JP3763371B2 - Information display method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information display method and apparatus for video display of content information multiplexed on television broadcasting or the like, for example, content information on the Internet or content information related thereto, and in particular, a layout of a display area for displaying content information. For example, the arrangement of the browser and the components constituting the browser, the background color, the background image, the shape of the component, and the like can be automatically changed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, various services using the Internet have been provided. The user can receive a service such as providing information by accessing a server that provides the service on the Internet. By the way, services on the Internet are established based on communication processing. Basically, a communication channel must be set up between the service provider and the service recipient, and quantitative restrictions are imposed on service provision. was there.
[0003]
On the other hand, broadcasting has the advantage that information can be provided to an unspecified number of people at once as long as broadcast radio waves arrive. The present invention seeks to provide a technique suitable for multiplexing content information on the Internet or information related thereto on television broadcasting so that a large number of recipients can effectively use the content information on the Internet. To do.
[0004]
There is a text broadcasting technique as a technique related to the present invention. In the teletext technology, text information is inserted in the vertical blanking period of television broadcast to perform text broadcast in addition to normal broadcast.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and is an information display technique capable of displaying content information or a part thereof multiplexed and transmitted on a broadcast signal and automatically changing the layout of the display area. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the information display method, the step of multiplexing the content information and the layout information indicating the layout of the display area for displaying the content information on the broadcast signal, and the multiplexing Transmitting the broadcast signal, receiving the multiplexed broadcast signal, extracting the content information and the layout information from the multiplexed broadcast signal, and displaying in a layout according to the layout information And displaying at least a part of the content information on the device.
[0007]
According to this configuration, it is possible to specify the layout of the browser on the side that provides the content information, and to give the user a feeling that matches the content information.
[0008]
In this configuration, the broadcast signal can be a television broadcast signal. Further, the content information and the layout information can be multiplexed by being inserted in a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast signal.
[0009]
Also, the timing information can be the display time of the content information. The display time can be expressed as a relative time based on the time when the content information is received. Furthermore, the content information can be a hypertext.
[0010]
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the information display device receives a broadcast signal in which content information and layout information for instructing the layout of the display area of the content information are multiplexed. A means for extracting the content information and the layout information from the received broadcast signal, a display device, and a means for displaying at least a part of the content information on the display device in a layout according to the layout information. I am doing so.
[0011]
The present invention can also be realized as a computer program product.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a broadcast and information processing system to which this embodiment is applied. In this figure, a television broadcast station 10 is provided with a broadcast server 11, a content production terminal 12, a transmission facility 13, and the like. ing. The broadcast program created by the broadcast server 11 is broadcast via the transmission facility 13. In this embodiment, the transmission signal of the broadcast program includes a normal television signal and a content information signal multiplexed in the vertical baseline period of the television signal. On the reception side, a broadcast signal is received via an antenna (not shown) or the like, and the broadcast signal is reproduced by a television receiver or a personal computer having a television reception function. In the figure, a personal computer 20 having a television receiving function is shown as an example. The personal computer 20 has a function of demodulating a broadcast signal, and reproduces a television image using all or part of the screen based on the demodulated signal. The personal computer 20 may be connected to a telephone line via a modem 21 as shown. The personal computer 20 is connected to the Internet 30 via a modem 21 or the like (via a communication channel of a provider if necessary), and various servers are connected to the Internet. In this example, an information providing WWW server 31 is connected.
[0014]
Note that the recording medium 20a such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM is used for installing the Bitcast software 48 (see FIG. 8) described later in the personal computer 20. Also, a data recording device such as a CD-ROM drive device and a DVD (digital video disk) drive device, a BS broadcast, a CS broadcast, a cable television broadcast tuner, a set top box, and other devices 20b send data to the personal computer 20. It comes to supply. In this example, the device 20 b is externally attached to the personal computer 20, but a corresponding card or device may be built in the personal computer 20.
[0015]
In this embodiment, the broadcast station 10 receives web information (web page) described in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) from a WWW server, and multiplexes it with a broadcast signal of a normal broadcast program. In this case, the web information may not be transmitted directly, but may be processed and transmitted by the content production terminal 12 or information prepared individually by the content production terminal 12 may be transmitted. The format of information to be multiplexed and transmitted and the multiplexing method will be described later.
