JP2003061024A - Program supply system in network capable of real-time transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In a network that realizes a complex function such as real-time transmission, even if many devices are connected to the same network, the devices connected to the network do not necessarily have mutual functions. It is not always possible to use the program, and the user has to grasp all the information by himself and send a command to request the corresponding device to distribute the program. An information sharing device is provided between a device that distributes a program and a device that receives the program, collects information of the program supplied by the program distribution device, and provides the information to the device that receives the program. By doing so, the program provided on the network can be uniformly selected by the device that receives the program,
By unifying the control structure between the information sharing device and the device that receives the program, even in an environment where a plurality of different devices exist, even if the user does not know the information of each device in detail, To use the functions of other devices connected to the network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program supply method in a network capable of real-time transmission and a system for supplying a program into the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, there is an active movement to connect many devices including home electric appliances to each other to form a network. It is possible to connect AV products and PCs on a network and share the functions of other devices and use them, or distribute the programs stored by other devices on the network and play them in real time. Has been. Hereinafter, the term “network” refers to a network capable of transmitting real-time data unless otherwise specified.

A typical network is IEEE1394. Communication in IEEE1394 is divided into synchronous communication and asynchronous communication. Synchronous communication is mainly used for the purpose of transmitting a data stream such as video and audio that requires real-time processing. On the other hand, asynchronous communication is used for transmitting data such as commands that do not have continuity but must be transmitted reliably. These two types of communication will coexist on the network.

In order to perform synchronous communication between certain devices on the IEEE 1394, the IE bandwidth is the amount of the transmission band on the IEEE 1394 network necessary for transmitting the video content.
It must be secured from a device called Isochronous Resource Manager on EE1394. In addition, the identification of real-time transmission data flowing on the network is performed by using the concept of a channel, and the channel is shared between the transmitting side device and the receiving side device, and the target data is transferred to other data on the bus. Must not be confused with. For this reason, it is necessary to secure a free channel from the isochronous resource manager and share it between the transmitting and receiving devices. Furthermore, input / output ports called output plugs and input plugs are virtually defined for the device that sends video content and the device that receives the video content, and point-to-point connection or broadcast connection that connects these plugs to each other. Must be running. As shown in FIG. 12, if there are two satellite broadcasting terminals (= IRDs) having different broadcasting systems and two digital VTRs on the IEEE1394 network, the digital VTR 200
Consider a case where real-time data is transmitted between the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 and the satellite broadcasting terminal A100. This is the most used form in a network that enables real-time data transmission such as IEEE1394. The program C is digital V
When recording to TR200, first, is the program supplied by satellite broadcasting terminal A100?
You have to know if it will be supplied with 01. Then, point-to-point connection is executed between the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 and the digital VTR 200. The direction of the signal must be specified because there are output plugs and input plugs in the input / output ports of the device. The program number for specifying the program C is obtained from the other device by the AV / C Tunneler command specified in 1394TA created to control the consumer device, or the program list on a paper medium, etc. It is known in advance by some method such as using the number represented by, and this number is used for the digital VTR200.
Command from the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 to the satellite terminal A100 (to be exact, Direct Se in the Tunnel Subunit of AV / C)
lect Information command). When the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 receives the tuning request command, it switches the direction of the signal in its own device to output and sends the data of the selected program from the output plug as requested. The digital VTR 200 will record the program data received from the input plug.

[0005]

In a network that realizes complicated functions such as real-time transmission, even if many devices are connected to the same network, the connected devices do not necessarily use each other's functions. Not always possible. This is because the interpretation of the standard and the revision of the corresponding standard differ depending on the device, or the selection items other than the mandatory items in the standard extend to the parts necessary for interconnection, so the function level of each device is This is because there is a mismatch.

