JP2004040380A - Communication terminal and digital broadcast reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal or a system capable of receiving digital broadcast of the same program even in the case of transition of a broadcast area or on the occurrence of difficulty in receiving the broadcast. <P>SOLUTION: When a broadcast reception management section 102 discriminates that reception of the broadcast is interrupted, a control section 104 executes a reception switching processing to select a broadcast reception mode from a broadcast station 20 into a broadcast reception mode through a communication channel. A communication transmission / reception section 105 connects to a contents server 30 through the communication channel in response to the notice from the control section 104 to receive broadcast information of the same program as that at receiving the broadcast. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of communication devices having a digital broadcast receiving function, and more particularly to a technique applied to a mobile communication terminal or a portable information terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, techniques for receiving digital broadcasts using mobile communication terminals such as so-called mobile phones and portable information terminals (including personal computers) called PDAs have been developed. Here, mobile communication terminals, portable information terminals, and the like are collectively referred to as communication terminals.
[0003]
If a communication terminal having a digital broadcast receiving function is used, a user can receive a digital broadcast basically at any place. However, in general, a program broadcasted from a broadcasting station has a broadcasting area set, and often cannot be received outside the broadcasting area.
[0004]
On the other hand, it is assumed that the communication terminal is used while moving with the user. For this reason, when the current position of the communication terminal transits the broadcast area, the program received before the transition may not be able to be received in the post-transition broadcast area.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As a prior art, there has been proposed a technique for smoothly switching a received broadcast program when the current location of the communication terminal changes a broadcast area when receiving a television broadcast by the communication terminal (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-299644). ). However, the content of the prior art is to automatically select a program of the same genre as the received program in the broadcast area before the transition in the transitioned broadcast area. Therefore, the user cannot view the same program, and is not necessarily a technology that satisfies the user's requirements.
[0006]
Also, even when moving within the same broadcasting area, or when moving to a place where the reception status of digital broadcasting is not good (for example, an underground mall), it may be difficult to view the program.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal or a system that enables digital broadcast reception of the same program even in a transition of a broadcast area or in a situation where broadcast reception is difficult.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An aspect of the present invention is a communication terminal having a digital broadcast receiving function, which has a function of switching between broadcast receiving means for receiving broadcast information via a broadcast line and communication receiving means for receiving broadcast information via a communication line. The present invention relates to a communication terminal capable of receiving broadcast information of the same program by a communication receiving unit in accordance with a broadcast reception state.
[0009]
A communication terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a broadcast receiving unit that receives a digital broadcast over a broadcast line; a communication server that can communicate via a communication line with a content server capable of transmitting the same broadcast information as the digital broadcast; Switching means for switching between the broadcast receiving means and the communication transmission / reception means under predetermined conditions during reception of the digital broadcast by the broadcast reception means, and the same as the digital broadcast from the content server via the communication transmission / reception means according to the switching operation by the switching means And control means for controlling to receive broadcast information.
[0010]
With such a configuration, for example, when the reception condition deteriorates during digital broadcast reception, or when it becomes difficult to view the same program due to transition of the broadcast area, switching from broadcast reception to information reception from a communication line is performed. Broadcast information of the same program can be received. Therefore, even when the communication terminal moves along with the movement of the user, it is possible to substantially view the digital broadcast of the same program.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
(Communication terminal configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a communication terminal and a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving system related to the present embodiment.
[0013]
This system is roughly divided into a communication terminal 10, a broadcasting station 20 for performing digital broadcasting through a broadcasting line, and a content server 30 for performing information communication via a computer network (Internet) connected through the communication line.
[0014]
The communication terminal 10 of the embodiment has a function of receiving a digital broadcast through a broadcast line in addition to a wireless communication function through a normal mobile phone line, and includes a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, a PHS, and a PDA. It corresponds to a portable information terminal. The broadcasting station 20 refers to an entire broadcasting system that transmits digital information such as video, audio, data, and the like by terrestrial digital broadcasting or satellite digital broadcasting through a broadcasting line. The content server 30 has a function of providing the same broadcast information as a program broadcast by the broadcast station 20 via the Internet which is usually connected via a communication line such as a mobile phone line.
[0015]
The communication terminal 10 includes a broadcast reception antenna 100, a broadcast reception unit 101, a broadcast reception management unit 102, a viewing program acquisition unit 103, a control unit 104, and a communication transmission / reception unit 105.