[0016]
Next, a method for multiplexing information into a television broadcast will be described. Content information is multiplexed by being inserted in the vertical blanking period of the television signal. Specifically, it is performed using a digital information multiplexing method (usually called VBI method: Vertical Blanking Interval) defined in the Telecommunication Technology Council Partial Report Consultation 83.
[0017]
That is, the television signal has a horizontal scanning period of 262.5 lines per field (525 lines per frame), and the portion corresponding to the first 21 lines constitutes a vertical blanking period. It is not displayed on a television receiver. FIG. 2 shows the role of the 21 horizontal scanning periods (which also indicates the scanning period at the beginning of the 22nd image). In the figure, the horizontal scanning period of the odd-numbered fields 263 to 283 is counted in units of frames, and is 1 to 21 in units of fields. As apparent from FIG. 2, the data for character multiplexing is multiplexed in the 14, 15, 16, and 21 (276, 277, 278, and 283) horizontal scanning periods. On the other hand, it is released for digital broadcasting (for VBI) in the 10, 11, 12, and 13 (272, 273, 274, and 275) horizontal scanning periods, and in this embodiment, the content is released in the horizontal scanning period for this VBI. Information is multiplexed.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows a state in which VBI signals are multiplexed, and data lines are inserted instead of video signals.
[0019]
FIG. 4 shows the VBI data transmission specifications. In FIG. 4, level 1 defines electrophysical specifications. According to this specification, a certain region in the horizontal scanning period is sampled to 296. The 0 level of the VBI signal is the pedestal level (black level) of the video signal, and the 1 level is 70% of the white level of the video signal.
[0020]
Hierarchy 2 is a data link layer, where signals are handled as logical data of 1 and 0. A series of data transmitted by one horizontal scanning line is called a data line. The data line is composed of data packets, and the data packets are protected from errors by an error correction code ((272, 190) shortened difference set cyclic code). On the receiving side, bit synchronization can be obtained based on the clock line, and the start of the data block can be detected based on the framing code.
[0021]
Layer 3 mainly shows prefix functions. Prefix information mainly consists of logical channel information and block connection information. Based on the logical channel information, the data blocks are classified according to the logical channel to which the data block belongs. The block connection information includes information such as the start and end of block connection, thereby connecting related data blocks to generate a data group that is a meaningful group of data. In this embodiment, this data group is called a message and is a processing unit.
[0022]
Next, content information transmitted by the VBI method as described above will be described. The content information to be transmitted is mainly web information, but may be information in any format. For example, it may be a computer program code.
[0023]
FIG. 5 shows a data format of a processing unit (message) of content information. Hereinafter, this is referred to as a Bitcast-HTTP format, and is also abbreviated as B-HTTP (Bitcast is a trademark of InfoCity Inc. HTTP is an abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language). In FIG. 5, the B-HTTP format has (1) content type and (2) group information type. The content type is intended to transmit the content itself, and the group information type is intended to transmit information for grouping a plurality of content without aiming to transmit the content itself. A message in the content type format is called a content message, and a message in the group information type format is called a group message.
[0024]
The content message is transmitted alone or with a group message. The group identifier of the content message transmitted alone is all zero (indicating irrelevant to the group). When the content message is transmitted together with the group message, the group message is transmitted first, and the number of content messages indicated by the group message are sequentially transmitted. In this case, the content message identifiers are all the same as the group message identifiers. In the content message, information already instructed in the group message (for example, information specified by an effective period start time element described later) can be omitted.
[0025]
In FIG. 5, the B-HTTP format includes a version field (including a type identifier), a group identifier field, a B-HTTP element field, a content body field, and a separator that separates the content body and the B-HTTP element. (All zero) field. The main fields are as follows.
(1) Version: The upper 4 bits are set to “0000”. Used when changing protocol. The lower 4 bits are used to distinguish the content message from the group message.
(2) Group identifier: 32-bit ID for identifying a group. When all-zero is set in the content type, the information is independent of the group.
