-
1, 1S-2,...) Is stored as a program summary content 3S that represents a content of several seconds.

The distribution section 300 has transmission sections (301-1, 301-2,...) For executing information transmission for each non-real-time communication channel (11, 12,...). Sending unit 301
-1 sends out the content from the information source (500-1) and the control packet generator (302-1).
There is a packet (for example, a reproduction control packet 6-1 to be described later) generated by the program for controlling the receiving operation. As contents from the information source (500-1), in addition to the program contents (1T-1, 1T-2), commercials (default inserted contents 5) that are determined to be inserted between program contents at the time of program composition are determined. There is).

The non-real-time communication line 20 is used in order to provide the receiver-specific commercial content instead of the default insertion content 5. The non-real-time distribution unit 303 of the distribution unit uses the non-real-time communication line 20 to transfer the content on the common information source 501 as the pre-read content 4T before the content is needed.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the receiving terminal 100. The receiving terminal 100 includes a processor 50 for controlling the entire operation.
A remote control signal receiving unit 60 for receiving a signal from the remote control 201; a decoder 40 for converting the content into a video signal; a video hard disk 70 for recording the content; and a control hard disk 80 for recording the control information And a recording unit 30 for performing recording on the video hard disk 70, a reproducing unit 31 for performing readout from the video hard disk 70, and a control bus 51 for connecting these elements.

The receiving terminal 100 has a tuner 1 (9-1) for receiving data from one real-time communication channel 11, and a tuner 2 (9-) for receiving data from a non-real-time communication line 20. 2). The content (for example, 1T-1) received by the tuner 1 (9-1) is transferred to the decoder 40 in real time. The processor 50 includes a tuner 1 (9-
The program content received in 1) is monitored, and the history is recorded in the viewing history 8 in the control HDD 80. Pre-read content 4T received by tuner 2 (9-2)
Is stored in the video HDD 70 by the recording unit 30.
Is stored as The stored video 71 is stored in the control HDD 80
It is managed by the stored video information 7 inside.

FIG. 4 shows the format of the stored video information 7 and the viewing history 8 existing in the control HDD 80.

The storage video information 7 includes a storage video name 710 for uniquely identifying a target storage video, and a required time 720 indicating a time required for displaying the target storage video.
, A valid period 730 indicating a period during which the target storage video is recorded, and an attribute 740 indicating characteristics of the target storage video
And a genre classification 750 for classifying the target stored video into genres. The attribute 740 includes a plurality of attribute values (741). For example, the attributes 740 of the stored video “Matsushita Electric's new refrigerator commercial” are “content type = commercial”, “provider = Matsushita Electric”, “subject = home electric appliance”, and “subtitle 1 = refrigerator”. The genre classification 750 is represented by a degree of belonging 751 that indicates the degree to which the target stored video is related to genres such as sports, music, cooking, and interior. For example, a saved video "Matsushita Electric's new refrigerator commercial"
The genre classification 750 is “attribution degree to food = 80
% "And" degree of belonging to interior = 10% ".

The viewing history 8 shows the genre 81
It is composed of a history entry 800 indicating how frequently the program belonging to 0 is watched 820, and is used to estimate the preference of the receiver. For example, the viewing history 8 of a certain recipient is “sports = 5%”, “music = 10%”,
If “cooking = 50%” and “interior = 20%”, it can be determined that this recipient is interested in cooking.

In the monitor output 90 shown in FIG. 3, program contents 1 (1M-1) and program contents 2 (1M-2)
, Instead of the default insertion content 5 transferred on the real-time communication channel 1 (11), the commercial content 1 recorded on the video HDD
(2R-1) is monitored and output (2M-1). Such a stored image 71 recorded on the image HDD.
Of the service provider 100 via the reproduction control packet 1 (6-1) on the real-time communication line 1 (11).
Controlled by 0.

FIG. 5 shows the format of the reproduction control packet 6. The reproduction control packet 6 includes a reproduction time instruction 610 for specifying a time zone in which the stored video is reproduced, and a reproduction content instruction 620 for identifying the stored video to be reproduced.
Consists of

The reproduction time instruction 610 includes a start time 611 indicating the time to start reproduction and a required time 612 indicating the duration of reproduction. For example, in the reproduction control packet 1 (6-1) of FIG. 3, the reproduction time instruction 610 indicates a time segment occupied by the default insertion content 5.

