Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus

• US 8,321,894 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US10/518,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,448 Days
• Field of Search: 725/54, 725/14, 725/46, 725/136, 725/142
• US Class Current: 725/54
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• 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 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• 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 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus have improved characteristics such as entertainment and convenience for a user who receives content received by a digital satellite broadcast receiver. A broadcasting side, along with a first content (video/audio content), broadcasts content (second content) as data for forming a GUI related to a broadcast content as the video/audio signal. A reception apparatus side receiving the content executes a process for outputting a GUI together with a picture of the first content in accordance with the description in a script of the second content. Further, a process is executed to generate use history information in accordance with the user'"'"'s use of the first content in the reception apparatus and to change the content of a service provided on the GUI based on the use history information. According to this structure, the service content provided on the GUI varies in accordance with the operation and behavior of the user in response to a screen picture/audio of the first content.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus, comprising:

first production means for producing a first content of a video signal and/or an audio signal;

second production means for producing a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script includes a description for causing a reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing use history information including a predetermined content in accordance with a use result related to the use by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus, the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content and

a process for changing the graphical user interface based on the use history information so as to change a service to be provided with an operation to a user interface screen picture; and

sending means for providing, as a broadcast, a transmission output of the second content in combination with the first content,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first content is compressed and coded, and transmitted.

3. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second content is transmitted as data broadcast.

4. A reception apparatus, comprising:

reception means for receiving a first content including a video signal and/or an audio signal transmitted as a broadcast and a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script including a description for causing the reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing use history information including a predetermined content in accordance with a use result related to the use by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus, the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content and

a process for changing the graphical user interface based on the use history information so as to change a service to be provided with an operation to a user interface screen picture; and

user interface forming means for forming a graphical user interface to be output together with a picture as the first content in accordance with the script, for producing and storing the use history information in accordance with the use result, and for executing, in accordance with the script,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

5. The reception apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first content is compressed and coded, and transmitted.

6. The reception apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second content is transmitted as data broadcast.

7. The reception apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the user is allowed to perform operations to the user interface picture.

8. The reception apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

a mark operation is performed on a selected one of the first content;

and

the graphical user interface changes in response to the mark operation.

9. A transmission apparatus, comprising:

first production means for producing a first content of a video signal and/or the audio signal;

second production means for producing a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script including a description for causing a reception apparatus to execute a process for changing a picture content in the graphical user interface in accordance with a change in the content of the first content and to execute a process for producing use history information, the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content; and

sending means for providing, as a broadcast, a transmission output of the second content combined with the first content,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

10. A reception apparatus, comprising:

reception means for receiving a first content including a video signal and/or an audio signal transmitted as a broadcast and a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script including a description for causing the reception apparatus to execute a process for changing a picture content in the graphical user interface in accordance with a change in the content of the first content and to execute a process for producing use history information, the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content; and

interface forming means for forming the graphical user interface so as to change the picture content in accordance with the change in the first content in accordance with the script, and for forming the user interface picture to be output together with a picture as the first content in accordance with the script,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

11. A transmission apparatus, comprising:

first production means for producing a first content of a video signal and/or an audio signal;

second production means for producing a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface and the script including a description for causing a reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing use history information including a predetermined content in accordance with a use result by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content; and

a process for changing a picture content in the graphical user interface based on the use history information; and

sending means for providing, as a broadcast, a transmission output of the second content combined with the first content,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

12. A reception apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a second content for outputting a graphical user interface, the second content including a script having a description for causing the reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing a first content of a video signal and/or an audio signal transmitted as a broadcast and use history information of a predetermined content in accordance with the use result related to the use by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content and

a process for changing a picture content on the graphical user interface based on the use history information; and

interface forming means for

forming a graphical user interface to be output with a picture as a first content in accordance with the script,

for producing and storing use history information according to the use result, and

for forming the graphical user interface to change the picture content based on the stored use history information,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