(3) B-HTTP element gives additional information which can be omitted. This will be described later with reference to FIGS.
(4) Number of contents: Designates the number of content messages belonging to the group.
(5) Content body: Stores the original content in the content message described in HTML (structured document), GIF (image), JPEG (image), or the like.
[0026]
Next, details of the B-HTTP element will be described. 6 and 7 show examples of this element. In the figure, an element consists of an identifier, a length, and a body. The contents will be described below.
(1) MIME header: conforms to the HTTP protocol (multipurpose Internet mail extension). Describe the content type.
(2) Name element: Corresponds to the file name of URL (Uniform Resource Locator, rules for naming resources on the Internet). For content messages independent of the group, specify the full path. In the group message, specify the directory name.
(3) Content compression designating element: Designates the content compression format. Zero indicates that the content is not compressed.
(4) Keyword element: Used to add a keyword. This is used when searching, clipping, etc. described later.
(5) Icon element: Stores information on a part of the display screen, for example, an icon displayed at the bottom for the purpose of notifying the viewer that a predetermined message has been received (apparent reception). Note that the message is actually received prior to the start time of the effective period described later, and the start time of the effective period corresponds to the apparent reception time. This makes it possible to transmit / receive a message having a large amount of data with a sufficient lead time.
(6) Live mode element: This is a message synchronized with the main broadcast (normal broadcast content) of television broadcast, and indicates information that should be displayed at a specified time (valid period start time).
(7) Valid period start time element (relative time): The time at which the corresponding message becomes valid is displayed as a relative time from the message reception time. In the case of a live mode message, the time at which the content of the corresponding content message should be automatically displayed is stored.
[0027]
In addition, you may make it display by absolute time instead of relative time. In this case, the time when the corresponding content message becomes valid is notified, for example, by adding a frame number to the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) format.
(8) Effective period element: The effective period is designated by the number of seconds from the effective period start time. The terminal keeps the message in a cache (a cache in a direct access storage device such as a hard disk) for at least this period. In this example, the all-one (all bit positions take 1) validity period element instructs to forcibly delete the message from the cache. That is, the all-one valid element is used as a flag indicating deletion from the cache. Of course, as this flag, a unique element can be used, another specific bit pattern of an effective element can be used, and a specific bit pattern of another element can be used.
(9) Anchor element: The address information of the linked resource is displayed as a URL. For example, when an icon is displayed using an icon element of a message, clicking the icon makes it possible to access a link destination resource specified by the anchor element. This will be described later with reference to FIGS. The display of the anchor element is “HTTP://www.infocity.co.jp/dir1/index.html” using, for example, a URL. Here, “HTTP” is a transfer protocol, “www.infocity.co.jp” is a domain name, and “dir1 / index.html” is a path name. In this example, the URL is extended so that broadcast signals from broadcasting satellites and communication satellites, cable broadcasting of cable television, and information from recording devices such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and hard disks can also be accessed. For example, when acquiring HTML data from the 11th channel of BS broadcasting, the URL is “HTTP: //bitcast/BS11/filename.html”. Here, “bitcast” is a proxy server. “BS11” represents a medium and corresponds to a directory.
(10) Coupon element: represents a right to various services such as online shopping discount service.
(11) Layout element: specifies layout information, color, shape, background, font, and other decoration information of the browser itself or content displayed in the browser.
(12) Encryption element: Displays a protection method such as encryption and scramble processing.
(13) Menu element: Used to display a menu from an icon. A plurality of sets of icon information length, icon information, anchor element length, and anchor element (link destination) are specified.
[0028]
In the above, the message transmitted by multiplexing with the contents of the main broadcast has been described.
[0029]
Next, a configuration for receiving content information in the personal computer 20 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the personal computer 20 includes a television signal tuner 41, a waveform equivalent circuit 42, an A / D converter 43, a packet extraction unit 44, a program data generation unit 45, a B-HTTP service unit 46, a Bitcast browser unit 47, and the like. have. In this example, the B-HTTP service unit 46 and the Bitcast browser 47 are provided as the Bitcast software product 48.