The reproduction content instruction 620 includes a default fitness 621 indicating a condition for replacing the default insertion content 5 with the stored video 71 and a condition specification 630 indicating a condition for limiting the stored video to be reproduced.
The condition specification 630 is a set of conditions 631 representing the realization values that the attributes of the stored video should have. For example,
The playback control packet related to “15-second commercial of Matsushita Electric Home Appliances” has conditional specifications 630 of “content type = commercial”, “provider = Matsushita Electric”, and “subject = home electric appliances”. The reproduction control packet 6 is an example of the instruction information.

FIG. 6 shows a reproduction control algorithm of the stored video in the processor 50. When the reproduction control packet 6 is received (900), first, a set of stored reproducible videos is searched based on the instruction of the received reproduction control packet 6 (910). Next, one of the retrieved reproducible stored video groups that is most suitable for the viewer's preference is determined based on the viewing history 8 (920).

After that, the reproduction of the determined optimal stored image is reserved (930). Each step in the reproduction control packet receiving process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the “processing of searching for a set of reproducible stored images” 910, the information (see FIG. 5) of the received reproduction control packet 6 and the stored image information 7 (see FIG. 4) are used for the video. From the stored video 71 recorded in the HDD 70, a reproducible subset is identified. For each video information 700 in the stored video information, it is checked in step 913 whether the required time 720 of each video information matches the required time 612 specified by the reproduction control packet, and step 914.
Then, it is checked whether the attribute 740 of the video information conforms to the condition specification 630 specified by the reproduction control packet.
The video information 700 that passes these two checks is added to the “set of reproducible stored videos” in step 915.

In the “processing for determining a stored image that matches the viewer's preferences” 920, the “reproducible stored image” obtained in 910 using the viewer history 8 (see FIG. 4) indicating the receiver's preferences. From the set of "." In step 923, the degree of conformity to the viewer's preference is calculated for each piece of video information 700 of the "set of reproducible stored videos". This means that, in step 926, for each genre described in the genre category 750 of the video information, the viewing frequency 82
This is executed by adding a value obtained by multiplying 0 as a degree of conformity. For example, the genre classification 750 of the saved video is “attribution degree to food = 80%”, “attribution degree to interior = 10”
% ”, And the viewing history 8 of the recipient is“ dishes = 50 ”.
% "And" interior = 20% ", the relevance of the stored image to the receiver's preference is" 0.8.times.0.5 + 0.
0.42 from “1 × 0.2”. With respect to the “fitness of the stored video to the receiver's preference” calculated in this way, the stored video having the largest value is selected as the optimum (step 927).

[Process for Reserving Optimal Saved Video Reproduction]
At 930, the reproduction of the given stored video is started. In step 931, the matching degree of the stored video is compared with the default matching degree 621 of the playback control packet. If the degree of suitability of the stored video is smaller, the reproduction is not started and the default insertion content 5 is output as it is. If the matching degree of the stored image is equal to or higher than the default matching degree 621, in step 933, scheduling is performed so that the stored image is played back in the time segment specified by the playback time instruction 610 of the playback control packet.

For the stored video scheduled for playback, the processor 50 monitors whether the time to start playback has been reached by the procedure 950 shown in FIG. If the time has been reached, in step 960, reproduction of the stored video is started. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Is input to the decoder 40 via the reproducing unit 31.

With reference to FIG. 9, the processing on the reproduced video in the decoder 40 will be described. The decoder 40 has two input ports, namely, an input port 1 (41-1) for receiving a video received from the tuner 1 (9-1) and a reproducing unit 31.
Has an input port 2 (41-2) for receiving a stored video from the camera. The video content input from each input port is 2
Two independent first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffers,
It is temporarily stored in the media data buffer 1 (42-1) for received video and the media data buffer 2 (42-2) for reproduced video.

The video content is composed of a sequence in which moving image frames 400 each representing one screen image (for example, a frame video every 1/60 second) are arranged in ascending order of display time. Each moving picture frame 400 is composed of compressed data 420 representing a moving picture image and a time stamp 410 representing the time at which it is decoded and displayed. Compressed data 420
Is decoded as a video image by the decoding unit 45 and output from the monitor output 90. As an example of a moving image frame, MPEG2 PES (Packetized Elementary St
ream) There are packets.

