Transmission apparatus and reception apparatus

• US 7,054,592 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ueda, Eiji, Sakashita, Seiji, Tatsumi, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chu, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/243,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/3.02, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/412, 455/186.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• 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 21/2668 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• 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

Via a mobile communication network, a transmission apparatus receives position information representing a current position of a reception apparatus. Based on the received position information, the transmission apparatus generates notice data indicating that it is necessary to correct preprogrammed program information identifying a program which has been preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording and being generated at the reception apparatus, and transmits the generated notice data to the reception apparatus. Accordingly, a transmission apparatus is provided which generates information that allows preprogramming of a broadcast program for viewing or recording to be properly performed at the reception apparatus side, or which generates a correct broadcast program table, and transmits the generated information or program table to the reception apparatus.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus operable to communicate with a reception apparatus which is constructed to be operable to receive a program within a broadcast area, said transmission apparatus comprising:

a reception section operable to receive position information indicating a current position of the reception apparatus;

a generation section operable to, based on the position information received by said reception section,

generate notice data indicating that it is necessary to correct preprogrammed program information identifying a program which has been preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording and being generated at the reception apparatus, or

generate a personal program table which is specific to a user of the reception apparatus and which is created based on personal data of the user; and

a transmission section operable to transmit the notice data or the personal program table generated by said generation section to the reception apparatus.

2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said reception section is operable to receive the position information of the reception apparatus, and a broadcast channel used for broadcasting a program which is a target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording;

said transmission apparatus further comprises a first determination section operable to determine whether or not the reception apparatus has moved from a broadcast area to another broadcast area by using the position information and the broadcast channel received by said reception section; and

said generation section is operable to generate the notice data or the personal program table when said first determination section determines that a movement between broadcast areas has occurred.

3. The transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the reception apparatus is operable to store preprogrammed program information at least containing a broadcast channel and a program code of the target broadcast program, so as to identify the broadcast program which is the target of the preprogramming for reviewing or preprogramming for recording;

said transmission apparatus further comprises a program DB storage operable to, for identifying a broadcast program in each broadcast area, store a program database at least containing a broadcast channel and a program code used for broadcasting the respective broadcast program;

said reception section is operable to receive the position information of the reception apparatus as well as the broadcast channel and the program code of the program which is the target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording; and

if said first determination section determines that a movement between broadcast areas has occurred, said generation section is operable to generate notice data further containing a broadcast channel used for broadcasting the program which is the target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording in the other broadcast area, by referring to the program code received by said reception section and the broadcast channel and the program code stored in said program DB storage section.

4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the reception apparatus is operable to store preprogrammed program information further containing a broadcast start time and a broadcast end time of the target broadcast program, so as to identify the broadcast program which is the target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording;

said program DB storage section is operable to store, for identifying a broadcast program in each broadcast area, a program database further containing a broadcast start time and a broadcast end time of each broadcast program; and

if said first determination section determines that a movement between broadcast areas has occurred, said generation section is operable to generate notice data further containing a broadcast start time and a broadcast end time in the other broadcast area of the program which is the target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording, by referring to the program code received by said reception section and the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, the broadcast end time, and the program code stored in said program DB storage section.

5. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said transmission apparatus further comprises a second determination section operable to, when said first determination section determines that a movement between broadcast areas has occurred, determine whether or not the program which is identified by the program code received by said reception section is broadcast in the other broadcast area;

if said second determination section determines that the same program is not broadcast in the other broadcast area, said generation section is operable to generate a command containing the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time of the program which is the target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording; and

said transmission section is operable to transmit the command generated by said generation section to an external stationary type video recording apparatus.

6. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said transmission apparatus further comprises a second determination section operable to, when said first determination section determines that a movement between broadcast areas has occurred, determine whether or not the program which is identified by the program code received by said reception section is broadcast in the other broadcast area; and

if said second determination section determines that the same program is not broadcast in the other broadcast area, said generation section is operable to generate notice data containing a broadcast channel, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast end time of a substitute program to replace the program which is the target of the preprogramming for viewing or preprogramming for recording.