[0030]
The tuner unit 41 selects and demodulates a television signal that has been modulated and transmitted. The waveform equivalent circuit 42 corrects the disturbance of the television signal waveform and the signal level. The A / D converter 43 samples a signal in a specific horizontal scanning period in units of 1/364 fH (fH is a horizontal scanning frequency) second, and generates digital information. The A / D converter 43 corresponds to a physical layer (first layer) of an ISO reference model standardized by ISO (International Organization for Standardization).
[0031]
The packet extracting unit 44 performs synchronization processing (framing processing) on the digital information sampled by the A / D converter 43 in units of bits and bytes, extracts data packet information, and detects and corrects transmission errors. The packet extraction unit 44 corresponds to the data link layer (second layer) of the ISO reference model.
[0032]
The program data generation unit 45 classifies and concatenates the extracted packets for each packet associated on the transmission side, and generates a data block. The program data generation unit 45 corresponds to the network layer (third layer) and the transport layer (fourth layer) of the ISO reference model. The above blocks 41 to 45 have the same configuration in the VBI terminal.
[0033]
The program data block generated as described above is supplied to the B-HTTP service unit 46. The B-HTTP service unit 46 processes messages (data groups) in accordance with the rules of the B-HTTP format described with reference to FIGS. Details thereof will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. The Bitcast browser unit 47 displays content information based on the processing in the B-HTTP service unit 46. The browser unit 47 provides the user with an interface similar to a normal browser for displaying Internet WWW pages.
[0034]
The relationship between the B-HTTP service unit 46 and browser unit 47 and the hardware and operating system of the personal computer 20 is as shown in FIG. Further, the actual mounting is as shown in FIG. In the implementation example of FIG. 10, the Bitcast layer corresponds to the communication multicast and the VBI broadcast function in one and the same layer, and can handle the broadcast and the communication multicast in the same manner. Further, the socket Winsock2 is expanded to handle not only the TCP / IP protocol but also the bitcast layer protocol so that communication and broadcasting can finally be handled at the same level.
[0035]
FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of the B-HTTP service unit 46 and the Bitcast browser unit 47. In FIG. 11, the B-HTTP service unit 46 includes a B-HTTP protocol analysis unit 50, a cache 51, a sequence control unit 52, and the like. It is made up of. The B-HTTP protocol analysis unit 50 analyzes the message received from the program data generation unit 45 in accordance with the B-HTTP protocol and passes it to the cache. The cache 51 stores information received from the protocol analysis unit 50. The sequence control unit 52 manages the correspondence between the time and contents of information stored in the cache 51 that needs to be displayed at a predetermined time (real-time information). Then, the sequence control unit 52 monitors the content of the cache 51 and notifies the browser unit 47 of the latest time and content.
[0036]
The browser unit 47 includes a sequence control unit 53, a content analysis unit 54, a content display unit 55, an icon display unit 56, and the like. The sequence control unit 53 stores the latest schedule, monitors an internal timer, calls the B-HTTP service unit 46 at a specified time, and acquires a content message. The content analysis unit 54 analyzes the acquired content message. For example, a document described in HTML grammar is analyzed. The content display unit 55 performs display based on the analysis result of the content analysis unit 54. The icon display unit 56 displays an icon indicating that the message has been received on the screen.
[0037]
The screen display can be performed as shown in FIG. In this example, the elements displayed on the screen are the web screen 47a and the television screen 47b. The web screen 47a has the same appearance and user interface as an Internet WWW browser. The screen display modes are, for example, the following three modes and can be switched.
(1) TV display mode: The TV screen is displayed on the full screen.
(2) Web display mode: The web screen is displayed on the entire screen.
(3) Composite display mode: A television screen is displayed on a part of the web screen.
When a message including icon information is received, an icon corresponding to, for example, the lower part of the screen is displayed at the effective period start time. If the content body to be displayed in the browser is included in the message, clicking the icon displays the content body on the web screen. At this time, if it is the television display mode, the mode shifts to the composite screen mode. In the web mode or the composite display mode in which the web screen is displayed, the content body is displayed. In this case, the user can select the automatic update display mode and the manual display mode. In the automatic update display mode, the display of the current content message is updated with the display of the content message in the live mode in which the valid period start time has newly arrived. In the manual display mode, the content message in the live mode at which the effective period start time has arrived is spooled, and displayed sequentially or selected by a dialog based on a user operation.