13. A transmission apparatus, comprising:

first content producer operable to produce a first content of a video signal and/or an audio signal;

second content producer operable to produce a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script includes a description for causing a reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing use history information including a predetermined content in accordance with a use result related to the use by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus, after “

apparatus,”

the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content, and

a process for changing the graphical user interface based on the use history information so as to change a service to be provided with an operation to a user interface screen picture; and

transmitter operable to provide, as a broadcast, a transmission output of the second content in combination with the first content,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

14. A reception apparatus, comprising:

receiver operable to receive a first content including a video signal and/or an audio signal transmitted as a broadcast and a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script including a description for causing the reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing use history information including a predetermined content in accordance with a use result related to the use by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content, and

a process for changing the graphical user interface based on the use history information so as to change a service to be provided with an operation to a user interface screen picture; and

user interface forming device operable to form a graphical user interface to be output together with a picture as the first content in accordance with the script, to produce and store the use history information, and to execute, in accordance with the script, a process for changing the graphical user interface based on the use history information so as to change the service to be provided with the operation to the user interface screen picture,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

15. A transmission apparatus, comprising:

first content producer operable to produce a first content of a video signal and/or the audio signal;

second content producer operable to produce a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script including a description for causing a reception apparatus to execute a process for changing a picture content in the graphical user interface in accordance with a change in the content of the first content and to execute a process for producing use history information, the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content; and

transmitter operable to provide, as a broadcast, a transmission output of the second content combined with the first content,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

16. A reception apparatus, comprising:

receiver operable to receive a first content including a video signal and/or an audio signal transmitted as a broadcast and a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface, and the script including a description for causing the reception apparatus to execute a process for changing a picture content in the graphical user interface in accordance with a change in the content of the first content and to execute a process for producing use history information, the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content; and

interface forming device operable to form the graphical user interface so as to change the picture content in accordance with the change in the first content in accordance with the script, and to form the user interface picture to be output together with a picture as the first content in accordance with the script,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

17. A transmission apparatus, comprising:

first content producer operable to produce a first content of a video signal and/or an audio signal;

second content producer operable to produce a second content corresponding to the first content, the second content including a script for outputting a graphical user interface and the script including a description for causing a reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing use history information including a predetermined content in accordance with a use result by a user of first content in the reception apparatus the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content; and

a process for changing a picture content in the graphical user interface based on the use history information; and

transmission device operable to provide, as a broadcast, a transmission output of the second content combined with the first content,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.

18. A reception apparatus comprising:

receiver operable to receive a second content for outputting a graphical user interface, the second content including a script having a description for causing the reception apparatus to execute;

a process for producing a first content of a video signal and/or an audio signal transmitted as a broadcast and use history information of a predetermined content in accordance with the use result related to the use by a user of the first content in the reception apparatus the use history information having a hit chart rankings of the first content, and

a process for changing a picture content on the graphical user interface based on the use history information; and

interface forming device operable to

form a graphical user interface to be output with a picture as a first content in accordance with the script,

to produce and store use history information according to the use result, and

to form the graphical user interface to change the picture content based on the stored use history information,

a stile of the graphical user interface being adaptively varied by the reception apparatus according to the first content and a viewing history of the first content, the viewing history of the first content being stored in the reception apparatus,

the reception apparatus changes the graphical user interface relating to the first content in accordance with the second content and the viewing history,

the graphical user interface including a plurality of colored buttons, each button matching a correspondingly colored button on a remote control unit, and each button being selectable through activation of the correspondingly colored button on the remote control unit,

at least one button being enabled and at least one button being disabled, for each button that is enabled the graphical user interface including in the button'"'"'s proximity text descriptive of the button'"'"'s function, and for each button that is disabled the graphical user interface including no text in the button'"'"'s proximity,

wherein in response to user selection of one of the plurality of colored buttons on the graphical user interface while a promotion video of the first content is being displayed on the graphical user interface, a check mark is registered at the reception apparatus and a mark bit is set to “

1”

in the hit chart rankings, and wherein the check mark is automatically displayed in proximity to the selected color button on the graphical user interface in response to detecting a succeeding broadcast of the promotion video of the first content.