Specifically, in order to record the program C by the digital VTR 200 in FIG. 12 described above, a channel selection request is transmitted to the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 to output the data of the program C on the IEEE1394 network. This has to be done, but in reality, command support level problems often arise. In the IEEE1394 network, AV / C commands standardized by 1394TA are used in most cases to control consumer devices, but the implementation of these commands is left to the discretion of the manufacturer. Therefore, in the satellite broadcasting terminal A100, the information of the programs receivable by the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 is displayed in the AV / C Tuner Subun
Even if it is provided by the Tuner Status Descriptor defined in the it specification, if the digital VTR 200 does not have the function of receiving the command and making it available, the information of the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 is read from the digital VTR 200. Cannot be used. This is AV / C
The items defined in the Tuner Subunit specification of
This happens because the VTR Subunit, which is t Type, has no compulsory force.

Generally, it cannot be judged from the appearance of the product whether or not the digital VTR 200 has a function of reading and using the information of the satellite broadcasting terminal A100, and the mounting command is not announced. Therefore, a situation often occurs in which it is not possible to know whether the function can be used unless the user connects and executes the command. In addition, it may be necessary to meet the conditions for executing the command. For example, the above point-to-poi
Even if the tuning command is sent before the nt connection is executed, the program data cannot be received. In this way, it is necessary to identify the device to connect and secure the necessary resources such as bandwidth and channel on the network, and to accurately understand the commands available between the devices and how to use them via the network. It will be a condition to master the equipment.

However, when the number of devices connected to the network increases, it is necessary to accurately understand what function each device can provide via the network and the command support level of each device. It is difficult. In addition, even if it is a network resource, a human must explicitly perform a resource release operation to release the once secured network resource. For example, when the digital VTR 201 of FIG. 12 records a program of the satellite broadcasting terminal 101, in a network in which the network resource is only one program, even if the recording to the VTR 200 is finished, the network resource once acquired If the VTR 201 is not released, the VTR 201 cannot secure the necessary resources, and a situation may occur in which the network that no one is using cannot be used. Therefore, as in the satellite broadcasting terminal A100 and the digital VTR 200 described above, in a state where it is not sure whether the command defined for each device type can be reliably used between the devices to be connected,
No matter how many commands are installed in the device, it is difficult to use it as it is as a program distribution system.

As described above, even when the existing network is used, it is necessary to newly provide a special regulation concerning program distribution, not to configure the system only with the command set already regulated in the network. Must be specified to ensure the operation of the system. A particular problem is that the requesting device must be able to reliably connect to the device that distributes the program, and that the network used for real-time transmission must ensure the resources used for data transmission. It is important to increase efficiency. An object of the present invention is to unify home program distribution methods by using a network, unify the format of transmission data to comply with the network regulations, and execute commands and operations by the type of component equipment. By providing the above, it is to provide a program supply system in a network capable of real-time transmission capable of constructing a highly convenient system for surely delivering a program.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, an information sharing device is provided between a program distribution device and a receiving terminal, and the receiving terminal indirectly receives information from the information sharing device. The operation between these three types of equipment is defined so that information can be transmitted and received between the program distribution device and the receiving terminal by receiving the.

The information sharing device collects the program information from each device that distributes the program existing on the network, integrates and commonizes the information, and provides the commonized information to the receiving terminal. With this, it becomes possible to uniformly select programs provided on the network. In addition, the commands such as mutual use have clear rules in the system to solve the problem of inconsistent support levels. As a result, in an environment where there are a plurality of devices on the network, even if the user does not know the information of each device, the functions of other devices connected to the network can be reliably used.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The devices on the system according to the present invention are classified into a program distribution device, an information sharing device, and a receiving terminal, and as one example, each device stores data representing a device type in an address space defined by the system. Each device on the network mutually confirms the device type data, and the command is transmitted / received based on the information.

