JP2006270722A - Stream distributing system, receiving apparatus, tuning method, server, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To demand to a server the distribution of stream data suitable for a looking and listening style of a viewer. <P>SOLUTION: In a receiving apparatus 20, an input is switched to an input from a video server 10, by pressing a button of a remote control commander 21 during the time of listening and viewing a television broadcast. A microcomputer 23 creates first information by specifying a program viewed thus far. It further creates second information indicating detailed information of the stream data distributed from the video server 10. The receiving apparatus 20 transmits the first and second informations to the video server 10. The video server 10 reads corresponding video data, on the basis of the first information and executes corresponding predetermined processing to the read video data, on the basis of the second information. The video server 10 distributes the video data, subjected to the predetermined processing to the receiving apparatus 20 in a stream format. The receiving apparatus 20 receives and reproduces the stream data distributed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stream distribution system, a receiving device, a channel selection method, a server, and a program.

  When you go home from home and watch a movie or drama from the middle, when you watch a TV program that is being broadcast, you want to know what the initial content of the program was is there. In such a case, a video is recorded in advance on some recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) recorder, and the recorded video is viewed from the beginning.

  However, if the video cannot be recorded on the recording medium, for example, if the HDD recorder is forgotten to be turned on and recording of the video fails, the program that the user wants to watch is rebroadcast, or the DVD ( Digital Versatile Disc) and videotape had to wait for sale.

  Patent Document 1 listed below describes an invention related to a receiving device or the like that can switch between input from a television broadcast and input from stream data transmitted from a server.

JP 2004-364227 A

  As in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a receiving apparatus capable of receiving stream data allows the user to view the program from the beginning by receiving and reproducing the stream data of the program that the user wants to view from the server. Can do. However, the stream data of the distributed program is the same as the video content broadcast by television broadcasting. Therefore, for example, when it is desired to skip commercials (hereinafter, referred to as CM as appropriate), an operation for designating the reproduction position of the stream data as a predetermined position is performed in the same manner as when recording and reproducing video on a recording medium. Necessary.

  If the distribution of the stream data from which the CM of a certain program is removed from the server that is the transmission source of the stream data and the reproduction is performed, the operation as described above becomes unnecessary. Thus, it is desirable to be able to receive distribution of stream data that matches the viewing style of the viewer.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stream distribution system, a receiving apparatus, a channel selection method, a server, and a program that can request a server that is a stream data transmission source to distribute stream data that matches the viewing style of the viewer. That is.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stream distribution system including a server that distributes stream data and a reception device that receives and reproduces the distributed stream data. Switching means for switching between an input from a television broadcast and an input from a server, at least first information including information specifying stream data to be distributed, and second information indicating detailed information on the stream data to be distributed Information generating means for generating information and communication means for communicating with the server, and when the input is switched from the server to the input by the switching means during the reproduction of the television broadcast, the information generating means generates The first information and the second information are transmitted to the server by communication means, and the server stores data for storing video data. And the communication means for receiving the first information and the second information, and based on the first information, the corresponding video data is read from the data storage means, and the read video data is converted into the second information. A stream distribution system including execution means for executing a corresponding process.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided switching means for switching between an input from a television broadcast and an input from a server, first information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed, and stream data to be distributed Information generating means for generating second information indicating detailed information on the communication and communication means for communicating with the server, and when the input is switched to the input from the server by the switching means during the reproduction of the television broadcast The receiving device transmits the first information and the second information generated by the information generating unit to the server by the communication unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switching step for switching between an input from a television broadcast and an input from a server, at least first information including information specifying stream data to be distributed, and stream data to be distributed An information generating step for generating second information indicating detailed information about the communication, a communication step for communicating with the server, and during the reproduction of the television broadcast, when the input is switched to the input from the server in the switching step, The channel selection method includes a transmission step of transmitting the first information and the second information generated in the information generation step to the server.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, data storage means for storing video data, first information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed, and second information indicating detailed information regarding the stream data to be distributed Communication means for receiving the information, and execution means for reading the corresponding video data from the data storage means based on the first information and executing processing corresponding to the second information on the read video data; It is a server provided with.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switching step for switching between an input from a television broadcast and an input from a server, at least first information including information specifying stream data to be distributed, and stream data to be distributed An information generating step for generating second information indicating detailed information about the communication, a communication step for communicating with the server, and when the input is switched from the stream data in the switching step during the reproduction of the television broadcast. This is a program for causing a computer to execute the transmission step of transmitting the first information and the second information generated in the information generation step to the server.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to receive distribution of stream data suitable for the viewing style of the viewer.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a stream distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, broadcast radio waves broadcast via the satellite 13 are received by the antenna 2, converted into stream data by a signal processing unit (not shown), and supplied to the signal processing unit 3 of the receiver 1. In the signal processing unit 3, predetermined signal processing is performed on the supplied stream data. The stream data that has been subjected to signal processing is supplied to the receiver 4 and a video is displayed.

