Information providing method for transmitting broadcast signals being received by a user

• US 7,440,726 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Shinsuke, Moriya, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US10/526,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20060084376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/414.1, 455/150.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/344, 455/66.1, 455/186.1, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

The name of a broadcasting station, transmitting broadcast signals being received by a user, is to be informed extremely readily to the user. A radio receiver (2) transmits frequency data corresponding to the frequency of FM broadcast signals being received, and territory data corresponding to the territory where the radio receiver is used, to an information providing server (3) over the Internet (5). The information providing server (3) specifies the broadcasting station, transmitting the broadcast signals being received by the radio receiver (2), based on the frequency data and the territory data transmitted, and sends a letter/character string data and a call signal corresponding to the broadcasting station specified. The radio receiver (2) demonstrates the name of the radio station on a display based on the letter/character string data displayed.

Claims

1. An information providing system in which a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and demodulating broadcast signals of a selected frequency and a broadcast station specifying server for specifying a broadcasting station as a source of transmission of said broadcast signals are interconnected over a network, wherein

said broadcast receiving apparatus includes user transmitting means for transmitting data over said network and user receiving means for receiving data over said network;

said broadcast station specifying server including broadcasting station specifying server storage means for storing frequency data corresponding to the frequency of said broadcasting signals, territory data corresponding to the territory where said broadcast receiving apparatus is used, and broadcasting station data corresponding to a broadcasting station specified by said frequency data and said territory data, said broadcasting station specifying server retrieving means for retrieving broadcasting station data stored in said broadcasting station specifying server storage means, based on said frequency data and said territory data, said broadcasting station specifying server receiving means for receiving data over said network and said broadcasting station specifying server transmitting means for transmitting data over said network;

said user transmitting means transmitting said territory data and said frequency data to said broadcast station specifying server;

said broadcasting station specifying server receiving means receiving said territory data transmitted by said user transmitting means and frequency data corresponding to the frequency of broadcast signals received by said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said broadcasting station specifying server retrieving means retrieving said broadcasting station data based on said territory data and said frequency data, received by said broadcasting station specifying server receiving means;

said broadcasting station specifying server transmitting means transmitting said broadcasting station data, retrieved by said broadcasting station specifying server retrieving means, to said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said user receiving means receiving the broadcasting station data, transmitted by said broadcasting station specifying server transmitting means.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1 wherein

said broadcast receiving apparatus is connected over said network to a relevant information providing server;

said relevant information providing server including relevant information providing server storage means for storing relevant information data corresponding to the relevant information of said broadcast signals, relevant information providing server receiving means for receiving said broadcasting station data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus, relevant information providing server retrieving means for retrieving relevant information data corresponding to the information relevant to broadcast signals received by said broadcast receiving apparatus, based on said broadcasting station data received by said relevant information providing server receiving means, and relevant information providing server transmitting means for transmitting relevant information data retrieved by said relevant information providing server retrieving means to said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said user transmitting means, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting the broadcasting station information to said relevant information providing server;

said user receiving means, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, receiving said relevant information data transmitted by said relevant information server transmitting means provided to said relevant information providing server.

3. The information providing system according to claim 2 wherein

said broadcast receiving apparatus is connected over said network to a contents distributing server adapted for distributing the contents;

said contents distributing server including contents distributing server storage means for storing contents distributed to said broadcast receiving apparatus and/or key data necessary for reproduction of said contents, contents distribution server receiving means for receiving said relevant information data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus, contents distribution server retrieving means for retrieving said contents and/or said key data stored in said contents distributing server storage means, based on said relevant information data received by said contents distribution server receiving means, and contents distribution server transmitting means for transmitting said contents and/or said key data retrieved by said contents distribution server retrieving means to said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said user transmitting means, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting said relevant information data to said contents distributing server;

said user receiving means, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, receiving said contents and/or said key data transmitted by said contents distributing server transmitting means.

4. The information providing system according to claim 2 wherein said broadcast receiving apparatus is connected to a recording medium sale server, adapted for selling recording mediums, having contents recorded thereon, over said network;

said recording medium sale server including recording medium sale server storage means, having stored therein recording medium specifying data specifying the recording mediums to be on sale, recording medium sale server receiving means receiving said relevant information data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus, recording medium sale server retrieving means for retrieving said recording medium specifying data stored in said recording medium sale server storage means, based on said relevant information data received by said recording medium sale server receiving means, and recording medium sale server transmitting means for transmitting the recording medium specifying data retrieved by said recording medium sale server retrieving means;

said user transmitting means, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting said relevant information data through said recording medium sale server;

said user receiving means provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus receiving said recording medium specifying data transmitted by said contents distributing server transmitting means;

said user transmitting means, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting desired recording medium specifying data, out of the recording medium specifying data received by said user receiving means;

said recording medium sale server performing processing for selling the recording mediums based on recording medium data transmitted by said broadcast receiving apparatus.