FIG. 2 illustrates one configuration of the program supply system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the program supply system is composed of a satellite broadcasting receiver A11, a satellite broadcasting receiver B12, a disk reproducing device 13, an information sharing device 1, a receiving terminal a21, and a receiving terminal b22 which are program distribution devices. Each device is connected to the network. Program distribution device A11, B12, 1
3 is a device for distributing programs, which is the receiving terminals a21, b22
Is a terminal for receiving the program distribution from the program distribution device.
The information sharing device 1 acts as an intermediary for exchanging commands and information between the program distribution device and the receiving terminal, and details thereof will be described later.

FIG. 1 shows an operation sequence of the program supply system according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2. The state and processing of the program distribution apparatus, the information sharing apparatus and the receiving terminal and the command and data existing on the network. The flow of is briefly shown.

The operation sequence will be mainly described below. According to the present invention, when a new program distribution device is installed on the network or when the program information of the program distribution device is updated, reset information or a program information update flag that causes the network to be reconfigured. The device information including the information is transmitted from the target program distribution device to the network. Now, when the program information is updated and the information sharing device 1 detects the program information update flag information. The program information request command is transmitted to the target program distribution device from the information sharing device on the information sharing device 1, which is unique to one network. This program information request command is one of a command group (which will be described later with reference to FIG. 10) that is newly defined in this system in addition to the AV / C command and is previously supported by each device. The command structure will be described later with reference to FIG. The program distribution device that has received the program information request command is predetermined to send program information in a format unique to each program distribution system to the information sharing device. For example, in FIG. 2, satellite broadcast receiver A
11 and the satellite broadcast receiver B12 will transmit the program information based on the respective satellite broadcast systems. Normally, the program information includes a program name, a description of the content, and other data such as a broadcast time and a program duration. The information sharing means of the information sharing apparatus 1 analyzes the program information supplied in different formats depending on the type of the program distribution apparatus, extracts common elements, and defines the extracted elements in the system. Arrange in a prescribed format.

A conceptual diagram of this commonization is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of program information sharing, and only a part thereof is shown to simplify the description. In FIG. 4, for example, when there are two broadcasters A and B, the genre classification of programs may differ depending on each broadcaster. If the A company defines the genre as "economy (0x2D)", while the B company classifies it into multiple similar genres as "stock (0x0A)" and "economy (0x0B)", In order to standardize and integrate this, the genre after integration is “economy (0
x2D) ”, and further, the distribution system discrimination flag and the subcode are created in the code of the program after the standardization.
This enables EPG (Electorical Program G
In uide), the genre "economy" will be displayed. Such a genre or code is generally shared by having a data conversion table, but it is also possible to use an algorithm that automatically shares the genre or data code. SI in Figure 4 is Service Informat
Abbreviation for ion.