Each moving picture frame from the reproducing unit 31 is converted into a time stamp 410 by the time stamp shift circuit 46.
Is converted to an offset value from the playback start time of the corresponding stored video, and then the media data buffer 2 (42-
Stored in 2).

The selector 44 compares the time stamp of the moving picture frame 400 located at the head of each media data buffer (42-1 and 42-2) with the current time given from the system clock 43, and determines the time stamp. If the indicated time has been reached, the moving picture frame 400 is taken out.

The selector 44 is instructed from the processor 50 via the control bus 51 which of the media data buffers is read from the moving image frame to be processed preferentially. For example, media data buffer 2 (42-2)
If you prefer to process video frames taken from
Once the moving image frame from the media data buffer 2 (42-2) is extracted, the moving image frame from the media data buffer 2 is sent to the decoding unit 45 thereafter, and the media data buffer 1 (42- 1)
The video frame from is discarded. When the moving image frame from the media data buffer 2 is interrupted for a predetermined period, the moving image frame extracted from the media data buffer 1 (42-1) is sent to the decoding unit 45 (inversely,
It is possible to give priority to the moving image frame from the media data buffer 1). With the function of the selector 44, it is possible to switch between the received video and the stored video in video frame units.

The effect of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. By the above-described processing, the default insertion content 5 which is a commercial common to all the recipients is converted into the commercial content (2M-
It can be displayed instead of 1). For example, even if the reproduction control packet 6-1 in FIG. 3 is “Matsushita Electric's 15-second commercial for home appliances” and the default insertion content 5 is “Matsushita Electric's new TV commercial”, the user is interested in cooking. Recipients can display "commercials in refrigerator" and recipients interested in music can display "commercials in mini-components".

[0094] In the present embodiment, commercial video is shown as content distributed to each viewer. However, the present invention can be applied to diversifying a certain portion of program content. As a result, it is possible to multiplex the program content beyond the limit imposed by the communication capacity of the real-time communication line 10. The multi-program broadcast highly multiplexed according to the present invention is useful in diversifying viewer options in viewer participation type programs such as quiz programs.

Further, in the present embodiment, the video distribution service has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to the distribution of other real-time contents. For example,
In the case of distributing hypertext information on the Internet, the present invention enables distribution exceeding the information transfer amount per unit time, which is limited by the transmission capacity of the Internet communication line.

Also, in the present embodiment, two communication lines,
That is, although the real-time communication line 10 and the non-real-time communication line 20 are used, it is not necessary that these two communication lines are physically separate. The present invention is also applicable to a form in which the real-time communication line 10 and the non-real-time communication line 20 are logically multiplexed on one physical communication line.

In the present embodiment, the distribution unit 300 (for example, see FIG. 1) as an example of the first device of the information distribution system of the present invention and as an example of the information distribution device of the present invention
Was used.

[0098] In the present embodiment, the receiving terminal 100 is used as an example of the second device of the information distribution system of the present invention. Further, the second device of the information distribution system according to the present invention includes:
In the receiving terminal of the present invention, the tuner 1 (9-1) (see FIG. 3, the same applies hereinafter) is output as an example of the receiving unit, the video HDD 70 is output as an example of the storage unit, and the processor 50 is output as an example of the creating unit. The decoder 40 is used as an example of the storage unit, the control HDD 80 is used as an example of the storage unit, and the processor 50 is used as an example of the selection unit.

(Embodiment 2) Next, an information distribution system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the information distribution system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Since the configuration is the same as that of the information distribution system described above, the description is omitted, and in the second embodiment, the operation at the time of channel switching in the video distribution system will be described. FIG. 11 shows that the real-time communication channel received by tuner 1 of receiving terminal 100 is changed from channel 1 (11) to channel 2 (1).
2 shows a case where the switching is performed.

[0100] On the non-real-time communication line 20, a program summary content 3T representing the contents of all program contents (1T-1, 1T-2, ...) in a video of about several seconds is distributed in advance.

