Data distribution device and method, and data receiving device and method

• US 20020128029A1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Shoji, Yamamoto, Hirotsugu
• Application Number:
  US10/036,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128029A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6375 for requesting retransmission , e.g. of data packets lost or corrupted during transmission from serverARQ protocols H04L1/18; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6433 Digital Storage Media - Command and Control Protocol [DSM-CC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

It is an object of this invention to correct a receiving error of a data stream in a set-top box when a software program is distributed by using data broadcasting. A base station converts a software program into a data stream of DSM-CC data carousel type, divides the data stream into transport packets of MPEG-2 type, and distributes the software program to the set-top box via a communications satellite. If the set-top box detects any receiving error of the data stream, it requests the base station to resend the transport packet which has not been properly received. The base station then resends the requested transport packet to the set-top box via a public circuit.

Claims

1. A data distribution device comprising:

resending request responding means for receiving, from a receiving device having received a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units and broadcasted by a broadcasting transmission system, a request to resend the data stream of some transmission units; and

resending means for resending the data stream of the transmission units via a two-way communication line.

27. The data distribution device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the data stream broadcasted to the receiving device is a software program converted into a specified transmission system.

2. A data distribution method of receiving, from a receiving device having received a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units and broadcasted by a broadcasting transmission system, a request to resend the data stream of some transmission units, and resending the data stream of the transmission units via a two-way communication line.

3. A data distribution device comprising:

resending request responding means for receiving, from a receiving device having received a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units and broadcasted via a cable network, a request to resend the data stream of some transmission units; and

resending means for resending the data stream of the transmission units via a two-way cable network.

4. A data distribution method of receiving, from a receiving device having received a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units and broadcasted via a cable network, a request to resend the data stream of some transmission units, and resending the data stream of the transmission units via a two-way cable network.

5. A data receiving device for receiving data broadcast broadcasted in one direction by means of a ground wave or a satellite wave, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units appropriate for a specified broadcasting transmission system;

resending requesting means for requesting a data distribution device via a two-way communication line to resend any data stream of the transmission units which has not been properly received, and for receiving the data stream of the transmission units via the two-way communication line.

6. The data receiving device according to claim 5, further comprising storing means for storing any properly received data among the broadcasted data, and any data received via the two-way communication line among the data which was not properly received, by establishing associations between these data.

7. A data receiving method of receiving data broadcast broadcasted in one direction by means of a ground wave or a satellite wave, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units appropriate for a specified broadcasting transmission system;

requesting a data distribution device via a two-way communication line to resend any data stream of transmission units, which has not been properly received; and

re-receiving the data stream of the transmission units via the two-way communication line.

8. The data receiving method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of storing any properly received data among the broadcasted data, and any data received via the two-way communication line among the data which was not properly received, by establishing associations between these data.

9. A data receiving device for receiving a data stream broadcasted in one direction via a cable network, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units; and

resending requesting means for requesting a data distribution device via a two-way cable network to resend any data stream of transmission units which has not been properly received, and for receiving the data stream of the transmission units via the two-way cable communication network.

10. The data receiving device according to claim 9, further comprising storing means for storing any properly received data among the broadcasted data, and any data received via the two-way communication line among the data which was not properly received, by establishing associations between these data.

29. The data receiving device according any one of claims 5, 6, 9, and 10, wherein the data stream broadcasted to the receiving device is a software program converted into a specified transmission system.

11. A receiving method of receiving a data stream broadcasted in one direction via a cable network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data stream composed of a plurality of transmission units;

requesting a data distribution device via a two-way cable network to resend any data stream of transmission units which has not been properly received; and

re-receiving the data stream of the transmission units via the two-way cable communication network.

12. The data receiving method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of storing any properly received data among the broadcasted data, and any data received via the two-way communication line among the data which was not properly received, by establishing associations between these data.

14. The data distribution system according to claim 13, wherein the broadcasting means adjusts a transmission bit rate of the data stream according to a wireless environment.

16. The data distribution method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of adjusting a transmission bit rate of the data stream broadcasted to the receiving device, according to a wireless environment.

30. The data receiving method according to any one of claims 7, 8, 11, and 12, wherein the data stream broadcasted to the receiving device is a software program converted into a specified transmission system.

13. A data distribution system comprising:

broadcasting means for converting content data to a data stream appropriate for a specified broadcasting transmission system, dividing the data stream into a plurality of transmission units, and broadcasting the content data. to a plurality of receiving devices in one direction by the broadcasting transmission system; and

resending means for resending any data stream of transmission units which has not been properly received by the receiving device, to the receiving device via a two-way communication line if a resending request of the data stream is made from the receiving device via the two-way communication line.

31. The data distribution system according to any one of claims 13, 14, and 17, wherein the data stream broadcasted to the receiving device is a software program converted into a specified transmission system.

15. A data distribution method comprising the steps of:

converting content data to a data stream appropriate for a specified broadcasting transmission system;

dividing the data stream into a plurality of transmission units, and broadcasting the content data to a plurality of receiving devices in one direction by the broadcasting transmission system; and

resending any data stream of transmission units which has not been properly received by the receiving device, to the receiving device via a two-way communication line if a resending request of the data stream is made from the receiving device via the two-way communication line.

28. The data distribution method according to any one of claims 4, 15, 16, and 18, wherein the data stream broadcasted to the receiving device is a software program converted into a specified transmission system.