The program information made common in this way is
It is delivered from the information sharing device 1 to each of a plurality of receiving terminals.
The receiving terminal supports the function of reading the common program information in advance, and can process the common program information of one format by a single procedure. As a result, regardless of the number of program distribution methods existing on the network, it is sufficient to have a GUI (graphic user interface) that represents one type of program table, here a function for displaying an EPG as shown in FIG. Therefore, the cost of the receiving terminal is reduced. On the GUI shown in FIG. 5, programs of different program distribution systems are displayed without any distinction. As a result, when the operator of the receiving terminal selects a certain program, it is not necessary to have a difference in the program distribution system for supplying the program and knowledge about it. When a program is selected from this GUI, the program selection notification command defined by this system is transmitted from the receiving terminal that selected the program to the information sharing apparatus 1.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of commands used in the system according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 shows a list of commands newly defined in the system according to the present invention (an example). 6, FIG. 6A shows a command structure, FIG. 6B shows a command structure for a program selection notification command, and FIG. 6C shows a program selection command and channel selection information command. Another command structure of is shown. As is apparent from FIG. 6A, the command structure is the header, DATA, and C.
It consists of RC (error detection), and the header consists of a destination address, a source address, and a command ID. The DATA area is composed of a plurality of parameter areas. In the case of the program selection notification command, as shown in FIG. 6B, the address of the information sharing device is entered in the destination address of the header part, and the address of the receiving terminal is entered in the source address. The command type code “03H” is inserted into the command ID, and the “program ID after sharing” representing the selected program is inserted into the parameter area of the DATA area. The program standardization device that has received the program selection notification command specifies a program distribution device that can distribute the requested program from the program distribution method discrimination flag included in the “program ID after standardization”. Hereinafter, for the sake of clarity, the program distribution device specified here will be referred to as the satellite broadcast receiver A11 in FIG. 2, the information sharing device will be referred to as the information sharing device 1, and the receiving terminal will be referred to as the receiving terminal a21 for the sake of convenience. .
As described above, the information about the program distribution device is updated every time the network configuration changes or the program information is updated, and is stored in the information sharing device 1 as device information. Based on the above, the information sharing apparatus 1 returns a distribution apparatus information notification command to the receiving terminal a21. The parameter of the DATA area included in this command is the address of the satellite broadcast receiver A11. Upon receiving the distribution device information notification command, the reception terminal a21 receives the satellite broadcast receiver A11 of the address obtained from the parameter.
Is logically combined on the network. Generally, in a network capable of transmitting real-time data, it is necessary to secure a band used for transmission, and logical connection is used as a means for securing the band. In addition to the band, a transmission channel is acquired as a network resource. A channel is used to share the timing of data transmission / reception among devices that are assigned to a time-divided band and transmitted / received. Satellite receiver A11 and receiving terminal a21
The information sharing apparatus 1 transmits a program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 that distributes the program requested by the receiving terminal a21, in consideration of the timing of establishing a logical connection with At this time, the parameter in the DATA area of the program selection command is the original program ID before the commonization for specifying the program. Satellite receiver A1
At 1, the program selection command is received and the video / audio data of the requested program is transmitted to the logically connected devices on the network. This program data is real-time data that is different from the command transmission / reception. When the transmission of the program data is completed, the satellite broadcast receiver A11 sends a resource release request command to the receiving terminal a21. In response to this, the receiving terminal a21 performs a process of releasing all network resources acquired by itself.
As a result, it is possible to prevent a state where network resources are unnecessarily reserved. However, the resource release request command should be sent depending on the situation,
It is not always sent.

In the above invention, the information sharing apparatus 1 transmits a program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11, but at this time, the program selection command need not include a parameter. For example, as shown in (c) of FIG. 6, it is also possible to directly enter the tuning command for the satellite broadcast receiver A11 into the data storage area of the program selection command and pass it. As the tuning command referred to here, a command having the same function of another standard supported by the devices connected via the network in advance may be used as the tuning command.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. The network configuration itself is the same as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is different from FIG. 1 in that the receiving terminal designates a desired program through the information sharing device, but in FIG. 3, the receiving terminal directly designates the desired program is a satellite whose program distribution device is a satellite. The point is that the broadcast receiver A11 is used.

The points different from FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. Since the same points as those of FIG. 1 are complicated, the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 3, when the receiving terminal a21 transmits a program selection notification command to the information sharing apparatus 1, the information sharing apparatus 1 uses the program information stored inside to send the receiving terminal a21 to the distribution apparatus. Returns the information notification command. The parameter included in this command is the program distribution device address (address of the satellite broadcast receiver A11). In addition, subsequently, the information sharing apparatus 1 transmits a tuning information command to the receiving terminal a21. The parameter of the DATA area included in the tuning information command is the original program ID for specifying the program by the satellite broadcast receiver A11 that is the program distribution device. Upon receiving the distribution device information notification command, the reception terminal a21 logically connects to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 having the address obtained by the parameter on the network. Satellite receiver A1
1 establishes a logical connection between the receiving terminal a21 and the receiving terminal a21, the receiving terminal a21 sends a program selection command using the parameters obtained by the tuning information command to the satellite broadcast receiver A1.
Send to 1. The satellite broadcast receiver A11 receives the program selection command and sends the requested program to the logically connected devices on the network. The subsequent steps are the same as those in FIG. In the present invention, the program selection command of the command of FIG. 10 is not the information sharing device but the receiving terminal as the transmission source, as is apparent from FIG.

