Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system with local interaction – Interactive data transmitted in video signal band
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-29
2004-06-29
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system with local interaction
Interactive data transmitted in video signal band
C725S040000, C725S109000, C725S132000, C348S460000, C348S465000, C348S461000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06757911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the development of digital satellite broadcasting in recent years, there has been a great increase in the number of programs being provided on an ever greater number of channels. For digital satellite broadcasting, large numbers of channels are possible by multiplexing the channels together into a single frequency band. This multiplexing is performed using what is called a “transport_stream” under MPEG2 (Moving Pictures Experts Group2) standard. This technique is described in detail in the documentation for IS/IEC Standard 13818-1 (MPEG2 system standard).
Digital satellite broadcasting has a drawback in that image information is transmitted one-directionally from a transmitter, so that no interaction between the receiver and the transmitter is possible. However, users would be able to enjoy a greater variety of programs if they were able to make interactive selections of image information in accordance with the content of the image information received by the receiver terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcasting apparatus that one-directionally broadcasts a broadcast wave which, when received by a reception apparatus, gives the user the impression of interaction that is achieved through bidirectional communication. Here, it is the object of the present invention to further provide a reception apparatus, a digital broadcasting system, and a recording medium for recording a program to be used by a reception apparatus.
The above object can be achieved by a broadcasting apparatus for broadcasting an interactive program composed of a plurality of contents that are linked to one another, the broadcasting apparatus including: a content storing unit for storing the plurality of contents, each content including a set of video data and a set of control information that indicates another content that is a link destination for a present content, and a transmitting unit for multiplexing a set of video data and a plurality of sets of the same control information included in a same content as the set of video data, and for transmitting the multiplexed sets of video data and control information.
Here, the content storing unit may include: a first storing unit for storing the sets of video data included in the plurality of contents; a second storing unit for storing the sets of control information included in the plurality of contents; and a construction table storing unit for storing a construction table showing correspondence between the sets of video data stored in the first storing unit and the sets of control information stored in the second storing unit.
Here, the transmitting unit may include: a multiplexing unit for reading the plurality of sets of video data stored in the first storing unit and the plurality of sets of control information stored in the second storing unit as respective digital data streams, and multiplexing the digital data streams to generate a multiplexed stream; a multiplexing control unit for referring to the construction table and controlling the multiplexing unit to multiplex the plurality of sets of video data and to repeatedly multiplex a set of control information corresponding to a set of video data; and a broadcasting unit for placing the multiplexed stream generated by the multiplexing unit onto a digital broadcast wave and broadcasting the digital broadcast wave.
Here, the content storing unit may further include: a third storing unit for storing sets of audio data that correspond to the sets of video data, wherein the construction table storing unit stores correspondence between a set of video data, a set of audio data, and a set of control information included in each of the plurality of contents, and wherein the multiplexing unit also multiplexes the sets of audio data stored in the third storing unit into the multiplexed stream.
With the above construction, control information is repeatedly multiplexed with the video data and is transmitted, so that the reception apparatus can perform reproduction while interactively switching between contents in accordance with user operations. This is to say, the present digital broadcasting apparatus can provide interactive programs using a one-directional broadcast.
Here, each content may include a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including a set of link information showing contents that are link destinations and a set of time information indicating a valid period for the present control information within the reproduction period of the set of video data corresponding to the present set of control information, and the multiplexing control unit may control the multiplexing unit to repeatedly multiplex each set of control information with the corresponding set of video data during the valid period of the set of control information.
With the stated construction, the digital broadcasting apparatus can repeatedly and freely multiplex different sets of control information for different periods within the reproduction time of sets of video data, so that the link destination contents and number of potential links can be dynamically changed in accordance with the content of the video data. As a result, each content can be linked to appropriate link destination contents for the content of each scene in the video data.
Here, the multiplexing control unit may control the multiplexing unit to repeatedly multiplex each set of control information with the corresponding video data starting from a predetermined time before the valid period of the set of control information, the predetermined time being sufficiently long to enable a reception apparatus to process a set of control information.
With the stated construction, control information is repeatedly multiplexed with the video data starting from a predetermined time before the valid period of the control information, so that when a content is being reproduced by the reception apparatus, the reception apparatus will have enough time to process new control information which has a different valid period.
Here, the multiplexing control unit may append a version number, reflecting the valid period of each set of control information, to each set of control information in a given content.
With the stated construction, the reception apparatus can obtain new control information with a different valid period for a same content using the version numbers.
Here, each set of control information stored by the second storing unit may include a set of link information showing contents that are link destinations and supplementary images representing menu items for each link destination.
With the stated construction, menu items for assisting user operations in the reception apparatus can be freely set in each set of control information.
Here, at least one set of control information may include: a plurality of sets of additional information representing one of text and a graphic image that is to be displayed superimposed onto the corresponding video data; and a set of script information that validates one of the sets of additional information within a reception apparatus, in accordance with a user operation.
With the stated construction, sets of control information can be provided with script information and a plurality of sets of additional information, with the reception apparatus being able to interactively switch between the sets of additional information. As one example, when the video data expresses a weather forecast and the sets of additional information provide a plurality of supplementary explanations (text or graphics) relating to the content of the video data, switching of the display of supplementary explanations can be performed using the script information in accordance with the user operations. By doing so, one pair of a set of video data and a set of control information can be used to express what are effectively
Hirai Junichi
Inoue Shinji
Kakiuchi Takashi
Kozuka Masayuki
Kusumi Yuki
Brown Reuben M.
Faile Andrew
LandOfFree
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