Broadcast program information processing apparatus

• US 7,228,557 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Korehisa, Makoto, Hanai, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US09/663,501
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/46, 725/50, 725/54, 725/93, 725/96, 725/33, 725/35, 725/97, 725115-118, 725/132, 725/140, 725/146, 725/152
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• 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: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• 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 21/84 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 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 broadcast program information processing apparatus is provided which is capable of smoothly downloading broadcast program information to a plurality of broadcast program information receiving apparatuses from a data server in which the broadcast program information is stored. The broadcast program information receiving apparatus having a device for accessing a data server having a database in which the broadcast program information is stored and for downloading the broadcast program information downloads the broadcast program information at one of a random timing, a preset time, a random timing generated based on a preset time, a time set by a management server which manages the data server, a time set by a table in which access times to the data server are set for each region, a time set for each service provider which can be connected to the data server, and an access time to a data server, which is determined in accordance with a load distribution state of the data server.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a data server having a database for storing program information;

a plurality of program information receiving apparatuses having a means for accessing said data server and first means for downloading said program information;

one or more terminal devices, coupled to one or more of the plurality of program information receiving apparatus by second means for downloading; and

a random number generator for generating a random time;

wherein the first means for downloading of each of said program information receiving apparatuses has a table in which access times to said data server are set for each region, and downloads said program information from said data server at a determined time, set by said table,

wherein the random time is used to modify the determined time, and

wherein the first means for downloading has a lower transmission rate than the second means for downloading.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined time is a function of the random time based on a preset time.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined time is a function of a time set by a management server which manages said data server.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined time is a function of a time set by a table, the table adapted to store access times for the data server.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said table includes region codes in which postal codes are identifiers.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said table includes region codes in which telephone area codes are identifiers.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said table includes region codes in which codes for urgent warnings are identifiers.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined time is a function of a time set for a service provider that is adapted to be connected to said program information receiving apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determined time is a function of a load distribution state of said data server, that downloads said program information at a determined access time.