As described above, according to the present invention, a desired program can be designated by the receiving terminal directly to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 which is a program distribution device.

In the above invention, the information sharing device 1 transmits the tuning information command to the receiving terminal a21. At this time, the tuning information command need not include the parameter. For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the tuning command for the satellite broadcast receiver A11 can be directly inserted and passed in the data storage area of the tuning information command. The receiving terminal a21 may put the address of the receiving terminal a21 in the source address area of the tuning information command received from the information sharing device 1 and directly send the program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11. Using this method has the advantage that it is not necessary to specify the command definitions in detail with each other. FIG. 7 illustrates a system configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention. A satellite broadcast receiver A11 and a satellite broadcast receiver B1 which are program distribution devices.
2 shows a state in which the disc reproducing device 13, the information sharing device 1, the receiving terminal a21 and the receiving terminal b22 are connected to the IEEE1394 network. In FIG. 2, the network is an IEEE1394 network. is there. Therefore, the command structure is basically IE
Complies with EE1394 standard. In this case, it is natural that the command according to the present invention shown in FIG. 10 is specified by an AV / C vendor command. Further, in the present invention, it does not matter whether the command realizing the function of FIG. 10 is an existing command or a newly defined command. It suffices if the function of the operation by the device receiving the command is guaranteed.

FIG. 8 shows an operation sequence of the present invention in the system having the configuration shown in FIG.
94 The states and processes of the program distribution device, the information sharing device, and the receiving terminal existing on the network and the flow of commands and data are simply shown. Basically, FIG. 1 corresponding to the system shown in FIG. It is the same as the operation sequence. Hereinafter, this operation sequence will be mainly described.

In FIG. 8, first, when the information sharing device 1 detects the program information update flag information included in the device information from the program distribution device, the information sharing device unique to one IEEE1394 network. A program information request command is transmitted from the information sharing unit 1 to the program distribution device. This program information request command is one of a command group that is newly defined in this system in addition to the AV / C command and is supported by each device in advance. The command structure basically complies with the IEEE1394 standard. The program distribution device that has received the program information request command is predetermined to send program information in a format unique to each program distribution system to the information sharing device. For example,
In FIG. 7, the satellite broadcast receiver A11 and the satellite broadcast receiver B12 transmit program information based on their respective satellite broadcast systems. Usually, the program information is the description of the program name and contents,
It also contains data such as broadcast time and program duration. The information sharing means 1 of the information sharing apparatus 1 analyzes program information supplied in different formats depending on the type of program distribution apparatus, extracts common elements, and defines common elements defined by the system. Arrange in a prescribed format. The concept of this commonality has already been explained.
The program information shared by the information sharing means of the information sharing apparatus 1 is transmitted from the information sharing apparatus 1 to a plurality of receiving terminals a21,
It is delivered to b22. The receiving terminals a21 and b22 support the function of reading the shared program information in advance, and can process the shared program information of one format by a single procedure. As a result, it suffices to have a GUI (graphic user interface) that represents one type of program table, regardless of the number of program distribution systems existing on the IEEE1394 network, here, a function for displaying an EPG as shown in FIG. Therefore, the cost of the receiving terminal is reduced. On the GUI shown in FIG. 5, programs of different program distribution systems are displayed without any distinction. Thereby, when the operator of the receiving terminal a21 selects a certain program,
Differences in program delivery methods for supplying programs and knowledge about it are unnecessary. When the operator of the receiving terminal a21 selects a program from this GUI, a program selection notification command, which is a command defined by this system, is transmitted from the receiving terminal a21 to the information sharing apparatus 1.