  The receiver 1 can receive digital television broadcasts such as BS (Broadcasting Satellite) broadcasts, CS (Communication Satellite) broadcasts, and terrestrial digital broadcasts. Also, analog broadcasting such as BS analog broadcasting and terrestrial analog broadcasting can be received.

  The receiver 1 also includes communication means for connecting to the Internet 12. The receiver 1 is connected to the video server 10 via the Internet 12 and can receive stream data from the video server 10. The video server 10 is managed by, for example, an Internet video distribution company, and includes an HDD 11 that is an example of data storage means.

  The receiver 1 can switch the stream data based on the signal received by the antenna 2 and the stream data distributed via the Internet 12 to the signal processing unit 3 by switching, for example, by a user operation on the receiver 1. To be done.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a main configuration of the receiving device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The receiver 20 is configured such that the receiver 1 and the receiver 4 described in FIG. 1 are housed in the same casing. The receiving device 20 includes a BS / CS digital tuner 30 and an analog tuner 31, and receives a digital television broadcast such as a BS broadcast and a CS broadcast received by an antenna (not shown) and an analog television broadcast using a terrestrial wave. Can do.

  The BS / CS digital tuner 30 receives a broadcast of a channel selected from the BS broadcast and the CS broadcast based on a channel selection instruction signal supplied from an AV (Audio Video) switch 24, and receives a video based on the received broadcast and Output audio signals. The video and audio signals output from the BS / CS digital tuner 30 are input to the AV switch 24.

  Similarly, the analog tuner 31 receives a broadcast of a channel selected from the analog television broadcast based on the channel selection instruction signal supplied from the AV switch 24, and outputs video and audio signals based on the received broadcast. . The video and audio signals output from the analog tuner 31 are supplied to the AV switch 24.

  The receiving device 20 further includes an external input terminal (not shown) through which external video and audio signals can be input. For example, video and audio signals output from a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 40 connected to the external input terminal are input to the AV switch 24. Furthermore, video and audio signals output from a stream decoder 26 described later are supplied to the AV switch 24.

  Note that the AV switch 24 can accommodate both analog and digital video and audio signals by providing an A / D converter, for example. Further, a larger number of external input terminals can be provided. In the following, video and audio signals will be described focusing on video signal processing, and description of audio signals will be omitted as appropriate.

  The AV switch 24 selects one of the BS / CS digital tuner 30, the analog tuner 31, the external input terminal, and the stream decoder 26 based on the channel selection control signal supplied from the microcomputer 23. At the same time, when the BS / CS digital tuner 30 or the analog tuner 31 is selected, the channel selection instruction signal for designating the reception channel is selected based on the channel selection control signal from the BS / CS digital tuner 30 and the analog tuner 31. Supply to the other side.

  A video signal selected by the AV switch 24 among the BS / CS digital tuner 30, the analog tuner 31 and the external input terminal is output from the AV switch 24 and supplied to the signal processing unit 28. The video signal that has been subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 28 is supplied to a display unit 29 including a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), etc. An image based on the signal is displayed.

  The microcomputer 23 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and performs the above-described channel selection control based on a program stored in advance in the ROM. The entire receiving apparatus 20 is controlled. Further, the microcomputer 23 gives a control signal for instructing stream data reproduction control to the stream player 25 described later. The RAM is used as a work memory for the CPU. Further, a memory 32 is connected to the microcomputer 23.

  The time measuring unit 33 is composed of, for example, a clock circuit, and measures the current time such as year, month, day, hour, minute and second. The time measuring unit 33 has a timer function, and instructs the microcomputer 23 to execute a predetermined process when the set date and time comes.

  The remote control commander 21 is a device for remotely operating the receiving device 20 using, for example, an infrared signal. The remote control commander 21 includes a channel setting key, an input switching key, a volume setting key, a power ON / OFF button, a (+-) key for moving up and down the receiving channel one by one, an input from a television broadcast, and a video server 10 Various operation means necessary for operating the receiving device 20 such as a button for switching input (hereinafter referred to as a VOD (Video On Demand) button) are provided. When an operation by the user is performed, the remote control commander 21 generates a control signal corresponding to the operation, modulates the signal into an infrared signal, and transmits the infrared signal to the receiving device 20.

