Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system with local interaction – Receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-11-20
Lee, Michael (Department: 2614)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system with local interaction
Receiver
C725S152000, C380S227000, C380S241000, C380S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321385
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a data receiving-processing apparatus, a data receiving-processing method and a broadcasting method, and more particularly to those adapted for use in transmitting and receiving digitized video data via a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is recently noticed the remarkable diffusion of a broadcasting system which digitizes audio and video signals and broadcasts such signals via a satellite. Digitizing the desired signals permits transmission of data as well as video and audio signals.
According to this system, a broadcast signal can be received by the use of an exclusive data receiving-processing apparatus (decoder). This is rendered possible, by allocating a unique number (decoder ID) to each decoder and identifying such decoder ID, and providing a predetermined service (e.g., enabling reception of a particular pay program) only to a user having a specific decoder. In other words, it becomes possible to realize a conditional access function.
In this field, continuous growth is currently in progress for what services are providable, and a high possibility exists that new services in some novel form will start hereinafter. For this reason, it is preferred that each decoder be designed to be capable of receiving any new service upon start thereof. In a situation where a new service is receivable only by a user who has purchased a new decoder, there arises a difference among services capable of being received depending on the time of purchase of the decoder.
In the case of adding a new service (new function) as mentioned above, some additional modification needs to be given to the program in the decoder. In an attempt to achieve such modification, it has been discussed heretofore to adopt a method of collecting the decoder from each user and, after replacing the program ROM incorporated therein, returning the decoder to the user again or replacing the whole decoder with a new one, or to adopt a method of distributing a new IC card to each user and loading a new program from the IC card into the decoder by utilizing an IC card interface incorporated in the decoder.
However, in the situation where the number of decoders already sold amounts to a great number, as a practical matter, it would be difficult to collect all of the decoders. And in the method of distributing IC cards, there exists a problem that, in addition to the required cost, any modifiable program is limited to a short program since the memory capacity of the IC card is generally extremely small.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to realize simple additional modification of even a relatively long program at low cost.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data receiving-processing apparatus which comprises a receiving means for receiving an extended function program or data transmitted thereto, a processing means for processing the data received by the receiving means, a first storage means for storing a basic program used to execute the data processing by the processing means and having a branch for the extended function program, and a second storage means for storing the extended function program received by the receiving means. The processing means processes the received data in accordance with the basic program stored in the first storage means and, when the extended function program is stored in the second storage means, reads out the extended function program from the second storage means at the branch in the basic program and then processes the data in accordance with the extended function program thus read out.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcasting method which comprises the steps of previously storing, in a receiver, a basic program used to decode video data and having a branch for an extended function program; receiving the broadcasted video data by the receiver and decoding the received video data in accordance with the basic program stored previously; broadcasting an extended function program from a transmitter at the time of enabling the receiver to execute a predetermined decoding process, thereby operating the receiver to receive and store the extended function program; and upon storage of the extended function program in the receiver, reading out the extended function program at the branch, and decoding the video data in accordance with the extended function program.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital television receiver which comprises a receiving means for receiving at least a video signal, an audio signal and an extended function program transmitted thereto; a processing means for processing the video and audio signals received by the receiving means; a first storage means for storing a basic program used to control the processing of the video and audio signals executed by the processing means, the basic program having a branch for an extended function program; and a second storage means for storing the extended function program received by the receiving means; wherein the processing means processes the audio and video signals, which have been received by the receiving means, in accordance with the basic program stored in the first storage means, and when the extended function program is stored in the second storage means, the processing means reads out the extended function program from the second storage means at the branch in the basic program, and then processes the video and audio signals in accordance with the extended function program thus read out.
In the present invention, whenever any extended function program is required, the program is transmitted and stored on the receiving side. A branch for the extended function program is prepared in the basic program, so that when the extended function program has been stored, the extended function program can be read out at the branch in the basic program, whereby the data can be processed in accordance with the extended function program thus read out. Consequently, it becomes possible to transmit and add a new extended function program at any time in compliance with requirements.
The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which will be given with reference to the illustrative accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5237610 (1993-08-01), Gammie et al.
patent: 5541662 (1996-07-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5978012 (1999-11-01), Ozawa et al.
Ozawa Toshiro
Yuchi Hirofumi
Lee Michael
Maioli Jay H.
Sony Corporation
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