The command newly defined in this system is
The list shown in FIG. 10 may be created by defining the AV / C vendor command. Fig. 11 shows the AV / C command frame. To define a command specifically, su
Vendor uni already specified in the bunit type area
A code indicating that it is que is inserted, and the code indicating the command operation of the command may be specified by the system in the opecode area. The destination address and the source address are set in an asynchronous packet in an asynchronous transaction which is a communication method on the IEEE 1394 network, which is a lower layer concept. In order to avoid complication, details regarding the communication standard of IEEE1394 are not described below.

Upon receiving the program selection notification command, the information sharing device 1 identifies a program distribution device capable of distributing the requested program from the distribution system determination flag included in the "shared program ID". As described above, the information about the program distribution device is updated every time the IEEE1394 network configuration changes or the program information is updated, and is stored in the information sharing device 1 as device information. Information sharing device 1 for receiving terminal a21 based on information
Returns a delivery device information notification command. The parameter of the DATA area included in this command is the program distribution device address (node_ID of the satellite broadcast receiver A11). Upon receiving the distribution device information notification command, the reception terminal a21 receives the satellite broadcast receiver A11 of the address obtained from the parameter.
Point to Point connection is made on the IEEE1394 network. In the IEEE1394 network, in order to perform isochronous transmission for transmitting real-time data, it is necessary to secure a band and a channel used for the transmission. Bands and channels are connected to Point to Point, here the receiving terminal a21 is an Isochronous Resou on the IEEE1394 network.
It must be obtained from the device that became the rce Manager (abbreviated as IRM hereafter). When the band and the channel are successfully acquired, the receiving terminal a21 determines that the oPCR (Ou
tput Plug Control Register) Point to Point conne
Increase the ction counter by one. Also, set the oPCR channel to I
Set to the channel obtained from RM. Next is the receiving terminal
a21 Self-confidence iPCR Point to Point connection counter
Increase one. IPCR (Input Plug Control Registe
Set the channel of r) to the channel obtained from IRM. In this way, the Point to Point connection is established.
Point to satellite receiver A11 and receiving terminal a21
In consideration of the timing at which the Point connection is established, the information sharing apparatus 1 transmits a program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 that distributes the program requested by the receiving terminal a21. At this time, it is the original program ID before being standardized for specifying the parameter program in the DATA area of the program selection command. The satellite broadcast receiver A11 receives the program selection command and sends the video / audio data of the requested program to the receiving terminal a21 connected to the Point to Point on the IEEE1394 network. The data of this program is real-time data different from the command transmission / reception, and is decoded by the receiving terminal a21. When the transmission of the program data is completed, the satellite broadcast receiver A11 sends a resource release request command to the receiving terminal a21. In response to this, the receiving terminal a21 acquires the IEE obtained by itself.
E1394 Performs processing to release all network resources. As a result, it is possible to prevent a state where network resources are unnecessarily reserved. However, the resource release request command should be sent depending on the situation, and is not always sent.

In the above invention, the information sharing apparatus 1 transmits a program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11, but at this time, the program selection command need not include a parameter. For example, as shown in (c) of FIG. 6, it is also possible to directly enter the tuning command for the satellite broadcast receiver A11 into the data storage area of the program selection command and pass it.

FIG. 9 shows another operation sequence of the present invention in the system having the configuration shown in FIG. The difference between FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 is that in FIG. 8, the receiving terminal designates the desired program through the information sharing device, but in FIG. 3, the receiving terminal designates the desired program directly by the satellite, which is the program distribution device. The point is that the broadcast receiver A11 is used.