[0038]
Next, detailed operations will be described with a focus on the B-HTTP service unit 46.
[Data structure of cache index]
First, the data structure of an index used for managing received messages will be described. When a message is received, the message is stored in a cache (hard disk). Accumulated files are in message units. Then, in order to manage the message, a corresponding index element is generated and stored in the memory. FIG. 13 shows index elements. The index elements are: (1) File name (name element), (2) Expiration date (Coordinated Universal Time), (3) Save flag (turn on after saving the download process), (4) Live flag (live mode? Field), (5) icon flag (indicating presence / absence of icon element), and (6) keyword field.
[0039]
The index element is pointed by, for example, two types of index lists, and is used for LRU (Least Recently Used) management of a cache and display management of web pages and icons. FIG. 14 shows a list formed using bidirectional pointers in the order of access. Thereby, the management of messages in the cache can be managed by the LRU method. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a list can be formed using bidirectional points in the order of display timing (effective time start time). If this list is used, messages can be taken out in the order of display timing, and a web page or the like (in the live mode) and icons can be displayed.
[0040]
[Web screen display]
FIG. 16 shows an operation of displaying information to be automatically displayed on the web screen at a specified time by the live mode element. In this figure, a timer (not shown) starts a web display operation with reference to the effective period start time ('S' in FIG. 6) (S101). Then, one index element is taken out in the order of display timing (S102), and it is determined whether the live mode is set using the live flag (S103). If it is not the live mode (for example, in the case of a download message), the process is terminated without performing any processing. In the live mode, the message is read from the cache, the HTML document is analyzed, and displayed on the web screen (S104, S106, S107).
[0041]
In step S105, layout information is extracted. If there is layout information, the browser layout is changed. As shown in FIG. 17, the browser layout information includes the browser itself or content arrangement, color, shape, background, font, and other decoration information displayed on the browser. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, by specifying x = 20, y = 20, h = 240, and w = 320 for the television screen (composite display mode) displayed in the browser, a layout as shown in FIG. Can be changed.
[0042]
[Icon display]
FIG. 19 shows an operation for displaying an icon at a specified time. The web display described above is not displayed unless the web screen is open. The icons described here are displayed regardless of whether the web screen is open. In FIG. 19, a timer (not shown) starts an icon display operation with reference to the effective period start time (S111). If it does so, one index element will be taken out in order of display timing (S112), and it will be judged whether there is an icon element with reference to an icon flag (S113). If there is no icon element, the process ends without performing any processing. If there is an icon element, the message is read from the cache, icon information is extracted and displayed on the screen (S114, S116, S117).
[0043]
The icons can be displayed in various forms and various arrangements. Also, various methods can be adopted as to how to erase when icons increase. It may be arranged in a linear arrangement in the dock area at the bottom of the screen, and may be deleted when the arrangement position is full, may be selected by scrolling, or may be selected in multiple pages. .
[0044]
In step S115, the icon layout information is extracted, and the icon layout can be changed.
[0045]
[Icon click processing]
20 and 21 show an operation when an icon on the screen is clicked. In FIG. 20, in response to a click on the icon, the message name corresponding to the icon is acquired and the cache is searched (S121, S122, S123). If there is no corresponding cache, an error is returned and the process ends (S124, S125). If there is a corresponding message name, it is checked whether there is an anchor element (S126). Anchor elements specify the source of data. Data sources include servers on the Internet, broadcast signals from broadcast satellites and communication satellites, cable broadcast signals from cable television, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and hard disks.
[0046]
If there is an anchor element, it is determined whether the corresponding data source is a server on the Internet, that is, whether a TCP / IP connection is required (S127). If the data source is a server on the Internet, the server accesses the server on the Internet and retrieves information. That is, a TCP / IP connection is made, and an HTML document (data) is requested and received (S128, S129, S130). Thereafter, the received HTML document is analyzed and displayed on the web screen (S131, S133, S135). In this case, the anchor element is, for example, “HTTP: //www.info.co.jp/dir1/index.html”.