5. The information providing system according to claim 1 wherein

said broadcasting station specifying server and the relevant information providing server are unified together.

6. An information providing method comprising

a first interconnecting step of interconnecting a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and demodulating broadcast signals of a selected frequency and a broadcast station specifying server specifying a broadcasting station as a source of transmission of said broadcast signals, over a network;

a first transmitting step of said broadcast receiving apparatus transmitting frequency data corresponding to the frequency of broadcast signals being received, and territory data corresponding to a territory where said broadcast receiving apparatus is used, to said broadcast station specifying server;

a first receiving step of said broadcast station specifying server receiving said frequency data and the territory data transmitted in said first transmitting step;

a first retrieving step of retrieving broadcasting station data corresponding to a broadcasting station transmitting said broadcast signals being received by said broadcast receiving apparatus, based on said frequency data and the territory data received in said first receiving step;

a second transmitting step of transmitting said broadcasting station data, retrieved by said first retrieving step, to said broadcast receiving apparatus; and

a second receiving step of said broadcast receiving apparatus receiving said broadcasting station data transmitted in said second transmitting step.

7. The information providing method according to claim 6 further comprising

a second connection step of interconnecting said broadcast receiving apparatus and a relevant information providing server transmitting relevant information data of broadcast signals being received by said broadcast receiving apparatus, over a network;

a third transmitting step of said broadcast receiving apparatus transmitting said broadcasting station data, received in said second receiving step, to said relevant information providing server;

a third receiving step of said relevant information providing server receiving broadcasting station data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus in said third transmitting step;

a second retrieving step of retrieving relevant information data corresponding to the relevant information of broadcast signals being received by said broadcast receiving apparatus, based on broadcasting station data received by said third receiving step;

a fourth transmitting step of transmitting the relevant information data, retrieved by said second retrieving step, to said broadcast receiving apparatus; and

a fourth receiving step of said broadcast receiving apparatus receiving relevant information data transmitted in said fourth transmitting step.

8. The information providing method according to claim 7 further comprising

a third interconnecting step of interconnecting said broadcast receiving apparatus and a contents distributing server distributing contents data and/or key data necessary in using said contents data, over a network;

a fifth transmitting step of said broadcast receiving apparatus transmitting said relevant information data received by said fourth receiving step to said contents distributing server;

a fifth receiving step of said contents distributing server receiving relevant information data transmitted in said fifth transmitting step from said broadcast receiving apparatus;

a third retrieving step of said contents distributing server retrieving said contents data and/or said key data based on the relevant information data received in said fifth receiving step;

a sixth transmitting step of said contents distributing server transmitting said contents data and/or said key data retrieved in said third retrieving step to said broadcast receiving apparatus; and

a sixth receiving step of said broadcast receiving apparatus receiving said contents data and/or said key data transmitted in said sixth transmitting step.

9. The information providing method according to claim 7 further comprising

a fourth interconnecting step of interconnecting, over a network, said broadcast receiving apparatus and a recording medium sale server selling recording mediums having contents recorded thereon;

a seventh transmitting step of said broadcast receiving apparatus transmitting said relevant information data received in said fourth receiving step to said recording medium sale server;

a seventh receiving step of said recording medium sale server receiving relevant information data transmitted in said seventh transmitting step from said broadcast receiving apparatus;

a fourth retrieving step of said recording medium sale server retrieving recording medium specifying data, specifying recording mediums that are on sale, based on the relevant information data received in said seventh receiving step;

an eighth transmitting step of said recording medium sale server transmitting the recording medium specifying data, retrieved in said fourth retrieving step, to said broadcast receiving apparatus;

an eighth receiving step of said broadcast receiving apparatus receiving the recording medium specifying data, transmitted in said eighth transmitting step;

a ninth transmitting step of said broadcast receiving apparatus transmitting desired recording medium specifying data, out of the recording medium specifying data received in said eighth receiving step, to said recording medium sale server; and

a sale processing step of said recording medium sale server performing sale processing of recording mediums, based on recording medium specifying data transmitted in said ninth transmitting step.

