Interactive data communication system with unidirectionally transmitted broadcast wave

• US 5,973,681 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamura, Kazuo, Miyabe, Yoshiyuki, Hirai, Junichi, Tanigawa, Hidekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/867,344
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 348/6, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/906, 348/469, 348/473, 348/476-479, 348/553, 348/556, 348/564, 348/565, 348/566, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 715/716
• 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 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; tracking of instant messages H04L51/234; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 by creating hot-spots
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• 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

Abstract

A transmitting apparatus for an interactive communication system using a broadcast wave, which includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a transmitting unit. The first storage unit stores a plurality of frames of image data. The second storage unit stores control information which shows links between said plurality of frames of image data stored in the first storage unit, and which indicates a combining of a supplementary design with the image data. These supplementary designs are stored by a receiving apparatus and are combined with the image represented by the image data. The transmitting unit repeatedly transmits a predetermined number of frames of image data together with corresponding control information.

Claims

1. A communication system, including a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, for achieving interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, storing means for storing a background image that is main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and position information that indicates a position within the background image; and

transmitting means for reading the supplementary designs, the background image, and the position information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read background image, and the read position information,

the receiving apparatus comprising;

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, the background image, and the position information from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background image, and position information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design at a position indicated by the separated position information to generate image data; and

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal.

2. A communication system, including a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, for achieving interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, first storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information,

the receiving apparatus comprising;

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

second storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the second storing means.

3. A communication system, including a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, for achieving interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs including at least one cursor image;

first storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information,

the receiving apparatus comprising;

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in

the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

second storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the second storing means.

4. A communication system, including a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, for achieving interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being two types of cursor images that respectively represent a selected and a non selected state;

first storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background images, and the read plurality of sets of control information,

the receiving apparatus comprising;

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

second storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the second storing means.

5. A communication system, including a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, for achieving interactivity using a broadcast wave,

the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand;

first storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a it background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background images, and the read plurality of sets of control information,

the receiving apparatus comprising;

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, at least one separated supplementary design with the separated background image at a position indicated by the supplementary combining information to generate image data;

second storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the second storing means.

6. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus, and transmitting means for reading the supplementary designs and repeatedly transmitting the supplementary designs; and

storing means for storing a background image that is main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus, the transmitting means reading the background image from the storing means, multiplexing the read supplementary designs and background image, and repeatedly transmitting the multiplexed background image and supplementary designs;

obtaining means for obtaining page information from the World Wide Web on the Internet, the page information representing a page that is an arrangement of characters and images and including character information, image information, and link information showing a link to another page; and

generating means for generating a background image that corresponds to a frame including characters and images, based on the character information and images information in the obtained page information.

7. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus, and transmitting means for reading the supplementary designs and repeatedly transmitting the supplementary designs wherein the supplementary designs are figures that give a bold display of headings; and

storing means for storing a background image that is main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus, the transmitting means reading the background image from the storing means, multiplexing the read supplementary designs and background image, and repeatedly transmitting the multiplexed background image and supplementary designs.

8. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus, and transmitting means for reading the supplementary designs and repeatedly transmitting the supplementary designs; and

storing means for storing a background image that is main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus, the transmitting means reading the background image from the storing means, multiplexing the read supplementary designs and background image, and repeatedly transmitting the multiplexed background image and supplementary designs, wherein the storage means further stores region information, the region information indicating a region in the background image, the supplementary designs being combined with the region in the background image, the transmitting means reading the region information, multiplexing the read region information with the read supplementary designs and read background information, and repeatedly transmitting a result of the multiplexing.

9. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus, and transmitting means for reading the supplementary designs and repeatedly transmitting the supplementary designs; and

storing means for storing a background image that is main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus, the transmitting means reading the background image from the storing means, multiplexing the read supplementary designs and background image, and repeatedly transmitting the multiplexed background image and supplementary designs, wherein the storage means further stores a classification for a specific part of an image, the classification corresponding to a specific supplementary design, the transmitting means reading the classification, multiplexing the read classification with the read supplementary designs and read background information, and repeatedly transmitting a result of the multiplexing.

10. The transmitting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the classification for a specific part of an image is for one of a character and image that is linked to another background image.

11. The transmitting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the classification for a specific part of an image is for a heading.

12. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand;

storing means for storing a background image that is main image data to be displayed by a receiving apparatus and position information that shows a position within the background image, the receiving apparatus combining at least one supplementary design with the background image at the position indicated by the position information; and

transmitting means for reading the supplementary designs, the position information, and the background image, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, position information, and background image.

13. The transmitting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the position information includes an X coordinate and a Y coordinate that indicate the position in the background image, the receiving apparatus combining at least one supplementary design with the background image at the position indicated by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate in the position information.

14. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus;

storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background;

the background image, the receiving apparatus combining at least one supplementary design with the background image at the position indicated by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate in the position information.

15. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus;

storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background.

16. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus and the supplementary designs being two types of cursor images that respectively represent a selected and a non-selected state;

storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information.

17. A transmitting apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by a receiving apparatus;

storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image and including position information that indicates a position in a background image, the receiving apparatus combining at least one supplementary design at the position in the background image indicated by the position information; and

transmitting means for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information.

