Broadcasting apparatus, broadcasting method, program recording medium, and program

• US 7,096,482 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Akihiro, Fujita, Kimikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US09/901,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/36, 455/418
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26275 for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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

The contents transmission scheduling unit 103 prepares a transmission schedule so that contents data of CM1, CM2, and CM3 as the cache target programs are transmitted prior to the starting time of the reproduction time periods of these programs. The contents transmission scheduling unit 103 prepares the transmission schedule so that the contents data of the cache target programs are transmitted using a narrow bandwidth in a time period a predetermined time period before the starting time of the reproduction time periods of these programs, and the bandwidth is widen after the time period.

Claims

1. A broadcasting apparatus that broadcasts a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, the broadcasting apparatus comprising:

an allotment unit operable to allot a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission unit operable in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment unit, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein to allotment unit sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time,

the allotment unit (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period; and

a cache instruction message unit operable to repeatedly transmitting a cache instruction message at a time interval that is not longer than a transmission period of the program data of the specific program before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program,

wherein the cache instruction message unit instructs the receiving apparatus to cache the received program data of the specific program.

2. A broadcasting apparatus that broadcasts a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, the broadcasting apparatus comprising:

an allotment unit operable to allot a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other pat of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission unit operable in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment unit, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment unit sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time; and

the allotment unit (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period;

a table data transmission unit operable to transmit table data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the table data includes information on correspondences between instructions to cache, reproduce and delete the program data of the specific program and instruction IDs that are assigned for the instructions;

a first message transmission unit operable to transmit a first message before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the first message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the cache instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program;

a second message transmission unit operable to transmit a second message at the starting time of the reproduction period of the specific program, wherein the second massage consists of an instruction ID that identifies the reproduction instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program; and

a third message transmission unit operable to transmit a third message at the finishing time of to reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the third message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the deletion instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program.

3. A broadcasting apparatus that broadcasts a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, the broadcasting apparatus comprising:

an allotment unit operable to allot a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission unit operable in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment unit, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment unit sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time, and

the allotment unit (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than to predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period;

a table data transmission unit operable to transmit table data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein to table data includes information on correspondences between instructions to cache, reproduce, and delete the program data of the specific program and data IDs for identifying the instructions;

a first data transmission unit operable to transmit a first data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the first data has a data ID which identifies the cache instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus;

a second data transmission unit operable to transmit a second data at the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the second data has a data ID which identifies the reproduction instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus; and

a third data transmission unit operable to transmit a third data at the finishing time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the third data has a data ID which identifies to deletion instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus.

4. A broadcasting method for broadcasting a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, the broadcasting method comprising:

an allotment step for allotting a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission step in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment step, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment step sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time,

the allotment step (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period; and

a cache instruction message step for repeatedly transmitting a cache instruction massage at a time interval that is not longer than a transmission period of the program data of the specific program before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program,

wherein the cache instruction message step instructs the receiving apparatus to cache the received program data of the specific program.

5. A program recording medium which is readable by a computer in a broadcasting apparatus, the broadcast apparatus broadcasts a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, a computer program embodied on the program recording medium has the computer conduct the steps of:

an allotment step for allotting a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission step in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment step, far (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment step sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time, the allotment step (a) allots a broadcasting band width not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period; and

a cache instruction message step for repeatedly transmitting a cache instruction message at a time interval that is not longer than a transmission period of the program data of the specific program before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program,

wherein the cache instruction message step instructs the receiving apparatus to cache to received program data of the specific program.

6. A broadcasting method for broadcasting a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, the broadcasting method comprising:

an allotment step for allotting a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission step for, in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment step, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment step sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time, and

the allotment step (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period;

a table data transmission step for transmitting table data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the table data includes information on correspondences between instructions to cache, reproduce, and delete the program data of the specific program and instruction IDs that are assigned for the instructions;

a first message transmission step for transmitting a first message before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the first message consists of a instruction ID that identifies the cache instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program;

a second message transmission step for transmitting a second message at the string time of the reproduction period of the specific program, wherein the second message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the reproduction instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program; and

a third message transmission step for transmitting a third message at the finishing time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the third message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the deletion instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program.

7. A program recording medium which is readable by a computer in a broadcasting apparatus, the broadcast apparatus broadcasts a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, a computer program embodied in the program recording medium has the computer conduct the steps of:

an allotment step for allotting a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission step for, in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment step, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment step sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time, and

the allotment step (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from to first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period;

a table data transmission step for transmitting table data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the table data includes information on correspondences between instructions to cache, reproduce, and delete the program data of the specific program and instruction IDs that are assigned for the instructions;

a first message transmission step for transmitting a first message before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the first message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the cache instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program;

a second message transmission step for transmitting a second message at the starting time of the reproduction period of the specific program, wherein the second message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the reproduction instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program; and

a third message transmission step for transmitting a third message at the finishing time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the third message consists of an instruction ID that identifies the deletion instruction and a program ID that identifies the program data of the specific program.

8. A broadcasting method for broadcasting a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, the broadcasting apparatus comprising:

an allotment step for allotting a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission step, in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment step, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment step sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time, and

the allotment step (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period;

a table data transmission step for transmitting table data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the table data includes information on correspondences between instructions to cache, reproduce, and delete the program data of the specific program and data IDs for identifying the instructions;

a first data transmission stop for transmitting a first data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the first data has a data ID which identifies the cache instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus;

a second data transmission step for transmitting a second data at the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the second data has a data ID which identifies the reproduction instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus; and

a third data transmission step for transmitting a third data at the finishing time of the reproduction time period of to specific program, wherein the third data has a data ID which identifies the deletion instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus.

9. A program record medium which is readable by a computer in a broadcasting apparatus, the broadcast apparatus broadcasts a specific program to which a reproduction time period between a starting time and a finishing time is specified, the reproduction being performed by a receiving apparatus, a computer program embodied in the program recording medium has the computer conduct the steps of:

an allotment step for allotting a broadcasting bandwidth for the reproduction time period to the specific program and allotting a part of the broadcasting bandwidth for a preceding time period immediately before the reproduction time period to the specific program and the other part of the broadcasting bandwidth to another program;

a transmission stop, in accordance with the result of allotment by the allotment step, for (a) repeatedly transmitting program data of the other program while transmitting program data of the specific program in the preceding time period, and (b) repeatedly transmitting the program data of the specific program in the reproduction time period,

wherein the allotment step sets a starting time of the preceding time period as a first time and a time included in between the first time and the starting time of the reproduction time period as a second time, and

the allotment step (a) allots a broadcasting bandwidth not broader than a predetermined broadcasting bandwidth to the specific program from the first time to the second time, and (b) allots a broadcasting bandwidth broader than the predetermined broadcasting to the specific program from the second time to the finishing time of the reproduction time period;

a table data transmission step for transmitting table data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the table data includes information on correspondences between instructions to cache, reproduce, and delete the program data of the specific program and data IDs for identifying the instructions;

a first data transmission step for transmitting a first data before the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the first data has a data ID which identifies the cache instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus;

a second data transmission step for transmitting a second data at the starting time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the second data has a data ID which identifies the reproduction instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus; and

a third data transmission step for transmitting a third data at the finishing time of the reproduction time period of the specific program, wherein the third data has a data ID which identifies the deletion instruction as an instruction to be executed by the receiving apparatus.