[0047]
In step S127, if the data source is not a server on the Internet, that is, a broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite or communication satellite, a cable broadcast signal from a cable TV, a service using a cable, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a hard disk, etc. Are connected to a stream such as a broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite, a cable broadcast signal of a cable television, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a hard disk, or the like, or the stream is opened, and then the processing from step S129 is performed. In step S132, it is determined whether or not the image can be displayed on the browser. If the image cannot be displayed, a dialog is displayed so that the file can be saved (S134). In the case of such a data source, the anchor element is, for example, “HTTP: //bitcast/BS11/filename.html”. Data is acquired by driving the device in accordance with the source identifier of the medium (data source) corresponding to the directory, for example, BS11 (11th channel of BS broadcasting).
[0048]
Information from a broadcast signal or a communication satellite serving as a data source or a cable broadcast signal from a cable television may be information transmitted in the main broadcast or information multiplexed in the main broadcast.
[0049]
On the other hand, if there is no anchor element, the menu element and the cipher element are examined. Here, processing related to the menu element will be described first, and processing when there is an encryption element will be described later. If there is a menu element, the menu is displayed (S137, S152), and if a menu item (icon) is selected, the process returns to step S123. If no menu item is selected, the process ends (S154). Fine selection can be made by using the menu. For example, when an icon represents an advertiser company, a menu can be used to represent individual products. It is also possible to represent the menu in multiple levels.
[0050]
In step S137, if there is no menu element, it is checked whether there is an encryption element. If there is no encrypted element, the MIME element of the data block is acquired to check the type of content body (S139). If the element is “text” or “html”, it is analyzed as an HTML document and displayed on the web screen (S140 to S143). If the element is “program”, the content body is regarded as a program and executed (S144 to S146).
[0051]
[Paid broadcasting]
Prior to the description of the processing in the case where there is an encryption element, a pay broadcasting mechanism realized using the encryption element will be briefly described. Here, the pay portion is content information. It doesn't matter if the broadcast itself is paid.
[0052]
In FIG. 22, the broadcast station 10 is provided with a key server 14 in addition to the broadcast server 11. The user's personal computer 20 and the key server 14 can be dial-up connected via the Internet 30.
[0053]
In order to use paid broadcasting of content information, it is necessary to make a contract with an operating organization such as a broadcasting station. After making a contract, the user acquires a user ID and a password. The application for acquiring the user ID and password is made by a document, e-mail, facsimile, web, or other method determined by the operating organization, and the notification of the user ID and password is also notified by the same method.
[0054]
Further, in order to unprotect protected data transmitted by pay broadcasting, unprotect information, that is, key information must be acquired. The key information can be acquired from the key server 14 via a TCP / IP connection. A user ID and a password are required to acquire key information.
[0055]
The usage status of the key information by the user is recorded in the personal computer 20 and is notified to the key server 14 side at regular intervals, which is the basis of billing. The routine for notifying the usage information of the key information by the user may be automatically started on the user side, or the key server 14 may poll.
[0056]
[Check key validity period]
Whether the key information is currently valid is checked when the browser is activated, and valid key information can be obtained via the Internet if necessary. FIG. 23 shows this process. In FIG. 23, when the browser is activated, the validity period is checked for each key registered as being used (S160, S161). For checking, the validity period of each key registered as in use is stored. If it is within the valid period, the process ends as it is (S162, S166). If it is not within the valid period, a TCP / IP connection is made to the key server 14 to execute a key acquisition procedure (S164, S166). If a valid key cannot be acquired for some reason or is not acquired, a message to that effect is displayed and the process is terminated (S165, S166).
[0057]
[Decryption by encryption element]
Next, unprotection of protected content will be described. In step 137 of FIG. 20, if there is an encryption element, the process proceeds to step S147 and subsequent steps in FIG. That is, it is checked whether or not the key information for unlocking protection such as encryption and scramble processing specified by the encryption element is valid (S147). If it is valid, the protected content such as encryption is unprotected and stored (S148, S149, S150). If the key information is not valid, the fact is displayed to the user and the process ends (S151). Any one of a plurality of protection methods can be specified by the encryption element, and a plurality of protection methods from a plurality of data suppliers can be dealt with.