[0016]
The broadcast receiving unit 101 includes a broadcast receiving device that demodulates a digital broadcast signal from the broadcast station 20 received by the broadcast receiving antenna 100, and converts a packet signal relating to a program selected by the user from the demodulated broadcast signal (broadcast information). It has a function to extract. The broadcast reception management unit 102 has a function of determining the reception status of the broadcast signal received by the broadcast reception unit 101. Specifically, the broadcast reception management unit 102 extracts the reception level of the broadcast signal, quantifies the reception level based on the electric field strength of the broadcast carrier signal, the C / N, S / N of the received signal, and the like, Perform level determination. The broadcast reception management unit 102 determines whether a broadcast signal can be normally received based on the respective reception levels.
[0017]
The viewing program acquisition unit 103 extracts identification information of a program currently being viewed (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as program information) from the broadcast signal received by the broadcast reception unit 101, and sends the program information to the communication transmission / reception unit 105. Output. Here, the program information includes information such as a program name of a program being viewed, and the program name can be extracted from an EIT (Event Information Table). Also, the viewing program acquisition unit 103 has a function of acquiring program names of all programs in the currently located broadcast area from the EIT and storing them.
[0018]
The communication transmission / reception unit 105 is a device that transmits and receives information such as broadcast information by connecting to a computer network communication line represented by a mobile phone line, the Internet, or the like via a wireless communication antenna 114.
[0019]
The control unit 104 includes a timer 104a, a reception status notification unit 104b, and a reception information storage unit 104c, and mainly implements a reception switching function. The control unit 104 receives the determination result of the broadcast reception management unit 102, and if the broadcast reception condition is good, the control unit 104 converts the packet signal extracted by the broadcast reception unit 101 (broadcast information on a program selected by the user). Output to decoding section 106. On the other hand, the control unit 104 receives the determination result of the broadcast reception management unit 102, and executes a standby process by the timer 104a or a reception switching process to be described later if the broadcast reception status is in a state where reception is difficult. The reception status notifying unit 104b notifies the user via the communication transmission / reception unit 105 and the display 108 when the broadcast reception status is in a state where reception is difficult. The reception information storage unit 104c is a buffer memory that temporarily stores a broadcast signal (broadcast information) received by the broadcast reception unit 101.
[0020]
Further, the communication terminal 10 includes a decoding unit 106, a speaker 107, a display 108, a current location acquisition unit 109, a broadcast area acquisition unit 110, a broadcast program acquisition unit 111, a reception history storage unit 112, an operation switch 113 And
[0021]
The decoding unit 106 decodes the packet signal extracted by the broadcast receiving unit 101 into an audio signal or a video signal, outputs the decoded audio signal to the speaker 107, and outputs the video signal to the display 108.
[0022]
The current location acquisition unit 109 is a device that automatically acquires the current location (current location) of the communication terminal 10 using, for example, GPS. Further, the current location acquisition unit 109 may be configured to acquire position information by communication between the communication terminal 100 and a base station of a mobile phone.
[0023]
The broadcast area acquisition unit 110 has a memory in which broadcast area information for specifying a broadcast area from the current location is stored in advance. Broadcast area acquiring section 110 specifies a broadcast area where communication terminal 10 is located, based on the broadcast area information stored in the memory and the current location acquired by current location acquiring section 109, and outputs the broadcast area to broadcast program acquiring section 111. Specifically, the broadcast area acquisition unit 110 specifies the broadcast area where the communication terminal 10 is located based on the latitude and longitude of the current location acquired by the current location acquisition unit 109.
[0024]
Broadcast program acquisition section 111 acquires program information broadcast in a broadcast area at a current position and a broadcast area adjacent thereto based on an output from broadcast area acquisition section 110. Specifically, the broadcast program acquisition unit 111 acquires each program name of each channel from the EIT. When a program name of a broadcast area near the EIT is included, this program name is used similarly.
[0025]
On the other hand, if the program name of the broadcast area close to the EIT is not included, the broadcast program acquisition unit 111 transmits the control information from the content server 30 via the control unit 104 and the communication transmission / reception unit 105 to the near area via the communication line. Get the program information. Here, the program information includes program identification information used for identifying a program, URL information of the content server 30 storing broadcast information of each program, and the like. The broadcast program acquisition unit 111 updates these pieces of program information regularly or irregularly.
