Transmission/reception system and method for data broadcast, and transmission apparatus for data broadcast

• US 20010034787A1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Kakuya, Takao, Naoya, Ishikawa, Akira, Mori, Toshiya
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A transmission/reception system for data broadcast comprising: a transmission apparatus transmitting audiovisual stream data for a series of plural programs and plural data broadcasting contents relating to programs, which are multiplexed to each other, and a receiving apparatus receiving the audiovisual stream data and presenting the corresponding program, while superimposing and presenting the data broadcasting content to the audiovisual data. The transmission apparatus starts to transmit the data broadcasting content relating to the program 2, before the time “t0” when audiovisual data should change from the program 1 to 2, and transmits the presentation start instruction message at “t0”. While, the receiving apparatus receives the data broadcasting content relating to the program 2, and performs a process for forming an image, and invisibly presents the data broadcasting content. Thereafter, the receiving apparatus changes the state of the data broadcasting content to visible when receiving the presentation start instruction message.

Claims

1. A transmission and reception system for data broadcast, including a transmission apparatus which transmits a data broadcasting content and a receiving apparatus which receives and presents the transmitted data broadcasting content,

the transmission apparatus comprising:

a presentation schedule time obtaining means for obtaining a presentation schedule time when the data broadcasting content is to be presented,

a data broadcasting content transmission means for starting to transmit the data broadcasting content before the presentation schedule time, and

a message transmission means for transmitting a presentation start instruction message at the presentation schedule time; and

the receiving apparatus comprising;

a data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means for receiving the transmitted data broadcasting content and invisibly presenting the data broadcasting content, the invisible presentation of the data broadcasting content meaning a state where a series of processes relating to the presentation prior to a process by which the data broadcasting content becomes visible are performed, and the broadcasting content still remains invisible, and

a data broadcasting contents visualization means for visualizing the invisibly presented data broadcasting content, when the transmitted presentation start instruction message is received.

2. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 1

, wherein

the message transmission means transmits an invisible presentation instruction message when the data broadcasting contents transmission means starts to transmit the data broadcasting content, and

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means starts to receive the transmitted data broadcasting content when the transmitted invisible presentation instruction message is received, and invisibly presents the data broadcasting content when the reception of the data broadcasting content has been completed.

3. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 2

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents transmission means starts to transmit a preceding data broadcasting content prior to the data broadcasting content,

the preceding data broadcasting content includes first control information including an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the invisible presentation instruction message is received, receive the data broadcasting content and designate the data broadcasting content as an object for presentation,

the data broadcasting content includes image structure information and second control information, the second information including

(a) an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the data broadcasting content becomes the object for presentation, form an image according to the image structure information and keep the image being in an invisible state, and

(b) an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the presentation start instruction message is received, change the invisible state of the image into a visible state,

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means receives the preceding data broadcasting content, waits until the invisible presentation instruction message in accordance with the first control information is received, starts to receive the transmitted data broadcasting content when the invisible presentation instruction message is received, designates the data broadcasting content as the object for presentation when the reception of the data broadcasting content has been completed, forms the image in accordance with the second control information in the data broadcasting content as the object for presentation, brings the image to an invisible state, and waits for the presentation start instruction message, and

the data broadcasting contents visualization means changes the invisible state of the image into a visible state.

4. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 3

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means performs processes required by the time when the image has been stored in a frame memory in accordance with the image structure information, which is realized by prohibiting signals based on the image in the frame memory from being outputted to a display apparatus connected to the receiving apparatus, relating to the invisible presentation of the data broadcasting content, and

the data broadcasting contents visualization means visualizes the data broadcasting content by allowing the signals based on the image in the frame memory to be outputted to the display apparatus connected to the receiving apparatus.

5. The transmission and reception apparatus for data broadcast of

claim 4

, wherein

the preceding data broadcasting content further includes preceding image structure information to form an image as an object for presentation,

the instruction in the first control information instructs, when the invisible presentation instruction message is received, to bring the visibly presented image to an invisible state, then start to receive the data broadcasting content, and designate the data broadcasting content as an object for presentation, and

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means visibly presents the image in accordance with the preceding image structure information after the preceding data broadcasting content is received, and, when the invisible presentation instruction message is received, brings the presented image in accordance with the preceding image structure information to an invisible state, and starts to receive the data broadcasting content.

6. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 4

, wherein

the preceding data broadcasting content further includes preceding image structure information in order to form an image as an object for presentation,

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means

(a) includes a memory which has a space where the data broadcasting content and the preceding data broadcasting content can be stored at the same time,

(b) receives the preceding data broadcasting content and stores the content in the memory, and then visibly presents the image in accordance with the preceding image structure information, and

(c) when the invisible presentation instruction message is received, starts to receive the data broadcasting content and store the content in the memory, and, when the storage of the content in the memory has been completed, erases the image presented in accordance with the preceding image structure information.

7. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 3

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents transmission means further multiplexes video stream data, in which (a) visual data making up a first broadcast program whose content relates to the preceding data broadcasting content and (b) visual data making up a second broadcast program whose content relates to the data broadcasting content are continuously constructed, with the preceding data broadcasting content and the data broadcasting content, and transmits the multiplexed data,

the presentation schedule time is determined in advance so as to be concurrent with the time when the receiving apparatus is due to start to present the visual data making up the second broadcast program in the video stream data, and

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means further receives the transmitted video stream data and presents the broadcast program made up of each of the video stream data.

8. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 3

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents transmission means repeatedly transmits each of the preceding data broadcasting content and the data broadcasting content.

9. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 2

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents transmission means further multiplexes video stream data consisting of visual data making up a broadcast program whose content relates to the data broadcasting content with the data broadcasting content, and transmits the multiplexed data,

the presentation schedule time is determined in advance so as to be concurrent with the time when the receiving apparatus is due to start to present the visual data making up the broadcast program in the video stream data, and

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means further receives the transmitted video stream data and presents the broadcast program made up of each of the video stream data.

10. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 1

, wherein

the data broadcasting content includes an image structure information in order to form an image as an object for display,

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means performs processes required by the time when the image has been stored in a frame memory in accordance with the image structure information, which is realized by prohibiting signals based on the image in the frame memory from being outputted to a display apparatus connected to the receiving apparatus, relating to the invisible presentation of the data broadcasting content, and

the data broadcasting content visualization means visualizes the data broadcasting content by allowing the signals based on the image in the frame memory to be outputted to the display apparatus connected to the receiving apparatus.

11. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 1

,

the data broadcast contents reception and presentation means waits for a predetermined time as its opportunity, starts to receive the transmitted data broadcasting content at the time, and, when the reception of the content has been completed, invisibly presents the data broadcasting content.

12. The transmission and reception system for data broadcast of

claim 1

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents reception and presentation means, when an initial state of transmission of the data broadcasting content is detected, starts to receive the transmitted data broadcasting content, and, when the reception of the content has been completed, invisibly presents the data broadcasting content.

13. A transmission and reception method for data broadcast used in a system including a transmission apparatus which transmits a data broadcasting content and a receiving apparatus which receives and presents the transmitted data broadcasting content comprising:

a presentation schedule time obtaining step for obtaining a presentation schedule time when the data broadcasting content is to be presented;

a data broadcasting contents transmission step for starting to transmit the data broadcasting content before the presentation schedule time by the transmission apparatus;

a message transmission step for transmitting a presentation start instruction message at the presentation schedule time by the transmission apparatus;

a data broadcasting contents reception and presentation step for receiving the transmitted data broadcasting content and invisibly presenting the data broadcasting content by the receiving apparatus, the invisible presentation of the data broadcasting content meaning a state where a series of processes relating to the presentation prior to a process by which the data broadcasting content becomes visible are performed, and the broadcasting content still remains invisible; and

a data broadcasting contents visualization step for, visualizing the invisibly presented data broadcasting content by the receiving apparatus, when the transmitted presentation start instruction message is received.

14. A transmission apparatus which transmits a data broadcasting content to a receiving apparatus which receives and presents the data broadcasting content, comprising:

a presentation schedule time obtaining means for obtaining a presentation schedule time when the data broadcasting content is to be presented;

a data broadcasting contents transmission means for

(a) starting to transmit a preceding data broadcasting content including first control information including an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when an invisible presentation instruction message is received, start to receive the data broadcasting content and designate the data broadcasting content_as an object for presentation,

(b) after the start of transmission of the preceding data broadcasting content, and before the presentation schedule time,

starting to transmit the data broadcasting content including image structure information in order to an image as an object for presentation and second control information,

the second control information includes

(a) an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the data broadcasting content becomes the object for interpretation, form the image according to the image structure information and keep the image being in an invisible state, and

(b) an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the presentation start instruction message is received, change the invisible state of the image into a visible state; and

a message transmission means for

(a) transmitting the invisible presentation instruction message when the data broadcasting contents transmission means starts to transmit the data broadcasting content,

(b) transmitting the presentation start instruction message at the presentation schedule time.

15. The transmission apparatus of

claim 14

, wherein

the data broadcasting contents transmission means further multiplexes video stream data, in which visual data making up a first broadcast program whose content relates to the preceding data broadcasting content and visual data making up a second broadcast program whose content relates to the data broadcasting content are continuously constructed, with the preceding data broadcasting content and the data broadcasting content, and transmits the multiplexed data,

the presentation schedule time is determined in advance so as to be concurrent with the time when the receiving apparatus is due to start to present the visual data making up the second broadcast program in the video stream data.

16. The transmission apparatus of

claim 15

, wherein

the data broadcasting content transmission means repeatedly transmits each of the preceding data broadcasting content and the data broadcasting content.

17. A control program for enabling a transmission apparatus to perform a content transmission process in which the transmission apparatus transmits a data broadcasting content to a receiving apparatus which receives and presents the data broadcasting content,

the content transmission process comprising:

a presentation schedule time obtaining step for obtaining a presentation schedule time when the data broadcasting content is to be presented;

a data broadcasting content transmission step for

(a) starting to transmit a preceding data broadcasting content including first control information including an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when an invisible presentation instruction message is received, start to receive the data broadcasting content and designate the data broadcasting content as an object for presentation,

(b) after the start of transmission of the preceding data broadcasting content, and before the presentation schedule time,

starting to transmit the data broadcasting content including image structure information in order to an image as an object for presentation and second control information,

the second control information includes

(a) an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the data broadcasting content becomes the object for interpretation, form the image according to the image structure information and keep the image in an invisible state, and

(b) an instruction which instructs the receiving apparatus to, when the presentation start instruction message is received, change the invisible state of the image into a visible state; and

a message transmission step for

(a) transmitting the invisible presentation instruction message when the data broadcasting contents transmission means starts to transmit the data broadcasting content,

(b) transmitting the presentation start instruction message at the presentation schedule time.