  Here, the operation means provided in the remote control commander 21 is described as a key, but this is not limited to this example. For example, a cross key that can indicate the up, down, left, and right directions, a touch panel that allows input by touching, and the like may be used as the operation means. You may use the dial which sets an input value by rotating, and the operation means which combined rotation operation and pressing-down operation. Alternatively, a touch pad that is determined by sliding a finger on the pad to move the selection position and pressing the pad may be used as the operation means.

  The infrared signal transmitted from the remote control commander 21 is received by the light receiving unit 22 of the receiving device 20, and the infrared signal is demodulated. The control signal obtained by demodulating the infrared signal is supplied to the microcomputer 23. The microcomputer 23 generates, for example, the above-described channel selection control signal based on this control signal and outputs it to the AV switch 24.

  The transmission / reception control unit 27 is connected to the Internet 12 through a communication line having a communication speed of, for example, several Mbps (Mega bits per second) or more, and controls communication with the Internet 12. Stream data transmitted from the video server 10 is exchanged between the video server 10 and the transmission / reception control unit 27 through the Internet 12 using a predetermined protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). Can be received by the receiving device 20, and commands and data can be exchanged between the receiving device 20 and the video server 10.

  Video stream data read from the data storage unit of the video server 10 and reproduced is transmitted to the Internet 12. This stream data is received by the transmission / reception control unit 27 and supplied to the stream player 25 and the stream decoder 26.

  The stream decoder 26 decodes the supplied stream data and supplies it to the AV switch 24. The stream player 25 controls reception of stream data based on a control signal from the microcomputer 23. For example, the stream player 25 transmits a video data distribution request to the video server 10 via the transmission / reception control unit 27 in accordance with a control signal from the microcomputer 23 and decodes the stream data to the stream decoder 26. Instruct the start. Based on the distribution request, the video stream data reproduced by the video server 10 is transmitted via the Internet 12 and received by the transmission / reception control unit 27. The received stream data is supplied to the stream decoder 26, decoded, converted into a video signal, and input to the AV switch 24.

  Next, the video server 10 which is an example of the stream server in one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows a main configuration of the video server 10. The video server 10 includes a microcomputer 51, a stream encoder 52, a communication control unit 53 as a communication unit, and a data storage unit 54 configured by a plurality or a single HDD.

  Video data is stored in the data storage unit 54 as data storage means. Of course, audio data such as music may also be stored. Video data is compressed and encoded by, for example, MPEG2 (Moving Pictures Experts Group 2). For example, the microcomputer 51 reads the video data from the data storage unit 54 in response to a request from the outside. The read video data is encoded into a stream data format by the stream encoder 52 and supplied to the communication control unit 53. Then, stream data is distributed from the communication control unit 53 to the receiving device 20 via the Internet 12. Note that the compression encoding method and transmission method of video data are not limited to MPEG2, and other methods may be used. The data storage unit 54 may store stream format data.

  The microcomputer 51 also controls playback of the video data stored in the data storage unit 54. For example, on the basis of an external request received by the communication control unit 53, processing such as playback, stop, fast forward playback, rewind playback, and editing of video data (video stream data) is performed. Further, the microcomputer 51 can reproduce the video stream data from the start position designated in terms of time. For example, by giving time information indicating the time from the beginning of the video stream data such as a time code as a start position from the outside, the video stream data can be reproduced from a position corresponding to the time.

  The video server 10 is provided with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a location on the Internet 12, and the video server 10 can be accessed by giving the URL via the Internet 12. ing. Not limited to this, a URL may be given to each of the video data stored in the data storage unit 54 of the video server 10. In this case, by specifying a URL via the Internet 12, video stream data provided with the URL can be reproduced.

  Next, a stream distribution system that is a feature of the present invention will be described. The receiving device 20 includes at least first information including information specifying stream data to be distributed (hereinafter, the first information is appropriately referred to as “basic information”) and detailed information regarding the stream data to be distributed. Second information indicating the information (hereinafter, the second information is referred to as “detailed information” as appropriate) is transmitted to the video server 10.

