Transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus, reception method and recording medium

• US 20010036272A1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirayama, Tomoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/240
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/81 characterised by the transmission system itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84

Abstract

A transmission apparatus used for transmitting a question to a recipient, comprises: generation means for generating a control signal for limiting an answer-inputting function of a reception apparatus used by the recipient; first addition means for adding the control signal generated by the generation means and used for limiting the answer-inputting function of the reception apparatus and adding transmission-destination information showing a transmission destination of an answer entered by the recipient in response to the question prompting the recipient to enter the answer to a broadcast signal; and transmission means for transmitting the broadcast signal including the control signal and the transmission-destination information, which are added to the broadcast signal by the first addition means.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus used for transmitting a question to a recipient, said apparatus comprising:

generation means for generating a control signal for limiting an answer-inputting function of a reception apparatus used by said recipient;

first addition means for adding said control signal generated by said generation means and used for limiting said answer-inputting function of said reception apparatus and adding transmission-destination information showing a transmission destination of an answer entered by said recipient in response to said question prompting said recipient to enter said answer to a broadcast signal; and

transmission means for transmitting said broadcast signal including said control signal and said transmission-destination information, which are added to said broadcast signal by said first addition means.

2. A transmission apparatus according to

claim 1

wherein, as said control signal for limiting said answer-inputting function of said reception apparatus, said generation means generates an activate signal for enabling said answer-inputting function of said reception apparatus and a deactivate signal for disabling said answer-inputting function of said reception apparatus.

3. A transmission apparatus according to

claim 1

, said apparatus further including second addition means for adding question identification information for identifying said question prompting said recipient to enter said answer to said broadcast signal.

4. A transmission method adopted for transmitting a question to a recipient, said method comprising:

a generation step of generating a control signal for limiting an answer-inputting function of a reception apparatus used by said recipient;

an addition step of adding said control signal generated at said generation step and used for limiting said answer-inputting function of said reception apparatus and adding transmission-destination information showing a transmission destination of an answer entered by said recipient in response to said question prompting said recipient to enter said answer to a broadcast signal; and

a transmission step of transmitting said broadcast signal including said control signal and said transmission-destination information, which are added to said broadcast signal at said addition step.

5. A recording medium for recording a program to be executed by a computer to transmit a question to a recipient wherein said program comprises:

a generation step of generating a control signal for limiting an answer-inputting function of a reception apparatus used by said recipient;

an addition step of adding said control signal generated at said generation step and used for limiting said answer-inputting function of said reception apparatus and adding transmission-destination information showing a transmission destination of an answer entered by said recipient in response to said question prompting said recipient to enter said answer to a broadcast signal; and

a transmission step of transmitting said broadcast signal including said control signal and said transmission-destination information, which are added to said broadcast signal at said addition step.

6. A reception apparatus used for receiving a broadcasted signal, said apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving said broadcasted signal;

playback means for playing back said broadcasted signal received by said reception means;

extraction means for extracting a control signal added to said broadcasted signal received by said reception means;

accepting means for accepting an answer to a question included in a broadcast obtained as a result of a playback operation carried out by said playback means;

limitation means for limiting a period of said accepting means to accept an answer to said question in accordance with said control signal extracted by said extraction means; and

transmission means for transmitting said answer accepted by said accepting means in response to said question and information identifying said question to a transmission destination included in said broadcasted signal.

7. A reception apparatus according to

claim 6

wherein said transmission means transmits at least one of a broadcasting time and a broadcasting channel as said information identifying said question.

8. A reception apparatus according to

claim 6

wherein said transmission means transmits question identification information added to said broadcasted signal as said information identifying said question.

9. A reception apparatus according to

claim 6

wherein said transmission means transmits information identifying said reception apparatus to a transmission destination included in said broadcasted signal.

10. A reception apparatus according to

claim 6

wherein said accepting means further has display means for displaying information indicating that a period of said accepting means to accept an answer has not expired.

11. A reception apparatus according to

claim 6

wherein said accepting means further has increment means for incrementing said value of an answer to said question and decrement means for decrementing said value of an answer to said question.

12. A reception method adopted for receiving a broadcasted signal, said method comprising:

a reception step of receiving said broadcasted signal;

a playback step of playing back said broadcasted signal received at said reception step;

an extraction step of extracting a control signal added to said broadcasted signal received at said reception step;

an accepting step of accepting an answer to a question included in a broadcast obtained as a result of a playback operation carried out at said playback step;

a limitation step of limiting a period to accept an answer to said question at said accepting step in accordance with said control signal extracted at said extraction step; and

a transmission step of transmitting said answer accepted at said accepting step in response to said question and information identifying said question to a transmission destination included in said broadcasted signal.

13. A recording medium for recording a program to be executed by a computer to receive a broadcasted signal wherein said program comprises:

a reception step of receiving said broadcasted signal;

a playback step of playing back said broadcasted signal received at said reception step;

an extraction step of extracting a control signal added to said broadcasted signal received at said reception step;

an accepting step of accepting an answer to a question included in a broadcast obtained as a result of a playback operation carried out at said playback step;

a limitation step of limiting a period to accept an answer to said question at said accepting step in accordance with said control signal extracted at said extraction step; and

a transmission step of transmitting said answer accepted at said accepting step in response to said question and information identifying said question to a transmission destination included in said broadcasted signal.