[0026]
The reception history storage unit 112 is a device that stores reception history information used when the broadcast reception is interrupted. The reception history storage unit 112 stores the viewing program information obtained by the viewing program acquisition unit 103, the URL information of the content server having the broadcast information of the program at the time of interruption, the missing packet information at the time of interruption of reception, and the like.
[0027]
The operation switch 113 is a switch for inputting various commands and the like by a user's manual operation. In this embodiment, the control unit 104 receives a switch command from the operation switch 113, receives a broadcast signal from the broadcast station 20, and receives broadcast information from the content server 30 via a communication line. A switching process for switching the receiving mode to be performed is executed.
[0028]
(Broadcast reception switching operation)
Hereinafter, the broadcast receiving operation by the communication terminal 10 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0029]
First, it is assumed that the control unit 104 is executing a reception mode for receiving a broadcast signal of a program selected from the broadcast station 20 in response to an input command from the operation switch 113. Specifically, the broadcast receiving unit 101 extracts a packet signal related to a program selected by the user from a digital broadcast signal received by the broadcast receiving antenna 100. Control section 104 outputs the packet signal (broadcast information) extracted by broadcast receiving section 101 to decoding section 106. The decoding unit 106 decodes the packet signal extracted by the broadcast receiving unit 101 into an audio signal or a video signal (reproduction of broadcast reception information). Thus, the audio signal decoded from the received broadcast signal is output from speaker 107. The video signal is displayed and output on the display 108. Therefore, the user can view the selected program of the digital broadcast using the communication terminal 10.
[0030]
Here, the broadcast reception management unit 102 always determines the reception status of the broadcast signal received by the broadcast reception unit 101 at predetermined intervals (step S1). When the result of the determination by the broadcast reception management unit 102 indicates that the reception status has deteriorated, the control unit 104 activates the timer 104a and waits for a fixed time until the reception status recovers (step S2). If the reception status recovers after a certain period of time, the control unit 104 transfers the broadcast signal (broadcast information of the selected program) received by the broadcast receiving unit 101 to the decoding unit 106, and continues the process of reproducing the broadcast received information. (YES in step S3, S7).
[0031]
On the other hand, if the reception determination after the elapse of the predetermined time is still determined to be difficult to receive, the control unit 104 notifies the communication transmission / reception unit 105 by the reception status notification unit 104b. As a result, the control unit 104 executes a process of switching from the reception mode from the broadcast network to the reception mode from the communication network (communication line) (NO in step S3, S4). Here, the reception status notifying unit 104b notifies the user via the display 108 that the broadcast reception status is difficult to receive.
[0032]
The communication transmission / reception unit 105 connects via the antenna 114 and the communication line to the content server 30 having the same broadcast information as the received broadcast information (the program selected by the user) before the interruption. Then, the communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 receives the broadcast information from the content server 30 and transfers the broadcast information to the decoding unit 106. The decoding unit 106 performs streaming reproduction of the broadcast information obtained from the communication transmission / reception 105, and outputs the broadcast information to the speaker 107 and the display 108 (Step S5).
[0033]
The broadcast receiving unit 101 operates even when receiving broadcast information from a communication network, that is, a communication line. Similarly, the broadcast reception management unit 102 continues the process of determining the reception status from the broadcast signal received by the broadcast reception unit 101 (Step S6). Even when the broadcast reception management unit 102 determines that reception is possible, the control unit 104 continues streaming reproduction (reception mode via a communication line) for a certain period of time, and after a certain period of time, the determination result of the broadcast reception management unit 102 indicates that reception is difficult. In this case, the streaming reproduction is executed as it is (NO in step S6). On the other hand, if it is determined that the reception status has been recovered after a certain time, the control unit 104 switches from the reception mode from the communication network (communication line) to the reception mode of the broadcast network (broadcast reception from the broadcast station 20). The switching process is executed (YES in step S6, S7). In this case, the control unit 104 compares the received packet information of the communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 and the received packet information of the broadcast receiving unit 101, and switches the receiving mode automatically and smoothly.
[0034]
Here, the procedure of the reception mode switching process will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0035]
In response to the notification from the reception status notifying unit 104b of the control unit 104, the communication transmitting and receiving unit 105 obtains program information for identifying the currently viewed program from the viewed program obtaining unit 103 (step S10). The communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 connects to the content server 30 via the communication line based on the URL information included in the acquired program information, and transmits the program information (step S11). Further, the communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 transmits the packet information (reception time, PID, PTS, etc.) received last from the broadcasting station 20 to the content server 30 as the missing packet information that the broadcast receiving unit 101 could not receive (step S12). ).