17. A data distribution system comprising:

broadcasting means for converting content data to a data stream appropriate for a specified broadcasting transmission system, dividing the data stream into a plurality of transmission units, and broadcasting the content data to a plurality of receiving devices in one direction via a cable network; and

resending means for resending any data stream of transmission units which has not been properly received by the receiving device, to the receiving device via a two-way cable network if a resending request of the data stream is made from the receiving device via the two-way cable network.

18. A data distribution method comprising the steps of:

converting content data to a data stream appropriate for a specified broadcasting transmission system;

dividing the data stream into a plurality of transmission units, and broadcasting the content data to a plurality of receiving devices in one direction via a cable network; and

resending any data stream of transmission units which has not been properly received by the receiving device, to the receiving device via a two-way cable network if a resending request of the data stream is made from the receiving device via the two-way cable network.

19. A software program distribution device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a software download request from a receiving device having received software program update information broadcasted by a broadcasting transmission system; and

distribution means for distributing a software program corresponding to the update information to the receiving device via a two-way communication line.

20. A software program distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving a software download request from a receiving device having received software program update information broadcasted by a broadcasting transmission system; and

distributing a software program corresponding to the update information to the receiving device via a two-way communication line.

21. A software program distribution device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a software download request from a receiving device having received software program update information broadcasted via a cable network; and

distribution means for distributing a software program corresponding to the update information to the receiving device via a two-way cable network.

22. A software program distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving a software download request from a receiving device having received software program update information broadcasted via a cable network; and

distributing a software program corresponding to the update information to the receiving device via a two-way cable network.

23. A software program receiving device comprising:

receiving means for receiving software program update information broadcasted in one direction by a broadcasting transmission system using a ground wave or a satellite wave; and

downloading means for comparing the software program update information which has been already received, with software program update information which has been broadcasted, and requesting, via a two-way communication line, a data distribution device to download a software program corresponding to the broadcasted update information if it is necessary to update the software program already received, and downloading the software program via the two-way communication line.

24. A software program receiving method comprising the steps of:

receiving software program update information broadcasted in one direction by a broadcasting transmission system using a ground wave or a satellite wave;

comparing the software program update information which has been already received, with software program update information which has been broadcasted;

requesting, via a two-way communication line, a data distribution device to download a software program corresponding to the broadcasted update information if it is necessary to update the software program already received; and

downloading the software program via the two-way communication line.

25. A software program receiving device comprising:

receiving means for receiving software program update information broadcasted in one direction via a cable network; and

downloading means for comparing the software program update information which has been already received, with software program update information which has been broadcasted, and requesting, via a two-way cable network, a data distribution device to download a software program corresponding to the broadcasted update information if it is necessary to update the software program already received, and downloading the software program via the two-way cable network.

26. A software program receiving method comprising the steps of:

receiving software program update information broadcasted in one direction via a cable network;

comparing the software program update information which has been already received, with software program update information which has been broadcasted;

requesting, via a two-way cable network, a data distribution device to download a software program corresponding to the broadcasted update information if it is necessary to update the software program already received; and

downloading the software program via the two-way cable network.

32. A data receiving device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a content broadcasted in one direction by a broadcasting transmission system using a ground wave or a satellite wave; and

display means for displaying a selection screen of the received content,

wherein, the data receiving device comprises display means for performing display processing to display a selection screen of the content to be updated in a different manner from a selection screen of the other received content while receiving data regarding the content to be updated.

33. A selection screen displaying method for displaying, at the time of displaying a selection screen of a received content which has been broadcasted in one direction by a broadcasting transmission system by means of a ground wave or a satellite wave, a selection screen of the content to be updated in a different manner from a selection screen of the other received content while receiving data regarding the content to be updated.

34. A data receiving device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a content broadcasted in one direction via a cable network; and

display means for displaying a selection screen of the received content,

wherein, the data receiving device comprises display means for performing display processing to display a selection screen of the content to be updated in a different manner from a selection screen of the other received content while receiving data regarding the content to be updated.

35. A selection screen displaying method for displaying, at the time of displaying a selection screen of a received content which has been broadcasted in one direction via a cable network, a selection screen of the content to be updated in a different manner from a selection screen of the other received content while receiving data regarding the content to be updated.

36. A data receiving device comprising:

receiving means for receiving content distribution guide information broadcasted in one direction by a broadcasting transmission system using a ground wave or a satellite wave; and

display means for displaying a reception reservation guide screen by distinguishing any unreceived content from the received content if the content contained in the distribution guide information includes any unreceived content.

37. A reception reservation guide screen displaying method comprising the steps of:

receiving content distribution guide information broadcasted in one direction by a broadcasting transmission system using a ground wave or a satellite wave; and

displaying a reception reservation guide screen by distinguishing any unreceived content from the received content if the content contained in the distribution guide information includes any unreceived content.

38. A data receiving device comprising:

receiving means for receiving content distribution guide information broadcasted in one direction via a cable network; and

display means for displaying, a reception reservation guide screen by distinguishing any unreceived content from the received content if the content contained in the distribution guide information includes any unreceived content.

39. A reception reservation guide screen displaying method comprising the steps of:

receiving content distribution guide information broadcasted in one direction via a cable network; and

displaying a reception reservation guide screen by distinguishing any unreceived content from the received content if the content contained in the distribution guide information includes any unreceived content.