The received program summary content 3T is stored in the video HDD 70 as a storage video 71, and is managed using the storage video information 7. In the stored video information 7 for managing the stored program summary content 3R, a time segment in which the target program content is distributed is set as an expiration date 730 shown in FIG. The attribute 740 has a “target channel” attribute indicating the real-time communication channel 10 through which the target program content is distributed.

The processor 50 receives a remote control signal
When a channel switching instruction is received via the
At the same time as performing the frequency switching of (9-1), the video H
The reproduction of the program summary content is started from the DD (70). The program summary content to be played back has the switching destination channel (in this example, channel 2 (12)) as the “target channel” attribute, and the expiration date 730 includes the current time (in this example, the program 2 summary contents 3R
-2) is selected. As a result, the program summary content for the program content currently being broadcast on the switching destination channel is selected.

When the reproduction of the program summary content is started, the selector 44 of the decoder 40 (see FIG. 9) instructs that the moving picture frame from the tuner 1 has priority over the moving picture frame from the reproducing section 31. As a result, when the channel switching is completed, the display of the summary content is automatically switched to the program content received on the switching destination channel.

FIG. 12 shows the monitor output at the time of channel switching. At the time of channel switching, a period during which data cannot be received from the real-time communication line due to a time required for tuning, a delay due to a data boundary of content, or the like (FIG. 12).
4000). According to the present embodiment, during this channel switching required time 4000, the program summary content (3M) relating to the switching destination program content (1M-2) is used.
-2) is displayed. This makes it possible to search for a desired program (channel surfing) while switching channels at high speed.

In the present embodiment, the distribution unit 300 (for example, see FIG. 1) is used as an example of the first device of the information distribution system of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the receiving terminal 100 is used as an example of the second device of the information distribution system of the present invention. Further, the second device of the information distribution system according to the present invention includes:
In the receiving terminal of the present invention, the tuner 1 (9-1) (see FIG. 11, the same applies hereinafter) is detected as an example of the receiving unit, the decoder 40 is detected as an example of the output unit, and the video HDD 70 is detected as an example of the storage unit. A remote control signal receiving unit 60 and a processor 50 as an example of a unit, a processor 50 as an example of a reading unit, and a control HDD 80 as an example of a holding unit.
Was used for each.

As described above, in the information distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the information content common to all the recipients is distributed in real time through the real-time communication line, and the information content individual to the recipient is distributed through the non-real-time communication line. Since the information is distributed in advance and recorded in the storage device of the receiving terminal, a large number of information contents can be distributed without being limited by the physical capacity of the real-time communication line.

[0108] The information content stored in the storage device is controlled by the distribution service provider controlling the reading of the information content from the recording device using the control information propagated through the real-time communication line. Thus, it is possible to reproduce the content while maintaining the consistency with the information content transmitted on the real-time line.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, multimedia information with high individuality can be transmitted at low communication cost and
It is possible to provide a distribution system that distributes data while maintaining consistency.

Further, in the information distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention, a brief content (that is, about the time required to switch the information source) relating to each information content is distributed through the non-real-time communication line, Since the summary content relating to the information content of the switching destination is reproduced during the switching of the information source, it is possible to search for the desired program content while switching the information source at high speed.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the functions of all or a part of the information distribution system, the information distribution apparatus, and the receiving terminal of the present invention. It is a program that works and operates.

It should be noted that a part of the present invention means a part of the plurality of parts or a part of the function of one part. Is what it means.

Further, a computer-readable recording medium on which the program of the present invention is recorded is also included in the present invention.

[0114] One use form of the program of the present invention may be such that the program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and operates in cooperation with the computer. One usage of the program of the present invention may be a mode in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer.

The recording medium includes a ROM or the like, and the transmission medium includes a transmission medium such as the Internet,
Light, radio waves, sound waves, etc. are included.

Further, the computer of the present invention described above
The hardware is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU, but may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

As described above, the configuration of the present invention may be realized by software or hardware.

[0118]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an information distribution system which enables the insertion of the second information content only during a predetermined period of the first information content to be distributed, An information distribution device that distributes a first information content that allows the insertion of the second information content only during a predetermined period, and a second information content that can be inserted during a predetermined period of the first information content And a simple receiving terminal.