[0036]
The content server 30 identifies the program being viewed on the communication terminal 10 by recognizing the channel number being selected, the viewing time zone, the G code of the viewed program, and the like based on the program information received from the communication terminal 10. I do. Then, the content server 30 searches for the broadcast information corresponding to the program from the storage unit that stores the broadcast information, and transmits the broadcast information to the communication terminal 10 via the communication line. At this time, the content server 30 can transmit broadcast information subsequent to the missing packet information based on the missing packet information transmitted from the communication transmitting / receiving unit 105.
[0037]
As described above, the communication transmission / reception unit 105 can receive the broadcast information from the point of suspension of the broadcast reception from the content server 30 via the communication line (step S13). Therefore, even if the broadcast reception status from the broadcast station 20 is deteriorated and the broadcast reception is interrupted, the broadcast information of the program can be continuously received via the communication line. This allows the user to continuously watch the program broadcast being received by the communication terminal 10 even when the user becomes difficult to receive the broadcast due to the movement, for example.
[0038]
(Modification)
The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows a modified example showing a procedure for receiving only a received packet that is lost due to interruption of received broadcast information when broadcast reception is interrupted.
[0039]
In the present modification, the control unit 104 acquires missing information, which is a received packet that has been lost via a communication line, in response to interruption of broadcast reception. (YES in step S20, S21). That is, the control unit 104 acquires only the missing information from the broadcast reception information by the communication transmission / reception unit 105 and the content server 30 in response to the reception interruption according to the above-described procedure, and combines the information with the broadcast information obtained by the broadcast reception. And outputs the result to the decoding unit 106. The control unit 104 stores broadcast information obtained by broadcast reception in the reception information storage unit 104c.
[0040]
The decoding unit 106 decodes the combination information obtained from the control unit 104, executes a combination reproduction process of reproducing the audio with the speaker 107 and reproducing the video with the display 108 (Step S22). Note that the decoding unit 106 executes a reproduction process using the broadcast information obtained by the broadcast reception when the situation of the broadcast reception from the broadcast station 20 recovers (NO in step S20, S23).
[0041]
In the combination reproduction according to the present modification, the broadcast signal is reproduced with a predetermined delay in advance in consideration of the delay time due to the supplementary processing of the missing information by the communication line. Specifically, the broadcast signal from the broadcast receiving unit 101 is temporarily stored in the received information storage unit 104c of the control unit 104, and the reproduction is executed after a predetermined time. The communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 continues to receive broadcast information from the content server 30 until the broadcast reception management unit 102 determines that broadcast reception is possible.
[0042]
(Reception switching operation in accordance with broadcast area transition)
The flowchart of FIG. 5 illustrates the reception switching operation of the embodiment, particularly the operation when the communication terminal 10 transitions from the broadcast area being received to another nearby broadcast area as it moves.
[0043]
First, in the communication terminal 10 of the embodiment, the current location acquisition unit 109 periodically or irregularly acquires the current location (current location) of the communication terminal 10. The broadcast area acquisition unit 110 specifies the broadcast area where the communication terminal 10 is located based on the current location from the current location acquisition unit 109 (step S30). Normally, the communication terminal 10 receives the broadcast information broadcast from the current broadcast area and reproduces the broadcast information in the above-described procedure (step S31).
[0044]
The broadcast area acquisition unit 110 stores the acquired broadcast area, and if the acquired broadcast area is different from the stored broadcast area, the broadcast area where the communication terminal 10 is present has transitioned. A determination is made (step S32).
[0045]
When the transition of the broadcast area has occurred, the broadcast area acquisition unit 110 notifies the control unit 104 that the broadcast area receivable by the communication terminal 10 has transitioned (YES in step S32). When receiving the transition notification of the broadcast area from the broadcast area acquisition unit 110, the control unit 104 acquires the program information viewed before the transition of the broadcast area from the viewing program acquisition unit 103 (step S33). Further, the control unit 104 acquires program information receivable in the broadcast area after the transition from the broadcast program acquisition unit 111.
