Program information broadcasting system, broadcasting device, and receiving terminal unit

Abstract

In a program information broadcasting system, it is aimed to minimize time for retrieval of program by viewers in operating an electronic program guide or time for waiting when applying for subscription. As a program information broadcasting system, program elements constituting a broadcasting program are divided into a plurality of items and are turned to data at a center, and a master data 21 of a program information to recognize the program is prepared. From the data constituting the master data, minimal necessary items for preparation of a program table are extracted, and a program basic information 22 is prepared. Said master data and said program basic information are transmitted simultaneously with the broadcasting, and said program basic information is received, reproduced and displayed before receiving of the master data at a receiving terminal unit 31 is completed. As a result, the program basic information having far less amount of data than the master data can be incorporated, and it is possible to minimize the time required for storage of the data in memory of the receiving terminal unit.

Description

[0001]Notice: More than one patent application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,950. In addition to the instant continuation reissue application, there are two (2) additional division reissue applications:, Ser. No. 11 / 338,588 that is still pending and Ser. No. 11 / 033,490 that has now matured into U.S. Pat. No. Re. 41,257.[0002]The instant application is a continuation of reissue application Ser. No. 11 / 033,490, filed Jan. 11, 2005, now Reissue U.S. Pat. No. Re. 41,257, and a continuation of application Ser. No. 11 / 338,588, filed Jan. 24, 2006. The entire contents of application Ser. Nos. 11 / 338,588 and 11 / 033,490 (now U.S. Pat. No. Re. 41,257) are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates to a program information broadcasting system for broadcasting information of component elements to constitute a program such as category information, performer information, etc. of each of the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]To solve the above problems, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a program information broadcasting system, a broadcasting device and a receiving terminal unit in the program information broadcasting system, by which it is possible to minimize waiting time in retrieving or in subscribing a program when the user retrieves program by checking program guide.

[0013]It is a second object of the present invention to provide a program information broadcasting system, a broadcasting device and a receiving terminal unit, by which it is possible to increase degree of freedom to issue coupon in case coupon is given to the user to the program, which can be broadcast by adding mail.

[0015]As described in the above arrangement, program basic information is transmitted via broadcasting in addition to the master data of the program information. Because the program basic information has far less amount of data compared with the master data, it is possible to minimize the time to incorporate the program basic information on all of the program information by the receiving terminal unit and to completely store the information in the memory of the receiving terminal unit. For this reason, it is also possible to retrieve and to quickly perform processing to display the information on display screen and to efficiently carry out program information display operation.

[0016]According to the invention as set forth in Claim 1 of the present application, program components of a program to be broadcast are divided into a plurality of items and are turned to data at a center, a master data of the program information to recognize the program is prepared, minimal necessary items for preparation of program guide are extracted from each of the data of the master data and a program basic information is prepared, the above master data and the program basic information are transmitted at the same time as the broadcasting, and the program basic information is received, reproduced and displayed before the master data is completely received, whereby it is possible to minimize the time to incorporate the program basic information on all of the program information by the receiving terminal unit and to completely store the information in the memory of the receiving terminal unit.

[0029]The invention as set forth in Claim 14 of the present application provides a broadcasting device, which comprises program information data preparing means for dividing program components of the program to be broadcast into a plurality of items to turn them to data form and for preparing master data of program information to recognize the program, information retrieval means for retrieving and extracting minimal necessary items for preparation of a program guide from the master data, transmitting data generating means for converting the master data and the program basic information to transmittable data, and transmitting means for transmitting the transmission data, whereby the receiving terminal unit can incorporate program basic information for all of the program information because the program basic information has far less amount of data than the master data, and it is possible to minimize the time to complete storage of the information in the memory of the receiving terminal unit.

Problems solved by technology

In this respect, when the user does not have newspaper or magazine at hand, program subscription cannot be inputted because no program schedule can be referred.

In any case, the retrieval cannot be completed until all of the program information is completely incorporated, and the user must wait for relatively long time until program information is actually displayed after an instruction to display the program information is inputted.

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