  The basic information and the detailed information are received by the communication control unit 53 of the video server 10 and supplied to the microcomputer 51. The microcomputer 51 reads the corresponding video data from the data storage unit 54 based on the received basic information. Further, the microcomputer 51 performs predetermined processing corresponding to the detailed information on the read video data, and supplies the video data subjected to the predetermined processing to the stream encoder 52. Stream data encoded in the stream format by the stream encoder 52 is transmitted from the communication control unit 53 to the Internet 12 and distributed to the receiving device 20.

  This stream distribution system will be described in more detail. Assume that the VOD button on the remote control commander 21 is pressed while a television broadcast (regardless of analog or digital) is being viewed on the receiving device 20. An infrared signal generated by pressing the VOD button is received by the light receiving unit 22. A control signal is generated by demodulating the infrared signal in the light receiving unit 22, and the generated control signal is supplied to the microcomputer 23.

  The microcomputer 23 supplied with the control signal generates basic information and detailed information as information generating means. The basic information is information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed. For example, the basic information is information related to a television broadcast program that was viewed before the VOD button was pressed.

  The microcomputer 23 identifies the program being viewed and generates basic information based on the channel information of the program being viewed and the date / time information supplied from the timing unit 33. The program may be specified with reference to EPG (Electric Program Guide) in digital broadcasting or information in a program guide called G guide in analog broadcasting.

  Further, the microcomputer 23 generates detailed information. The detailed information is information indicating detailed information regarding the stream data to be distributed. The detailed information is initialized by the user, for example.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen on which detailed information is set. The screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 29, for example, but may be displayed on a display unit provided with the remote control commander 21.

  The detailed information in this embodiment is composed of a URL 61, reproduction position information 62, and information regarding the presence / absence of CM (hereinafter abbreviated as CM information as appropriate) 63. The URL 61 indicates the position on the Internet 12 of the video server 10 that is the distribution source of the stream data. The reproduction position information 62 is information indicating the reproduction position of the stream data to be distributed. For example, if you want to view the stream data to be distributed from the beginning, select “From the beginning”, and if you want to view the stream data to be distributed from the same position as the program you have been viewing, select “From the current position”. Select. The CM information 63 is information for instructing whether or not the stream data to be distributed includes a CM.

  The basic information and detailed information generated by the microcomputer 23 are supplied to the stream player 25 and transmitted to the video server 10 via the transmission / reception control unit 27 and the Internet 12.

  The video server 10 receives basic information and detailed information in the communication control unit 53. The received basic information and detailed information are supplied to the microcomputer 51. The microcomputer 51 reads the video data of the corresponding program from the data storage unit 54 based on the basic information. Further, the microcomputer 51 not only reads the video data from the data storage unit 54 but also performs processing corresponding to the detailed information.

  Here, an example of processing corresponding to the detailed information executed by the microcomputer 51 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. For example, it is assumed that the receiving device 20 is watching a program broadcast from 21:00 to 21:54 by television broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as program A). Program A includes three CMs, CM1 (t1 = 1 minute), CM2 (t2 = 2 minutes), and CM3 (t3 = 1 minute). Then, the VOD button of the remote control commander 21 is pressed at 21:30, and basic information and detailed information are transmitted from the receiving device 20 to the video server 10. It is assumed that the URL indicating the video server 10 is input as the detailed information, “From the current position” is selected as the reproduction position information, and “None” is selected as the CM information.

  The microcomputer 51 of the video server 10 that has received the basic information and the detailed information reads the video data 1 of the program A from the data storage unit 54 from the basic information. The microcomputer 51 performs processing corresponding to the detailed information. Since the CM information is “none” in the detailed information, the microcomputer 1 cuts CM1 to CM3 from the video data 1 to generate video data 2.

  Further, since “from the current position” is selected as the position information, the microcomputer 1 performs a process of adjusting the reproduction position. Since the input is switched by pressing the VOD button at 21:30, the video data from the position of 0:30 is distributed to the receiving device 20 as the playback position. However, since “None” is selected as the CM information, the playback position is shifted by the time corresponding to the CM.

  The program A includes CM1 and CM2 until 21:30 when the input is switched. The total time (t1 + t2) of CM1 and CM2 is 3 minutes. Therefore, the playback position is 0:27, which is shifted from 0:30 by 3 minutes.

  The microcomputer 51 supplies the video data from the determined reproduction position 0:27 to the stream decoder 52. In the stream decoder 52, the supplied video data is encoded into a stream data format, and stream data is generated. The generated stream data is transmitted to the Internet 12 via the communication control unit 53 and distributed to the receiving device 20.

