Transmitting apparatus for providing information by effective use of bands

• US 7,664,951 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujinami, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Thanhnga B
• Application Number:
  US10/258,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,917 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 380258-259, 725/42, 725/50, 725/54, 348/E5.005, 348/E7.063, 375/240.26, 455/3.04, 455/90.1, 455/410, 455/500, 367/117
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• 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 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A transmitting apparatus adapted to effectively use the band for transferring programs of television broadcasting. A program of a first channel transmitted from the transmitting side can be viewed in real time on the receiving side. A program of a second channel is transmitted to the receiving side in advance in a time zone of lower audience rate than other time zones and stored in a storage device of the receiving side. Each program to be stored is encrypted. When a provision time of a program comes, the data such as a key are transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side along with the program data of the first channel. The receiving side extracts the data such as a key and, by use of the extracted data, provides the program stored in the storage device to viewers.

Claims

1. A transmitting apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting data of a second program;

encrypting means for encrypting said data inputted from said input means by use of a predetermined key;

detecting means for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said data, wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream, wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

first transmitting means for transmitting data of a first program and data of the second program encrypted by said encrypting means;

second transmitting means for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on a receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by the transmitting apparatus, wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus, wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

2. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined time slot is in a time zone with a lower audience rating than another time zone.

3. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating means for creating associating information for associating a position of said intra-picture detected by said detecting means with an elapsed time from a starting time of said second program;

wherein said first transmitting means transmits said associating information along with said encrypted data.

4. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first transmitting means, by use of a transmission channel for transmitting data of a first program to be viewed by a viewer in a first program channel, transmits, in said predetermined time slot, data of a second program to be viewed by said viewer in a second program channel;

and

said second transmitting means transmits said key by use of a same transmission channel as said transmission channel to be used by said first transmitting means.

5. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

first generating means for generating a first Electric Program Guide (EPG) associated with both said first program and said second program; and

second generating means for generating a second Electric Program Guide (EPG) associated with said second program;

wherein said first Electric Program Guide (EPG) includes a flag indicative of said first program or said second program.

6. A transmitting method comprising:

an encrypting step for encrypting second program data by use of a key;

a detecting step for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting step;

transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on a receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by a transmission apparatus,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

7. A recording medium storing a computer program executed by a processor, said computer program comprising:

an encrypting step for encrypting second program data by use of a predetermined key;

a detecting step for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data, wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream, wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a first transmitting step of transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting step;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on a receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by a transmitting apparatus, wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus, wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing a computer program comprising;

an encrypting step for encrypting second program data by use of a predetermined key;

a detecting step for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a first transmitting step of transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting step;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on a receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by a transmitting apparatus,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

9. A receiving apparatus comprising:

storage means for receiving and storing, as data of a second program of a second program channel, encrypted the second program data supplied in a predetermined time slot by use of a transmission channel that transmits data of a first program of a first program channel;

detecting means for detecting a position an intra-picture from said second program data, wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

receiving means for receiving a key for decrypting said second program data, said key being transmitted after said predetermined time slot and at a time for enabling the viewing, on the receiving side, of said second program at a viewing time established by a transmitting apparatus; and

reproducing means for reproducing said second program by decrypting said data of said second program stored in said storage means by use of said key received by said receiving means,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

10. A receiving method comprising:

a storage control step from controlling the reception of encrypted second program data supplied in a predetermined time slot by use of a transmission channel for transmitting data of a first program of a first program channel and controlling the storage of the supplied data as data of a second program of a second program channel;

a detecting step for detecting a position an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a reception control step for controlling the reception of a key for decrypting said second program data, said key being transmitted after said predetermined time slot and at a time for enabling the viewing, on a receiving apparatus, of said second program at a viewing time established by a transmitting apparatus; and

a reproducing step for reproducing said second program by decrypting said data of said second program in which the storage is controlled in said storage control step by use of said key received by said reception control step,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

11. A recording medium storing a computer program executed by a processor, said computer program comprising:

a storage control step from controlling the reception of encrypted second program data supplied in a predetermined time slot by use of a transmission channel for transmitting data of a first program of a first program channel and controlling the storage of the supplied data as data of a second program of a second program channel;

a detecting step for detecting a position an intra-picture from said second program data, wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream, wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a reception control step for controlling the reception of a key for decrypting said second program data, said key being transmitted after said predetermined time slot and at a time for enabling the viewing, on a receiving apparatus, of said second program at a viewing time established by a transmitting apparatus; and

a reproducing step for reproducing said second program by decrypting said data of said second program in which the storage is controlled in said storage control step by use of said key received by said reception control step, wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus, wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

12. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing a computer program comprising;

a storage control step for controlling the reception of encrypted second program data supplied in a predetermined time slot by use of a transmission channel for transmitting data of a first program of a first program channel and controlling the storage of the supplied data as data of a second program of a second program channel;

a detecting step for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a reception control step for controlling the reception of a key for decrypting said second program data, said key being transmitted after said predetermined time slot and at a time for enabling the viewing, on a receiving apparatus, of said second program at a viewing time established by a transmitting apparatus; and

a reproducing step for reproducing said second program by decrypting said data of said second program in which the storage is controlled in said storage control step by use of said key received by said reception control step,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

13. An information transmitting/receiving system having a transmitting apparatus for transmitting data and a receiving apparatus for receiving said data transmitted from said transmitting apparatus,

said transmitting apparatus comprising:

encrypting means for encrypting data of a second program by use of a predetermined key;

detecting means for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

first transmitting means for transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting means;

second transmitting means for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on the receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by the transmitting apparatus,

said receiving apparatus comprising;

storage means for receiving and storing said data of said second program transmitted from said first transmitting means;

receiving means for receiving said key transmitted from said second transmitting means; and

reproducing means for reproducing said second program at a viewing time on said receiving apparatus established by said transmitting apparatus by decoding said data of said second program stored in said storage means by use of said key received by said receiving means,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

14. An information transmitting/receiving method for an information transmitting/receiving system having a transmitting apparatus for transmitting data and a receiving apparatus for receiving said data transmitted from said transmitting apparatus,

the information transmitting/recording method for said transmitting apparatus comprising:

an encrypting step for encrypting data of a second program by use of a predetermined key;

a detecting step for detecting a position an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a first transmitting step for transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting step;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on the receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by the transmitting apparatus,

the information transmitting/receiving method for said receiving apparatus comprising;

a storage control step for controlling the reception and storage of said data of said second program in which the transmission is controlled in said first transmission step;

a reception control step for controlling the reception of said key in which the transmission is controlled in said second transmission step; and

a reproducing step for reproducing said second program at a viewing time on said receiving apparatus intended by said transmitting apparatus by decoding said data of said second program in which the storage is controlled in said storage control step by use of said key in which the reception is controlled in said reception control step,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

15. A recording medium storing a computer program, executed by a processor, for an information transmitting/receiving system having a transmitting apparatus for transmitting data and a receiving apparatus for receiving said data transmitted from said transmitting apparatus, the computer program including a computer program for said transmitting apparatus and a computer program for said receiving apparatus, wherein, said computer program for said transmitting apparatus comprising:

an encrypting step for encrypting data of a second program by use of a predetermined key;

a detecting step for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data, wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream, wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a first transmitting step for transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting step;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on the receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by the transmitting apparatus, said computer program for said receiving apparatus comprising;

a storage control step for controlling the reception and storage of said data of said second program in which the transmission is controlled in said first transmission step;

a reception control step for controlling the reception of said key in which the transmission is controlled in said second transmission step; and

a reproducing step for reproducing said second program at a viewing time on said receiving apparatus intended by said transmitting apparatus by decoding said data of said second program in which the storage is controlled in said storage control step, by use of said key in which the reception is controlled in said reception control step, wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus, wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.

16. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing a computer program for an information transmitting/receiving system having a transmitting apparatus for transmitting data and a receiving apparatus for receiving said data transmitted from said transmitting apparatus, the computer program including a computer program for said transmitting apparatus and a computer program for said receiving apparatus, wherein,

said computer program for said transmitting apparatus comprising;

an encrypting step for encrypting data of a second program by use of a predetermined key;

a detecting step for detecting a position of an intra-picture from said second program data,

wherein the position of the intra-picture is detected as a time offset and a byte offset from the beginning of a bit stream,

wherein the time offset and the byte offset are encrypted with said data;

a first transmitting step for transmitting data of a first program and data of a second program encrypted by said encrypting step;

a second transmitting step for transmitting said key at a time for enabling said second program to be viewed on the receiving apparatus at a viewing time established by the transmitting apparatus,

said computer program for said receiving apparatus comprising;

a storage control step for controlling the storage of said data of said second program in which transmission is controlled in said first transmission step;

a reception control step for controlling the reception of said key in which the transmission is controlled in said second transmission step; and

a reproducing step for reproducing said second program at a viewing time on said receiving apparatus intended by said transmitting apparatus by decoding said data of said second program stored in said storage control step by use of said key received by said reception control step,

wherein said first program is viewed at a time when said data of said first program is received by said receiving apparatus,

wherein said second program is viewed at a time when said key is received by said receiving apparatus and after a predetermined time slot when the data of said second program is transmitted, and

wherein said first program and said second program are viewed in the same viewing time slot.