Differences from FIG. 8 will be described below with reference to FIG. Descriptions of points that overlap with FIG. 8 are omitted because they are complicated. In FIG. 9, when the receiving terminal a21 sends a program selection notification command to the information sharing apparatus 1, the information sharing apparatus 1 uses the program information stored inside to send the receiving terminal a21 to the distribution apparatus. Returns the information notification command. The parameter included in this command is the program distribution device address (nod of the satellite broadcasting terminal A11).
e_ID). In addition, subsequently, the information sharing apparatus 1 transmits a tuning information command to the receiving terminal a21. The parameter of the DATA area included in the tuning information command is the original program ID for specifying the program in the satellite broadcasting terminal A11 which is the program distribution device. Upon receiving the distribution device information notification command, the reception terminal a21 logically connects to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 having the address obtained by the parameter on the network. That is, when the receiving terminal a21 receives the distribution device information notification command, the receiving terminal a21 informs the satellite broadcast receiver A11 of the address obtained by the parameter to the IEEE139
4 Make point-to-point connection on the network. Point to Point between satellite broadcast receiver A11 and receiving terminal a21
After establishing the connection, the receiving terminal a21 transmits a program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 using the parameters obtained by the channel selection information command. The satellite broadcast receiver A11 receives the program selection command and sends the requested program to the logically connected devices on the network. The subsequent steps are the same as those in FIG.

As described above, according to the present invention, a desired program can be designated by the receiving terminal directly to the satellite broadcast receiver A11 which is a program distribution device.

In the above invention, the information sharing device 1 transmits the tuning information command to the receiving terminal a21. At this time, the tuning information command need not include the parameter. For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the tuning command for the satellite broadcast receiver A11 can be directly inserted and passed in the data storage area of the tuning information command. The receiving terminal a21 may insert the node_ID of the receiving terminal a21 into the source address area of the tuning information command received from the information sharing device 1 and directly send the program selection command to the satellite broadcast receiver A11. Using this method has the advantage that it is not necessary to specify the command definitions in detail with each other. Also, AV / C commands do not necessarily have to be Vender unique. For example, the tuning command for the satellite broadcast receiver A11 is Tunner subu
DIRECT SELECT INFORM, a tuning command for nit
You may use the ATION TYPE command. However, within this system, it is necessary to specify so that the support levels do not conflict.

As described above, according to the present invention, the information sharing device for integrating and commonizing a plurality of pieces of program information of different formats from the program distribution device which supplies a program, is provided. It is placed between the receiving device for receiving, and using the command group newly defined in this system,
Information sharing is used to mediate the communication between the program distribution device and the reception device so that the user can easily select the program even if the user does not know the state of the resource on the network and the function of the connected device in detail. It is possible to provide a program supply system in a highly convenient network capable of real-time transmission capable of surely distributing a program in a home while improving the network efficiency by using a device.

[0034]

According to the present invention, it is possible to centrally handle programs distributed on the network without the user having to understand the state of resources on the network or the function of the device to be connected in detail. Thus, it is possible to provide a program supply system in a network capable of reliably delivering a program and capable of efficient real-time transmission.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is one of the basic sequence diagrams of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration of a program supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an operation sequence of the program supply system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example of standardization of program information.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a GUI displayed by a receiving terminal.

FIG. 6 shows a structure of a command defined by the system of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

8 is an operation sequence of the present invention in a system having a configuration represented by FIG.

FIG. 9 is another operation sequence of the present invention in the system represented by FIG.

FIG. 10 is a list of command examples defined by the system of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an AV / C command frame.

FIG. 12 is an example of a connection between devices in IEEE1394.

[Explanation of symbols]

1… Information sharing device, 11… Satellite broadcasting receiver A, 12…
Satellite broadcasting receiver B, 13 ... Disk reproducing device, 21 ... Receiving terminal a, 22 ... Receiving terminal b, 100 ... Satellite broadcasting terminal A, 101 ...
Satellite broadcasting terminal B, 200 ... Digital VTR, 201 ... Digital VTR

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/03 H04N 7/08 A 7/035 7/173 610 F term (reference) 5C025 AA25 CA02 CB05 CB06 DA01 DA10 5C053 FA23 FA30 GB11 JA01 JA30 LA07 LA14 5C063 AB03 AB05 AC01 AC05 AC10 DA02 DA03 DA13 DB09 5C064 BA01 BB10 BC16 BC23 BD02 BD08