10. An information providing system in which a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving and demodulating broadcast signals of a selected frequency and a broadcast station specifying server for specifying a broadcasting station as a source of transmission of said broadcast signals are interconnected over a network, wherein

said broadcast receiving apparatus includes,

a user transmitting unit configured to transmit data over said network, and

a user receiving unit configured to receive data over said network;

said broadcast station specifying server including,

a broadcasting station specifying server storage unit configured to store frequency data corresponding to the frequency of said broadcasting signals, territory data corresponding to the territory where said broadcast receiving apparatus is used, and broadcasting station data corresponding to a broadcasting station specified by said frequency data and said territory data,

a broadcasting station specifying server retrieving unit configured to retrieve broadcasting station data stored in said broadcasting station specifying server storage unit, based on said frequency data and said territory data, and

a broadcasting station specifying server receiving unit configured to receive data over said network and a broadcasting station specifying server transmitting unit configured to transmit data over said network;

said user transmitting unit transmitting said territory data and said frequency data to said broadcast station specifying server;

said broadcasting station specifying server receiving unit receiving said territory data transmitted by said user transmitting unit and frequency data corresponding to the frequency of broadcast signals received by said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said broadcasting station specifying server retrieving unit retrieving said broadcasting station data based on said territory data and said frequency data, received by said broadcasting station specifying server receiving unit;

said broadcasting station specifying server transmitting unit transmitting said broadcasting station data, retrieved by said broadcasting station specifying server retrieving unit, to said broadcast receiving apparatus; and

said user receiving unit receiving the broadcasting station data, transmitted by said broadcasting station specifying server transmitting unit.

11. The information providing system according to claim 10 wherein

said broadcast receiving apparatus is connected over said network to a relevant information providing server;

said relevant information providing server including,

a relevant information providing server storage unit configured to store relevant information data corresponding to the relevant information of said broadcast signals,

a relevant information providing server receiving unit configured to receive said broadcasting station data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus,

a relevant information providing server retrieving unit configured to retrieve relevant information data corresponding to the information relevant to broadcast signals received by said broadcast receiving apparatus, based on said broadcasting station data received by said relevant information providing server receiving unit, and

a relevant information providing server transmitting unit configured to transmit relevant information data retrieved by said relevant information providing server retrieving unit to said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said user transmitting unit, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting the broadcasting station information to said relevant information providing server; and

said user receiving unit, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, receiving said relevant information data transmitted by said relevant information server transmitting unit provided to said relevant information providing server.

12. The information providing system according to claim 11 wherein

said broadcast receiving apparatus is connected over said network to a contents distributing server adapted for distributing the contents;

said contents distributing server including,

a contents distributing server storage unit configured to store contents distributed to said broadcast receiving apparatus and/or key data necessary for reproduction of said contents,

a contents distribution server receiving unit configured to receive said relevant information data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus,

a contents distribution server retrieving unit configured to retrieve said contents and/or said key data stored in said contents distributing server storage unit, based on said relevant information data received by said contents distribution server receiving unit, and

a contents distribution server transmitting unit configured to transmit said contents and/or said key data retrieved by said contents distribution server retrieving unit to said broadcast receiving apparatus;

said user transmitting unit, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting said relevant information data to said contents distributing server; and

said user receiving unit, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, receiving said contents and/or said key data transmitted by said contents distributing server transmitting unit.

13. The information providing system according to claim 11 wherein said broadcast receiving apparatus is connected to a recording medium sale server, adapted for selling recording mediums, having contents recorded thereon, over said network;

said recording medium sale server including,

a recording medium sale server storage unit, having stored therein recording medium specifying data specifying the recording mediums to be on sale,

a recording medium sale server receiving unit configured to receive said relevant information data transmitted from said broadcast receiving apparatus,

a recording medium sale server retrieving unit configured to retrieve said recording medium specifying data stored in said recording medium sale server storage unit, based on said relevant information data received by said recording medium sale server receiving unit, and

a recording medium sale server transmitting unit configured to transmit the recording medium specifying data retrieved by said recording medium sale server retrieving unit;

said user transmitting unit, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting said relevant information data through said recording medium sale server;

said user receiving unit provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus receiving said recording medium specifying data transmitted by said contents distributing server transmitting unit;

said user transmitting unit, provided to said broadcast receiving apparatus, transmitting desired recording medium specifying data, out of the recording medium specifying data received by said user receiving unit; and

said recording medium sale server performing processing for selling the recording mediums based on recording medium data transmitted by said broadcast receiving apparatus.

14. The information providing system according to claim 10 wherein

said broadcasting station specifying server and the relevant information providing server are unified together.