Further, the present invention can provide a receiving terminal that outputs information related to a channel after or before channel switching until channel switching is completed, and an information distribution system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a service provider in the information distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a receiving terminal in the information distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of control information managed in the receiving terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a control information packet transmitted by a service provider according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a receiving process in the receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a subroutine of a receiving process in the receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of processing for starting playback of stored video in the receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a decoder in the receiving terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a viewer individual commercial is output on a monitor.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a receiving terminal in the information distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor output when a channel is switched.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a video distribution system according to the related art.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second example of a video distribution system according to the related art.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a third example of a video distribution system in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1S Program content owned by service provider 1T Program content being transmitted on communication line 1R Program content saved on hard disk of receiving terminal 1M Program content output to monitor 2S Commercial content owned by 2S service provider 2T communication Commercial contents 2R transmitted on the line Commercial contents stored on the hard disk of the receiving terminal 2M Commercial contents output to the 3M monitor 3S Program summary contents held by the service provider 3T Program summary contents transmitted on the communication line 3R Program summary content stored on the hard disk of the receiving terminal 3G Program summary content output to 3M monitor 4S Look-ahead video content owned by service provider 4T Look-ahead video content transmitted over communication line Contents 4R Prefetched video content stored in the hard disk of the receiving terminal 4M Prefetched video content output to the monitor 5 Default inserted content 6 Playback control packet 7 Saved video information 8 Viewing history 9 Tuner 10 Real-time communication line 11 Channel 1 12 Channel 2 Reference Signs List 20 non-real-time communication line 30 recording unit 31 reproduction unit 40 decoder 50 processor 51 control bus 55 commercial selection mechanism 56 commercial insertion mechanism 57 video insertion unit 60 remote control signal reception unit 65 hard disk 70 video hard disk 71 stored video 80 control hard disk 90 monitor Output 100 Receiving terminal 200 Monitor 201 Remote controller 300 Distribution unit 301 Transmission unit 302 Control packet generation unit 303 Non-real-time distribution unit 400 Communication control unit 401 server bus 500 information source 501 common information source 610 playback time instruction 611 start time 612 required time 620 playback content instruction 621 default adaptability 630 condition specification 631 condition 700 video information 710 saved video name 720 required time 730 valid period 740 Attribute 741 Attribute value 750 Genre classification 751 Attribution degree to genre 800 History entry 810 Program genre 820 Viewing frequency 900 Reception control packet receiving procedure 910 Procedure for searching for a set of reproducible storage video 920 Storage suitable for viewer preference Procedure for deciding video 930 Procedure for reserving optimal playback of stored video 950 Processing procedure when time to start playback has been reached 1000 Service provider 2000 Receiver 3000 Communication line 4000 Channel switching place Required time

