Information providing apparatus and method, information receiving apparatus and method, and transmission medium

• US 6,510,555 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsurumoto, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/134,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/87, 725/56, 725/57, 725/92, 725/98, 725/118, 725/115, 348/465, 348/715, 348/716, 348/717
• US Class Current: 725/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 for requesting near-video-on-demand content

Abstract

To transmit EPG information efficiently in a small volume of transmission, it is so disposed that SDTs corresponding to respective transponders are referred in an NIT stating the overall configuration of the network and necessary information for reception. In each SDT, a real channel for transmitting video signals and a corresponding dummy channel are provided in a pair, and the dummy channel is provided with a gEMT and a dEMT for stating information on events. An ETT is provided correspondingly to the real channel. In an ETT, a gEMT is caused to be referred to. In a dEMT, outline documents of events are stated, and in a gEMT information other than the outline documents of events is stated.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting information, said method comprising:

generating, for a dummy channel associated with at least one real channel, at least one data table;

generating, for said real channel, a further data table that includes an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location of information stored within said data table of said dummy channel; and

forming a bit stream comprised of said data table and said further data table.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said bit stream.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said data table includes information concerning said event that is independent of its occurrence, and said further data table includes information concerning a respective occurrence of said event.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said event is a broadcast of a television program.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said further data table includes information concerning at least one of the following:

a date of said event, a duration of said event, a fee for said event, and an installment number of said event.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said data table includes information concerning at least one of the following:

a genre of said event, a title of said event, and an indicator of a near video on demand (NVOD) event.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said further data table includes a plurality of references to a plurality of locations of information within said data table.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein at least two of said plurality of references refer to a common location of information within said data table.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said dummy channel is associated with a plurality of real channels that are near video on demand (NVOD) channels.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said further data table is generated for each of said plurality of real channels.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said first generating step includes generating, for said dummy channel, an additional data table;

and said data table includes at least one reference to a location within said additional data table.

12. An apparatus for transmitting information, said apparatus comprising:

a generating section for generating, for a dummy channel associated with at least one real channel, at least one data table;

a further generating section for generating, for said real channel, a further data table that includes an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location of information stored within said data table of said dummy channel; and

an encoder for forming a bit stream comprised of said data table and said further data table.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an output for transmitting said bit stream.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said data table includes information concerning said event that is independent of its occurrence, and said further data table includes information concerning a respective occurrence of said event.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said event is a broadcast of a television program.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said further data table includes information concerning at least one of the following:

a date of said event, a duration of said event, a fee for said event, and an installment number of said event.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said data table includes information concerning at least one of the following:

a genre of said event, a title of said event, and an indicator of a near video on demand (NVOD) event.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said further data table includes a plurality of references to a plurality of locations of information within said data table.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least two of said plurality of references refer to a common location of information within said data table.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said dummy channel is associated with a plurality of real channels which are near video on demand (NVOD) channels.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said further data table is generated for each of said plurality of real channels.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said generating section is adapted for generating, for said dummy channel, an additional data table;

and said data table includes at least one reference to a location within said additional data table.

23. A readable medium for storing instructions for transmitting information, said instructions comprising instructions for:

generating, for a dummy channel associated with at least one real channel, at least one data table;

generating, for said real channel, a further data table that includes an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location of information stored within said data table of said dummy channel; and

forming a bit stream comprised of said data table and said further data table.

24. A method of receiving transmitted information, said method comprising:

receiving at least one bit stream;

forming, from said bit stream, at least one data table associated with a dummy channel that corresponds to at least one real channel;

forming, from said bit stream, a further data table associated with said real channel;

reading, from said further data table, an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location within said data table;

reading, from said data table, information stored at said location;

generating video data using said information stored in said data table; and

displaying said video data on said real channel.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said video data is generated using said information stored in said data table and using additional information stored in said further data table.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said data table includes information concerning said event that is independent of its occurrence, said further data table includes information concerning a respective occurrence of said event, and said video data is generated by inserting at least a portion of said information concerning a respective occurrence of said event into said information concerning said event that is independent of its occurrence.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said event is a broadcast of a television program.

28. An apparatus for receiving transmitted information, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving at least one bit stream;

at least one processor for forming, from said bit stream, at least one data table associated with a dummy channel that corresponds to at least one real channel;

said processor forming, from said bit stream, a further data table associated with said real channel;

said processor reading, from said further data table, an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location within said data table;

said processor reading, from said data table, information stored at said location;

said processor generating video data using said information stored in said data table; and

said processor displaying said video data on said real channel.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said video data is generated using said information stored in said data table and using additional information stored in said further data table.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said data table includes information concerning said event that is independent of its occurrence, said further data table includes information concerning a respective occurrence of said event, and said video data is generated by inserting at least a portion of said information concerning a respective occurrence of said event into said information concerning said event that is independent of its occurrence.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said event is a broadcast of a television program.

32. A readable medium for storing instructions for receiving transmitted information, said instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving at least one bit stream;

forming, from said bit stream, at least one data table associated with a dummy channel that corresponds to at least one real channel;

forming, from said bit stream, a further data table associated with said real channel;

reading, from said further data table, an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location within said data table;

reading, from said data table, information stored at said location;

generating video data using said information stored in said data table; and

displaying said video data on said real channel.

33. A method of delivering information, said method comprising:

generating, for a dummy channel associated with at least one real channel, at least one data table;

generating, for said real channel, a further data table that includes an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location of information stored within said data table of said dummy channel;

forming a bit stream comprised of said data table and said further data table;

transmitting said bit stream;

receiving said bit stream;

forming, from said bit stream, said data table;

forming, from said bit stream, said further data table;

reading, from said further data table, said reference to a location within said data table;

reading, from said data table, said information stored at said location;

generating video data using said information stored in said data table; and

displaying said video data on said real channel.

34. A system for delivering information, said system comprising:

an apparatus for transmitting information, said transmitting apparatus comprising;

a generating section for generating, for a dummy channel associated with at least one real channel, at least one data table;

a further generating section for generating, for said real channel, a further data table that includes an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location of information stored within said data table of said dummy channel;

an encoder for forming a bit stream comprised of said data table and said further data table;

an output for transmitting said bit stream;

an apparatus for receiving transmitted information, said receiving apparatus comprising;

a receiver for receiving said bit stream;

at least one processor for forming, from said bit stream, said data table;

said processor forming, from said bit stream, said further data table;

said processor reading, from said further data table, said reference to a location within said data table;

said processor reading, from said data table, said information stored at said location;

said processor generating video data using said information stored in said data table; and

said processor displaying said video data on said real channel.

35. A readable medium for storing instructions for delivering information, said instructions comprising instructions for:

generating, for a dummy channel associated with at least one real channel, at least one data table;

generating, for said real channel, a further data table that includes an identification code of an event, at least one start time of said event, and at least one reference to a location of information stored within said data table of said dummy channel;

forming a bit stream comprised of said data table and said further data table;

transmitting said bit stream;

receiving said bit stream;

forming, from said bit stream, said data table;

forming, from said bit stream, said further data table;

reading, from said further data table, said reference to a location within said data table;

reading, from said data table, said information stored at said location;

generating video data using said information stored in said data table; and

displaying said video data on said real channel.