18. A receiving apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein supplementary designs are repeatedly transmitted, the supplementary designs being combined with main image data and displayed by the receiving apparatus, the receiving apparatus comprising:

separating means for separating at least one supplementary design from repeatedly transmitted supplementary designs;

supplementary design storing means for storing the separated supplementary designs;

supplementary design reading means for reading a supplementary design from the supplementary design storing means;

combining means for combining the read supplementary design with the separated background image and generating image data; and

reproduction means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

wherein the supplementary designs are repeatedly transmitted having been multiplexed with a background image, the background image being main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus, the separating means separating the supplementary designs and the background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs and background image; and

wherein the supplementary designs are repeatedly transmitted having been multiplexed with a background image and a classification of a specific image part, the classification corresponding to a specific supplementary design, the separating means separating the supplementary designs, the background image, and the classification from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background image, and classification, and the supplementary design reading means reading a supplementary design that corresponds to the separated classification.

19. The receiving apparatus of claim 18, wherein the classification for a specific part of an image is for one of a character and image that is linked to another background image.

20. The receiving apparatus of claim 18, wherein the classification for a specific part of an image is for a heading.

21. A receiving apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein supplementary designs, a background image, and position information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, the background image being main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and the position information indicating a position in the background image, the receiving apparatus comprising:

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, the background image, and the position information from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background image, and position information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design at the position indicated by the separated position information to generate image data; and

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal.

22. The receiving apparatus of claim 21, wherein the position information includes an X coordinate and a Y coordinate that indicate the position in the background image, the combining means combining at least one supplementary design with the background image at the position indicated by the X coordinate and the Y coordinate in the position information.

23. A receiving apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image,

the receiving apparatus comprising:

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing means.

24. A receiving apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, the plurality of supplementary designs including at least one cursor image, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image,

the receiving apparatus comprising:

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing means.

25. A receiving apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, the supplementary designs being two types of cursor images that respectively represent a selected and a non-selected state, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image, the receiving apparatus comprising:

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing means.

26. A receiving apparatus for use in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image and including position information that indicates a position in a background image,

the receiving apparatus comprising:

separating means for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

combining means for combining, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design at the position in the background image indicated by the position information included in the supplementary design combining information, to generate image data;

storing means for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

reproducing means for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

operation means for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

control means for controlling the separating means, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing means.

27. A transmitting method for use by a transmitting apparatus in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, the transmitting apparatus comprising;

supplementary design storing means for storing supplementary designs beforehand; and

storing means for storing a plurality of background images that are main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and a plurality of sets of control information, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image,

the transmitting method comprising;

a transmitting step for reading the plurality of supplementary designs, the plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information, and for multiplexing and repeatedly transmitting the read supplementary designs, the read plurality of background images, and the plurality of sets of control information.

28. A computer readable recording medium recording a receiving program for use by a receiving apparatus in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein supplementary designs, a background image, and position information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, the background image being main image data to be displayed by the receiving apparatus and the position information indicating a position in the background image, the receiving program comprising:

a separating step for separating the supplementary designs, the background image, and the position information from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background image, and position information;

a combining step for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design at the position indicated by the separated position information to generate image data; and

a reproducing step for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal.

29. A computer readable recording medium recording a receiving program for use by a receiving apparatus in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted to the receiving apparatus, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image,

the receiving program comprising:

a separated step for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

a combining step for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

a storing step for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

a reproducing step for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

an operation step for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

a control step for controlling the separating step, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing step.

30. A computer readable recording medium recording a receiving program for use by a receiving apparatus in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted to the receiving apparatus, the plurality of supplementary designs including at least one cursor image, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image,

the receiving program comprising:

a separating step for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

a combining step for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

a storing step for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

a reproducing step for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

an operation step for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

a control step for controlling the separating step, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing step.

31. A computer readable recording medium recording a receiving program for use by a receiving apparatus in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted to the receiving apparatus, the supplementary designs being two types of cursor images that respectively represent a selected and a non-selected state, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image, the receiving program comprising:

a separating step for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

a combining step for combining the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set of control information, to generate image data;

a storing step for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

a reproducing step for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

an operation step for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

a control step for controlling the separating step, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing step.

32. A computer readable recording medium recording a receiving program for use by a receiving apparatus in a communication system that achieves interactivity using a broadcast wave,

wherein a plurality of supplementary designs, a plurality of background images, and a plurality of sets of control information are multiplexed and repeatedly transmitted, each background image being main image data to be reproduced by the receiving apparatus, each set of control information corresponding to a different one of the background images and each set of control information including image link information and supplementary design combining information, the image link information showing a link from one background image to another background image, and the supplementary design combining information indicating a combining of at least one supplementary design with a background image and including position information that indicates a position in a background image, the receiving program comprising:

a separating step for separating the supplementary designs, one background image, and the set of control information corresponding to the one background image from the repeatedly transmitted multiplexed supplementary designs, background images, and sets of control information;

a combining step for combining, based on the supplementary design combining information included in the separated set off control information, the separated background image and at least one separated supplementary design at the position in the background image indicated by the position information included in the supplementary design combining information, to generate image data;

a storing step for storing the generated image data and the separated set of control information;

a reproducing step for reproducing the generated image data and outputting an image signal;

an operation step for receiving a user operation that indicates a switching of image data; and

a control step for controlling the separating step, in response to a user operation, to separate a background image that is indicated by the image link information included in the set of control information stored by the storing step.