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 7/16

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A first device that distributes a first information content while intermittently interposing an inserted portion for a predetermined period, and a second device that receives the first information content from the first device.
A first device, wherein the first device distributes the first information content and has a transmission unit that transmits instruction information regarding the inserted portion, and wherein the second device transmits the first information content from the first device. A receiving unit that receives the first information content and the instruction information, a storage unit that stores the second information content, and the inserted unit that is received in real time by the receiving unit using the instruction information. A creating unit that creates the output information content with or without inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit, and an output unit that outputs the output information content created by the creating unit. Information distribution system. 2. An information distribution apparatus, comprising: a transmitting unit that distributes first information content while intermittently sandwiching an inserted portion for a predetermined period, and transmits instruction information on the inserted portion. The first information content from the information distribution device is received by a receiving terminal, the receiving terminal receiving the first information content and the instruction information from the information distribution device, and a second information Inserting or not inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit into the storage unit that stores the content and the inserted unit that is received in real time by the receiving unit using the instruction information A creating unit for creating output information content;
An output unit that outputs the output information content created by the creation unit. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: distributing the first information content while intermittently sandwiching the inserted portion for a predetermined period, and transmitting the first information content from the information distribution device transmitting instruction information regarding the inserted portion. A receiving unit that receives the instruction information, a storage unit that stores the second information content, and the insertion unit that is received in real time by the receiving unit using the instruction information and is stored in the storage unit. A receiving terminal comprising: a creation unit that creates the output information content with or without inserting the second information content; and an output unit that outputs the output information content created by the creation unit. 4. A predetermined third information content is present in the inserted portion distributed from the information distribution device, and is replaced with the second information content and output, or the second information content is output. The receiving terminal according to claim 3, wherein the output is performed without being replaced. 5. The information distribution device according to claim 2, wherein the second real-time communication line is the same as the first information content.
4. Distributing the second information content or distributing the second information content using a non-real-time communication line, and the receiving terminal receives the second information content.
Or the receiving terminal according to 4. 6. The receiving terminal according to claim 3, wherein the instruction information includes information on a time or a place of the inserted part in the first information content. 7. The instruction information includes the second information used for creating the output information content by the creating unit.
The receiving terminal according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a content identifier indicating a type of the information content. 8. A holding unit for holding history information related to a first information content selected by a user in the past, and when there are a plurality of the second information contents stored in the storage unit, the holding unit A selection unit that selects any of the second information contents stored in the storage unit based on the held history information, and wherein the creation unit selects the second information content stored in the storage unit. 8. The receiving terminal according to claim 3, wherein the second information content is used for creating the output information content. 9. A first device for distributing information content,
A second receiving the information content from the first device;
An apparatus for receiving the information content from the first apparatus, an output section for outputting the information content received by the receiver, and a second apparatus associated with the information content. A storage unit for storing related content,
A detecting unit that detects a channel switching instruction from a user of the second device, and when the detecting unit detects a channel switching instruction, until the channel switching in the receiving unit is substantially completed, A reading unit that reads the related content from the storage unit; and the output unit outputs the related content read by the reading unit until the switching of the channel in the receiving unit is substantially completed. Delivery system. 10. A receiving unit that receives information content from an information distribution device, an output unit that outputs the information content received by the receiving unit, and a storage unit that stores related content related to the information content. A detecting unit that detects a channel switching instruction from a user, and when the detecting unit detects a channel switching instruction, the related content is transmitted until the channel switching in the receiving unit is substantially completed. A receiving unit that includes a reading unit that reads from the storage unit, wherein the output unit outputs the related content read by the reading unit until the switching of the channel in the receiving unit is substantially completed. 11. The information distribution device according to claim 10, wherein the information distribution device distributes the related content related to the information content prior to the information content, and the receiving terminal receives the related content from the information distribution device. Receiving terminal. 12. The information distribution device according to claim 10, wherein the information distribution device also distributes a content identifier indicating a type of the related content read by the reading unit.
The receiving terminal according to 1. 13. A storage unit for storing history information relating to information contents selected by a user in the past, and when there are a plurality of related contents stored in the storage unit, the reading unit stores the history information in the storage unit. 13. Select one of the related contents stored in the storage unit based on the held history information and read out the selected related content. 14.
The receiving terminal according to any one of the above. 14. The information delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the first device distributes the first information content and transmits instruction information on the inserted portion, and In the two devices, the receiving unit that receives the first information content and the instruction information from the first device, the storage unit that stores the second information content, and the reception using the instruction information A creating unit for creating the output information content by inserting or not inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit into the inserted portion received by the unit in real time, and created by the creating unit And a program for causing a computer to function as all or part of the output unit that outputs the output information content. 15. The transmission of the information distribution device according to claim 2, wherein the first information content is distributed while intermittently interposing the inserted portion for a predetermined period, and instruction information regarding the inserted portion is transmitted. A program for causing a computer to function as all or part of a unit. 16. An information distribution apparatus according to claim 3, which distributes the first information content while intermittently sandwiching the inserted part for a predetermined period, and transmits instruction information regarding the inserted part. The receiving unit that receives the first information content and the instruction information from the storage unit that stores the second information content; and the reception unit that receives the first information content and the instruction information in real time by using the instruction information. The creation unit for creating the output information content without inserting or inserting the second information content stored in the storage unit into the inserted portion, and outputting the output information content created by the creation unit And a program for causing a computer to function as all or a part of the output unit. 17. The receiving terminal according to claim 10, wherein the receiving unit receives information content from an information distribution device, the output unit outputs the information content received by the receiving unit, and the information The storage unit that stores related content related to the content, and the detection unit that detects a channel switching instruction from a user,
When the detection unit detects a channel switching instruction, a computer is used as all or a part of the reading unit that reads the related content from the storage unit until the channel switching in the receiving unit is substantially completed. The program to make the function.