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In a system in which each device is connected by a network capable of transmitting real-time data, various program distribution means for outputting a program in a predetermined format regardless of the difference in the supply system of the original program, Information sharing means for integrating the program information regardless of program information of various formats supplied separately from the program by the program distribution means and outputting in a predetermined format, and a predetermined format received from the information sharing means And a program reproducing means for displaying and reproducing a program in a predetermined format by using the program information of
When an arbitrary program is selected from the program guide of the program reproducing means, the program reproducing means requests the information sharing means to distribute the program, and the information sharing means which has received the request for the program distribution transmits the program to the information sharing means. By specifying the program distribution means for distributing the program and providing the program reproduction means with the information of the program distribution means for distributing the program, the program distribution means and the program reproduction means are combined to distribute the program. As a result, the information sharing means controls the distribution of the program, the program supply system. 2. In a system in which each device is connected by a network capable of transmitting real-time data, various program distribution means for outputting a program in a predetermined format regardless of the difference in the supply system of the original program, Regardless of the program information of various formats supplied from the program distribution means, the information sharing means for integrating the program information and outputting it in a predetermined format, and the program information of the predetermined format received from the information sharing means And a program reproducing means for receiving and reproducing a program of a predetermined format, and the program reproducing means selects an arbitrary program from the program table of the program reproducing means. Request for program distribution to the information sharing means,
Upon receiving the request for program distribution, the information sharing means specifies the program distributing means for distributing the program, and provides the program reproducing means with the information for specifying the program distributing means for distributing the program. The program distribution means and the program reproduction means can be combined, and the distribution of the program is started by transmitting a program distribution command predefined in the network to the specified program distribution means. A program supply system characterized in that information sharing means controls connection in a network. 3. In a system in which each device is connected by a network capable of transmitting real-time data, various program distribution means for outputting a program in a predetermined format despite the difference in the source program supply system, Regardless of the program information in various formats supplied separately from the program by the program distribution means, the information common means for integrating the program information and outputting it in a predetermined format, and the predetermined information received from the information common means A program reproduction means for displaying a program guide by using the program information of the format, and receiving and reproducing the program of a predetermined format, and when any program is selected from the program guide of the program reproduction means, The program reproducing means makes a request for program distribution to the information sharing means, and the information sharing means which has received the request for program distribution specifies the program distributing means for distributing the program and instructs the program reproducing means. Then, by providing the information for specifying the program distribution means for distributing the program, the program distribution means and the program reproduction means can be coupled, and the program sharing means specifies the program distribution means for the distribution of the program. On the other hand, by transmitting a program distribution command defined in advance in the network, the program is started between the program distribution means and the program reproduction means, and the information sharing means controls coupling in the network. Supply system. 4. The system connected by a network capable of transmitting the real-time data is a system in which each device is connected by an IEEE 1394 network at home. The program supply system described in Crab. 5. A system in which each device is connected by a network capable of transmitting real-time data, and in a fixed format according to a program distribution request command, despite the difference in the source program supply system. A program distribution device for outputting a program and transmitting program information in a format determined for each program supply method to the information sharing apparatus, and a program guide using a certain format of program information are displayed. , A program reproducing apparatus that receives and reproduces a program of a fixed format, and program information of a format determined for each program supply method, collects the program information in a fixed format, and selects a program from the program reproducing apparatus An information commonizing device that indirectly transmits a request to the program distribution device, gives information of the program distribution device to the program reproduction device, and controls connection in the network between the program reproduction device and the program distribution device. Ete program delivery system characterized by comprising. 6. The program supply system according to claim 5, wherein the system connected by a network capable of transmitting the real-time data is a system in which devices are connected by an IEEE 1394 network at home. .