[0058]
Update cache index
FIG. 24 shows cache index update processing when a message is accessed. Thereby, the management data of the cache management of the LRU method can be maintained. In FIG. 24, when a message is accessed, the name of the accessed message is acquired (S171, S172). Then, the cache index in the list of FIG. 14 is searched, and the corresponding index element is replaced with the head position (S173 to S176).
[0059]
[Operation when receiving data]
FIG. 25 shows the operation at the time of data reception. In this figure, when a message is received, it is checked whether there is room for saving in the cache (S180 to S182). If there is room for storage, the data is stored in the cache as it is, the cache index is updated, a timer is set, and the processing is terminated (S183 to S186, S194).
[0060]
In step S194, it is determined whether or not the effective period element is “ALL1”. That is, it is determined whether there is a flag indicating that data is forcibly deleted from the cache. In the case of “ALL1”, that is, when the flag is set so as to forcibly remove data from the cache, it is determined whether the mode is the live mode, the content is displayed in the live mode, and then the data is deleted from the cache. (S195, S196, S192). When not in the live mode, the data is immediately deleted from the cache (S195, S192). By doing so, it is possible to prevent the cache from being filled with data that does not need to be cached.
[0061]
If there is no storage space in the cache in step S182, the data block is deleted according to a predetermined rule. First, the oldest information that does not correspond to a reservation target (for example, a keyword specified by a user or a message to be downloaded) is searched from the cache index (S187). If there is a corresponding one, the message is deleted from the cache and the cache index is updated (S192, S193). If there is no corresponding one, the oldest message among the expired messages is searched using the cache index (S189, S190). If there is such data, the data is deleted and the cache index is updated (S192, S193). If there is no expired message, the oldest cache index is retrieved, the data is deleted from the cache, and the cache index is updated (S190 to S193).
[0062]
As described above, after deleting old messages as many as necessary, new messages are stored (S183 to S186).
[0063]
In the above cache management, a (reservation) message corresponding to a keyword specified by the user can be clipped.
[0064]
Although the data is received via the tuner 41 in FIG. 8, the data can be acquired from other media such as BS broadcast, CS broadcast, cable television broadcast, and recording device. In this case, if a B-HTTP element that performs switching so as to acquire data from other media is newly set, the data acquisition is performed by multiplexing the switching B-HTTP element in the B-HTTP broadcast signal. Can be a trigger. The acquired data is received in the same manner as in FIG. 25, and then the data is displayed.
[0065]
[Search display]
FIG. 26 shows an operation for searching for and displaying a message. In FIG. 25, when a search is designated, a search dialog is displayed (S201, S202). When keyword search is specified using this dialog, the cache index is searched and the search result list is converted into an HTML document (S203, S204, S206). If no keyword search is specified, a full text search is performed on the cache data block, and the search result list is converted into an HTML document (S205, S206). The HTML document thus obtained is analyzed and displayed on the web screen (S207 to S209).
[0066]
[download]
FIG. 27 shows an operation of downloading the received data block. The download itself is a normal operation. First, a list of all or part of the messages in the cache is displayed, a file dialog is displayed, a download instruction is received, read from the cache, and saved in a file (S211 to S215). . Thereafter, the storage flag of the index element of the data block stored in the file is rewritten to ON to display that the data block may be deleted (S216, S217).
[0067]
[Action after button click]
FIG. 28 shows the operation of accessing the next page when the button of the web page is clicked. In response to clicking of the button, it is checked whether the information corresponding to the button is a bitcast anchor (S221, S222). If it is not a bitcast anchor, it accesses a server on the Internet and retrieves the information. That is, a TCP / IP connection is made, and an HTML document is requested and received (S227, S228, S229). Thereafter, the received HTML document is analyzed and displayed on the web screen (S230, S231, S232).