  The distributed stream data is received by the transmission / reception control unit 27 and decoded by the stream decoder 26. In the receiving device 20, the input is switched from the input from the television broadcast to the input from the video server 10 by pressing the VOD button. That is, when the VOD button is pressed, the microcomputer 23 controls the AV switch 24 to switch the input from the BS / CS digital tuner 30 or the analog tuner 31 to the input from the stream decoder 26.

  The video signal input from the stream decoder 26 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 28 via the AV switch 24 and displayed on the display unit 29.

  In this way, the user can view a program that has been viewed halfway in the television broadcast format in the stream data format simply by pressing a button provided on the remote control commander 21. By viewing in the stream data format, for example, it is possible to view the program from the user's desired playback position, such as viewing the program from the beginning, or skipping a scene that the user does not want to see or has once viewed. Further, it is possible to transmit reproduction position information and CM information to a stream data distribution source, and to request distribution of stream data in accordance with the viewing style of the user.

  The present invention can be variously modified and applied without departing from the gist of the present invention, and is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The detailed information is not limited to the position information and CM information described above. For example, the detailed information may include information for inquiring whether or not there is video data with added value in the program specified by the basic information. Specifically, for example, when the program specified by the basic information is a movie, information that can inquire the video server of the presence or absence of an uncut version of the movie may be included. In addition, the video server searches the data storage unit for the presence or absence of video data based on the detailed information, distributes it to the receiving device if it exists, and sends information to that effect to the receiving device if it does not exist. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a function for specifying a program in television broadcasting is added to the receiving device side. However, the program is specified on the video server side based on channel information and time information transmitted from the receiving device. You can also

  In addition, by viewing a television broadcast program in a stream data format, it is possible to view a scene ahead of the currently broadcast program.

  Further, the receiving apparatus may be charged according to the content of the detailed information. For example, it may be charged by receiving distribution of stream data of video data from which a CM is cut or stream data of a scene ahead of a broadcast program.

It is a basic diagram which shows roughly the stream delivery system in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the receiver in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the video server in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows an example of the screen for setting the detailed information in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the process of the video server in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Video server 12 Internet 20 Receiving device 23 Microcomputer 24 AV switch 25 Stream player 27 Transmission / reception control part 51 Microcomputer 53 Communication control part 54 Data storage part

Claims (5)

In a stream distribution system comprising a server for distributing stream data and a receiving device for receiving and reproducing the distributed stream data,
The receiving device includes switching means for switching between an input from a television broadcast and an input from a server,
Information generating means for generating first information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed and second information indicating detailed information on the stream data to be distributed;
A communication means for communicating with the server;
When the input is switched to the input from the server by the switching means during the reproduction of the television broadcast, the communication means transmits the first information and the second information generated by the information generating means to the server. ,
The server includes data storage means for storing video data,
A communication means for receiving the first information and the second information;
A stream distribution system comprising: an execution unit that reads out corresponding video data from the data storage unit based on the first information, and executes processing corresponding to the second information on the read video data. Switching means for switching between an input from a television broadcast and an input from a server;
Information generating means for generating first information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed and second information indicating detailed information on the stream data to be distributed;
A communication means for communicating with the server;
When the input is switched to the input from the server by the switching means during the reproduction of the television broadcast, the first information and the second information generated by the information generating means are transmitted to the server by the communication means. Receiver device. A switching step for switching between input from a television broadcast and input from a server;
An information generation step of generating first information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed and second information indicating detailed information regarding the stream data to be distributed;
A communication step for communicating with the server;
During the reproduction of the television broadcast, when the input is switched to the input from the server in the switching step, the transmission step of transmitting the first information and the second information generated in the information generation step to the server Channel selection method. Data storage means for storing video data;
Communication means for receiving at least first information including information specifying stream data to be distributed and second information indicating detailed information on the stream data to be distributed;
A server comprising: execution means for reading out corresponding video data from the data storage means based on the first information, and executing processing corresponding to the second information for the read video data. A switching step for switching between input from a television broadcast and input from a server;
An information generation step of generating first information including at least information specifying stream data to be distributed and second information indicating detailed information regarding the stream data to be distributed;
A communication step for communicating with the server;
A transmission step of transmitting the first information and the second information generated in the information generation step to the server when the input is switched from the stream data in the switching step during the reproduction of the television broadcast; A program that causes a computer to execute.

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