[0046]
The control unit 104 compares the viewed program information from the viewed program acquisition unit 103 before the transition to the broadcast area with the program information after the transition to the broadcast area, and determines the same as the program that was viewed before the transition to the broadcast area after the transition. It is determined whether a program exists (step S34).
[0047]
When the same program exists, the control unit 104 automatically switches to the same program after the transition of the broadcast area (YES in step S34, S38). Therefore, the control unit 104 reproduces the same program as before the transition of the broadcast area by transferring the broadcast information received in the new broadcast area by the broadcast receiving unit 101 to the decoding unit 106 (step S39).
[0048]
On the other hand, if the same program does not exist, as described above, the control unit 104 notifies the communication transmission / reception unit 105 of switching the broadcast network reception mode to the communication network reception mode, and executes the reception switching process. (No in step S34, S35). The communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 transmits to the content server 30 the program information and the missing packet information of the program watched before the transition of the broadcast area. Here, the missing packet information indicates that it is difficult to receive a broadcast packet from the broadcast station 20 before the transition after the received packet received by the broadcast receiving unit 101 at the time when it is determined that the same program does not exist, or after the broadcast area transition. It means a received packet at the time of determination.
[0049]
The communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 receives the broadcast information from the missing information that has been lost due to the transition of the broadcast area from the content server 30 according to the procedure described above (step S36). The decoding unit 106 reproduces the broadcast information of the program watched before the transition of the broadcast area from the communication transmitting / receiving unit 105 (step S37).
[0050]
In short, the same program as before the transition can be received and viewed even when the broadcast area changes due to movement while the communication terminal 10 is receiving the broadcast. At this time, even when the same program does not exist in the broadcast area after the transition, the broadcast information of the same program can be received and viewed using the communication line.
[0051]
In this embodiment, when the broadcast information reception mode is switched from the broadcast network to the communication line or vice versa, the control unit 104 displays the fact on the display 108 to notify the user. . As this notifying means, the speaker 107 may be used to notify by voice.
[0052]
Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 104 is configured to automatically execute the reception switching process. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the user may operate the operation switch 113 to manually execute the reception switching process. May be. In addition, the operation of the control unit 104 may be configured so that the user can preset a mode such as an automatic mode, a manual switching mode, or a mode without switching from the operation switch 113.
[0053]
Further, the broadcast reception management unit 102 may determine the reception level of the currently received broadcast signal at a plurality of levels, and display the determination result on the display 108 via the reception status notification unit 104b. With such a configuration, the user can check the broadcast reception status on the display 108, and thus can move to a place where the reception status is good.
[0054]
Further, when the broadcasted program ends, the broadcast station 20 sends to the content server 30 information related to the program (for example, broadcast information such as an extension of a professional baseball broadcast) or broadcast information indicating a notice or the like. May be provided. With such a configuration, by connecting the communication terminal 10 to the content server 30 via a communication line, the user can view the continuation of the program being viewed and related information.
[0055]
(Use of reception history storage unit 112)
As described above, the reception history storage unit 112 stores the viewing program information by the viewing program acquisition unit 103 which can be used when the broadcast reception is interrupted, the URL information of the content server having the broadcast information of the program at the time of the interruption, and the reception interruption. , Etc., is stored.
[0056]
In response to a command input from the operation switch 113, the user can arbitrarily view program information, URL information of a content server having program broadcast information, and missing packet information at the time of interruption of reception from the reception history storage unit 112 via the control unit 104. A configuration may also be used so as to be able to use such. The reception history storage unit 112 may store information on a program arbitrarily selected by the user.