[0068]
In this case as well, as in the case of FIG. 20, in addition to the server on the Internet, information from broadcast signals from broadcast satellites and communication satellites, cable broadcast signals from cable TV, CD-ROMs, DVDs, hard disks, etc. You may make it acquire. In this case, steps S227 to S232 may be replaced with steps S127 to S136 in FIG. The detailed description will not be repeated.
[0069]
On the other hand, in the case of the anchor of the bit cast, the message is read from the cache, the HTML document is analyzed, and displayed on the web screen (S223 to S226).
[0070]
This is the end of the description of the embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the embodiment, a personal computer is used as a terminal on the user side. However, an intelligent television receiver, a set top box, or the like may be used. The television broadcasting system is not limited to the NTSC system, but may be a SECAM or PAL system. Moreover, it can be applied not only to television broadcasting but also to radio broadcasting. The television broadcast is not limited to the terrestrial broadcast, and may be a satellite broadcast. Cable broadcasting may also be used. In addition, various systems can be employed for multiplexing, and frequency multiplexing or the like can be applied.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, content information can be multiplexed with a broadcast signal and transmitted to display the content or a part thereof. In addition, since the layout of the display can also be multiplexed, the layout of the display on the side providing the content information can be specified, and a feeling that matches the content information can be given to the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention as a whole.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating data multiplexing of VBI used in the above-described embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexing used in the above embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexing used in the above embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a format of a data group (message) in the above embodiment.
6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the B-HTTP element in FIG. 5;
7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a B-HTTP element in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the mounting configuration of the personal computer shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a hierarchical structure of a mounting configuration of the personal computer in FIG. 1;
10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a mounting configuration of the personal computer in FIG. 1;
11 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a B-HTTP service unit 46 and a Bitcast browser 47 in FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the Bitcast browser.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an index element used for message caching.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a cache list that points to the index element.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display list that points to the index element.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a display operation of a web page or the like.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout element.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a layout of a Bitcast browser corresponding to an example of the layout icon of FIG.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an icon display operation.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an icon is clicked.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an icon is clicked.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of pay broadcasting.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining pay broadcast key update processing;
24 is a flowchart for explaining processing for updating the cache index list of FIG. 14 when a message is accessed.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a message is received.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a search operation.
FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of downloading.
FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a button on a web page is clicked.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Broadcast Server 20 Personal Computer 31 WWW Server 41 Tuner 42 Waveform Equivalent Circuit 43 A / D Converter 44 Packet Extractor 45 Program Data Generation Unit 46 B-HTTP Service Unit 47 Bitcast Browser

Claims (4)

(A) content information, (b) icon information related to the content information, (c) display time information regarding the time at which the icon is displayed, (d) a display area of the content information , and the content information Multiplexing the layout information indicating the layout between the display areas of the television video , which is displayed in the display area so as to overlap the display of the content information , on the television broadcast signal;
Transmitting the multiplexed television broadcast signal;
Receiving the multiplexed television broadcast signal;
Extracting the content information, the icon information, the time information, and the layout information from the multiplexed television broadcast signal;
Based on the icon information specified by the pointing operation on the icon displayed in the icon display area based on the time information, at least one of the television video and the content information is displayed on the display device in a layout corresponding to the layout information. And displaying the television image in such a manner that the television video overlaps the display of the content information within the content information display area .   The information display method according to claim 1, wherein the content information and the layout information are inserted and multiplexed in a vertical blanking period of a television broadcast signal. The content information is information display method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein that the hypertext. (A) content information, (b) icon information related to the content information, (c) display time information regarding the time at which the icon is displayed, (d) a display area of the content information , and the content information are clustered together on the inside of the display area of the display of the content information, and layout information indicating the layout between the display area of the television picture comprises means for receiving television broadcast signals multiplexed,
Means for extracting the content information, the icon information, the time information, and the layout information from the received television broadcast signal;
A display device;
Based on the icon information specified by the pointing operation on the icon displayed in the icon display area on the basis of the time information, the layout corresponding to the layout information, at least in the television picture and the content information on the display device An information display apparatus comprising: means for displaying a part of the television video in a manner that the television video overlaps the display of the content information within the display area of the content information .

Images