Receiving device, receiving method, providing device, providing method, programs, and broadcasting system

• US 8,966,564 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kitazato, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marandi, James R
• Application Number:
  US13/976,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20130291049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43 Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/81 Monomedia components thereof

Abstract

This technique relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, a providing device, a providing method, programs, and a broadcasting system that can control operations of external devices connected to the receiving device in synchronization with progress of a show being received.

When the application control type in an application control descriptor is 2, the receiving device receives command information contained in a digital broadcast signal, and acquires and starts a new information service application and the like in accordance with the received command information. When an external device is designated as the command destination device, the receiving device generates a command for the external device, and outputs the command to the external device. In accordance with the command from the receiving device, the external device acquires and starts the new information service application and the like. This disclosure can be applied not only to controlling the receiving device from the broadcasting side, but also to controlling external devices connected to the receiving device.

Claims

1. A receiving device that receives content broadcast via a broadcasting network, the receiving device comprising:

circuitry configured to

receive a broadcast signal broadcast via the broadcasting network;

acquire, from the received broadcast signal, command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of the receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content;

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

download the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information; and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

cause the external device to download the predetermined application program provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

cause the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information.

2. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the command destination device information designates at least one of the receiving device and external devices of a plurality of types that can be connected to the receiving device.

3. The receiving device according to claim 2, wherein,

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device, the circuitry performs the operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command, and,

when the command destination device information designates the external device, the circuitry generates an external device command for causing the designated external device to perform the operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program.

4. The receiving device according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

acquire, from the received broadcast signal, an application control descriptor having an application control type written therein, and

acquire the command information from the broadcast signal, in accordance with the application control type in the acquired application control descriptor.

5. The receiving device according to claim 4, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

perform an operation related to the predetermined application program in accordance with the application control descriptor when the command information is not acquired from the broadcast signal in accordance with the application control type in the acquired application control descriptor.

6. The receiving device according to claim 2, wherein the command information contains one of a command for acquiring the predetermined application program, a command for starting the predetermined application program, a command for causing the predetermined application program to fire an event, a command for suspending the predetermined application program, or a command for ending the predetermined application program.

7. A receiving method for a receiving device that receives content broadcast via a broadcasting network, the receiving method comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal broadcast via the broadcasting network;

acquiring, by circuitry of the receiving device and from the received broadcast signal, command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of the receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content;

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

downloading, by the circuitry of the receiving device, the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

performing an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information; and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

causing the external device to download the predetermined application provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

causing the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for a computer that receives content broadcast via a broadcasting network, the program causing the computer to:

receive a broadcast signal broadcast via the broadcasting network;

acquire, from the received broadcast signal, command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of a receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content;

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

download the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information; and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

cause the external device to download the predetermined application program provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

cause the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information.

9. A providing device that provides content to a receiving device via a broadcasting network, the providing device comprising:

circuitry configured to broadcast a broadcast signal via the broadcasting network, the broadcast signal containing command information and the content, the command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of a receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content, wherein

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

the receiving device downloads the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

the receiving device performs an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information, and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

the external device downloads the predetermined application program provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

the command information causes the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program.

10. The providing device according to claim 9, wherein the command destination device information designates at least one of the receiving device and external devices of a plurality of types that can be connected to the receiving device.

11. The providing device according to claim 10, wherein

the circuitry broadcasts the broadcast signal further containing an application control descriptor via the broadcasting network, the application control descriptor having an application control type written therein, and

the receiving device acquires the command information from the broadcast signal, in accordance with the application control type in the received application control descriptor.

12. The providing device according to claim 10, wherein the command information contains one of a command for acquiring the predetermined application program, a command for starting the predetermined application program, a command for causing the predetermined application program to fire an event, a command for suspending the predetermined application program, or a command for ending the predetermined application program.

13. A providing method for a providing device that provides content to a receiving device via a broadcasting network, the providing method comprising:

broadcasting a broadcast signal via the broadcasting network, the broadcast signal containing command information and the content, the command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of a receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content, wherein

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

the receiving device downloads the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

the receiving device performs an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information, and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

the external device downloads the predetermined application program provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

the command information causes the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for a computer that provides content to a receiving device via a broadcasting network, the program causing the computer to:

broadcast a broadcast signal via the broadcasting network, the broadcast signal containing command information and the content, the command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of a receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content, wherein

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

the receiving device downloads the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

the receiving device performs an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information, and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

the external device downloads the predetermined application program provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

the command information causes the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program.

15. A broadcasting system that provides content from a providing device to a receiving device via a broadcasting network,

the providing device comprising first circuitry configured to

broadcast a broadcast signal via the broadcasting network, the broadcast signal containing command information and the content, the command information containing command destination device information designating at least one of a receiving device and an external device that can be connected to the receiving device, and a command related to a predetermined application program that is executed in synchronization with progress of the content, and

the receiving device comprising second circuitry configured to

receive the broadcast signal broadcast via the broadcasting network;

acquire the command information from the received broadcast signal;

when the command destination device information designates the receiving device,

download the predetermined application program provided by a server, via a separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information; and

when the command destination device information designates the external device,

cause the external device to download the predetermined application program provided by the server, via the separate communication network, that is identified based on the command information, and

cause the external device to perform an operation related to execution of the downloaded predetermined application program in accordance with the command information.