[0057]
In short, the communication terminal 10 of the embodiment can receive digital broadcast from the broadcast station 20 and receive broadcast information of the same program from the content server 30 connected to the Internet or the like via a communication line. Can be. In this case, as the reception switching mode, it is possible to execute the reception switching mode due to the interruption of the reception due to the deterioration of the reception condition of the broadcast reception, the transition of the broadcast area, or the interruption of the reception by the user. As a result, if the user is provided with the communication terminal, the user can view the digital broadcast program by the broadcast station 20 without being restricted by a place or a time zone.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication terminal or a system that enables digital broadcast reception of the same program even in a case where the broadcast area changes or the broadcast reception is difficult. Therefore, it is possible to realize a useful digital broadcasting service capable of providing a program requested by a user without being restricted by a place or a time zone.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a procedure of a reception switching operation according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a detailed procedure of the reception switching operation.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to a modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a procedure in a transition state of a broadcast area according to the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Communication terminal 20 ... Broadcasting station 30 ... Content server 100 ... Broadcast reception antenna 101 ... Broadcast reception unit 102 ... Broadcast reception management unit 103 ... Viewing program acquisition unit 104 ... Control unit 105 ... Communication transmission / reception unit 106 ... Decoding unit 107 ... Speaker 108 Display 109 Current location acquisition unit 110 Broadcast area acquisition unit 111 Broadcast program acquisition unit 112 Reception history storage unit 113 Operation switch 114 Communication transmission / reception antenna

Claims (11)

Broadcast receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast over a broadcast line, communication transmitting / receiving means capable of communicating via a communication line with a content server capable of transmitting the same broadcast information as the digital broadcast,
Switching means for switching between the broadcast receiving means and the communication transmitting / receiving means under predetermined conditions during reception of the digital broadcast by the broadcast receiving means,
A communication terminal, comprising: control means for controlling to receive the same broadcast information as the digital broadcast from the content server via the communication transmitting / receiving means in response to a switching operation by the switching means. An acquisition unit for acquiring program information for identifying a digital broadcast program being received by the broadcast reception unit,
The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to receive broadcast information of the same program from the content server using the program information. The communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition unit is configured to extract the program information included in the broadcast information received by the broadcast reception unit and store the program information in a storage unit. Having a broadcast reception management means for managing a broadcast reception status in the broadcast reception means,
The switching means switches the broadcast reception means to enable the communication transmission / reception means when the broadcast reception management means determines that the broadcast reception status is in an unacceptable state. 2. The communication terminal according to 1. The switching means switches from the communication transmission / reception means to enable the broadcast reception means when the broadcast reception management means determines that the broadcast reception status has recovered to an acceptable state. Item 5. The communication terminal according to item 4. Receiving information storage means for storing broadcast information received by the broadcast receiving means,
When the broadcast reception management unit determines that the broadcast reception status is in an unacceptable state, a missing information acquisition unit that acquires missing broadcast information from the broadcast information stored in the reception information storage unit,
The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to receive the missing broadcast information from the content server via the communication transmission / reception unit. The method according to claim 6, wherein the control unit includes a function of combining the missing broadcast information received from the content server via the communication transmitting / receiving unit with the broadcast information received by the broadcast receiving unit. Communication terminal. Current location acquisition means for acquiring the current location of the terminal body;
Broadcast area specifying means for specifying a broadcast area of the digital broadcast;
Based on the current position and the broadcast area, a determination unit that determines that the terminal body has transitioned to another broadcast area,
Acquiring means for acquiring program information for identifying a received program in the broadcast area before the transition when it is determined that the broadcast area has transitioned by the determining means;
Means for using the program information to control the broadcast information of the same program as the received program in the broadcast area before the transition from the broadcast area after the transition via the broadcast receiving means. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein: Switching means for switching between the broadcast receiving means and the communication transmitting / receiving means when the same program as the received program in the broadcast area before the transition does not exist in the broadcast area after the transition,
Means for controlling to receive the same broadcast information as the digital broadcast from the content server via the communication transmission / reception means in response to the reception switching operation by the reception switching means. Item 9. The communication terminal according to item 8. Means for extracting the address information of the content server included in the broadcast information received by the broadcast receiving means,
The communication terminal according to any one of claims 1, 2, 7, and 9, wherein the control unit connects to the content server via the communication transmission / reception unit based on the URL information. A digital broadcast receiving system that uses a communication terminal that can be connected to either a digital broadcast network that performs digital broadcast over a broadcast line or a computer network that can provide broadcast information of the digital broadcast through a communication line with a content server. So,
The communication terminal,
Broadcast receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast from the digital broadcast network,
A communication receiving unit connected to the computer network via the communication line and capable of receiving the same broadcast information as the digital broadcast from the content server, and receiving the digital broadcast by the broadcast receiving unit under a predetermined condition. Switching means for switching between the broadcast receiving means and the communication receiving means,
Control means for controlling to receive the same broadcast information as the digital broadcast from the content server via the communication receiving means, according to the reception switching operation by the reception switching means,
A digital broadcast receiving system characterized in that the same communication terminal can receive the same digital broadcast from either a broadcast line or a communication line.

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