Device and method for processing broadcast program related information

• US 7,219,363 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Personal Computers, Ltd. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamato, Junichi, Matoba, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepard; Justin
• Application Number:
  US09/906,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20020016960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,127 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/137
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/17 on recording information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• 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 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A broadcast program related information processor is provided wherein a user can easily create a message containing a program tag corresponding to a program during watching. When externally receiving a program tag capture request, the program display controller 2 captures the program-related information of a program in displaying from the recorded-video management data 3, creates a program tag based on the program information, and then returns the created program tag to the request source. When the program tag further contains scene information, the program display controller 2 captures the scene information regarding a scene in replay at the time of capturing program related information and then utilizes the scene information at the program tag creation time. The message creator 1 transmits the program tag capture request to the program display controller 2 and then, when the program tag is returned, inserts it into the message 5.

Claims

1. A broadcast program related information processor comprising:

a creator for creating at least a program tag referring to said program based on information regarding a program during watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying;

an inserter for inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said inserter inserts said program tag into said location of a message in creation in accordance with an external instruction;

a decider for deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or during broadcasting or in a recorded state, and wherein said decider, when determining a program before broadcasting, issues an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and wherein said decider, when determining a program during broadcasting or a recorded program, issues an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

means for displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

means for instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message;

a database for storing correspondence relationships between program tags different at every area; and

means for converting a program tag in a message transmitted from a different area based on said database and in accordance with an area representing said program.

2. A broadcast program related information processor comprising:

a creator for creating at least a program tag referring to said program based on information regarding a program during watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying;

an inserter for inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said inserter inserts said program tag into said location of a message in creation in accordance with an external instruction;

a decider for deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or during broadcasting or in a recorded state, and wherein said decider, when determining a program before broadcasting, issues an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and wherein said decider, when determining a program during broadcasting or a recorded program, issues an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

means for displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

means for instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message; and

means for converting said program tag information in a message transmitted from a different area into a program tag in accordance with an area displaying said program, using an EPG (Electric Program Guide) for a user area.

3. A broadcast program related information processor comprising:

a creator for creating at least a program tag referring to said program based on information regarding a program during watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying;

an inserter for inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said inserter inserts said program tag into said location of a message in creation in accordance with an external instruction;

a decider for deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or during broadcasting or in a recorded state, and wherein said decider, when determining a program before broadcasting, issues an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and wherein said decider, when determining a program during broadcasting or a recorded program, issues an instruction for replacing a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

means for displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

means for instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message;

wherein, by specifying a subscriber'"'"'s area to a server that stores said message, said server converts a program tag in said message in accordance with said subscriber'"'"'s area and transmits the converted program tag.

4. A broadcast program related information processor comprising:

a creator for creating at least a program tag referring to said program based on information regarding a program during watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying;

an inserter for inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said inserter inserts said program tag into said location of a message in creation in accordance with an external instruction;

a decider for deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or during broadcasting or in a recorded state, and wherein said decider, when determining a program before broadcasting, issues an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and wherein said decider, when determining a program during broadcasting or a recorded program, issues an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

means for displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

means for displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

means for instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message;

wherein a server storing said message receives a program tag of a recorded program and wherein said server converts, when a program tag in a message has the same content as the program content of a recorded program, the program tag in said message into the program tag of said recorded program and then transmits the program tag of said recorded program.

5. A broadcast program related information processing method, comprising the steps of:

creating at least a program tag referring to a program tag based on information on a program in watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying; and

inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said program tag is inserted into said location of a message in creation based on said external instruction;

deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or in broadcasting or in a recorded state, and issuing, when determining a program before broadcasting, an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and issuing, when determining a program during broadcasting or in a recorded state, an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already-broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message; and

converting a program tag in a message transmitted from a different area based on a database and in accordance with an area representing said program, said database storing correspondence relationships between program tags different at every area.

6. A broadcast program related information processing method, comprising the steps of:

creating at least a program tag referring to a program tag based on information on a program in watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying; and

inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said program tag is inserted into said location of a message in creation based on said external instruction;

deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or in broadcasting or in a recorded state, and issuing, when determining a program before broadcasting, an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and issuing, when determining a program during broadcasting or in a recorded state, an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already-broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message; and

converting said program tag information in a message transmitted from a different area into a program tag in accordance with an area displaying said program, using an EPG (Electric Program Guide) for a user area.

7. A broadcast program related information processing method, comprising the steps of:

creating at least a program tag referring to a program tag based on information on a program in watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying; and

inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said program tag is inserted into said location of a message in creation based on said external instruction;

deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or in broadcasting or in a recorded state, and issuing, when determining a program before broadcasting, an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and issuing, when determining a program during broadcasting or in a recorded state, an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already-broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message; and

specifying a subscriber'"'"'s area to a server that stores said message, converting by said server a program tag in said message in accordance with said subscriber'"'"'s area, and transmitting the converted program tag.

8. A broadcast program related information processing method, comprising the steps of:

creating at least a program tag referring to a program tag based on information on a program in watching received from a program display controller, said program display controller display-controlling a telecast program during video-recording or broadcasting and a stored program during replaying; and

inserting said created program tag into a location of a message as externally specified by a user, said program tag being subsequently usable to control displaying and/or recording of a program, wherein said program tag is inserted into said location of a message in creation based on said external instruction;

deciding whether or not a program specified with a program tag externally specified during displaying said message is before or in broadcasting or in a recorded state, and issuing, when determining a program before broadcasting, an instruction for reserving the video-recording of a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag and issuing, when determining a program during broadcasting or in a recorded state, an instruction for replaying a program specified in accordance with information of said program tag;

displaying, when a program specified with a program tag in a message to be displayed is before broadcasting, a program tag in a representation method representing a record reservable state;

displaying;

when a program specified with said program tag is during broadcasting or in a recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a displayable state;

displaying, when a program specified with said program tag is in an already-broadcast state and in a non-recorded state, a program tag in a representation method of representing a non-displayable state;

instructing said program display controller to replay a program specified in accordance with program tag information externally specified during displaying said message;

wherein a server storing said message receives a program tag of a recorded program and wherein said server converts, when a program tag in a message has the same content as the program content of a recorded program, the program tag in said message into the program tag of said recorded program and then transmits the program tag of said recorded program.