7. The transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said transmission apparatus further comprises a program DB storage section operable to, for identifying a broadcast program in each broadcast area, store a program database at least containing a title of the respective broadcast program, a broadcast channel used for broadcasting the respective broadcast program, and a broadcast time zone of the respective broadcast program; and

said generation section is operable to select one program from said program DB storage section for each time zone, and to generate a personal program table by using each selected program.

8. The transmission apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said transmission apparatus further comprises a personal information DB storage section operable to store a personal information database containing user information of the reception apparatus; and

said generation section is operable to select one program from said program DB storage section for each time zone, and to generate a personal program table by using each selected program, by referring to the user information in said personal information storage section.

9. The transmission apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said personal information DB storage section is further operable to store priority information which is assigned with respect to a category of each broadcast program;

and

in accordance with the priority information stored in said personal information DB storage section, said generation section is further operable to select, for each time zone, another program from said program DB storage section which is different from the selected program, and to generate the personal program table by using each selected program.

10. The transmission apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in accordance with the priority information stored in said personal information DB storage section, said generation section is further operable to select, from said program DB storage section, each program for each time zone, and to generate the personal program table by using each selected program.

11. A reception apparatus constructed to be operable to receive a broadcast program and to communicate with a transmission apparatus which provides information concerning the broadcast program, said reception apparatus comprising:

a transmission section operable to transmit position information indicating a current position of said reception apparatus to the transmission apparatus;

wherein, based on the position information transmitted from said transmission section, the transmission apparatus is operable to generate notice data indicating that it is necessary to correct preprogrammed program information identifying a program which has been preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording and being generated at the reception apparatus, or to generate a personal program table which is specific to a user of said reception apparatus and which is created based on personal data of the user, and to transmit the generated notice data or personal program table to the reception apparatus; and

wherein said reception apparatus further comprises;

a reception section operable to receive the notice data or personal program table transmitted from the transmission apparatus; and

an output section operable to output the notice data or personal program table received by said reception section.

12. The reception apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said reception apparatus further comprises a preprogramming storage section operable to store preprogrammed program information for preprogramming a program designated by a user for viewing or recording;

the preprogrammed program information at least contains a broadcast start time of the program designated by the user;

said reception apparatus further comprises

a control section operable to generate a determination request or a personal program table request at least containing position information indicating a current position, by referring to the broadcast start time contained in the preprogrammed program information stored in said preprogramming storage section, and

a transmission section operable to transmit the determination request or the personal program table request generated by said control section to the transmission apparatus.

13. A transmission method for transmitting data to a reception apparatus which is constructed to be operable to receive a program within a broadcast area, said transmission method comprising:

receiving position information indicating a current position of the reception apparatus;

generating, based on the position information received in said receiving of the position information,

notice data indicating that it is necessary to correct preprogrammed program information identifying a program which has been preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording and being generated at the reception apparatus, or

a personal program table which is specific to a user of the reception apparatus and which is created based on personal data of the user; and

transmitting the notice data or the personal program table generated in said generating to the reception apparatus.

14. A reception method, which is executed by a reception apparatus constructed to be operable to receive a broadcast program, for receiving data from a transmission apparatus which provides information concerning the broadcast program, said reception method comprising:

transmitting position information indicating a current position of the reception apparatus to the transmission apparatus;

wherein, based on the position information transmitted in said transmitting of the position information, the transmission apparatus generates notice data indicating that it is necessary to correct preprogrammed program information identifying a program which has been preprogrammed for viewing or preprogrammed for recording and being generated at the reception apparatus, or generates a personal program table which is specific to a user of the reception apparatus and which is created based on personal data of the user, and the transmission apparatus transmits the generated notice data or personal program table to the reception apparatus; and

wherein said reception method further comprises;

receiving the notice data or personal program table transmitted from the transmission apparatus; and

outputting the notice data or personal program table received in said receiving of the notice data or personal program table.